A little journey into Chicago Soul courtesy of Unky Cliff, his files,his commentary, Thanks Cliff! - "It is always amazing to me how much great music has vanished from our collective memory. In part because radio playlists, even those of 'oldies' stations, have been pared down to a top 100 songs and in part because some labels slip into unexplained obscurity.
Mowtown and Atlantic have held onto our imaginations because they have kept much of their material in print through out all the changes in taste and format. Others like Vee Jay and Brunswick have simply muddled along with poorly planned and limited reissue programs. These once mighty labels rarely ever make a dent on the mind of younger listeners.
As a kid in Chicago during the 1960 Okeh records dominated the R&B charts with some of the finest in Windy-City Soul. Two of that labels forgotten greats are presented here to help lift your spirits.
Walter Jackson from Pensacola FL contracted polio at an early age and performed on crutches for much of his career. His earliest recordings were as the lead singer of the Velvetones (Deb 1959). As a solo act he began recording for Columbia in 1962 and moved to their Okeh subsidiary in 1964. He
made the national charts 8 times between 1964 and 1967 but never managed to crack the top 10…
except in Chicago. Produced by the
great Carl Davis with material from Curtis Mayfield, Jackson's husky
baritone is in the mode of Arthur Prysock and Billy Eckstine but was put
to superb use in a brand of pop soul far more subtle than that
generated by similar Mowtown artists. A perfect sampler of Davis'
'Chicago Sound'.Billy Butler spent much of his career overshadowed by his brother Jerry. With the Enchanters (later simply Chanters) he recorded a number of songs for Okeh in 1965/6 two of which scratched the national charts. Also working with Davis and Mayfield, the younger Butler specialized in bright, vigorous and highly melodic songs, but is equally at home with mid-tempo and ballad material. On all his songs, his controlled and slightly gospelly vocals lend just enough intensity to give the songs that rich, soulful feeling."
NOT the same guy as the guitar player.
