what Frank is listening to #43 -LEN BARRY – My Kind of Soul – (RCA) -1967
OK, this was in another "pile" of records. I actually bought this almost 20 years ago, listened to it and liked it enough to put it in the "maybe keep" pile, where it has sat, till now. I thought I would listen to it again, and I did, 20 years later … cheap records are a double edged sword.
The reason I bought it "way back when" was because Len sang one of the best blue eyed soul* songs of the 1960s, or of any era, "1-2-3" (#2 US, 1965)
*Blue-eyed soul (aka white soul) is rhythm and blues or soul music performed by white artists. (wikipedia): "The term was first used in the mid-1960s to describe white artists who performed soul and R&B that was similar to the raw, expressive music black music of the Motown and Stax record labels". Though, I might put a qualification on the quote and that is, a lot of it rocked harder than Motown, was more "frantic" than black soul generally and there was normally less emphasis on sweet backing vocalists. Blue eyed soul wasn't just about copying or covering black soul but fusing black soul with white rock 'n' roll.
There were many "blue eyed soul" acts that made the charts – The Box Tops,The Rascals,The Righteous Brothers, Mitch Ryder (the best IMHO), Lou Christie, Bill Medley (from The Righteous Brothers), some Phil Spector stuff, and in the early 70s Hall & Oates. More recently the label has been used in reference to any piece of white shit covering a black soul song. That ain't enough. Vocals, though sweet, usually rock harder with the emotion quotient turned up. It's generally perceived to be working class in origins – I'm not sure why but I suspect because a lot of the acts were from places like Philadelphia and Detroit, many performers were from migrant families and ultimately the music was played and sung at small venues by working bands always on the road (weddings, parties etc) … ie: the music was their "job" not their "art" or "calling". Uni students at the time listened to Dylan not "blue eyed soul" (a broad generalization but …). British "blue eyed soul vocalists" were similar in status – Dusty Springfield, Eric Burdon, and Tom Jones the most obvious examples (I can think of).
Barry started with vocal group The Dovells in the late 50s before going solo. He only put out four albums – I also have the 70s one sitting in the pile somewhere – before retiring from music. By way of bio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Barry
In relation to my observations in the paragraph above I note here the facts that Len Barry was born Leonard Borisoff, 6 December 1942, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Though I liked the album when i first listened to it all those years ago I was (more) into the "louder, harder, faster" sound and Len makes Elvis sound like Black Flag. He has a great voice though he sings exclusively in the higher range and the music is all "sweet" "blue eyed soul". But, years have past and my palette has expanded. This isn't as rocky as Mitch Ryder or as catchy as Lou Christie but on hearing this album again … its great.
Best tracks:
- The Moving Finger Writes – a touch of Motown.
- Sweet Soul Music – the Arthur Conley classic that everyone has covered.
- Rainy Side of the Street – written by Barry – a slower soul scorcher.
- a medley of Holland -Dozier-Holland / Luther Dixon / Joe Tex songs – which is is pretty rocky … and a live recording by the sounds of it … I'm pretty sure it's not a "fake" live recording as its pretty rough but certainly soul-ful.
This music was pretty much over by 1967 and was normally singles based anyway so, needless to say, the album did not chart. Barry's most magnificent moment may be "1-2-3" but this album is solidly good.
Sound:
attached
Here's"1-2-3"
For those who want some other twats opinion – "1-2-3" was one of the songs that appeared in John Lennon's jukebox.
Website:
And he wrote a book:
(originally posted: 10/06/2009)
