The Amazing Mr. Brown



The mid-1980s was a particularly hectic time for producer / songwriter Homer Banks. His professional life had been rushed for years due to demand from artists, record labels, and other producers for fresh songs from his personal workshop, songs like the hits he’d provided for Luther Ingram, The Staples Singers, Johnnie Taylor, Sam & Dave, Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello, and others. Now he had cofounded Soundtown Records, and was producing and writing around the clock for artists signed to his label (Shirley Brown, J. Blackfoot, Carla Thomas, Randy Brown, to name a few). And he also had executive duties as well, managing the record company. Then into Homer’s hive of hyper-activity one afternoon walked a young man named Willie Brown. Despite a very full plate, a full roster, and very little free time, Homer was intrigued by Brown’s voice, and arranged for him to cut a couple of demos. Pleased with the demo results, Banks offered a singles deal to Brown and scheduled a session to cut two sides for Soundtown. Everyone was very happy with the recording session, but – Brown disappeared soon afterwards. And he’s remained a mystery and a vanishing memory until now. We’ve rediscovered these tracks thirty years after the session, thirty years after anyone connected with the session has seen Willie Brown. Homer Banks died years ago, as have many of the musicians on the session. The few people we were able to track down remember Willie Brown, but they can’t even agree on what he looked like, much less where he was from, where he might have gone, or what might have happened to him. But they do all agree on one thing. Without being prompted, they each said, “He had an amazing voice!”
		WOMAN (Extended Version) WOMAN (Radio Edit) LADY YOU’VE GOT TO GET THE GROOVE (Extended Version) LADY YOU’VE GOT TO GET THE GROOVE (Radio Edit)