Just click on the link back to the main Artist Discography page if you want to check another one out. Or click on the link for the home page for access to other pages.
|
|
|
|
Revue records was a subsidiary of MCA Records, and was nominally based at 8255 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California. Set up to serve the Black music market, the label itself tended to lease recordings in rather than actually record the artists themselves. Consequently there are recordings from Detroit, Chicago, the West coast, and several points in between on the label. In existence for four years, 1966 to 1969, there were a total of 71 singles released, and 12 albums. In some ways though the Revue label acted as a feeder label for Uni, in the sense that the artists who were successful on Revue, tended to be transferred to the Uni label for future releases, especially for albums. So, who were the artists that recorded for the label: Garland Green -
The Mirettes - When the 1964-1966 edition of the Ikettes, Robbie Montgomery, Vanetta Fields, and Jessie Smith, decided to leave Ike Turner's organization to record on their own, they used the name The Mirettes to record for Revue. The trio's cover of In The Midnight Hour just missed the Top 40 in 1968, and Revue released a similarly titled LP later that year. Jack Montgomery - Only four records exist by Jack Montgomery, and he was the mystery man of Northern Soul for a long while until I discovered his real identity was Marvin Jones during an interview with Don Mancha. From Detroit, Jack recorded the Revue release in New York at Scepter’s studio at the same session as ‘My Dearly Beloved’ and leased to Revue by Johnny Terry, somewhat illegally by all accounts. The track of course turned out to be 'Baby Baby Take A Chance On Me' on Revue 11009. Which also has a rather strange configuration of releases: Demos with the vocal on both sides, the rarer demo with vocal and instrumental, and issues with vocal and instrumental. The Chi-Lites - The Chi-Lites were formed in Chicago in 1959. Originally called the Hi-Lites, they consisted of Marshall Thompson, Creadel "Red" Jones, Eugene Record, Robert Lester, and Clarence Johnson. Originally called the Chanteurs, the released one single on Renee Records. Between 1960 and 1964 they recorded as The Hi-Lites, and then Marshall & The Hi-Lites and finally changing their name to the Chi-Lites at the end of 1964. Several local releases followed until they found themselves with a couple releases on Revue. They must have done the job, because straight after the Revue releases they were signed by Brunswick, and the rest is history Marvin L Sims - Marvin L Sims was born on December 11th 1944, in Sedalia, Missouri. After he graduated from high school, he joined the Air Force in 1961 and finished his term of service in 1965. Almost immediately he joined a group called The Gaypoppers, although no records were released.
By 1966
he was recording as a solo artist, releasing three singles
over a two year period on the Mellow label, then in 1968 the
first of his two releases on Revue came out. Several singles
followed on Mercury, and then after a break of twenty five
years in his recording career, Marvin released a CD in 1998. Darrow Fletcher was only 15 years old when he made his first recording for the Groovy label, two more followed, and then a move to the Jacklyn label. Although he was getting localized success, even appearing on television several times in Chicago, he just couldn’t make it to the big time. A move to Revue in 1968 was supposed to get him the national distribution, but in all honesty the songs were not quite up to the standard of the Groovy and Jacklyn releases, so in 1969 he moved to Congress for one release, and then found himself recording for Uni. Several other releases followed until 1979 when his recording career ended. He made a triumphant return to live singing though at the Cleethorpes weekender a couple of years ago. Alder Ray - Other than the photograph on the next page, there is surprisingly little known about Alder Ray. It’s almost certain that she is the same artist who recorded as Alder Ray Black, and Alder Ray Mathis in the early 1970’s, and has some involvement with Phil Spector in the early Sixties, but that’s about all I know. The Sunlovers - The Sunlovers are originally from Los Angeles, and are the same group that recorded on Mutt & Jeff. They also recorded as Charles Pennywell And The Inspirations on Breakthrough, and a series of labels as The Fairlanes. Charles ‘Diamond’ Pennywell was the constant member between both The Sunlovers, The Inspirations and The Fairlanes, and sang lead on all the group’s releases. He is still working today a s a live act with the Fairlanes Band, and has performed in a variety of tribute groups as well. Lee Charles - Lee Charles was an artist that legendary arranger / producer Carl Davis took under his wing. Hios first