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With Brian Goucher

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We will be coming at you from all angles so be sure to scan the pages.

SOUL 4 REAL & SOUL ESSENCE WEEKENDER-BILBAO

12-14 October 2009

The soul scene in this country is littered with fabulous soul nights and at any one time a quick look through Essential Modern Soul and Soul Source will give you access to what ever genre of the music floats your boat.

But try looking for a soul night that genuinely caters for those of us who have the ability to appreciate all genre’s of the music, everything from the 60’s through to what’s happening now, try throwing in deep and sweet and your probably left with only one venue in the country, and that’s only once a year now. There are a couple of nights out there that subscribe to that ethos, Soul Purpose over there at Sketchley Grange in Leicester, the two Marks and Sam have steered this night to a point where you can guarantee that you will hear something fresh and soulful, no ballads or deep etc though. The Wakefield City Soul club run by the brothers Grimm is another bastion of everything that is soulful, this is probably the best night in the country at the minute, and it’s free in too, and yes you get the slow stuff too.

The Great Yarmouth Weekenders run by the Soul Essence team begun way back in the day because there was no where for us to go, we are about to enter 2010 and Soul Essence 28 will be upon us, 28 weekenders dedicated to the very ethos of playing soul music, the year doesn’t matter neither does rarity. Not so long ago the weekender moved from two per year to one per year but that didn’t quench the thirst for the Yarmouth faithful.

Some seven years ago over the water in sunny Spain the Soul 4 Real Weekenders were born, Mike Charlton and I travelled over as guests and in one weekend another chapter in history of soul music was started. Since then the logical move of Soul Essence and Soul 4 Real joining forces to co promote the Spanish weekender has proven to be roaring success.

In October this year some 50+ Brit’s travelled to Bilbao to sample the hospitality of weekender 16, Spanish and Brit soulies rubbing shoulders in excellent surroundings, bathed in the finest of music, no politics, just a sea of smiling faces. Once again this year I was the guest and as you can see from the playlist the majority of the music I featured was new, recent and decent and what’s more, most have been featured by Mick on his shows, one or two getting multiple plays.

I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed with personal messages about the music, it really has captured the hearts and minds of those in attendance, the really sad thing is that save for the odd tune, you wont be able to hear these tracks out in this country, the main reason being they suffer the stigma of having the words ‘Southern Soul’ attached to them and of course with the exception of one track, none are that rare.

On the launch of the Soul Discovery website I decided to review the music I played in an effort to raise its profile and to try and point some of you in the direction of this wonderful music.

My Playlist’s:

Friday 2300 - 00:30

Tedd Winn “Live your life with ballance”
(without doubt the top new tune of the moment)
Revelations “Remember the last time”
Kashious “All over again”
Trudy Lynn & The Calvin Owens Blues Orchestra “Your the only one”
Pookie Lane “Southern Woman”
Robert Tillman “Don’t lie to me”
Episode “If you think that you love me”
Be 4 Real “Oh lady”
Lou Wilson & Todays People “Around the corner from love”
Minister Marvin Webb “Its time for love”
Immortal Soul “Tell me what you know”
Sharon McMahon “When will love come to me”
Heston “Distant lover”
Charles Wilson “I don’t want to take a chance”
Lawrence Beaman “Thinkin of you”
Fabulous Holidays “Too many times” (Marathon 45)
Holidays “This is love” (Rob-Ron 45)
Harold Currington “One day girl” (Tad 45)
Natural Four “I thought you were mine” (Boola Boola 45)
Village Choir “Sweet hot lips” (NYC Street Sounds 45)
John Edwards “The look on your face” (Bell 45)
4 Tops “Just cant get you out of my mind” (ABC 45)
Mandrill “Too late” ( Arista 45)
Dan Greer “Masquerade” (MGM Sounds of Memphis 45)

