Third Guitar : Baby Don't Cry
The Third Guitar’s Baby Don’t Cry is amongst my most prized possessions – an original issue on Rojac (123) from 1968 in near mint condition.
I was fortunate enough to get it at about a quarter of its then book price (£400); although I did get hammered with an import duty from those lovely people at Her Majesty’s Customs & Excise. It takes pride of place in my funk boxes and is often reached for and played.
Written by The Third Guitar’s lead singer, Eddie Holloway, this was the 1968 recording for Jack Taylor’s New York-based Rojac label. This was the second time Eddie had recorded this tune, the first time was in 1965 whilst Eddie was a member of the Miami-based group The Soul Pleasers (the famous Funk45 re-issue has The Soul Pleasers’ earlier version on the flip, which itself is a tune worth a listen. I have a copy somewhere and when I locate it I’ll update this post with the Soul Pleasers’ version too).
The version you see and hear here was also recorded in Miami, but was given national distribution via Rojac. Unfortunately, like the other Third Guitar releases on Rojac (Sad Girl/Lovin’ Lies – Rojac 120 & Been So Long/Down To The River – Rojac 127), it did not make it big. Which really boggles the mind… what has become one of the best loved and most sought after funk singles of all time failed to hit on its release!
It is believed to have been bootlegged, but I can unearth no information on the bootleg. It has also been re-issued (the 2005 Funk45 reissue and a couple of unofficial 12″ releases). It also features on numerous compilation LP/CD (Florida Funk, Keb Darge Experience, Funk Spectrum II, etc.) and of course is in the Brainfreeze of 1999 mix that caused the resurgent interest in the song.
You do occasionally see it surface on the interweb auction sites, I recently spied a (rather ropey looking) copy with a ‘buy it now’ price tag of US$1,999.00!
The flip on this original issue is a soulful ballad, might be worth a quick listen – but I cannot believe anyone would buy this Rojac issue for the B side.
The Third Guitar – Lead Singer Eddie Holloway (other members and status unknown). Eddie appears to be alive and well and enjoying a career as a blues singer; if anyone can furnish any bio for Eddie I’d be grateful, also any information on who else contributed to the tune as The Third Guitar.
Baby Don't Cry Don't Take Your Love