LITTLE WILLIE JOHN, "SO LOVELY" C/W "INSIDE INFORMATION," KING 45-5818 (REL. 11/1963)

By November 1963, when today’s single was released, Little Willie John was approaching a decade’s worth of recordings for Midwestern label King Records. It had been a while since his last hit, 1961’s “Take My Love,” which proved his final charter at went Top 5 in rhythm and blues. The quality of his releases didn’t slack off, but public tastes drifted to newer stars, as often happens.

To say that John couldn’t get arrested would be heavy-handed irony, as he did do some prison time, including a stint in Washington state for manslaughter. King dropped him from their roster, in an early example of cancel culture (and back in the days when the rule of law was viable, and actions had consequences. Remember accountability?). Several of his ’63 releases got thumbs-up reviews in Cash Box and Billboard, but this one evaded their radar—perhaps due to the national period of mourning that occupied the last 30-something days of 1963.

This is the latest record by him in the collection. His next single is a huge Northern Soul favorite called “I’m Shakin’,” and I hold out hope that some indifferent seller will price a copy at a dollar or two; it’s just another Little Willie John record.

Had he not had criminal tendencies, John would have had to face the inevitable: the records he’d been making for the past eight years, good as they were, didn’t hook the public anymore. Black music was on the cusp of a major change, and those who stood their ground risked a loss of their fanbase.

“So Lovely,” penned by Willie and credited to his parents, perhaps to get some funds their way, is a soaring r&b ballad with all the trappings—big vocal chorus and a string section that sounds like an electric organ with the tremolo setting on high. It’s a pleasant song with a gospel feeling and despite it sounding just like John’s records of 1958 or 1960, his commanding vocal performance makes it appealing. Few could wring the emotion from a song like Willie, as he does here.

>>> Hear it HERE! <<<

“Inside Information” continues in a similar vibe, with a clever lyric and a show-tune style melody by songwriters Sid Wyche and Jimmy Steward. No creepy strings on this side; it’s done with a stately big-band approach and could have been recorded by Ray Charles to similar effect. The earthier style of this side goes down better than the more sweetened vibe of the A-side, though both are just fine. Without a change, this song could have been recorded in 1955. John was a more seasoned vocalist in 1963, and his depth of performance distinguishes this late side.

>>> Hear it HERE! <<<

John was released from prison in 1966; he went to Los Angeles and recorded an intended comeback LP with cult producer David Axelrod. John’s appeal was denied, and he went back to prison in Walla Walla. The album sat unissued until 2008, when legal difficulties were settled. The session show John eager to take on the changing styles in Black music and suggest that, had crime not ruined his career, he might have been a leading light in the soul music movement.

Tomorrow: The Tams with Little Floyd deliver the soulful goods on a 1964 release not on their home label, ABC-Paramount.