Maurice Jackson

Lucky Fellow

It looks like ex-Trends member Emmitt Garner Jr., is at it again along with Donny Hathaway and writers; 'Garner and Dickerson' and Charles Boyd to put together a little masterpiece " Lucky Fellow". Maurice Jackson (no relation to Chuck) was born in Chicago on 12th June 1944 and had struggled throughout the 1960's in the music world. This though was his best it didn't think so at first - listen to the heavenly angel like voices on the intro - other versions lack that and the eastern sounding clarinet that could be charming a snake from a basket - timeless.

Not only did it come out on four labels but with three artists the only one missing as yet is Curtis Mayfield but he arrives later along with Leroy Hutson.



Scepter Records (Pye UK) also put it out on the Independents album Chuck, Helen, Eric, Maurice in 1973. Though it's hard to tell it is a different recording (just no angels on this one) all songs on this album were written by Marvin Yancy and Chuck Jackson except Lucky Fellow. It looks like Maurice must have brought it with him to the sessions. I purchased the album when it was new and discovered recording #3 by Leroy Hutson in the late 80's, and it wasn't until Brian Goucher a guest on my Sunday Basement Soulshow that he played the Maurice Jackson cut I was surprised to find of an earlier original version.

It made great radio at the time, Brian was with The Consortium (twelve soul collectors/dj's) and they were all bringing in their prize catches to air on the show. The Chuck Jackson in this group by-the-way is the half-brother to Civil Rights activist Jesse Jackson, and not the Motown Chuck Jackson. The album is produced by Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy.

When Yancy he was playing piano for Albertina Walker at Jackson's Black Expo '71 (see it at: Dailymotion.com/mickeynold (in gospel playlist)), the two hit it off and Jackson brought him back to the Butler's Workshop (a writers workshop set up by Jerry Butler). Jackson had been art director for the Playboy Magazine in Chicago but quit to join the Workshop (must be MAD all those naked women).

Terry Callier

Holding On (To Your Love)

Not everything in Chicago was run by Curtis Mayfield but it does look that way especially in the mid-70's and from my posts so far. This time though we are looking at the timeless folk/soul singer Terry Callier. The track chosen Holding On (For Your Love) is from the album Fire Ind Ice and was released in 1978. The other stand-out songs are African Violet and at tribute to Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. with Martin St. Martin. Great line-up of musicians; James Gadson, Phillip Upchurch, Ellie Willis and backing vocals from Minnie Ripperton and recorded in Chicago.
"Walkin' hand-in-hand to the picture show or realing to the sound of your stereo - jus' holdin' on".

Callier, a childhood friend of Curtis Mayfield, began recording in 1963 but never reached stardom despite a series of regional hits in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1983, he gained custody of his 12-year-old daughter Sundiata and decided to retire from music to look for a steadier income. He took classes in computer programming and landed a job at the University of Chicago in 1984.

He reemerged from obscurity when British DJs discovered his old recordings and began to play his songs in clubs in the early 1990s. His Look At Me Now (Chess) reaches £200 with Northern soul DJ's. Acid Jazz Records head Eddie Pillar brought Callier to play clubs in Britain beginning in 1991 and he began to make regular trips to play gigs during his vacation time from work.

In the late 90s Callier began his comeback to recorded music, contributing to Beth Orton's Best Bit EP in 1997 and releasing the album Timepeace in 1998, which won the United Nations' Time For Peace award for outstanding artistic achievement contributing to world peace.
Callier today is continuing his recording career having currently released five albums since Timepeace. He also likes his UK fans and tours regularly to the Jazz Cafe.

Terry Callier Discoraphy (albums)

• The New Folk Sound of Terry Callier (1964)
• Occasional Rain (1972)
• What Color Is Love (1973)
• I Just Can't Help Myself (1974)
• Fire On Ice (1977)
• Turn You To Love (1978)
• TC in DC (recorded live in Washington D.C. 1982) (1996)
• Timepeace (1998) #92 UK Lifetime (1999) #96 UK
• Live at Mother Blues (1964) (2000)
• Alive With Terry Callier (2001)
• Speak Your Peace (2002) #156 UK
• Total Recall (remixes) (2003)
• Lookin' Out (2004)

(Nold/Wickpedia)