Lost 45s is a new category in the Jukebox Heart blog.
The cherished 45 RPM record celebrated its 50th anniversary just a few years ago to little applause. Completely overcome by events in technology, the 45 lives on as an icon to American culture cutting across lines perhaps moreso than any other piece of Americana history. Once the heart and soul of Jukeboxes everywhere, the “7-inch” remains now only as a kitsch promotional item among major labels and as a boutique niche market item for collectors of alternative music. Nevertheless, the 45 remains a staple of listening for many die hard music fans. This new category pays homage to the 45 RPM record. The track presented here is a 45 just aching to be rediscovered.
Barbara George’s ‘I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More)’ topped the R&B charts in 1961 and has proven a popular cover item ever since. The New Orleans native had never been in the studio before she brought her extremely catchy melody to Harold Battiste’s fledgling A.F.O. label. Benefiting from her pleasing, unpolished vocal and a melodic coronet solo by Melvin Lastie (NOT Herb Alpert, as has been rumored in the past – despite the similarity), the tune caught fire, vaulting high on pop playlists. Amazingly, nothing else George did ever dented the charts, although she waxed some listenable follow-ups for A.F.O. and Sue.
Born Barbara Ann Smith in 1942, she sang in church and on the streets of New Orleans, where she was discovered by the singer Jessie Hill, who had written and recorded the Mardi Gras favorite ‘Ooh Poo Pah Doo’. By this time she was married, and would record under the name Barbara George. Hill took her to audition for Harold Battiste, who was setting up the A.F.O. (All For One) label with the crème de la crème of New Orleans African-American session musicians. George based ‘I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More)’ on the traditional gospel song ‘Just A Closer Walk With Thee’ and Battiste wasn’t too impressed at first, though he agreed to help her cut the track.
Originally released at the end of 1961 on A.F.O., the catchy single soon gained nationwide distribution by Sue Records. It topped the R&B charts and crossed over to the US pop listings, eventually peaking at No 3 in January 1962. ‘You Talk About Love’, George’s follow-up single, only made the lower reaches of the Top 100 and, after releasing the first album on A.F.O., she signed directly to Juggy Murray’s Sue operation, joining a roster which included Ike and Tina Turner and Baby Washington. However, George only issued four singles on Sue – ‘If You Think’ and ‘Send For Me (If You Need Some Lovin’)’, another minor hit, ‘Recipe (For Perfect Fools)’ and ‘Something’s Definitely Wrong’.
Battiste, the New Orleans arranger who had been her mentor, rued the day she had decided to join Murray’s label, telling John Browen, the author of Rhythm & Blues In New Orleans: “Fatherly advice is no good when you’re fighting Cadillacs, fancy clothes and money.” The success of George’s début 45 helped put A.F.O. on the map, but also brought problems since it was only achieved with the help of Sue. Battiste moved to California in 1963, a few months after George’s defection to Sue. George subsequently issued a few more sides on Lana and Seven B in the ’60s, before dropping out of music to look after her three sons.
This is definitely part of the soundtrack of my childhood, along with countless other songs. These were the sounds of the early 60’s, when my brother and sister were teens, and I was just going along for the ride in my stroller… Here is a beautiful copy of this classic 45.