100 Proof Aged In Soul
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1969-71) - Eddie Holiday (aka Eddie Anderson) (RIP) -- vocals - Steve Mancha (aka Clyde Wilson) (RIP 2011) -- lead vocals - Joe Stubbs (RIP 1998) -- lead vocals
line up 2 (1971-73) - Ron Bykowski -- guitar - Dave Case -- drums, percussion - Donnell "Doni" Hagen -- drums, percussion - Don Hatcher (RIP 2005) -- bass - Steve Mancha (aka Clyde Wilson) (RIP 2011) -- lead vocals
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- J.J. Barnes and Steve Mancha - The Contours (Joe Stubbs) - The 8th Day (Steve Mancha) - The Falcons (Joe Stubbs) - The Fun (Donald "Don" Hatcher) - The Holidays (Eddie Holiday and Steve Mancha) - Steve Mancha (solo efforts) - The Originals (Joe Stubbs) - Joe Stubbs (solo efforts) - Two Friends (Steve Mancha/Clyde Wilson) - Clyde Wilson (solo efforts)
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Genre: soul Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Somebody's Been Sleeping In My Bed Company: Hot Wax Catalog: HA 704 Year: 1970 Country/State: US Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened); cut top left corner Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4377 Price: $35.00 Cost: $3.84
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I've always wondered why these guys weren't major stars.
Following their break-up with Motown, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland formed their own Hot Wax label. One of their first creative moves was to form 100 Proof Aged In Soul. The group featured the talents of Eddie Holiday (aka Eddie Anderson), Steve Mancha (aka Clyde Wilson) and former Contours, Falcons, and Originals lead singer Joe Stubbs.
Released in 1969, the trio debuted with the single:
- 1969's 'Too Many Cooks (Spoil the Soup)' b/w 'Not Enough Love To Satisfy (Hot Wax catalog number HS-6904) # 94 pop; # 24 R&B
While the single wasn't a gigantic hit, it proved successful enough for Hot Wax to green flag a supporting album. Boasting one of the year's funniest album covers, 1970's "Somebody's Been Sleeping In My Bed" showcased the cream of Hot Wax's writing and production staff (Angelo Bond, Ronald Dunbar, General Johnson and Greg Perry) on an enjoyable selection of highly commercial, Motown-ish soul. Boasting two top-notch lead singers in Mancha and Stubbs (the two sounded very similar to my ears), most of the eleven tracks had commercial potential. Strong, memorable melodies with entertaining lyrics made tracks such as 'Not Enough Love To Satisfy', 'Age Ain't Nothing But a Number' and the tougher 'She's Not Just Another Woman' a sheer pleasure. In fact the only tracks that didn't really click with me were Stubbs' extended make out ballad 'Ain't That Lovin' You (For More Reasons Than One)' and the bland 'I Can't Sit and Wait (Til Johnny Comes Marching Home)'. Continuing lessons learned at Motown, Holland-Dozier-Holland reutilized all four tracks off of the first two singles. Curiously, the songs 'I've Come To Save You', 'She's Not Just Another Woman' and 'Too Many Cooks (Spoil the Soup)' were seemingly appropriated for The 8th Day's debut LP. Still, if you were a big fan of Beach Music, this was one of those essential albums for your collection.
