VARIOUS - NEW BREED R&B - MONEY TALKS

Berna Dean’s two previously unheard recordings are by far her best. They were laid down at Cosimo Matassa’s New Orleans’ studios by GNP Crescendo but eschewed in favour of two relatively average sides. The great 50s R&B songwriter Jesse Stone provides a rocker for the much-admired Jimmy Breedlove and a super-catchy ‘This Morning’ for an unknown mixed vocal group that has a joyous gospel feel. Jesse also penned ‘Private Eye’, a classic early 60s story-song, for Buddy Wilkins which was issued on Al Sears’ Tri-Ess imprint.

The title track is used twice, on two very different Fraternity recordings. Kenny Smith’s version was issued in 1964 and has many followers, but the equally meritorious Coasters-inspired composition by the Citations is newly discovered. Win Menifee’s ‘I’m Runnin’ Around’ from the same Cincinnati label comes complete with a fascinating back-story.

There are three cover versions. Vermettya Royster’s ‘All Around The World’ is backed by James Brown’s 1961 band, while Roosevelt Lee 1970 update of the 1947-originated ‘Hey Little Girl’ funks the tune up a la Godfather of soul. The cover that will make the biggest noise is undoubtedly west coast band the Afterglows’ version of Barbara Lynn’s evergreen dancer ‘I’m A Good Woman’ – this is a future monster.

Golden Crest provides two fabulous male vocal group sides – the swinging ‘What’s On Your Mind’ by Eddie Daye’s Four Bars and the delightful harmonies of the appropriately-named, but unknown Delights ‘Mary Don’t You Weep’.

Blues still thrived into the 70s as Albert Washington’s mean and moody ‘Case Of The Blues’ proves. Smokey Wilson took the music into the late 70s with the storming ‘Goin’ Away Baby (Round Like An Apple)’, which benefits here from a 45-style edit. His Pioneer Club on 88th Street in South Central LA provides the atmospheric photo for this collection.

More early 60s movers come from Wilbur “Hi-Fi” White with ‘Don’t Look Now’, future hit songwriter Johnny Madara’s raucous ‘You Make Me Mad’ and Big Boy Groves ‘Bucket O’ Blood’ which brilliantly describes the kind of club these tracks would fit right into.

Side 1

• 01 Don't Try To Tell Me - Berna-Dean

  02 This Mornin' - The Jesse Stone Singers

• 03 All Around The World - Vermettya Royster with James Brown's Band

• 04 What's On Your Mind - The Four Bars

• 05 Bucket O Blood - Big Boy Groves

• 06 Don't Look Now - Wilbur "Hi-Fi" White & King Kolax Band

• 07 Laundromat - Elroy Peace

• 08 Twist It Baby - Jimmie Lee Robinson

• 09 Not So Much Talk - Jimmy Breedlove

• 10 Money Talks - Kenny Smith

• 11 Mary Don't You Weep - The Delights

• 12 Laughing On The Outside - Berna-Dean

• 13 I'm A Good Woman - The Afterglows

• 14 I'm Runnin' Around - Win Menifee

• 15 Case Of The Blues - Albert Washington

• 16 Private Eye - Buddy Wilkins

• 17 Hey Little Girl Pt 1 - Roosevelt Lee

• 18 Hey Hey Baby - T-Bone Walker

• 19 Goin' Away Baby (Round Like An Apple) - Smokey Wilson

• 20 You Make Me Mad - Johnny Madara

• 21 Money Talks (Tell Me What I Say) - The Citations

• 22 Tell Me Why - Richard Berry

• 23 Ain't No Woman Gonna Make Me A Fool - Willie Hutchinson

• 24 What Kind Of Love - Ernest Lane & The Ikettes (with Tina Turner)

• 25 Cleopatra - The Precisions