||||Bold Soul Brother

Gil Scott-Heron

I awoke yesterday to the sad news that Gil had passed away at the young age of 62.

Whatever I say here will never sum up the influence this man, his words, his music has had on my life. I was not born to a life of hardship or depravity, but often seek solace in his words.

I first encountered the music of Gil and Brian Jackson in a sweaty club many years ago as we all shuffled around the dance floor to the rhythm of ‘the bottle’, yet it was many years before the message hit home and put an end to my years of alcohol abuse. Similarly, ‘your daddy loves you’ was a constant play (alongside Bill Withers’ – I’m her daddy) in the years following my divorce from the mother of my three daughters.

I am sure his words will continue to encourage, support and nurture thousands for many years to come…

Gil Scott-Heron April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011. Peace go with you brother…

Mel Britt

Summer feels like it’s here in the UK, with amazing temperatures of 22 (71) degrees and clear blue skies, which means it’s time to cut the grass, clean the patio and sort out the borders.

After a back-breaking day of gardening chores yesterday, I figured I deserved some ‘me’ time and laid down some tunes for your audio delight this morning. For a week or so I have been rummaging in my ‘Northern’ boxes, pulling out records that I consider classic Northern Soul; and this morning took the time to throw a few together for an hour’s music.

The mix I prepared is a collection of classic (instantly recognisable) Northern Soul tunes. All 45s, which are mostly original issues, some are re-issues and the odd one is a bootleg. I hope you enjoy and pop back soon for a follow-up mix:

Tina Britt – The Real Thing
Young Holt Unlimited – Soulful Strut
Len Barry – It’s That Time Of The Year
Vickie Baines – Country Girl
Rose Batiste – Come Back In A Hurry
Bob & Earl – Your Time Is My Time
Brothers Of Soul – Come On Back
Betty Baker And The Jaxsis – Marching Out Of Your Life
Yvonne Baker – You Didn’t Say A Word
Don Thomas – Come On Train
Johnny Bragg – They’re Talking About Me
Dena Barnes – If You Ever Walk Out Of My Life
James Brown And The Famous Flames – There Was A Time
Franki Valli & The Four Seasons – Beggin’
The Casanova Two – We Got To Keep On
Frank Beverly & The Butlers – If That’s What You Wanted
Mel Britt – She’ll Come Running Back
Darrell Banks – Angel Baby (Don’t You Ever Leave Me)
Connie Clark – My Sugar Baby
Jackie Lee – I’ll Do Anything
Jerry Butler – Moody Woman
Beach Girls – Skiing In The Snow
Cannibal & The Headhunters – Mean So Much
The Salvadors – Stick By Me Baby

Hope you enjoy:

Eddy Giles - Losin' Boy

This is a recent acquisition (via t’internet); Eddy Giles with Losin’ Boy. As you can see from the scan. my copy has been subject to someone removing a sticker (rather heavy handedly); why, oh why, do people/shops put stickers on record labels and record sleeves?!?! Grrrrrr…..

Eddy Giles (aka Eddie G Giles, real name Elbert W Giles); released his Losin’ Boy on Murco records in 1966 (it was later re-recorded and issue on Stax records (0103) in 1971); this version was recorded and mixed by Mr. DesMarais; who owned a small record shop in Cedar Grove (Shreveport, Louisiana), called Bayou Records. The story has it that Mr. DesMarais would bring local bands (mostly black) into a small recording studio behind his record shop and let them record their songs and would sometimes put the records out, as was the case with Losin’ Boy. At that time Eddy was known then as “Eddie G and the Jive Five”. This tune featured on the Keb Darge/Paul Weller collaborative various artists CD “Lost & Found: Real R’n'B & Soul!”

If anyone has a copy of the Sound City recording, released on Stax, I’d love to hear it to see how different the five years made the sound (I often think back to the differencies between the two versions of Eddie Holloway’s Baby Don’t Cry – the deeply funky 1968 recording for Jack Taylor’s New York-based Rojac label versus the 1965 Miami-based Soul Pleasers’ soulful version).

There doesn’t seem to be much written down about the fate of Mr Giles, there is a suggestion he moved into music production. Any additional information would be welcomed. What is clear is that Eddy had a reasonably prolific period with Murco where he released the following records over a 3 year period:

• 1031 – Eddy Giles – Losin’ Boy / I Got The Blues (1966)
• 1033 – Eddy G Giles & The Jive Five – Don’t Let Me Suffer / When I’m Away (1967)
• 1034 – Eddy G Giles & The Jive Five – Eddie’s Go Go Train / While I’m Away (1967)
• 1037 – Eddy G Giles – Music / Happy Man (1968)
• 1042 – Eddy G Giles – Love With A Feeling / Baby Be Mine (1969)
• 1048 – Eddy G Giles – Soul Feeling Part 1 / Soul Feeling Part 2 (1969)
• 1053 – Eddy G Giles – Tinglin’ / Ain’t Gonna Worry No More (1969)

Listed in the Manship guide as Northern, I’d personally categorise this as R&B with a blues flip; have a listen and let me know what you think.

30/05/2011 – an update on Eddy Giles from the son (Chris James) of a former band member: “Eddie Giles became a pastor. He lives in Shreveport.”