Darrell Banks – Open The Door To Your Heart
Darrell Banks
Listen/Download – Darrell Banks – Open the Door To Your Heart
Greetings all.
Welcome to another spectacular week in the world of vinyl.
The tune I bring you today is one of those case studies in a record that I came around to, despite plenty of evidence, very, very late in the game.
It must be said in my defense, however, that this was wholly the fault of this record’s no less than spectacular b-side, one of my all time favorite soul tunes, Darrell Banks’ version of ‘Our Love Is In the Pocket’.
A song that I heard first (and fell in love with) via Amen Corner, and then picked up on Banks’ version on an old Northern Soul comp, ‘Our Love Is In the Pocket’ is one of those records that never, ever gets old to me.
Oddly enough, I had read (and been told directly) many times that the version I needed to hear was that by JJ Barnes, and that I ought to have flipped the Banks 45 over to hear the song I bring you today, ‘Open the Door To Your Heart’.
Once I listened deeply and attentively ‘Open the Door To Your Heart’ – how do they say – grew on me, so much so that I felt compelled to pull it out of the crates and digimatize it.
Though it doesn’t have the power hooks of ‘Our Love…’ it is without a doubt a wonderful record, so much so that it was a #2 R&B hit in 1967 and made it into the Pop Top 40 as well (it was in fact Banks’ biggest hit before his premature death in 1970).
I suppose the problem – if it can be said that there was one – was my yet to be developed taste for a more subdued, mid-tempo variety of Northern (and othern) soul. Whether it was a matter of my ears maturing, or seeing what folks liked to dance to (that being not everything at 140+ BPM), this is now a record that dig quite a lot.
Since I know a lot of you already do too, I can only say that I hope someone out there that was similarly afflicted hears it and is so converted.
See you on Wednesday.
Peace
Larry
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Themocracy
Love! Love! Love this song (and ‘Our Love Is In The Pocket’ too)! I just played the Lil’ Murray and The Soul Exciters version last night. The original brings back memories of all the northern soul allnighters I used to attend.
Hi Larry – great example of lovely mid-tempo Northern….but I also love Jackie Wilson’s version….massive production that pulls out all the stops!
Thanks guys! I don’t know the L’il Murray or Jackie Wilson versions. I’ll have to check them out.
there are a number of cool takes on this, Tyrone Davis, The Mob as well as a few direct cops which rip off the backing & just add new words such as Vikki Styles “Tears Won’t Stop Falling”.
Help ?
I’ve been listening to J.J. Barnes “The Groovesville Masters” album and there’s a great track “Harder You Love”.
However, on allmusic.com, they say that this is a Darrell Banks/J.J. Barnes duet (https://allmusic.com/artist/darrell-banks-p3626/biography)
But… when issued in UK on the b-side of “I’m The One Who Loves You”, this is by Darrell Banks.
So, J.J.Barnes, Darrell Banks, Duet ????
Great tune