Linda Jones – I Can’t Stop Lovin’ My Baby
Linda Jones
Listen/Download – Linda Jones – I Can’t Stop Lovin’ My Baby MP3
Greetings all.
A while back, I put together an episode of the Funky16Corners Radio Show that focused on soul artists from NJ. When compiling that playlist, the sounds of Linda Jones were right at the top of the list.
Jones, a Newark native had a powerful, flexible voice, and in my opinion would have gone on to a long career were she not cut down at 28 by complications of diabetes.
Jones got her start singing with a family gospel group, recording her first secular 45s for labels like Cub, Blue Cat and Atco in the early 60s.
Producer George Kerr brought her to Loma Records in 1967, where she would record a string of singles and an absolutely essential album.
Today’s selection appeared on that album, and was the flip side of her first 45 for Loma. The A-side of the record, ‘Hypnotized’ was her biggest hit, making it into the R&B Top 5 and the Pop Top 20 in the summer of 1967.
That tune is a sweet soul gem, but in the 15 or so years since I first picked up the 45, I’ve come to prefer the upbeat, danceable B-side, ‘I Can’t Stop Lovin’ My Baby’.
The song has a very nice, mid-to-uptempo arrangement, with a solid bottom, and horn, tambourine and vibraphone accents that have endeared it to the Northern fans. Jones vocal soars effortlessly over a female backing chorus.
If you can manage to get your hands on the ‘Hypnotized’ album, do so, as it includes a lot of excellent material, including an extra-fast take on the Shirelles ‘Last Minute Miracle’ and the stunning ballad ‘Seeing Is Believing’.
After her tenure with Loma, Jones went on to record for Neptune and Turbo, where she would have a string of R&B Top 40 hits until her untimely passing in 1972.
Yet another great soul voice lost too soon…
I hope you dig the tune, and I’ll see you all on Friday.
Keep the faith
Larry
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