Chairmen Of The Board - In Session (1970)

From The Lost Record Covers Club When the Holland brothers and their partner Lamont Dozier left Motown everyone held their breath.  Would Motown survive? - Yes of course, the depth of talent was able to carry the roster through the loss of it's greatest hit makers.  But what would H-D-H do next?  They formed Invictus, a new label, signing a large number of artists the best of which were Chairmen Of The Board and Freda Payne.  This is the Chairmen's first album and features a range - pop singles "Pay To The Piper" and Bluesy anthems "Chairmen Of The Board"; a passable version of the now standard "Bridge Over Troubled Water". Was this a nod to Gordy's plan to always incoporate all styles to appeal to a wdier audience? perhaps.  Here was a band in development who would write and deliver a number of hits over the next few years - always supplemented by the H-D-H production magic.  This is a good introduction to the band and i recommend this and the later, superior "Bittersweet".  another album "Skin I'm In" is worth a listen but for me was patchy with the title track and the wonderful "Finder's Keepers" the standouts. Invictus (via EMI) SVT 1003

Rhead Brothers - Dedicate (1977)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

I bought this from a wonderful record shop in Newquay in Cornwall in 1977.  The owner was clearly a music lover and he'd added comments to each sleeve in the racks.  This one referred to British Soul, comparisons with Hall and Oates, Kokomo, Average Whites etc.  Anyone reading this blog would know that sold me.  Although there aren't many of us that actually were sold and have this in our collections this has excellent songs and harmonies and boasts an EMI who's who of session players - Charlie McCracken, Charlie Whitney, Mel Collins, Frank Ricotti, Bobby Tench, Max Middleton.  Another lost soul band with a British twist - Worth seeking out.

EMI - EMC 3180

 

No CD issues on this band

Private Lives - Living In A World (Turned Upside Down) (1984)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

John Adams and (not sure about this) Peter Schwier were Private Lives.  This single was issued in 1984 and featured a video very similar to Duran's "Hungry Like The Wolf" with the artists running through eastern parts (and I don't mean Brick Lane).  I love this but think that part of the arrangement is incredibly similar to "Invisible" by Alison Moyet. Check out the Video