"Somebody's Been Sleeping In My Bed" track listing: 1.) Somebody's Been Sleeping In My Bed (General Johnson - Greg Perry - Angelo Bond) - 4:11 rating: **** stars 'Somebody's Been Sleeping In My Bed' simply had one of the most urgent arrangements ever recorded. Steve Mancha literally sounded like he was going to go postal at any moment. Seriously, how can you not love a track with lyrics like "My brand new silk pajamas were balled up in a chair. My mind ain't playing tricks on me. Lord help him if he's still here." It was tapped as their second single:
- 1969's 'Somebody's Been Sleeping In My Bed' b/w 'I've Come To Save You' (Hot Wax catalog number HS 7004) # 8 pop; # 6 R&B 2.) Love Is Sweeter (The Second Time Around) (General Johnson - Greg Perry - Ronald Dunbar) - 3:32 rating: **** stars With Stubbs handling lead vocals and the rest of the group showcasing their wonderful harmonies,, 'Love Is Sweeter' was a near perfect slice of Beach Music. This one should have been tapped as a single. 3.) One Man's Leftover's (Is Another Man's Feast) (General Johnson - Greg Perry - Angelo Bond) - 2:43 rating: *** stars 'One Man's Leftover's (Is Another Man's Feast)' was clearly built from the same parts as the title track. Luckily the melody and performance were strong enough to stand on their own. Hot Wax tapped it as the group's third single:
1969's 'One Man's Leftover's (Is Another Man's Feast)' b/w 'If I Could See the Light In the Window' (Hot Wax catalog number HS-7009) # 96 pop; # 37 R&B 4.) I've Come To Save You (Clyde Wilson) - 2:09 rating: **** stars One of Stubb's finest performances, not to leave the impression the song sucked, but 'I've Come To Save You' was one of four tracks that have previously been recorded and released on The 8th Day's debut LP. 5.) Ain't That Lovin' You (For More Reasons Than One) (Barney Duke Browner) - 6:34 rating: ** stars Personally, I've always disliked songs with spoken word introductions and the sappy start to 'Ain't That Lovin' You (For More Reasons Than One)' did nothing to change that feeling. A poorly thought out "love man" ballad, this was easily the album's lamest performance. Not one of Stubbs' creative zeniths. You had to feel pity for the poor woman he was hitting on. 6.) Not Enough Love To Satisfy (Clyde Wilson - Donald Dunbar) - 3:23 rating: **** stars Showcasing the sharp, urgent edge in Stubb's voice, 'Not Enough Love' found the album going back to the catchy melodies and heartbreak lyrics that Holland-Dozier-Holland did so well. This one reappeared as the "B" side to 1971's '90 Day Freeze (On Your Love)'.
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2) Okay, the formula occasionally became a touch threadbare, but the refrain ultimately saved ' Age Ain't Nothing But a Number' from the junk pile. 2.) She's Not Just Another Woman (Clyde Wilson - Ronald Dunbar) - 3:21 rating: **** stars Another tune lifted from The 8th Day's debut LP, 'She's Not Just Another Woman' had a very gritty soul feeling - quite unlike the rest of the album. 3.) Too Many Cooks (Spoil the Soup) (Ronald Dunbar - E. Wayne - Angelo Bond) - 2:52 Previously released as their debut single (and another 8th Day tune), 'Too Many Cooks (Spoil the Soup' was simultaneously funky and hysterically funny. The wordplay was a perfect example of how clever Hot Wax writers could. be. - 1969's 'Too Many Cooks (Spoil the Soup)' b/w 'Not Enough Love To Satisfy (Hot Wax catalog number HS-6904) 4.) I Can't Sit and Wait (Til Johnny Comes Marching Home) (William Weatherspoon) - 3:05 rating; *** stars Dennis Coffey on fuzz guitar ? Tougher edge than much of the album, but it was also the second tune that sounded somewhat formulaic ... 5.) Backtrack (Z. Perry - General Johnson - Greg Perry - Angelo Bond) - 2:39 rating; **** stars 'Backtrack' was another tune that sounded like it had been cobbled together from other songs - Freda Payne's 'Band of Gold' comes to mind. That didn't diminish how good the song was.
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Genre: soul Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: 100 Proof Aged In Soul Company: Hot Wax Catalog: HA 712 Year: 1972 Country/State: US Grade (cover/record): VG/VG+ Comments: minor ring wear; couple of tears along lover edge Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4601 Price: $25.00 Cost: $66.00
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1972's "100 Proof Aged In Soul" was released in the wake of Joe Stubbs departure from the group. That personnel change may explain part of the reason the sophomore set wasn't quite as top-40 commercial as the group's debut. As Stubbs designated replacement, Steve Mancha (aka Clyde Wilson), was gifted with a much gruffer voice and judging by material like 'Since You've Been Gone' and the single 'Don't Scratch Where You Don't Itch' he seemed more comfortable working with conventional soul oriented material (check out his stunning performance on the self-penned 'Nothing Sweeter Than Love'). While the first album's pop-soul flavorings were largely gone, virtually everything on the album still had commercial potential. Highlights include the lead off track 'Everything Good Is Bad', 'Nothing Sweeter Than Love' (which to my ears recalled David Ruffin, or something out of Bobby Womack's catalog), and the funky single 'Don't Scratch Where You Don't Itch'. My only real complaint here were the two pop covers. Neither their cover of The Association's 'Never My Love', or The Bee Gees' 'Words' added anything of value.
