Lost Hits Of The Rock n Roll Era-Soul Brothers Six

Atlantic Records had plenty of soul acts that made big impacts on the charts back in the 60s. Notables such as Wilson Pickett, Clarence Carter, Solomon Burke, Otis Redding. But in my time a lot of less known would put out DJ copies of forgotten songs that only I remember. Don Hollinger's Cruel World (ATCO 6592), White soulster Billy Vera recorded a version of I've Been Loving You Too Long. And Patty LaBelle & The Bluebell gave us I Don't Want To Go On Without You.

One of the lesser knowns of the soul Atlantic era is The Soul Brothers Six, who released five good to great to classic singles. I don't believe they made an album for Atlantic which is a shame. Wikipedia calls their singles unimpressive which tends one to believe that whoever wrote that, never did listen or could get access to the singles.

Best known for Some Kind Of Wonderful (Atlantic 2406) (which Grand Funk Railroad took up to the charts in 1975), that song was their only chart appearance in their career. The next song You Better Check Yourself (Atlantic 2456) may be the best Motown song not done by Motown, the bass introduction reminds one of James Jamerson. It didn't get much airplay but in fact I didn't come across it till I found a decent copy of it at the old Marion Goodwill next to the old Mays Drugstore. The group was led by John Ellison who sounded a cross between Little Richard and Wilson Pickett. The call and response from the other guys makes this a lost classic and why it didn't break big remains a mystery.

The next two singles, Ellison went for a more soul ballad style and neither sold either, copies of the songs becoming part of those 10 for a dollar 45 box sets that K Mart used to sell. Arif Mardin Co Produced and arranged Charles Armstrong's I Can't Live Without You (Atlantic 2535) and the followup Thank You Baby For Loving Me (Atlantic 2592). Their final Atlantic offering, What You Got (Sure Is Good For Me) (Atlantic 2645) was written by Charles Armstrong and showing more of a harding rocking edge than previous efforts. The record didn't sell and the Soul Brothers Six got dropped and basically broke up. But John Ellison would recruit new faces and they moved over to Philadelphia: LA Of Soul Records for three more singles that were regional hits at best and actually more of a funk feel than the Motown R & B feel of the Atlantic singles.

However The Soul Brothers Six, lack of sales would benefits others. Duke And The Drivers had a bigger hit with What You Got in 1975 and also covered Check Yourself. And even though there has yet to be a official release of an actual SB6 retrospective (Some Kind Of Wonderful can be found on Sire's Sweet Soul Music 1992 and Check Yourself is on The Beat Goes On-Best Of Atlantic Dance Music on Kent/Ace UK). Most of their singles can be heard via You Tube.

PS There's a early version of Oh I Need You Yes I Do (Lyndell 747 circa 1965?) that gives one a feeling of Wilson Pickett leading the Miracles.