In early '62, another move heralded the emergence of West's signature label, Lu Pine. This time his address was that of the American Record Pressing Plant in Owosso, Michigan, which is about one and a half hours north of Detroit.

ARP played a major part in the Detroit story until it burned to the ground in late October 1972. However I find it strange that so many Robert West discs were released with another company's address on them.

The first release appeared on Lupine103 in January 1962 and was the Falcons with "I found a love"/"Swim". The group had just seen out the two year contract with United Artists which had seen a reasonable R&B chart performance in "The Teacher" with lead vocals by Joe Stubbs. The song was recorded in Cleveland, Ohio.

"I found a love" performed so well locally that West was able to secure a distribution deal with Atlantic Records in April of the same year. The backing group on the song were Robert Ward's Ohio Untouchables.

The power of Atlantic distribution, provided the Falcons with a #6 R&B, #75 Pop hit. The vocal prowess of one Wilson Pickett would also have something to do with the success.

The recording was also one of the first to contain the sound that would later become known as Soul.

Notes thanks to David Meikle
 

DESIGN AND GRAPHICS BY LOWELL BOILEAU