MAUREEN BAILEY MARRIAGE AIN'T A GAME RUN AWAY UNRELEASED? ACETATE NORTHERN SOUL

$

26

PLEASE READ THE FULL DESCRIPTION FOR ALL THE DETAILS ON THIS ACETATE & THEN LISTEN TO THE CLIPS BELOW (please note that the clip includes a few segments from the song(s) listed in this auction to give you an idea of condition, sound and mix)

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO READ THE SECTION ABOUT THE "LYRICAL DIFFERENCES" BETWEEN MAUREEN BAILEY'S ACETATE VERSION OF "MARRIAGE AIN'T A GAME TO PLAY" AND THE NATURAL TRUTH'S ACETATE VERSION OF "MARRIAGE IS NOT A GAME TO PLAY" THAT I HAVE UP THIS WEEK IN A SEPARATE AUCTION... THE LYRICAL DIFFERENCES WILL ASTOUND YOU!!!!!

THE RECORD/ACETATE

This is a double-sided 10" STEREO 45RPM metal Acetate on the pressing/mastering lab label of "ID Sound Studios, Inc" with the address and phone number of 1556 N. La Brea, Hollywood, Calif., HO 2-6477. This Acetate features the songs "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play" b/w "You Can't Run Away From Yesterday" by Maureen Bailey. The glued on label has the further typed and written info on the A-side "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play - Artist/Maureen Bailey - EM 706-A - Total Time 2:47 - Intro Time :07 - Outro Time:02 - BMI - Wima Music Pub, Co. Inc. - Family Tree Pub. - Produced by M.B. - (Maureen Bailey & W. James writers) - (c) 1970" -- and on the B-side "You Can't Run Away From Yesterday" - Artist/Maureen Bailey - EM 706-B - Total Time 2:42 - Intro Time :11 - Outro Time:21 - BMI - Julian Pub. - Produced by M.B. - (A. Freeman & R. Talmage writers) - (c) 1968". There is no stamped or etched matrix number in the dead wax on either side. Please note that the copyright date may not be the year of recording, but may be the year the song was copywritten, but I'm just not sure.

This Acetate comes in a white generic paper sleeve that shows some browning from the acetate and has a generic white sticker affixed with the following info written on it: "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play - Stereo (compatible) 45" and "You Can't Run Away From Yesterday - Stereo Compatible 45". There's an additional "splash" stain on the "You Can't Run Away From Yesterday" side of the generic white sleeve.

The surface of the acetate shows no white or hazy residue and looks really to be in great shape. The labels are in NEAR MINT condition!

WHAT'S AN ACETATE?

Just a note for those unfamiliar with metal core acetates - these records are extra heavy from the center of the record being made of metal. These records are the first versions ever made from the master tapes (even before test pressings or promo copies and they do sound the best) for the purpose of feedback on the mix by those involved in the recording process and because they are the first pressed from the master tape, they sound the best and closest to what was captured in the studio at the time of mixing and mastering. These discs were expensive to make, so very few, if no more than a small handful are usually made and as you can imagine, these discs are quite RARE and sometimes the mixes can be different than the final release.

THE STORY

I have 8 different auctions up this week featuring the Acetates by Maureen Bailey and The Natural Truth. In addition to this auction for this double-sided 10" Acetate of the "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play" (EM 706-A) b/w "You Can't Run Away From Yesterday" (EM 706-B) by Maureen Bailey, you'll find a double-sided 10" Acetate (separate auction this week) of the "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play" b/w "What Good Is Life" (handwritten, no catalog #) by Maureen Bailey featuring the same mix as the version in this auction of "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play", and then a 5-song 12" Acetate by The Natural Truth (separate auction this week) including their version of "Marriage Is Not A Game To Play" (with completely different lyrics). The fact is, these sides use the same backing tracks for both the Maureen Bailey and the Natural Truth versions of "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play" aka "Marriage Is Not A Game To Play", but with different instrument mixes (see below for more details). This shows that for these different versions they didn't just sing over the backing tracks, and that each version got it's own fresh mix. I gotta say, there's some amazing, soulful brass on this track, once you hear it, you'll dig the that soulful sound!

