TOMMY NAVARRO - I CRIED MY LIFE AWAY (DE JAC)

Описание: The Northern Rare Soul scene in the UK was already familiar with latin flavoured sounds such as Cal Tjader's brilliant 'Soul Sauce' and other tracks by Ray Barretto and Mongo Santamaria. In the 1980's, Latino tinged records became popular plays at the venues such as the Top Of The World All-nighter, Stafford.
These include -
Bobby Valentin's storming 'Use It Before You Lose It' (Fania)
Tony Middleton's 'Spanish Maiden' (Speed/Storm)
The Wanderers 'You Can't Run Away From Me' (UA)
and Romance Watson 'Where Does That Leave Me' (Coral).
The tracks helped pave the way for originality and diversity in the rare soul scene.

"When people talked about Stafford sixties newies being too far away from the idea of what Northern Soul was, they meant sounds like Tommy Navarro."
John Pugh
The track was featured regularly on DJ Guy Hennigan's top twenty at TOTW. Initial plays of the record in 1984 required the traditional practice of 'covering-up'. Consequently, the artist was introduced for a brief time as 'Tony Gallo & The Showmen -- Cry, Cry, Every Night!'

"Tommy Navarro I think it came off Tim Ashibende (record collector/dealer). I think it was at Stafford as well, I might be wrong with that but I'm sure that it was. I think I paid £5 for it."
Guy Hennigan, Soulful Kinda Music.

Also on the same label is legendary soul and gospel singer Kenny Hamber.
He hooked up with Atlantic Records around '63 and did a song called `Show Me Your Monkey' in New York --based on the dance crazes that were so characteristic of the first half of the 1960's decade. Together with the flip 'Time', both tracks received plays at TOTW.

The original Tommy Navarro record label was produced in three different colours -white blue red label, turquoise label red text and light blue label. It also has a 'Bell sound' stamped in the run out groove.
However the track was reissued in the mid 1980's. Although the label is perfect, it was pressed in the UK. Centres have been pushed out, leaving the tell tale signs of four notches or indentations around the centre hole. It also has UK style ridge/anti slip grips around the outside of the label. (Stuart Ames 'Angelina, Oh Angelina'/'King For A Day' was pressed at the same time/place).

The artist also recorded as Tommy Navarro & Sundialers -- 'Summertime' -45rpm single taken from the 'Twist Around Town' album (Urania Records)

Douglas Morris began his music career as a songwriter for music publisher Robert Mellin, Inc. His credits include writing the Chiffons' 1966 hit "Sweet Talkin' Guy" and producing such hit records as Brownsville Station's "Smokin' in the Boys Room." Mr. Morris joined Laurie Records in 1965 as a writer and producer and was eventually named Vice President and General Manager. Later, he launched his own label, Big Tree Records, which was distributed and eventually acquired by Atlantic Records in 1978. At this time Mr. Morris was named President of ATCO Records, beginning his association with Warner Music.