Saturday ‘Cotton Club’ 15:00 -16:00

The Sound Investment “Ask the lonely” (Jaguar 45)
Sammy Ridgley “Im dreaming” (Hit Sound 45)
Jennifer Hudson “Im his only woman”
Deborah Cox “Did you ever love me”
Ledisi “Goin thru changes”
Unknown Artist “ Please make it right again”
Unknown Artist “Your lovin is real”
Timmy Thomas “Dizzy Dizzy world” (Climax 45)
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds “I know you don’t love me but you got me anyway” (PYE album track)
The Young Ideas “Put yourself in my shoes” (Jeree 45)
Clifton Dyson “Don’t let the sun go down”
Robert Owens “My Girl” (Unissued)
Anthony Hamilton “Please stay”
Samuel Ham & The Ministry of God “All things are possible”

Saturday 15:30 - 16:45

Tedd Winn “Live your life with balance”
Bobby Warren “Time has come for us to be free”
Walt Luv “Girl I really need you”
(Easily the top new dancer around at the minute)
Lee Roye “Sooner or later”
Mike Jimenez “Someday we’ll get by”
Preston Shannon “The way that I love you”
Southside Johnny “She’s still in love”
Andre Lee “Something about your love”
Johnny Ingram “Here comes love”
Joe Louise Walker “Do you wanna be with me”
Spanky Wilson & The Quantic Soul Orchestra “Waitin for your love”
Michigan Soul Searchers “Where could I go”
Willie Wright “Im so happy now” (1977 Hotel Records album track)
Phase Seven “Sweet Love” (Mid 80’s Shell Records Album track)
Newsound “Bet you never thought about it” (Scorpion 45)
Charles Allen “ We’ve got love” (Greedy 45)
Frank Johnson “Weaker than water” (Dee Vee 45)
The Young Ideas “Losing you has made me a winner” (Jeree 45)
Oscar Weathers “Just to prove I love you” (On Top 45)
Evans Pyramid “No I wont” (Smokah 45)

First up then is the marvellous Ted Winn “Live your life with balance” (Shanachie) taken from a new gospel album, this track oozes class and has jazzy feel, great to dance too with a hook that grabs you immediately. Then we have the much acclaimed Revelations with there anthemic “Remember the last time”. From a very classy album that has surfaced on (Decision Records) This has been a huge play on the various soul radio shows, interestingly neither of these are southern soul tunes, but both so right for today and tomorrow. 

Kashious “All over again” ( Gordon Records) from 2006, Trudy Lynn & The Calvin Owens Orchestra “Your the only one"( Sawdust Alley Records) there’s no date on the disc but I’ve had mine for 4 years now. Pookie Lane “Southern Woman” (Allison Records) from 2007 Robert Tillman “Don’t lie to me"(Ace Records) 1994. These four can most certainly be titled as Southern Soul, Kashious is the most subtle of dancers with a really strong killer vocal that was so cruelly ignored at the time of its release, Trudy Lynn is already regarded as a classic, we all know what a great vocalist she is, but put her with a full on orchestra, with a really strong song and WOW, without doubt this one will stand the test of time. Pookie Lane was a very well accepted tune which actually garnered a lot of attention from jocks across the whole spectrum, Robert Tillman has never really been given any air time, I bought the album as a new release and I’ve never been able to understand why this has never gotten the raps it deserves. A quite wonderful vocal over a midtempo backing makes this a dead cert for future recognition; trouble is it will be to late for Mr Tillman.

The Ojays influenced Episode with there “If you think that you love me” (Cobalt Music Inc) from a four track mini album is a stunning example of modern day soul music, a philly styled gem that is so ripe for radio play, but alas I’ve only heard Mick play this on his show. A simply wonderful lead vocal, some supreme harmonies and a music score to rival the best. Already 4 years old and still awaiting attention from the masses. Be 4 Real is even older surfacing first time round in 2001, “Oh lady” is a real tour de force vocal harmony opus, I really can’t speak highly enough of this tune, the label is Caprice International Records, you need these, you really do.

Lou Wilson & Todays People “Around the corner from love” (frontline records) is still a relatively unknown dancer, but for the past 3 years a small group of us have been extolling the virtues of this opus, each and every time I play this out I get folks coming to the decks to have a looksee, of course the albums profile is about to be raised with the release of the other superb dancer on the album, on a 45 too, expect “ Settle Down” to get some serious plays in the coming months. If you get the chance grab a listen to “If it aint broke don’t try to fix it” and absolute stunning opus that meanders along on a bed of piano, drums, sx and base and a great a vocal as you would expect. Minister Marvin Webb “Its time for love”, the album gives no details in respect of the label or year but this was a new one to me earlier this year. It’s amazing to think this guy sent Mick this one night asking him what he thought and whether he thought t would be appreciated. From the moment I heard it I was hooked, hints of Marvin Gaye in the backing track, his vocals are straight out of the old school, laidback, strong and full of fire. Another of my fave raves is Immortal Soul “Tell me what you know” (Unique Expressions) from 2007. This is how I like my group soul, the lead has some real bollocks in his voice and he’s putting some bitch well and truly right, lyrically this is a real throwback, he’s telling a story with passion, grits and power.

