GROVER MITCHELL, "TAKE A LOOK" C/W "WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU," TCF TCF-9 (REL. 4/1964)

Forever destined to be mistaken for a fine jazz trombonist of the same name, Grover Mitchell was a talented soul vocalist and composer who emerged in the early 1960s  but began recording a decade earlier. The 5000th 45-rpm single I added to my collection was a 1957 Ember Records release by The Marktones. Mitchell sings lead on both sides; the two songs were recorded by a group called The Cashmeres, who had one release on sister label Herald Records in 1956. (They did this, I swear, to confuse record collectors in the future.)

Digression of topic is the heart of 45-rpm records, so I'll return to course. By 1964, when today's single came and went in a blink, Mitchell had racked up several solo releases. It had the misfortune to appear in the heat of Beatlemania, when white UK groups could do no wrong as they regurgitated the very music that wasn't selling to white teens (soul, r&b, earthy rock 'n' roll). Though they talked up the Black artists they admired in interviews, little of that inspired their fans to explore the catalogs of their idols. There are more great, unheard Black recordings in 1963 and '64 than any other year. It still seems like a bottomless well of material.

This single came out on 20th Century-Fox's curious TCF imprint, which has one of the most confusing catalogs in all of 45-land. The label made several joint releases with other small labels, which leads to mysterious hyphenated logos. All were released on @#$(#$^#$ styrene, but so few of the releases were recognized when new that they tend to turn up in nice shape when found.

The Georgia-born vocalist's original surname was Mincy; he continued to use that for songwriter credits. Had he known of the more famous Grover Mitchell, he might've chosen to keep his real-life moniker. Grover sings with a conviction and presence that is the essence of deep soul; he had this technique from his first solo records in the earlier 1960s and it only grew in time.

"Take a Look" is a bright, swinging gospel-flavored blues with New Orleans-flavored brass and woodwinds, a breezy vocal chorus and a shouting, appealing vocal stand by Mitchell on an upbeat song of personal and social pride. This sounds like a standout song in a Broadway musical that never existed, and it's over far before the listener's interest begins to wane. It's a common gripe here, and you've heard it before, so I shan't repeat it.

This Cash Box review appeared at a time when The Beatles occupied the top five slots in the magazine's Hot 100 singles. There wasn't a lot of room for Black music at the moment.

"What Happened to You" is much closer to deep soul. With a waltz tempo, a gospel-style vocal chorus and churchy piano, this intense moody ballad that UK soul afficionado Sir Shambling deems "...a scene setter for his best work in many ways." Fine; be that way. "As good as..." would also suffice. And, again, it's over way before it's over, IYKWIM.

Mitchell continued to make excellent recordings through a checkered career. In the later 1960s, he toured with Roy Orbison, and the two musicians clicked. They recorded a duet session in Nashville, but Orbison's label at the time, M-G-M, wouldn't release it. Two songs came out on a UK single that Sir Shambling dismisses, which means they're interesting recordings but not the standard deep-soul formula his mindset requires.

These Black performers deserve far better than the narrow-minded gatekeepers who have assigned themselves to them. An open mind brings more of life's pleasures, and I wish these soul fanatics could increase the space between their ears just a tad. But whaddaygonnadew?

Tomorrow: Sir Joe and The Maidens with a pair of pop r&b charmers from the Lenox label, c. 1963.