Scepter Records Story

[smallworld]

I've recently been enjoying this set but come the third disc, it basically becames a B.J. Thomas Greatest Hits set, apart from the occasional Dionne Warwick track. I realise this gives an accurate picture of Scepter's chart fortunes at the time, but it becomes a much less satisfying listen for me.

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Capricorn-Records-Presents-The-Scepter-Records-Story/release/2160195

I'm not familiar with Scepter/Wand in the way that I am with Motown/Stax/Atlantic. I've been wondering about an alternate tracklist for Disc 3, one that might be called "The Other Side of Scepter", featuring small/non-hits from the late 1960s to the label's demise in the 1970s. I stumbled upon a good track on a Northern Soul compilation, "That's Enough" by Roscoe Robinson. I'm also familiar with some of their early Disco material, like the Curtis Mayfield tracks by Patti Jo, "Ain't No Love Lost" and "Make Me Believe In You". Any suggestions for other tracks of this ilk?

[theboyfromxtown]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3uQugzyw9Q

[snakepit]

https://acerecords.co.uk/various-artists-scepter-wand

Small world,
Kent ace have several CD comps, Northern/60s , on Wand and Scepter. See link

[sansradio]

It's not disco, smallworld, but a solid soul smash slow jam from Wand in '73:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEyfNo120V8

[smallworld]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3uQugzyw9Q

Thanks for the suggestion. I wasn't aware that First Choice started off at Scepter.

[smallworld]

It's not disco, smallworld, but a solid soul smash slow jam from Wand in '73:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEyfNo120V8

I'd say that's more than solid. Smooth without being slick. Thanks!

[sansradio]

I'd say that's more than solid. Smooth without being slick. Thanks!

You bet, my friend! One of my sister's fave 45s from our youth...as I date myself yet again.😏

[Boogiedown]

loved hearing that version of " this is the house where love died " later made into a substantial disco hit by Simon Soussain for Pattie Brooks.:)

The entire Scepter story is such a good one .

At their end , they were one of the first labels to really dabble in disco, probably because as an aging struggling label they were more willing to explore. They listened to in house employee Mel Cheren who convinced them that the djs at these new disco clubs sought longer dance songs and he convinced Scepter to start offering instrumental "b" sides or even longer "disco" versions on their singles , creating an early playground for mixer Tom Moulton.

Anyway here's a spry one Mel Cheren took on himself:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryo9qzf-NVg

[Boogiedown]

and for a Motown connection how about this British take on:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKr9-mBmKHM

[snakepit]

https://acerecords.co.uk/various-artists-scepter-wand

Small world,
Kent ace have several CD comps, Northern/60s , on Wand and Scepter. See link
Smallworld
Bump in case you missed this

[smallworld]

Smallworld
Bump in case you missed this

Thanks for the bump. I thought I had replied. I'm well aware [[or should I say: my wallet is) of Ace/Kent and their label-dedicated comps. I know I could do the "research" myself, but it's interesting to hear forum members' personal picks, especially those tracks that saw some action [[chart/club) back in the day. I'll probably use your link to check out songs that can't be found on youtube. Thanks!

[reese]

Recently a very in-depth book on Scepter was published. It was discussed in the following thread.

https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthread.php?17838-Book-on-Scepter-Records&highlight=scepter+records

[Boogiedown]

Recently a very in-depth book on Scepter was published. It was discussed in the following thread.

https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthread.php?17838-Book-on-Scepter-Records&highlight=scepter+records

thanks for the book tip!! Can't wait to read it


another British import :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze2wN6h8YNg

a Tom Moulton Mix

[splanky]

Recently a very in-depth book on Scepter was published. It was discussed in the following thread.

https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthread.php?17838-Book-on-Scepter-Records&highlight=scepter+records

I would love to read a book on Scepter Wand story but that
book is a problem for me...I've only seen 2 copies of it on
ebay, both too high for me. It doesn't show up in books when I
google it and shows up in Amazon as "unavailable"....No bookstore
or library in New York has it so I'll have to pass on it...Too bad, the label had some stellar artists....

