Barbara Randolph - Can I Get a Witness

Presenting a fantastic cover version of Marvin Gaye's 1963 hit written by  Holland, Dozier, Holland and recorded in 1968 by Barbara Randolph.  Randolph apparently only released two singles for Motown (on the Soul Label).  It's a fantastic arrangement, with a late 60s funky soul sound.

Barbara Randolph - Wikipedia

YouTube Barbara Randolph - Can I Get a Witness

Dean Parrish - Tell Her

Here's anther version of a song that I had never heard.  I've only known The Exciters' version of "Tell Him."

Turns out, according to Wikipedia, that "Tell Her" was originally recorded in 1962 by Gil Hamilton aka Johnny Thunder. "Tell Her" was also a single for Ed Townsend before Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller produced the version by the Exciters released - as "Tell Him" - in October of 1962.

The Dean Parrish version of "Tell Her" didn't come along until 1966.

It's hard-driving, hot, sweaty, and rough-around-the-edges, especially when compared to The Exciters version.  And look at that fantastic "Boom" label and sleeve!  When I bought the 45, there was no mention of the original sleeve being included.  Beautiful!

Tell Him/Tell Her - Song, Wikipedia
Tell Her - Dean Parrish - YOUTUBE

The Exciters - Do-Wah-Diddy

I recently stumbled onto an old blog which had been inactive for more than a year.  It was subtitled "rare 60s soul and vintage r&b" so I was excited.  Remarkably, all the posted podcasts (14 of them)  were still available, and they had been created in a way (no mixing) that made it relatively easy to separate the individual tracks.  With 10 to 13 tracks per podcast, it turned out to be a treasure of material, much of which I didn't have and hadn't heard before.

This is the number one reason that I love music on the internet.  You have this incredible ability to stumble into someone else's record collection and hear what they've determined to be the very best.

Today's track, Do-Wah-Diddy by the Exciters is one of the tracks from the blog.  Who knew?  I'd never heard their version, and it turns out that their version was the first.  It's fantastic!

I immediately set out searching for the 45, and last week I got lucky...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3ep-JvUqyU

45 Playlist - Saturday, July 24, 2010

I started off the night with some slow funk selections from the WHAT IT IS boxed set:

COLD GRITS - It's Your Thing - Atco R7 74167I

THE RHINE OAKS - Tampin - Atco R7 741672

EDDIE HAZEL - California Dreamin' (Instrumental) - WB R7 74167E

THE GATURS - The Booger Man - Atco R7 74167S

CYRIL NEVILL - Gossip - Josie R7 74167L

THE T.S.U. TORONADOES - Getting the Corners - Atlantic R7 74167B

CHARLES WRIGHT - Here Comes the Sun - WB R7 74167T

UNITED 8 - Getting Uptown(to Get Down) - Atlantic R7 74167V

BABY HUEY - Hard Times - Curtom R7 74167Q

TONY ALVON & THE BELAIRS - Sexy Coffee Pot - Atlantic R7 74167D

WILSON PICKETT - International Playboy - Atlantic R7 74167N

ELDRIDGE HOLMES - "Pop, Popcorn Children" - Atco R7 74167H

Then on to some other great stuff:

LAURA LEE - What a Man - Cotillion 45-44054

LAVERN BAKER - Tiny Tim - Atlantic 45-2041

TOUSSAINT MCCALL - Nothing Takes the Place of You - Ronn TM 1863

ANN PEEBLES - I Can't Stand the Rain - Hi 45-2248

BARBARA LYNN - Nice & Easy - Atlantic 45-2853

ERMA FRANKLIN - Piece of My Heart - Shout S-221

DONNY HATHAWAY - Jealous Guy - Atco 45-6884

BETTYE SWANN - Angel of the Morning - Capitol 2515

RUBY ANDREWS - You Made a Believer (Out of Me) - Zodiac Z-1015

JAMES & BOBBY PURIFY - I'm Your Puppet - Bell 648

GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS - I Wish it Would Rain - Soul S35047

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD - Since the Days of Pigtales (and Fairy Tales) - Invictus ls-9074