1.) Everything Good Is Bad (Angelo Bond - General Johnson - Greg Perry) - 4:53 rating: **** stars I'm a big fan of that distinctive early-'70s soul sound exemplified by 'Shaft' and Norman Whitfield's work with The Temptations. The reason I'm bringing that up is 'Everything Good Is Bad' fits right into the genre. Sporting one of those great Hot Wax melodies and some clever "cheating man" lyrics, it ws one of the album highlights.. Hot Wax released an edited version as a single:
- 1972's 'Everything Bad Is Good' b/w 'I'd Rather Fight Than Switch' (Hot Wax catalog number HS 7202) # 45 pop; # 15 R&D
2.) Since You've Been Gone (Ronald Dunbar - Clyde Wilson) - 3:50 rating: **** stars With the late Steve Mancha on lead vocals, the ballad 'Since You've Been Gone' harkened back to classic Motown. In fact, this one reminds me of something out of the classics David Ruffin-era Temptations catalog. Always loved the bass break. 3.) Nothing Sweeter Than Love (Clyde Wilson) - 3:50 rating: **** stars Sung and written by Mancha (the song credited to his alter ego Clyde Wilson), 'Nothing Sweeter Than Love' was another track that recalled Ruffin-era Temptations. The contagious title refrain only underscored the Temptations comparison. This one was tapped as the album's third single:
1972's 'Nothing Sweeter Than Love' b/w 'Since You've Been Gone' (Hit Wax catalog number HS 7211) 4.) Ghetto Girl (Angelo Bond - General Johnson - Greg Perry) - 3:47 rating: **** stars 'Ghetto Girl' was one of those Clarence Carter-styled country soul storytelling tunes. Admittedly, I'm a sucker for this subgenre and Macha had the perfect voice for carrying it out,
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2) The first misstep - needless remake of a lousy Bee Gees tune. 2.) I Don't Care If I Never Get Over You (Angelo Bond - Ronald Dunbar - Clyde Wilson) - 3:59 rating: *** stars Mancha had a great voice, but on the bluesy 'I Don't Care If I Never Get Over You' it was largely wasted. The song simply never kicked into gear leaving Mancha to try to power his way through the tune. 3.) Don't Scratch Where You Don't Itch (Angelo Bond - General Johnson - Greg Perry) - 3:46 rating: **** stars One of the toughest tracks they ever recorded (parhaps one of the toughest tracks ever released by Hot Wax), 'Don't Scratch Where You Don't Itch' found Mancha throwing all caution to the wind ... Just a killer soul performance with some blazing horns. This one should have been a massive hit for the group:
- 1972's 'Don't Scratch Where You Don't Itch' b/w 'If I Could See the Light In the Window' (Hot Wax catalog number HS 7206) 4.) Don't You Wake Me (Greg Perry - Angelo Bond) - 3:39 rating: **** stars 'Don't You Wake Me' was perhaps the prettiest tune the group ever recorded ... Sweet, poignant, and pure soul class. The backing harmonies are to-die-for gorgeous. 5.) Never My Love (Addrisi - Addrisi) - 4:02 I've never been a big fan of The Association's hit version, so I can't say this cover did much to convert me. Mancha turned in a nice performance, but the arrangement wasn't much different than the hit. For hardcore fans, the track was tapped as a UK single: - 1972's 'Never My Love' b/w 'Since You've Been Gone' (Hot Wax catalog number HWX 120)
The group broke up in 1973, though three years later Hot Wax appropriated the name for a pair of instantly obscure singles; the second single being a Parliament-styled funk number that was billed as a collaboration with The New York Port Authority.
- 1976's 'Piece of the Rock' b/w 'Piece of the Rock' (instrumental) (Hot Wax catalog number ZS8 9254) - 1977's 'I'm Mad As Hell (Ain't Gonna Take No More)' (Part 1) b/w 'I'm Mad As Hell (Ain't Gonna Take No More)' (Part 2) (Hot Wax catalog number ZS8 9256)
This is one of those group's with a high mortality rate.
- I've never been able to find any details, but Eddie Holiday has passed on. - Suffering from heart problems Joe Stubbs died in February 1998. - After suffering a series of health setbacks, Mancho died in a Detroit hospital in January 2011.
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