Barbara Long – Take It From Me / The Cautions – Poor Loser 45 (Soul Harmony) 7″ Vinyl

Barbara Long’s exquisite vocals on ‘Take It From Me’ are backed by a heavenly backing group that was no doubt arranged and maybe featured Raynoma “Miss Ray” Gordy, Berry’s second wife and co-founder of Motown. This song was written by Eddie Singleton, Ray’s new partner who set up Shrine Records with her in Washington DC. The record came out on their sister label Jet Set, but sold poorly and is very sought after now.

Singleton wrote another beautiful harmony ballad, ‘Poor Loser’ for his main group the Cautions – issued on Shrine in 1966. It was their second single and got lost in the company’s implosion with most copies incinerated in record distributor Waxie Maxie’s fire. Its Northern soul flip makes it a £2,000 record on original.- Ace Records