Music from a northern soul (blues, house, jazz, cd)

**right-track** · 01-19-2008, 03:27 PM

I'm going to start this thread off with a series of posts profiling some of the lesser known 60's R&B/Soul labels of the U.S.
These labels were dominated by the Motown monopoly and consequently, in some cases, only enjoying regional success denying incredible artists the fame they deserved.

All labels will include a short outline history and include (some of which are rare) records of the featured label.

**Urban Hatemonger** · 01-19-2008, 03:31 PM

I look forward to reading it

**right-track** · 01-19-2008, 04:02 PM

Okeh Records

Originally based in New York city the Okeh label began its existence in 1918, recording all kinds of music.
By 1920 onwards it become a subsidiary label for Columbia Records and in the same decade opened a studio in Chicago, which focused its attention on black (‘Race’) music and released the first ever Blues record by a black artist… Mamie Smith – ‘Crazy Blues’.

During the 30’s Okeh became well known for recording Jazz and Blues artists such as Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Sevens Combo’s.

It was not until 1962, which is where my true interest in this label has its focus, with the arrival of Carl Davis (A&R Director) and later Curtis Mayfield and together they would write and produce nearly all of Okeh’s R&B hits and establish what was to become the Chicago Sound.
Okeh was the first label to use two trombones and the baritone sax.
Add that to strong brass and string sections, all go toward creating a distinctive and unique sound.

Regular in-house session players included;

Trombones; John Avant and Morris Ellis.
Sax; Cliff Davis
Trumpets; Paul Serrano and Maury Watson
Others included; Billy Butler, Gerald Simms, Kermit Chandler.
Piano players Floyd Morris, John Young and Ken Boyd and drummer Maurice White (founder member of Earth, Wind & Fire).

Featured samples from the Okeh label are;

Little Richard – I Don’t Want To Discuss It
Billy Butler – Right Track
Major Lance – (Get My Hat) Nothing Can Stop Me
Williams & Watson – Too Late
Major Lance – Ain’t No Soul Left In These Old Shoes

Okeh label smples...play loudly!

Closing in 1970, the legendary Okeh Record label was a major recording and production force of Chicago Soul music.

**jackhammer** · 01-19-2008, 05:24 PM

I have been waiting for a thread like this from you. Looking forward to this one.

**right-track** · 01-19-2008, 05:50 PM

Some of it will be from personal knowledge I've picked up over the years and some of it will be from a bit of research done while checking out sources to put a label post together (to avoid being in danger of talking out of my arse about what I think I know.)
The first blues record by a black artist came as a big surprise, so I'm learning new stuff as I go...which makes it worthwhile for me.

Some of these labels have different genres on their books, but I'll be focusing mainly on R&B/Soul of the 60's.
So apologies if they're not concise.

swim · 01-19-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

Okeh label samples comp

You like tried to mix bbc and html or something. It didn't work for me. So direct linkage fixed. I always like reading and listening something when it's obvious that they love it so I look forward to listening to this.

**right-track** · 01-20-2008, 01:00 AM

Thanks swim...I fixed the link now.
I think we share a lot in common, even if our tastes are polls apart. You should start a similar journal...

All the records uploaded in the posts will be from my personal CD collection. If some of them sound like they've been taken from vinyl, that's because they have been...scratches and all.
The reason for this is due to there being no other medium (eg; no mastertape) for that track previous to being put down on CD.
It's not unusual for some to have never been issued.

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01-19-2008, 03:27 PM
right-track Avin' It! Join Date: May 2005 Location: THE PEOPLES ЯEPUBLIK ФF MAИCUИIA Posts: 5,045	Music from a northern soul I'm going to start this thread off with a series of posts profiling some of the lesser known 60's R&B/Soul labels of the U.S. These labels were dominated by the Motown monopoly and consequently, in some cases, only enjoying regional success denying incredible artists the fame they deserved. All labels will include a short outline history and include (some of which are rare) records of the featured label. __________________ Choose Liverpool. Choose the dole queue. Choose to scam disability benefit. Choose mind-numbing, grinding efficiency over flair. Choose Torben Piechnik, Istvan Kozma and Paul Stewart. Choose not to win a single league title since the backpass rule was implemented. Choose penalties. Choose car stereos, hubcaps and stanley knives. Choose to trade on your proud sense of tradition and then not lift a finger in protest when two American billionaires who don't even know the name of your club decide to buy it. Choose to win the European Cup whilst only having to play seven matches. Choose to bask in a perpetual, sickening, media love-in. Choose celebrities who ** off out of your city as soon as they have earned the money to do so and then spend the rest of their lives harping on about how wonderful it is. Choose to sing about Munich until confronted with your own tragedy. Choose to end it all in an orgy of self pity, just another excuse to perpetuate the grief culture spawned by your selfish, insular **ed-up excuse for a city. Choose your future. Choose Scouse.