Now then Sharon McMahon “When will love come to me” (So Calitown Records) this 2007 mid tempo grower has been slowly getting the plaudits with each and every play, she is of course the lady who had a number of releases in the late 60’s early 70’s. This was another that my good mate Mark Houghton and I were shouting about at the time of release, sometimes, just sometimes you do wonder why the hell we bother.

Heston’s album should need no introduction, several tracks have been plundered by a variety of jocks, I was immediately smitten by “Distant lover”, probably the most instant track on the album, but hey it floats my boat, a delicious rhythm that doesn’t let up, his vocals are near perfect throughout the album but on this track he excels big time.

For many Charles Wilson’s album will be the album of the year, real instruments including a string section. His vocals are exactly what we have come to expect, he very rarely disappoints, its just some of the productions on some of his previous albums is very poor, and lately he’s fallen for this “Party” nonsense that features on so many southern albums, But this latest album is one very special affair. It appears that no expense was spared. I went for “I don’t want to take a chance”, full of depth, melody and feeling. Wonderful, simply wonderful, surfaced on Severn Records.
Next then we have Lawrence Beaman “Thinkin’ of you” ( L-Recordz) when Colin Curtis played this at Sketchley Grange everyone was smitten with it musically, but when those deep rich vocals boomed out over the mid-tempo backing, I was at the head of a pack heading towards Colin shouting “Who the foooooooooooooooooooookin hell is this”. I remember getting home the next day (we stayed the night) and going straight on line and securing my own copy from the man’s own site. If you like Cunnie Williams then you will like this too. Another essential purchase for the discerning soul man.

Bobby Warren “Time has come for us to be free"(Konkord Records) is an accepted monster everywhere, Mark Houghton was the first person I heard play it, on Mick’s show, it sounded so good, 4 years later its now an occasional play for most of the jocks I know.
Next up comes the finest dancer around at the minute, played on a big sound system this really is an awesome tune, Walt Luv “Girl I really need you” (Monkey Wrench Records) is taken from the mans new album which surfaced on download only, in late September. The really sad thing about this track is that other than Mark Merry, I’ve not heard one other person mention it, if you’re a 70’s collector then this would not sound out of place. This I fear will be lost and come back to haunt many of you in the future, hell, if the northern scene was looking for the next bootleg then its this.

Lee Roye came out of no-where earlier this year with a 10 tracker on (Artizen Records), very southern sounding in places, but tucked away on this album is a stunning 80’s sounding dancer that rammed the floor, the track in question is “Sooner or later”. Quite how this tune found its way onto this album is beyond me, it’s definitely out of place, another one that will hang around for years to come. To all those jocks that still insist Raj is a good tune, get your ears around this, you wont play that very average 45 again. Of course Mike Jimenez “Someday we’ll get by” is an anthem and should need no introductions, destined to be bootlegged for the Northern scene. Preston Shannon is a modern day journey man, currently cutting great music out of Nashville, with a great voice and always a top production, “The way that I love you"(Title Tunes Records) is a 2006 swinging horn laden mid tempo dancer that had ‘em up and at it big time, all the more amazing is that the majority in attendance hadn’t heard it before. Another wonderful up-tempo dancer that was missed at the time of release but found favour this year is Southside Johnny “She’s still in love” ( Leroy Records) is a dance floor filler and again, this one will be around now for the foreseeable future, its already 7 years old and like many I missed it at the time of release and discovered it earlier this year. And for another blast from the past we have Andre Lee and his anthemic dancer ”Something about your love” from 1997. Those vocals really are something else. Staying in a similar vein we have Johnny Ingram with his urgent dancer “Here comes love” from his 2002 hard to find album ”The Love Messenger” , (Society Hill Records) another really strong male lead over an insistent backing.  .

