Covered With Soul Vol. 11
In this instalment in the Covered With Soul series we have a second selection of soul songs covered by soul acts. We have met most of the featured artists before, perhaps none more so than Erma Franklin. Here we have Erma covering a song originally performed by her bigger sister, Aretha Franklin (whose 70th birthday we have just celebrated). One act here is quite unlike any of the others we have heard in this series: Una Valli was not only white (as were the Flaming Embers), but also South African, having some local success as a soul singer in the late 1960s ““ and, boy, did she have soul!
So, in this mix there are covers of songs that were hits for Eddie Floyd, The Temptations, Jackie Wilson, Clarence Carter, Bill Withers, Sam Cooke, Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, Al Green, Freda Payne, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Friends Of Distinction, Aretha Franklin (three of them), Willie Mitchell, Ike & Tina Turner, Sly & the Family Stone, Marvin Gaye, Luther Ingram, Sam & Dave (two of them, though the Rotary Connection version is barely recognisable as their song), Eddied Holman, and Ray Charles.
PW in comments.
TRACKLISTING:
1. Archie Bell & the Drells – Knock On Wood (1968)
2. Marvin Gaye – I Wish It Would Rain (1970)
3. The Dells – (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher (1968)
4. The Chairmen Of The Board – Patches (1970)
5. Denise LaSalle – Lean On Me (1973)
6. Mavis Staples – You Send Me (1969)
7. Lyn Collins – If You Don’t Know Me By Know (1975)
8. Margie Joseph – Let’s Stay Together (1973)
9. Ronnie Dyson – Band Of Gold (1970)
10. The Persuaders – Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me (1974)
11. Flaming Ember – Going In Circles (1971)
12. Tina Britt – Dr. Feelgood (1969)
13. Madeline Bell – Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (1968)
14. Rosetta Hightower – River Deep And Mountain High (1971)
15. Erma Franklin – Baby I Love You (1969)
16. Hearts Of Stone – ‘Thank You’ Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin (1970)
17. Marlena Shaw – Save The Children (1972)
18. Millie Jackson – (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right (1974)
19. Una Valli – I Never Loved A Man The Way I Loved You (1968)
20. Spooky & Sue – When Something Is Wrong With My Baby (1975)
21. The Glass House – Hey There Lonely Girl (1971)
22. Gene Chandler – Hallelujah, I Love Her So (1970)
23. Rotary Connection – Soul Man (1967)
“¦
PW = amdwhah
Thank you
Thanks – these are great. In doing a bit of research on the original artists, it seems that The Chairmen Of The Board originally recorded Patches before Clarence Carter!
So it was. And it was co-written by General Johnson (with Ron Dunbar). And they won a Grammy for it!
Seeing as I claim to know a thing or two about soul and original songs, I ought to be embarrassed for not having known that. Time to retire in an exile of shame…
@halfhearteddude
Don’t worry – no exile needed! Sometimes I wonder if the original artist’s version of a more popular cover can be called a reverse-cover.
Great set! I used to have the 45 of The Persuader’s version of “The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me.” Actually, I remember hearing that version on soul radio before Gladys Knight’s. I think The Persuader’s was the original and Knight’s the cover.
Glad you liked it, Ben. I think Danny Thomas did the original version (and if anyone has it, I’d love to get it). The Persuaders LP “Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me” came out in 1974, and the label of the single says 1974 as well (http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Persuaders-Best-Thing-Ever-Happened-Me-7-45-ATCO-45-6956-Vinyl-/280827154743). The Knight version was released in November 1973 on the “Imagination” album, but was released as a single only in 1974, which might explain why you heard The Persuaders version first.
Danny Thomas? Marlo’s Dad? How funny. I think the Knight and The Persuaders’ version were out around the same time, but it was Gladys’ version that became the bigger hit, though I still prefer The Persuaders version. Love the blog.
Oh, no…the crocko has croakedo! Can you re-up tghis fine collection, please…?
Thanks…
It’s now up again.