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Day 3 #7DayMusicChallenge ~ George Benson ~ Love Ballad

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George Benson ~ Love Ballad

As with all the artists I’ve picked for the 7DayMusicChallenge, I could have picked numerous tracks from their catalogue.  Today I’ve chosen George Benson who I’m pretty sure I’ve seen three times and I’ve gone with Love Ballad because it makes me think of my DJ buddy Merv dancing at Martines in Eastleigh on a Dynamic Duo Thursday!  (He’s todays nomination)

Love Ballad is a Skip Scarborough song and was first recorded by LTD (Love Togetherness and Devotion) in 1976 and I remember buying the 7″ the A&M.

The George Benson version was included on his 1979 double album “Livin’ Inside Your Love” and the single reached 29 on the UK Top 40.  It’s one of the 12″ tracks that really remind me of my time DJ’ing at Martines, New York New York and The Venue.

I haven’t managed to find all the dates for the George Benson concerts I’ve seen.  I’m pretty sure I saw him play “in the round” at the old Wembley Arena with Merv somewhen in the mid-eighties, then again at Bournemouth a few years later and most recently we saw him on 26th June 2014.  He’s 72 now and still putting on a great show!

Day 2 ~ #7DayMusicChallenge ~ Detroit Spinners ~ Then Came You

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Day 2 #7DayMusicChallenge ~ Detroit Spinners ~ Then Came You

Then Came You was originally recorded by Dionne Warwick with the Spinners and was a number 1 on the American Billboard Top 100 and made the Top 30 here. It was written by Sherman Marshall and Phillip T. Pugh, and produced by the legend Thom Bell.

I was lucky to see the Spinners in 1975 at the Gaumont in Southampton as part of The Atlantic Summer Of Soul Tour that also included The Jimmy Castor Bunch, Ben E King and Sister Sledge.

There is a fabulous double live album from The Spinners (I have a vinyl copy still) recorded about this time with this track listing …

Side One ~ Fascinating Rhythm, I’ve Got To Make It On My Own, Living A Little, Laughing A Little, One Of A Kind (Love Affair) and Then Came You 

Side Two ~ Sadie, How Could I Let You Get Away and Could It Be I’m Falling In Love

Side Three ~ Superstar Medley: It’s Not Unusual, Don’t Mess With Bill, Paper Doll, Stop! In The Name Of Love, If I Didn’t Care, Hound Dog, Hello Dolly and Love Don’t Love Nobody (Part 1) 

Side Four ~ Love Don’t Love Nobody (Part 1 & 2) and Mighty Love

On the tour in the UK Joni Sledge (from Sister Sledge) joined the Spinners for the song and that’s why I chose this version.

Writing these posts takes me back to my Gold “Home Of The Good Groove” Radio days with Stevie Q.  We produced a weekly radio show for around 2 years which were broadcast on internet radio stations Morpher Radio, Disco 935 and JFSR.  CLICK HERE for our blog and you can still get some of the podcasts if you click through the links!  In that time we made online friends all over the World, some who are still with us through FaceBook and today I nominate Izzy (our former South Africa corespondent who is now back in the UK), a truly lovely lady who’s always there with a “like” and a kind word.

Never forget ~ Life Sounds Better To Music