Numero Serves Up "Dynamic" Soul From Deep In The Heart Of Texas

The very first release from the musical archaeologists at The Numero Group was an Eccentric Soul compilation focusing on the small Capsoul label of Columbus, Ohio. Subsequent volumes have turned their attention to other regional labels including Deep City, Big Mack and Bandit, and producers and collectives like Mighty Mike Lenaburg and The Young Disciples. The latest Eccentric Soul release arrived from Numero on March 12, focusing on the Dynamic Records label.

No. 043 in the Numero series, Eccentric Soul: The Dynamic Label tells the story of just one label in local mogul Abe “Abie” Epstein’s San Antonio music empire. If Dynamic is remembered at all, it’s likely for The Commands, who charted a minor hit single in 1966 with “No Time For You.” Epstein, who died in 2012, produced records not only by The Commands but by The Royal Jesters, Rene and Rene, and Joe Bravo, to name but a few of his musical charges. It was Epstein who helped created what’s thought of as the “West Side Sound” of San Antonio, a heady Texan brew of R&B, rock-and-roll and plenty of soul often with a healthy dollop of reverb. During Dynamic’s two-and-a-half year run, Epstein broke racial barriers by inviting whites, blacks and Latinos alike to his studio on General McMullen Drive. Epstein’s records were characterized by powerful horns, grooving organs and a cross-cultural flavor.

More details, the complete track listing and order links follow after the jump!

Randolph Air Force Base, outside San Antonio, proved ground zero for Dynamic’s most famed act, The Commands. The group’s members actually hailed from various locales including California and New York. Abie Epstein immediately saw potential in this band of Air Force servicemen, and their recording of “No Time For You” (actually poached from another local group, The Justifiers) shot to the top of the charts at KTSA, KUKA, KBAT, and KONO. Such was the song’s popularity that the pre-Back Stabbers O’Jays, out of Cleveland, even covered it at Imperial Records. Abie Epstein contacted Jerry Wexler in a vain attempt to get The Commands’ single released on Atlantic, but The Commands were destined to remain a regional favorite. Thanks to Numero, though, they’re getting a new platform for rediscovery. Six tracks from The Commands, including “No Time For You,” appear on the Eccentric Soul CD; eight appear on the expanded 2-LP vinyl version.

The Commands are joined on this soulful excavation by The Webs, The Tonettes, Doc and Sal, and others who benefitted from Epstein’s open-door recording studio policy. The anthology totals 21 tracks on CD and 28 on vinyl, all of which have rarely been heard since they first appeared more than forty years ago on the Dynamic label of San Antonio, Texas. All tracks date from between 1965 and 1968. Rob Sevier and Ken Shipley provide copious liner notes in the 24-page booklet. And fans of this volume will be pleased to know that Numero No. 55 will be dedicated to further explorations from Epstein Enterprises.

You can order Numero’s latest “dynamic” entry in the invaluable Eccentric Soul catalogue at the links below!

Various Artists, Eccentric Soul: The Dynamic Label (Numero Group 043, 2013)

CD: