Freda Payne CONTACT lp Revisited

For the past several years we have been denied new releases of our favorite lps so, of recent, I started pulling out older lps I loved but just haven't listened to. I started a thread on the Four Tops Nature Planned It album and enjoy reading all of your thoughts.

This week I pulled out Freda Payne's Contact album. I know it's not Motown but Invictus was so patterned after that company that it had that Motown feel. Freda did three good albums for Invictus, but not only is this the best of those three but it gets my nod for the best Invictus album.

The album is truly a masterpiece in many ways. It's thematic about a woman who ends a relationship then regrets it. Each song relates to that premise. The album starts out with a breath-taking medley of I'm Not Getting Any Better and Suddenly It's Yesterday. This is pure HDH, with full orchestrations. Freda's jazzier side comes out on the first song and again on The Road We Didn't Take.

The album's highlight for me is You Brought The Joy. A dynamic tom-tom drum intro that made me realize that the Supremes I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking by the same producers was perhaps patterned after this. You Brought The Joy is an exciting production. Great Freda solo and wonderful strings and horns.

There are many highlights on this album which makes it a very cohesive set. Odd and Ends is a gorgeous production with Freda singing with fever. The first single, Cherish [[What Is Dear To You), perhaps has a Diana Ross feel to it.

The only song that doesn't really fit the concept is the album closer Mama's Gone. Despite that, this song is beautiful and reminiscent of General Johnson's Patches.

This would be Freda's biggest selling album. Though not a big hit it did respectably for an lp without a major hit. The second pressing removed the fluffy He's In My Life in favor of Freda's rushed-out hit Bring The Boys Home. One would have thought this hit record would have put the lp high up on the charts, but it didn't. Invictus was said to be having distribution and financial problems by this time.

A lost hit record on here is Suddenly It's Yesterday. Dynamic orchestration featuring the Detroit symphony and great backing vocals behind the demure Freda makes for a Top Ten possibility

Yes, the CONTACT LP is GREAT!I always loved it & "You Brought the Joy" &"Bring the Boys Home" are my fave Freda Payne records.I do think Invictus/Hot Wax suffered from "bad" business.H D H great, creative but lacked business saavy that was greatly needed....they were not Berry Gordy.

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Originally Posted by motony

Yes, the CONTACT LP is GREAT!I always loved it & "You Brought the Joy" &"Bring the Boys Home" are my fave Freda Payne records.I do think Invictus/Hot Wax suffered from "bad" business.H D H great, creative but lacked business saavy that was greatly needed....they were not Berry Gordy.

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Yes Indeed; Invictus/Hot Wax didn't last long thanks to bad business decisions [along with the departures of Lamont Dozier and other creative staff at the company]. However, they were still at the top of the Soul Music World when Freda Payne's Contact LP came out in 1971. There were great hit singles with 'Cherish What Is Dear To You', 'You Brought The Joy' and 'Bring The Boys Home' as well as the moving 'I'm Not Getting Any Better'/'Suddenly It's Yesterday' suite.

There's not a bad track on the "Contact" album. I love it. in my local record shop I had the choice of Freda's album or Chris Clark's "Soul Sounds" for 99p each. As a teenager I only had pocket money and had £1 left - I knew Freda Payne but not much about Chris Clark so I bought "Contact". I loved it on first play.

Always laugh at "Odds and Ends" where she sings "momentums of the love we shared" - it should, of course, be "mementos". HDH did sometimes get the words wrong. But I love that track. "I Shall Not Be Moved" is just as good a the Barrino Brothers. Not entirely sure why the album is called "Contact" though.

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Originally Posted by mysterysinger

There's not a bad track on the "Contact" album. I love it. in my local record shop I had the choice of Freda's album or Chris Clark's "Soul Sounds" for 99p each. As a teenager I only had pocket money and had £1 left - I knew Freda Payne but not much about Chris Clark so I bought "Contact". I loved it on first play.

Always laugh at "Odds and Ends" where she sings "momentums of the love we shared" - it should, of course, be "mementos". HDH did sometimes get the words wrong. But I love that track. "I Shall Not Be Moved" is just as good a the Barrino Brothers. Not entirely sure why the album is called "Contact" though.

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I was confused about the title as well. Didn't help sell the album for sure. The only explanation I have was this was during the space age where "contact" meant blast off as I recall

Both this album and her Invictus debut were spectacular. She had many great albums after those but those two were the highlights for me. Agree that there was not a weak cut to be found.