[imnokid]

In 2015 and 2016, my friend Ed Alstrom and I had a radio show on WFDU in NJ called Got Soul? The first week of each month, we devoted a show to a label. Sometimes we needed 2, 3 or 4 shows to play what was necesary. We did 2 shows on Wand/Sceptre. I uploaded the shows and the songs that "I" had brought for the show. I do not have the full playlists. Anyway, here's the links to parts 1 and 2. Hope you enjoy. LOTS of obscure stuff on here.
http://www45.zippyshare.com/v/T4K5u2ak/file.html

http://www61.zippyshare.com/v/bWhPy6fA/file.html

[smallworld]

I uploaded the shows and the songs that "I" had brought for the show.

Thank you! I'm sure this will help greatly in the endeavor.

Thanks also to reese for the heads up on the Scepter book. Anyone on the forum read it?

[imnokid]

For clarity, the full shows are there. The word files have the tracklistings that "I" brought.

[reese]

Thank you! I'm sure this will help greatly in the endeavor.

Thanks also to reese for the heads up on the Scepter book. Anyone on the forum read it?

I have gone through the book a few times since I purchased it. It is really in-depth. I tended to skim until I got to info on the artists I liked, like Dionne, Maxine Brown, etc. But it is really an informative look at the label, from the beginning to the end.

[rrussi]

This box set was issued many years ago. I was disappointed! It could have been much better. Tammy Montgomery, Twistin' With Linda by the Isley Bros., more of the Rocky Fellers. Yes, the third
disc was disappointing. I passed on it as I didn't think it correctly represented the label.

[smallworld]

Twistin' with Linda is on the box set. I agree that it would have been nice to feature a Tammy Montgomery track. Which would you have chosen? I also think Big Maybelle's version of "Oh Lord What Are You Doing to Me" should have been included. Tommy Hunt's version is good, Maybelle's is deeper. She truly sounds as if she's "slowly dying".


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

[Motown Eddie]

Here's another act that Scepter Records had in the funk/disco side of things in the mid '70s, the early recordings of B.T. Express.

https://img.discogs.com/T21d88opUmKFRCQn78J1nUZDw9M=/fit-in/550x550/filters:strip_icc[[):format[[jpeg):mode_rgb[[):qualit y[[90)/discogs-images/R-257503-1128793854.jpeg.jpg

[chalky]

I would love to read a book on Scepter Wand story but that
book is a problem for me...I've only seen 2 copies of it on
ebay, both too high for me. It doesn't show up in books when I
google it and shows up in Amazon as "unavailable"....No bookstore
or library in New York has it so I'll have to pass on it...Too bad, the label had some stellar artists....

I'm sure Steve still has copies. I will ask and tell him to come here with postage details etc if he has.

[jsmith]

Check out the tracks on this recent US vinyl release ... I think you'll find they're the sort of cuts you're looking for ... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Were-Gonna-Party-Records-VINYL/dp/B06XTS2NZ3/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1504518187&sr=1-1&keywords=we%27re+gonna+have+a+party

[jsmith]

One of the tracks off the LP ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLwwsTamgmA

[Recordman]

I would love to read a book on Scepter Wand story but that
book is a problem for me...I've only seen 2 copies of it on
ebay, both too high for me. It doesn't show up in books when I
google it and shows up in Amazon as "unavailable"....No bookstore
or library in New York has it so I'll have to pass on it...Too bad, the label had some stellar artists....

Hi Splanky, distribution of the book Scepter Wand Forever! to the US has been inhibited somewhat by the high postage rates we have to pay here. The book weights in at over 1.5 kg [[4 lb) and is 500 pp A4 size so costs nearly $30 to ship airmail to North America. The retail price for the book is £30 = just under $40. And so it is expensive I am afraid and this applies to my retailers here too, who have to pay the same postage rates. So far for the US market I have only used eBay [[Amazon may follow at some point, and they do have much cheaper global shipping rates.) I'd love to have a US distributor, but don't have one at the moment. Another option is if you know anyone travelling from the UK who could bring one back home sometime. All the best, and apologies about the price. Steve [[Author).

[Motown Eddie]

I think we can all agree that The Scepter Records Story box set should've been at least a 4-disc collection to paint a better picture of the label. Regarding the Scepter/Wand book, I've never heard of it or seen it [[here in US). In the meantime, here's a very good outline [[and discography) of the company from the Both Sides Now website.

http://bsnpubs.com/scepter/scepterstory.html

[Motown Eddie]

Thanks for the bump. I thought I had replied. I'm well aware [[or should I say: my wallet is) of Ace/Kent and their label-dedicated comps. I know I could do the "research" myself, but it's interesting to hear forum members' personal picks, especially those tracks that saw some action [[chart/club) back in the day. I'll probably use your link to check out songs that can't be found on youtube. Thanks!

