ERA RECORDS NORTHERN SOUL.

dereksmusicblog ♦ November 10, 2013 ♦ Leave a comment

ERA RECORDS NORTHERN SOUL.

Back in 1955, two cousins decided to decided to form a record label in their hometown, Los Angeles. They called this new label Era Records. The two cousins were Lew Bedell and Herb Newman. Lew Bedell was a comedian, whose career seemed to have come to a halt. So he was looking for a new career. Herb Newman was a music industry veteran. He’d started out as a West Coast sales rep for Mercury and later Decca. Now he’d learned the ropes, he wanted to form his own company. With his cousin looking for a new career, this seemed like the perfect opportunity. After all, Herb and Lew had been brought up together, after Lew’s parents split up and were like brothers. With the financial support of Herb’s father Max Newman, they founded Era Records in 1955. 

Having started their own label, Herb and Lew concentrated on releasing music that was popular locally. Los Angeles’ music scene was much more conservative than New York, Washington or Philly. So, originally, they planned to released just pop, country, rockabilly and jazz. With black music not as popular in Los Angeles, they only occasionally released soul or R&B. Their first soul single Era Records released  was in 1957. It was as if they were just testing the water. Seven years later, in 1962, Era Records took the plunge and became a soul label. 

By then, Era Records had already released over 150 records. Following the decision to change direction musically, Era Records released a whole host of singles that have become popular on the Northern Soul scene. A tantalising taste of them can be found on Ace Records’ Kent Soul imprint’s recent release Era Records Northern Soul. Featuring twenty-four tracks, where there’s ballads, floaters and stompers aplenty, Era Records Northern Soul is essential listening for fans of Northern Soul. I’ll tell you why, after I’ve told you the story of Era Records.

From the get-go, the Lew and Herb had the Midas touch. Era Records’ first hit single was Cogi Grant’s Suddenly There’s A Valley, released in 1955. Cogi proved to be their lucky charm. In 1956, Era Records released Cogi Grant’s classic The Wayward Wind. Written by Herb Newman, it reached number one. For the next couple of years, Era Records continued to enjoy a modicum of commercial success. One of these was Art and Dotty’s Chanson D’Amour, which reached number eight in early 1958. Later that year, Lew and Herb founded another label, Dore.

Dore was founded as an outlet for more adult oriented music. Ironically, what should’ve been Dore’s first released wasn’t exactly adult oriented. What could’ve been their new label’s release resulted in a parting of the ways for the two cousins. A young producer called Phil Spector arrived with a demo of To Know Him Is To Love Him. Herb, musically trained, felt the song lacked something. He suggested adding swathes of lush strings. Phil Spector and Herb had different ideas when it can to production. This disagreement proved costly, when Phil took the song to another label. This resulted in an argument between the cousins. They agreed to part ways in May 1959. Lew took Dore and Herb Era. What could’ve been a successful partnership was no more. Herb Newman had a point to prove.

Now in full control of the label, Herb Newman set about turning Era Records into one of the most successful independent labels in Los Angeles. Herb Newman, now  a music industry veteran, he lived and breathed music. He was determined Era Records would become a successful label. Sticking to his policy of only releasing music that he thought would prove popular, now that soul music was growing in popularity, Herb embraced it. Era Records enjoyed success with The Rockets, who also doubled as the label’s backing vocalists. Along with The Castells, Ronnie Height and Ketty Lester soul music proved lucrative for Era Records. So much so, that from 1962 onwards, Era Records became a soul label.

While 1962 marks the year Era Records jumped on the soul bandwagon, it also is the start of the period covered on Era Records Northern Soul. There are twenty-four tracks on Era Records Northern Soul. Seventeen cover the period between 1962 and 1968, while seven are unreleased. The tracks Era Records Northern Soul, which I’ll pick the highlights of, are just a taste of the music in Era Records back catalogue.

Opening Era Records Northern Soul is Billy Watkins The Ice-Man. This sassy, stomper was released in 1967. Penned by Billy and Herb, it was produced by H.B. Barnum. The version of The Ice-Man on Era Records Northern Soul is an unreleased remix with extra backing vocals. It surpasses the original and then some. It’s not just the backing vocals, but the dancing strings, rasping horns and a showboatig vocal from Billy. Billy’s other contribution to Era Northern Soul is a previously unreleased version of Dance With Me, which is mixed by Rob Keyloch. Just Like The Ice-Man, it’s another stomper, with a vampish vocal from Billy.

Othello Robertson’s So In Luv has Northern Soul written all over. If anyone asks you what Northern Soul sounds like, play them this track. Released in 1967, it was written by Dell Randle who produced the track and arranged it with Eddie Foster. As for Othello Robertson’s vocal, it’s an outpouring of power, passion and emotion. She pushes her vocal to its limits, as if determined to breath life and meaning into the lyrics. Accompanied by an arrangement that epitomizes Northern Soul, describing this as an impassioned ballad is an understatement.

