The Embers
Band members Related acts
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- Johnny Barker
-- keyboards, vibes - Jackie Gore --
vocals, guitar - Dave Norket -- - Frank Reich --
(1967-)
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- The Swinging Embers
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Genre: garage Rating: ** (2 stars) Title: The Embers Roll Eleven Company: JCP Catalog: #2006 Year: 1965 Country/State: Raleigh, North Carolina Grade (cover/record): VG /VG- Comments: plays with some hiss and a couple of clicks throughout; vinyl is quite scratched Available: 1 GEMM catalog ID: 5107 Price: $110.00
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Having made their reputation playing school
dances and clubs, 1965's "The Embers Roll
Eleven" captured The Embers in their element - namely a
live set recorded at North Carolina State University's Erdahl Cloyd Student
Union (named after Theodore Erdahl and Edward Lamar Cloyd). You
normally see this one described as a garage effort, though most of eleven
songs were covers of popular soul songs. As such the album would
actually be better described as blue-eyed soul. Sonically the results
were a little crude, but for a live act these guys sounded surprisingly good
(credit post-production work?). On the down side creatively you won't
find anything startling here. The performances were professional, but
never strayed from the norm, making for a quick and pleasant listening
experience. Just because it offered a minor change from the norm, the
standout track was their Beatles cover 'All
My Lovin' '. Still, not worth the
big bucks being asked by some dealers ...
"The Embers Roll Eleven" track listing: (side
1) 2.) Gypsy Woman (Curtis Mayfield) - 2:16 3.) Um Um Um Um Um (Curtis Mayfield) - 2:21 4.) Memphis (Chuck Berry) - 2:15 5.)
Stay (Maurice Williams) - 1:58 (side 2) 1.) Money (Berry Gordy Jr. - Janie Bradford) - 2:45 2.) Everybody Loves a Lover (R. Allen - R. Adler) - 2:30 3.) Searchin' (Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller) - 3:02 4.) Kidnapper (J. Douglas) - 2:45 5.) When My Little Girl Is Smiling (Carole King - Jerry Goffin) - 2:40 6.) All My Lovin' (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 1:45
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Genre: garage Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Burn You a New One Company: EEE Catalog: No. 1069 Year: 1967 Country/State: Raleigh, North Carolina Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: still in shrink wrap; minor click on 1st track, 1st side Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4263 Price: $100.00
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Released by the
Raleigh, North Carolina-based EEE label, 1967's "Burn
You a New One" wasn't a major change in direction. Like
the first two collections, the LP offered up another set of popular pop and
soul covers. What was truly interesting was how four of the nerdiest white
guys you've ever seen (check out the back cover photos), could turn in such
impressive performances. Sure, covers such as Get Ready', 'Groovin', 'Wish
You Didn't Have To Go' (erroneously credited to Spooner Oldhann, rather than
Oldham) and 'Wish You Didn't Have To Go' didn't offer anything to improve on
the originals. Still, vocalist Gore displayed a truly amazing chameleon-like
talent and the rest of the band turned in stellar backing. The results make
for a wonderful set of '60s beach music. In addition to sporting a classic
album title, we've always loved the throwaway album cover design ... (side
1) (side 2) 1.) Walk On By ()
- 2:18
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Genre: gpop Rating: ** (2 stars) Title: Just for the Birds! Company: EEE Catalog: JCP-2009 Year: 1966 Country/State: Raleigh, North Carolina Grade (cover/record): VG/VG Comments: some seam splitting along top edge and some staining along right edge; occasional pops and clicks, but no skips Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4996 Price: $100.00 Cost: $1.00
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I'd love to find an in-depth discography on this North Carolina based garage outfit, but I believe 1966's "Just for the Birds" was their second LP. Regardless of its chronology, by the time this set was released the band had hit the big time - witness the back cover which included a pitch for their Raleigh, North Carolina club (the cleverly named The Ember Club). Underscored by the preppy cover photo, their growing success apparently stripped off their garage roots since musically the set found the band opting for a surprisingly middle-of-the-road attack. Featuring a mixture of popular pop and soul hits, the performances were all professional, though seldom particularly exciting ... Covers like their slowed down cover of 'My Girl Sloopy', 'Up On the Roof', 'Irresistable You' and 'On the Outside Looking In' came very close to emulating The Tokens catalog ... Luckily they had good taste in terms of soul acts, turning in a nice blue-eyed soul take on Curtis Mayfield's 'Little Young Lover' and 'Hi Heel Sneakers'. Because it came close to their original garage roots the closing instrumental 'Embers Theme - "Before Six"' was the standout tune. Funniest track was the falsetto-propelled 'Reach Out for Me' which includes some spastic percussion which sounds like it was mixed in from a different song.)