And speaking of Ace/Kent, they have a new Chuck Jackson CD coming out later this month from the Scepter/Wand vaults.

https://www.amazon.com/Big-New-York-Soul-1961-1966/dp/B074JV6YCL/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1504627247&sr=1-1

[rrussi]

I don't remember Twistin' With Linda on the original box set. That was one of the reasons I passed on it. That record was a big hit on pop radio in Miami. The Rocky Fellers follow-up to Killer Joe was a hit too, Like The Big Guys Do. Tammy Montgomery's Make The Night Just A Little Longer is great! Same backing track as the Shirelles, with their backup vocals, but she does a great job. Also her "If You See Bill" is good too.

[marv2]

I don't remember Twistin' With Linda on the original box set. That was one of the reasons I passed on it. That record was a big hit on pop radio in Miami. The Rocky Fellers follow-up to Killer Joe was a hit too, Like The Big Guys Do. Tammy Montgomery's Make The Night Just A Little Longer is great! Same backing track as the Shirelles, with their backup vocals, but she does a great job. Also her "If You See Bill" is good too.

Randy did you all get out of Florida ok?

[smallworld]

One of the tracks off the LP ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLwwsTamgmA

That's a solid track. Thanks! I find it funny how some material seems to be getting a vinyl re-release, bypassing digital/CD. I guess it's a piracy thing - vinyl is really "pirateable" in the same way as digital media.

[smallworld]

Here's another act that Scepter Records had in the funk/disco side of things in the mid '70s, the early recordings of B.T. Express.

https://img.discogs.com/T21d88opUmKFRCQn78J1nUZDw9M=/fit-in/550x550/filters:strip_icc[[):format[[jpeg):mode_rgb[[):qualit y[[90)/discogs-images/R-257503-1128793854.jpeg.jpg

A bona fide 1970s hit! That would certainly earn it a place on a compilation spanning the life of Scepter. Thanks.

[smallworld]

Tammy Montgomery's Make The Night Just A Little Longer is great! Same backing track as the Shirelles, with their backup vocals, but she does a great job.

Those mopey whitebread backup vocals don't sound like the Shirelles to me. I suspect "Make the Night a Little Longer" was like "Baby It's You", an augmented demo [[as if anyone would hire Burt Bacharach as a session singer...). Good choice - it's one of those 60s songs that makes me scratch my head that it wasn't a hit for anyone.

[reese]

Those mopey whitebread backup vocals don't sound like the Shirelles to me. I suspect "Make the Night a Little Longer" was like "Baby It's You", an augmented demo [[as if anyone would hire Burt Bacharach as a session singer...). Good choice - it's one of those 60s songs that makes me scratch my head that it wasn't a hit for anyone.

I love this song, especially Dionne's version. I thought the background vocals might be done by Carole King and some others.

[Luciano]

And speaking of Ace/Kent, they have a new Chuck Jackson CD coming out later this month from the Scepter/Wand vaults.

https://www.amazon.com/Big-New-York-Soul-1961-1966/dp/B074JV6YCL/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1504627247&sr=1-1


Thank you Motown Eddie! I forgot about this one coming out and I need to order it.

[TammiTerrellFan]

Only real Motown fans know the Tammy Montgomery tracks are by a young Tammimi Terrell!

[robb_k]

18166
There were several Detroit productions leased by Scepter-Wand including by J.J. Barnes, Jack Montgomery[[Marvin Jones), Diane Lewis[[Pat Lewis' sister), and some from Chicago [[The Esquires, Roscoe Robinson, etc.). Here's Jack Montgomery arranged and produced by our own Dennis Coffey!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjALToNE0bc&list=RDXjALToNE0bc&start_radio =1

[robb_k]

18167
Here's J.J. Barnes from 1963:

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

[robb_k]

18168
Here's Diane Lewis [[Pat's sister), in a Detroit production by Herman riffin and Andrea Henry:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8vZpbUXB28

[robb_k]

18169
Here's Roscoe Robinson:

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

[robb_k]

18170
Here are The Esquires:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6UDmWXd0fE

[robb_k]

18171
Here are The Diplomats from D.C. singing a great Ashford-Simpson-Armstead song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6-2eizCyDI

[robb_k]

18172
Here are The Masqueraders from Texas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMOh0aysHxk

[robb_k]