What I discovered is that Maureen Bailey was a songwriter and as you'll hear, a very talented singer, who after working for Motown for over a decade writing, arranging and producing for artists such as: Jermaine Jackson, The Fifth Dimension, Syreeta, Thelma Houston, George Benson and DeBarge, she started the Embee Record label. The Natural Truth appear to be a soul group with co-lead male and female vocalists. Obviously, from Maureen Bailey's work with Motown and having access to some of the top session players, you'll certainly hear how tight these tracks are played. There's no sloppiness in these grooves and they certainly groove with the heart of true soul players!

My belief, is that with Maureen Bailey being an artist, songwriter, arranger, producer and record label owner, she recorded her versions first and then came across the group The Natural Truth and decided to release these songs by them on her label. I've done a fair amount of web research on these Acetates by Maureen Bailey and The Natural Truth, but I've had very little luck in discovering much info on them. I'm not sure if Maureen Bailey or The Natural Truth ever released an LP.

Now I can't say whether or not any of these Maureen Bailey or Natural Truth songs on these Acetates were ever released, although the Maureen Bailey sides note Embee Records catalog numbers (if you know differently, please e-mail me).

IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MAUREEN BAILEY & NATURAL TRUTH ACETATES I HAVE UP FOR AUCTION THIS WEEK?

On this double-sided Maureen Bailey 10" Acetate featuring "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play" (EM 706-A) b/w "You Can't Run Away From Yesterday" (EM 706-B), it uses the same exact mix of "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play" found on the Double-sided 10" Acetate by Maureen Bailey (EM 706-A) with the flipside of "What Good Is Life" (handwriten, no catalog # - separate auction this week) featuring the Piano mixed to the right side, with the Guitar and Brass mixed to the left side, and the Drums and Background Vocals mixed into both sides, but on the Natural Truth's 12" 5-song Acetate (separate auction this week) it features a swapped co-lead male/female vocals (first verse male, second verse female, the male/female vocalists swapping every two lines during the bridge and for the last verse featuring swapped lines between the male and female co-leads) on "Marriage Is Not A Game To Play" and uses the same backing tracks that have been sped/pitched-up just a little bit. On The Natural Truth's version of "Marriage Is Not A Game To Play" you'll find the Piano and Drums mixed to the left side, with the Guitar, Brass and the addition of some tastily, urgent Tamborine mixed to the right side, and the Background Vocals mixed into both sides.

On this double-sided Maureen Bailey 10" Acetate featuring "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play" (EM 706-A) b/w "You Can't Run Away From Yesterday" (EM 706-B), I only have this one version/copy of "You Can't Run Away From Yesterday", which features the Piano and Bass mixed to the right side, with the Guitar and Organ mixed to the left side, and the Drums and Background Vocals (it sounds like Maureen doubling the chorus vocals) mixed into both sides.

The Maureen Bailey version "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play" has a tighter sound (little or no noticeable reverb) and the Natural Truth version of "Marriage Is Not A Game To Play" has a bit more ambience (nicely applied reverb, not swimming in it). Other than that they both versions of "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play" aka "Marriage Is Not A Game To Play" last between 2:40 - 2:42, even though The Natural Truth version was sped/pitched-up just slightly.

LYRICAL DIFFERENCES ON "MARRIAGE AIN'T A GAME TO PLAY" aka "MARRIAGE IS NOT A GAME TO PLAY"

There's an AMAZINGLY interesting difference between the versions of the Maureen Bailey version of "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play" (EM 706-A) and the Natural Truth version found on the 5-song, 12" Acetate (separate auction this week) of "Marriage Is Not A Game To Play". The Maureen Bailey version has the first line lyric of "Oh, where is my man" and the third line of "Why did he leave me, leave me all alone", whereas The Natural Truth version has the first lyric line of "Where is my Dad" and the third line of "Why did he leave Ma, and the rest of us all alone". Now that obviously changes the tone of the song, but wait, there's more!!! Now going even deeper into the song, you'll find that major changes to the lyrics have occured, in the bridge of the Maureen Bailey version she sings "Giving me lovin, holdin' me tight, 24 hours a day, takin' it easy, havin' your fun, stealin' my love away" - "Singin' me sad songs, cryin' the blues, using my shoulder to lean on, where did it get you, where did it leave me, all alone singin' my song". But in the bridge of The Natural Truth version the male/female lead vocalist sing "Whenever there's a will, there's bound to be a way, these are the words, our parents often say" - "I hope they'll see the light, and let love be their guide, and the need for one another, will bring them to our side". WOW!!! This changes the whole outlook of the song from Maureen Bailey's, I'm a woman and my man's done me wrong vibe, to The Natural Truth's, I'm a kid/young adult and our parents are going to divorce vibe. I know which one I dig, which one will you???

