Remembering singer/songwriter Terry Callier on his birthday

Remembering Chicago-based singer/songwriter Terry Callier on his birthday with a few stellar performances.

Long overdue sampler of Charles Stepney's dazzling productions issued by Ace/BGP

The boffo 20-track Charles Stepney comp Eternal Journey – put together by Dean Rudland – has been in the works since 2017. 

Here's the scoop...

"Eternal Journey – The Arrangements And Productions Of Charles Stepney" a compilation we started work on back in 2017 will finally be released tomorrow (Friday, March 5). One not to miss, particularly for fans of Terry Callier, Rotary Connection, The Dells, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Ramsey Lewis, Phil Upchurch, Marlena Shaw and Buddy Guy!

Charles Stepney gained worldwide success as the producer for Earth Wind & Fire and Deniece Williams but the producer and arranger’s earlier work at Chess is now regarded as some of the most original ever laid to tape, and in the past 20 years has become a primary influence on scores of producers and arrangers, with his records being sought after by DJs and collectors. Despite a couple of attempts, his most important work has never been compiled on one volume until now. This compilation gathers up his most famous productions for the likes of Rotary Connection - and their singer Minnie Riperton, Ramsey Lewis, Terry Callier, Marlena Shaw and the Dells.

An influence on everyone from Masters At Work to Radiohead, Charles Stepney’s production for the Chess labels captured the spirit of the era by mixing soul, jazz, electronics, composed music and a touch of psychedelia, all arranged brilliantly and produced to an incredibly high standard. Shockingly there has never been a compilation dedicated to this area of his work, something that we are rectifying with “Eternal Journey.”

Stepney was a jobbing arranger when Marshall Chess recruited him to co-produce his new project Rotary Connection, which allowed him to realise his symphonic productions. With the success of their debut album, Stepney was recruited to work on many of the labels most important artists including Ramsey Lewis, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and The Dells. He also took on his own projects working with Phil Upchurch, Terry Callier and others.

Beautifully remastered and housed in a sleeve based on a 1960s Rotary Connection Billboard Magazine advert, this is 16 tracks of Chicago brilliance. Compilation producer Dean Rudland has told the story of Stepney's emergence through his most dazzling work and also their building blocks in the day to day arrangements from R&B and soul stars such as Little Milton and Buddy Guy. His in depth sleeve note includes interview with many of those who worked with Stepney including the author's conversations with both Terry Callier and Marshall Chess. 

Get a copy of "Eternal Journey" directly from Ace/BGP UK right here. Check out the tracklisting followed by a few audio clips below. 

Eternal Journey – The Arrangements and Productions of Charles Stepney

1. DEAR PRUDENCE - RAMSEY LEWIS

2. LES FLEUR - MINNIE RIPERTON

3. IT'S ALL UP TO YOU - THE DELLS

4. BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX - BILLY STEWART

5. STAND UP AND BE COUNTED - MEDITATION SINGERS

6. LOVE HAS FALLEN ON ME - THE NEW ROTARY CONNECTION

7. WHAT COLOR IS LOVE - TERRY CALLIER

8. BROTHER WHERE ARE YOU - MARLENA SHAW

9. MORE AND MORE - LITTLE MILTON

10. ETERNAL JOURNEY - RAMSEY LEWIS

11. CALIFORNIA SOUL - MARLENA SHAW

12. CAN'T CATCH THE TRANE - TERRY CALLIER

13. THE LOVE WE HAD (STAYS ON MY MIND) - THE DELLS

14. TEACH ME HOW TO FLY - ROTARY CONNECTION

15. MORE AND MORE - PHIL UPCHURCH

16. I'M HIGH AGAIN - BO DIDDLEY

17. LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER - MUDDY WATERS

18. SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING (1969 version) - HOWLIN' WOLF

19. GIRL YOU LIT MY FIRE - JUNIOR WELLS

20. I'M GONNA KEEP IT TO MYSELF - BUDDY GUY

Rare Terry Callier, Laura Lee & Bobby Womack recordings due from Soul4Real

Soul4Real Records is digging into the vaults of Chess and Sam Cooke's SAR labels for a new series of 7" EPs.

Here's the scoop from Spain's Soul4Real HQ...

We're launching the 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢 𝘌𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 series with two EPs dedicated to Sam Cooke’s SAR Records and the Chess label (including its subsidiary, Cadet).

The SAR EP shines a spotlight on the Womack family, initially known as the Womack Brothers before transitioning into R&B as The Valentinos. Three of the four tracks are originally unreleased, while the fourth is the Womack Brothers’ version of “Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray” (SAR 123)—a virtually impossible-to-find gem that predates “Looking For A Love” by a year. Thanks to Friendly Womack for his help on this project.

The Chess/Cadet EP features songs by Laura Lee and Irma Thomas, recorded in the late ’60s at FAME Studios, along with some of the most sophisticated productions from Cadet, represented by Terry Callier. All tracks are originally unreleased and are making their debut on 7” vinyl.

𝗣𝗥𝗘-𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗡𝗢𝗪 for June 20th release: https://soul4real.es/shop/

RESERVA ESPECIAL 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗦 / 𝗖𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗧 (S4R47)

Terry Callier - Baby Take Your Time 

Irma Thomas - Let´s Do It Over

Laura Lee - Sure As Sin 

Terry Callier - Lover (Where Have You Gone)

RESERVA ESPECIAL 𝗦𝗔𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗦 (S4R51)

Womack Brothers - Couldn´t Hear Nobody Pray

The Valentinos - Put Me Down Easy

The Valentinos - Rock In The Cradle Of Love 

The Valentinos - Don´t Go Away

H.P. Lovecraft vs. Terry Callier

Chicago psych crew H.P. Lovecraft were clearly huge fans of Terry Callier judging by their numerous covers of his tunes.  

Happy Birthday Charles Stepney!

Remembering Chicago producer/arranger Charles Stepney with the 4-part "Out Of The Shadows" documentary series. 

Happy Birthday Jim Mullen!

Cheers to Glaswegian guitarist Jim Mullen! Here's an interview and some footage w/ Terry Callier, Dick Morrissey & Brian Auger.