The Skippy White Story: Boston Soul 1961-1967 (2022) Vinyl Review

I was born and raised in Massachusetts, and still feel a strong connection to that state and its capital. I love catching pieces of Boston’s history, which is one reason I was excited about The Skippy White Story: Boston Soul 1961-1967, a new compilation of some lesser known tracks from the Boston music scene. Skippy White started a couple of record stores in the 1960s, focusing on rhythm and blues, which other stores in the area were not selling at the time. He also worked as a radio disc jockey, playing the music he loved, and soon created his own record labels. Who among us has not dreamed of owning his or her own record store or label? So I suppose we live somewhat vicariously through stories like that of Skippy White. And this vinyl release has a double gatefold with extensive liner notes containing anecdotes and information about the stores, along with photos. These notes, written by Peter Wolf (yes, of J. Geils Band), Peter Guralnick, Noah Schaffer and Eli Paperboy Reed, provide a fun read, not only about the stores, but about the man behind them, the record labels he created, and the artists who recorded on those labels. But of course the main reason for my excitement is the music itself. Soul from the 1960s? Absolutely! What’s particularly great about this collection is that it contains music you might not be all that familiar with, including some previously unreleased tracks. Four different labels are represented here.

Side One

The album opens, appropriately enough, with “Skippy White Theme (Part 1)” by Junior Washington, with vocals by The Precisions. After some initial fanfare, this song develops a funky groove, and is quite a bit of fun. “Hey gang, gather around/Skippy White is back in town.” This track was originally released on the Wild label in 1966. That’s followed by “Sleepwalk” from Sammy And The Del-Lards. First of all, I love the band’s name. For a moment, I thought it might be a misprint for Del-Lords, but of course that band came along much later. Anyway, “Sleepwalk” is a seriously cool doo-wop song, released in 1961 on Stop, Skippy White’s first label. In the liner notes, it mentions that Sam Fisher says the song could still be a hit. And why not? Then we get “What Would You Do,” the first of four tracks by The Precisions, written by James Washington. It’s an enjoyable number with sound that now has a strong sense of innocence about it, and includes some nice touches on guitar.

I read the liner notes before playing the record, so that I would have some idea of the background of this music, and those notes got me especially curious about “Do The Thing” by Earl Lett Quartet. What drew my interest was the fact that the song did not get airplay due to its suggestive title. It was effectively banned in Boston. Crazy. It’s a dance song, featuring some great stuff by Earl Lett on saxophone. This was released on the Wild label. That’s followed by the record’s second Precisions song, “The Love I Found In You,” the flip side to “What Would You Do,” this one also written by James Washington. It is a slower, sweet number, so pull that special someone closer as you listen.

“Treason” is another song by The Precisions, and is the first of three previously unreleased tracks. “How can you be so cruel?/I call that treason/To a heart that’s true.” Ah, so innocent. And those lines might also remind you of a certain Elvis Presley song. That’s followed by “Now Is The Time,” the flip side to “Do The Thing,” a slower gem featuring a passionate vocal performance over a gentle but interesting rhythm. Plus, there is some cool work on guitar. “So give me a reason/Just one perfect reason/Why should you treat me this way/I know now is the time/To prove to each other/Just how we feel.” Did the radio stations avoid this track too, just because it was on the same single? If so, that is a shame, because this is a really good song. It is one of my favorites from this record. Too bad this hadn’t been the A side on that single. The first side of this compilation concludes with another previously unreleased track by The Precisions, “Me And My Gal,” a song about getting married. It has an interesting sound and unusual rhythm.

Side Two

The record’s second side opens with “Skippy White Theme (Part 2),” which begins the same way as the first part, and then gets into that delicious, funky groove. This time the groove is allowed to play longer before the vocals come in, and features some good work on guitar. Then we get a couple of songs by Alvin Hankerson, who recorded under the name Guitar Nubbit. The first is “Georgia Chain Gang,” some great, raw blues. Vocals and guitar. This was originally released on the Bluestown label, and is another of my personal favorites. I love these blues story songs. The flipside to “Georgia Chain Gang” is another delicious blues number titled “Evil Woman Blues.” Yes, it is one of those blues tunes about a mean woman. Every male blues performer has to have dated at least one in his lifetime. “I took you in, evil woman/Child, when you had nowhere to go/Now I am down, out, broke and hungry, baby/You don’t want the poor boy no more.” I love this music, and the ultimately optimistic outlook, expressed in the lines, “Yes, I’m down today, baby/But I won’t be down always.” Those lines are similar to lines from “Trouble In Mind,” and the next line is also similar to a line from that song (and pops up in several other songs as well): “Yeah, that lucky old sun/Shine in my back door someday.”

The record then changes gears for “Master On High,” a gospel number by Crayton Singers that has a great, wild 1960s energy and sound, with a vocal performance that is certainly not held back. This song was originally released on the Silver Cross label, dedicated to gospel music. The final of the previously unreleased tracks is a gospel song from The Lord’s Messengers titled “Holy Ghost And Fire.” I’ve said this before, but if the church I attended as a child had had music like this, I might still be a believer. This track does get a bit repetitive, as the backing vocalists sing the title line, but no matter. That is followed by “I’ve Been Lifted Out Of Sin,” a joyous gospel song from Sons Of David, the singers testifying. This one also gets repetitive, but again, it doesn’t seem to matter much, as the whole vibe is just so good and cheerful and earnest. And speaking of testifying, The Lynn Harmonizers’ “I Was Standing” seems to be delivered by a preacher as it begins, the backing vocalists acting as a choir. And then it kicks in, and just gets better and better. This is another highlight of the record.

Record Track List

Side One

1. Skippy White Theme (Part 1) – Junior Washington
2. Sleepwalk – Sammy And The Del-Lards
3. What Would You Do – The Precisions
4. Do The Thing – Earl Lett Quartet
5. The Love I Found In You – The Precisions
6. Treason – The Precisions
7. Now Is The Time – Earl Lett Quartet
8. Me And My Gal – The Precisions

Side Two

1. Skippy White Theme (Part 2) – Junior Washington
2. Georgia Chain Gang – Guitar Nubbit
3. Evil Woman Blues – Guitar Nubbit
4. Master On High – Crayton Singers
5. Holy Ghost And Fire – The Lord’s Messengers
6. I’ve Been Lifted Out Of Sin – Sons Of David
7. I Was Standing – The Lynn Harmonizers

The Skippy White Story: Boston Soul 1961-1967 is scheduled to be released on October 28, 2022 through Stoney Pointe Records and Yep Roc Records.