THE "VARIATIONS" DIG EM UP Justice Recording J-LP-112

$

34

Please consider this hard to find LP. The condition per Goldmine standards is Good to Good-. The record is well played, has lost its sheen, has spindle wear and has numerous scratches which do not appear to be deep. Cover is split top and bottom with old tape on the bottom. Spine is still intact. Edge wear, paper loss in sky above coffin, and rounded corners. Back has age discoloration. No writing or tears. Some soiling. Still a very colorful cover which looks good framed.

Free shipping via media mail in USA. Upgrade to Priority at actual cost. Mailed in cardboard LP box.

This recording is from the small North Carolina-based Justice label ...  Here's one of the rarer entries in the company's catalog.  Reflecting the company's first and only foray into color cover art.  The Variations are probably better described as being blue-eyed soul purveyors.  

As was standard practice for Justice, the liner notes on 1966's "Dig em Up!" shed little information on the group.  Their customized Hearse carried North Carolina plates and the line up was credited as bassist Nonnie Bost, sax player Jimmy Brawler, drummer Bob Ennis, singer  J.B. Gamble, lead guitarist Jimmy Kincade and rhythm guitarist David Poteat.  In addition to being the senior member (he was 26 while the rest of the band members were between 18 and 20, though most looked 14), Ennis was the band front man.  Musically this was fairly standard Justice material.  Sporting the label's typical low tech sound, these guys at least made up for the technical limitations with surprisingly energetic performances.  For a 19 year Gamble proved a more than decent singer, his gruff delivery well suited for the band's mix of garage, R&B and soul covers. Lead guitarist Kincade didn't get a lot of time in the spotlight, but was quite good (check out their cover of the chestnut 'Summertime').  In contrast sax player Brawler got quite a few solo sports and added nothing to the proceedings.  True, nothing here was liable to blow you away and side one was far stronger than the flip side, but about half of the tracks were worth hearing a couple of times - the band's modest competence and earnestness going a long way to explaining the set's weird charm.  Highlights including 'Out Of Sight', the rocking closer 'Shake A Tail Feather' and a surprisingly smoking cover of Wilson Pickett's 'In the Midnight Hour'.