01-19-2008, 03:31 PM
Urban Hatemonger Groovy Hate F*ck Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Nuuk , Greenland Posts: 9,401	I look forward to reading it __________________

01-19-2008, 04:02 PM
right-track Avin' It! Join Date: May 2005 Location: THE PEOPLES ЯEPUBLIK ФF MAИCUИIA Posts: 5,045	Okeh Records Originally based in New York city the Okeh label began its existence in 1918, recording all kinds of music. By 1920 onwards it become a subsidiary label for Columbia Records and in the same decade opened a studio in Chicago, which focused its attention on black (‘Race’) music and released the first ever Blues record by a black artist… Mamie Smith – ‘Crazy Blues’. During the 30’s Okeh became well known for recording Jazz and Blues artists such as Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Sevens Combo’s. It was not until 1962, which is where my true interest in this label has its focus, with the arrival of Carl Davis (A&R Director) and later Curtis Mayfield and together they would write and produce nearly all of Okeh’s R&B hits and establish what was to become the Chicago Sound. Okeh was the first label to use two trombones and the baritone sax. Add that to strong brass and string sections, all go toward creating a distinctive and unique sound. Regular in-house session players included; Trombones; John Avant and Morris Ellis. Sax; Cliff Davis Trumpets; Paul Serrano and Maury Watson Others included; Billy Butler, Gerald Simms, Kermit Chandler. Piano players Floyd Morris, John Young and Ken Boyd and drummer Maurice White (founder member of Earth, Wind & Fire). Featured samples from the Okeh label are; Little Richard – I Don’t Want To Discuss It Billy Butler – Right Track Major Lance – (Get My Hat) Nothing Can Stop Me Williams & Watson – Too Late Major Lance – Ain’t No Soul Left In These Old Shoes Okeh label smples...play loudly! Closing in 1970, the legendary Okeh Record label was a major recording and production force of Chicago Soul music. __________________ Choose Liverpool. Choose the dole queue. Choose to scam disability benefit. Choose mind-numbing, grinding efficiency over flair. Choose Torben Piechnik, Istvan Kozma and Paul Stewart. Choose not to win a single league title since the backpass rule was implemented. Choose penalties. Choose car stereos, hubcaps and stanley knives. Choose to trade on your proud sense of tradition and then not lift a finger in protest when two American billionaires who don't even know the name of your club decide to buy it. Choose to win the European Cup whilst only having to play seven matches. Choose to bask in a perpetual, sickening, media love-in. Choose celebrities who ** off out of your city as soon as they have earned the money to do so and then spend the rest of their lives harping on about how wonderful it is. Choose to sing about Munich until confronted with your own tragedy. Choose to end it all in an orgy of self pity, just another excuse to perpetuate the grief culture spawned by your selfish, insular **ed-up excuse for a city. Choose your future. Choose Scouse.

01-19-2008, 05:24 PM
jackhammer A Cabled Discount Join Date: May 2007 Location: U.K Posts: 4,730	I have been waiting for a thread like this from you. Looking forward to this one. __________________ My music collection.cough cough enjoy. Ha Ha charade you are. My dvd collection.

01-19-2008, 05:50 PM
right-track Avin' It! Join Date: May 2005 Location: THE PEOPLES ЯEPUBLIK ФF MAИCUИIA Posts: 5,045	Some of it will be from personal knowledge I've picked up over the years and some of it will be from a bit of research done while checking out sources to put a label post together (to avoid being in danger of talking out of my arse about what I think I know.) The first blues record by a black artist came as a big surprise, so I'm learning new stuff as I go...which makes it worthwhile for me. Some of these labels have different genres on their books, but I'll be focusing mainly on R&B/Soul of the 60's. So apologies if they're not concise. __________________ Choose Liverpool. Choose the dole queue. Choose to scam disability benefit. Choose mind-numbing, grinding efficiency over flair. Choose Torben Piechnik, Istvan Kozma and Paul Stewart. Choose not to win a single league title since the backpass rule was implemented. Choose penalties. Choose car stereos, hubcaps and stanley knives. Choose to trade on your proud sense of tradition and then not lift a finger in protest when two American billionaires who don't even know the name of your club decide to buy it. Choose to win the European Cup whilst only having to play seven matches. Choose to bask in a perpetual, sickening, media love-in. Choose celebrities who ** off out of your city as soon as they have earned the money to do so and then spend the rest of their lives harping on about how wonderful it is. Choose to sing about Munich until confronted with your own tragedy. Choose to end it all in an orgy of self pity, just another excuse to perpetuate the grief culture spawned by your selfish, insular **ed-up excuse for a city. Choose your future. Choose Scouse.

01-20-2008, 01:00 AM
right-track Avin' It! Join Date: May 2005 Location: THE PEOPLES ЯEPUBLIK ФF MAИCUИIA Posts: 5,045	Thanks swim...I fixed the link now. I think we share a lot in common, even if our tastes are polls apart. You should start a similar journal... All the records uploaded in the posts will be from my personal CD collection. If some of them sound like they've been taken from vinyl, that's because they have been...scratches and all. The reason for this is due to there being no other medium (eg; no mastertape) for that track previous to being put down on CD. It's not unusual for some to have never been issued. __________________ Choose Liverpool. Choose the dole queue. Choose to scam disability benefit. Choose mind-numbing, grinding efficiency over flair. Choose Torben Piechnik, Istvan Kozma and Paul Stewart. Choose not to win a single league title since the backpass rule was implemented. Choose penalties. Choose car stereos, hubcaps and stanley knives. Choose to trade on your proud sense of tradition and then not lift a finger in protest when two American billionaires who don't even know the name of your club decide to buy it. Choose to win the European Cup whilst only having to play seven matches. Choose to bask in a perpetual, sickening, media love-in. Choose celebrities who ** off out of your city as soon as they have earned the money to do so and then spend the rest of their lives harping on about how wonderful it is. Choose to sing about Munich until confronted with your own tragedy. Choose to end it all in an orgy of self pity, just another excuse to perpetuate the grief culture spawned by your selfish, insular **ed-up excuse for a city. Choose your future. Choose Scouse.