Greatest soul singers of all time

Subjective of course. Just for fun. Huge honorable mentions go to: Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Edwin Starr.

west coast surf instrumental ~ California 1962

Classic surf instrumental b-side from the band's second single. The Sentinals were from San Luis Obispo on California's Central Coast.
The a-side flip is: 'Tor-Chula'

On the street job offer interview ~ San Francisco 1963

When the streets where alive. When the streets where cool. A real to reel job interview on the street - San Francisco, California 1963

Bright young job applicants riding the cable car 1963

R & B / early soul group dancer ~ Virginia 1963

From '62 to 1963, The Grandison Singers recorded/pressed only three 45s during their time together, all on RCA Victor. They also had an EP pressed in Spain consisting of the same US recorded songs. Found this 45 some time ago, but couldn't find much info/detail until recently. Was curious as to who the singer was.
The Grandison Singers, two sisters and their two cousins originally from Virginia. From church gospel to secular R&B and early Soul, a familiar history/musical path many groups/artists took in the early years of RnB & Soul. A measured chorus, these ladies can sing and the slightly delayed lead-in makes the song build. Piano player, arranger, lead vocal, Floyd Bibbons sings it out.

The 'Hungry i' nightclub around 1959-60, a venue The Grandison Singers played in when it was still located on Jackson street in San Francisco.

Mary and Helen Grandison right top/bottom w/their cousins Dorothy Webster and Floyd Bibbins.

Hello loyal 45 RPM followers.
It's most unfortunate that the file sharing site "yourlisten" that I've used here for more than a few years does not technically work anymore - At least not for me. A tech glitch? Tried contacting multiple times to no avail...
In the meantime, this blog is on hold until I figure out another service and repost some of the better broken 45 post links. Will be back soon with more obscure to unusual 45s.

rocksteady reggae ~ Jamaica 1969

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Haunting rhythmic vocal side reissue pressed on a correct late 60s, "period-blue" Supreme label. The flip is, 'So Many Problems' by the Viceroys. The Supreme label was an offshoot/subsidiary label of producer Coxsone Dodd's Studio One label through the early 70s.
Recorded at Studio One in Jamaica in 1969, 'Whisper To Me' was originally pressed/released the same year on a blank Jamaican Estick label (also as Estic) with the B-side flip, 'I Need Love.'

If 'Whisper To Me' was ever intended to be officially released on any of Coxsone Dodd's stock, full design colored labels, it's anyone's guess. It never was at the time. Such is the case and mystery with many great Jamaican blank pre-release 45s.

Cecile Campbell joined Jamaica's, 'Soulettes' in 1968 during the middle period of the group's incarnation with Rita Marley (Bob Marley's wife) and Hortense Lewis (not to be confused with reggae soulster, Hortense Ellis).
She recorded two other 45s, 'Breaking Up' with Jackie Estick on the Studio One label in 1968 with the flip, 'Musical Scorcher' by the Sound Dimension (also pressed on Muzik City). The other, 'Shimmering Star' which was pressed on a blank Coxsone/Studio One pre-release label about the same time. Though not sure of the flip.

'The Soulettes' in 1968, left to right: Rita Marley, Nora Dean, & Cecile Campbell.
Nora Dean left the group in 1969, joined/replaced then by Hortense Lewis.

funk dancer ~ 1972

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Could argue that Bobby Byrd invented funk.
Always viewed Bobby Byrd and James Brown as one and the same. They needed each other. Their collaborations created so many amazing sounds.

In 1970, James Brown collaborated and started the Brownstone record label with Florida producer and future 70s soul disco pioneer, Henry Stone. Stone would later run TK records, Florida. From 1970 to 1977, the Brownstone record label released about eleven 45s. Most all funk/soul.

It's been written and documented that Bobby actually "discovered" the young James Brown in 1952 while playing baseball on a juvenile prison field in Georgia. James was serving time there for stealing clothes...

A dance side that needs to be played with some volume through speakers.
Sayin' it and doin' it are two different things.
True enough. Funk perfection.

northern soul dancer ~ 1968

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Recorded in Hollywood, California 1968.

Detroit super soul singer, Marvin' Tyrone 'Jones (1942-1982) aka Jack Montgomery recorded and released only four 45s.
Existing from 1962 to 1970, the Los Angeles based Revue record label recorded/pressed about 60 45s, soul, soul-funk, soul-funk-jazz.

deep soul ~ Chicago 1968

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Don't know who she is. I've dug around over the years trying to come up with any information on this Bamboo label 45. Though Sylvia Thomas likely was from Chicago. This was her only 45 and recording released. ' So Will I ' was the first 45 in a series of about 20 released on the label.
Contrary to the St Louis label address, this was a Chicago based soul label which existed from 1968 to 1971.
Whether this Chicago label started in St Louis then moved to Chicago, or simply pressed and distributed their 45 catalog out of St Louis is anyone's guess. The Bamboo label was owned by Yolanda Hardin, mother of Mel Harden - Mel Hardin of soul singing duet, Mel & Tim - 'Backfield In Motion' also on the Bamboo label.
The flip side is 'At Last'.

R&B vocal ~ Louisiana 1961

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Leo Price 1935 ~ 2016

Drummer, composer/singer, and younger brother of R&B/pop singer Lloyd Price, this Hull label 45 was first recorded/pressed in 1961. It was pressed again with the same flip and added arrangements in '65 on the Up-Down label. Can't find info on where this was recorded...possibly in NYC. Though Leo grew up and lived in Kenner, LA, the Hull record label was out of the Brill building in New York City.
Leo played and composed with many other artists, including a cross country tour with his brother Lloyd in the early mid-50s. He also co-wrote 'Send Me Some Lovin' for Little Richard. Other than his two Hull and Up-Down label 45s, he recorded and pressed only one other 45 on the GMC label in '67.
The flip side: 'Quick Draw'

lounge / bossa nova - cha-cha-chá ~ Italy 1965

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La Sorella di Cristina - "Cristina's Sister." Can't find much info on this 45. Found another Andrea Tosi 45 released on the same label, 'Junior' out of Milan, Italy. Both produced by "Lord".
The flip side of this is - 'La Girandola'.

Wish Beppe wouldn't have written on her back! Guess I can't blame him.
Roughly " Sister Cristina, once me if you can " - Beppe

Below: Second Andrea Tosi Junior label 45 from 1965.
And two other mid-60s, "Quintetto Andrea Tosi" E.P.s ...one pressed in Portugal, the other pressed in Italy.

funk instrumental ~ Las Vegas 1972

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Louis Prima (1910 – 1978), trumpeter/singer, jump blues/swing bandleader, features his guitarist Ronnie James on this a-side.
Ronnie James was Louis' guitarist for two years in the early 70s. Owned by Louis, the Prima-Magnagroove record label existed out of Las Vegas from about 1962 to '72.
Great funk with a bit of cheese, backed by some fantastic drumming by Jimmy Vincent. 'Two Face' may be just that, a bit annoying perhaps in its' wah-wah goodness, but also a perfect display in exercising a funky freakout overindulgence.
The b-side is 'Oh Happy Day.'

This track is from the same 1972 recording sessions which produced the LP, 'Louis Prima with Sam Butera & the Witnesses - The Prima Generation '72.'
* note: this is not heavy metal vocalist/guitarist, Ronnie James Dio.