The Ordells – Sippin’ a Cup of Coffee

Listen/Download The Ordells – Sippin’ a Cup of Coffee
Greetings all
The grand finale of the week is approaching, which means that it’s Funky16Corners Radio Show time again.
I come to you each and every Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio with the best in funk, soul, jazz and rare groove, all on original vinyl.
If you can’t be there at airtime, you can always subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, or grab and MP3 here at the blog.
The tune I bring you this fine day is a long time favorite and a very, very deep selection.
I first grabbed my copy of the Ordells ‘Sippin’ a Cup of Coffee’ many years ago.
What brought me to it – aside from Philly soul completism – was the grooving, organ/guitar instro ‘Big Dom’ on the flip.
It wasn’t until it had been in my crates for more than a year that I finally flipped the disc over and had my mind blown.
There, hidden on the other side of the 45, was one of the most epic pieces of sweet soul I had ever heard.
Simply referring to it as sweet soul does ‘Sippin’ a Cup of Coffee’ a disservice, since it is for more than that.
Produced by Bob Finiz and arranged by Richie Rome, the tune is a stunning piece of atmospheric, otherworldly soul.
The instrumental track is layered with piano, tremolo guitar (verging on the psychedelic) and surging waves of strings, all wrapped in beautiful harmonies.
You often see the term “lost classic’ tossed about, but in this case it is entirely fitting.
‘Sippin’ a Cup of Coffee’ isn’t some wild outlier (see the Twilights ‘Shipwreck’). It is sublimely written, produced and performed, and would – in a just world – have been a huge hit.
Yet it doesn’t appear to have even charted in Philadelphia.
The Dionn label only released 13 45s (eight of which were by their biggest hitmakers Brenda and the Tabulations) and one LP (also B & the Ts) between 1966 and 1968.
The Ordells 45 was released in 1967 and as far as I can tell they never recorded another note. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to discover that they had nothing at all to do with the instrumental, which leaves us with one, absolutely incredible performance, committed to vinyl and then largely forgotten.
I have seen several references that indicate that ‘Sippin’ a Cup of Coffee’ has similarly affected many others, and that it may have something of a lowrider following, but aside from that, it remains the property of soul collectors.
As far as I know it has never been reissued (or at least not currently), which is damn shame, since this is a record that people need to hear.
I hope you dig it, and that you have yourselves a great weekend.
See you on Monday
Keep the faith
Larry

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