Arthur Freeman
Florida native Arthur Freeman isn’t the same artist as Art Freeman who cut those couple of cracking 45s for Fame in the 60s. But Arthur did
cut the brilliant deep classic I
Want To Come Home in Muscle
Shoals so the confusion is understandable.
Freeman’s first release for the tiny Regal label from Ft Pierce, FL
must have been cut around the turn of the 60s judging by the doo-wop influence
to both the easy midpaced “Played Out Play Girl” and the ballad “I
Can’t Understand”. But both showed what a fine high baritone
voice he had. The Dade 45 was far too poppy to be of interest here, but his
next 45 certainly is. I
Want To Come Home is absolutely first
class. Over a subdued organ (Spooner Oldham?), Freeman is totally convincing
as he pleads for a second chance, and the horn charts add just the right
touch to this classic 6/8 deep gem from the mid 60s. This will cost big money
as the flip is a heavily sought after Northern side - and the most
polite way of describing my views on this is to say that it hasn’t
made its way onto my Ipod – despite having 60BGs of space on it! Another “Tear
Stained Face” it certainly isn’t.
Reflection Sound Studio boss Wayne Jernigan cut him in 1971 on the lively “Played
Out Play Girl” and Freeman’s screaming vocals brought a great
sense of urgency to the recording. For once a recut sounded better than the
original. The slow blues “Here I Am” features another good vocal
but Reflection were still having outlet problems at this time and Jernigan
had to persuade the owner of a local cinema which specialised in x-rated
movies to put the money up for a new label even to get the disc on the streets.
And the result, Astor-Arts 101, is now a real collector’s item. But
the strength of the 45 allowed it to be leased out to Excello later that
year, a good home for a throwback southern sound like this.
Discography
I can't understand / Played out play girl ~ REGAL 7527
No hard feelings / Shirley ~ DADE 1852
I want to come
home / You got me up tight ~ JUMBO 004
Here I am / Played out play girl ~ ASTOR ARTS 001 (1971) / EXCELLO 2322 (1972)