I am eternally grateful that a hometown musical troupe – The Raisins – just happened to be one of the greatest rock bands of the 1980s. Amusing to recall in retrospect my adolescent disbelief when a friend once informed me that Rick Powell‘s musical life was not wholly enveloped by The Raisins — that, in fact, he had played on 1978’s The Leblanc-Carr Band’s Live from the Atlantic Studios album.
Rick “Bam” Powell — the “writing-singing drummer” who joined forces early in his career with the aforementioned Wayne Perry, as well as Roger “Jellyroll” Troy (later with Mike Bloomfield & The Electric Flag) — would cut his first piece of wax providing the soul-rockin’ vocals for “Gonna Have a Good Time” on Randy McNutt‘s Beast imprint:
[Pssst: Click on the triangle above to play “Gonna Have a Good Time” by Rick Powell & Little Flint]
Did I mention that Powell was a high-schooler at the time? Powell would record the song with his own group – The Chamberly Kids – along with Wayne Perry’s outfit, Little Flint.
Recorded in 1970/71; Released in 1973
Distributed by Counterpart Records
Randy McNutt, who produced some of Powell’s earliest recordings, would include both versions on his CD compilation, Souled Out: Queen City Soul-Rockers of the 1970s. For the (unreleased) Chamberly Kids session, Powell was excited to work with Roger Troy, whose band, Jellyroll, had just been signed by Kapp Records [more info here]. According to McNutt, “Wayne [Perry] joined him on harmonies and Roger ‘Jellyroll’ Troy, leader of the band Jellyroll, played bass. During the memorable session at Jewel, Jellyroll’s car was repossessed and he wore red, white, and blue shoes.”
Rick Powell recording at home in 1974
(photo courtesy of Randy McNutt)
As Powell recounted later to McNutt:
“One day I got a call from a guy who claimed he managed LeBlanc and Carr in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,” Powell says. “I asked him, ‘All right, who’s pulling my leg?’ But he was their manager, and he was offering me a job as one of their two drummers. I auditioned and got the job. Later, they cut back to just one drummer—me. I toured and recorded with them for the better part of four years. We were on the road constantly. It was insane, really. We opened for a bunch of hit acts—Robert Palmer, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Taj Mahal, and others. I was based out of Muscle Shoals, where I visited the famous studio where the Swampers [studio musicians] cut the hits. I feel like a small part of history.”
Sticker Shock!
Wayne Perry & Little Flint‘s “Pain” b/w “Gonna Have a Good Time” 45 — categorized overseas as “northern soul mod” (!) — can fetch upwards of $100.
This drummer sings, you know
Good News for Music Fans:
Rick Powell, who once declared he has “no intention of quitting — they’ll have to drag me off the stage when they’re through with me,” has an excellent album of “funky pop rock” — 2009’s Eat the Fat, Drink the Sweet — that is yours for the taking at CD Baby. Watch out for “Step by Step” – a song that is particularly infectious.
Larry Nager‘s 1999 biographical profile for The Cincinnati Enquirer is also very informative.
Powell’s soul-rockin’ Adrian Belew-produced B-side for 1983 Raisins 45
1981 Debut Raisins 45
Final Raisins 45 from 1984
Insert for 1981 Raisins debut 45
“Quarters” b/w “Tour Guide“