Sign on the Dotted Line

Another DISCovery in Winstanley & Nowell’s Wigan Casino memoir:

“The second album release, Casino Classics Chapter Two, contained mainly tracks not available on Casino Classics singles…including ‘Sign on the Dotted Line’ by Gene Latter….”

I’ve never heard of the artist, but I had a suspicion about the song.  

Despite being “the latest, greatest, the up-to-datest,” Welsh blue-eyed soul belter Latter was the “nearly man”: he released numerous singles in the ’60s and ’70s, yet none charted (perhaps kept from the charts by the ‘Prince of Wales’ Tom Jones?).  Yet his 1969 Spark single “Sign on the Dotted Line” became a “storming northern soul classic.”

Though drummer with revival ska band The Specials, John Bradbury also had a love for R&B (perhaps the impetus behind The Specials’ cover of Rex Garvin & The Mighty Cravers’ rare gem “Sock It To ’Em, JB” on the More Specials album?).  Bradbury launched his fleeting Race Records imprint in 1981, specializing in both reggae and soul.  Following its fold, Bradbury formed the revival soul group JB’s Allstars, launching their career with a series of soul covers, the third of which was “Sign on the Dotted Line” from ’84.  Among the group’s final releases was “Alphabet Army,” Two Tone Records’ swan song.

Hey It’s Love

One of my favorite records, The Commands’ “Hey It’s Love” is a sublime, melancholy-yet-hopeful Southern soul gem that never received the recognition it deserved, despite being picked up Don Robey’s Back Beat label.  I had intended on featuring it here, but fellow black plastic fanatic Mr. Musical Episode beat me to it.  Check his excellent post, which features more about the group than I ever knew.

Soul Symphony

I was listening to Kent’s excellent instrumental collection Double Cookin’, which made me nostalgic for this stormin’ track helmed by famed producer/arranger/musician Moses Dillard.  I was introduced to the track via another Kent comp—1984’s Foot Stompers, now sadly out of print—but part of the song’s intro was edited off (probably because it isn’t particularly danceable!).  The full track is presented here.  

That’s What You Do To Me

Another old friend with whom I was reacquainted via Volume Two of After Hours, this Deon Jackson single is pedigree Northern. Produced by legendary Detroit producer Ollie McLaughlin and issued on his Carla imprint (he also owned Karen Records of The Capitols’ “Cool Jerk” fame), “That’s What You Do To Me” bears a driving melody propelled by vibes and horns arranged by inimitable Mike Terry.  Though available on After Hours, I chose to use the transfer of my 45 which, despite the surface noise, is more open and ‘breathes.’  Regardless, it still makes the hairs on my arms stand up…coz that’s what it does to me.