Nolan Porter – Nolan (LP)

Essential and underrated 1972 NOLAN PORTER soul album featuring the Northern Soul stompers “IF I COULD ONLY BE SURE” (later covered by The Jam’s leader Paul Weller in 2004), and “KEEP ON KEEPIN ‘ON” (which inspired Joy Division’s 1978 song “Interzone”).

Produced by Gabriel Mekler (known for his work with Steppenwolf, Janis Joplin and Etta James), Porter’s self-titled second LP, Nolan, includes songs by Van Morrison, Randy Newman and Derrick Harriott, among others, and features such stellar players as Johnny “Guitar” Watson and Lowell George (known for his work with Little Feat, The Mothers of Invention, Grateful Dead and The Standells), as well as other former members of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention, such as Jimmy Carl Black and Roy Estrada. This edition contains 4 bonus tracks.

PERSONNEL:
NOLAN PORTER – vocals
JOHNNY “GUITAR” WATSON, RON ELLIOTT & LOWELL GEORGE – guitar
CLARENCE McDONALD & BILL PAYNE – keyboards
RAY POHLMAN & ROY ESTRADA – bass
JIM GORDON, JIMMY CARL BLACK & RICHIE HAYWARD – drums
TONY ELISALDA – percussion & sax
CHARLES OWENS – sax
OSCAR BRASHEAR – trumpet
BLACKBERRIES – backing vocals
RECORDED AT THE SOUND FACTORY IN HOLLYWOOD, 1972

TRACKS:
SIDE A

A1. OH BABY
A2. CRAZY LOVE
A3. KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON
A4. I LIKE WHAT YOU GIVE
A5. BURN DOWN THE CORNFIELD

SIDE B
B1. SINGER MAN
B2. SOMEBODY’S GONE
B3. GROOVIN’ OUT ON LIFE
B4. IF I COULD ONLY BE SURE
B5. WORK IT OUT IN THE MORNING