Rosey Grier – I Don’t Want Nobody (To Lead Me On)

By , January 29, 2015 11:16 am

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Rosey Grier

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Greetings all.

The end of the week is here, and that means that the Funky16Corners Radio Show once again takes to the airwaves of the interwebs, this (and every) Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio. If you can’t bet there at airtime, you can always subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, or grab an MP3 here at the blog.

I am always game for a new version of a favorite song, and especially son when I find one by a singer that I really dig.

Thus was the case when I found today’s 45 by the mighty Rosey Grier.

Grier, who first gained fame as a pro football star, then as a TV and movie actor also had a sideline (successful artistically, if not financially) as a soul singer.

He recorded a string of 45s (and an LP or two) for labels like Liberty, RIC, D-Town, MGM, Amy, AGP, ABC and A&M between 1960 and the mid-70s.

During that time, he made some excellent (if largely unsung) records, some of which are sweated heavily by the Northern Soul collectors.

I’m partial to his late 60s Memphis-based recordings like ‘Slow Drag’ and ‘People Make the World’ when he was working with the likes of Tommy Cogbill, Chips Moman, and Dan Penn.

Today’s selection comes from a few years later (1970) yet still has a Memphis connection.

As I mentioned earlier, I love finding new versions of a favorite song, which in this was was the Masqueraders ‘I Don’t Want Nobody To Lead Me On’. The group had gotten their start in Texas, relocated to Detroit, but my the mid-60s were recording in Memphis, TN, working with many of the same people as Grier.

Written by group members Harold Thomas and Lee Jones, and recorded by the Masqueraders for Wand in 1967, ‘I Don’t Want Nobody To Lead Me On’ was covered a number of times, by the Exotics in the UK, the Gentlemen Four, and even Paul Revere and the Raiders on their 1968 ‘Goin’ To Memphis’ LP (again, working with Chips Moman).

Grier covered the song in 1970 on his sole ABC 45, which appears to be an LA-based session.

Rosey’s version of the song features a strong arrangement, with female backing vocals, and a nice horn section, with an excellent lead vocal.

A career retrospective of Rosey Grier’s best work as a singer is long overdue.

I hope you dig the track, and I’ll see you all on Monday.

Keep the faith

Larry

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

 

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PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

One Response to “Rosey Grier – I Don’t Want Nobody (To Lead Me On)”

  1. Big George says:

    Mr. Grier spoke one evening at a Bible Study group I attended in Arlington, VA in the mid-80s. Very nice man!

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