ECCENTRIC SOUL: THE FORTE LABEL
VARIOUS - CD

UPC: 825764104722
Label: NUMERO GROUP
Format: CD
Release Date: August 27, 2013
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In 1969, after three years as Soul Sister #1 to James Brown’s touring entourage, Marva Whitney came home to Kansas City, putting Ellis Taylor’s Forte label back at full fighting strength. She’d calmed aching crowds the day after MLK’s death, and she’d lived the life, despite its rigors—to pour out her pain and exuberance on Forte sides including “I’ve Lived The Life” and “Daddy Don’t Know About Sugar Bear,” which made national rounds in 1972.

By then, Forte had already done more than deliver Marvelous Marva to market. Taylor worked overtime at KPRS to bring the world The Rayons, who’d stroll their girl group harmonies past Chicago’s RCA studios on “Baby Be Good.” In ’68, The Four Darlings sauntered in with smoky-voiced soul operatics on the demanding “Give Me Love.” Progressing in the middle ’70s, Everyday People got “Super Black” on Forte’s pine-green label. Still powering forward some 13 years on, Forte redawned with the 1980s, essaying disco funk with Sharon Revoal’s “Reaching for Our Star.”

Numero 047 Eccentric Soul: The Forte Label charts Kansas City yeoman’s work, the Carpets and the Derbys, dapper clothiers mysteriously murdered, and marriages made and broken. In 28 LP tracks or 21 on CD, plus a trove of promo headshots and every-hued label scans detailing all iterations of Forte’s logo in print, this 16th Eccentric Soul sojourn hands over vivid floor shakers and lost dance craze records alike—though what moves “The Hen” required remains anyone’s guess.

1. Gene Williams Don't Let Your Love Fade
2. Lee Harris I'm Gonna Get Your Thing
3. The Tear Drops I'm Gonna Get You
4. Louis Chachere The Hen Pt. 1
5. The Fantasticks Cry Night and Day
6. Marva Whitney I've Lived the Life
7. The Fabulous Rhythm Makers Mini Mini Afro Twist
8. Tony Ashley I'll Never Be Satisfied
9. The Rayons You Confuse Me Baby
10. The Four Darlings Baby Your Love Is Amazing
11. Lee Harris Lookin' Good
12. Marva Whitney Daddy Don't Know About Sugar Bear
13. Gene Williams Whatever You Do Do, Do It Good
14. Everyday People Is It Really That Bad?
15. The Rayons Baby Be Good
16. Tony Ashley All Along I've Loved You
17. Lee Harris I've Got To Have Somebody's Love
18. Everyday People Super Black
19. James Whitney With Fun In My Life
20. Sharon Revoal Reaching For Our Star
21. Marva Whitney Nothing I'd Rather Be
22. The Four Darlings Give Me Love
23. Unknown Artist Dearest Lover
24. The Fantasticks Live and Let Live
25. The Fabulous Rhythm Makers You Gotta Be Doing It
26. Lee Harris Skate Boogaloo and Karate Too
27. The Tear Drops Don't Fade Away
28. Marva Whitney We Need More