VINYL KNIGHTS: ZELDA SAMUELS - Revisted

VINYL KNIGHTS: ZELDA SAMUELS – THE OFFICE MANGER THAT COULD REALLY WRITE A COUPLE OF HIT SONGS

3 Comments 05 JUNE 2008

HOLLYWOOD, CA (IFS) – The Vinyl Knights of the Recording Industry included really powerful women that had great influence on the music being written during this time. “That’s the Way I Feel About ‘Cha” by Bobby Womack was co-written by the secretary, one Zelda Samuels. Samuels is a great part of the building blocks of the recording industry, right along with the likes of Mary Axton, Madeleon Baker, Regina Smith, Carmen C. Murphy, Florence Steinberg, Alice M. Jackson and many others.

Pictured above is J.W. Alexander, Lou Alder, Sam Cooke and Zelda Samuels.

Samuels in this time is not very well known, but was a major force in the world of R&B music. This pretty blonde was no “dumb blonde”, but a powerhouse as the one woman “Girl Friday” that did it all. One of the founding mothers of the record business. Samuels had many charted hits with all the groups that were signed to Sam Cooke’s SAR Records and with Sam Cooke on RCA Records.

The company’s short lived story only comes to end with the death of Same Cooke. If he had lived, he would have been a major player in the recording industry. SAR Records, founded in 1959 with Sam Cooke’s friend J.W. Alexander, recorded gospel (Cooke’s old group, the Soul Stirrers) and early soul, recording several up-and-coming musicians, including Billy Preston, Johnnie Taylor, Johnnie Morrisette, Lou Rawls and Bobby Womack — Cooke’s replacement in the Soul Stirrers.

SAR Records was as bare-bones as you could get–a small Hollywood office with a few desks, a piano, and one employee (the songwriter Zelda Samuels). One of the most important additions to the label in 1961 was Sar’s first and only employee, an experienced white songwriter named Zelda Samuels. Samuels came to the label when SAR and the two music publishing companies had grown sufficiently to need someone full-time to handle the day-to-day business. She was perfect for the job, having previously worked for Decca Records in distribution, its subsidiary Coral Records in A&R, then for Fred Fisher Music in music publishing, where she also wrote lyrics. She stayed with Sar until it folded.

With both Cooke and Alexander on the road most of the time, on most days Samuels’ was Sar Records. She worked closely with Cooke and Alexander, co-authoring many compositions. Since the label folded Samuels has continued to write songs (over 200 have been published) and for 23 years has been Mel Carter’s manager, an association that started when she was with Sar.

The Valentinos were the only other rhythm ‘n’ blues vocal group to chart for Sar. Their record, “Looking For A Love,” hit the charts in July 1962 and stayed on for eight weeks, reaching #8. Originally a family group, the Womack Brothers (Bobby, Cecil, Harris, Curtis, Friendly), from Cleveland, Ohio, were very popular locally before they came to Cooke’s attention through the efforts of Roscoe Robinson. They started touring with Cooke, and Bobby Womack also worked as the guitarist in Cooke’s band.

While their parents wanted them to stay in gospel, the brothers decided to try heir fortunes with rhythm ‘n’ blues. As the Valentinos, they were successful for several years until Bobby Womack decided to go off on his own. While they recorded a great gospel record on Sar, it was the transformation of their arrangement of the gospel standard, “I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray,” into “Looking For A Love” that became a hit.

Zelda Samuels had heard the group singing around the studio with “I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray.” It was to that melody that she first wrote the lyrics to “Looking For A Love,” which she gave to J. W. Alexander, who tinkered with the words as the song took shape. But it was Cooke, in town to supervise the recording session, who added the hard-driving “looking, looking” refrain that added the extra power that helped make this song memorable.

Broadcast Music’s index of Songs by Samuels:

