VA -The Ru-Jac Records Story 1963-1980 Vol 1-4 (2018)

Something Got A Hold On Me: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume One: 1963-1964

First-ever audio history chronicling the Ru-Jac label with rare singles and previously unissued \’60s Soul/R&B. The Baltimore label was founded in 1963 by local promoter Rufus Mitchell and investor partner Jack Bennett (their names fog the Ru-Jac name). The label primarily released regional Soul/R&B singles from 1963 until the mid 1970s, when Mitchell stepped away to focus on another business venture. Something Got A Hold On Me: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume One: 1963-1964 contains 28 tracks, 10 of them previously unissued. The other 18 tracks chart the history of the first 45s issued by the label.

1. Fatback (Take 1) — Lamont Esquires*

2. Please Don\’t Go — Jessie Crawford With Kay Keys Band

3. I Love You So — Jessie Crawford With Kay Keys Band

4. A Woman Like You — Little Sonny Daye With The Shyndells Band

5. I\’m Through With You — Little Sonny Daye With The Shyndells Band

6. Every Day I Have The Blues (Take 2) — Jeanne Dee*

7. Saving All My Loving — (Mr. T) Tiny Tim

8. It\’s Everything To Me — (Mr. T) Tiny Tim

9. I Want To Be Sure — Celestine*

10. You Won — Celestine*

11. Cross Track (Take 2) — Flattop Bobby & The Soul Twisters (Bobby Kinchen)*

12. When I\’m Alone — Winfield Parker

13. Can\’t You See — Brenda Jones

14. Let\’s Go Back To School — Brenda Jones

15. That\’s All You Have To Do — Brenda Jones

16. One Of These Mornings (Take 3) — Winfield Parker*

17. Put A Light In The Window — Charles Johnson

18. My Father Watches Over Me — Fruitland Harmonizers

19. Take Care Of Me — Fruitland Harmonizers

20. Something Got A Hold On Me — Unknown Artist*

21. All Over Again — The Teardrops Band Featuring Marie Allen

22. Crying Won\’t Help You — The Teardrops Band Featuring Marie Allen

23. Trash Can — Unknown Artist*

24. Don\’t Bit Mo — Rockin\’ Robin*

25. Foolish To Try — James Hill

26. Meadow Of Love — The Jolly Jax

27. The Money Cha Cha — The Jolly Jax

28. Joe (Take 5) — The Jolly Jax*

Get Right: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume Two: 1964-1966

Get Right: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume Two: 1964-1966 contains 22 tracks, 8 of them previously unissued, including newly discovered demos by Arthur Conley. The other 14 tracks are derived from 45s issued by the label as Ru-Jac started to gain momentum in the region, and includes songs by Shirley of The Soul Sisters & Brother, the Mask Man & the Cap-Tans, and Bobby Sax & His House Keepers. Rare photos and ephemera are included to help illustrate and trace the history of the label. Utilizing original tapes, extremely collectible 45s, and acetates, the package underwent extensive restoration and mastering by Grammy Award-winning eeer, Michael Graves.

1. Goose Pimples — Butch Cornell\’s Trio

2. Here \’Tis Now — Butch Cornell\’s Trio

3. Goose Pimples (Alternate Version) — Butch Cornell\’s Trio*

4. It Must Be Love — Brenda Jones

5. I\’m So Afraid — Brenda Jones

6. So Alone (Take 3) — Brenda Jones*

7. It Must Be Love (Backing Track) — Brenda Jones*

8. What More (Can Anyone Want) — Shirley Of The Soul Sisters & Brother

9. You Don\’t Really Care — Shirley Of The Soul Sisters & Brother

10. Where You Lead Me — Harold Holt

11. I\’m A Stranger — Harold Holt

12. Where You Lead Me (Alternate Version 2) — Harold Holt*

13. Whole Lotta Woman (Demo) — Arthur Conley*

14. Get Right — Bobby Sax & His House Keepers

15. Soul At Last — Bobby Sax & His House Keepers

16. Come On Over — The Neltones

17. C\’est Le Vie (That\’s Life) — The Neltones

18. I Love You Just The Same (Demo) — Winfield Parker*

19. I Love You Just The Same (Version 1, Take 5) — Winfield Parker With The Shyndells Band*

20. Love Can Do Wonders — The Mask Man & The Cap-Tans

21. Chicken Wings — The Mask Man & The Cap-Tans

22. Hiding Out In Blue Shadows — Arthur Conley*

Finally Together: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume 3, 1966-1967

The Baltimore Soul/R&B label Ru-Jac Records was founded in 1963 by local promoter Rufus Mitchell and investor partner Jack Bennett (their names fog the Ru-Jac name). The label primarily released regional Soul/R&B singles from 1963 until the mid 1970s, when Mitchell stepped away to focus on another business venture. Finally Together: The Ru-Jac Records Story, Volume Three: 1966-1967 contains 25 tracks, 11 of them previously unissued. The other 14 tracks are derived from 45s issued by the label as Ru-Jac hit its stride, and includes songs by Rita Dorsey, Kitty Lane, Gene & Eddie, and Sir Joe among others.

