Rosco Robinson - That's Enough (Gerri 001)

That's Enough

Hey, folks. I just wanted to drop in here today to rave a little bit about the excellent show that John Ciba put together at Southpaw in Brooklyn last night. Starting things off was a positively incendiary set by the Southern Soul Group's own Eli 'Paperboy' Reed and his smokin' band The True Loves. These guys have got it goin' on, man.

Next up was the great Ralph 'Soul' Jackson, whose short set that opened this year's Ponderosa Stomp offered only a glimpse of his powers. With a scream to rival the Wicked Pickett's, 'Soul' let 'em know what it's all about. That way funky version of Sunshine Of Your Love still knocks me out every time I hear it! He told me this was his first trip to New York. I hope it won't be his last.

When Roscoe Robinson took the stage, the place went nuts. Backed by Eli & the True Loves (who were obviously thrilled to be there), he was simply fantastic. A true professional (after sixty years in 'the business'), he held the crowd in the palm of his hand. Talk about a living legend!

The cool record we have here today was Roscoe's second 'secular' 45, appearing here on his own Gerri label before it was picked up by Wand for national distribution. The Wand release would become his biggest hit, going all the way to #7 R&B in the summer of 1966. He sounded every bit as good singing it last night, as did those groovy go-go girls The Dansettes crooning those sexy "Oh baby, that's enough!"s in the background. Simply wonderful stuff, y'all.

Although Roscoe was certainly a tough act to follow, Clarence Reid and his crack band more than held their own, burning it up on great tunes like Masterpiece and Nobody But You Babe. The self-proclaimed 'Inventor of the Miami Soul Sound', Clarence has just released a brand new 45 on Rabbit Factory, Prime Time. Get yourself one.

My thanks to John and the rest of the Rabbit Factory crew for one awesome night of soul. They'll be doing the whole thing again in Chicago on June 23rd. Go.