Saboo LaTeuse, Barbarian 105A/106B This Old Heart of Mine & He's So Fine MEMPHIS

$

25

Up for sale is an exceptionally rare disco/funk/soul garage band single (7 inch, 45 RPM vinyl) from an underground Memphis, Tennessee label.  The lead vocalist is very obscure; I believe this was her only recording!  She does a terrific job.  This record has many great Memphis connections.

Artist:   Saboo LaTeuse (on the A side, she performs with the "Toulouse Sisters"; on the B side, she performs with "The Macho Community Choir", which is a male chorus)

Record Label:  Barbarian Records

Record Number:  BARB-0105 A and BARB-0106 B

SPECIAL NOTE:  The "This Old Heart of Me" side of this record (BARB-0105 A) is a "SPECIAL DISCO MIX".

Release Year:  1976 (according to the website of Discogs)

The following credits appear on both sides:  Produced by Jim Blake for K. M. P. (King Music Productions); Arranged by Jim Dickinson; Engineered by Richard Rosebrough.  Side A was mixed by Rick Ireland; Side B was mixed by Jim Dickinson and Jim Blake.

Side One (BARB-0105 A):  This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You) (Holland-Dozier-Holand) [Time: 2:43; Jobette, ASCAP]

     Wax matrix marks:  "BARBARIAN", "0105", "305" and "JE/AS/SCD"

Side Two (BARB-0106 B):  He's So Fine (R. Mack) [Time: 3:33;  Bright Tunes Music Corp., ASCAP]

     Wax matrix marks:  "BARBARIAN", "0106", "306" and "JE/AS/SCD"

The version of "He's So Fine" on this record has an extra set of spoken lyrics near the end, not present on the original recording by The Chiffons.  Among the lyrics is "the truth will set you free".  One wonders if this is a reference to the ongoing controversy regarding whether ex-Beatle George Harrison had committed copyright infringement (or plagiarism) when he released his own hit, "My Sweet Lord".  The litigation had begun in 1971 and the final ruling, that Harrison had "subconsciously" infringed, was handed down in October, 1976, the same year that the Barbarian recording of "He's So Fine" (by Saboo LaTeuse) was released.

Jim Dickinson, who is credited as the "Arranger" and also as a "Mixer" of this record, lived from 1941 to 2009.  He was a highly respected producer, singer, and pianist closely associated with Memphis.

In a 2018 article "Memphis' Lost Decade of Bohemia and Music" (website of the Memphis Flyer), Pat Ranier was interviewed about Barbarian Records owner Jim Blake.  She recalled that he had run the Yellow Submarine Record Shop on Poplar.  With regard to Barbarian, "Blake founded the company when Jim Dickinson told him 'You know, you should make a record of Jerry Lawler and sell it at the wrestling matches.'  I saw a light bulb go off over Blake's head.  The three of us kinda pitched in together, but Blake was the figurehead."  The article notes that the Lawler records helped fund hours of recording sessions by Dickinson, Lesa Aldridge, The Klitz, and others - mostly unreleased.  Presumably, this single by Saboo LaTeuse was one of the those recordings.

John Rosebrough (1949 - 2015), credited as the engineer on this single, was a Memphis native.  He was a gifted drummer who is best known for his associations with the cult band, Big Star, and with the solo careers of Alex Chilton and Chris Bell.  He worked as an engineer for Ardent Studios between 1968 and 1976.

Francis Richard ("Rick") Ireland (1942 - 2011) was another Memphis native.  He was influential in the garage rock scene of the 1970s and would go on to become studio manager at Ardent Recording Studios.  He was an accomplished guitarist and also played with the Veterans Administration Band, the Shriners' Band, and the Memphis Doctor's Band.

See above for complete description of condition and for photos.  Sold as is.

Attention US Buyers:  I will ship by USPS Media Mail or by USPS Priority Mail, your choice.  Please note that if you have a Military Mail address (e.g. APO), I must ask that you pick USPS Priority Mail as it is my understanding that USPS Medial Mail is not reliable to Military Mail addresses.

Attention International Buyers:  I will ship using USPS Priority International Mail (worldwide) or by USPS First Class International Mail (to countries with e-Delcon service), your choice.  Please note that the price does not include any customs that may be charged by the country to which the record is delivered.