"Just for the Birds!" track listing: (side
1) 2.) Up On the Roof (Gerry Goffin - Carole King) - 3.) Irresistable You (Divon - Kasha) - 4.) On the Outside Looking In (Randazza - Weinstein) - 5.) Rockin Crikets (instrumental) (Todaro - Shannon) - 6.) Little Young
Lover (Curtis Mayfield) - (side 2) 1.) Hello My Lover (C. Toussaint) - 2.) Reach Out for Me (Hill Range) - 3.) Hi Heel Sneakers (Robert Higgenbotham) - 4.) I Wanna Be Loved (Billy Rose - E. Heyman - J. Green) - 5.) Embers Theme - "Before Six" (Larry Frazier - Curtis Mayfield) -
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Genre: pop Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: I Love Beach Music Company: EEE Catalog: EEE 1070 Year: 1979 Country/State: Raleigh, North Carolina Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: minor ring wear; Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4365 Price: $15.00
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By the time 1979's "I Love Beach Music" was released, The Embers had long ago shed their garage rock credentials in favor of having become staples on the beach music circuit. That's not anything to be ashamed of, though to some extent this album has to be seen as 'product' rather than art. Anyone familiar with the beach music genre will already know what to expect from this set - namely a highly commercial mixture of blue-eyes soul and outright pop. Virtually any one of the ten tracks would have sounded good on a top-40 radio station, but the highlights included '', '' and their cover of 'Hold Back the Night'. Certainly nothing to drastically change your life, but a nice way to spend a warm summer evening ...
"I Love Beach Music" track listing: (side
1) 2.) Cheaters Never Win (R. Tyson - A. Felder - T. G. Conway) - 4:32 3.) I'll Come Running (E. Taylor) - 3:12 4.) I'm Gonna Do Beautiful Things To You B. Mason - Toni Wine) - 3:14 5.) Hold Back the
Night (Baker - Harris - Felder - Young) - 3:07 (side 2) 1.) Why Did You Leave Me (Jackie Gore) - 3:56 2.) Sixty Minute Man (Billy Ward) - 2:14 3.) Would You Believe (Baby I Got It) (R. Branch - M. Branch - H. Martin - J. Butt) - 3:58 4.) You Keep Telling Me Yes (Cherry - Clinard - Hutchinson) - 3:13 4.) You Are So Beautiful (Billy Preston) - 3:50 5.) Summertime's Calling Me (Johnny Barker) - 2:42
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Genre: pop Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: This One's for You Company: Ripete Catalog: 392151 Year: 1982 Country/State: Raleigh, North Carolina Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: minor ring wear; original lyric inner sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4312 Price: $30.00
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The most amazing thing about this 1982 LP is actually the fact that all seven members were on the 1967 "Burn You a New One" album. Geez, talk about dedication and persistence.
So what do these guys sound like some 15 years down the road? We'll "This One's for You" has it's moments, but for the most part these guys are now content to stand as supper club standards for the beach music scene. The side long "Embers Beach Medley" finds them zipping through some 38 'beach music' song snippets clocking in at 15 minutes, that allows each song roughly 24 second). I guess the medley shows their flexibility, but it isn't particularly endearing. The flip side showcases five original numbers that are marginally entertaining, though not one of them measures up to past glories. Best of the lot (we use the term loosely) may be 'Always In Love' which could easily be mistaken for Pablo Cruise.
"This One's For You" track listing: (side
1) (side 2) 1.) Always In Love (Johnny Barker) - 2.) Canadian Sunset (Johnny Barker) - 3.) Love Me (Johnny Barker) - 4.) Do What You Want To Do (Jackie Gore) - 5.) Take Care of You for Me (Jackie Gore) -
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