All proper soul collectors know something about Baltimore indie soul label RU-JAC. Its output is revered by those who count passion, commitment and honesty above hype, gloss and pretence. The label was founded and survived through classic soul’s Golden Age, 1963 – 1980. Originally Ru-Jac was essentially a tiny music publishing and production company established by Baltimore hustlers Rufus Mitchell (Ru) and Jack Bennett (Jac) but as soul’s popularity grew, a label in own right was a logical extension to their operations and if you want to check out some rare Ru Jac sounds at a decent price you’ll need to check out a new single from ever dependable boutique label, SOUL DIRECTION which pairs two cuts from two of the label’s artists – THE CARESSORS and SIR JOE.
Not an awful lot is known about vocal group, the Caressors. The soul sleuths at Soul Direction could only find a grainy promo photo attached to a contract and there’s even a suggestion that they were session singers. What matters is their music and Soul Direction have gone with a busy, bustling ‘I Can’t Stay Away’ to front up the new single. The song was written by the aforementioned Rufus Mitchell along with George Charles Brown and the frantic beater typifies the passionate sound of Ru Jac. We know of one other Caressors’ Ru Jac track – a much more mellow, ‘Who Can It Be’.
The B side of the new 45 features a more well-known name – SIR JOE (Quarterman). His offering is a self-penned ‘Every Day (I’ll Be Needing You)’ and like the Caressors’ A side it’s a frenetic beater – typical of Ru Jac’s output.
This new single is released on Soul Directions Origins imprint – which focuses on rare and obscure soul releases, bringing them to a wider audience and, of course, all releases are licensed through the proper channels and give back to the writers and artists what they truly deserve. Learn more @ https://soul-direction.co.uk/