Of all the wonderful music I played the two tracks that got the most attention and interest were the following two. Purists might want to go and make a cup of tea whilst I talk about these. First up then is Joe Louise Walker “Do you wanna be with me” from 2002 (Telarc Records) Iv had this from new, the album is very bluesy but this track starts off with a thumping base, drums and the blackest, grittiest voice you’ve ever heard, I’d never played this out until this year when I aired it at the Hidden Rooms and then at this doo, its seven minutes long and half way it turns into a funky dancer complete with the most amazing guitar solo, aka Santana. The floor was rammed, I had the biggest smile ever on my face, they were coming up to the decks in there droves wanting to know who it was. Gavin Page was heard to mutter something about Goucher playing heavy rock records again, such was the impact of that tune I decided I could play anything, I had em hooked so the laser flicker was loaded up with Spanky Wilson & The Quantic Soul Orchestra “Waitin’ for your love” (Tru Thoughts). Now as all who attended will know, this isn’t for the faint hearted, its hard incessant horn driven funk that just envelopes your mind and body, with the kind of vocal that Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings would be proud of. This arrived in 2006 but I was a late starter on this one, a mate at work gave me 5 tracks off the album, I was amazed at the quality and at the fact I didn’t already know it or have it. I soon put that right.

What more can be said about the Michigan Soul Searchers 1996 outing “Where could I go” (Bell Time) the absolute ultimate gospel dancer, with the kind of vocal that can’t and won’t be equalled. Mark Merry brought this to our attention and I’m doing everything I can to raise its profile. Wonderful, simply wonderful.

Well, there you go, if you’ve managed to get here then your wants list should have increased ten fold, and I’m not apologising for that either.  If you hear me play out anytime soon, unlikely I know, but if you do then expect to hear some of these.

Soul People

I was given the opportunity to present a two hour show on Solar Radio Sunday 20th September - thanks to everyone who called in with their support.  Here’s the playlist and download for anyone who missed out.  I hope you find something you like.

http://SoulPeople20Sep09GouchFullShow.notlong.com

Mae Gee “You”
Ledisi “Goin thru changes”
Donald Pinkney “Dont take your love away”
Betty Wright “Watch out love” 45
Tyrone Davis “Was i just a fool” 45
Archie Bell & The Drells “Just a little closer” 45
Tommie Leveal “Never turn my back on you”
B-4-Real “Oh baby”
Chelly K “Pinch me”
Cissy Houston “I’ll be there”
The Producers “Mirror Mirror”
Marcell & The Truth “I can’t wait”
Charles Wilson “I dont wanna take achance”
Charles Allen “We got love” 45
The Village Choir “ Sweet hot lips” 45
Dan Greer “Masquerade” 45
Frank Johnson “Weeker than water” 45
Warren Wilson “Forget my name” 45
Robert Jay “Whoever heard of a love like this” 45
Bill Curtis & Friends “My Friend”
Tommy Tate “You want me too”
Dan Greer “For the children” LP
Willie Wright “I’m so thankful” LP
The Ovations “One in a million” LP
First Class “Nothing you can do” LP
Eddie Kendricks “If I cant love you then I cant love me”
Lee Roy “Sooner or later”
Doktu Rhute “Trumpin my ace”
Tommie Leveal “Butterflies”
Cleveland Robinson “I think Im gonna go back home”
Noel McKoy “Fly away with me”

Soul Discovery - The Album

The most eagerly awaited long player for some considerable time has finally landed at your favourite soul music emporium, and from early reports the soul community have embraced it by the bucket load. This 17 tracker is the brainchild of Mick O’Donnell who has been filling the airwaves with this brand of soul music for many a year, the 209 Radio studios in sleepy Cambridgeshire, in the heart of the UK, has played host to the ‘Soul Discovery’ radio show locally and more recently, having gained an FM licence, worldwide. Mick’s more recent foray into Solar Radio has also helped to raise the profile of the music and his show.

So what’s all the fuss about?  Well first up is a genuine compilation of new, recent and decent soul music with one dusty, and what a dusty it is too, probably the most sought after 45 in the world, The Cobra Heart Band ‘Thinking of You’. You can read more about this simply stunning ballad elsewhere on my page.

