New Breed R&B - Money Talks

New R&B discoveries continue to emerge and entertain the many followers of the New Breed musical cult; nobody finds more than the Kent connoisseurs.

Berna Dean’s two previously unheard recordings are by far her best. They were laid down at Cosimo Matassa’s New Orleans’ studios by GNP Crescendo but eschewed in favour of two relatively average sides. The great 50s R&B songwriter Jesse Stone provides a rocker for the much-admired Jimmy Breedlove and a super-catchy ‘This Morning’ for an unknown mixed vocal group that has a joyous gospel feel. Jesse also penned ‘Private Eye’, a classic early 60s story-song, for Buddy Wilkins which was issued on Al Sears’ Tri-Ess imprint.

The title track is used twice, on two very different Fraternity recordings. Kenny Smith’s version was issued in 1964 and has many followers, but the equally meritorious Coasters-inspired composition by the Citations is newly discovered. Win Menifee’s ‘I’m Runnin’ Around’ from the same Cincinnati label comes complete with a fascinating back-story.

There are three cover versions. Vermettya Royster’s ‘All Around The World’ is backed by James Brown’s 1961 band, while Roosevelt Lee's 1970 update of the 1947-originated ‘Hey Little Girl’ funks the tune up a la Godfather of Soul. The cover that will make the biggest noise is undoubtedly west coast band the Afterglows’ version of Barbara Lynn’s evergreen dancer ‘I’m A Good Woman’ – this is a future monster.
Golden Crest provides two fabulous male vocal group sides – the swinging ‘What’s On Your Mind’ by Eddie Daye’s Four Bars and the delightful harmonies of the appropriately-named, but unknown Delights ‘Mary Don’t You Weep’.

Blues still thrived into the 70s as Albert Washington’s mean and moody ‘Case Of The Blues’ proves. Smokey Wilson took the music into the late 70s with the storming ‘Goin’ Away Baby (Round Like An Apple)’, which benefits here from a 45-style edit. His Pioneer Club on 88th Street in South Central L A provides the atmospheric photo for this collection.

More early 60s movers come from Wilbur “Hi-Fi” White with ‘Don’t Look Now’, future hit songwriter Johnny Madara’s raucous ‘You Make Me Mad’ and Big Boy Groves ‘Bucket O’ Blood’ which brilliantly describes the kind of club these tracks would fit right into.

The LP version loses a few tracks, but so many collectors have strong preferences we’ve thrown the vinyl junkies a lifeline.

Tracklist

LP
SIDE ONE
1. DON'T TRY TO TELL ME - Berna-Dean
2. THIS MORNIN' - The Jesse Stone Singers
3. ALL AROUND THE WORLD - Vermettya Royster With James Brown's Band
4. WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND - The Four Bars
5. DON'T LOOK NOW - Wilbur "Hi-Fi" White & King Kolax Band
6. MONEY TALKS - Kenny Smith
7. HEY LITTLE GIRL PT 1 - Roosevelt Lee

SIDE TWO
1. GOIN' AWAY BABY (ROUND LIKE AN APPLE) - Smokey Wilson
2. HEY HEY BABY - T-Bone Walker
3. I'M A GOOD WOMAN - The Afterglows
4. YOU MAKE ME MAD - Johnny Madara
5. MONEY TALKS (TELL ME WHAT I SAY) - The Citations
6. TELL ME WHY - Richard Berry
7. MARY DON'T YOU WEEP - The Delights

CD
1. DON'T TRY TO TELL ME - Berna-Dean 
2. THIS MORNIN' - The Jesse Stone Singers 
3. ALL AROUND THE WORLD - Vermettya Royster With James Brown's Band 
4. WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND - The Four Bars 
5. BUCKET O BLOOD - Big Boy Groves 
6. DON'T LOOK NOW - Wilbur "Hi-Fi" White & King Kolax Band 
7. LAUNDROMAT - Elroy Peace 
8. TWIST IT BABY - Jimmie Lee Robinson 
9. NOT SO MUCH TALK - Jimmy Breedlove 
10. MONEY TALKS - Kenny Smith 
11. MARY DON'T YOU WEEP - The Delights 
12. LAUGHING ON THE OUTSIDE - Berna-Dean 
13. I'M A GOOD WOMAN - The Afterglows 
14. I'M RUNNIN' AROUND - Win Menifee 
15. CASE OF THE BLUES - Albert Washington 
16. PRIVATE EYE - Buddy Wilkins
17. HEY LITTLE GIRL PT 1 - Roosevelt Lee 
18. HEY HEY BABY - T-Bone Walker 
19. GOIN' AWAY BABY (ROUND LIKE AN APPLE) - Smokey Wilson 
20. YOU MAKE ME MAD - Johnny Madara 
21. MONEY TALKS (TELL ME WHAT I SAY) - The Citations 
22. TELL ME WHY - Richard Berry
23. AIN'T NO WOMAN GONNA MAKE ME A FOOL - Willie Hutchinson 
24. WHAT KIND OF LOVE - Ernest Lane & The Ikettes (With Tina Turner) 
25. CLEOPATRA - The Precisions