Tear Drops, Soul Brothers Inc. (1967 Salem Records) 1960s northern soul group from Christiansburg, Virginia, with vocals by brothers Earl and Marshal Carter. A copy of this rare 45rpm can fetch as much as $5k. (Not to be confused with Soul Brothers Inc. from Houston, Texas, or S.B.I. / Soul Brothers Inc. Records.)
Born and raised in Ozark, Arkansas, Jesse Welles began his career around 2012, performing as Jeh Sea Wells. “It’s obvious that Wells will always be comfortable in some dirty rock and roll kitchen where, as he says in one song, ‘everyone’s kinda ugly in that way that looks pretty.'” – NPR
R&B soul singer Curtis Salgado won the Blues Music Awards’ Soul Blues Male Artist Of The Year two years in a row (2021 & 2022). Salgado was the inspiration behind John Belushi’s creation of the Blues Brothers characters in the late 1970s. They met in Eugene, Oregon, and became friends while Belushi was filming the movie Animal House [Wiki].
Gonna take my hatchet and get a Christmas tree tomorrow. Not gonna cut it, I just get a better price with a hatchet in my hand. Don’t know why, I just do. In the meantime, help yourselves to the porch and I’ll be back soon enough.
Girls Are Out To Get You, The Fascinations (1966) Produced by Curtis Mayfield, this song reached No. 92 on Billboard Hot 100. Formed in 1960, Shirley Walker (aka Shirley Lawson) and Martha Reevesoriginally planned on calling their group the Sabre-ettes. Reeves had more success as lead singer for Martha & The Vandellas.
Being Without You, Maurice Williams (1966) Maurice Williams (with The Zodiacs) was best known for the classic 1960 hit Stay, the shortest recorded number one hit in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart (US).
Ever Again, Bernie Williams (1969) Not to be confused with recording artist and Major League Baseball player of the same name, Bernie Williams was a Northern Soul singer who recorded for Bell Records. A rare promo 45rpm of Ever Again/ Next To You was recently listed for £3,900 ($4,861 USD).
Nite Owl, Tony Allen and The Champs (1955) Anthony Penia Allon, aka Tony Allen, was born in New Orleans of mixed creole, Indian and black parents. He grew up a few houses down from Fats Domino who inspired him; his musical resume is solid. This original version (by Tony Allen and The Chimes – Specialty Records got the group’s name wrong) was also released as Night Owl.
Night Owl, Bobby Paris (1966) Roberto Pares, aka Bobby Paris, was a blue-eyed soul singer (with brown eyes due to his Puerto Rican heritage). In 1956 Paris sang with The Golden Keys, a neighborhood R&B group, began his recording career in 1960 and eventually became a producer for Capitol Records. His first and biggest hit came in 1966 with his cover of Tony Allen’s Nite Owl, rearranged and mashed up with Tom Jones’ 1965 hit It’s Not Unusual.
30 foot waves are expected at south facing beaches in So. California due to the leftovers of Hurricane Hilary. Live surf cams here and here. San Clemente has a decent one.
[Top image: Screened patio, Orange County North Carolina (ca. 2014) found somewhere on Twitter/X.]
Show Stopper, The Cashmeres (HEM Records, 1965) There is little information about this soul group from Washington D.C. (not be confused with The Cashmeres, a doo-wop group from Atlanta GA, or The Cashmeres from Brooklyn NY, or The Cashmeres from Portland OR). A 45rpm copy of Show Stopper is a rarity; according to Discogs, prices range from $680 to $1800 depending on condition.
Tacky Raccoons 