18173
Here's Philadelphia's Nella Dodds singing Mary Wells' and HDH's "Honey Boy":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TjuAjR-0eM

[robb_k]

18174
Here's Chicago's Betty Moorer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXdFGQH735o

[robb_k]

18175
Here's Detroiter Gino Washington with a great 1964 sound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIjVWeRRAp0

[robb_k]

18176
Here's Gino's other 1964 great song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkKAIRB9k8Q

[robb_k]

18177
Here's another by Nella Dodds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaUxJBQ5Ow0

[robb_k]

18178
Here's an early Brenton Wood song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OIU-9l6CfA

[robb_k]

18179
Here's Tommy Hunt:

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

[robb_k]

18180
Here are Dan and The Clean Cuts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZo38pM8n-w

[robb_k]

18181
Here's Philly's Irma and The Fascinators:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r8At6LpQKc

[robb_k]

18182
Here's Candy and The Kisses' "Keep On Searching":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8caZKTEQzgo

[robb_k]

18183
Here's Harold Hopkins from Texas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDdJMq-O6QQ

[robb_k]

18184
Here's another Detroit production from 1964, by Timmy Shaw and The Sternphones:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF5mCK93eOA

[robb_k]

18185
Here's Eloise singing a Chuck Jackson song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM4CyMqX1Uc

[robb_k]

18186
This Honeybees' [[Detroit group) was arranged by ex-Motowner, Mike Terry, and produced by Don Juan Mancha, Johnny Terry, and Jack Montgomery [[Marvin Jones) in Detroit in 1966, but was financed by Florence Greenberg's Wand Records, and some of this record were pressed up and even sold on Wand, but it was soon "farmed out" by Florence, to New York's Garrison Records. But, the rights to this should still be owned by whoever bought out the rights to Scepter-Wand's catalogue, you see Florence Greenberg's "Flomar Music" as publishing credit on the right side of the label. Unfortunately, there is no Wand copy on You-Tube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV5WPRepAsQ

[robb_k]

18187
Here's another of those 1966 Detroit productions by Johnny Terry, Don Juan Mancha, and the owner of The Travler Motel, which were partly financed by, and leased to Florence Greenberg's Scepter-Wand Records in 1966, by The Just Brothers. Like The Honey Bees, it was supposedly released on Wand Records [[# 1144). It was pressed up mainly on Garrison Records and distributed commercially. Notice on the credits on the attached Garrison label scan, Florence Greenberg's Flo-Mar Music publishing Co. Unfortunately, the Garrison video has terrible sound quality, so I've placed the local, Detroit Empire video here. I have seen some issues of The Honey Bees on Wand, so I know it WAS issued on Wand. I've never seen a copy of The Just Brothers on Wand. So, I don't know if Wand ever released Wand 1144 commercially, before leasing it to Garrison:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Btm16Jh5zA

From Wand Records Discography:
18188

18189

[robb_k]

18190
Here are Chicago's Ivories produced by Barry Despenza from 1967:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvWgHJl3tv8

[robb_k]

18191
Here's the other Don Mancha/Herman Griffin-produced Diane Lewis Wand 45 from 1966. Unfortunately, there is no original Wand video on You-Tube. I've included a scan of my 45 below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81u1luIfj70

18192

[robb_k]

18193
Here's a nice early '70s Chicago production by Gene Chandler on Curtis Blandon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvNKHStPq0c

[heikki]

Thank you, Robb!
Some like Harold Hopkins were new to me.

Best regards
Heikki

[woodward]

18175
Here's Detroiter Gino Washington with a great 1964 sound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIjVWeRRAp0

I recall back in those days actually having this Gino Washington single in my collection, but one thing that I was never able to determine. Granted, Gino was a Detroiter as he had the very first 45 on Ric Tic #100 - Gino Is a Coward/Puppet On a String. This song indicates he is accompanied by the Rochelles and the Atlantics. I was curious at that time but was never able to learn exactly who sang in each of these background groups. Perhaps there were some later Motown singers in this early Gino Washington release. Does anyone know who the members were of the Rochelles and the Atlantics?

