Warner Bros. Records 1967 W 1741
notes:First Watts 103rd Band
The name, Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band was originally coined
by Los Angeles producer and Keymen Records owner Fred Smith in
1967. However, between 1967 and 1968, the Watts 103rd name applied
to three, arguably four different personnel configurations before
settling into the final band who played on every Watts 103rd album
from 1968 forward.
Smith produced a theme song for KGFJ radio personality, DJ
Magnificent Montague. The song became so popular that Smith released
it as a single in 1967 and created the name, Watts 103rd St.
Rhythm Band for the studio group who had recorded it. Purportedly,
the players on the single included Wright, James Carmichael,
Leon Haywood, Bobby Womack
There is some confusion because, after "Spreadin' Honey" became a success,
Montague re-released the single on the MoSoul label (a Keyman subsidiary)
and credited to a different group altogether, the Soul Runners. It has been
long assumed that the Soul Runners were simply an earlier line-up of the
Watts Band however, according to Wright, the two groups had nothing to
do with one another whatsoever.
credits:
Arranged By James Carmichael
Bass Melvin Dunlap
Congas Ray Jackson
Drums James Gadson
Guitar Al McKay, Charles Wright
Producer Fred Smith
Saxophone [Tenor] Bill Cannon, John Rayford
Trombone Ray Jackson
Trumpet Gabriel Flemings, Joe Banks
Recorded at Nashville West, Hollywood.
Engineer Charles Underwood
tracklist:
A1 Caesar's Palace
Written-By – Earl Nelson, Fred Smith (3)
2:37
A2 Yellow Submarine
Written-By – John Lennon/Paul McCartney*
3:14
A3 Brown Sugar
Written-By – Jesse Hill*, Mac Rebennack
2:20
A4 Soul Concerto
Written-By – Earl Nelson, Fred Smith (3), James Carmichael*
2:25
A5 Fried Okra
Written-By – Fred Smith (3)
2:35
A6 Spreadin' Honey
Written-By – Fred Smith (3), Nathaniel Nathan
2:20
B1 A Little Class & A Little Trash
Written-By – James Carmichael*
3:05
B2 The 103rd St. Theme
Written-By – Robert West (2)
2:30
B3 The Girl From Ipanema
Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Norman Gimbel, Vinicius De Moraes
3:00
B4 Bring It On Home To Me
Written-By – Sam Cooke
2:35
B5 Whole Hog, Or None At All
Written-By – Earl Nelson
2:53
B6 Watts Happening
Written-By – Fred Smith (3)
2:32
