By radiogoon (198.208.223.35) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 03:20 pm:

I was cleaning in the basement and came across a bunch of 45's. One of them "Dear Mr. President" was on the Westbound lable, which gave a Detroit Address. Anybody got any tidbits about this lable??

Thanks,

Dr. Z

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 03:31 pm:

Jeez, do you want a summary in a couple sentences? Started by Detroit promo man Armen Boladian. Many cool hits, how do we even start? Armen is still active in the biz.

By Fury13 (209.69.165.10) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 03:42 pm:

Armen's a legend. He began as a promotion man, launched the Fascination and Oasis labels in the '50s, and kicked off Westbound in the '60s. Instrumental in so many artists' careers...

("I'll Bet You" by Funkadelic still floors me!)

By Fury13 (12.2.196.17) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 03:43 pm:

Sue, Armen was at the Scarab Club thing last Saturday.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 03:48 pm:

Dr.Z:
If you go through the website & the posts, you should find info regarding Westbound Records & its founder Armen.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By David Meikle (81.103.135.227) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 03:50 pm:

Dr Z

Can you give us the address on the label please.

Thanks
David

By Chancellor of Soul (66.207.40.18) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 03:55 pm:

What a great label !!!

The Detroit Emeralds
The Ohio Players
Funkadelic
Denice LaSalle
Man it's too much !!!

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor Of Soul)

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.57) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 04:00 pm:

Denise Lasalle as well.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.57) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 04:00 pm:

oops sorry Mike.

By Chancellor of Soul (63.78.189.114) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 04:04 pm:

No problem, Mel

By David Meikle (81.103.135.227) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 04:45 pm:

One of the best 45's on the label and it is a flip side!

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 05:00 pm:

Oh, "I'll Bet You" was the soundtrack to a big part of my life. Great record.

By Scratcher (65.134.147.135) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 06:35 pm:

"Don't Walk Away" b/w "Lonely In a Crowd first came out on Dynamics Records and I believed leased to Westbound the same year (1969). My copy is on Dynamics.

By David Meikle (81.103.135.227) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 06:41 pm:

Thanks Scratcher.

Here's another Superlatives number on Dynamics.

Dynamics will be featured on SD towards end of year.

By Scratcher (65.134.147.135) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 06:49 pm:

Carl Carlton redid "Don't Walk Away" on Backbeat Records and I love his version too. I always wanted to know who performed the vocals behind Carlton on the record.

By uardanjie (67.192.46.137) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 10:10 pm:

Does anybody have a web address on Armen?
or maybe a phone number?
I have beem trying to locate him. If so
please forward to me.

Thank you,
U

By Fury13 (209.69.165.10) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 04:39 pm:

Try this:

Westbound Records Inc.
18500 West 10 Mile Road
Southfield, MI 48075

248-569-4033

It's listed in the phone book.

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.33) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 05:03 pm:

Those Junie Morrison-era Ohio Players singles are great. You get "Pleasure", "Pain", "Ecstasy", and a "Funky Worm" all in the bargain.

"Funky Worm" and Denise LaSalle's "Trapped By A Thing Called Love" are probably the two biggest chart successes on Westbound.

Regards,
Ken

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 10:43 pm:

Was Denise LaSalles's hit recorded in Detroit? I'm guessing it was something Armen leased.
The Detroit Emeralds' song "You Want It, You Got It" was a hit in the UK. I'm not sure if it was recorded in Detroit or not - does anyone know for sure?
Graham

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 11:20 pm:

I forgot to mention the Emerald's other hit - Do Me Right. Both of these rcordings don't have the typical "Detroit Sound" ...but maybe by then - the 70's - it didn't really exist anymore.
Graham

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.69) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 12:41 am:

Denise Lasalle did a great 'Do me right' which got a few all-nighter spins in its day Graham.
Not sure if this was released on Westbound or not.
Mind you I will make do with my Love Reputation on Tarpon records.
mel.

