A 14-track album of high-calibre Detroit soul from Jack Ashford’s Just Productions company.
Although a Philadelphian born and bred, Jack Ashford will forever be linked with Detroit: there he had the greatest successes of a remarkable professional life in music. Starting out as a vibes player, he performed in high-quality combos before a chance meeting with Marvin Gaye led him to Detroit and a gig on the 1963 Motortown Revue. The tour cemented his place professionally with Motown musicians the Funk Brothers and before long he was grooving away in the Hitsville studios, creating the music that helped established Motown as the greatest black record label ever.
After his time at Motown he co-founded Pied Piper Productions with Shelley Haims, and when that folded in 1967, started his own Just Productions company. The infectious beat continued to propel many of their releases but the main songwriters – Jack, Lorraine Chandler and George Rountree – added great new melodies and well-crafted songs and then a big injection of Motor City funk. They unearthed talented singers such as Eddie Parker, Sandra Richardson and the Smith Brothers and even employed Jack’s own voice.
Eddie Parker’s ‘I’m Gone’ and ‘Love You Baby’ are considered the epitome of ampheta-soul by UK devotees, who have adored the records since the early 70s. The Smith Brothers’ output is all high class and their full take of ‘Things Won’t Be The Same’ (which shares the backing track of Sandra Richardson’s ‘After You Give Your All’) is available for the first time. Similarly the new version of Jack Ashford’s recording ‘I’ll Fly To Your Open Arms’, by the Family Brick, debuts here; it is a masterful slice of sophisticated, uptempo Detroit soul.
Then a new singer in the city, Billy Sha-Rae’s ‘The Story Of My Life’ sees its first vinyl outing and the mysterious Ray Gant & Arabian Knights’ reading of ‘Don’t Leave Me Baby’ is considered the ultimate rendition of this superb song. Al Gardner knew Jack at Sport/Boss Records and his ‘Sweet Baby’ has been a big collector’s item for decades. Also from the late 60s comes a terrific uptempo version of ‘I Need Your Love (To Satisfy My Soul)’, originally only known as an acetate by the Stylists; it was later cut at a slower pace by Lee Rogers on Premium Stuff. The LP is rounded off by Jack’s own take on ‘Let Me Take Care Of Your Heart’, a remarkably fine recording the Smith Brothers would cover on a Shield 45.
An original Funk Brother, the co-owner of Pied Piper Productions and head man in his own Just Productions company, Jack Ashford gifted us a truly remarkable musical legacy. He and his colleagues have soul fans’ undying gratitude for the marvels of black music they created.
ADY CROASDELL