Freda Payne's "Contact" is a perfect album from start to finish. Stylish cover art; great production enclosed. At the time of its release, I remember being concerned that "Cherish What Is Dear To You" hadn't gotten any airplay on our local AM radio station [[although this station had played tons of Invictus and Hot Wax hits throughout its heyday.) Even more concerning was the fact that my favorite track on "Contact" -- "You Brought The Joy" -- wasn't getting any on-air attention either. It's a shame because "Contact" deserved to be an HDH hit. I rate it right up there with Honey Cone's "Love, Peace & Soul" album which also seemed to be floundering, considering the fact that its current single, "Sittin' On A Time Bomb [[Waiting For The Hurt To Come)" getting no airplay and, especially super-classy cover versions of "Who's Loving You" and "Ooh Baby Baby" which also went unheard by the general public. It didn't even contain Honey Cone's best-ever track, "It's Better To Have Loved And Lost" which was a B-side single only. Without any official word from Invictus and Hot Wax, it was obvious that HDH's labels were sinking without an official obit. Also strange was the fact that Laura Lee was unceremoniously shifted from Hot Wax over to Invictus without explanation. With all of the weirdness going on, Freda Payne's "Contact" didn't stand a chance in the hit-album department. At least those of us who bought the album know that it was a great album which deserved far more promotion and recognition than it got.

I recall that Freda and Scherrie lost their mother at this time which initiated Mama's Gone. I love the song.

Thanks for bringing in the connection to the Honey Cone and that great album with the highly-underrated Sittin' on a Time Bomb. Never could believe that one failed to do any better than it did.

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Originally Posted by daviddesper

Thanks for bringing in the connection to the Honey Cone and that great album with the highly-underrated Sittin' on a Time Bomb. Never could believe that one failed to do any better than it did.

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I grew to love Time Bomb, but it wasn't pop at all, a very soulful record which is why pop stations stayed away. Also, as I said, Invictus switched distributors from Capitol to Buddha as I recall and they were not a priority so distribution was compromised. This is when financial problems started.

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Originally Posted by BayouMotownMan

I grew to love Time Bomb, but it wasn't pop at all, a very soulful record which is why pop stations stayed away. Also, as I said, Invictus switched distributors from Capitol to Buddha as I recall and they were not a priority so distribution was compromised. This is when financial problems started.

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H-D-H moved their Invictus label from Capitol Records to Columbia Records in early 1973 with the promise of getting better promotion for their albums. The Hox Wax and Music Merchant labels, which were both distributed by Buddha Records were discontinued in 1973 due to cash flow problems. Both Invictus & Hot Wax were briefly revived in 1976 with Columbia Records distributing [before both were folded and reorganized as H-D-H Records in 1977].

I love this album too. I wish The Supremes had done an album like it. So much great music from Invictus/Hot Wax. I wish their music was available on Spotify to expose new fans. I have to imagine it's a copyright issue.

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Originally Posted by daviddesper

Thanks for bringing in the connection to the Honey Cone and that great album with the highly-underrated Sittin' on a Time Bomb. Never could believe that one failed to do any better than it did.

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You're welcome, David.

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Originally Posted by Motown Eddie

H-D-H moved their Invictus label from Capitol Records to Columbia Records in early 1973 with the promise of getting better promotion for their albums. The Hox Wax and Music Merchant labels, which were both distributed by Buddha Records were discontinued in 1973 due to cash flow problems. Both Invictus & Hot Wax were briefly revived in 1976 with Columbia Records distributing [before both were folded and reorganized as H-D-H Records in 1977].

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Ah, so that explains why Laura Lee was switched from the recently-defunct Hot Wax label to Invictus. She apparently still had time left on her HDH contract. Thanks for explaining this as well, Eddie.

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Originally Posted by theboyfromxtown

I recall that Freda and Scherrie lost their mother at this time which initiated Mama's Gone. I love the song.

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Their mother died a few years later while Scherrie was with the Supremes...

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Originally Posted by BayouMotownMan

I was confused about the title as well. Didn't help sell the album for sure. The only explanation I have was this was during the space age where "contact" meant blast off as I recall

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I think it referred to CONTACT SHEET....a series of small photo's printed on one sheet that could be viewed and selected for larger main photo reproduction...I remember Contact came with a 3 panel fold out poster....and I also think there was a spread of the contact sheet from the session on one of the inner panels...I havent pulled my FREDA Invictus CD out in a long time.
Honey Cone's SOULFUL TAPESTRY challenged my love for New Ways...that was a great LP and also had one of those "how long before this shreds and tears off" die cut covers....the HC one was a "guarantee to rip"...it was a thin all sides border gold frame of the large front cover pic.... I had the same problem with the orig issue Magnificent 7 gatefold...New Ways thin die cut lasted a tad longer....

