Edwin Starr - Happy Radio

This is Happy Radio 2007. We are doing a brand new album this summer, called "Northern Soul 2007", on my brand new label, Centre City Records. It's a 23 track album with a giveaway DVD included, with all 23 songs being performed by the artists, something that has never been done before, and certainly not for a Northern Soul CD. Anyway, I had footage of Edwin singing this classic when we re-recorded it in 1998, so I have taken his vocal and changed the song almost unrecogniseably, so it's totally brand new, not some re-hash. We have made the footage into this wonderful video, so even though Edwin is no longer with us, he can still have something brand new like this. This is the late great Mister Charles Hatcher, more commonly known as Edwin Starr, at his scintillating best. Edwin was undoubtedly one of the greatest artists in the history of soul music. While we were doing Motorcity, I wrote over a hundred songs with him, and I find it so hard to accept that he's no longer with us, that sometimes I almost want to pick up the phone to him, and have to stop myself. Someone like Edwin was so full of life and vigour and vitality, that it's easy to think he'll always be around, and that much harder to accept that he truly is gone. But never, NEVER, forgotten. We released six singles of Edwin's on the Motorcity label, and recorded about fifty songs in the end, and it's one hundred percent true to say that he really cared very deeply about what we were trying to do with Motorcity, and indeed, was our greatest ambassador for it, ceaselessly championing it everywhere he went. A true gentleman and a true friend.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Northern-Soul
• Motorcity
• Motown
• Detroit
• Soul
• Disco
• Classic
• Male-Vocal
• Ric-Tic

[frankiefelix]

It is!! It IS Ian! :-D Mucho respect to ya. X

[IanLevine]

Really glad to read comments from someone who appreciates what I do.

Would you contact Soren (DiscoBoy1974 is his name on here. You'll find him on my main page in my "friends") and get his free e-mail newsletter about the records I produce ??

I'm trying to build up a small but devoted band of loyal fans to keep them informed of rare unreleased stuff and future projects.

It'll be worth it and it's totally free with no catch.

[popitastic]

Thanks Ian - that's a fabulous reworking of a fave song of mine - great groove. I had a look on Amazon for the upcoming Norther Soul release and this song doesn't appear to be in the track listing. Can you clarify please? Thanks again for a great vid and soundtrack and hope to hera more about your work.

[IanLevine]

It's on the DVD. All 24 songs on the CD are on the DVD with full videos, plus there are also three more bonus tracks, of which this is one, in full crisp clear quality, unlike these YouTube compressed versions.

[rocket91957]

Great tune, great artist! Is that Gwen McCrae singing backup??

[IanLevine]

No. The backing singers are Edwin's brother Angelo Starr (who recorded "Stand On My Own Two Feet" for "Northern Soul 2007", plus two others out of Edwin's backing band, "The Team".

[tahliabell]

sorry folks does nothing for me much prefer the original but thats only my opinion

[jpierrev]

Thank you for this video, I didn't know this version

[motown250]

i saw edwin live twice he was brill

[tustles]

Excellent Happy Birthday Thanks For Posting Thanks Smilesweetness For Sharing God Bless KTF 10*****************

[STEVEGYTE]

Hi Ian. When are you releasing this genius rework on 7"? It's not often that I agree that a re-working is as good as the original, but this has been done with love, and has blown my dress completely off.

[BarbraAlejandro]

Ian- This Is One Of My Favs!!!!!!!!!!! It Seems To Say Everything About Your Music!! Music That Makes You Smile & Want To Dance!!! You Are The Best...Thank You A Million Times, Take Care-David

[christianna1951]

I knew this man personally from the Twisted Wheel and what a gent! Also I believe he was the best singer ever to come from the Tamla stable. Miss him forever.

[lepaquebot]

H.A.P.P.Y. sound and by the looks of it Edwmin really enjoyed the re-recording. Thanks for the experience of capturing that late seventies groove....LePB

[45rpmsingle]

Great new version and I speak as someone who bought the original on RCA in UK

[kheir01]

R.I.P my Brotha.