UK soul collectors will know all about legendary label STATESIDE. The label was established way back in 1962 when record major, EMI established it to release licensed American recordings to the UK and European market. Stateside was EMI’s response to Pye’s Pye International label and the ultra successful London American which Decca had set up to issue American product in the UK.
First big hit on Stateside was in 1962 with ‘Palisades Park’ by Freddy Cannon, but the aforementioned collectors will know that the label issued loads and loads of rare soul; indeed for a time Stateside was the official outlet for Motown material (following on from Fontana and Oriole). If you have any Motown/Stateside 7″ records you’re sitting on some hugely collectable vinyl!
Stateside eventually was closed down (Motown got its own imprint) only to be revived for a brief period in the 1980s as a reissue label and then again in the late 90’s when it specialized in issuing vintage compilation albums like ‘Talcum Soul’ as well as single artist releases by the likes of Tina Turner, Bobby Womack, David Axelrod, Cannonball Adderley, Minnie Riperton and more.
Now, once again Stateside is being resurrected with the release of two 7″ vinyl singles that bring together four vintage, collectable classic, soul sides. First up there’s disc one … The Invitations’ ‘What’s Wrong With Me Baby’ coupled with Lainie Hill’s ‘Time Marches On’. Disc two pairs Chuck Wood’s ‘Seven Days Too Long’ with The Casualeers’ ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’ – two 24 carat aural definitions of Northern soul… with the emphasis on soul…. if ever there was!
Both singles will be released on 29 November … and when they’re gone….!
