Melvin Davis and The United Sounds
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Music
Press
Live Review: Melvin Davis w/Jeni Lee Richey & the Great Tribulation. Friday, May. 6 at PJ’s Lager House
May 7, 2011
By Kent Alexander
Legendary soul man Melvin Davis touched down in Detroit at PJ’s Lager House last night. The 69-year-old veteran packed the club and, by the end of the night, had the entire place rocking like the soul clubs of yore. Prepping for his 17-date tour of Europe starting next month, Detroit’s Soul Ambassador and his crack backing band dug deep within his extensive repertoire of gorgeous tunes and blazed through them with enough furor to match a group twice their size and half their age.
Opening for Davis was Ann Arbor’s quartet Jeni Lee Richey & the Great Tribulation. They cruised through a set of achingly beautiful soul-tinged Americana. Lead singer and guitarist Jeni Lee Richey’s fiery voice soared as she ardently jammed out chords on her acoustic guitar.
Back by his band plucked from United Soul, Davis hit the stage clad in a viciously sly white and black three-piece suit and a mane full of curls. When the show was on its way, you couldn’t help but be in awe of towering soul man’s natural talent as a singer and his unmitigated showmanship. Between the songs he’d give snippets of the history behind songs like “I Don’t Want You” and “Find a Quiet Place”, and of his 50-year music career. And, with the help of his United Soul backing band, his tunes sounded as great as ever. In fact, they sounded in ways fresher via the garage rock veneer to the sound. But, isn’t garage rock basically just soul music with a fuzz pedal? Maybe. Maybe not. In any case, Davis’ set killed and everyone in sight was dancing their asses off as the band worked through his timeless tunes.
- Metro Times
Discography
Melvin Davis has a long recording history. Late in the fall of 2010, Vampi Soul, a label out of Madrid, Spain, released a compilation lp and cd of many of Melvin's 60's recordings. Also in 2010, New York City's Norton records released two previously unissued recordings from the early 60's on limited edition 45 rpm discs. A version of Melvin's song, "Chains of Love" was enthusiastically covered by Detroit garage rockers, The Dirtbombs. Their version was included in the award winning movie, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly."
Partial Historical discography:
Singles & EPs
Wedding Bells / It's No News (7") Ke Ke 1963
Melvin Davis (2) With Nite Sounds, The - I Won't Be Your Fool / Playboy (7") Fortune Records (2) 1963
I Must Love You / Still In My Heart (7") Groovesville 1966
Save It (Never Too Late) / This Love Was Meant To Be ? (3 versions) Mala Records 1968
Save It (Never Too Late) / This Love Was Meant To Be (7") Mala Records 1968
Save It (Never Too Late) / This Love Was Meant To Be (7", Promo) Mala Records 1968
Save It (Never Too Late) / This Love Was Meant To Be (7") Action 1969
I'm Worried / Just As Long (7") Invictus 1972
You Made Me Over / I'm Worried ? (2 versions) Invictus 1973
You Made Me Over / I'm Worried (7") Invictus 1973
You Made Me Over / I'm Worried (7", Promo) Invictus 1973
Double Or Nothin (7", Promo) Rock Mill Records 1976
Saving Myself For You / Wacky World (7", Promo) Rock Mill Records 1983
Cash Flow (7", Promo) Rock Mill Records 1985
Double Or Nothin / You Can't Run Away (7") Rock Mill Records 1991
Recent Re-issues:
I Won't Come Crawling Back To You / I Don't Want You (7") Norton Records (2) 2010
Find A Quiet Place (And Be Lonely) (7") Wheel City Unknown
Melvin Davis (2) / John Hampton (2) - Find A Quiet Place (And Be Lonely) / Not My Girl (7", RE) Goldmine Soul Supply, Goldmine Soul Supply Unknown
Detroit Soul Ambassador (LP, Comp)
Photos
Bio
Singer, songwriter, and musician, Melvin Davis is an elder statesman of Detroit rock n roll, r & b, and northern soul. He was a member of the Motown house band, toured with Smokey Robinson, recorded with the MC5, and has been covered by popular modern rock bands.
Melvin's first musical memories include listening to Little Richard and The Upsetters performing in a juke joint on his grandparent's farm in Georgia. From there, Melvin went on to cover a lot of ground in the bustling soul, rock and funk scenes of Detroit in the 60's and 70's.
Included in his current band, The United Sounds, is pianist, Mckinley Jackson. Jackson Has worked with many industry legends and received album credits as arranger of Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing album.
The rest of the United Sounds include devoted music lovers and studied musicians. Guitarist, Matt Thibedeaux has a degree in jazz studies from Wayne State University, Drew Schultz has a degree in percussion from New York University, while Todd Boschma and Adam Stanfel have spent years playing in rock, garage, and r & b bands in and around Detroit.
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