Jesse James

“(The Girl In) Clinton Park”/ “Just As Long As We’re In Love”

Label: Soul Junction Records
Catalog: SJ543
Release Date: 25th January 2021

Rejoining the Soul Junction label to bring you his previously unreleased original version of the song “(The Girl In) Clinton Park”
The song is more widely known through the version recorded by the group Masterplan in 1974 as part of their trilogy of 45 releases on the West Coast Fos-Glo label, with this particular release being later picked up and released on The East Coast Delite label.

Elbowed-Out

“All Men Don’t Love The Same/Believe It”   (Soul Junction Records) 7′

Catalog: SJ542
Release Date: 17th August 2020

Soul Junction’s involvement with Elbowed-Out stretches as far back as 2012 when during the licensing of the hugely popular Oliver Cheatham release “Don’t Pop The Question (If You Can’t Take The Answer), we were first introduced to Detroiter William . R. Miller (Bill) the songs producer and Oliver’s cousin.

Impulse

“I Really Love You/Get The Funk Off My Back”   (Kandi) 7′

Impulse were (and are still in the main) a group of Milwaukee, Wisconsin musicians who during the 1970’s worked as the backing and touring band for another Milwaukee group The Quadraphonics , who during 1974, recorded a solitary 45 single  “Betcha If You Check It Out/Prove My Love To You”  for the Carl Davis/E. Rodney Jones owned Innovation II Record label. The Quadraphonics 45 would also land a subsequent national distribution on the major Warner Brothers label. The original members of Impulse were Michael Reese (Rhodes Piano and background vocals), Cedrick Rupert (Lead and Rhythm guitar), Jeffrey Williamson (Drums and background vocals) and Robin Gregory (Bass and background vocals).The band would later be joined by John Gee as their lead singer and fellow songwriter. John Gee had begun performing secular music in the late 60’s with another Milwaukee oufit, The Chefs, as their original lead singer from 1967 through to his departure in 1972. 

The New Creation

“The Fish Song” / “Elijah Knows” (Soul Junction SJ541) 7’
Release Date: Monday 28th January 2019

• The New Creation were a five piece ensemble made up of family members Robert Randle (Aka Rasheed Shakoor Sr) his son Keith Randle (aka Rasheed Shakoor Jr) their nephew/cousin Melvin Houston, friends William Cooper (aka Wali Ali) and a fifth unrelated member remembered only as Wayne E-2X. William Cooper the co- founder and musical director of The New Creation, was a guitarist who had previously worked with Norman Whitfield at Motown and had toured with The Undisputed Truth and The Jackson Five. He would later be employed by HB Barnum as part of Areatha Franklin’s touring band an association that would be relevant later in The New Creation’s story.

The Internationals

“Beautiful Philosophy/Too Sweet To Be Lonely” (Soul Junction SJ1013) 7’

Legendary songwriting siblings Richard and Robert Poindexter often during the 1960’s frequented the CBS Building at 1697 Broadway and 53rd St (formerly known as the Ed Sullivan Building). On several of their visits they noticed a young man by the name of James “B.J.” Barnes, using one of the building’s many rehearsal rooms. Eventually the Poindexter’s invited B.J’ to partake in one of their open rehearsals. Asked to give their honest opinion regarding his voice, although they both liked him the brothers felt he didn’t have a strong enough voice to be a solo performer and recommended that he join or became a group. The very next day B.J returned with two other singers by the names of Randy and Tony, again the Poindexter’s liked what they heard but felt potentially this new ensemble still needed a fourth member, this situation was rectified with the addition of Douglas “Smokey” Scott the groups eventually lead singer.

Chuck Stephens

“Paying For Your Love/Let’s Get Nasty” (Soul Junction SJ1011) 7′

Release Date: Monday 9th April 2018

Chuck Stephens originally hailed from upstate New York reputedly Buffalo. He was during the mid 1970’s one of the leading disc jockey’s on the popular New York radio station WWRL AM. Chuck had always hankered with the aspiration of being a recording artist and in the pursuit of his dream approached the respected New York songwriting team of brothers Richard and Robert Poindexter.

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The Nu-Rons

“All My Life” / “Disco Hustle”  (Soul Junction SJ1010)

Release Date: Monday 12th February 2018

The Nu-Rons, were a family group consisting of two sets of brothers and cousins, the four young men in question being brothers Daryl Howard and Raymond Gibson (Daryl’s mother registered him under his father’s surname of Howard and Raymond under her maiden name of Gibson) together with Otho Bateman and Charles Bateman. They were all born and raised in Salem, New Jersey and from the age of ten and eleven began singing with a fifth member and Gibson brother Rudolph in a group called The Gospel 5. They eventually decided to crossover to secular music and as a group known for their energetic dance routines they came up with the new performing name of ‘The Nu-Rons’ (taken from the word ‘Neuron’ which is a cell that transmits nerve impulses). However Rudolph was soon to leave the group due to physical illness. Also Daryl Howard and Charles Bateman had also been part of a working group known as The Devotions prior to becoming The Nu-Ron’s.

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Cooperettes & The Toppiks

“Win all your love” (Soul Junction) 7′ SJ1009
Release Date: Monday October 23^rd 2017

The Cooperettes were four sisters, Janette, Angela, Debbie and Tina Cooper from Germantown PA. Who began their singing career under the guidance of their mother Ethyl. Originally performing gospel as The Little Cooperettes they dropped the ‘Little’ when they switched to secular music. Still under the wing of the matriarchal Ethyl Cooper they signed to the management of respected Philly radio disc-jockey and entrepreneur Sonny Hopson (The Mighty Burner) securing a recording deal with Brunswick Records in 1966.

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