Secondly all of the artists donated there music for free - they all simply wanted to be a part of this project, artists, some of whom are household names within the soul fraternity, others who felt they genuinely had something to offer. To be fair most of the tracks have been played at some time or other by Mick.

And thirdly, nearly all of the music on the album is released for the first time anywhere, with the odd remix too.

In the early days a number of big names indicated they would want to get involved, then suddenly made wild financial demands for any tracks they made available, in any event there were too many other artists who simply wanted to put the music first.

So we have 17 stonking examples of the music we all love, kicking off with great dancer “Trumping my Ace” by Doktu Rhute, better known to most of us as Roy Hightower, this driving horn laden monster in the making should be ripping up dance floors everywhere. I’v actually dropped this at several venues over the past four months and the response was phenomenal.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, along come The Controllers with there stunning ballad “Still in My Heart”. If this is the benchmark they have set for the new material then the next album could just be the album of the last decade. A wonderful lead with delicious harmonies takes us back to the halcyon days of the Temps, Ojays, Intruders, Moments, Independants etc, the list is endless.

Don’t worry Clarence, we know who you are even if the guy who proofed the liner notes doesn’t, Mr. Dobbins and Omar Cunningham’s smoocher should be dominating soul radio playlists now, sheer quality all the way with two impassioned vocalists going for it over a radio friendly backing.

Jason Little promises great things to come with a unique voice that gets into your head, his “Come Back” is a real joy and then some.

For some Nellie ‘Tiger’ Travis is the current queen of southern soul and why not, the voice is distinct, powerful full of passion, she’s able to tell a tale in the way that Shirley Brown, Mille Jackson, Dottie Moore etc can. I fell in love with her when her first album surfaced a few years ago, “Queen of the Blues” is a fabulous tribute song but its place on this album is rightly claimed.

Soul music’s friend, and all round good guy, Kashious has possibly THE track on the album, his voice is a beautiful tool which he uses to its best effect, this guy can do no wrong in my house.  ‘Now then my man, where’s your new album? The first album was a great listen, then you’ve softened us up with a track or two on other compilations and now this. We demand a new album now mate!’ - If you’ve not heard this man’s voice then you’re in for a real treat.

Now then, TJ Hooker was a new name to me and he’s got a great voice, sounds like he’s just stepped out of the church, he’s a Southern Soul man big time with a good song, what a great introduction to his work he has given us.

From the moment I first heard ‘Xception To The Rule’ on Mick’s show some months ago I was hooked on the harmonies and the swapping leads, it immediately took me back to the days of the Emotions, Jones Girls etc. Another group where we need an album from them.

I haven’t of course mentioned T.P.O.B, Steph Pickett, Marcel & The Truth, Maurice, Fathers Children, Andre Marius, Carl Marshall and Oak III, for no other reason that they are all household names to the soul fraternity thanks to the Soul Discovery Radio Show.

What I’m about to say now isn’t meant as criticism BUT a message to the artists, producers and label owners, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE substitute your synchs for real instruments, the sound of a real drum, real base, a Hammond and real horns is what we want to hear. A case in point is the new Charles Wilson album on Severn Records. A beautiful album from one of your own utilising real instruments, even strings. This album will be in the top three of just about everyone who has heard it and I have no doubt it will be revered in years to come.

Back to ‘Soul Discovery’, this is soul music, the way it should be, the way it used to be, how it’s meant to be, how it must be.

Brian out

STEPHANIE PICKET “Finally made it” (CDS Records 2009)

This album came from nowhere and immediately went to the top of the Southern Soul charts world wide.  So what’s all the fuss about?  Well, this lady’s voice is nothing short of iconic, she sits perfectly with the likes of Denise Lasalle, Candie Staton, Betty Swann et all. YES she really is that good! 

I will have to concede that musically it is a little challenging, no real horns, synths sadly which ceate that horrible reedy sound, but hey the voice and lyrics make this album a total must have. You have to feel sorry for this lass, just prior to entering the studio her band walked out on her, wanting more money, they obviously think she’s a big star now. She first came to notice on the ‘Southern Soul Party’ vol 2 compilation earlier this year, this is one lady we all need to stand up and pay some homage too. The two tracks that stunned me first time round were “Can’t get you off my mind” an emotive and passion fuelled ballad, and “Run,n”, a stupendous downtempo dancer.