1. AFTER THE PARTING THE MEETING
2. BOUNCE AGAIN
3. BYE AND BYE
4. CANDY CAMERA
5. CHINESE HULLY GULLY MAN
6. COLLEGE AFTER MIDNIGHT
7. CRAZY IN LOVE
8. DANCIN HOLIDAY
9. DEEP WITHIN
10. DING A LING
11. DOUBLE PORTION OF LOVE
12. EVERLASTING LOVE
13. EVERYTHING STOPS FOR A LITTLE
14. FURRY MURRAY
15. GIVE ME A BREAK
16. GOLDEN LOVE
17. HARK IS THAT A CANNON I HEAR
18. HAWAIIAN ROCK
19. HEY LOVER
20. HILL BILLY FILLY
21. HUCKLEBERRY BLUE
22. I DON T NEED NOBODY BUT YOU
23. I HAVEN T GOT TIME TO CRY
24. I LOOK INTO YOUR EYES
25. I M GOING WEST
26. I M SAD BUT I M GLAD
27. I THINK OF YOU
28. IF HE HOLDS YOUR HAND
29. IF YOU LOSE HER
30. IF YOU RE WONDERING
31. IT GIVES ME CHILLS
32. IT LL BE A LONG TIME TILL YOU
33. IT S A BLESSING
34. JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES
35. LOOKIN FOR A LOVE TO CALL MY OWN
36. MAIDMER
37. MY LOVE GIVES ME LOVE
38. OBSTINATE MOE
39. OH MY DARLING
40. OPTIMISTIC BOOMERANGS
41. PLEASE LET ME LOVE YOU
42. POEM TO THE ONE I LOVE
43. ROCK IN THE CRADLE OF LOVE
44. ROCKIN ROLLER SKATES
45. RUN NOT TO STRANGERS
46. SAM MCGEE
47. SHOE LEATHER EXPRESS
48. SO GOODBYE
49. TAKE ME WITH YOU AS YOU GO
50. TALKIN TRASH
51. TEARS ON ICE
52. THANKFUL
53. TONIGHT IS FOREVER STAY IN MY
54. UNLUCKY GIRL 1574146
55. WALK RIGHT ON IN
56. WE LL BLESS EACH DAY WITH OUR
57. WE TWO FOREVER SHALL BE ONE
58. WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN
59. WHEN I HOLD THE HAND OF THE ON
60. YOU ARE A FOOL
61. YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
62. YOU CAN T BUY FROZEN LOVE
63. YOU LL TURN EVERYTHING TO GOLD
64. YOU RE GONNA COME BACK TO ME
65. YOU RE GONNA COME BACK TO ME A
66. YOU RE GONNA GET BURNED
67. YOU RE JUST WHAT I NEEDED
68. YOU VE GOT TO TAKE THE BAD WIT
69. YOUNG

The SAR / Derby Records Discography

* written by Cooke, Alexander

101. Soul Stirrers - Stand By Me Father / He’s Been A Shelter For Me – (1959)
102. Kylo Turner - I’ll Keep Thinking Of You / The Wildest Girl In Town – (1960)
103. Soul Stirrers - Wade In The Water / He Cares [Barbara Grant]
104. Johnnie Morisette - Never (Come Running Back To You)* / In My Heart *
105. Soul Stirrers with Sam Cooke - Nearer To Thee Part 1 / Nearer to Thee Part 2
106. Joel Pauley - That’s Why I Cried / Slim Jim
107. Johnnie Morisette - Always On My Mind / Dorothy
108. Soul Stirrers - I’m A Pilgrim / Jesus, Be A Fence Around Me
109. L.C. Cooke - Teach Me * / Magic Words *
110. Soul Stirrers - Listen To The Angels / Toiling On (1961)
111. Patience Valentine - Dance and Let Your Hair Down / In the Dark
112. L.C. Cooke - The Lover / Sufferin’
113. Johnnie Morisette - Damper [Edward Lyons] / Don’t Cry Baby [Johnson-Unger-Bernie]
114. Johnnie Taylor - A Whole Lotta Woman / Why Why Why
115. unknown
116. Soul Stirrers - I Love The Lord / I’m Thankful
117. The Simms Twins - Soothe Me * / I’ll Never Come Runnung Back To You *
118. Womack Brothers - Somebody’s Wrong (lead: Curtis) / Yield Not To Temptation
119. Patience Valentine - I Miss You So / If You Don’t Come
120. Soul Stirrers - Heaven Is My Home / Lead Me Jesus
121. Johnnie Morisette - You Are My Sunshine [Davis-Mitchell] / Your Heart Will Sing [Alexander-Jordan]
122. Sam Cooke - Just For You / Made For Me
123. unknown
124. Soul Stirrers - Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone / God Is Standing By (1962)
125. The Simms Twins - The Right to Love / The Smile
126. Johnnie Morisette - Meet Me At The Twisting Place / Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere
127. R.H. Harris and his Gospel Paraders - Pass Me Not / Troublin’ Mind
128. Clifton White - Dance What You Wanna / Theme Of Tomorrow
129. Jackie Ross - Hard Times [J. Ross] / Hold Me *
130. The Simms Twins - You’re Pickin’ in the Right Cotton Patch / Double Portion of My Love
131. Johnnie Taylor - Rome (Wasn’t Built In A Day) / Never Never [Ed Townsend]
132. Valentinos - Looking for A Love [Alexander-Samuels] / Somewhere There’s A Girl *
133. Johnnie Morisette - Sho’ Miss You Baby / Wildest Girl In Town
134. L.C. Cooke - Tell Me [LC Cooke] / You’re Workin’ Out Your Bag *
135. R.H. Harris and his Gospel Paraders - Sometimes / Somebody (1963)
136. Simms Twins - I Gopher You / Good Good Lovin’
137. Valentinos - Darling Come Back Home [C. Womack] / I’ll Make It Alright [C. Womack]
138. Simms Twins - That’s Where It’s At / Movin’ and a Groovin’
139. Johnnie Morisette - Don’t Throw Your Love On Me So Strong / Blue Monday
140. Soul Stirrers - Praying Ground / No Need To Worry
141. L.C. Cooke - The Wobble / Chalk Line
142. Patience Valentine - Unlucky Girl / Ernestine
143. Meditation Singers - There Must Be A Place / Behold Your Hand (?)
144. Valentinos - She’s So Good To Me / Baby, Lots of Luck
145. Soul Stirrers - Free At Last / His Love
146. R.H. Harris and his Gospel Paraders - Even Me / Oh Lord, Come and Ease
147. Johnnie Morisette - I Don’t Need Nobody But You / Black Night
148. L.C. Cooke - Put Me Down Easy / Take Me For What I Am (1964)
149. Gus Jenkins - Right Shake / Don’t Get Sassy
150. Soul Stirrers - Oh Mary Don’t You Weep / Looking Back
151. Johnnie Morisette - Gotta Keep Smlin’ (So Trouble Won’t Come) / I’ll Never Come Running Back To You
152. Valentinos - It’s All Over Now [B. and S. Womack] / Tired Of Living in the Country *
153. Linda Carr - Sweet Talk / Jackie, Bobby, Sonny, Bill
154. Soul Stirrers - Lead Me To Calvary / Mother, Don’t You Worry About Me
155. Valentinos - Everybody Wants to Fall in Love [Alexander-B. Womack] / Bitter Dreams
156. Johnnie Taylor - Oh, How I Love You / Run, But You Can’t Hide
157. Patience Valentine - Woman in a Man’s World / Lost and Looking

