The doyen of UK boutique labels, SOUL JUNCTION, is gearing up to release another tasty slice of vintage soul. The featured artist is Philly soulstress ALICE TAYLOR. Ms Taylor was a jobbing session singer in and around the City of Brotherly Love during its glory days. She sang on countless sessions – most notably on some of the Delfonics best-known outings.
In 1974 she embarked on a short lived solo career when she started working with Philly musos Emanuel ‘Manny’ Campbell Jr (of Emandolynn Music) and Charles R. Bowen. That duo took young Alcie into the famed Sound Room Studios in Upper Dardy PA where they recorded two songs – ’(I’m In Love With A) Rock ‘n’ Roll Singin’ Superstar’ and ‘Sounds Ridiculous’.
The players on the two tracks included some of Philly’s finest (we know for sure that drummer Earl Young and string maestro, Don Renaldo were involved) and the single (with ’(I’m In Love With A) Rock ‘n’ Roll Singin’ Superstar’ as the A side) was released in 1975 in a short run of 500 copies via the Stage-Art label. Sadly the pressing was marred by poor sound quality and the disc received little or no air play and that, sadly, was the end of Alice’s solo career. We believe that she died in the mid-80s.
As is the way, the Stage-Art single now commands big bucks (copies are listed at £600 on Discogs!), so to satisfy demand the Soul Junction team (via their official link with Emandolynn Music) are now releasing the single at an affordable price.
For their release, SJ have chosen to go with ‘Sounds Ridiculous’ as the A side. The song’s message is all about a girl falling in love with a guy who spends most of his time daydreaming rather than getting a regular 9-5 job. It’s a fine 70’s Philly artefact that should find favour with 70’s/crossover soul fans. The SJ 45 offers two versions of ’(I’m In Love With A) Rock ‘n’ Roll Singin’ Superstar on the flip… there’s the original version and a previously unissued take. Both cuts, alongside with the A side, show that Ms Talyor could’ve been a contender – just shows how fate and luck play such a big part in the path to stardom.
FYI, for the release, all three tracks have been remastered to remove the aforementioned sound problems present on the original release. This sweet and lovely Philly 45’s out on July 27th. Learn more @ https://www.souljunctionrecords.co.uk/
