Gil Bernal / Willie J Charles – The Dogs / Feelin Kinda Lonesome

2019 Reissue.

GIL BERNAL was born in Watts, Los Angeles in 1931 and was a singer and session musician touring nationally with the Lionel Hampton Band. Here we feature his $2,000 rarity “The Dogs” which has been tearing up the dance floors across Europe and the UK. It was recorded in 1961 for Robert “Bumps” Blackwell’s ‘Bumps’ label and is a storming R&B dancer that deserves all of the accolades bestowed on it in recent times by the rare soul community. Bernal was far from a one-trick pony, check out his R&B mover “Keep Those Wanderin’ Eyes Off my Baby”, his stunning big beat version of P J Proby’s “To Make A Big Man Cry” and his 1967 ‘Hot 100’ entry “This Is Worth Fighting For”.

WILLIE J CHARLES was a staff writer for Gladys Hampton’s ‘Glad-Hamp’ label formed in 1961. She was of course the wife and business manager of the aforementioned bandleader and percussionist Lionel Hampton. Charles co-wrote “Little Annie” for Anne Belle Caesar (sister of Shirley Caesar), Glad-Hamp 2003. Here we find him in fine voice performing his own song “Feelin’ Kind A Lonesome” which has become an R&B anthem in recent times with prices reaching $2,000!