As it is, I still don't know more about the Holmes Sisters than I did when I posted two of their songs in November (look up the post here). So I really can't tell you nothing new about this remarkable duo of singers. What I can confirm, with reasonable cer- tainty, is that one of their 45s, Nashboro # 796 (»By His Word« / »Set Your House In Order«) was released in November 1963 (Billboard lists the previous and following Nashboro releases between Oct. and Dec. '63). And this tells us, with little sagacity needed, that the songs were recorded sometime before, probably in summer '63 (Hayes-Laughton's Gospel Discography tentatively puts forward »c.1964« which is too late). They're just so heartwarming to listen to. Hope you feel the same.
Holmes Sisters: »Set Your House In Order« on Nashboro # 796B (1963):
Trains come, trains go, and trains pass. Sometimes they leave somebody behind, sometimes not. Sometimes they're not on schedule, and sometimes they just dis- appear. I personally use trains rarely in real life. But I wouldn't like to miss them, either. Trains mean a lot to me; my father was growing up in the train station of a small town, his father being the station master. And I guess that, in general, trains mean a lot even to people who don't use them.
They did, it seems, to the Holmes Sisters back in 1962. At least they recorded their blues gospel adaptation of »This Train« in Nashville in June '62, giving it the title »Gonna Ride This Train«. The original song was made famous by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, but she recorded a number of different versions of it, with many variations in the lyrics as well (see one here). Big Bill Broonzy then recorded the version that seems closer to what the Holmes Sisters waxed in 1962. However, the credits for the song on the 45 state »Robinson-Holmes«, i.e. Annie Robinson and Julia Marie Holmes. Their uptempo version has nice sonic gimmicks at the beginning and the end of the song ... and the surprising announcement Last Stop: Eternal Life! in the latter part. But best of all, here we have a wonderful duet of two voices that are so dissimilar in timbre, modulation and pitch to make for the perfect duet. What is more, the driv- ing guitars also echo, faintly, Elvis's »Mystery Train«. B-side is »Son Of Man«, with lyrics closely based on Matthew 24 and Luke 21; this song is credited to Robinson-Holmes as well.
My copy of Nashboro # 778 is a promotional copy. Although the songs were recorded in 1962, the single was released only in 1963. Don't know nothing else on the Holmes Sisters. Help appreciated.
Holmes Sisters: »Gonna Ride This Train« / »Son Of Man« on Nashboro # 45-778 (1963):
In the year 1967, even the most unlikely record companies jumped upon the soul train. Well, New York's Musicor-Dynamo was not really an unlikely company to do that: their roster included a few artists who made some noise in the R&B-pop field. From 1967 onwards, most of them were relegated to the subsidiary Dynamo (Luther Dixon's label), including Inez & Charlie Foxx, Barbara & her niece Brenda, Kenny Ballard, Tommy Hunt and a latter day version of The Platters. On the other hand, Musicor's roster was a colored bunch and included also C&W-singers, bigband outfits, Puerto Rican musicians and, securing the survival of the company over the years, Gene Pitney. If you look at Musicor's discography from 1967 onwards, who will find that the bunch got ever more colored after that, and only a few artists managed to have more than two single releases.
Musicor LP # MS3131 (1967), cover
However, in 1967 Musicor went for it: »... with best wishes from Musicor, the home of soul!« was the final salute to those who read the notes on the back cover of Musicor LP # MS3131. This album, released in late May or early June '67, was called »A Quartet Of Soul« and included 12 songs by four of Musicor-Dynamo's most successful soul artists. (It was later reckoned as "first volume" because similar anthologies were to follow). The adjective-stuffed (»amazing line-up«, »fantastic teaming«, »terrific new sides«, »searing vocalistics« ...) sleeve notes further proclaim that »if soul is the thing, then Musicor has it in generous quantities« and eventually arrive at this conclusion: »This is absolutely a rocking jamboree of soul that will make you think you're right there at a wild and stombing live performance.« Winding that pompous message down considerably, Billboard (June 10, '67), in a bland and noncommittal review, declared that the album was »a truly all-star soul package with plenty of pop potential« and had »diversified and dynamic flavor«.
The Billboard writer had a point, though. The album is diversified and dynamic, as an anthology should be. And there is one song that stands truly out from the rest. It certainly isn't rockin' soul, but, if the truth be told, I don't know what it is. I'm speaking of »Too Young To Be Fooled« by Barbara & Brenda (see a nice picture of them here). What is it? Psychedelic R&B? Soul in the Sky With Diamonds? You tell me. No surprise, in any case, that the song has attracted some attention and was repeatedly sampled on CD: you find it on Ace's »Where The Girls Are, Vol. 2« and on Bear Family CD RPM 212 (»It Takes Two: 23 Prime R&B / Soul Duets«). Originally, the hypnotic song, written by Barbara Gaskins, was released in Feb. '67 as the soulful B-Side on Dynamo # 103, together with »If I'm Hurt You'll Feel The Pain«.
The song takes you right off the ground. Listen here and trance off. It is utterly beautiful.
Barbara & Brenda: »Too Young To Be Fooled« from the Musicor LP # MS3131 (1967):
I am interested in the music, not in the relative rarity of discs. I also listen with great pleasure to Aretha Franklin, because she has the voice of the century. Music is no Faith and therefore has no heretics.
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No music downloads on this site. All mp3s (with very few exceptions where noted) are ripped from original vinyl discs. If something on this blog is objectionable to anyone or should, for valid reasons, be re- moved from the net please let me know; it will be removed. And to reiterate: This is a non-profit blog.
