Listen: Don’t Hit Me No More / Mable John
MableJohnDontHit.mp3

What about these lyrics? I wonder if a label would even dare ask their artist to sing them in this day and age?

I recall seeing ‘Don’t Hit Me No More’ in the mark down bin at Woolworth’s and sprang for the 39¢. Besides, I’d seen but not heard one too many Mable John, sister of Little Willie John, singles by then, seemingly a new one every three or four months. Always a meager few neatly displayed in the RnB section at Walt’s Records, the downtown Syracuse shop that carried ten or so copies of anything English that had reached their charts and released in The US.

Likewise, the store was chock full of all the current deep blues and soul singles. Those hovering anywhere near the BILLBOARD RnB chart had their own real estate on the shelves as well. It was anybody’s guess which were the greats amongst them, but once they hit those discount bins, label, writer, producer and in this case, song title pointed this little kid toward many a cherished item all these years later.

Listen: Leave My Man (Woman) Alone / The Raeletts
Leave My Man (Woman) Alone / The Raeletts

Having developed a liking for early Ray Charles records meant the net was cast, and all things remotely related dragged in. Enter The Raeletts. Although sometimes referred to as The Raelettes, depending on which single you’re holding, various early members are mentioned/not mentioned in the their lineup. The more famous, like Mable John, Merry Clayton and Minnie Riperton, all got a run for their money by vocalist Vernita Moss, more often than not, criminally overlooked.

Her ad libs on ‘Leave My Man (Woman) Alone’ are priceless, seldom heard on record at that time. Tangerine, Ray Charles’ imprint, released some raw and earthy records in the late 60′s/early 70′s patch, and this is one. Relegated to the B side didn’t mean it could hide for long.

This copy was shipped in the above company sleeve. One side of which is an all white front, revealing the record’s label copy through a standard, circular hole, while the back is a uncut, color picture of the generic Tangerine artwork.

The Raeletts appeared many times on US television, including THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, many times with Vernita Moss.

Listen: Slip-In Mules / Sugar Pie De Santo SugarPieSlipIn.mp3

I was so taken by her name from the very first time I saw it: Sugar Pie De Santo. You see I’m a pushover when it comes to cakes, pies, basically anything from bakeries. And there are none quite like the ones in mainland Europe. I first travelled there in ’87 with X and 10,000 Maniacs and had just become an unbearable militant vegetarian, basically making all my friends uneasy whenever they ate any meat. At least I had Natalie and Exene, both vegetarians, on my side for the trip, but still, not very nice I realize now. Those bakeries were safe neutral ground for us all. The places were so good, especially the ones in Holland and Switzerland. Oh and Denmark too. I still think about them.

There was a great record store just down from The Paradiso in Amsterdam, where both bands were playing. The window was jammed with Checker/Chess records and we were just staring at all the great sleeves. It was late and the place was closed. There were at least two from Sugar Pie De Santo. And next door was a Bakery & Sweet Shoppe. It must have been there for decades. Ever since, I’ve associated her with bakeries, good ones too.

I attended the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Awards show in Philadelphia September ’08, Vivian Green was singing with Chaka Kahn. It was heaven on earth for rubbing shoulders with legends: Bill Withers, The Dixie Cups, Mable John, Aretha Franklin, The Marvelettes, Earl Van Dyke, The Soul Brothers, Martha & The Vandellas, so many, they were all there.

I had no idea until arriving that Sugar Pie De Santo was being inducted. Plus she even performed and no one was ready. She owned the place, wow, what a fireball and a voice to stop most others in their tracks. I’m inclined to say she stole the show, but Bill Withers doing ‘Grandma’s Hands’ was pretty fierce too. ‘Slip-In Mules’ has always been my favorite single by her, although I have many. Her phrasing of toes into toesies is classic.

Worth getting immediately: SUGAR PIE DE SANTO / GO GO POWER: THE COMPLETE CHESS SINGLES 1961 – 1966 (Ace CD 317). It’s all her Chess A & B sides, including this one. Pretty much a must-have.