By Chancellor of Soul (63.78.189.114) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 11:36 am:

Detroit Emeralds' hits
" Do Me Right"
" You Want It, You Got It"
" Wear This Ring"
" Feel The Need"
" Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms"

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By Chancellor of Soul (66.207.40.18) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 11:42 am:

Ooops I'm sorry. The songs I mention above
were all Memphis recordings although they were
under a label based in Detroit.

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By Jim Vitti (68.60.97.20) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 12:30 pm:

Chancellor of Soul:

The Detroit Emeralds' hits "Do Me Right" and "You Want It, You Got It" were not recorded in Memphis - I recorded them at United Sound about the same time I recorded the Dramatics' "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" album. (Approx. late 1969 or early 1970) Just want to set the record straight.

Thanks - Jim

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 12:52 pm:

Jim Vitti - "Whatcha See is Whatcha Get" for me is the best Dramatic LP. Would you by any chance have any picures of Wee Gee? :o)

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 01:25 pm:

Jim:
I have both the original 45 & LP of the Dramatics' "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get". At the beginning of the 45 before the verse there's the horns & the rhythm section and on the album there's the horns, rhythm with strings added. Any reason why the strings weren't on at the beginning of the 45? (I know, a little knit-picky point but I was always curious).
Thanks,
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Chancellor of Soul (66.207.40.18) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 02:08 pm:

Hey Jim,
Thanks for the info. Weren't Memphis musicians
used for those sessions though ??? If so, that's
what I meant to remark.

Thanks,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By Jim Vitti (68.60.97.20) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 02:28 pm:

Hello SisDetroit and KevGo:
Sis, I agree with you I always loved that album.
Written by the Late Tony Hester (what a talent!)
The late William Howard (Wee Gee) was a fantastic singer! Arranged by the late and GREAT Johnny Allen, who also arranged the horns and strings for "Shaft". The rythm tracks consisted of some of Detroits' best - Andrew Smith, Bob Babbitt, Dennis Coffey, Robert White, Eddie Willis, Johnny Griffith, and Jack Ashford, - if I remember right.
There's a heck of a story concerning the recording and mixing of this album but I don't have the time right now to get into that.
Some other time for that!
I may have some pictures of the guys, I'll have to do some digging. The original LP has some great shots of them all. I'll let you know.
KevGo - many times during that era - A single release mix would be different than the album mix.
The next time I talk to Don Davis, I'll ask him why he choose to do it that way - he may have thought the song would "build" better by delaying the string section.

Regards, Jim

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 02:35 pm:

Jim - If you come to the "Get Together" in May, would you see if Don Davis would make an appearance?

Wow, what a line up on that LP. That LP is a classic. I do have the LP, shattered cover and all. Maybe I'll look for the LP in better condition on ebay.

Don't forget that picture! Thank You!!!!

By David Ferguson (80.177.24.170) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 05:26 pm:

First hit on this siteso forgive any repeat info

Check out Detroit Emeralds Holding on awonderful piece of late sixties /turn of seventies soul
should pack any dancefloor

also New Holidays My baby aint no plaything
essentially the same backing track to Stanley Mitchell Quit twistin my arm the flip to Get it baby
also same backing as something on Soulhawk
poss Shes driving me out of my mind S Medallions???

tired its Friday night ...bottle of aussie red nite nite will visit again

PROPER RECORD TALK NOT SHITE AND DEVIANT GAY PRACTICES
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
byeee xx

By uardanjie (67.192.46.143) on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 10:23 pm:

Thanks Fury 13

U

By radiogoon (152.163.188.68) on Monday, February 24, 2003 - 06:17 pm:

Guys,

Sorry it took so long to get back on this.

It is actually 20th Century/Westbound Records

just reads Westbound Records, Inc. Detroit MI
Addres is 20th Century 8255 Sunset Los Angeles

Pleas Mr. President b/w Paula's Theme (Paula Webb)
WT-5001
Produced by: Tom DeAngelo/Randall Carlisle/Bernie Mendelson

Engineer: Artie Fields & Hugh Turnbull

It caught my eye because of the "Detroit" label, no soul, it's a spoken word piece with musical accomp.

Thanks for the input on Westbound though!

