SIXTIES

Although Ric released a couple of dozen 45's on his Zodiac label over a six-year period, approximately 75% of the output was by two artists, Ruby Andrews and Chuck Bernard.

Prior to Ruby's success with 'Casanova', she had worked with The Vondells before becoming a dancer in a small Chicago nightclub using the name Ruby Stackhouse, her birth name.

Disc Jockey Lucky Cordell spotted that she could sing too and he recommended her to Ric, who was looking for new talent.

After the success of 'Casanova', Ruby's follow-up 45, in December 1967, was a nice mid-tempo song written by BKE. Allegedly produced by Ric, it was called 'Hey boy take a chance on love' b/w 'Come to me'.

Several months later another excellent double-sider emerged in 'You can run but you can't hide' b/w the much covered 'Wonderful night'. The top side was sprinkled with some great 'in your face' vocals but astonishingly it didn't do much.

In October of 1968 some faith was restored when 'The love I need' and it's excellent flip 'Just lovin' you' hit the Billboard charts at #48.

The choice of follow up was questionable, however, as it was a version of Brothers of Soul's 'I guess that don't make me a loser' which had charted only a few months earlier. It remains Ruby's favourite recording however.

Another BKE song 'You made a believer out of me' b/w 'Where have you gone' peaked at #18 R&B #96 Pop, making it the highlight of the BKE collaboration.

Sandwiched in between Ruby's Zodiac releases was a 45 by a duo called Freddy and Bobby called 'Come on back'.

For a second time Ric had renamed BKE to give everyone the impression of a bigger artist roster. Freddy was Fred Bridges and Bobby was Robert Eaton.

Second generation Brothers of Soul [L-R] Robert Eaton, Fred Bridges and Ben Knight. The image was snapped in Chicago

The opening of Tera Shirma Studio B in February 1968, gave BKE some new options and like Studio A, it had it's own unique character.

Fred recalls "I liked the view I could get from the elevated control room. There was also plenty of space for musicians and separate rooms for horn players and other musicians."

'The love I found in you', 'Come on back', 'You better believe it', 'A lifetime', 'Love is fever' and 'One minute baby were all recorded in Studio B.

Some truly magical songs.

'You better believe it', led by Fred, became BOS second most successful 45 after Ric negotiated a distribution deal with Fantasy-Galaxy

Chuck Bernard's three BKE outings were also recorded there in 1969. Two tracks, 'Bessie girl'/'Love can slip away' made it onto Zodiac1014. The other song, 'The other side of my mind', was released on the flip side of Zodiac1018.

Chuck originally hailed from St Louis and joined Williams in 1968 after a stint at Satellite Records in Chicago.

Fred remembers him as "a great performer and singer, used to work two clubs in the one night, nice guy."

One other Brothers Of Soul 45 was cut in Chicago, 'Wait for me' b/w 'I'd be grateful'. This time Fred's arrangements were put on paper by legendary music man Johnny Pate who was working at that time with Curtis Mayfield at Curtom Records. Johnny was also a key player at Okeh and worked with numerous artists over the years as both an arranger and producer.

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