Jimmy Lewis released his debut single Goodbye Sorrow in 1962. Twelve years later, in 1974, Jimmy released Totally Involved, the only album he ever released. In between, he released a series of singles. One of these was 1966s One Love. Its B-Side was What Can I Do Now, written by Jimmy and arranged by Jimmy Carmichael. A needy, heartfelt ballad, Jimmy’s vocal is tinged with hurt and regret. Add to that a pulsating heartbeat and cooing harmonies, the result is a reason why Jimmy Lewis is one of soul music’s hidden secrets. 

From the opening bars of Melvin Boyd’s Exit Loneliness, Enter Love you realize he’s lived the lyrics. He’s been there, experienced the pain and hurt and then found love. Written Barry Stuart and arranged by Miles Grayson, this single was released in 1966. With a vocal that’s a mixture of power, emotion and joy, you’re hooked. What follows is something of a stomper. Melvin’s vocal is a joyous vamp, blazing horns, cooing harmonies and a pounding beat playing their part in a track that makes you want to dance for joy.

Carol Connors’ I Wanna Know was released in 1962, she was following in the footsteps of Kitty Lester. They were the first female vocalist to sign to Era Records. As Carol demands answers, she almost spits out the lyrics, distrust and betrayal ever-present. This is proof, if any was needed, of the danger of a woman scorned.

Tommy Mosley’s Echoes In The Night is one of the previously unreleased tracks on Era Northern Soul. It’s mixed by Rob Keyloch for the compilation. A fusion of soul and easy listening, Tommy’s vocal is compelling. Heartfelt, you focus on his every word. Adding to what is a hidden gem, are swathes of the lushest string and soaring harmonies.

As The Turn Arounds’ Run Away And Hide unfolds, briefly,  it sounds like a mini soap opera. What follows, is a fusion of doo wop, R&B, soul and jazz. The interplay between the lead vocal and harmonies is at the heart of the track’s success. Strangely, given the track’s quality, it wasn’t the single. No. It was just the B-Side to the Thomas Turner penned Ain’t Nothin’ Shakin,’ released in 1964. Having heard that song, I much prefer the B-Side. This reinforces what I always say, remember and check out B-Sides.

Steve Flanagan released I Need To Be Loved So Bad in 1967. I’d described its as two-and-a-half minutes of hurt, heartache and loneliness. It’s perfect song for the newly heartbroken. Quite simply, this is the best ballad on Era Northern Soul by far.

When Brenda Holloway and The Carrolls sang I Ain’t Gonna Take You Back, everyone must have believed her. She delivers the lyrics as if she means every word. Anger and frustration fill her vocal, while The Carolls add punchy harmonies. Released in 1963, on Era Records’ Catch imprint, Brenda doesn’t hold back. She reads her man the riot act, giving him his character and makes one thing clear: “I Ain’t Gonna Take You Back.”

Closing Era Records Northern Soul is Othello Robertson’s Come On Home. Released in 1967, as the B-Side to So In Luv, it’s a poignant ballad. It’s a love letter to her “soldier boy” asking” “when are you coming home.” A heartfelt, soulful ballad, it’s a track that can’t help but tug at your heartstrings.

Nowadays, Northern Soul compilations are two a penny. As a result, the quality varies greatly. That’s why I often describe Northern Soul compilations as the good, bad and ugly. Era Records Northern Soul falls into the first category. Good doesn’t come close to describing the quality of music on Era Records Northern Soul. It’s one of the best of 2013. I’m not surprised though. After all, Era Records Northern Soul is compiled by Ady Croasdell, a man steeped in Northern Soul. 

Ady Croasdell is a man whose life has revolved around Northern Soul. He’s a forty-year veteran of Northern Soul. Since then, he’s been immersed in Northern Soul and has compiled more compilations that most people will have in their collection. He’s a man who knows his floaters from his stompers. His taste is impeccable as he takes the listener on a tour through Era Records’ back-catalogue. We hear some familiar tracks, hidden gems and unreleased tracks. Among the unreleased tracks are alternate versions and mixes by Rob Keyloch. Two of the best unreleased tracks come from Othello Robertson and Billy Watkins. They’re just two reasons to buy Kent Soul’s recently released Era Records Northern Soul.

Whether you’re a veteran of Northern Soul compilations or newcomer to the genre, you can’t afford to be without Era Records Northern Soul. From Billy Watkins’ The Ice-Man, which opens Era Records Northern Soul, right through to Othello Robertson’s Come On Home, it’s quality all the way. Not once will your hand go near the remote control. It’s more likely you’ll be dancing around your living room, trying to recreate the Wigan Casino in its heyday. That’s how good Era Records Northern Soul is. Standout Tracks: Billy Watkins The Ice-Man, Othello Robertson So In Luv, Melvin Boyd’s Exit Loneliness, Enter Love and Steve Flanagan I Need To Be Loved So Bad. 

ERA RECORDS NORTHERN SOUL.