Bob Relf - Blowing My Mind To Pieces
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Just about the most seminal quintessential Northern Soul record ever. The notorious Simon Soussan used to say this record epitomised Northern Soul. Bob Relf also recorded as Bobby Garrett and was one half of Bob And Earl, along with Jackie Lee. The original duo were Bobby Byrd and Earl Nelson who later became Jackie Lee. They had both been members of The Hollywood Flames, a prolific doo-wop group in Los Angeles, California whose major hit was "Buzz Buzz Buzz" in 1958, on which Nelson sang lead. By 1957, Byrd had started a parallel solo career, writing and recording for contractual reasons as Bobby Day. He wrote and recorded the original version of "Little Bitty Pretty One", and had a hit of his own with "Rockin' Robin" (1958). In 1960, Day / Byrd and Nelson began recording together as Bob & Earl, on the Class record label. However, these releases had relatively little success, and Day / Byrd restarted his solo career. Nelson then recruited a second "Bob", Bobby Relf, who also used the stage names of Bobby Garrett and Bobby Valentino. Relf had already led several Los Angeles based acts in his career, including the Laurels, the Upfronts, and Valentino and the Lovers. The latter two groups also featured the then pianist and bass singer, Barry White. This duo of Relf and Nelson recorded several singles for different labels, before recording "Harlem Shuffle" in 1963. The song was written by Relf and Nelson, arranged by Barry White, and produced by Fred Smith, and when released on the Marc label became a modest hit on the R&B chart. Its vocal interplay directly influenced later duos such as Sam and Dave. However, its main success came as late as 1969, when it was re-released in the UK and became a Top Ten hit there. Reportedly, George Harrison called it his favourite record of all time. By that time, Nelson had achieved further success as a solo artist under the alias of Jackie Lee, with "The Duck", a hit dance record released in 1965. (Jackie was Nelson's wife's name and Lee his own middle name). When "Harlem Shuffle" became successful on reissue, Nelson and Relf reunited as Bob & Earl to tour. However, the duo split up finally in the early 1970s. For the last ten years, Bob Relf has been in ill health, yet we still managed to film this in 1999, the only time he has ever performed this legendary song, which was released in 1968 on his own label, Transamerican, which he co-owned with actor Aki Aleong.
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I am glad I could be of service. I have over 300 videos on here and if people appreciate them, then it was worth all the work of making them.
One of the first 20, Northern Soul, danceable soul tunes I ever bought. I know there was a lot of bitching about the artists using voice overs... slightly different to many modern artists.. as these people could actually do it live at the time! I must agree with Ian that people who have helped fulfill my life since my early teens deserve the recognition and their moment in the spotlight. Thank you Bob Relf and a thank you also to Ian for bringing a lot of these tunes to the Worlds attention.
One of those timeless songs.. I love it
wow this tune blows my mind 2 pieces takes me back many yearsssssssssssssssssss
RIP Bob. I've shed a genuine tear today.
One of the originals that I bought out of my pocket money - a favourite
Just the intro is enough to put the hairs up on the back of my neck. THIS WAS & STILL IS A BOSTER
AWESOME TUNE, MADE U MOVE!!!!!!!!
Best, best dance track ever!!!! Love it.
@1dmcdermott
9 жыл бұрын
Are you sure?
@clio99027
9 жыл бұрын
Completely certain. It's lasted the test of time!!
Another Catacombs monster! Classic....what can you say?
go dey Bob nice one ian
RIP BIG MAN BOB.!!!! NORTHER SOUL KING.!!!!
I feel priviledged to comment about one of the classics of my era. Bob appeared to be unshackled by the intrusiveness of camera, it just got better and better. You only live once and I `ve been fortunate to grow up with this, Ktf G,b.
Sad to hear that Bob had passed on, as this was one of my first Northern soul records i bought, and it brings back good memories.. Many thanks Ian for taking time to put together all these artists that i'm sure have special moments for us all along the Northern Soul journey...
so long since i heard this one , unforgettable , what a tune
Legendary.
Awesome choon!
the greatest nortern soul track ever
Wow 😲 what a STORMING track Love the N/S era & Most of all K T F EVERYONE absolute awesome ❤
Brings back so many memories!
One of my fave tunes - always reminds me of Friday nights at Matlock
belter of a tune!
What a fantastic video, so good to see.
Beyond words...
I was so sad to hear he died. So many artists we filmed for The Strange World Of Northern Soul have now gone - Bob Relf, Erma Franklin, Bobby Sheen, Tommy Ridgley, Ray Pollard, Emanuel Lasky, The Carstairs, The Tempos, Freddie Butler, Edwin Starr, Doris Troy, Otis Leavill, Johnny Moore, James Fountain, Jackie Day, Little Ann, and more - it's frightening.
Thankyou Mr Levine for making these videos, although its 40 years later its still nice to put faces to the vinyl!..Keep on keepin on
Brilliant post, again, and the info/ knowledge is priceless.
sadly passed at 70 yrs...enormous track
RIP BOB RELF. "MAGICAL".!
sheer class, keep the faith
The Catacombs classic.
OMG love it
Christ I remember a big gasp came up when the strange world of northern soul came out in Blackburn king georges hall, when bob relf came on singing this, could not believe how old he looked, strange you listen to and love these tunes and forget how old if still alive these artists are, gotta say though bobby paris was abysmal that night
We filmed it in early 1999. We had already earlier filmed it in 1998, but he messed up a lot of the words, so my assistant flew back to Los Angeles and redid it.
@directstep It's the version done for The Strange World Of Northern Soul, in 1998.
Bob Relf mother died in 2010. She was an actress/showgirl in the 1930's and 1940's, wish I could have gotten a chance to meet both of them.
love it
Super cool x
@liamwhitcombe1237
7 жыл бұрын
Mary o'hara If this bloke was any cooler he'd need another pullover
sadden to hear that Bob had recently passed away but his music will live on including the classic 'try a little harder' by The Fidels
North End Soul at its best!
great sound ktf
Its sad Ian to hear that Bob passed away . One of the cornerstones and foundations of the Northern Soul Sound . I think without records like this and others like NF Porter , George Blackwell etc , you and Colin Curtis could not have pushed forward with the new material at the Ritz and the Highland room .
Takes me right back real soul track not like the crap nowadays
Got a copy the other day a British release on Black magic. 6.3.2015.
That's what you call information. Yet some people don't put nothing.
I guess this is what you call bona fide northern soul classic.
So this is 12 years old. Is he still with us Ian?
Thanks Ian Tell me where abouts did you used to go dancing when you first heard this top sound? Mike
Do not belive it i have the 45
@louisrocca55 NO RIP BOB RELPH THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES. NORTHERNSOULMEMORIES.
sadly missed
@louisrocca55 No he died a few years ago.
my copy was on "Transamerican" - hope that helps?
another brill post by ian levine ktf pal
@saintac31northernsoul
9 жыл бұрын
The man himself thats nice good to see he is still alive what an awesome singer epitome of northern soul
@dundee520
9 жыл бұрын
Saint Ace ye ace ian puts up some brill stuff ktf
@colinelias1642
9 жыл бұрын
Great post
What's so notorious about Simon Soussan?...I wrote a few songs for him ages ago, but then we stopped working together...i could send you my email if you want to explain there...
Transamerican, owned by Bob Relf and Aki Aleong.