Funky16Corners

Billy Butler – Right Track

By Larry, July 12, 2011 3:09 pm

Billy Butler (center) and the Chanters

~~Listen/Download – Billy Butler – Right Track~~

Greetings all.

Before we get rolling I have a few short items on the agenda that must be addressed.

First, I heard yesterday that the might composer and producer Alphonso ‘Fonce’ Mizell had passed away. I will be paying tribute to him this Friday with both sides of an exceptional 45, so stay tuned.

Also, I will share a bit of late breaking news with you, that being that this coming Monday, 7/18 I will be sitting in for DJ Perry Lane and flying solo at Spindletop @ Botanica (47 E. Houston St, NYC). I will be packing the finest soulful 45s at my disposal and would like it very much if some of you fine folks would fall by, grab yourselves a beer and join me. Things get rolling at 10PM and will likely continue until my eyelids start to droop. Hope to see you there.

When I was dipping into the old to-be-blogged archive and letting my head, heart and hands battle it out to figure what I’d be posting this fine day (I assure you it’s not always this complicated) I was faced with what might be termed an embarrassment of riches.

What I usually do – if I don’t already have something specific in mind – is open the folder with the label scans and roll through it, backwards in time and see what grabs me.

The first thing that rang my bell was a 45 by Billy Butler and the Chanters called ‘I Can’t Work No Longer’.

It was probably the soulfully hypnotic Okeh label that caught my eye, with its rich purple background, the prominent script logo, and of course the big ‘45’ on the lefthand side of the label, but I have a bunch of those (ran one just last week) and ultimately it was Mr Butler’s name that sealed the deal.

A man with a tasty catalog of his own, he is known to most outside of hardcore soulies as the brother of the famous Jerry, an original Impression and one of the leading lights of Chitown soul.

However, as mentioned, Billy made some incredible records with the Chanters (originally Enchanters) as a single, and with the group Infinity.

Now, as we return to the decision-making process, while ‘I Can’t Work No Longer’ would have been a sound choice, with composition by the mighty Mr. Mayfield, and its status as Billy Butler and the Chanters biggest hit (in 1965), however, there was a somewhat crackly spectre looming in the background (a few rows down in the folder) that simply would not be denied.

There are a few truly great Billy Butler 45s, but none looms as large as his 1966 solo side ‘Right Track’, which is justly revered as a mod and Northern Soul anthem.

Problem is, it is not only increasingly (45 years on) uncommon, but also in demand, and thus is harder to find and somewhat costly, which is in a very roundabout way my way of saying that I decided to post that particular song instead.

I sought a copy of ‘Right Track’ for my DJ box for a long time, lost out on it more than once and ultimately settled on a copy in less than pristine, but ultimately playable condition, since as most DJs will tell you a loud sound system and pulsing dance floor make for a more forgiving sonic environment in which the sometimes scratchy, crackly sins of a well-traveled 45 can be overcome by the power of a great record.

These sins are much more evident when played through headphones, so I warn you before you pull down the ones and zeros that you might be in for a rougher ride than you’re used to, though a cursory examination of the label pictured above would tell the same story.

I mean, take a look at that label. That is a record that has been places. Whether those places were a teen’s record player, jukebox, flea market cardboard box or all of the above, that label shows every second of its 45 years, and truth be told makes it look a lot worse than it sounds.

That said, ‘Right Track’ is revered for a number of reasons, first and foremost being that it is a stellar example of dance floor soul that builds gradually from the opening guitar riff, drums and tambourine, strings and then on to Billy’s vocal. Pushed along by a piano and rhythm guitar, the tempo picks up steam until the backing vocals come in during the chorus, at which time the record’s Northern Soul bona fides are immediately evident.

The stomping beat, coupled with the repeated chants of ‘I believe! I believe’’ then ‘I believe that I’m on the right track!’ is undoubtedly powerful, but the full weight of the signature line:

“I’m gonna keep on steppin’ never looking back I believe that I’m on the right track.”

Whether taken in the context of civil rights, viewed through the prism of working class mod or simply as a bold statement of perseverance in the wider context, in which you prefer your manifestos delivered at a danceable tempo, there is no denying that ‘Right Track’ is as anthemic a 60s soul record as was ever made.

It is powerful in every conceivable meaning of the word, and thus I must bring it to you, snaps, crackles, pops and all.

I will now bring the post to a close so that rug cutting (or at least fist pumping) may commence.

Peace

Larry

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.