Johnny Johnson & His Bandwagon  “Johnny Johnson Rides Again!”  EMI/Stateside  Northern Soul from the UK circa 1970.

(9 votes, average: 4.44 out of 5)

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The Supremes Greatest Hits  Tamla Motown

(16 votes, average: 4.63 out of 5)

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The Soul Sisters  “I Can’t Stand It”  Sue Records (1964)

(4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)

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“Party Down” Little Beaver  Cat Records (1974) Willie Hale was a session musician who played on such hits as Betty Wright’s “Clean Up Woman”, and George McCrae’s “Rock Your Baby”.   The back-up musicians here are a who’s who of the Miami funk/soul sound and TK, Alston and Glades Records stable. Party Down Part 1  features background vocals by Betty Wright, pianist Benny Lattimore (”Let’s Straighten It Out”), and organ man Timmy Thomas (”Why Can’t We Live Together”).

“Come on girl, don’t be shy, we’re just partying down, you and all your friends, we’re gonna party down.”

(8 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)

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“Mr. Big Stuff”  Jean Knight on Stax Records  (1971)  The song “Mr. Big Stuff”  reached #2 on the pop chart and #1 on the R&B chart. It went double platinum, was one of the label’s biggest hits and received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance (she lost to Aretha Franklin’s version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”) And what a cool cover!  Unfortunately, Jean never reached such commercial heights again.

I saw her perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1992 (her home town) and she was great!  I remember everyone in Congo Square grooving to “Dont Talk About Jody” (also on this album).  I hope you enjoy it too.

(37 votes, average: 4.46 out of 5)

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The Natural Four  Curtom Records  1974  Produced by Leroy Hutson  Contains their radio hit, and one of my favorite soul songs,  “Can This Be Real“  (Written by Leroy Hutson)  Oh, and those suits!

(6 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)

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The Mad Lads in Action  Volt Records  (1966)  One of the few vocal groups on the Stax roster during the ’60s, the Mad Lads’ doo wop-influenced harmonies were more akin to what you might find in Philadelphia soul acts than those of their native Memphis.  Action includes all of the Mad Lads first recordings, except for their debut “Sidewalk Surf.” (Remakes comprise 25-percent of the album.)  The waltz tempo, “I Want Someone” went to number ten (R&B) and number 74 (Pop), and is their biggest selling single.   “Don’t Have to Shop Around,”  was the group’s second best-selling record, charting at number 11 (R&B) and number 93 (Pop).

The C.O.D.’s hit the big-time with “Michael the Lover,” but listening to the Mad Lads re-recording, you’d think it was written just for them.  Listen up: Michael the Lover (lp version)

(20 votes, average: 4.55 out of 5)

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Barbara Lewis “Workin’ On A Groovy Thing”  Atlantic Records  (1968)  Listen up: workin-on-a-groovy-thing

Patti Drew “Workin’ On A Groovy Thing” Capitol Records (1968)  Listen up: workin-on-a-groovy-thing

One of my favorite soul songs, “Workin’ On A Groovy Thing” was actually written by Neil Sedaka.  It was first recorded by Chicago songstress Patti Drew for Capitol Records in 1968.  Barbara Lewis’ version (top) followed Patti’s that same year.   (The next year it became a bigger hit for “The 5th Dimension” which, as they did with others’ songs many times,  charted with a “poppier” version.)

Which one do you think is groovier?

(20 votes, average: 3.80 out of 5)

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Harlem River Drive  Eddie Palmieri  Roulette Records  With Charlie Palmieri on Organ and Jimmy Norman, Vocals.  (1971)  Seminal early mix of latin, salsa, soul, funk and jazz.  Have a listen to The 01-harlem-river-drive-theme.

(34 votes, average: 4.29 out of 5)

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Sound-O-Rama Presents The Windy City Four  “Don’t Let the Devil Ride”  This is a very rare soul-gospel lp that goes for hundreds of dollars when it seldomly comes on the market.  For me the value is in the cover – I’m a sucker for a hot girl in a devil costume.

(36 votes, average: 4.58 out of 5)

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