The Popular Five – I’m a Love Maker
The Popular Five
Listen/Download The Popular Five – I’m a Love Maker
Greetings all
The end of the week is here, and so is some more soul.
But first, I should remindyou that the Funky16Corners Radio Show will be on the air this and every Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio. You can also subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes or grab and MP3 from the archive here at the blog.
I grabbed the 45 you see before you today a while back at a record show.
Though I had never heard anything by the Popular Five, I had seen ‘I’m a Love Maker’ pop up on countless lists, and since I’m a sucker for Minit soul 45s, I grabbed it and took it home.
What I ended up with was a superb two-sider, with a hard-charging cover of Thurston Harris and the Sharps ‘Little Bitty Pretty One’ on the b-side (heard in one of my 2013 Allnighter mixes, Everybody Dance Now) and today’s selection on the topside.
As it turns out, the Popular Five, who released a number of 45s between 1967 and 1970 on labels like Rae Cox, Minit and Mr Chand had roots that went way back into the early days of doowop and one of that genres biggest hits.
Thanks to tenor singer Jimmy Keyes, the Popular Five are connected to the Chords, the Bronx, NY group that had a huge hit with ‘Sh-boom’ in 1954.
The group changed members (and names) over the years, and by 1967, when they made their first record as the Popular Five, the members were Warren Wilson, Keyes, Jessie Huddleston, Arthur Dicks and Demetrius Clare.
‘I’m a Love Maker’ is a great slice of funky soul (dig that bass line). The group’s harmony singing roots are evident in the solid wall of voices in the chorus.
As I mentioned before, the flipside is a killer, so make sure to check it out if you haven’t already.
As always, I hope you dig the tune, 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).
Themocracy