Thursday 20 January 2011

Eddie & Ernie – Outcast – Eastern Records

Welcome back!

I hope you all enjoyed BoldSoulBrother’s sublime Northern Mix from last week as much as I did? If you haven’t pulled it down and lent it an ear yet, then head HERE, as there’s no better time than the present to grab it.



Staying on a BoldSoulBrother inspired Northern Soul tip is today’s 45. ’Outcast’ by Eddie & Ernie. This 45 was originally released on the Eastern Records label, and was something that I picked up off the ‘Bay last week after digging into their back catalogue via the fantastic Kent Soul compilation, ‘Lost Friends’, which you can find HERE.

The sharper eyed (and eared) collectors amongst you will already be aware of Eddie & Ernie through the recently Daptone / Ever Soul issued 45, ‘Bullets Don’t Have Eyes’, a track I included on my Innovate, Don’t Imitate Mix a while back in July. Re-listening to the Daptone / Ever Soul release last week was the impetuous to seek out more of their back catalogue, and after spending the week firmly attached to my iPhone listening to the 2002 release, ‘Lost Friends’, I scoured Ebay and turned up a copy of ‘Outcast’, one of my favourites tracks from the comp!

Eddie (William Edgar Campbell) and Ernie (Ernest L. Johnson Jnr) both originally hailed from Texas. After making their bones in various gospel and soul outfits, they joined forces through the Sixties and early Seventies and set about making a name for themselves on a the music scene. Their second cut ‘Time Waits For No One’ made the Billboard Top 100 and also charted at No1 on WWRL in New York. This earnt the duo a stint playing at The Apollo Theatre with Wilson Pickett, The Four Tops and The Impressions, amongst others. They went on to tour with Ike And Tina Turner in the late sixties, as well as with Al Green in the seventies.



Eddie & Ernie released a number of 45s across several labels, including some majors like Columbia and Artco Records, but unfortunately and unjustly, the duo never had the commercial success that they deserved. They eventually went their separate ways, regrouping in the seventies for a short stint in the group Phoenix Express.

After finally splitting Eddie Campbell moved to Los Angeles where he sadly died in 1994 from liver cirrhosis. Ernie Johnson pursued his musical dream right till the end, touring the Phoenix karaoke and club circuits. He was tragically killed in a hit and run accident in 2005.

Dave Godin, the man who coined the phrase ‘Northern Soul’ in the seventies, was the instigator behind the ‘Lost Friends’ LP, having bought Eddie & Ernie to attention through his Deep Soul compilation series, he set about tracking down and compiling the masters for ‘Lost Friends’. Dave Godin often compared Eddie & Ernie to Stax legends Sam & Dave, and rightly so IMHO!

‘Outcast’ is a great example of the duos musical talents, showcasing their wonderful harmonies. It's a real 'stomper and the horns are astounding! As the track builds, it pulls you in and throws you back out mercilessly with a sucker punch! I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I have, and I urge you to dig deeper into the works of Eddie & Ernie.

Before I go I want to give you a heads up for this coming Sunday 27th December. We’ll be joining the Sussex By The Sea gang for a pre NYE party at The Mud Club in Bognor Regis. This will be a three room event and will go from 9pm till 2am! There will be no door charge but the word on the street is arrive early to avoid disappointment!! You’ve been warned!

We’ll be posting more details as we get them during the week via our Twitter feed, which is also displayed in the box on the right hand side of the screen. So keep checking in!

Stay safe, enjoy today’s 45 and hopefully I’ll be back here before Xmas drops with something else for you.


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