Freddie Scott-The Very Best Of Freddy Scott.
Label: Playback Records.
Format: CD.
Freddie Scott was born on April '24th,' 1933, in Providence, Rhode Island. Music was part of his life from an early age. He sang around the house, at school, at church and by the time he was twelve, he was touring England with his grandmother's gospel group, Sally Jones and The Gospel Keyes.
By the time he was sixteen, Scott had his own television show in Augusta, Georgia, The Sound Of Gospel which was shown. It seemed as if Scott was destined to pursue a musical career. However, that wasn't the case.
Scott decided to study medicine firstly at the University of Rhode Island, and then Paine College in Augusta, Georgia. However, around this time he started singing again with the Swanee Quintet Juniors. He decided to give up his career in music and pursue a musical career.
In 1956, Scott released his debut single 'Running Home' on the J&S label. He wrote Johnnie and Joe's top ten hit 'I'll Be Spinning.' Ricky Nelson then recorded his song 'Baby I'm Sorry' for his 1957 debut album 'Ricky.' By then, he was maturing as a songwriter. That was no surprise, as he had been writing songs since he was eleven.
Meanwhile, Scott had recorded singles for various small labels, and had enjoyed little success. This was disappointing for him. Soon, his career would be interrupted when he was conscripted.
In 1959, Scott had signed to the New York-based Enrica label. Billed as Freddie Scott and The Symphonics, the group released 'Come On Honey' as a single. Soon, it was being played on radio and was popular amongst DJs and music fans. This resulted in major labels taking an interest in the group.
However, by 1960 Scott's seemed more interested in pursuing a careers a songwriter. He worked in the legendary Brill Building, in New York, and forged a partnership with Helen Miller. Over the next few years he spent a lot of time writing songs that were recorded by everyone from Ann-Margret and Gene Chandler to Jackie Wilson, Paul Anka and Tommy Hunt. He even produced Erma Franklin for Epic in 1963. Before that, he returned to his career as a singer.
Scott signed to the Joy label, which was owned by Eddie Joy. He released two singles on the label in 1961, 'Lost The Right' and 'When The Wind Changes.' Although neither single charted, they showcased a talented and charismatic soul man. Both singles feature on -The Very Best Of Freddy Scott, a new career-spanning compilation released by Playback Records. This retrospective features some of his biggest hits, hidden gems and everything from Uptown Soul to Deep Soul and R&B. It's a lovingly curated compilation.
By 1963, Scott had singed to the Colpix label. His first release was a cover of Goffin and King's 'Hey Girl.' It reached number ten in the US Billboard 100 and US R&B charts. This was Scott's first hit single and transformed his career. After this, he was travelling the world playing live. However, he wanted to build on the success of his first hit single.
Scott's second single for Colpix was a cover of Ray Charles' 'I Got A Woman,' with 'Brand New World' on the B-Side. This oft-covered track was transformed becoming a beat ballad with a choral tinged arrangement. It reached forty-eight in the US Billboard 100 chart in 1963. Scott's decision to sign to Colpix was paying off as he enjoyed his second hit single. It also featured on his debut album 'Everything I Have Is Yours.'
Later in 1963, Scott released 'Where Does Love Go' as a single. It was another Goffin and King composition. Although it stalled at eighty-two in the US Billboard 100 chart, it was Scott's third consecutive hit single on Colpix.
His final single for the label was a cover of 'On Broadway' which previously, gave The Drifters a hit single. It was penned by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weill with Leiber and Stoller. However, the single failed to chart and was a disappointing way for Scott to end his spell at Colpix.
After this, Scott signed to Columbia. Three of the singles he released for the label feature on the compilation. This includes Mr Heartache' which was released in 1964. It failed to trouble the charts. Neither did Lonely Man' when it was release later in 1964. It featured the hidden gem 'I'll Try Again' on the B-Side. 1964 hadn't been a good year for Scott.
Two years later, in 1966, Scott was still signed to Columbia. He released Forget Me If You Can' as single. It featured a vocal full of sadness and emotion. Despite the quality of the single it failed to chart.
