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Between 1973 and 1977, the London-based Contempo Records label released roughly 150 singles (not to mention numerous albums) celebrating soul in its various strains.  Contempo made its mark with both reissues of classic soul material and all-new recordings, and now its legacy has been celebrated in a new 3-CD box set from Cherry Red’s Soul Time imprint.  The Contempo Story 1973-1977 collects 83 tracks featuring such boldface names as Major Lance, Fontella Bass, Bettye Swann, Doris Duke, Sam and Dave, Cymande, Crown Heights Affair, and Dorothy Moore.

The Contempo label was established by John Abbey, founder of Blues and Soul magazine.  The success of the publication led to a London record shop and mail order business, and in 1973, to the formation of the record label.  Northern soul, blues, funk, and disco were all components of the diverse Contempo sound.  The three discs in the new box – The Right Track, Blowing Up My Mind, and Mr. Superbad – present a cross-section of the label’s finest material including both its reissues of American soul titles and its newly-recorded tracks arranged and conducted by Gerry Shury.  Most of the tracks here are new to CD, with many others hard to come by.

Contempo’s first single belonged to Major Lance of “The Monkey Time” fame.  Lance’s cover of Billy Butler’s “The Right Track” was produced by Carl Davis in Chicago.  Soon, the label was issuing a recording of Lance live in the U.K. as its first LP; “Ain’t No Soul (Left In These Old Shoes)” is reprised from that album.  Another one of Contempo’s earliest signings was Oscar Toney Jr., who had previously recorded for the U.S. Bell and Capricorn labels.  Toney’s soulful readings of David Gates’ Bread hit “Everything I Own” and Bacharach and David’s “Kentucky Bluebird (Message to Martha)” are included here; both sides were issued on Atco in the U.S. in 1974.  Four singles were released in the U.S. in 1974 distributed by Beta Records including Ultrafunk’s “Kung Fu Man,” Doris Duke’s “Grasshopper,” and Black Stash’s “Mighty Love Man” (all featured on this set).  In the U.K., Contempo was originally distributed by Decca, then Pye, and finally WEA.  U.S. distribution switched to Scepter in 1975 and then, upon that label’s folding, to Henry Stone’s TK Records.  The TK deal came about through the popularity in the U.S. of singer Tamiko Jones, who became Mrs. Abbey in 1977.

Among Contempo’s most prominent artists was The Armada Orchestra.  The label’s answer to MFSB or The Salsoul Orchestra, the musicians doubled as the core of Ultrafunk.  As Ultrafunk, they’re heard here on tracks including a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City” and numerous, hard-driving originals.  As The Armada Orchestra, they bring their lush style to covers including Four Tops’ “The Same Old Song” and Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes’ “The Love I Lost,” as well as original songs like the lavish disco dancer “Philly Armada.”

Among the oldies reissued on Contempo and re-presented here are John Fred and His Playboy Band’s “Judy in Disguise,” Bob and Earl’s “Harlem Shuffle,” Bettye Swann’s “Make Me Yours,” The Olympics’ “Baby Do the Philly Dog,” and Tami Lynn’s “I’m Gonna Run Away from You.”  The label also gave a new lease on life to classic artists like The Exciters, Sam and Dave, and Fontella Bass.  Dorothy Moore’s all-time favorite “Misty Blue” is here, too, as Contempo carried the Malaco track across the pond.

Contempo Records closed its doors in 1978; some years later, John Abbey went on to found the soul-centric Ichiban label.  What these tracks, new or old, have in common is the hallmark of quality from producer and curator John Abbey, who was involved in the production of this retrospective.  A 36-page booklet includes an introduction from Abbey, artist-centric liner notes from Bob Fisher, and an afterword from David Nathan.  Paul Johnston has remastered all tracks at Rhythm Studios.  The eclectic array of tracks on The Contempo Story 1973-1977 can be yours at the links below!

Various Artists, The Contempo Story 1973-1977 (Cherry Red/Soul Time TOCKBX4, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. The Right Track – Major Lance
2. Every Couple’s Not a Pair – Richie Pitts
3. Harlem Shuffle – Bob & Earl
4. Everything I Own – Oscar Toney, Jr.
5. Kentucky Bluebird (Message to Martha) – Oscar Toney, Jr.
6. Ain’t No Soul (Left In These Old Shoes) (Live at The Torch) – Major Lance
7. Judy in Disguise (With Glasses) – John Fred & His Playboy Band
8. People (Part 1) – Freddie Mack’s Extravaganza In Sounds
9. Young, Willing and Able – Jimmy Thomas
10. Living for the City – Ultrafunk
11. Do Me Right – The Armada Orchestra
12. Across the Tracks (Part 1) – The Masai
13. To an Early Grave – J.J. Barnes
14. Livin’ for Tomorrow- The Exciters
15. Reward – Melvin Bliss
16. Gimme Little Sign – Major Lance
17. Cigarette Ashes – Jimmy Conwell
18. Brothers on the Slide – Cymande
19. Black Water Gold (Pearl) – African Music Machine
20. Ultrafunk – Sweet E.A. (Funky AI)
21. Kung Fu Man – Ultrafunk feat. Mr. Superbad, Freddie Mack
22. It’s the Same Old Song – The Armada Orchestra
23. There’s Nothing Else to Say Baby – The Incredibles
24. It’s Hard to Get Back In – Fontella Bass

CD 2

1. Blowing Up My Mind – The Exciters
2. Make Me Yours – Bettye Swann
3. Grasshopper – Doris Duke
4. I Need You More Than Ever – The Montclairs
5. Mighty Love Man Pt. 1 – Black Stash
6. Don’t You Know I Love You – Major Lance
7. A Little Bit of Lovin’ – Doris Duke
8. Cochise – The Armada Orchestra
9. Baby Do the Philly Dog – The Olympics
10. I’m Gonna Run Away from You – Tami Lynn
11. Planting Seeds – Seeds of the Earth
12. Theme from Lovejoy – Moses Dillard and The Lovejoy Orchestra
13. Breakaway – Ernie Bush
14. Just Can’t Do Without Love (A Thousand Faces) – Howeefeel
15. Chinese Kung Fu – Banzai
16. Feel the Need in Me – The Armada Orchestra
17. Sting Your Jaws (Part 1) – Ultrafunk
18. Chicken Heads – Oscar Toney, Jr.
19. Classical Bump – The Armada Orchestra
20. That Beatin’ Rhythm – Richard Temple
21. Inside America (Part 1) – Juggy Jones
22. Lady, Lady, Lady (Are You Crazy for Me) – The Boogie Man Orchestra

CD 3

1. Mr. Superbad – Mr. Superbad & The Mighty Super Power Band
2. It Takes One to Know One – Sir Mack Rice
3. Misty Blue – Dorothy Moore
4. The Love I Lost (Part 1) – The Armada Orchestra
5. Steal Away – Ted Taylor
6. Funny How Time Slips Away – Dorothy Moore
7. Gotham City Boogie – Ultrafunk
8. Dancin’ – Crown Heights Affair
9. Golden Gate Get Down (Long Version) – Sparky & The Inner Citizens
10. Body English – King Floyd
11. She’s Mine – J.J. Barnes
12. For Old Time’s Sake – Dorothy Moore
13. Philly Armada (Part 1) – The Armada Orchestra
14. Why Did You Do It – Sam & Dave
15. Rice and Beans Theme – Rice and Beans Orchestra
16. Jump the Gun – The Mike Conten Band
17. How Long – J.J. Barnes