LP’s

701. The Soul Stirrers – Jesus Be a Fence Around Me [1961]

I’m A Pilgrim / Listen To The Angels / Jesus Be A Fence Around Me / Toiling On / He’s Been A Shelter For Me / Stand By Me Father / Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone? / Don’t Leave Me / I’m Thankful / I Love The Lord / He Cares / Wade In The Water

702. The Soul Stirrers [1961]

703. Various SAR Artists – Gospel Pearls [1962]

That’s Heaven To Me – Sam Cooke / Deep River – Sam Cooke / I Thank God – Sam Cooke / Heaven Is My Home – Soul Stirrers / God Is Standing By – Soul Stirrers / Pass Me Not – R.H Harris & Gospel Paraders / Steal Away – Sam Cooke / Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone – Soul Stirrers / Lead Me Jesus – Soul Stirrers / Troublin’ Mind – R.H Harris & Gospel Paraders / Sometimes – R.H Harris & Gospel Paraders / Somebody – R.H Harris & Gospel Paraders

704. Soul Stirrers – Encore [1962]

His Love / No Need To Worry / Since I Met The Savior / Praying Ground / Amazing Grace / Free At Last / Something Here Inside / Time Brings About A Change / Joy In My Soul / Where Jesus Is

705. Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers – Sam Cooke & Soul Stirrers[1963]

DERBY Singles (all released in 1963)

100. Buck Floyd - Short Short Skirt / Tobacco Road
101. Johnnie Taylor - Shine Shine Shine / Dance What You Wanna

1002. Billy Preston - Greazee Pt. 1 / Pt. 2
1003. Mel Carter - When A Boy Falls In Love / So Wonderful
1004. Jeanie Robertston - Tears of Happiness / Memories
1005. Mel Carter - Time Of Younf Love / Wonderful World
1006. Johnnie Taylor - (I’ll Always Be) In Love With You / Baby, We’ve Got Love
1007. Milt Grayson - Wayfarin’ Stranger / Your Old Standby
1008. Mel Carter - After the Parting, the Meeting Is Sweeter / Why I Call Her Mine
1009. The Executives - Falling In Love / Happy Chatter
1010. Johnnie Taylor - I Need Lots of Love / Getting Married Soon

DERBY LP’s

701 Billy Preston – 16 Yr. Old Soul [1963]

Greazee / Lost And A’Lookin’ / I Can’t Stop Loving You / Born To Lose / Ain’t That Love / Bring It On Home To Me / God Bless The Child / Pretty Little Girl / In The Spring / Good News

702 Mel Carter – When a Boy Falls in Love [1963]

Time Of Young Love / We’ll Bless Each Day With Our Love / So Wonderful / When I Fall In Love / Twelfth Of Never / Why I Call Her Mine // When A Boy Falls In Love / Hold Me / For Your Love / Wonderful Love / After The Parting The Meeting is Sweeter / You Can Count On Me