recordings were for the Dakar label in 1966. Further recordings were cut at Dakar, but for some reason they were leased out to Revue through 1967 and 1968. Altogether there were two releases on Revue, and then Lee went onto record on Brunswick and Bamboo. Tony Borders – Tony Borders is one of the legendary names of Southern Soul, recording far too few sides over the years. Little is known of him as an artist though. His early recordings were patchy, to say the least, but once he hooked him with Quin Ivy, and started recording in Muscle Shoals the true sound emerged. The two Revue releases were, like most releases leased in by the label, and are probably the best examples of Southern Soul put out by Revue. Marvin Holmes & The Uptights – A strange release for the label this time. The exact same recording had already been released as ‘Funky Mule’ on Boola Boola.by Marvin Holmes. So why, and how, it ended up on Revue is a complete mystery. It obviously did some sales though because Marvin Holmes and the Uptights went on to record an album for the Uni label. He also went on to form Marvin Holmes’ Justice, who recorded some heavy Funk tracks in the ‘70s. Third Avenue Blues Band – The group was actually from Oklahoma City rather than Texas. (Their management group was in Dallas.) They were a white group fronted by a black singer, Harold Jones, who sang on many of the tracks, Put a Little Love in Your Heart, Don’t Make Me Laugh, It’s Your Thing and Bad Moon Rising. The organist, Harlan Rogers, provided the vocals for Rose Garden, If You Don’t Want Me, and I Know About Love. The two shared the vocals on It’s Got to Be Love and Come On and Get It. Three members of the group, Harlan Rogers (organ/vocals), Bill Maxwell (drums), and Hadley Hockensmith (guitar) went on to have highly successful careers as the rhythm section for gospel artist Andre Crouch at the height of his career. Later, they were members of the jazz-fusion group Koinonia who recorded 4 albums and were extremely popular throughout the 80’s, particularly in Europe, Scandinavia, and Japan, and were highly sought-after studio musicians in L.A. Bill Maxwell is still very active in film and TV music, and as a producer, writer, and drummer. Hadley Hockensmith has been a guitarist for Neil Diamond for many years. Information kindly supplied by Geary Rogers Mike & The Censations - Mike Kirkland’s brother Robert bet some friends at a party that he and his brother could release a record every bit as good as the Motown tracks that were storming up the charts at the time. Unbelievably, the group they formed, Mike & The Censations released their first record within a couple of months of the bet being made. Released on their own label, Bryan, it went onto gather radio play and led to not only a second release, but a two record deal with Revue. David T Walker – Recognised for many years as one of the top Jazz guitar session musicians in the States, david T Walker also released quite a large number of tracks in his own name. Certainly there were several singles on Revue, and two albums. Eddie & Ernie – Eddie Campbell and Ernie Johnson Jnr recorded some of the most blistering Deep Soul you are ever likely to hear. Their two voices blend perfectly, with that raw edge that is so necessary for true Soul Music. Often compared to Sam & Dave, they never really received any recognition internationally until Dave Godin started championing their cause. Although they had long been know to Soul aficionados via their uptempo records, Dave Godin worked with Kent records to make sure that the Eddie & Ernie compilation CD was released. That, plus the inclusion of their recordings in the Dave Godin Deep Soul series of releases ensured that their legacy will live on forever. How they came to have a record released on Revue though is a complete mystery to me. The following artists all had at least one release for the label, but I have no more information than that to be honest. Joyce Hopson – Joyce Hopson is an artist that I can find no information on at all, so other than the fact she cut this wonderful mid tempo Crossover track for the label in 1968. I don’t even know what area of the States it was recorded in, but it does sound Chicago, and the production credits do hint that way. Charles Lamont I can only assume that this is the same Charles Lamont that recorded for Challenge.
Revue
RS 7202
- Stu Gardner - To Soul with Love - 1968
RS 7203
- Ural Thomas - Can You Dig It...Live - 1968
RS 7204
- Harold Johnson Sextet - Everybody Loves a Winner - 1969
RS 7205
- Mirettes - In the Midnight Hour - 1968
RS 7206
- Willie Bovain - Jazz + Soul = Love - 1969
RS 7207
- David T. Walker - The Sidewalk - 1969 RS 7208 - ? RS 7209 - ?
RS 7210
- Mark Eric - A Midsummer's Day Dream - 1969
RS 7211
- David T. Walker - Going Up! - 1970
RS 7212
- Harold Johnson - Wide Open - 1970
RS 7213
- 3rd Avenue Blues Band - Fantastic - 1970
|
|
Eddie & Ernie
