Don't

After acquiring these tracks many years ago and some detective work a deal was struck to bring these two wonderful tracks to vinyl. This really was a labour of love, and we hope you like the results.

Little is known about Norman Feels (AKA Norman Solomon) other than he was an underground soul singer in the first half of the 1970s. Norman Feels released two albums on Just Sunshine Records and seemingly then disappeared back into obscurity but leaving us with some wonderful music.What we think we know is he and his brother Coleman Solomon were in New York harmony groups The Souveniers. 

They had one release on Inferno and in The Preludes, one release on Octavia. He was born Tarrytown, Westchester County, New York in 1944 and passed in Tarrytown in 1994.

In 1973 he released a self-Titled album and in 1974 the album entitled “Where or When". However, these two tracks were recorded a year earlier in 1972, we believe in Detroit but mastered at Sterling sound studios in New York but cannot be 100% sure. This might explain the fact that “Don’t” is a different mix to the later LP and “More Love” never saw a release.“Don’t” is a different and much punchier version of the Album track and could have presumably been recorded as a possible 45 release for another label but was shelved.

The B side “More Love” as far as we can tell never saw the light of day other than these acetates that were purchased via a sound engineer from the studios much later.

The one thing that does stand out on the LP is the backing vocals of Detroit legends Joyce Vincent, Pam Vincent & Telma Hopkins. Telma of course was a former member of group Dawn, who had a 1970’s television variety series with Tony Orlando. She later became a television actress as a regular on TV sitcoms.

Joyce Vincent a singer, born in Detroit, Michigan and sister of Pamela T. Vincent who was a prolific backing singer for Aretha Franklin, Funkadelic, Blackfoot and many others. 

Joyce who was later known by her married name, Joyce Wilson, was initially chosen to replace Mary Wilson when she left The Supremes, but Motown disbanded the group before she became an official member. 

Of course, it is probably true that these three backing singers were not present for the original New York sessions adding even more mystery to the story of Norman Feels. Although it is possible the tracks were recorded in Detroit and sent to NY for final mastering and cutting.

Norman’s self-titled album has always been much indemand and collected by funk and soul fans alike.David Van De Pitte arranged all the songs on the album, who incidentally worked on Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin’ On”.

Over the years the songs from his albums have been sampled by famous acts such as Ghostface Killah, to Nas and Kanye West.

Licensed courtesy of The Royalty Network Inc. & Chocolate Milk Music 

Tracklist

A.   Don't 3:38
B.   More Love