As mentioned earlier,
the Volkano label was created towards the end of 1965, and showcased the work of John Rhys, Dennis
Coffey and Mike Theodore.
We have seen
advertising displaying Volkano under the auspices of Golden
World and know it was definitely part of the company.
Maltese and
Stephanye still require debate however, although Maltese
Music is listed at the Golden World address in the Yellow
Pages of September '65.
The first Maltese
releases #100-101 came in February 1966 by the Dolls and the
Perigents. Written and arranged by New York stalwarts George
Kerr and Richard Tee, the songs were produced by Mr. Lucky,
whoever he was? (George Kerr?).
Obscure 45's
would follow by Jimmy Satan, the Proud City Singers, and the
Young Men.
The label's best
release was the excellent "Airplane song"
by
Norma Jenkins. It was produced again, by Mr Lucky.
The final Maltese
release came in 1967. It was by Rusty Day and was recorded at Tera
Shirma, due to Golden World having changed hands. The song, "I gotta
move", was produced by Fred Saxon.
Sandwiched between
these Maltese releases was Edwin's "Stop her on
sight", on Ric-Tic, which unusually for the time was published
by Maltese and not Myto.
The Stephanye label
is much easier to analyse as it had only three releases
around March '66.
All were arranged
and produced by legendary New Yorker, Gene Redd. Roy Handy's
"Baby that's a groove" and Shirley J Scott's
"Goosepimples" have been lauded on the Northern
Soul Scene for years.
Gene also
produced Tamiko Jones on Golden World and the
Fantastic Four, briefly, on Ric-Tic. The latter
collaboration
produced the excellent "Girl have pity".
With George McGregor
confirming that he recalls working regularly with Gene Redd
at Golden World, there is some evidence to suggest that
Stephanye has links to Golden World.
More detail comes
from Heikki Suosalo who conducted an interview, for Soul
Express Magazine, with Paul Scott of the Fantastic Four.
Paul had first recorded as a member of the Prophets with
"My Kind Of Girl" c/w "I Can't Make
It" which was released on Stephanye 335.
"...Gene Redd
came to Detroit from New York, and he worked for Mr Wingate
at Golden World. We had heard from Pat Lewis that
there were auditions up in Golden World, and we all
rehearsed there for three or four days. Hermon Weems
took us, but he told us that we didn't have what it
takes..."
My Kind Of Girl was released on Gene Redd's Stephanye label.
Stephanye was his daughter. The record didn't do very
well at all...but it got us known around Detroit a
bit."
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