I've always interpreted the title of Freda's 2nd Invictus album, "Contact", to simply mean that her latest offering would surely make emotional "contact" and touch our hearts and souls like never before. Right or wrong, plain and simple.

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Originally Posted by gman

I think it referred to CONTACT SHEET....a series of small photo's printed on one sheet that could be viewed and selected for larger main photo reproduction...I remember Contact came with a 3 panel fold out poster....and I also think there was a spread of the contact sheet from the session on one of the inner panels...I havent pulled my FREDA Invictus CD out in a long time.
Honey Cone's SOULFUL TAPESTRY challenged my love for New Ways...that was a great LP and also had one of those "how long before this shreds and tears off" die cut covers....the HC one was a "guarantee to rip"...it was a thin all sides border gold frame of the large front cover pic.... I had the same problem with the orig issue Magnificent 7 gatefold...New Ways thin die cut lasted a tad longer....

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All those gatefolds were ripoffs. You bought this assuming inside the fold were more photos or bio info. These three had nothing.

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Originally Posted by Philles/Motown Gary

I've always interpreted the title of Freda's 2nd Invictus album, "Contact", to simply mean that her latest offering would surely make emotional "contact" and touch our hearts and souls like never before. Right or wrong, plain and simple.

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It was a great sexy looking cover.... of course, REACHING OUT and Payne and Pleasure would leave it in the dust for sexy covers later....

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Originally Posted by gman

It was a great sexy looking cover.... of course, REACHING OUT and Payne and Pleasure would leave it in the dust for sexy covers later....

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You can say that again, Gman! I knew that something was up at Invictus/Hot Wax, but it almost seemed like Freda was inching her way toward porn! [[Yet, sadly, both LPs still managed to flop!)

"REACHING OUT" [[Invictus)
https://youtu.be/KRKnXoS4mp0?si=yeni3l-_4e6bjEAS

"PAYNE & PLEASURE" [[ABC/Dunhill)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File...ure_cover.jpeg

While on the subject of Freda Payne, does anyone have any idea what she is up to these days? Since her book was published she skyrocketed to fame and fortune; but it eventually wore off. I guess there are no new releases and I assume that she is still performing but we never hear anything about her. Does anyone have any insight? She is currently 81 years old and has DR beat by a year.

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Originally Posted by woodward

While on the subject of Freda Payne, does anyone have any idea what she is up to these days? Since her book was published she skyrocketed to fame and fortune; but it eventually wore off. I guess there are no new releases and I assume that she is still performing but we never hear anything about her. Does anyone have any insight? She is currently 81 years old and has DR beat by a year.

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She is still performing...I just yesterday saw a FB ad for her performing a Ella Fitzgerald tribute show somewhere...

Freda's Facebook Page may have been hacked.

Scherrie posts pictures of Freda and with Freda from time to time - she’s kept herself looking relatively youthful

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Originally Posted by woodward

While on the subject of Freda Payne, does anyone have any idea what she is up to these days? Since her book was published she skyrocketed to fame and fortune; but it eventually wore off. I guess there are no new releases and I assume that she is still performing but we never hear anything about her. Does anyone have any insight? She is currently 81 years old and has DR beat by a year.

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Here's an interview that Freda Payne did with Goldmine.com last year with songwriter Michael B. Sutton.

“Band of Gold” singer + Motown songwriter on '70s B-sides, new recordings - Goldmine Magazine: Record Collector & Music Memorabilia

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Originally Posted by Philles/Motown Gary

You can say that again, Gman! I knew that something was up at Invictus/Hot Wax, but it almost seemed like Freda was inching her way toward porn! [[Yet, sadly, both LPs still managed to flop!)

"REACHING OUT" [[Invictus)
https://youtu.be/KRKnXoS4mp0?si=yeni3l-_4e6bjEAS

"PAYNE & PLEASURE" [[ABC/Dunhill)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File...ure_cover.jpeg

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Much of her gay audience was less than thrilled by the “porn” cover. I guess it was meant to appeal to the hetero black male crowd.