Golden State Soul Various Artists (Golden State Recorders)

£11.70

Genre:
Northern Soul
Label:
Kent
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDKEND 179

This product is also available in these versions:
Golden State Soul (MP3), MP3 (£7.99)

San Franciscan soul has traditionally had more of a bluesy flavour than that of its sophisticated cousins from Detroit, Chicago, New York or Los Angeles. The vast immigration of southern African-Americans to the dockyards of the Bay Area during World War II created an audience with an appetite for earthier, rawer sounds, from the R&B and funk of earlier decades to the rap and hip hop of today. That said, during the 1960s and early 1970s there were many classy uptown soul productions from the area, by versatile artists such as Sugar Pie DeSanto, Eddie Foster, Little Stanley, the Ballads, the Whispers, the Natural Four and others. And it would be safe to say that some of the best recordings in that genre, as featured on this disc, were made at Leo Kulka's Golden State Recorders.

A native of Czechoslovakia, Kulka opened up shop in San Francisco in 1965. For a lengthy period he had the only truly Hollywood-style studio in the area, a fact which appealed to local artists as well as arrangers and producers like Rene Hall and Wally Cox, who put the facilities and Kulka's engineering expertise to good use. Kulka also signed many acts himself, either leasing the sides to outside labels like MTA and Acta, or issuing them himself on Golden State and its associated imprint Golden Soul.

In recent years Ace has released several critically-acclaimed volumes of the fine punk and garage groups that Kulka recorded in the mid-1960s-.-with Golden State Soul we examine his many black productions of the same era. Much of this material was not issued originally, but its quality is nevertheless outstanding, and will surely appeal to any soul lover. Personal highlights include the San Francisco TKOs' smooth harmonies on Make Up Your Mind (which our pal Horace has made a hit at his all-niters)-.-the simple but effective I Had A Girl by the pride of Berkeley High School, the Savonics-.-the driving blue-eyed sounds of the Spyders and the Generation, the latter featuring Lydia Pense of Cold Blood-.-and the undeservedly obscure voice of belter Jeanette Jones.

I first met Leo Kulka almost a decade ago and we soon became firm friends: he was an exceptionally warm and generous man. Over the ensuing years, until his recent and untimely passing, Leo spent many hours reminiscing about his time at Golden State Recorders, whilst we pored over his vast tape catalogue (along the way unearthing gems such as the a cappella Variations' demos featured here). The countless vintage musicians I have spoken to who worked with Leo, or recorded at Golden State, all recall him in the fondest light-.-but the greatest testament to Kulka's work and vision is his recorded legacy, which, as evidenced on Golden State Soul, speaks for itself.

By Alec Palao

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Track listing

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Side 1

  • 01 Preview Make Up Your Mind - The San Francisco TKOs

  • 02 Preview Lover - George and Teddy

  • 03 Preview When I See My Baby - Blondell Breed and The Imports

  • 04 Preview Cut Loose - Jeanette Jones

  • 05 Preview Dwindlin' - The Generation

  • 06 Preview Send My Baby Back - The San Francisco TKOs

  • 07 Preview I Had A Girl - The Savonics

  • 08 Preview Some People Are Happy - The Spyders

  • 09 Preview I Want To Dance With You - Wally Cox and Nate Branch

  • 10 Preview Oh Yeah - George and Teddy

  • 11 Preview I Can Take Care Of Myself - The Spyders

  • 12 Preview I'm Not Ashamed Of Loving You - The Imports

  • 13 Preview Ooh Baby Baby - The San Francisco TKOs

  • 14 Preview I Need A Love - Wally Cox

  • 15 Preview I'm A Good Woman - The Generation

  • 16 Preview I Don't Care - The Spyders

  • 17 Preview Jealous Moon - Jeanette Jones

  • 18 Preview Will You Be Mine - The Variations

  • 19 Preview Sightless ( Part 1 ) - Leon's Creation

  • 20 Preview Dreams All Come True - Jeanette Jones

  • 21 Preview My Heart And Soul - Wally Cox and Nate Branch

  • 22 Preview Ooh Baby Don't Leave Me - The Variations

  • 23 Preview You're Still On My Mind - The Variations

  • 24 Preview Time Will Pass, Love Will Last - The Variations

Delivery & Returns

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We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

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