Eccentric Soul: The Saru Label

by ECCENTRIC SOUL: THE SARU LABEL

Overview

Cleveland's Saru is the subject of Numero's 20th Eccentric Soul anthology. Active during the tail end of the '60s and the beginning of the '70s, the label was owned by entrepreneurial cousins who provided O'Jays member Bobby Massey with an outlet to write, produce, and develop talent. Just over a dozen singles were released on Saru (and sublabel Pisces), with some recordings never reaching the public. The O'Jays themselves recorded for Saru just prior to their resurgent and greatest success with Philadelphia International. "Shattered Man" launched the label and set its tone in sweeping, dramatic style, and David Peoples' high-powered "Got to Get My Broom Out" is basically an O'Jays record with a different frontman. Otherwise, Massey and O'Jays keyboardist Bobby Dukes, and to a lesser extent Parliament/Funkadelic's Calvin Simon, were the architects, composing and directing the majority of Saru's output. This included material from youngsters the Ponderosa Twins Plus One, whose bittersweet "Bound" became the basis of Kanye West's "Bound 2"; the Out-of-Sights, who contributed several tough sides; and Dukes himself, whose rolling "Just to Be with You" is another highlight. Only Sir Stanley's "I Believe," a heavy psych-funk maelstrom, diverts from traditional soul. Numero's characteristically in-depth backstory narrative is more consistently fascinating than the music, which tends to be at least adequate in quality and high in spirit when lacking distinction. For Numero devotees and Midwest soul fanatics, this neatly complements Eccentric Soul: The Way Out Label, Boddie Recording Company: Cleveland, Ohio, Tinmine Soul Supply, and Lou Ragland's I Travel Alone. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	03/23/2018
Label:	NUMERO
UPC:	0825764107129

Tracks

1. For the Rest of My Life  - Chuck Brown  -  Out of Sights
2. Now He's Home  - Bobby Dukes  - Bobby Massey  - Lester Allen McKenzie  -  O'Jays
3. Stand in for Love  - Eddie Levert  -  Pandella Kelly
4. Bound  - Bobby Dukes  - Bobby Massey  - Lester Allen McKenzie  -  Ponderosa Twins Plus One
5. Son in Law  - Bobby Dukes  -  Elements  - Bobby Massey  - Lester Allen McKenzie
6. Are You Man Enough  - Bobby Dukes  - Bobby Massey  - Lester Allen McKenzie  - Sir Stanley
7. Just to Be with You  - Bobby Dukes  - Bobby Massey
8. Got to Get My Broom Out  - Eddie Levert  - Bobby Massey  - David Peoples  - William Powell  - Walter Williams
9. Can't Make It Without You  - Michael Bell  - Chuck Brown
10. I Can't Take It  -  Out of Sights  - Lou Ragland
11. The Last Time  -  Ba-Roz  - Bobby Dukes  - Bobby Massey  - Calvin Simon
12. Her Lady  -  Elements  - Walter Leroy Johnson  - Bobby Massey  - Sherman Satchel
13. I Remember You  - Bobby Dukes  - Andrew Hamilton  - Bobby Massey  -  Ponderosa Twins Plus One
14. My Woman's Love  - Chuck Brown  - James Hawkins  -  Out of Sights  - Lou Ragland
15. Baby You Got It  - Chuck Brown  -  Out of Sights
16. Shattered Man  - Fred Butler  -  O'Jays  - John Owens
17. I Believe  - Bobby Dukes  - Bobby Massey  - Calvin Simon  - Sir Stanley
18. Tears Don't Care Who Cry  -  Out of Sights
19. Prove It  - Bobby Dukes  -  Elements  - Bobby Massey  - Lester Allen McKenzie
20. Come Back Boy  -  Ba-Roz  - Bobby Dukes  - Andrew Hamilton  - Bobby Massey
21. You Made Me Beg  - Bobby Massey  -  Out of Sights
22. I Was Wrong  - Chuck Brown  -  Out of Sights  - Lou Ragland
23. Just to Be with You  - Bobby Dukes  -  Elements  - Bobby Massey
24. Love's Needed  - Eddie Levert  - Dwain Mitchell  -  Pandella Kelly  - Walter Williams
25. Got to Make It Right  -  Elements  - Eddie Levert  - Bobby Massey  - William Powell  - Walter Williams

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bobby Dukes   Primary Artist
The Ponderosa Twins Plus One   Primary Artist
Elements   Primary Artist
Ba-Roz   Primary Artist
David Peoples   Primary Artist
The O'Jays   Primary Artist
Pandella Kelly   Primary Artist
The Out-of-Sights   Primary Artist
Michael Bell   Primary Artist
Sir Stanley   Primary Artist
Cameron Kowal   Compiled
Dante Carfagna   Compiled
Rob Sevier   Compiled

Technical Credits

Maria Rice   Mastering
Lester Allen McKenzie   Composer
Fred Butler   Composer
John Owens   Composer
Cameron Kowal   Research
Walter Leroy Johnson   Composer
Dante Carfagna   Research
Rob Sevier   Research,Liner Notes,Reissue Producer
Jeff Lipton   Mastering
Andrew Hamilton   Composer
Dwain Mitchell   Composer
Lou Ragland   Composer,Original Recording Producer
Eddie Levert   Composer
James Hawkins   Composer
Calvin Simon   Composer,Original Recording Producer
Ken Shipley   Reissue Producer
Bobby Massey   Composer,Original Recording Producer
William Powell   Composer
Bobby Dukes   Composer,Original Recording Producer
Chuck Brown   Composer,Original Recording Producer
Walter Williams   Composer
Sherman Satchel   Composer
Jaffa   Design
Michael Bell   Composer