Beautiful Side from Darrow Fletcher

Darrow Fletcher “I Think I’m Gonna Write A Song” (Congress, 1970)

Today’s single is by the always excellent though shamefully under appreciated Darrow Fletcher though this case, the reasons for him being slept on are a little different.  Darrow was identified from a very early age to have talent beyond his years.  In 1966 he released his first record “The Pain Gets A Little Deeper” at the young age of 14 and launched him on a path to sure stardom, or so it seemed.  The 45 was released on Groovy (full disclosure, for a long time I thought 45’s I’d see on Groovy were part of a juke-box style reissue series…whoops!) the only label to really commit to Fletcher for any length of time.

Over the next 8 years he continued to release a stream of 45s with limited return and with no marketable hits so nobody stepped up to give him a full LP.  Conversely, no label really gave him any time to prove himself, he clearly had the voice and musicality to make amazing music.  Perhaps it’s just cruel fate that he didn’t have the right songwriter, arranger or producer to give him that little nudge he needed to make it, where he deserved to be, into the upper echelons of soul performers.

Today’s 45 is from 1970.  It was released by the Congress label who only gave Darrow one attempt to prove himself.  By my standards Fletcher knocked the ball out of the park delivering an amazing performance.  Congress paired with seasoned producer Don Mancha who had cut great records with Barbara Mercer, Barrett Strong, Wilson Pickett and The Falcons.  Together they put together a record that was perfectly tempered for Darrow’s soft but slightly sad voice (which sounds EERILY similar to the recent works of Raphael Saadiq, who I love!).  Even here in a love song setting there’s a touch of melancholy throughout, something I absolutely love.  The electric piano on this track in particular is a beautiful counter to Fletcher.  A nice mid-tempo mover the song has a grown up ‘Heard It Through The Grapevine’ feel to it that had me totally hooked from the get-go.

Only problem, as it too often the case, while I love a track in the year 2012 nobody in America in 1970 was paying attention so the record faltered and Darrow moved on to his next label; his fifth of the nine total he’d work with before the 70’s wrapped up.

I hope you’re enjoying fall and this record is a nice companion to your Sunday night.

All the best,

-George / Snack Attack!

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