The Soul-Mates Scorching Side

The Soul-Mates “I Want A Boyfriend (Girlfriend)” (Era, 1963)

This track can be found in “Singles Mixer Vol. 1”

Today’s serving of brain melting soul comes courtesy of the talents of Brenda Holloway and Robert Jackson who got together for this solitary single as The Soul-Mates on the Era label in the year that introduced Tab soda and killed our 35th president John F. Kennedy, 1963.

A real deep, heated scorcher, you can feel the sweat soaked shirt sticking to your back from the second the arpeggiated guitar starts the track and you’re lucky if you’re still wearing it by the time Brenda starts the second verse.  An intense two minutes, the song is basically one absolutely killer hook that trades gender perspective and a sweet, pleading refrain for a sweet boy or girl to make their dreams come true. 

Brenda Holloway is a known in this case, producing a decent sized stack of memorable records on Motown (including the absolutely brutal/beautiful “Every Little Bit Hurts” which served as her break-out record).  Prior to coming to the Detroit label she had, obvious from the record, a back ground in gospel, (not so obvious) a classically trained background in the violin, and a lengthy track record of backing bands coming through the area with her girl group Four J’s who cut the EXCELLENT and only record “Will You Be My Love” in 1964 before heading to Motown and remarkably, to open for the Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1965.  Brenda’s move to Motown should come as no surprise, Hal Davis, co-writer on this track was later named head of Mowest, Motown’s west coast offices.

Robert Jackson is a wild card here, anyone got anything other than the unverified internet rumor that he’s Gloria Jones’ brother and that he is the co-writer of this track ?  Either way, the pair have great chemistry and it’s unfortunate they only did two sides together.  The upside is Brenda has a sizable body of work to enjoy even if we must sit and wonder if Robert ever found a girl to hold him tight, every night.

Hope you enjoy and see you next time!

-George / Snack Attack