WADE FLEMONS, "WATCH OVER HER" C/W "WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS," VEE-JAY 578 (REL. 12/1963)

After a brief vacation (the last few posts were written in one day and scheduled in advance), we're back. To celebrate the holiday weekend, here's an odd but endearing single from late in Wade Flemons' run of Vee-Jay releases. Here he teams up with producer Bob Crewe and arranger Charles Callelo. Neither are credited on this single but their sonic fingerprints are easy to identify. Both men shared a cartoonish vision of popular music, with exaggerations reminiscent of animator Tex Avery.
        These larger-than-life productions and arrangements rankle the soul snobs. I understand; this is not standard-issue soul music but a fusion of Black and white styles and influences. But to these ears, this odd mix makes for something unusual and intriguing.
        Flemons continued to make excellent singles for Vee-Jay, but hadn't had a hit since 1961. It made sense to bring in a new creative team, shake up the formula and see what resulted. Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli of The Four Seasons (who were on Vee-Jay at the time) penned "Watch Over Her." We'll hold off on that and reverse the sides.

        "When It Rains, It Pours" is a Flemons original, and is played straight-ish, with an arrangement that delves into flashes of wackiness. Its vaudeville chord changes, lurid horn spikes and a fervent vocal chorus surround Flemons' passionate voice. The results: eccentric pop-soul that ends before the listener has acclimated to its vibe. This might have made a better pick for the A-side, but the listening public, aside from devoted fans, had left Flemons behind as new artists emerged. Ain't that the way it always happens?

Cash Box didn't notice anything unusual about this late 1963 release.
The reviewer lays on the magazine's trademark adjectives.

"Watch Over Her" goes more cartoony, with an arrangement that sounds comedic--in contrast to a sensitive, intimate lyric. Betty Everett hadn't yet released her major pop hit "It's In His Kiss," which sports a similar arrangement; perhaps this record inspired that better-known classic.
        The vocal group bolsters Flemons' voice and their blend is warm and appealing. The song might be better without the kooky touches, but it's what we've got and it's a fine performance by the lead singer.

Flemons' next two Vee-Jay singles are huge Northern Soul favorites and command triple-digit sums for clean copies. "That Other Place" is similar to the vibe of today's pairing, but is in a minor key--catnip for soul DJs. 

        Wade's final Vee-Jay single went out with the wrong song on its B-side. That became the Northern Soul anthem "I Can't Get Away From Your Love--" as perfect a specimen of the NS sound as ever existed.
        These are pikers compared to Flemons' two singles for the Ramsel label in 1968. Both are solid four-figure records for those who have that much excess cash to toss around. I'm sure Flemons didn't make a fraction of the current asking prices for either single in 1968!

   

Tomorrow: Liverpool beat group The Swinging Blue Jeans with their 1963 debut single for His Master's Voice. Two group originals with a great sound and a promise unfulfilled by the band.