CHARLES WILSON “Troubled Child” (Severn Records 2009)

Another very recent release which has knocked Steph’s album into second place and its no real wonder why either, real instruments abound including real strings, as is the norm with this southern soul journeyman - his voice is very black and beautiful. There are some wondrous moments on here, take a listen to Luther Ingram’s “Take a chance on me”, he’s taken the accepted soul classic and turned into his own tune, this one will run for some time to come. Anyone who has heard Sam Dees’ “Troubled child” will know what a truly epic tune it is, well Mr. Wilson has had a go at it on this album and he’s pulled it off, have a listen for yourself - written some 30+ years ago but lyrically Soooooooooooooooo relevant for today. There aint a duff track on this album and it should be in your collection now. This guy has an album out on CDS Records as well, but don’t waste your money, synthesised rubbish and lyrically a very poor album. Rumour has it is that Charles didn’t tell CDS about this album, he wants to release real soul music, using real instruments (something CDS have difficulty with).

LEE FIELDS “My World” (Truth & Soul Records 2009)

This album has been hogging the laser flicker in both the car and in the record room for a couple of weeks now, not for the faint hearted, this is raw, very black, funky soul. There are hints of James Brown all over this album however, Lee Fields as we all know, really is his own man. A true journeyman who has released great soul records for over 35 years now, mostly on small independent labels. This album was preceded by several funky soul 45’s which really did wet our appetites for this album. I had such high hopes for this album and I wasn’t disappointed, I have no doubt that this 11 tracker will go on to become an accepted classic. Too many great tracks to mention but I’m currently hammering the hell out of the strings and things dancer “My world is empty without you”, quality, real quality.

ELLIS PHELPS/WILLIAM SWANN & REGINALD PHELPS “ I’m still here” (e-Boogie Records Inc 2009)

This is another top top quality album, ballads, mid-tempo and dancers are in here. Echoes of Frankie Beverley & Maze abound and it really is a joy throughout. Real instruments and the kind of production from back in the day, William Swann’s voice is a wonderful tool which he uses with consummate ease sounding like Frankie Beverley at times.  Vocally, lyrically and musically this album is everything that you could wish for.  Top marks to Ellis Phelps on the production, making this very special indeed.

Freely available from all good outlets.  What you waiting for? Go get it!

The Cobra Heart Band “Thinking of you” (Cobra Heart Records)

The story began for me way back in the day, late 1990 early1991 ish I think when I had a list of soul 45’s arrive from one of my then regular suppliers, Ian Faulkner from Shropshire, he was such a nice guy and super to deal with, if you bought anything off him and you didn’t want to keep it, he would gladly take it back, that’s why I liked his lists, you could afford to take a chance on tunes that were unknown to you, and so this list arrives and I see a tune I’d not heard of before, The Cobra Heart Band “Thinking of you” on Cobra Heart Records. Ian described it as a nice ballad, so I was in there. I still remember the day it arrived and its first play, such was its initial impact, about 9 months on I announced its arrival to the soul world by including it in a personal top ten and having it published in the ‘Voices From The Shadows’ magazine issue 19 which surfaced in the Autumn of 1991. I’ve lifted the review direct from that magazine.

“Having picked this up some 8 months ago now, this tune has been played virtually every day and I actually rate this as one of my top buys for 91. Released in 1983, this track boasts some of the most soulful guitar work around, teasing ad tempting the best out of our male lead who sings from the off as if his very life depends on it. Female backing is kept well to the back of the mix. Quite simply a deep soul classic in the making here, no doubt about it. Can and will stand shoulder to shoulder with any other tune you care to mention. Eternal thanks to Ian Faulkner who if I remember correctly, simply said “A nice ballad”. Ho Ho Ho

At the time Voices was the number one soul music magazine in the world specialising in new recent and decent tunage but also paying homage to the roots of our music with pages and pages of reviews of long forgotten/unknown sevens, albums etc nestling alongside the latest cd long player and promo’s. When a piece of music was mentioned in its hallowed pages soul folk around the world paid attention. At the time I fully expected other copies to surface and I would be able to chew the fat about its glory, but that never happened. I suppose it started to dawn on me about a year later when top collectors having heard it admitted they didn’t own a copy, lists have been coming to the house relentlessly over the years and I’ve never seen another for sale. I already knew I had a very special tune, it quickly became my top sound here at home, but I also realised it was a rarity, over the years it has gone on to be the holy grail for the ‘thinking’ soul man and I could have sold it a hundred times over. 

