Black Ivory

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

BLACK IVORY were one of New York's best loved soul groups. The trio - Leroy Burgess III, Stuart Bascombe and Russell Patterson - were discovered by producer/arranger Patrick Adams when hey were known as the Mellow Sounds, and although he amended the name, the type of music suggested by their original moniker was spot on. Adams cut them on a series of delicate harmony ballads for Today records - scoring notable successes in the charts from 1971-3. This CD features all 6 of these 45s and offers the first proper retrospective for this key group.

The first disc "Don't Turn Around" (Today 1501) set the scene nicely. A well orchestrated slowie it featured an ethereal lead from Leroy Burgess over some tasteful harmonies and spent nine weeks on the national chart, peaking at no. 38. The flip "I Keep Asking You Questions" showed their uptempo side but the follow up "You And I" (Today 1508) penned by Burgess and Bascombe was right in the ballad pocket again. This too reached the top 40 R&B in the spring of '72 and it was clear that the initial hit was no fluke. The B side "Our Future" was a rather less impressive tilt at the social realism of street funk.

"I'll find A Way" (today 1511) which appeared lather that same year made it a hat-trick of sweet soul winners reaching the top 50, paving the way for their excellent debut LP "Don't Turn Around" (Today LP 1005). This featured all their previously issued material as well as the rather Jackson 5 influenced flip to their last chart hit "Surrender". This set confirmed them as major Big Apple stars. And with Bascombe doing the choreography and Patterson designing their stage outfits their live gigs were a wow, as they played to packed houses of mainly screaming female fans. Not bad for three 17 year olds!

Black Ivory's next 45 "Time Is Love" started '73 in much the same vein but this romantic beauty featured their best melodic hook to date, as well as a splendidly breathy delivery from Burgess. The reverse number was a version of Michael Jackson's smash of the previous year "Got To Be There" and was picked from the album. Their fifth top 50 hit in a row was the lovely "Spinning Around" (Today 1520) and for my money was their best 45 - not just because of the memorable melody and superb arrangement but also as it featured Burgess's most soulful lead. "Find The One Who Loves You" on the flip was also lifted from the LP.

The last 2 A sides were featured on their second LP "Baby Won't You Change Your Mind" (today 1008). This set was, if anything, stronger than the first. The title track in particular was an excellent ballad that was inexplicably never released as a single and "It's Time To Say Goodbye" was almost as good. The original version of "No Ifs Ands Or Buts" provided a melodic and welcome change of pace as did the pounders "One Way Ticket To Loveland" and "Just Leave Me Some". Their final 45 release "We Made It" (Today 1524), the first to feature Burgess' real vocal range rather than his aching falsetto, was right in their ballad bag but thanks to the company's ailing promotion and distribution failed to dent the charts.

By this time Today was in financial trouble and Black Ivory were in dispute with the company over royalty payments - and in fact they didn't cut anything for the last year of their contract. They moved to the newly formed Kwanza concern, recording "What Goes Around" in Philly but despite its chart success that label folded as well, and the trio moved onto Buddah for a lengthy stay. Much of the material on the three albums they cut for the company rated much higher on the Beats Per Minute scale than on musical subtlety. Several 45s were club favourites but their only national success came with the throwback ballad "Will We Ever Come Together". Leroy Burgess went on to further dance fame and fortune with the Aleems and Black Ivory returned with a patchy set for Panoramic in the 80s, but sadly the era for soul groups was over by then. But in their prime Black Ivory were big stars

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Black Ivory was the epitome of Sweet Soul back in the day...May the 70's music live forever....SMILE

[Virgo91261]

OMG! I haven't heard this song since childhood. When my brother David (not his real name) was home from Providence College during Christmas break one year, he brought home a Black Ivory album. We all (my siblings and I) thought that Black Ivory was off the chain. As much as I love "Don't Turn Around," I agree with you that "Spinning Around" is the better song.

Great blog, Sole.

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Black Ivory 2007