LAST THOUGHTS ON THESE ACETATES

Well, I just didn't know that the lyrics between the Maureen Bailey's version of "Marriage Ain't A Game To Play" and The Natural Truth's versions of "Marriage Is Not A Game To Play" were so entirely different, until I wrote the details above. This really blows me away!!! I guess you'll have the ability to choose which version speaks to you.

Because I'm unaware of commercial releases of the songs on these Acetates, I can't say whether or not these Acetates feature different mixes, vocals or instruments than those that may have been released commercially. If there were any distinct differences amongst the Maureen Bailey and Natural Truth versions, I make mention of them under the section above.

GRADING ON THIS ACETATE

The vinyl on this Acetate is in excellent ("You Can't Run Away From Yesterday" side) - NEAR MINT condition ("Marriage Ain't A Game To Play" side) and plays solidly, but with some clicks/pops here and there, which doesn't effect the enjoyment of this RARE Acetate. I didn't attempt any physical cleaning on these Acetates for fear of damage. If you wish to physically clean them or even import them into your computer to edit them to make them sound as pristine, I'll leave that up to you. You can hear sound samples of the side/song below, which is from the actual record in this auction, and you'll notice that I've given a few distinct samples from different sections of this acetate to give you an idea of condition, sound and mix. Please see the photos below to view the label condition. This is a really RARE & COOL Maureen Bailey/Acetate collectible, make sure you bid today!!!

I APOLOGIZE TO YOU ALL FOR THE INFORMATION OVERLOAD THAT YOU MAY EXPERIENCE WHILE READING THROUGH THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THESE 8 ACETATES BY MAUREEN BAILEY AND THE NATURAL TRUTH. MY OBJECTIVE WAS TO PROVIDE YOU AS MUCH DETAIL AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT YOU COULD CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EACH AUCTION/VERSION. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN OR NEEDS CLARIFICATION, PLEASE MESSAGE ME VIA EBAY SO I CAN PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL.

PLEASE NOTE: I have over 30 ACETATES and TEST PRESSINGS up for auction this week, along with a mixture of 100 or more 45's and LP's! With that said, please make sure you check them all out! If you win multiples, I'll combine them into one package to save you $$$ on S/H!!!

MARRIAGE AIN'T A GAME TO PLAY CLIP

CAN'T RUN AWAY FROM YESTERDAY CLIP

Buyer pre-pays the winning bid price and $6.00 Media Mail S/H for shipping in the good ol' USA (insurance extra if buyer feels necessary).  For winning bidders from Canada, buyer pre-pays the winning bid price and $12.00 USD International First Class S/H.  For winning bidders outside of the US and Canada, buyer pre-pays the winning bid price and $19.50 USD International First Class S/H.  For Multiple International wins, please wait for me to calculate the S/H before you make payment (see note below). For my International bidders, please note that the S/H amount quoted, is due to the additional weight necessary to keep this fragile item intact and without damage during shipping, by including extra carboard and packing materials.

(PLEASE NOTE: Although I will combine multiple wins into one package for all winning bidders, if there are any individual or combined multiple wins totaling $100.00 USD or more for INTERNATIONAL winning bidders, these will be shipped via Priority or Express Mail (whichever is cheaper) with insurance and shipping paid by the buyer for added security during shipment to protect against loss or damage of the item(s).)

I require payment to be made within 7 days (1 week) after the close of the auction, if on the 8th day following the close of the auction I haven't received your payment via PayPal, I will open an Unpaid Item Case.

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