The coming together of the Soul Essence Weekenders also helped raise its awareness, the inception of the ‘Downbeat Lounge’, a room where all things deep, sweet, ballad etc are played. We are now at Essence 27 and each and every year I take it along for its annual airing, my spot is usually 4/5 pm ish, and the room fills up to almost bursting point, many simply want hear what is for them the greatest piece of soul music they have ever heard.

I decided very early on to do all I could to protect it from the bootleggers and the parasites that blight the soul scene over here, and in all the years I’ve had it, I think I only copied it for three close friends.

From the information on the label and using the internet a few months ago whilst having a look-see on the net I sent an e-mail to Doyle Wood via his Daxwood Studio’s telling him about the tune, its status within our world and just to put my toe in the water really, the reaction was a wonderful feeling for me, a few more e-mails and the next thing I knew was that Michael Stokes the producer was making contact.

My good friend Mick O’Donnell has the finest soul show around at the minute, every two weeks on a Sunday, between 12 and 3 you can hear the finest new releases, played alongside everything else that is soulful, he was putting together an album with CDS Records, a various artists compilation, of Southern Soul, many of which would be surfacing for the first time, I suggested we try and include the Cobra Heart Band, I put Mick in touch with Doyle and Michael and the rest is history.

By the time you read this you should have your copy of one the greatest soul records ever to surface in your hands. Doyle has the rights to “Thinking of you” and has allowed it to be made available to the masses for free, how cool is that, a yank putting the music first, unheard of. You’re a legend mate, a real legend.

At Soul Essence 27 I let the cat out of the bag, and prior to playing “Thinking of you” I told everyone about the impending release, then the stories started coming out. Top collector and soul connoisseur Dave Halsall told me he had a huge file on the record and had scoured the USA looking for a copy and had been looking for years, this guy is a prolific vinyl hunter and has contacts littered all over the states. Several other stories of a similar nature were recounted, behind the scenes there was an industry with hundreds of people all searching for this tune.

The looks on the faces, the smiles, the shaking of hands and all round positive feeling in the room made me realise just what a great thing is happening with this tune finally surfacing for all to buy.

In one of my e-mails to Michael I asked him to give me the low down on the Band and as much as he could remember, I’ve re produced Michael’s e-mail in full below;

The History of the Cobra Heart Band.

“In 1983, I lived in Fayetteville, North Carolina when the band was formed. First, I will start off telling with how the band got their name. I always have liked the king cobra snakes, how they move and how they hypnotize prey before it strikes. I have a lot of love in my heart and slow love music it sooths the savage beast. Well my mother always said kill them with kindness, so people love hard and sometimes too hard. My motto was back in the day, was to play and create love songs with the smoothness of a king cobra and with the love from your heart, thus The Cobra Heart Band was formed. Sheila Grumbach-Stokes, Robyn Hurst and Michael Stokes were the first of the band members’, I set out to recruit a bass player and a drummer, so I would go to the recreation center on Fort Bragg, North Carolina where people could go to practice their skills on whatever instrument they played. Next I added Dino as my bass player and Anthony “J” Johnson my drummer and the next added was Rochelle Preston who was one of the lead singers of the band. The first song that was recorded at Daxwood Recording Studio was called “Cobra Heart” a jazz piece named after the band.

