JUNE PLAYLIST

The Wild Magnolias in full bloom. 

1.  BB King – “Sixteen Tons” (1956)

Fare thee well Blues Boy. “Sixteen Tons” – like “Wade In The Water” – is one of those songs where it’s hard to find a version I don’t like. This one I love.

2.  The Avons – “When The Boy That You Love (Is Loving You)” (1967)

Super sweet and sexy girl group soul from Nashville based the Avons. Written, arranged and produced by Bob Holmes this wonderful track has only now seen the light of day thanks to opening Volume 5 of Kent Records’ Northern Soul’s Classiest Rarities series. Worth the 48 year wait.

3.  Roland Al and Beverly’s All Stars – “The Cat” (1967)

Rare inclusion of a Jamaican track in the playlist but tenor saxophonist Roland Alphonso and gang cut a mean version of this.

4.  Marvelettes – “So I Can Love You” (1970)

After a decade spell, their final release, the album The Return of The Marvelettes, was a slight of hand from Motown. The group had disbanded leaving only Wanda Young who recorded some tracks with Smokey Robinson for what she thought would be her solo album. The powers that be thought the Marvelettes’ name carried more weight than Young’s so was released with under the group name, upsetting everyone in the process. None of this should detract from a classy soul album (albeit one packed out – as was Motown’s way – with familiar titles).

5.  Buddy Guy and Junior Wells – “A Man Of Many Words” (1972)

The album title, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells Play The Blues, only hints at what’s on offer. Yes it’s the blues but it’s a funky, full, warm sounding blues made by a couple of old Chicago buddies who don’t sound like they have a care in the world. Everyone gotta dig those blues. 

6.  The Wild Magnolias – “Handa Wanda” (1974)

New Orleans Mardi Gras group the Wild Magnolias supplemented their vocals and percussion tools with the cream of New Orleans musicians including Willie “Walking Up A One Way Street” Tee and Snooks “Richard Barnes’ Mods book” Eaglin on keyboards and guitar respectively. Together they created an album impossible to keep still to.

7.  Suede – “Moving” (1992)

Who saw Suede’s Glastonbury set at the weekend? Mr. Anderson was working it like a spotlight-starved maniac from start to sweaty finish. Absolutely brilliant. It’ll be online somewhere.

8.  Wooden Shjips – “Back To Land” (2013)

Folk who enjoyed Paul Weller’s recent apostrophe burning Saturns Pattern might enjoy the Wooden Shjips long-player Back To Land.

9.  The Sonics – “The Hard Way” (2015)

The Sonics still sound like The Sonics but with hints here of returning the favour to the Jim Jones Revue and the Dead Kennedys.

10.  Sarah Cracknell and Nicky Wire – “Nothing Left To Talk About” (2015)

Crackers returns with a pedal-steeled summery pop winner that even Wire singing, as always, like a deaf man vocals can’t spoil. Lovely. 

TEEN TOWN - THE MOTOWN STORY (1965)

1965 was the year Motown exploded into the consciousness of the American people. The label had seen hits but now they could be viewed – as Berry Gordy intended – as a succession of hits leaving one central assembly line.

Such was interest in the label that an edition of Detroit-based CKLW Channel 9's show Teen Town devoted a whole hour’s edition to what presenter Robin Seymour refers to as the Motown Records Corporation.

Some of the studio performances by the Marvelettes, the Miracles, the Supremes with a gurning Ms Ross, the Temptations and Little Stevie Wonder are familiar but what makes this all the more fascinating is Berry Gordy and Barney Ales talking the host through behind the scenes footage recorded at Hitsville of the artists, writers and producers rehearsing material. Listen out for Seymour's fully justified gasp of "Oh my!" when the Marvelettes' Wanda Young comes into view.

A TRIBUTE TO GLADYS HORTON and THE MARVELETTES

If Monkey Picks mourned the passing of every artist to trouble the R&B chart it would soon resemble the obituary section of the Eastbourne Evening Echo, but the addition of Gladys Horton to Hitsville’s heavenly branch deserves a mention and provides the chance to pay a small tribute to the marvelous Marvelettes.

Horton’s bluesy rasp was gradually edged out by the smoother soul of group mate Wanda Young but the quality of their records never dipped from Motown’s first number one, “Please Mr. Postman”, in 1961 right up until the decade’s last knockings. Yet somehow that often gets overlooked. Not here.

When Berry Gordy gives me the nod to cash in with a hastily compiled Marvelettes compilation, it’ll look something like this:

1. I’ll Keep On Holding On
2. Danger, Heartbreak Dead Ahead
3. Destination: Anywhere
4. Don’t Make Hurting Me A Habit
5. My Baby Must Be A Magican
6. Please Mr. Postman
7. Beechwood 45789
8. You’re My Remedy
9. Too Many Fish In The Sea
10. Your Cheating Ways
11. Barefootin’
12. Goddess of Love
13. Strange I Know
14. Here I Am Baby
15. As Long As I Know He’s Mine
16. I Need Someone
17. Locking Up My Heart
18. Marionette
19. Keep Off, No Trespassing
20. Too Strong To Be Strung Along

Gladys Horton (30 May 1945-26 January 2011).