The Chanson label was started in Pulaski, TN back in the early 1960s by James Brown - no, of course not the Godfather of Soul. In the mid 1960s Howard Collins joined the label to play session guitar and write songs. Chanson put out several 45s, the most famous one being the instrumental "Oasis" by the Majestics, which was re-released on Chess.
Around 1969 Howard Collins relocated to Toledo, OH where he started recruiting talent. At the time he was the vice president of the Chanson label, the J.B.P. (James Brown Productions) label, the Tee Vee label, and Czar productions.
While in Toledo he released several 45s on Chanson, all by Toledo groups, most or all recorded in Detroit. He also released one off 45s by the LMNOPs (on J.B.P.), the International Five (on Starway), and the Kalenders (on Tee Vee) all groups also from Toledo. Howard's stage/songwriting name was Skip August.
A few of the recordings listed below are different recordings of the same songs - "I Need You" by the International Five and LMNOPs, "Calling" by the the Unlimited Four and LMNOPs.
|
1177 |
Charlie Chuck |
Curiousity Kills / Disk Jockey Rap |
|
| 1178 | Unlimited Four | I Wanna Be Happy / Calling | |
|
1179 |
Mel Hueston |
Time and Patience / Double Confusion |
1970 |
| 1180 | Unlimited Four | Walk Away Lover / Slow Down | June 1970 |
|
1181 |
Unlimited Four |
Somebody Help, Please / True Love Is Hard To Find (I Believe In You) |
1970 |
| 1182 | Evalene Braden | Somebody Else / That's What Soul Is | 1970 |
| 1183 | The Street People Incorporated | The Hurt's On Me / Someday We'll Be Together | 1971 |
| 1184 | Bobby Shaw | Couped Up Apartments / Miserable World | |
| 1177 | Ike Noble | Your Love / Your Love Has Got Gusto | 1978 |
| Starway 1101 | International Five | So In Love With You / I Need You | 1970 |
| J.B.P 2512 | LMNOPs | I Need You / Calling | |
| Tee Vee 2507 | Skip August | Shindig USA Part 1 / Shindig USA Part 2 | 1967 |
| Tee Vee 2508 | Fabulous Majestics | Jig / Early Bird | |
| Tee Vee 2509 | Skip August | What Goes Up (Must Come Down) / Tough Enough | |
| Tee Vee 2510 | Kalenders | It Takes Two, Babe / I'll Love Only You | |
| J.B.P. 2511 | Evaline | Just Like That (With A Snap Of A Finger) / LIke They Say |
Two #1177s.