Leon Haywood - Baby Reconsider

Leon Haywood has had an enormous and varied career, but this one song, "Baby Reconsider", has earned its place in history for being the very first record to turn the Mod Soul scene in the North of England in the late 1960s, into a Rare Soul scene, which became known as Northern Soul. This record, on the Fat Fish label, with its classic sixties Motown sound, and its throaty Marvin Gaye type vocal, was so rare and so prized, that people would travel 200 miles on a Saturday night in 1969 and 1970, to the Twisted Wheel in Manchester, just to hear it. Thus the brinkmanship of rare soul and valuable records was born. And of course, when I embarked upon the epic journey of making The Strange World Of Northern Soul DVD set, I just HAD to re-record it, and have Leon filmed. Soul/funk journeyman Leon Haywood periodically dented the charts in the 1970s with hits that tapped into the grooves and musical hooks of the day's trends. An accomplished songwriter and arranger, Haywood never pretended to be an innovator, and his hits are cheerful derivations of '70s midtempo funk and romantic ballads, usually embellished by smooth string charts. His best material recalled the late-'60s/early-'70s Motown sound; on the slower material in particular, his vocals bore a resemblance to those of Marvin Gaye. Haywood's roots extend way further back than the '70s; he toured and recorded with R&B saxophonist Big Jay McNeely's band (which also backed Sam Cooke on the road) in the early '60s. In the mid-'60s, he had his first chart entry with "She's with Her Other Love" on Imperial. In 1967, he had a solid R&B hit (and small pop one) with "It's Got to Be Mellow," whose commercial soul sound betrayed his Motown influence. He didn't come into his own as a solo artist until the mid-'70s, when he had big R&B hits with "Strokin'," "Come and Get Yourself Some," and "Keep It in the Family." His biggest single, "I Want'A Do Something Freaky to You" (with orgasmic female gasps and moans that made it pretty clear what "freaky" really meant), crossed over to the Top Twenty pop listings. The discoish "Don't Push It Don't Force It" was his biggest splash, making #2 R&B in 1980. After the mid-'80s, he eased out of the record business into business ventures; in the 1990s, he produced blues albums by Jimmy McCracklin and others on his own EveJim label. But we will always love him best for this one wonderful song.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Northern-Soul
• Sixties
• West-Coast
• Motorcity
• Male-Soul-Singers
• Classic
• Soul

[docludi]

As you say Ian, this record was a sensation at the Wheel. It is the perfect example of Twisted Soul. With the secretive 'cover up' thing of the time, It took months just to find out what it was called and who sung it. Then trying to get it.... the Holy Grail comes to mind. I bought a Jeff King pressing at Ralph's, then later a copy on red Verve. I still get that Soul chill flush in my heart as he breaks into 'Baby' on the chorus...as I am sure you do too. A true classic foot burner.

[IanLevine]

Yeah, but it was Vault not Verve, when it was reissued from its original Fat Fish release.

[maherho]

hi did kieth misull pay £25 for this record in 1970 to bring it to the torch i think a lot of money then

a great record . but not the best to dance to in those days. regards jimmy liddy

[IanLevine]

My abiding memory of the first time I stepped foot in the Wheel was seeing everyone dancing to this, clapping on every off-beat. And it carried over into Blackpool Mecca too. So it was THE best to dance to in those days, I beg to differ. It was THE floorfiller every time.

[eornad]

i can't believe I Puked On My Car has more views than this!

[IanLevine]

Which proves there's no accounting for taste.

[cher01y]

Great Song ....Great Voice...just luvving it!

Thks for posting this on youtube

[gittahfiend]

his old ass could of wore a hat.

[docludi]

What wouldn't I give to have this moment in time at the Wheel gain.

[theresacoots]

love his voice!!

[VinylRecords60]

From the obscure "Mellow, Mellow" LP on Galaxy!

[blackstonei23]

I remeber Leon very well.He could play some organ!I remember him doing his thing down in Long Beach a hundred years ago.Talent night-anyone else remember that? Wow!