Mary Love - Dance Children

Written and produced by the great Ashford and Simpson I thought this Mary Love track is just perfect for the weekend. Mary commands us to dance, but with this solid beat there's nothing much else to do than dance!

Mary Love herself is one of those Soul troopers that never did quite made it, but is still active today. Her Modern recordings have gradually become legendary in some cicles and are well worth checking out. Soulsource had the pleasure of interviewing Mary a few years back. Still a great read on this power house.



Available on The Real Thing: The Songs of Ashford, Simpson and Armstead

The Music Explosion - Little Bit O' Soul

Granted, the Music Explosion were not the first to record this track, the Little Darlings were. The Darlings however failed to make any impression on the airwaves, while the Music Explosion were everywhere for a while, raching all the way up to #2 in the charts. For the Music Explosion it was their only real hit, but at least they remain Garage legends to this day!

The Mc Coys - Say Those Magic Words

The Mc Coys was one of those bands that scored one monster hit only to slip into obscurity afterwards. Theirs was Hang On Sloopy. A cover of My Girl Sloopy by the Vibrations. Bt as is often the case, being a one hit wonder, doesn't mean they don't have a few killer 45s to spare. Say Those Magic words is one of those 45s that went unnoticed by the larger public. The air waves were poorer for it!

Major Lance - Monkey Time

Aside from being a brilliant song writer, vocalist and guitar player, Curtis Mayfield produced many great singles for other artists. It always amazes me just how many great records Curtis Mayfield recorded on himself with the impressions and others on the side. He was without a doubt one of the most creative souls ever to grace the recording industry.

Monkey Time is one of my favorites. Though it is arguably just a throw away dance record few dance records sound quite as warm and inviting. Any good dance record should invite you to join in the fun of whatever dance it promotes. With its punchy horns and it's subtle dragging funk groove you can't help but shout and shimney even though the record sounds almost unbearably light. Monkey Time is simply just one of those great mysteries that pull you in, whether you want to or not. The music begins to play and automatically you're on your way.



Available on Curtis Mayfield's Chicago Soul

Thurston Harris - Be Baba Leba

Thurston Harris is know as a one hit wonder from the sunny state of California. He scored a whopping million seller with Little Bitty Pretty One, after which not much happened. Not for the lack of great singles though. Be Baba Leba sounds so irresistible that it should have been another million seller.

The record opens a bit tame, with a few rather fruity back up singers. But as soon Thurston storms in it's a rave. Thurston Harris shows he could be a furious shouter and translates the joy of this fine 45 with a fervorous fervor. Again, it is one of those places where we all have been. Just every once in a great while we all meet that one person that'll make you Be Baba Leba just at the prospect of seeing her again. Simply because that sweetness doesn't let itself describe any better than simply Be Baba Leba. So Be Baba Leba my friends!



Of course, the original in this case is by Helen Humes, in a great early jump blues version.

Thurston's version is available as a vinyl reissue. What better reason to dust off your turn table right?

Bobby Fuller Four - Don't Ever Let Me Know

Bobby Fuller is often characterized as something of a Buddy Holly impersonator. While Bobby did was a big fan of the horn glassed R&R legend and modelled many of his records to Holly's example, Fuller also managed to turn out a few stompers who came closer to Motown and the British Invasion bands of his day. Don't Ever Let Me Know is a prime example of one such singles.

Driven by a propelling beat and chipper hand claps, Don't Ever Let Me Know is a rather desperate lover's plea. The Fuller on this record knows he's being two timed by his baby, knows she's too much woman for one man. But, he'd rather not know. In ignorance he can enjoy his own vision on their love. Not knowing he can uphold that chipper outlook on their relationship and imagine he's got plenty of reason to celebrate his love in this fine stomper.



Available on I Fought the Law: The Best of the Bobby Fuller Four

Paul Chaplain & His Emeralds - Shortnin' Bread

Another favorite of the Cramps. Paul Chaplain is one of those cats that sort of just popped in and out of the recording industry to leave us with that one killer record. Released in 1960, this raving version of an old folk song, is about as wild as a record ever got. The Emeralds were a band that were as Country as a band could get. They even had fiddles. I couldn't tell you where the fiddles went on this monster though. It is all wild swinging guitars and a whooping and hollering vocals on this great little disc. Unfortunately, it proved too wild for America at the time and never made it beyond the lower regions of the Billboard Top 100. Chappy, as people called Paul, released one more 45, Swinging in the Rockies. The fire burned short and fast.



Available on Theme Time Radio Hour: With Your Host Bob Dylan