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Eccentric Soul

The Nickel & Penny Labels

Nickel and Penny are twin sides of the same eccentric coin, and in the ’60s and ’70s that coin was being flipped by Chicago’s #1 Dusties DJ Richard Pegue. When he wasn’t busy as a mobile DJ, a jingles writer, or an enduring on-air personality at WVON, Pegue could be found in the studio working out the epic songs swirling around in his head. Wood block, castanets, and timbale are layered over thin-as-carrot-shavings strings and girl group “aahs”—a signature found on each of the 24 songs compiled here (26 on the 2LP). On order are rare and previously unissued sides by Jerry Townes, the Voices, the Norvells, Little Ben & The Cheers, South Shore Commission, Joyce Williams, the Halleluiah Chorus, Brothers & Sisters, Sidney Pinchback, Matta Baby, Sidney Barnes, the Extensions, and Pegue’s own Richard Terry & Company concoction. A photographer and diligent archivist himself, Richard Pegue’s own archives, preserved in our lengthy liner notes, give this compilation an incomparable level of intimacy and provide crucial links in the chain that connects Chicago’s smalltime soul imprints.

Track List

  1. Jerry Townes Just Say The Word
  2. Little Ben & the Cheers Never More
  3. The Voices Fall In Love Again
  4. Jerry Townes You Are My Sunshine
  5. The Matta Baby Do The Pearl, Girl (Part 2)
  6. The Norvells Why Do You Want To Make Me Sad
  7. The Voices Forever Is A Long, Long Time
  8. Little Ben & the Cheers (I'm Not Ready To) Settle Down
  9. Jerry Townes Three Sides To A Triangle
  10. Little Ben & the Cheers Mighty, Mighty Lover
  11. Jerry Townes Little Old Lovemaker Me
  12. Little Ben & the Cheers I'm Gonna Get Even With You
  13. The Norvells Without You
  14. Jerry Townes Never More
  15. The Extentions This Love Of Mine
  16. The Halleluiah Chorus I've Got To Find A Way
  17. The South Shore Commission Shadows
  18. Richard Terry & Company Instrumental #1
  19. Joyce Williams The First Thing I Do In The Morning
  20. The South Shore Commission You Got Me Hummin'
  21. Brothers & Sisters Don't Let 'Em Tell You
  22. Sidney Pinchback This Is The Woman
  23. The South Suburban Electric Strings Sign Of The Zodiac
  24. Sidney Barnes The Ember Song
  25. Background Players You Made It Good
  26. Background Players Untitled Theme