VA - This Love Was Real, L.A. Vocal Groups 1959-1964 [2021]

VOCAL GROUPS

VA - This Love Was Real, L.A. Vocal Groups 1959-1964 [2021]

This Love Was Real (2021) is a lovingly curated compilation issued by Numero Group, spotlighting rare and obscure soul ballads from the late 1960s through the early ’80s. True to the label’s archival ethos, the set digs deep into private press singles, vanity label releases, and regional imprints, many of which never saw national distribution. These tracks, often recorded in modest studios with limited budgets, carry raw emotional weight and a sense of longing that transcends their lo-fi origins.

The compilation features artists like Summits, Judi & The Affections, and Topics, whose recordings were originally issued on labels such as Rojac, Jay-Walking, and Tragar. These are not chart-toppers but deep soul gems, often pressed in runs of just a few hundred copies. The title track, “This Love Was Real,” sets the tone: aching vocals, minimal arrangements, and a sincerity that’s impossible to fake.

Three tracks debut here, each historically rich. Adolph Jacobs’ Class session features Billy Guy and Carl Gardner of the Coasters with Bobby Day, making it a key LA vocal group moment. Lee Maye’s unreleased 1958 Cash cut, complete with backing vocals, is a doo-wop gem. Pharoahs’ “Here Comes the Rain” is sparsely arranged but vocally stunning.

Other rarities include the Showcases’ 1964 Galaxy single “(This Love) Was Real,” Heartbreakers’ Markay release “Since You’ve Been Gone,” the Cezannes’ “Pardon Me,” the Tabs’ “Never Forget” on Noble, and Carlton Beck’s “The Girl I Left Behind” on Troy.

Numero’s remastering preserves the analog warmth while enhancing clarity, and the packaging includes detailed liner notes that trace each song’s provenance. For archivists, this set is a goldmine—many of these tracks were previously undocumented or misattributed, and the compilation helps anchor them in the broader soul lineage. It’s a testament to love’s endurance, even in obscurity. (B)

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Track list

01 Adolph Jacobs - The Letter 2:58

02 Showcases - This Love Was Real 2:24

03 Heartbreakers - Since You've Been Gone 2:49

04 Cezannes featuring Cerressa - Pardon Me 2:54

05 Shondells - Wonderful One 2:42

06 Wonders - Please Don't Cry 2:50

07 Dandevilles - Psychology 1:59

08 Valaquans - Jolly Green Giant 2:22

09 Arthur Lee Maye & The Crowns - Last Night 2:43

10 Danny (Sly) Stewart - A Long Time Alone 3:04

11 Carlton Beck - The Girl I Left Behind 2:46

12 Bobby Sheen - This Wilted Rosebud 2:43

13 Five Superiors - There's A Fool Born Every Day 2:45

14 Cordials - Eternal Love 2:48

15 Dorothy Berry & The Swans - Hold Me 2:17

16 Jades - When They Ask About You 2:18

17 Emberglows - Sack and Chemise Gang Fight 2:16

18 Creators - Drafted, Volunteered and Enlisted 1:50

19 Tabs - Never Forget 2:21

20 Pharoahs - Here Comes The Rain 2:17

21 Precisions - Eight Reasons Why I Love You 2:47

22 James Washington Lee - I Need Somebody 2:29

23 Individuals - Without Success 2:42

24 Rene Harris & The Terrans - Moonrise 2:45

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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