George Tindley – Wan-Tu-Wah-Zuree
Euro P/S for ‘Wan-Tu-Wah-Zuree’
Listen/Download George Tindley – Wan-Tu-Wah-Zuree
Greetings all
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Today’s selection is one of those records that I scooped up in an early Philly soul dragnet.
If you take one look at the label for George Tindley’s ‘Wan-Tu-Wah-Zuree’ it sends up a variety of Philadelphia-identifying red flags, most especially the names of Bobby Eli, Len Barry and John Madara.
When I first picked up the 45, I had no idea who George Tindley was.
As it turns out, he had a long and interesting performing history, which ended in 1970 with the release of this 45.
Tindley was a Philadelphia-area singer who got his start in the early 50s with the Dreams, a group that recorded several sides for the Savoy label in 1954.
He eventually joined Steve Gibson and the Red Caps, with whom he recorded a number of well-remembered doowop 45s in 1959 and 1960, before Tindley took over leadership duties (changing the group name to the Modern Red Caps), continuing on into 1966.
He eventually recorded three solo 45s for Wand in 1969 and 1970, all with Madara. One of them, ‘So Help Me Woman’ co-written by a young Daryl Hall.
His excellent cover of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Ain’t That Peculiar’ made it into the R&B Top 40 in the summer of 1969, with this record just missing that mark in the Spring of the following year.
‘Wan-Tu-Wah-Zuree’ – the title of which is a corruption of the Zulu phrase for ‘good people’ – sounds a lot like the kind of thing the Temptations were recording at Motown around the same time, but the backing track is 100% Philadelphia (listen for those Vince Montana vibes).
The record, which has a funky, upbeat rhythm with a pop edge, ought to have been a hit, but only managed minor regional airplay in and around Philadelphia.
It does not appear that Tindley worked as a performer after that, though he does have a number of production and arranging credits (C and the Shells, Pucho and the Latin Soul Brothers, Evelyn Champagne King) in the 1970s.
I have seen a reference that indicates that Tindley passed away in the 1990s, but aside from that the trail goes cold.
I hope you dig the track, and I’ll see you all on Monday.
Keep the faith
Larry
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Themocracy
Great song, Larry! Tom Moulton did a super remix in 1974, available on “Disco Gold: Scepter Records & the Birth of Disco” 🙂
Thanks for the tip, Holly! I’ll look for that!