The Invicibles: Heart Full of Love
From 7″ (WB, 1965). Also on Heart Full of Love.
The Creations: I’ve Got to Find Her
From 7″ (Globe, 1965)
Is there anything sweeter than falsetto leads in a vocal harmony? I always associate this post-doo wop sound with the Impressions though I’m sure they weren’t the first to nail it (might have been the best though) and these two singles, in particular, certainly remind me of something that might have come out of Mayfield and company’s camp.
Instead of Chicago, the Invincibles hailed from Los Angeles (though none of the three members were actual L.A. natives) and “Heart Full of Love” was a modest hit for them in 1965 but the group never caught fire. Pity too since this song is so incredible (to me at least): the guitars feel very gospel-esque and the way the three men combine to sing, “pay no atten…tion” gets me every time. The song is so sparse overall but shows how one can do more with less.
The Creations’ “I’ve Got to Find Her” is out of the same Chicago soul community that the Impressions hailed from; the group’s Gerald Dickerson had his hands in quite a few different outfits of the era, including the Notations and Brothers of Soul (two Soul Sides’ favorites) and post-Creations, he and Charles Knox became the Contributors of Soul. “I’ve Got to Find Her” is from the B-side of one of their 3-4 7″s cut for Globe and was, in my opinion, their best song on there (though the group’s “A Dream” on Zodiac is pretty nice too).
Great post–love those sweet falsetto joints. My friend and I were recently discussing the distinct similarities between this Invincibles track and Fort Worth’s The Van Dykes; particularly their No Man Is An Island. The instrumentation and vocals, in particular, are a near match; almost sounds like they could live next to each other on the same LP.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXnH316GaZ8
Related topic: Thomas Fawcett produced an excellent piece on The Van Dykes and their studio experience:
http://www.thecornermusic.com/2009/12/studio-stories-no-man-is-island.html
Alex: “No Man Is an Island” is fantastic though I don’t hear the similarities between the two songs in terms of arrangement. The main thing they share is that both have all falsetto singers as both lead and back-up. Maybe it’s just the freshness of the “new” but right now, I’m taking “Heart Full of Love” > “No Man” but both are incredible sweet soul classics.
True, and to each his own, I suppose. Though I should clarify that while the arrangement/progression isn’t the same per se, I think it’s the overall feel–i.e. soft gospel-esque guitar tones, arrangement simplicity, and yes, male falsetto prominence, in both lead and back-up. Ultimately, I think the lead vocals are truly unique in that they share the same quality and definition, and I’d be hard pressed to distinguish the fact that these are two different groups, had I not heard them before. But, maybe that’s just me 😉 .
Either way, I’m still short of having this Invincibles 45 in my own collection, hearing it again makes me want to get to ebayin’. Thanks for sharing, O.
“Heart Full of Love” is on the album Sweet Soul Music: Voices From The Shadows (1992) based on Peter Guralnick’s book. It’s a great song. It seems based on a gospel song from 1964 of the same name by the Masonic Travellers. See the glorious article at: http://www.sirshambling.com/articles/gospel_soul.htm
Best regards, Lyle
Yes! Thank you! I’ve been looking for years for “Heart Full of Love.” I downloaded it when you originally posted it over five years ago and lost it when my computer crapped out on me. I had forgotten the artist and title of it, but now it’s mine again! Thank you so much, Oliver Wang!
This post just reminds how little ‘post doo-wop’ I have on my shelves (apart from C. Mayfield productions). What a great pair of tracks -Oliver, your comment about the first track’s sparse quality is bang on. less is definitely more.
I’ve loved that Invincibles record for years. Always wished that the running time would continue a little while longer, but I guess that also makes it kinda perfect because it’s so compact, under-three-minutes, and without any bullshit. I first heard this on one of those Dave Godin Deep Soul Treasures comps in the early 2000s and played the hell out of it ever since. Agreed that this sounds like something off of Curtom. Great post.
Funny, I also always think, “man, this ended too soon” but I think the length is perfect as is.
the invincibles(dave richardson, and lester johnson oh! and jerry ) lester and dave rereleased ths song on thier own lable stardom records,which in reality was a small record shop on vermont and vernon in los angeles. some great guys.
Gee it was really interesting reading all the post expescially the one by knowsoul, my father used to play the bass guitar and sang background vocals for the invincibles. Then As a little girl I remembered most the. rehersals and playing with there children whom we stayed family friends for a long time. What amazes me after reading the posts by knowsoul is that it was recorded at a record shop. I’m familiar with the area. Oh Dad’s name is Mose Howard , and don’t forget lester Rowland. Before they sang pop music heart full of love I can’t win and so on and so on they were first gospel singers
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