Appreciations
It's Better To Cry / Gimme Back My Soul
Sport: 111
Detail
- Artist: Appreciations
- A Side: It's Better To Cry
- B Side: Gimme Back My Soul
- Label: Sport
- Format: 45s
Condition
Description
Description
Manager Hattie Leeper really believed in this North Carolina group, getting them heard and produced by some of the country's most gifted studio magicians. Their influence over 4 years of traveling culminating in this killer, double helping of highly honed vocal-group Northern Soul.
A delicious fusion of New York, Memphis and Charlotte, Carolina influences this standout slab of Northern Soul. With the David Blake & Frankie Nieves composition treated with care and love as the advice flows on a stream of David Blake conducted harmony. Phil Medley's studio band providing the compelling horn filled backing track, driving dancer inspired by the Motown sound on the top side. Beautifully partnered with an exquisite mid-tempo stepper on the flip.
Both sides benefiting from accomplished harmonies, and blistering voices. The emotional lead provided by Charles “Fever” Harris, Oscar Melton furnishes the rich baritone, James “Toon” Debeuneure and the highly regarded Melvin Robinson were the foundations for this harmonic team.
The top side is a long standing NS trophy-piece, vocally honed to razor sharp effect.. laced into a driving brass propelled "Medley" production. The pushy mix of guitar and horns that finally gets the chance to spread their wings, during a lavish instrumental break concluding the session, whilst leaving you wanting for more...
But for me, with today's growing recognition of the Soulful mid-tempo floater, the other side "Gimme Back My Soul " is just perfect for now! Again the exceptional vocal synergy pulls you into a seamless harmony performance, with the beseeching lead vocal, serving up anguish, despair and pain while heavenly backing voices fill the air from above. "Gimme Back My Soul...Gimme Back My Love" so convincing with the leads rich pleas, to relieve his heartache.
Two killers on one very elusive disc. This is Northern Soul collecting at it's most provocative. Vocal-group Northern Soul which again underlines how much extreme "Soul" talent in the USA never attained the success their work so thoroughly deserved.
This is not only a NS most-wanted, it also sits in Rarest Of The Rare category, this is our first yellow stock copy in a very, very long time.
Such a stunning record - top drawer Northern Soul
Condition Report
A-side label carries the initials G L (see image), otherwise two bright clean labels, fine clean Ex+ vinyl, not a hint of turntable fatigue, plays beautiful crisp and clean on both sides. ListenA Side
- Title: It's Better To Cry
- Title: Gimme Back My Soul
B Side
- Year: 1968
- City: New York, N. Y.