Nobles, Cliff


Band members               Related acts

- Cliff Nobles - vocals (1968-69)
- Tommy Soul - drums (1968-69)
- Bobby Tucker - guitar (1968-69)
- Benny Williams - bass (1968-69) 

 

 

- none known

 

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  The Horse

Company: Phil-L.A. of Soul

Catalog: PH-LPS 4001

Year: 1968

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Price: $40.00

 

Born in Grove Hill, Alabama (he was raised in Mobile), Cliff Nobles didn't start his musical career until he was a teenager and became active in his school choir. Over the next couple of years Nobles performed in a series of local vocals groups, including The Delroys. In 1967 he moved to Philadelphia, scraping by with a series of 9-to-5 jobs, before signing a recording contract by the small J-V label. A 1965 single "Too Fond of You" b/w "My Love Is Getting Stronger" vanished, but was subsequently picked up and reissued by Atlantic. 

Hooking up with drummer Tommy Soul, guitarist Bobby Tucker and bassist Benny Williams, in 1968 the quartet began rehearsing and recording a series of demo tapes. Their efforts caught the attention of producer Jimmy Rogers who arranged for an audition and subsequent contract with the small Moon Shot label. The partnership resulted in the release of an other obscure 45 ("Little Claudie" b/w "Pony the Horse"). 

Having heard Cliff perform at a local church, producer Jesse James took an interest in the group. In addition to penning some material for the band, he also arranged an audition and contract with the Jamie-affiliated Phil-L.A. label. Recording as Cliff Nobles & Co., the group's debut single ("" b/w "") vanished without a trace. Their follow-up "Love Is All Right" b/w "The Horse" seemed destined to follow in it's tracks, until a Florida DJ began playing the instrumental flip slide. With the single suddenly gathering national momentum, Cliff and band were rushed into the studio where they recorded a supporting album. 1968's cleverly titled "The Horse". With producer James responsible for the majority of material, musically the album sought to replicate his earlier success, tracks such as "The Camel", "The Mule" and "Boogaloo Down Broadway" offering up similarly sounding instrumentals . That was unfortunate since Nobles had a decent voice that was well suited to up tempo soul numbers such as "Judge Baby I'm Back", "Let's Have A Good Time" and "Heartaches, I Can't Take Heartaches". Propelled by the title track, the parent album proved a minor chart hit, peaking at #159.

"The Horse" track listing:

(side 1)
1.) The Horse (instrumental) (Jesse James) - 2:45
2.) The Camel (instrumental) (Jesse James) - 2:28
3.) Judge Baby I'm Back (Jesse James)- 2:42
4.) Boogaloo Down Broadway (instrumental) (Jesse James) - 2:28
5.) The Mule (instrumental) (Jesse James) - 2:25
6.) Let's Have A Good Time (Jesse James) - 2:24

 

(side 2)
1.) The More I Do For You Baby (Jesse James) - 3:04 
2.) Yes I'm Ready (instrumental) (Barbara Mason) - 2:55
3.) Burning Desire (Jesse James) - 2:47
4.) Dry Your Eyes (Payton - Coates) - 2:44
5.) Heartaches, I Can't Take Heartaches (Jesse James) - 2:58
6.) Love Is All Right (instrumental) (Jesse James) - 2:44

 


Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Pony the Horse

Company: Moonshot

Catalog: MS-601

Year: 1969

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: minor ring wear; demo stamp on back; minor tear on back cover; minor writing on back cover

Available: 1

Price: $30.00

 

Former manager Jimmy Rogers subsequently released "Pony the Horse". An obvious attempt to cash in on Nobles' surprising success, technically you could argue the set wasn't even a true Nobles effort. A mixture of miscellaneous Nobles solo tracks ("Angel Love" and "Little Claudie" sounding as if they'd been recorded fairly early in his career), the set was rounded out by the sound-alike instrumental title track and seven tracks featuring outside vocalists - Webb Dixon on three and Bennie Martin handling four selections. The set instantly vanished into oblivion, as did Nobles himself. A scattering of late-'60s/early-'70s singles for Phil-L.A., including the "Horse" sound alikes "Horse Fever" and "Switch It On" and one effort for Roulette and he was a musical footnote.

"Pony the Horse" track listing:

(side 1)
1.) Pony the Horse (Jimmy Rogers) (instrumental) - 2:35
2.) Little Girl (Jimmy Rogers) - 2:38
3.) Angel Love (Jimmy Rogers) - 2:05
4.) Little Claudie (Jimmy Rogers) - 2:40
5.) Wonder Baby (Jimmy Rogers - Webb Dixon) - 2:50

(side 2)
1.) Rock and Roll Angel (Jimmy Rogers) - 2:26
2.) Rock Awhile (Jimmy Rogers) - 2:22
3.) Darling Goodbye (Jimmy Rogers) - 2:30
4.) That's Why I Love You (Jimmy Rogers) - 2:05
5.) I Need Love (Jimmy Rogers) - 1:58

 

 

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