Roosevelt Matthews

The web is littered with playlists including one or the other of Roosevelt’s desperately wanted King 45 – either the funk “Tighten Up” or the slow midpaced Northern “You Got Me Diggin’ You” which I've got quite a soft spot for – and which I’ve uploaded if you want to hear what all the fuss is about.  Matthews' strong baritone comes across well and the backing by the Upsetters, for whom he fronted as lead singer, is well judged. Although Billy Ball’s group were based in Indianapolis all their discs were cut in Nashville. “Come On Home” slows the pace down from the uptempo numbers which featured prominently in their dynamic stage act, and is a worthy deep ballad.

Matthews returned to recording in the 80s with a very strange release under the name Hard Tymes. “I Ask A Question” is an extraordinary track – minimal melodically and with sparse instrumentation it’s really just a vehicle for some wonderful wailing by Matthews and an uncredited female vocalist. Both sing their hearts out in this lengthy mood piece vaguely reminiscent of Bobby Womack’s duets with Alltrinna Grayson. I find it hypnotic and strangely moving.

Matthews was from St Louis originally – was this cut there – or in Indianapolis possibly? Does the address on the disc “Lil’s Purple Brush 7240 Page” mean anything to anybody?

UPDATE ~ Matthews turns out to be one half of Chuck & Mac, the duo who had such fine discs on Ruby and Twinight. The other member was Aubrey Wallace who may well have been involved in the Hard Tymes 45 as well. Watch out for a new webpage on this duo coming shortly.

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