Former Motown hit maker 'My Smile Is Just A Frown (Turned Upside Down)' Carolyn Crawford, became 'Caroline' for the two albums she cut for Mercury Records in 1978/79, under the production helm of Hamilton Bohannon. 'Nice And Soulful' was the second set. In the late 70s, and through the early 1980s, she was featured vocalist on several of Hamilton Bohannon's singles and six of his albums, including his biggest US single hit "Let's Start the Dance. Born in Detroit on 19 July 1949, Carolyn started singing from a young age as well as being something of an infant prodigy on the piano. Entering her teens at the time when Motown was beginning to chalk up what would become a long run of chart successes, it was almost inevitable that she would be influenced by the label's queen of the day, MaryWeils. It transpired coincidentally that the local radio station,WCHB, was hosting a talent contest sponsored by Tip Top Bakery collecting a required number of Tip Top bread wrappers was the qualification needed for entry and Carolyn, aged a mere thirteen and singingWells' 'Operator' and 'Laughing Boy', duly won, her prize being a Motown recording contract. Her label debut, a self-penned 'Forget About Me', failed to take off but, with the abovementioned 'My Smile Is Just A Frown..:, written and produced by Smokey Robinson, the youngster was on her way. However, Motown failed to capitalise on its success and, after one further release and the end of the contract commitment, she was dropped by the label. Only in her mid-teens, Carolyn went on to complete her schooling but the singing bug had well and truly bitten and she became a fixture as a performer in Detroit clubs. As the sixties turned into the seventies, at the behest of former Motown executive/producer, Mickey Stevenson, Carolyn moved to California and joined session singers, Pat Hodges, Denita James and Jessica Smith to complete the group Hodges,James, Smith & Crawford, recording singles for People and Mpingo, before Carolyn decided to cut loose. (The remaining girls continued as Hodges, James & Smith.) After a spell as backing Singer for Spanish-born disco diva Charo she returned 'home' and to club work augmented by session singing as the first female vocalist with Detroit combo, Chapter 8 who would later boast Anita Baker as female lead. By the mid-seventies, the Philadelphia International label had become to Philly what Motown was to sixties' Detroit and Carolyn decided she should have 'a piece of the action'. An approach to label bosses, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, led to an immediate signing and the release of three singles over a thirteen month period but although she recorded enough material intended for an album, it failed to appear.While at Philadelphia International she had started to work with drummer, Hamilton Bohannon, and his band, as featured vocalist and, once her contract with Philadelphia International had expired, she began to record with the band, most notably on Bohannon's 1978 r&b top-tenner, 'Let's StartThe Dance'. Securing a Mercury contract in her own right, the album 'My Name Is Caroline' became her LP debut, while a single therefrom 'Coming On Strong' took her back to the charts. This brings the Story up to this album, a fine mixture of 'Bohannon funk' (e.g. 'Can't Hold Me Back','The Strut') and toetappers like 'III Be Here For You', topped by the cream ballad, 'The Facts Of Life' and all enhanced by Caroline's! delicious vocals.
Including the singles I'll Be Here For You snd Can't Hold Me Back
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I'll Be Here For You
Can't Hold Me Back
Love Me Or Leave Me Alone
The Strut
The Facts Of Life
Havin' Fun
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Produced and Arranged by:
Hamilton Bohannon
Produced for:
Bohannon Productions
Strings by:
Johnny Allen
Recorded:
Mastersound Studios, Atlanta, Apogee Studios
Studio One, Doraville and Axis Sound Studio
℗ © 1979 Phonogram USA lp Mercury SRM 1-3792
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Re-Recorded and HQ Cleaned from vinyl by FM
WAVE 44100Hz Stereo Recording
Funkerman's Hard to Find Beats Netherlands
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WW protected: CarolineC1979HTFB
