We had a love like paradise...

This cut was released twice on the Neb's label, each with different flip-sides, and then again a couple of years later on Capcity. Oddly enough it's listed as the b-side on the first pressing. The a-side, "I Can't Do It", is nothing short of terrific, but ya still gotta wonder what Never Duncan [the label owner] was thinking.

Anyway, he must have reconsidered 'cause the tune shows up as the a-side on both later releases.

And apparently that's not all Duncan reconsidered.

To my ears there's a quick bit of fade added to the end of the second issue, and even more to the Capcity pressing. Not a big deal in the scheme of things, but ya see, the original version is fairly shocking in that it comes to a full-on dead stop. No fade at all.

Funny how small changes can make such a difference. Listening to the faded versions, I don't recall ever thinking the ending was particularly outrageous. But it is. Hit the button and hear for yourself.

Hope ya'll enjoy.....

No hair pulling....

At first glance this may look like an odd match, but actually these records are close enough to be cousins. In fact, cousins which are just enough alike that there's a constant battle between the two. Both are tough as nails. Neither will accept defeat.

Anna King has the advantage because she made the first move....and there's also the little matter of a certain Mr. James Brown who oversees the production. But she's definitely got serious competition in Ruby Johnson. That girl's got real power in those lungs...and since when is it a bad thing to have Isaac Hayes and David Porter in your corner?

Ruby obviously follows Anna's lead on this one, but watch out for that ending! Ruby never settles for anything less than a draw.

If Somebody Told You

When My Love Comes Down

I refuse to be a loser.....

Speaking of obsessions...

Here's another pre-Stax Ruby Johnson recording on the D.C. based Nebs label.

Hope ya'll enjoy the tune...it's killer.

You don't know....

We're still getting used to the new Momma/Poppa/Baby Bear dynamic, but ya know, so far it's not nearly as big of deal as I expected. A little early to say for sure, but could be we've got ourselves a happy [as opposed to cranky] baby. She seems very good to me, which I suppose means she doesn't take after her mama at all.

Can I say I'm totally relieved the pregnancy is over? I-really-did-not-enjoy-it-one-bit. I mean, what's there to enjoy about feeling like you're mutating into a whale...complete with blubber, bristles, and the inability to walk on dry land? Personally speaking, I think it's worth beaucoup bucks to no longer have 7+ pounds pressing on my bladder or alternatively pushing against my lungs so hard that I can't breathe. Does that make me weird?

Anyway, I feel like I've been given my life back rather than had it taken away. Baby Girl, I can deal with. Feeling like total shit all the time is a whole other story. I think I did very well over the last six months not to fill this blog with insane rants about swelling feet, itching skin, or how my hair color suddenly changed to black.

Continuing in that vein, I promise to only bring up the subject of "babywearing" when absolutely necessary. Recipes for baby food and "breast pumps" are also off limits. Please take note.

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Here's another pre-Stax 45 by Ruby Johnson. I'm not sure about the yellow label, most of the Neb's issues I've seen have red labels. Could be this is an early re-issue. Which doesn't really matter to me 'cause I got it ultra-cheap.

I said it the last time I posted Ruby Johnson and I still can't think of a better description of her recordings.....the girl is ferocious.

My only complaint is that I can't crank it up at the moment......

But ya'll can, right?

I don't look like the girls in the movie shows...

Given that I'll be lucky to find another copy of this 45...and that the only comp I'm aware of which includes it is out of print....here's my totally beat up copy of Ruby Johnson's first single, circa 1960.

The girl was ferocious straight-out-of-the-gate.

Hope ya'll enjoy....

I got news for ya baby...

Ruby Johnson's yet another artist who really should have been a bigger star than she was. Girlfriend had major league pipes. It's shocking that Stax/Volt only issued three singles given what they had in the vaults.

If you've never heard the comp "Ruby Johnson: I'll Run Your Hurt Away" you should go immediately to Amazon and buy a copy. It's one of the finest soul collections I know of. It includes all six of Johnson's sides on Volt plus 14 other unreleased cuts. And those unreleased songs aren't just the usual alternate takes and such, they're polished recordings of the same quality as the regular releases. I guarantee it, you'll be amazed.

It's said that Johnson quit recording because she didn't feel her voice lent itself to the more funky style then coming into vogue....but I sometimes wonder, did she really stop?

Hope ya like...