Doc

By ErikT.O. (64.228.108.123) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 07:31 pm:

To answer a question back up this thread, Denise Lasalle's version of 'Do Me Right' is on her Westbound lp titled (roughly!!) 'Trapped In A Thing Called Love' if memory serves... more related trivia- a neato, more 'Motowny' version of 'I'll Bet You' by Theresa Lindsay is on a cd comp I have called 'Totally Northern Soul 2'...

By Marv (205.188.209.38) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 10:35 pm:

Weren't Bettye LaVette and Laura Lee both on Westbound Records for a time? Wasn't the song "Westbound #9" recorded for the label? I have great memories also of the music from Westbound Records.

By Sue (205.188.209.38) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 10:42 pm:

radiogoon -- Randall Carlisle was a newsman on CKLW, the big 8 -- part of the infamous 20/20 News team under Byron Macgregor ...

Armen Boladian of Westbound was tight with a lot of the CKLW people; Byron's "America" single was released on Westbound ...

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 02:04 pm:

(Spoken with forcefulnes)
"....Six guns spit hot lead as gunfire errupts in the streets of Detroit...."

Sue...
....whitebread question. Was Silverhawk on Westbound? I recall a George Harrison cover by them.

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 02:13 pm:

Denise LaSalle recorded in Memphis, I believe.
There's an extensive interview with her in a
book called Ladies of Soul by David Freeland.
He also interviews Bettye Lavette, Barbara Mason,
Maxine Brown, and Carla Thomas.

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 02:39 pm:

(shouted at the highest volume possible):

"A man was STRUCK by a speeding Pontiac on Detroit's east side today; we don't yet know the identify of the bushwacked bystander who was STRAINED through the grill of the Bonneville ..."

For non-Detroiters, Doug and I are quoting actual news stories as delivered by CKLW's infamous tabloidish news announcers ...like Randall Carlisle.

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 02:49 pm:

You know, a whole thread could be done on news broadcasts in Detroit. CKLW's treatment of the Robert Kennedy assisination comes to mind.

".....details in 13 minutes. Now back to MUCH MORE MUSIC..."

Silverhawk?
And does anyone have a scan of the later
westbound label?

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 03:20 pm:

Silverhawk -- haven't a clue. Didn't pop up on my radar screen. I'm sure Armen has about 500 copies if anybody needs some (laugh).

Yeah a thread about 20/20 news, Keener news etc. would be wild. I covered a CK reunion last year and I asked Randall C., who's now a TV news anchor in Salt Lake City, what the most lurid story he ever delivered over the CK air was ...there was one that even got him in trouble with Byron Macgregor ...

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 03:52 pm:

Found it, but no label reference. "Awaiting On You All" by Silverhawk. Number 10 on the Keener chart 5/10/71, wedged between Danny Dewdrop's "Chick-A-Boom" (eerrrggguhhhh) at #9, and Main Ingredient's "Spinning Around" at #11.

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 04:02 pm:

I didn't realise Skip and Dave (Teegarden and Van Winkle) were on that label. What an eclectic mix of artists.

By LG Nilsson (213.89.29.157) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:27 pm:

I have got the Teegarden and Van Winkle 45 on Westbound... with picture sleeve! Here are two later designs... with some well known names on them...




Lars

By radiogoon (66.2.148.42) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 11:52 pm:

I'm all for a 20/20 news thread. I'd like to see that Drake style come back....

Dr.Z

By David Meikle (213.122.63.254) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 05:42 am:

Lars

Beautiful scans as ever.

I always enjoyed the F4 album but didn't realise that track (or album?) was co-produced by Dennis.

Thanks.

P.S. I really must dig out my seventies album collection.

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 05:36 pm:

David,

Dennis Coffey produced five of the eight tracks on the "Got To Have Your Love" album, together with James Epps. The F4 have a special place in my heart, since the Ric-Tic times... I love Sweet James' voice. The next album "B.Y.O.F." DC arranged and produced all tracks.

I also checked... Of the 23 singles released on the Atlantic distributed 55400-series on Westbound, Dennis Coffey's name was on 14 of them, in one way or another. I guess he played on all of them!

