I stumbled across this album (Deep Soul Treasures - Vol 5) containing the more obscure early soul artists from the 50’s and the 60’s- typically on more minor regional American labels and not the obvious Motown or Atlantic.
The deeper I delved, the more of what a gift to music these tracks are - and happily not left on the shelf as a 1/4” master tape in a dusty record company vault somewhere!
An early track : The Chantels 1958 hit “Every Night (I Pray)” is a standout - predating the glory years of Motown - but showing a template of what was to follow.
Likewise “I’ll Suffer” by Barbara Lynn from 1968 is a standout - plaintive and enthralling.
Then the story of UK promoter Dave Godin.
His obituary in 2004 in the Guardian newspaper sums up his impact on popularizing American soul music in the UK.
“When the musicians and singers of the first Motown Revue - the Miracles, the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, "Little" Stevie Wonder and Earl Van Dyke and the Soul Brothers - disembarked at London airport for their first British tour in the spring of 1965, the hand stretching out to greet them was that of Dave Godin, the leading light of the Tamla Motown Appreciation Society, founded the previous year.
Godin, who has died at the age of 68, was then, as he remained for the rest of his life, Britain's most effective propagandist on behalf of soul music.”
He was a journalist , record company advisor, record store owner and record label owner - and an important link in getting American soul licensed and released in the UK.
(Pictured L to R Marvin Gaye , Martha Reeves and Dave Godin)
His influence on music was quite profound despite him being a visionary and modest - he is unknown-but his legacy continues.
To quote the Guardian obituary:
“To him, the fact that he introduced Mick Jagger (a school friend) to black music was probably the least interesting thing he did in his life.”
Go check out this lovely compilation and dig deeper into the back catalogs of these more obscure soul artists.
More info here:
https://www.amazon.com/Dave-Godins-Deep-Treasures-Various/dp/B001JE6QW2?gQT=2