Shortly after that first recording I felt like the bass player was not going to work out, so as the problems began with him I felt I needed to replace him, well needless to say he was relieved of duty and replaced by Travis Brown the meanest bass player this side of the globe in my opinion but that was much later. Dino did get to record one more song before he left and the name of that song was “You’re a mystery” a ballad and the words were written by Rochelle Preston and I wrote the music. As we started to develop our sound different musicians were coming up to me and asking if I needed anymore members. If I did I’d tell them yes if I didn’t I’d tell them no. Later on I added Richard Bigham to the band. When we went to Daxwood the owner and guitar player Doyle Wood was asked if he would be interested in playing a guitar lick on these tracks and he agreed. So you will hear Doyle Wood on “Thinking of you and Cobra Heart”. After about six weeks of rehearsals at the Fort Bragg recreation center, I told the band that we were going to a talent show and perform our originals while all the other bands performed the top twenty hits during that time. Believe it or not we were just as accepted as the other bands were.

Right before we went on the stage there were these two guys getting ready to performing “On the wings of love, by Jeffery Osborne. Well I sent my sound man over to ask them if they were in a band and if they weren’t would they like to join my band, and the reply was yes just as we were going on the stage. So the new addition was Travis Brown and Perry Widman. After we got off stage I met with them and told them when to come to rehearsal and what time.

So one day there after Robyn came to me and said she had wrote a song and she wanted to show it to me, so I checked it out and I began to writing the music, she just had the words no melody just words. So once I got the music together, I introduced it to the band and we started to rehearse that track. Once we got it down to my satisfaction we went into the studio with it. Out of all the rehearsals on that track, Perry never made not one practice, but then on the day we were going to record it here he shows up, imagine that!!! Nevertheless I gave him the lyrics and I told him if he mess this up he’s out of the band well needless to say, he sang it as he read it at the same time and it was a one taker a real success. The following week we interred another talent show, again I heard some more musicians that I liked I sent my sound man over to them too to see if they wanted to be a part of my band. The only problem with that was they were already in a band, but I didn’t care all I knew was I wanted them and I got them too. Their names were Darrell Eldridge another bass player/Drummer and Stuart Beacon background vocals.  After that we started recording the rest of the album which came to a total of ten (10) more tracks but they were recorded on a sixteen track one inch tape reel and we never got them mixed and mastered. I am in touch with Travis Brown the bass player, Sheila Grumbach, Robyn Hurst Doyle Wood and Leroy McKinney a drummer and personal friend that made up the rhythm section of the band. So you see the Cobra Heart band were a multi-task and versatile band. The band was made up of mostly military personal, so when Uncle Sam AKA the Army, say you have to go, you have to go. The band started to lose the members one after another due to the military shipping them off to other states and other countries. Now here in 2009 we are getting it back in stride……… Thank you for loving “Thinking of you”

Yours Truly, Michael A. Stokes

You like me will be astounded that the lead singer Perry Widman simply walked in off the street and cut the vocal in one take, reading from the lyric sheet. It certainly doesn’t sound like that when you listen to it, a bloody amazing vocal. We also now know that the soulful guitar that caresses the tune was played by Doyle himself who just happened to be in the studio at the time of the session.  The early beginnings of the song were created by band member Robyn Hurst.

So what is it that has us all raving about it, it starts off fairly innocuously, in fact according to Doyle the owner of the Daxwood studio, the first couple of notes are bum notes, he wanted to know whether we wanted him to fix those notes in the re-mastering, obviously it was a resounding no. Lead singer, Perry Widman, god what a voice, you can almost feel his pain as he’s trying to tell the woman in his life what he feels for her. It builds and builds to a crescendo of an impassioned scream, the kind a man in pain would serve up, the tune fades at this point and you desperately want more, for years I searched for a 12”, I didn’t know if one existed but my reasoning was simple, there had to be, how could they just simply turn this guy off, there had to be more, just had to be.

But it’s the production skills of Michael Stokes that really serves us this dish, he’s allowed the vocals to dominate the whole proceedings without drowning them out with the music score, Doyle’s guitar is also mixed perfectly too, all in all as we have said many times, this really is the perfect tune in every way. To wet your appetite even more I’m told that the session that spawned “Thinkin” also spawned another 8/9 tracks and I’m told they really are the dogs bollocks, hopefully some or all will see the light of day.

On behalf of every collector and lover of this wonderful music I would like to thank Doyle Wood for allowing “Thinking of you” to be included in the cd, thank you to Michael Stokes for being a gentleman, incidentally Michael sent me a preview of some music he’s working on and all I can say is WOW, and finally thanks to Mick O’Donnell for pulling it all together.

Cheers
Brian Goucher