JAMES BROWN - Mother Popcorn, pt.1 - King 45-6245

MYRA BARNES (VICKI ANDERSON) - Super Good - King 45-6344

SAM & DAVE - Hold On I'm a Comin' - Stax OS 13091

WILSON PICKETT - Land of 1000 Dances - Atlantic 45-2348

JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS - Shake and Finger Pop - Soul S35013

IKE & TINA TURNER - Finger Poppin - WB 5461

THELMA JONES - The House that Jack Built - Barry! BRY 1023

EDDIE FLOYD - Knock on Wood - Stax S-194

CHUCK BERRY - You Never Can Tell - Chess 1906

SAM COOKE - Twistin' the Night Away - RCA 447-0566

DORIS TROY - Just One Look - Atlantic 45-2218

SOUL BROTHERS SIX - Some Kind of Wonderful - Atlantic 45-2406

CHARLES WRIGHT & THE WATTS 103RD ST. RHYTHM BAND - Express Yourself - WB 7417

WILD CHERRY - Play that Funky Music - Epic 8-50225

CLARENCE CARTER - I'm the Midnight Special - Fame FM-XW330-W

JAMES BROWN - Hot Pants pt.1 - People 45-2501

VICKI ANDERSON - If You Can't Give Me What I Want (I Gotta Get it Some Other Place) - King 45-6109

FRED WESLEY & THE J.B'S - Doing It to Death - People PE 621

VICKI ANDERSON - Don't Throw Your Love In the Garbage Can - Brownstone 45-4207

MARVA WHITNEY - What Do I Have to Do To Prove My Love to You - King 45-6202

MERRY CLAYTON - Gimme Shelter - Ode 66003

THE ISLEY BROTHERS - It's Your Thing - T-Neck 901

ARTHUR ALEXANDER - Anna - Dot 45-16387

STAPLE SINGERS - I'll Take You There - Stax STA0125

O'JAYS - Back Stabbers - Philadelphia Intl. ZS7 3517

SLY & THE FAMILY STONE - Family Affair - Epic %-10805

LAURA LEE - Crumbs Off the Table - Hot Wax HS 7210

JUST BROTHERS - Sliced Tomatoes - Music Merchant MS 1010

SOUL RUNNERS - Spreadin' Honey - MoSoul MS-101

BETTY HARRIS - Ride Your Pony - Sansu 480

THELMA JONES - Souvenirs of a Heartbrake - Barry! BRY 1018

ARETHA FRANKLIN - I Say a Little Prayer - Atlantic 45-2546

IKE TURNER & HIS KINGS OF RHYTHM - The New Breed Part 2 - Sue 45-138

YVONNE FAIR - Say Yeah Yeah - Dade 45-5006

SYL JOHNSON - Dresses Too Short - Twinight 110

JAMES BROWN - Papa's Got a Brand New Bag - King 45-5999

THELMA HOUSTON - Jumpin' Jack Flash - ABC Dunhill D-4212

GLORIA SPENCER - I Got it - Jay-Walking 016

ARETHA FRANKLIN - Wholy Holy - Atlantic 45-2901

THE ISLEY BROTHERS - Nobody But Me - Wand 131A

THE TRASHMEN - Surfin' Bird - Garrett 4002

THE WHO - I Can't Explain - Decca 31725

IKE & TINA TURNER - I Can't Belive What You Say - Kent 402

THE RONETTES - Be My Baby - Philles 116

THE KINKS - All Day and All of the Night - Pye 762

THE KINKS - Destroyer - Arista 0619

ZAPP - More Bounce to the Ounce pt. 2 - WB S45934

JOE TEX - Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman) - Epic 8-50313

SAMMY DAVIS, JR. - You Can Count On Me (Theme from Hawaii Five-O) - 20th Century 6162 101

Saturday, July 24, 2010

My first DJ gig was at the opening for the "Locals Only" show at the BE HERE NOW Gallery.  I've been collecting 45s for a few years, got my second Stanton ST-150 back in March, and have an old Radio Shack mixer.  I've been DJing at home for months, but I've been wanting to take the show on the road. A low key event, like the art opening, was the perfect opportunity for me!  

The show brought together a great group of awesome Athens artists.  Special thanks to Steven and Dan for making the gallery a reality, and allowing me an opportunity to DJ.  I had a great time spinning the records and visiting with old and new friends and talking about records with my old friend Tobin.

Photo by Edwin Fuqua