Category Archives: Soul-Direction Records

Soul Direction Records we strive to unearth unreleased soul music from the vaults and bring them to you on vinyl, enabling you to enjoy previously unissued quality soul music

The L. A. Propinquity

“That someone’s U (Vocal) / “That someone’s U (Inst)

Label: Aljoni Musico  
Catalog:SD60  
Release Date: Mid December 2021
Format: Vinyl 7’

In 1980 while listening to songs submitted for what would become the LP ‘Splash’ by Freddie Hubbard, several of those—including this one “That Someone’s U” did not make its way to the final album tracks. It was never mixed down and the vocal tracks were ‘work takes/scratch vox’. Written by Sydney Justin (aka ‘Steele’), Sanifu Al Hall, and the late David Shields, the song languished on an outtake reel for decades until it was a part of a group of tracks that were converted from analog to digital to be considered for release in association with the Super Disco Edits label.

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Sir Joe

“Nobody beats my love”

 Label:  Soul Direction Records
Catalog: SD -1002
Release Date: November 2021  
Format: 7’ Vinyl 

Joseph Patrick Quarterman hailed from the Shaw neighbourhood in Washington D.C. He started writing songs at a young age and after graduating from Dunbar High School he met song writers Eddie Best and Don Downing and began singing lead vocals with a Washington. DC group called “The Knights”, where he adopted the name “Sir Joe.”

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The Combinations

“(Too Long) I’ve been Waiting”

Label:  Soul Direction Records
Catalog: SD -1001
Release Date:  November 2021  
Format: 7’ Vinyl 

The Combinations were a male vocal group whose line up included Willie C. Collins of Will Collins and Willpower “Anything You Can Do” fame, and three other guys all from British Honduras. Hubert Usher, Lenny Bailey and a guy only remembered as Gerald. Under the auspices of David Braithwaite and Ernest Kelley they recorded a solitary 45 release “(Too Long) I’ve Been Waiting/Please Don’t Leave Me” (Soul “O” Sonic), this being the earlier New York based version of Ernest Kelley’s label. 

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The Decisions

The Decisions are a group from Atlanta, Georgia comprising of Hildred Thomason, Fred White, Henry Little and Howard Simpson and Harvey Poole. Harvey Poole went on to join the US Military. They formed at S.H. Archer High School and graduated in 1965. Over the years these 5 young men went on to start their own Record Label – York Records in the late 60s.

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Joe Adams

It was around 1999 and a stack of Del-Val and related studio reels lay in Joe Stevenson’s basement gathering dust and at the same time slowly deteriorating with the possibility of being lost forever. Looking back now I am so glad someone had the foresight to transfer them onto DAT tapes before they were damaged beyond all hope. Some of the tracks were then used for a “Best of Del-Val” CD release around 2000 by the guys at Philly Archives. This was a blessing in disguise as a few years later all the masters were lost to a huge flood in Joe’s basement destroying them beyond any repair.

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Eddie Holman

Soul-Direction Records

Catalog: SD002
Release Date: Mid January 2021

Until recently this unknown Virtue acetate was unearthed from the belongings of legendary Philly producer/musician/songwriter John Stiles. Recorded around the same time as “Stay Mine For Heaven Sake” at Virtue Studios in Philadelphia. Eddie’s rendition of “Ready, Willing and Able” was something that was thought to have been written potentially for another singer which was to be determined but he sang on the track as a reference point to whoever this might be, which was not an unusual practice. His piercing vocals added to a pounding “Northern soul” style beat lends itself to a packed and sweaty dancefloor.

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Andrea Henry

“I Lost You”/ “I need you like a baby” (Soul Direction) 7′

Catalog: SD001
Release Date: 5-10th October 2020

Firstly credit goes to Jason @ Carolina soul for helping to unearth this and other great unreleased tracks.From the Vaults of the Don Davis estate and penned by Tony Hestor this albeit a version of the Hollidays classic track on Groove City this track stands up on it’s own terms and is different enough to make it stand alone as a future classic.

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