The Elgins
The Motown Anthology
Universal/Motown
UK Released date 7th May 2007
Catalogue number: 980 089 - 2
It's been a long time coming but on the 7th May 2007 Motown fans are treated to the anthology two CD set from one of Motown's finest groups The Elgins. Its always sad after the event when we find ourselves raving about a particular artist/group and wondering just how on earth they didn't make it bigger than they actually did, and perhaps this group were just one of the many such acts that passed through the doors at Hitsville. Born initially as the Five Emeralds and recording for the Detroit based State label as well as Back Beat and Peacock labels before changing names to The Downbeats. The original line-up consisted of Robert Flemming, Johnny Dawson, Cleotha Duke Miller, and Tommy Salisbury who approached Berry Gordy back in 1961 where their first recording for Motown was released entitled 'Your Baby's Back'.
As with a lot of other artists during their early years their initial releases did very little to make any waves on the pop charts and further releases by the Downbeats were scheduled for issue in the USA on Motown's subsidiary label VIP which was home to the Velvelettes at that time with other names joining the roster such as the Monitors, Spinners, Chuck Jackson during the latter part of the decade. At that time a female vocalist by the name of Saundra Mallett was recording her debut release in the studio with Gordy featuring backing vocals by Martha & the Vandella's and eventually finding a release on the Gordy imprint under the title of 'Camel Walk'. Featuring Marvin Gaye on piano it did little to impress the right people although the flip side 'Its Gonna Be Hard Times' would eventually get included on the Elgins LP a couple of years later. Gordy would seem to have had faith in Saundra and a number of other tunes were recorded on her and are featured on this new CD.
The Downbeats were struggling to find any hits and two members Flemming and Salisbury left the line-up. Johnny Dawson enlisted the young Saundra into the group using her married name of Edwards and changed the group name to The Elgins (even though the Temptations had used that same name briefly some years earlier) . Under this new name the group went back into studio 'A' under the watchful eye of Holland Dozier Holland.
The year was now 1965 and their debut '45' became their LP title a year later. 'Darling Baby' was issued on the VIP label backed with their version of 'Put Yourself In My Place' a song covered by label mate Chris Clark, as well as the Isley Brothers and the Supremes. The initial first pressings of this release were credited to the Downbeats before being re-pressed under the name The Elgins. The single raised the groups profile but didn't give them the big hit they so deserved even though copies were finding themselves being shipped over to the UK to satisfy the collectors who by now were realising that there was more to the Motown Sound than just the obvious big names and hit records.
Their next VIP release would be their biggest ever - 'Heaven Must Have Sent You' an uptempo piece of HDH magic that had all the ingredients of being a number one pop hit but it wasn't until five years later after demand from the UK via the ever expanding northern soul scene would the song get a reissue and make it big. Motown at that time in the UK were on a frenzy of reissuing northern soul styled songs from the label after realising the UK collectors market was a valuable outlet for these songs that had failed to chart in their homeland.
The follow up single 'It's Been A Long Long Time' fared reasonably well but lacked the impetus of 'Heaven' and although very collectable here in England it became just another Motown 45 'must have' with no chart success to back it up. The UK market was lucky enough to enjoy the Elgins LP 'Darling Baby' in 1967 (which is featured here) and remains one of the most rarest UK long players featuring some tasty cover versions such as Wilson Pickett's 'Midnight Hour' and '634 5789' plus the popular HDH hit song 'How Sweet it Is' which Marvin Gaye had recorded along with Jr. Walker. I'm not a fan of cover versions but when the Funk Brothers are providing the groove it becomes something special. Check out their cover on James Brown's 'Its A Man's Man's World' or Percy Sledge's 1966 hit 'When A Man Loves A Woman' for something special!.
It is of course what they had in the vaults that will be of most interest and a selection of the unreleased songs are provided for your attention by clicking the links at the bottom of this page. Disc two concentrates on the Downbeats releases as well as those 45's recorded by Saundra backed by some alternative mono mixes of their best known hits. I must however point you to an absolute storming track on side two credited to the Downbeats entitled 'Do You Know What I'm Talkin' About' which is just perfect for those northern soul fans.
Rating 8/10.
ANTI PIRACY WARNING - If you see the promo CDR advertised anywhere beware they have incomplete tracks with gaps in them making them worthless to collectors!
Audio Samples;
The Downbeats - Do You Know What I'm Talkin' About
The Elgins - Thank You Love
The Elgins - Love Where Are You Hiding
The Elgins - When You Are Available
The Elgins - Life Can Be Beautiful
The Elgins - Another Hurt Like This