1. Wait Til Then — Rita Dorsey (The Shyndells Band)

2. When I\’m Alone — Rita Dorsey (The Shyndells Band)

3. Please Let Me Love You — Rita Dorsey & The Bob Craig Combo

4. Goodie Goodie — Rita Dorsey & The Bob Craig Combo

5. Born To Be Loved — Rita Dorsey*

6. It\’s Love I Need — Kitty Lane

7. Sweetheart — Kitty Lane

8. The Feeling Is Gone — Kitty Lane*

9. Finally Together — Unknown Artist*

10. Searching — Unknown Artist*

11. Go Away Playgirl (Take 5) — Winfield Parker*

12. I Would Cry — Gene & Eddie

13. I Tell You — Gene & Eddie

14. Sweet Little Girl — Unknown Artist*

15. Sweet Little Girl — Winfield Parker With The Shyndells Band

16. My Love (Demo With Background Vocals) — Winfield Parker*

17. She\’s My Girl (Demo) — Winfield Parker*

18. Lightning (Part 1) — The Shyndells*

19. Ooby Gooby — The Shyndells*

20. Never Never Leave Me — Unknown Artist*

21. Do The Roller — Leon Gibson

22. Working Hard — Leon Gibson

23. Nobody Beats My Love — Sir Joe

24. I Can\’t Stay Away — The Caressors

25. Who Can It Be — The Caressors

Changes: The Ru-Jac Records Story, Volume Four: 1967-1980

THE BALTIMORE SOUL/R&B LABEL RU-JAC RECORDS WAS FOUNDED IN 1963 by local promoter Rufus Mitchell and investor partner Jack Bennett (their names fog the Ru-Jac name). The label primarily released regional soul/R&B singles from 1963 until the mid 1970s, when Mitchell stepped away to focus on another business venture. Omnivore has already released single-artist packages by some of the label\’s biggest names, including Winfield Parker — Mr. Clean: Winfield Parker At Ru-Jac (Parker also serves as the consulting producer for all of Omnivore\’s Ru-Jac releases) and Gene & Eddie — True Enough: Gene & Eddie With Sir Joe At Ru-Jac. In January, Omnivore will roll out two various artists volumes followed by two more in February, collecting for the very fi rst anywhere the audio history of Ru-Jac Records. Each volume is produced by the Grammy Award-winning producer Cheryl Pawelski and Kevin Coombe, East Coast soul historian. Coombe provides liner notes detailing the rise and eventual closure of the label, and its close ties to the segregated beaches and performance spaces of the region. Rare photos and ephemera will be included in each volume to help illustrate and trace the history of the label. Utilizing original tapes, extremely collectible 45s, and acetates, all four volumes underwent restoration and mastering by Grammy Award winning eeer, Michael Graves. Volume Four, Changes: The Ru-Jac Records Story Volume Four, 1967-1980 contains 25 tracks, 3 of them previously unissued. The other 22 tracks are derived from the last 45s issued by the label and demonstrate a change in musical direction both for Ru-Jac and in the country. Included are songs by Fred Martin, Dynamic Corvettes, and Jimmy Dotson & Rhythm By Inner Light Band among others.

1 She\’s So Pretty

2 Nothing

3 She\’s So Pretty (Backing Track)

4 Tighten Up

5 You Don\’t Fool Me

6 Let Me Go Easy (Alternate Version)

7 I\’m the One (Who Loves You)

8 Sweet Little Girl

9 It\’s No Sin

10 Every Day (I\’ll Be Needing You)

11 Take Me Back Again

12 I Know It\’s Going to Happen

13 Contagious

14 Love Don\’t Leave Me Now

15 Changes Part 1

16 Sugar

17 When I\’m Alone

18 Keep Off the Grass

19 It\’s a Trap

20 Days May Come, Days May Go

21 Days May Come, Days May Go

22 I Loved You Once

23 Go on Back

24 Think of Me As Your Soldier

25 To Be Your Lover