Feel It Advent...ure 20. The Mighty Diamonds

This top ranking piece of vinyl can definitely be described as having a very cosmopolitan background.

Released very early in 1981 on Donovan Germain’s New York based label, this single features one of JA’s very best harmony groups  – The Mighty Diamonds. This 12” comes in a Y Records Disco 45 sleeve showing their Uxbridge, London address and telephone number. This Disco 45 (as Reggae 12” singles were known back in the day) entered the UK Disco 45 Reggae charts on 17^th January 1981. Almost 30 years later I bought this copy from a seller based in Poland.    

(The Mighty) Diamonds – Why War In The City 1981

The UK “Disco 45” Reggae charts on 17^th January 1981:

1. Ernest Wilson - Truths And Rights - Selection Exclusive

2. Victor Romero - At The Club - Special Request

3. Wailing Souls - Old Broom - Taxi

4. Barrington Levy - Whom Shall I Be Afraid Of? - Germain

5. Diamonds - Why War In The City - Germain

6. Sugar Minott - Love Up, Love Up - Channel One

7. Junior Delgado - Big Shot - Yvonne Special

8. Sugar Minott - Show Me That You Love Me - Channel One

9. Al Campbell - You're A Liar - Big Youth

10. Clint Eastwood And General Saint - Two Bad D.J. – Greensleeves

Feel It Advent...ure 19. Bettye Swann

Such a great singer, such a great title, such a great song. It deserves another airing.
   
Bettye Swann - (My Heart Is) Closed For The Season 1968

Feel It Advent...ure 18. Percy Sledge

I’ve been shedding a few tears these last few days. Don’t worry, nothing's  upsetting me, it’s just some of the music I have been listening to recently.

I’ve been revisiting a few favourites. First it was Candi Staton – guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye – and just now I finally got around to playing a Percy Sledge compilation I picked up at a boot sale earlier this year. I’ve always loved Percy Sledge’s work and this 1984 Charly compilation ("Any Day Now") is packed full of tear jerkers. It also contains a few tracks of Percy’s that I was previously unfamiliar with. 

By 1970 the hits had dried up for him so the two tracks featured here went by virtually unnoticed at time of release. “Sunshine”, written by Phil Hurtt and Bunny Sigler, did just dent the US R&B Top 100 chart but “Stop The World Tonight” didn’t trouble the chart compilers at all, and for my money it’s a gem.  

They should both be much better known.

Something sweet and calm for a Sunday…

Percy Sledge – Stop The World Tonight  1970

Percy Sledge – Sunshine  1973

Buy "It Tears me Up": The Best Of Percy Sledge

Feel It Advent...ure 17. Shalamar

It’s Saturday night so let’s dance!

Sometimes I try to pinpoint exactly when I put the brake on spinning the wheels of steel and hung up the DJ headphones. Looking at my collection of Shalamar singles helps a bit. I have “Take That To The Bank” (1977/8 – definitely from the mobile days) and “I Owe You One” (1980) and “Make That Move” (1981) on 12” singles but “There It Is” and “I Can Make You Feel Good” (1982) are only on 7”. So that narrows it down to sometime in 1981 I reckon.

I was going to put up “I Owe You One” – even now opening up the 12” case the smell of the club still hits me – but in the end it has to be “There It Is” which is just a brilliant pop/soul/disco record.

Looking at Shalamar’s chart history it is apparent just how much the UK loved them. Here you can see John Peel(!) introducing them on Top Of The Pops.

Shalamar – There It Is 1982 

Feel It Advent...ure 16. The Persuasions

Missed a day again! And not because I was getting legless at a Christmas bash, either. In fact I was just doing the round trip to Southampton picking up our son from Uni to bring him back to the bosom of his family for the holidays. Then I was on taxi duty for daughter. By the time I hit the sofa I was too kn*ckered to even switch the 'puter on!

I was very happy to pick up a copy of The Persuasions “Street Corner Symphony” for less than a £1 at a boot sale earlier this year.     

The Counts may not have included a bass player in the group but The Persuasions eschewed instruments altogether – except for the human voice.

A perfect example of less being more.

ThePersuasions – Be Good To Me Baby 1972  

 

Feel It Advent...ure 15. The Counts

I'm feeling lazy. An A-F box is sitting on the table and it's just so easy to keep dipping into it.

Here's some deeply delicious Detroit funk from 1971.The Counts played funk without a bass guitar. That's a Hammond organ you can hear! 

The Counts - Thinking Single 1971

The Counts - Why Not Start All Over Again 1971  (complete with scratch - sorry).

Buy "What's Up Front That Counts"

Feel It Advent...ure 14. The Emotions

Lucky Dip again.


The Volt label is always a safe bet.


I'll always be in debt to Scholar for turning me on to this track. Souled On... is one of those essential blogs that I hope is not gone forever but just lying dormant.


The Emotions - If You Think It (You May As Well Do It)  1971*
*The label says June to be precise - I'm a sucker for the little details.