“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.
Continue reading Elbowed-Out
“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.
Continue reading Impulse
“The Fish Song” / “Elijah Knows” (Soul Junction SJ541) 7’
Release Date: Monday 28th January 2019
“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.
Continue reading The Internationals
“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.
“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.
We Got A Sweet Thing Going On Volume THREE Catalogue #SJCD5014
The third volume of our “We Got A Sweet Thing Going On” series returns with yet another esoteric mix of sweet and group harmony soul. This compilation features both sides of The Scott Three’s in demand rarity “Running Wild (Ain’t Gonna Help You)/Gotta Find A New Love” they are joined by fellow Georgian Robert Montgomery (check out his two recent Soul Junction 45’s) with his previously unissued recording “Love Song About You”. The City of Brotherly Love is heavily represented in this compilation with acts such as The Toppiks with both sides of their desirable Larsam 45 “Give It A Chance To Grow/Surrender” and their previously unissued track “Win All Your Love” a recent release on a Soul Junction 45 (SJ1009) as the flip to The Cooperettes version of the same song, a double dose of Philly soul heaven.
There were several groups within the Detroit music scene that shared the name of ‘The Holidays’. From the 1950’s through to the late 1960’s our version of The Holidays who took their name from a group members car, a 1954 Oldsmobile ‘Holiday’, would record for the Star-x, Markie, Master and Holiday record Labels. Founding member James Holiday would also briefly pursue a solo career with releases on the Markie, Syco and Blue Rock labels respectively.
“Win all your love” (Soul Junction) 7′ SJ1009
Release Date: Monday October 23rd 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.
“If The Shoe Fits” SJLP 5013 & SJCD 5013
In 1969 a local Philly group, The Intrigues, hit pay dirt with their self penned song “In A Moment”, initially released on their own Bullet label. This Thom Bell and Bobby Martin song was later picked up by the NYC Yew label and made it to #10 in the R&B charts that same year. An album entitled “In A Moment” and a further five Yew 45’s followed although none of these were able to replicate the success of their initial hit. Following two 45 releases on GRT’s Janus label in 1972, The Intrigues, Alfred (Al) Brown, Ronald Hamilton, James Harris and James Lee Jr later disbanded.