Larry and Jaibi
Classic Soul/R&B, from my parents, Larry Banks and Jaibi(Joan C. Banks.
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It Was Like A Nightmare by Jaibi It Was Like A Nightmare by Jaibi
Performed by Jaibi(Joan C. Banks) Written, Produced, Composed and Arranged by Larry Banks Previously Released on Kapp/RCA Records Digitally Re-Mastered by Corey Banks @ I.K.E. Hits Studios, Brentwood, NY. coreydrumz@yahoo.com
What Good Am I by Jaibi What Good Am I by Jaibi
Performed by Joan Banks aka Jaibi Written and produced by Larry Banks Previously released on Kapp Records(1967)
You Got Me (original version) by Jaibi You Got Me (original version) by Jaibi
Performed by Jaibi(Joan C. Banks). Written, Produced, Composed and Arranged by Larry Banks. Previously Released on Kapp/RCA Records Digitally Re-Mastered by Corey Banks @ I.K.E. Hits Studios, Brentwood, NY. coreydrumz@yahoo.com
I'm Not The One by Larry Banks I'm Not The One by Larry Banks
Performed, Written, Produced, Composed and Arranged by Larry Banks Previously released on Kapp/RCA Records Digitally Re-Mastered by Corey Banks @ I.K.E. Hits Studios, Brentwood, NY. coreydrumz@yahoo.com
We Got A Problem by Larry Banks We Got A Problem by Larry Banks
Performed written and composed by Larry Banks Originally released on Spring Records (1970)
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This Page is dedicated to the music of my mother, Jaibi(Joan C. Banks) and my father, Larry Banks. All songs were written, produced, composed, and arranged by Larry Banks and were released during the mid to late 60's on Kapp Records/RCA. I put this site up to show the full spectrum of my musical background which spans from my parents to me, and then to my children.
Both of my parents are deceased, so these songs are very special to me. My children never got a chance to meet their grandparents, so these songs will help them get to know the greatness that they were born with.
I hope you enjoy these classics.
I love you mom and dad.
Your son and biggest fan.
Corey
The Banks Family and Dave Godin
In 1964 Dave Godin was captivated by Bessie Banks' original recording of 'Go Now' and was incensed by British group the Moody Blues' usurping of the song and what he considered an unduly hasty campaign by the British record company to pass their version off as the original and best.
To make amends on behalf of the small but eager coterie of UK soul fans, he took a special interest in Bessie and her husband Larry, the composer of the song.
Further excavating into the pair's releases lead to more revelatory record finds and soon Dave was to champion Larry's singles on Select, Kapp and Spring and his composing and production work on artists such as the Exciters, Kenny Carter and The Geminis. As time passed he built up many personal links with the family and a bank of information on their work. His discovery of Jaibi's (Larry's second wife) 'You Got Me' on Kapp records was a personal Deep Soul revelation and he awarded the recording the prestigious, last track, "ender" on his first Deep Soul Treasures CD in 1997. In fact Larry's was the first name Dave chose for the "featured artists" on the cover and Bessie and Jaibi also made that tough cut.
The family was well represented throughout the Treasures series but their work wasn't restricted to only Deep Soul and Dave had in mind a CD project to showcase the groupings many talents. Sadly he became terminally ill but asked me as Ace/Kent's main soul music consultant to complete the project and his research work. That work had included contacting Bessie, praising her to the hilt and maintaining a loving relationship with her for many years. His enthusiasm for the family lead to his developing a long correspondence with Bessie and Larry's nephew Reggie May (son of Tony; of whom more later), which would veer from vital facts about musical compositions, to the political and moral injustices of the world; taking in some hilarious side-swipes at appropriate targets. One of Larry's writing partners Herman Kelley was also contacted and Dave let him know how important and culturally significant the pair's work had been.
Dave Godin and the Banks Family's symbiotic relationship probably came full circle at Dave's extraordinary funeral when Bessie Banks' tribute to Dave was read out. After describing how her career felt destroyed after the Moody Blues version of 'Go Now' completely overshadowed her beautiful original, she went on to say -
"All of a sudden, I started getting letters of encouragement from this English gentleman, by the name of Dave Godin, who really knew how to express himself. I was very impressed. He really believed that what was happening with American artists was wrong. Dave started making things happen. He found records that I recorded even before 'Go Now'. I remember 1968 was the beginning of a real friendship. We wrote to each other about everything. All of a sudden, there was hope because Dave believed in me and my late husband Larry. He started his CD series, "Dave Godins Deep Soul Treasures". We were always on these CDs along with other artists that he admired. Dave even put me on the cover of Rhythm & Soul USA magazine with a beautiful write up inside. I used to tell him how great he was with words, Why dont you write a song?" I used to say to him. He would laugh. Through him, I started receiving fan mail from England, which made me feel wonderful. I couldnt believe how fast things happened because of Dave. I remember in the 90s this old lady was still on the scene with 'Go Now' being used in a Movie entitled what else Go Now Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (blows my mind). I remember every Christmas I always got a beautiful card from him, every birthday a long distance call for over 36 years."
