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7"
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POPC 122EP
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Two cool dancefloor packers from the early '60s, back-to-back. Dick Jordan was a singer from Yorkshire who forged a decent career as a laidback crooner/teen idol just as the '60s began to really swing. And if there's one adjective that would summarize "I Want Her Back," it would certainly be "swinging." On the flipside, we find New Orleans ex-pat Jack Hammer, who, after moving to Europe in the late '50s, fashioned himself as a twist specialist and "Twist in the Morning" is surely Hammer's best twister.
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7"
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POPC 120EP
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Two classy R&B numbers conjured in ode to that famous old queen of the east, Cleopatra, a historic muse who has inspired artists and musicians to channel their inner sense of exotica for thousands of years. Jamie Coe's take on "Cleopatra" is an uptempo dancer with classy production, lavish string accompaniment and a cool, laid-back, swaggering vocal turn from Coe himself, while vocal group The Precisions give us a drama-laden piece full of atmosphere and soul.
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7"
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POPC 119EP
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Two more catchy Popcorn winners paired for your dancefloor delight. Dean Barlow, a founding member of vocal group The Crickets, decided to go solo as that group's fortunes floundered in the second half of the '50s. "Come Back" was one of slew of singles Barlow released thereafter, and is a jaunty piece of jazzy R&B, perfect for today's popcorn-influenced scene. On the flip side is Carole Bennett's "He's Coming Home," a cool, laid-back stroller with suitably sassy vocals, a snappy arrangement, and a great horn section.
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7"
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POPC 117EP
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Two absolutely killer R&B sides from the high priestess of soul, Nina Simone. "Come On Back, Jack" is Nina's answer to Ray Charles' smash "Hit the Road Jack," using a similar riff to the original version and packing just as much dancefloor impact. "Work Song," perhaps the quintessential jazzy mod number, was recorded by dozens, scores, perhaps hundreds of other singers, but few injected it with as much heart and sass as Ms. Simone. The version here was previously available on LP only.
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7"
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POPC 118EP
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$8.00
NOT IN STOCK, SPECIAL ORDER
Two more impeccably-sculpted popcorn R&B sides, with contrasting but complimentary sounds. Ruben Fort's "So Good" is a real gem of early Detroit soul, released in 1960 amidst that super-exciting transitional period in the R&B sound of the city and indeed the nation as a whole. Deanne Hawley's "Bossman" is, strictly speaking, neither soul nor R&B, but instead sits in that unique bracket between rock 'n' roll, blues, country, and pop, a little niche from which so many popcorn sides seem to be culled.
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7"
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POPC 115EP
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There are a thousand riffs on Little Willie John's landmark "Fever," but Ronnie Love's "Chills and Fever" is perhaps the ultimate -- notching up the tempo with a swinging piano riff and cranking up the intensity with blaring horns. An absolute must-have in the R&B and popcorn field and a bonafide floor-filler to suit any event. On the back, the Knockouts give us a direct cover of "Fever," albeit one embellished with jazzed-up hepcat vocals and a stripped-back feel from its small ensemble backing.
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7"
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POPC 116EP
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Two complimentary female vocal sides twinned here. On one side you have Betty O' Brien's "She'll Be Gone," a drama-laden piece of early soul with strings and big production values. On the back, Kitty Ford's moody "Blue Diamond Ring" revolves around a similar low-slung guitar riff, and once again, there are strings and backing vocals a-plenty. While the vocals and accents contrast, both sides are pure popcorn from the highest shelf.
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7"
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POPC 112EP
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Back-to-back, two killer versions of the same track, each distinct but complimentary takes. A lesser-known side for the legendary Little Esther but she is at her slinkiest with her feline vocals drawling out an atmospheric, bluesy rendition over an insistent horn and rolling drum riff, while David Hill's version is a little more energetic as it moves along on a catchy rock and roll backing. Whichever you prefer, both are heavy-hitting R&B sides, making this another sure-fire twin-spin win from the Popcorn stable.
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7"
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POPC 114EP
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Twinned here are two complimenting renditions of a deliciously moody number entitled "Sweetheart." You can opt for either of two bluesy croon cats -- on the top side, is Frank Heppinstall's version with sudden and unexpected blaring organ, screaming vox middle sections which give this darkly-tinged little ditty an extra injection of energy. Flip it over and you can hear Lonnie Sattin's more restrained approach -- slinky, conga-laden and quietly building up from a slow smoulder to a blazing finale.
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7"
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POPC 113EP
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Two popcorn A-bombs from the undisputed queen of R&B sass herself, Miss Ruth Brown. "Sweet Baby Of Mine" is a super-infectious swinger with a snappy, plodding riff and that classic, slick mid-'50s Atlantic production sound. Not forgetting, of course, Ruth Brown's near-unrivalled vocals. On the flip is the slower and lower ballad "I Don't Know," a blues-y lament set to cooly understated backing. This is the slightly more orchestral LP version, appearing on 45 for the first time.
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