Lars

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 05:56 pm:

Hi everyone. I also had three albums out on Westbound - Back Home, Finger Lickin' Good and Sweet Taste of Sin. Last year, Millie Felch, me and Armen, along with the CKLW D'J's, newscasters, and Rosemary Trombly got together for a documentary on CKLW - the Big 8. It will be released this summer. It was pretty wild seeing everyone again. They came in from all over the country. We had a blast!

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 06:24 pm:

Dennis,

It is a pleasure to have you here. Will you please tell us who were the musicians and background singers during those last Westbound years 1977 - 1979... and C.J. & CO... who were they?

Lars

By acooolcat (210.200.105.227) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 01:09 am:

Hi Dennis - I wonder how I can get to see/hear that programm about CKLW?
Please let us know when it's about to be broadcast.
Thanks, Graham

By David Meikle (213.122.107.90) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 03:53 am:

Thanks Lars (and Dennis!)

I also have the BYOF album. Will check them out this weekend.

By Sue (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 09:56 am:

Graham,
Dennis is referring to a documentary film that was shot about CKLW by some Canadian filmmakers. The main guy grew up in Windsor listening to CK. The doc is about more than just the reunion, but they taped that as part of it. It's supposed to be on Canada's version of the History Channel this year, from what they were saying ...

By mediawatch (68.55.36.167) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 07:22 pm:

Hey 20-20 news fans. Here's a link if you want get a taste of CKLW news...
http://www.reelradio.com/ram/beg2.ram?cklwnews.rm~0:00.0~07:04.3

By mediawatch (68.55.36.167) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 07:25 pm:

Sorry, The correct link for CKLW is:
http://www.reelradio.com/bh/index.html#cklwnews

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 08:42 pm:

Thank you, mediawatch.
My wife walked in while the report about the genuine, powerized, lightning bolt Louisville Slugger was playing. She walked out muttering "That's sick." Yea, but fun.

By Sue (205.188.209.16) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 09:09 pm:

Wow ...listening to Grant Hudson, Randall Carlisle and the boys, you have to wonder, maybe it was 20/20 News that created Detroit's image of Crime City? It's just a litany of bullets in the head, rapes in the City-County building, etc.

That tagline, "Call 961-NEWS in Detroit ..." instantly took me back.

What newscaster today invokes the Grim Reaper? When they re-created 20/20 News last summer, the newscasters wrote it up using the real news of that day -- and some poor guy had been in a fatal car accident ...so one of the guys intoned "How did it happen? The owner of the hapless Honda can't tell us -- he's DEAD."

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.209.16) on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 09:39 am:

Hi LG. C.J. and Company were Cornelius Brown Jr., Joni Tolbert, Connie Durden, Curtis Durden, Charles Clark. The musicians on the Devil's Gun album were Uriel Jones and Tiki on drums, Greg Coles and Roderick Chandler (Peanut) on bass, Bruce Nazarian, Robert White on guitars with me on the solo to Devil's Gun, Larry Nozero on flute, Gary Schunk, Earl Van Dyke and Rudy Robinson on Keyboards. Mike Theodore and I produced it and Tom Molton mixed it. I will let everyone know about the CKLW - Big 8 doc when I find out.

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 06:42 pm:

Dennis, Many thanks for all info !

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.188.68) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 08:22 pm:

Hi LG. To refresh my memory, what Westbound records do you have with my name on them? Thanks.

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 01:11 pm:

Dennis,

This is the complete Westbound 55400-series distributed by Atlantic
Records released during 1977 - 1979