[robb_k]

I recall back in those days actually having this Gino Washington single in my collection, but one thing that I was never able to determine. Granted, Gino was a Detroiter as he had the very first 45 on Ric Tic #100 - Gino Is a Coward/Puppet On a String. This song indicates he is accompanied by the Rochelles and the Atlantics. I was curious at that time but was never able to learn exactly who sang in each of these background groups. Perhaps there were some later Motown singers in this early Gino Washington release. Does anyone know who the members were of the Rochelles and the Atlantics?
18208
Gino Washington had his own review [[entourage) act, who accompanied him on gigs at clubs or college venues. He had his own in-house band. He didn't sing backed up by house bands. The Atlantics were his own band. They had been with him when all of them were in high school. They played all his music, but didn't sing at all. The female back-up group were his only vocal backup group from 1963-65. I'm not completely sure that his '62 back-up group on his Correc-Tone release was The Rochelles, or another female back-up group, provided by producer, Robert Bateman [[it certainly wasn't The Supremes, who backed Wilson Picket, and James Velvet [[Satintones' James Ellis?). I don't think the girls group who backed Gino from 1968 on were the same as The '63-65 or '66 Rochelles.

For 55 years, I've been trying to find out who The Rochelles were. They were definitely NOT the New York Area group, who recorded for several New York Metro labels from 1962-64. But they were local Detroiters, who had to live there to play with Gino on all his local gigs [[he never left town to go on tour in those early days. There were rumours among collectors that 2 of them were Joyce Vincent and Telma Hopkins [[Thelma LaVerne). But, I really don't put much credence in that theory. I think it was just wild guessing.
I've asked many Detroit friends who were around back then, [[Ron Murphy, Ralph, Spyder, Clay, Dennis, etc.) who The Rochelles were. The best I got was only that they were friends of his from high school. But no one knew any names.
Here's an instrumental release by The Atlantics on The local Detroit Amon label [[the original Detroit label that released Gino's "Out Of This World" and "Come Monkey With Me":
18209

[woodward]

Thank you Robb. I learned a lot more than I had anticipated. You certainly know your music by all means. You are truly an asset to the Motown and Soulful Detroit forums.
Appreciate it very much.

[robb_k]

18211
Just to complete my thought on the rumour that some collectors were passing during the late '60s and early '70s that Joyce Vincent and Telma Hopkins [[AKA Thelma LaVerne) were two of the 3 Rochelles, I want to compare their high schools, given that contemporaries of Gino's mentioned that The Rochelles were high school friends of his.
Starting off the comparison, Gino attended Detroit's Pershing High, while Telma attended high school in Highland Park. I don't know where Joyce went to high school, but I imagine it was in Detroit. Does anyone here know if she attended Pershing or a nearby school?

[drlorne]

WOW Robb, that's quite the collection. I enjoyed them all. I saw the Broadway Play, Baby It's You on or off Broadway just before it closed. I had heard the soundtrack on the radio and was blown away by it and flew from Canada to see the play. It was basically the Florence Greenberg story...even her inter-racial affair with Luther Dixon. The soundtrack was produced by Richard Perry...it was great music.

[robb_k]

18247
Speaking of finding out who The Rochelles were, what about The Sternphone's, who backed up Detroiter Timmy Shaw on "I'm A Lonely Guy" on Wand, above, and on "Gonna Send You Back To Georgia"??? What an odd name for a female backup group! I've always wondered who they were. Timmy was always working with Johnny Mae Matthews. So, maybe The Sternphone's were The Wonderettes who did a lot of BGs for her from 1965-68[[although they don't sound like that group), and the Wand cuts were 1964.

Does anyone here know who The Sternphone's were? I wonder if famous Detroit Girls groups moonlighted singing back-up, like The Supremes, Martha and The Vandellas, and The Andantes did? The Paulettes and Fayettes were really The Andantes. I know that Pat and Diane Lewis, and Jackie and Betty Winston did a lot. And Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent did as well, for almost every producer in Detroit.

[robb_k]

WOW Robb, that's quite the collection. I enjoyed them all. I saw the Broadway Play, Baby It's You on or off Broadway just before it closed. I had heard the soundtrack on the radio and was blown away by it and flew from Canada to see the play. It was basically the Florence Greenberg story...even her inter-racial affair with Luther Dixon. The soundtrack was produced by Richard Perry...it was great music.
18272
Some people are so surprised when they see how many Detroit Soul records were released by Scepter-Wand. I guess that's mostly because Luther Dixon had a lot of Detroit connections[[through Popcorn Wylie, Robert Bateman, The Hamilton Brothers, and others, and because Johnny Terry had a bunch, as well).

So, you're a Canuck, too, eh? From which province?