R&B Playlist>>Barbara Acklin: The Bunswick Years}1967-1973

**no_place_like_motown** · 03-31-2013, 11:28 AM

**splanky** · 03-31-2013, 01:06 PM

Barbara Acklin was one of the most underated female vocalist in soul music. I bought a
compilation cd of her stuff years ago and almost none of those tracks are on it. It was the only
thing I could find in the store at the time. A few of those are cuts I never even heard until
this day, More Ways Than One,eg,..I know she was married to Eugene Record of the Chilites
for awhile and that they also backed her on several of her recordings but I'd like to know
who were the musicians on her sessions because they were the epitome of fine soul
playing. Thanks for this, no place...

**no_place_like_motown** · 03-31-2013, 02:43 PM

You're welcome, Splanky.

Most people remember Barbara for just "Love Makes A Woman". I loved that record and of course I wanted to hear more from her and continued to buy her singles and later her albums. Many folks don't know that she wrote "Whispers" for Jackie Wilson in 1966 when she was a receptionist at Brunswick. At some point after leaving Brunswick in '73 she returned to the label when they reformed in the late 70's but nothing was ever issued. I remember seeing Gene Chandler on Soul Train in the early 80's and he mentioned that he was writing and producing some new songs with Barbara, but I don't think nothing was ever released from those sessions either.

Here's Brunswick's website, which mentions that some of the musicians at Brunswick were formerly with Okeh records:

http://www.brunswickrecords.com/history2.htm

**splanky** · 03-31-2013, 03:38 PM

Dang, how did that site get pass my radar? Thanks again, I bookmarked it. I've got some
learnin' up to do later

....

**robb_k** · 04-01-2013, 02:01 AM

Barbara not only wrote "Whispers", but she was his girl "Peaches" who he mentions in the song. Chicago had a group of regular Soul instrumental musicians similar to The Funk Brothers, L.A.'s "Wrecking Crew", Philadelphia's crew that ended up at Philly Int., and Neww York's great crew with Richard Tee, Pretty Purdie, etc.

They were arranged mostly by Sonny Sanders, Gerald Sims, Eugene Record, Willie Henderson, and produced by Carl Davis. Yes. a lot of the great Okeh musicians ended up working the later Brunswick sessions.