By 1967, Scott was on the move and had signed to Bert Berns' Shout label. His debut for the label was an impassioned version of the beat ballad 'Are You Lonely For Me.' It reached number thirty-nine in the US Billboard 100 and topped the US R&B charts. This was Scott's biggest hit single.
'Cry To Me,' which featured 'No One Could Ever Love You' on the B-side was released as the followup later in 1967. Scott's cover was slower and has an intensity as he breathes life and meaning into the lyrics. The single reached number seventy in the US Billboard 100 and forty in the US R&B charts.
Scott's success continued with his third single of 1967, 'Am I Grooving You.' It had a tougher sound than the two previous singles he released on Shout. Despite that, it reached number seventy-one in the US Billboard 100 and twenty-five in the US R&B charts. This was Scott's third hit single for Shout.
However, this run came to an end when he released 'I'll Be Gone' later in 1967. It failed to trouble the charts. However, normal service was resumed with Scott's next single.
This was the Van Morrison penned He Ain't Give You None.' It reached number 100 in the US Billboard 100 and twenty-four in the US R&B charts. However, Scott released just one more single on Shout. By then, disaster had struck.
Bert Bangs died suddenly of a heart attack on '31st,' December 1967. His wife Ilene took over the running of the label. '(You) Got What I Need' was Scott's final release on the label. It reached twenty-seven in the US R&B charts. However, not long after this the label became inactive. It was revived four years later in 1971.
After leaving Shout, Scott released two singles on the newly-formed Elephant V label. By then, he was working as a songwriter and producer. His first release for the nascent label was Sugar On Sunday.' The single was released in 1969 but failed to chart.
Scott's second single for the label was a defiant reading of Bob Dylan's 'I Shall Be Released.' When it was released in 1970, it reached number forty in the US R&B charts. It t was the last single he released on Elephant V.
Later in 1970, Scott signed to the Probe label. He released an impassioned and emotive version of Girl, I Love You.' However, it wasn't a commercial success, and nowadays, is regarded as a hidden gem in Freddie Scott's discography.
Two years later, and Scott was now signed to the P.I.P. Records. He released 'The Great "If"' as a single with 'Deep In The Night' on the B-Side. Despite the quality of the vocal and Gene Redd Jr's arrangement the single didn't trouble the charts. Two years had passed since his last hit single.
In 1974, Scott released his one and only single on Mainstream Records, 'You're So Hard To Forget.' It featured a vocal full of hurt and heartache, and it was as if Scott had lived snd survived the lyrics. However, again, despite the quality of the single it wasn't a commercial success.
From the mid-seventies until 1997 very little was heard of Scott. He recorded 'Watermelon Man' and a promo version was produced in 1997. However, the single was never released. It features on The Very Best Of Freddy Scott. So does the previously unreleased demo 'Why Did I LoseYou?' These two tracks, plus the others on the compilation are a reminder of truly talented and versatile singer, who was also a songwriter and producer.
Scott made a comeback at the start of the new millennia, and released 'Brand New Man,' an album of blues rock in 2001. This was the last album he released.
Sadly, on June '4th,' 2007, Freddie Scott passed away aged just seventy-four. The singer, songwriter and producer had enjoyed a long career, and nine hit singles between 1963. He was a talented and versatile singer who started out singing gospel, but when he crossed-over was capable of singing everything from Deep Soul, Uptown Soul to R&B and funk. Seamlessly he could switch between genres, and had the ability to breath life, meaning and emotion into a song's lyrics.
Although Scott was one of the most talented soul men of his generation, sadly, he didn't enjoy the success that his talent warranted. Between the mid-seventies and 2000 he didn't release any singles.
However, a new generation discovered Scott's music when 'You Got What I Need' was sampled on the 1989 Biz Markie hit, 'Just a Friend. 'Fifteen years later, in 2004, it was also sampled on Ghostface Killah's 'Save Me Dear.' By then, Scott was a regular on the oldies circuit until his death in 2007.
Some sixteen years after Scott's death, his music continues to find a new audience. For anyone yet to discover his music 'The Very Best Of Freddy Scott,' which is a loving curated compilation, is the perfect place to start. It features hit singles and hidden gems from Freddie Scott, the truly talented and much-missed soul man.
Freddie Scott-The Very Best Of Freddy Scott.