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LABEL NR S ARTIST TITLE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westbound 55400 A C.J. & Co. Devil's Gun
Westbound 55400 B C.J. & Co. Free To Be Me
Westbound 55401 A Detroit Emeralds Feel The Need
Westbound 55401 B Detroit Emeralds Love Has Come To Me
Westbound 55402 A Dennis Coffey Back Home
Westbound 55402 B Dennis Coffey Our Love Goes On Forever
Westbound 55403 A Fantastic Four I Got To Have Your Love
Westbound 55403 B Fantastic Four Ain't I Been Good To You
Westbound 55404 A Detroit Emeralds Set It Out
Westbound 55404 B Detroit Emeralds Wednesday
Westbound 55405 A Tom Durden Elvis
Westbound 55405 B Tom Durden Elvis
Westbound 55406 A C.J. & Co. We Got Our Own Thing - Pt I
Westbound 55406 B C.J. & Co. We Got Our Own Thing - Pt II
Westbound 55407 A Mike Theodore Orchestra The Bull
Westbound 55407 B Mike Theodore Orchestra I Love The Way You Move
Westbound 55408 A Fantastic Four Mixed Up Moods And Attitudes
Westbound 55408 B Fantastic Four Disco Pool Blues
Westbound 55409 A King Errisson Manhattan Love Song
Westbound 55409 B King Errisson L.A. Bound
Westbound 55410 A Detroit Emeralds I Just Don't Know About This Girl Of Mine
Westbound 55410 B Detroit Emeralds Turn On Lady
Westbound 55411 A Fuzzy Haskins Not Yet
Westbound 55411 B Fuzzy Haskins I Think I Got My Thang Together
Westbound 55412 A C.J. & Co. Big City Sidewalk
Westbound 55412 B C.J. & Co. Call Me If You Need Me
Westbound 55413 A Caesar Frazier Child Of The Wind
Westbound 55413 B Caesar Frazier Till Another Day
Westbound 55414 A Dennis Coffey A Sweet Taste Of Sin
Westbound 55414 B Dennis Coffey Calling Planet Earth
Westbound 55415 A C.J. & Co. Deadeye Dick
Westbound 55415 B C.J. & Co. Call Me If You Need Me
Westbound 55416 A Dennis Coffey Gimmie That Funk
Westbound 55416 B Dennis Coffey Someone Special
Westbound 55417 A Fantastic Four Sexy Lady
Westbound 55417 B Fantastic Four If This Is Love
Westbound 55418 A Carlis Munro Boogie Up, Rock Down� Ride A Funky Starship
Westbound 55418 B Carlis Munro Outside Looking In
Westbound 55419 A Fantastic Four B.Y.O.F. (Bring Your Own Funk)
Westbound 55419 B Fantastic Four If This Is Love
Westbound 55420 A Crowd Pleasers Freaky People - Pt I
Westbound 55420 B Crowd Pleasers Freaky People - Pt II
Westbound 55421 A Mike Theodore Orchestra High On Mad Mountain
Westbound 55421 B Mike Theodore Orchestra Disco People
Westbound 55422 A Eramus Hall Do The Rock
Westbound 55422 B Eramus Hall Think Positively

Your name is on all records except: 55401A&B, 55403B, 55404A&B, 55405A&B, 55407A, 55408A, 55410A&B, 55411A&B, 55413A&B, 55418B, 55420A&B, 55421A&B, 55422A&B

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 02:24 pm:

Nice one Lars!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 03:14 pm:

Hey Gang:
That Devil's Gun 45 looks familiar - I have that and the album in my collection as well.
Question - Did Armen Balodian sell Westbound to Ace/Kent Records or does he still own the label/catalog? I'm having a hell of a time getting the Detroit Emeralds & the CJ & Co material on CD and the only time I've seen these particular artists is in the Ace/Kent catalog with the words NOT AVAILABLE IN THE USA in big bold letters (whereas the Funkadelic & Ohio Players CDs are available). Any insight, please?
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 04:22 pm:

Kev,

Usually where it says "NOT AVAILABLE IN THE USA"
in the Ace catalogue it means that some US
label holds the US domestic rights so selling the
Ace CD in the US would be poaching on the US
label's territory. You'll see the same notation in the catalogue on the Ace-released Stax group
cds as Fantasy have their own line of Stax
releases.

Unless there's been a development I've missed
Armen still owns the catalogue with Ace as the
licensees for the UK (and probably the rest of
Europe).

Haven't some Detroit Emeralds tracks come out
on Rhino in the US ? - maybe they've an option they're not using

If you need to contact Ace the person to ask is
probably Trevor Churchill, he's in charge of
licensed material as far as I know. The catalogue
should give you details.

Davie

By Dennis Coffey (12.119.164.42) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 08:28 pm:

Thanks LG for the info.