Detroit Soul / Hayley Records
I Care About Detroit LP
Hayley Records second album “I Care About Detroit” is now available featuring 13 previously unreleased Detroit soul gems from some of the Motor City’s finest artists including Jimmy Delphs, Pat Lewis, Barbara Mercer, the Dramatics, Deon Jackson, Inez Foxx, Ja Neen Henry and many more.
Side one kicks off with one of the finest Detroit tracks to ever be discovered – Inez Foxx ‘Because I love him (I just can’t put him down)’ featuring velvet vocals, screaming horns and a throbbing instrumentation that hypnotizes the listener from start to finish. The Capitols rehearsal version of their sublime ‘Don’t say maybe baby’ features two lead vocalists, Sammy George and Donald Storball, providing an interplay that enhances and intensifies the released, studio version. ‘My dear heart’ has been a stable on the rare soul scene for decades but gains a refreshing dynamism in it’s original, Golden World form through Barbara Mercer.
For sheer energy and verve, Carolyn Franklin’s ‘Turn me loose’ stomps with the best of them and causes wonder as to why it wasn’t released at the time. ‘ Walk on into my heart’ was a title used by songwriter Barney ‘Duke’ Browner on two completely different productions – Bobbie Smith’s released version on American Arts in 1964 and Jimmy Delphs unreleased effort from 1967.
We are honoured to feature the latter version here. A mystery surrounds the version of ‘Geni’ purporting to be Pat Lewis in 1996, but actually turning out to be an out take version by Terri Bryant. It transpires that labelling errors were made in 1967 on tape boxes and Pat Lewis’ actual version was lost… until now ! Pat’s vastly superior, so soulful and somewhat spiritual version is presented here. Side one finishes with an unfamiliar title but an easily recognisable sound. The backing track to JJ Barnes’ ‘Sweet Sherry’ and Edwin’s Starr’s ‘Has it happened to you yet’ began life as ‘Don’t hurt me’ but what the lyrics were or who it was intended for are unknown.
Side two begins with two tracks never available before – Juanita Williams’ take on ‘(That’s the price) I’ll have to pay’ preludes the playing order, followed by Steve Mancha’s ‘Souvenir’, a vocal that uses the same backing track as his released version ‘Need to be needed’. Pat Smith’s version of ‘Whirlpool’ was a planned release on Thelma Records in 1964 but was mysteriously withdrawn. The same recording appeared by Marvelous Ray in 1965 on Abner Records to little acclaim. ‘You’re gonna be sorry’ by Ja Neen Henry and the Debonaires has the sound of a rehearsal take which may explain why it was never released or refined for future development. It is presented here in its entirety. Deon Jackson’s reputation as one of Detroit’s most precocious talents is widely accepted. His previously unreleased ‘Pain in my heart’ has an eerie similarity to ‘Our love is in the pocket’ but at a slower tempo. His mastery of the song is obvious however and a welcome addition to this collection. The album is brought to a dynamic finale by the Dramatics and their ‘I’ve got to find myself (a new love)’ , a tune recorded at golden World during their time with Wingate Records.
For more information on purchasing and sounds clips click on link:
http://www.hayleyrecords.co.uk/vinylalbum/HA002.asp?Product_ID=HA002