The Notations

[Doug-Morgan]

Can anyone give me a little backround on the early 70's Chicago soul group The Notations? Pandora played at me the slow groove "I'm Still Here". Never heard it before and it's a nice song.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttpaP9_lyZg

[robb_k]

Can anyone give me a little background on the early 70's Chicago soul group The Notations?

11986
Hi Doug,
Too bad you didn't ask this question while Chicago Soul group expert, Bob Abrahamian, was still with us. As many of you know, he unfortunately passed on a while back. I lost a friend, and we all lost a great resource on Chicago Soul Music. A second bit of bad luck is that The Notations are one of the very few well-known Chicago groups that he DIDN'T interview, on his fabulous website, "Sitting In The Park".

A third bit of bad luck is that I, myself, don't know a lot about this group, as I left Chicago for good, in summer 1972, to move to Europe, and was really only there part time from 1966-72 [[and I really didn't pay much attention to any music but Jazz after 1969 or so).

What I DO remember about The Notations is that their members were: Clifford Curry [[NOT the Memphis, "She Shot a Hole in My Soul" guy, but Chicago's brother of Helen Curry). He was their main creative member, writing or co-writing most of their songs Other members were: Bobby Thomas, Lasalle Matthews and Jimmy Stroud [[1969-1973). In 1973, Walter Jones replaced the latter.

They recorded for Tad Records in 1969, Twilight Records [[Syl Johnson's label) from 1971-73, C.R.A. Records [[A subsidiary of Chicago's Cash Records also related to Chicago's Harlem records [[owned by Gene Cash)) with some previously unreleased masters released in 2014 on a rejuvenated Cash Records [[all recorded in 1973), and Gemigo Records [[distributed by Curtom) in 1974-75. They had only 2 Top 30 R&B/Soul chart hits: "I'm Still Here" [[Twinight 141) and "It Only Hurts For A Little While"[[Gemigo 103). I also like their version of Curtis Mayfield's "I've Been Trying"[[Twinight 152), and the flip of "I'm Still Here" [[Clifford Curry's "I Can't Stop").

Clifford Curry was also a member of another group in the late '60s. Unfortunately, I can't remember which. Too bad Don Montgomerie is also no longer around SDF anymore. He knew some of the group members.

[robb_k]

11987

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpTAqBti3nA

[robb_k]

11988

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEF4S1KpBdI

[manny]

I only have two tracks by The Notations from a 70's funky compilation: "Lonely people" and "Super people"; the second sounds as a Curtis Mayfield production, the rhythm structure reminds me "Mother's Sons" from Curti's "Got To Find Away" album.

[robb_k]

I only have two tracks by The Notations from a 70's funky compilation: "Lonely people" and "Super people"; the second sounds as a Curtis Mayfield production, the rhythm structure reminds me "Mother's Sons" from Curti's "Got To Find Away" album.
11989
Yes that was a Curtom production on Gemigo Records. Both were released in 1974.

[Doug-Morgan]

Thank you. Every so often Pandora throws me a ringer like this, and it's good to have somewhere I can turn for information.

[mr_june]

Also check out "At The Crossroads" That should have been a hit also but you know how funny the industry is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R33ZRA0g9eM

[MIKEW-UK]

Interview with Clifford Curry re The Notations.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNuNB0bxPOs

[MIKEW-UK]

Notations HQ playlist.... their album on Gemigo ....first track is one of their very best, IMO...... belts along! [[written and produced by Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy of The Independents, which also included Helen Curry, sister of Clifford Curry).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o8QTDRRBmo

[MIKEW-UK]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cbsbl47Sdk

[MIKEW-UK]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYvf4jOixpA