Ace records and the Banks Family
Fortuitously a few years prior to Dave's death, Ace had bought many Banks family recordings from GWP productions, for whom Larry worked in the late 60s. Some prime, never before heard, soul songs have emerged from this source and feature here. Dave was particularly thrilled to hear Jaibis original intense demo of 'You Got Me', her previously unknown 'It Was Like A Nightmare' and her duet with Larry on 'You Make Me Feel So Good'. We have had access to such a wealth of Banks related material that Dave wanted to highlight as many different recordings and compositions from the grouping as possible. Therefore we have chosen alternate versions of several songs, rather than repeat the original readings which we have already featured on the hugely acclaimed and popular "Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures series". Similarly tracks from the "GWP, TCB" CD, which documents the label and production companys work, are not repeated. Other vital and important tracks have been licensed in from other labels for this project, primarily RCA and again tracks that featured on our two "Rare, Collectible And Soulful" CDs have been side stepped for new, previously unissued, material from that source. I have continued Dave's research with extensive interviews with many of the concerned parties.
Bessie Banks
"'I remember 1963 Kennedy was assassinated; it was announced over the radio. At the time, I was rehearsing in the office of Leiber and Stoller. We called it a day. Everyone was in tears. Come back next week and we will be ready to record 'Go Now'; and we did so. I was happy and excited that maybe this time Ill make it. 'Go Now' was released and right away it was chosen Pick Hit of the Week on W.I.N.S. Radio. That means your record is played for 7 days. 4 Days went by, I was so thrilled. On day 5, when I heard the first line, I thought it was me, but all of a sudden, I realized it wasnt. At the end of the song it was announced, "The Moody Blues singing 'Go Now'". I was too out-done. This was the time of the English Invasion and the end of Bessie Banks career, so I thought. America's DJs had stopped promoting American artists." So said Bessie in her funeral eulogy to Dave Godin.
This ground-breaking song is featured here from a recently discovered master tape that contained all of the several takes. It is fascinating to hear the song and performance develop over the session, but it is undoubtedly the final rendition that deservedly made the single. The tape's clarity is so good that we feel it must have been recorded at a single recording with all the musicians and singers present and playing live. Hence it is the exception to Daves rule of not including previously released tracks on Kent CDs. Tony May who wrote flip side 'It Sounds Like My Baby' with Larry remembers it as an unusual session in that Leiber and Stoller were happy to just record the two songs, instead of the usual three or four over the three hour session, as the material was so strong.
Born Bessie White in North Carolina in 1938, and later raised in Brooklyn, New York, by the mid 50s, she had begun singing with the Turbans vocal group and then joined a quartet called Three Guys and a Doll, who eventually became the Four Fellows without her; one of the Guys and Fellows was Larry Banks. Around this time, at the age of seventeen, Bessie married Larry, on stage at the Royal Theatre in Baltimore. The pair had a son named Kevin and later another named ?????? for whom Bessie took time out of her singing career to raise properly. She did though record a solo single as Toni Banks, backed by the Four Fellows on their Glory label in 1957. Larry's musical talents were not restricted to just singing, he also wrote and arranged the music for the group. By the end of that year, Larry and most of the original members had left and the Bankses next turned up on the Brooks label in 1959, singing as the Companions. Larry's sister Harriette joined the couple in the group and close friend and soon to be writing partner Milton Bennett and his cousin Al Williams were also cited as members. Larry wrote both sides of the single 'Why Oh Why Baby' / 'I Didn't Know (You Got Married)'. It was then picked up by Federal for national release in 1960, that company also have two unissued masters by Toni Banks that had been recorded in 1961.
Reclaiming the name Bessie Banks, she resurrected her solo career. Though she and Larry were by then separated and eventually divorced, they remained close and it was to her that Larry took a new composition that he was very excited about. He had been working on 'Go Now' with Milton Bennett, a family friend who was nick-named Big Reno, since 1962. In 1961 he had set up the Kev-Ton publishing, songwriting and production outfit with his brother in law Tony May who was married to his sister Harriette. The name came from the two eldest children of each family, Kevin and Tony Jr. Tony had come up with the song 'It Sounds Like My Baby' to go with Go Now and the three participants went into the Mira Sound studios, where Tony was working as an engineer, and cut piano and vocal demos on the songs. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's offices were only a couple of blocks away and when they got to hear the songs they booked a session at Bell Sound studios to record the tracks for release on their Tiger label in January 1964. Though the producers wanted Tony to engineer the session, he deferred as he felt he wasn't experiencContact
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Comments (6)
Others have said it, but if you know of any better single in the history of recorded sound, please let me know. Anthony, Santa Sprees.
I think so far, "We Can Do It" is my fave.
wonderful music, pure and simple!!!
Once again, I am sorry for my misunderstanding in the forum.
You got hot trackz G
Check out my page when you get the chance
yo GOOD music man is timeless your parents had alot of talent thanks for sharing this stuff it really is some smooth soulful music
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