Sold Date: December 23, 2021
Start Date: November 23, 2021
Final Price: €19.99 (EUR)
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Lesser-known southern soul group The Tempests was based in Charlotte, North Carolina, formed in the mid-1960s by keyboardist Mike Branch and his guitarist brother John. With the lineup comprised of nine white musicians, including a formidable horn section and Nelson Lemmond on drums, The Tempests’ most outstanding element was provided by lead singer, Hazel Martin Junior, an African American with a powerfully expressive voice, able to convey great emotion through long-held notes and strong command of vibrato. Signed to Mercury’s Smash subsidiary, debut album Would You Believe! was released in 1968 and since this beautiful longplayer is simply a winner from start to finish, it’s hard to understand why the group was not destined for massive immediate and lasting success, though the album’s eventual championing by DJ Guy Hennigan at the Top of the World club in Stafford, UK, made it a sought-after item on the Northern Soul scene of the 1980s, with 'Someday’ and 'I Don’t Want To Lose Her’ among the most prominent favourites. 'Ain’t No Big Thing,’ 'What You Gonna Do’ and 'Would You Believe’ are also highly rated, as is their likeable take of Sam and Dave’s 'You Don’t Know Like I Know.’ This edition also includes four bonus tracks, taken from two Smash 45s.

Trackliste

A1 Would You Believe
A2 Ain't No Big Thing
A3 Happiness
A4 Ain't That Enough
A5 I Cried For You
A6 Someday
A7 Long Live Our Love (Bonus Track)
A8 Out Of My Life (Bonus Track)
B1 Can't Get You Out Of My Mind
B2 I Don't Want To Lose Her
B3 What You Gonna Do
B4 You Don't Know Like I Know
B5 You (Are The Star I Wish On)
B6 In The Cold Light Of Day (Bonus Track)
B7 The Way To A Man's Heart (Bonus Track)