Brunswick Records 1967 – BL 754130
notes:
"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher"
is an R&B song written by Gary Jackson, Raynard Miner,
and Carl Smith. It was recorded by Jackie Wilson for
his album Higher and Higher (1967), produced by Carl Davis
As the song was originally used as a backing track for Wilson to use later,
it was recorded on July 6, 1967, at Columbia's studios in Chicago.
Produced by Carl Davis, the session, arranged by Sonny Sanders,
featured bassist James Jamerson, drummer Richard "Pistol" Allen,
guitarist Robert White, and keyboardist Johnny Griffith; these four
musicians were all members of the Motown Records house band
The Funk Brothers who often moonlighted on sessions for Davis
to augment the wages paid by Motown.
According to Carl Davis, the Funk Brothers "used to come over on
the weekends from Detroit. They'd load up in the van and come over
to Chicago, and I would pay 'em double scale, and I'd pay 'em in cash.
" Similarly two of Motown's house session singers The Andantes,
Jackie Hicks and Marlene Barrow, along with Pat Lewis
(who was filling in for Andante Louvain Demps), performed on the session
for "Higher and Higher".
As well as a drummer Maurice White also played upon the recording.
The song was originally written by Chess Records' in-house writers
and producers, Carl Smith and Raynard Miner, and initially recorded
by The Dells for the label, but not released. Another writer,
Gary Jackson made some changes to the song and pitched it to
Davis at Brunswick. When the singer recorded his vocal track,
Davis recalls, Wilson originally sang the song "like a soul ballad.
I said that's totally wrong. You have to jump and go with
the percussion... If he didn't want to sing it that way, I would put
my voice on the record and sell millions." After hearing Davis's advice,
Wilson cut the lead vocal for "Higher and Higher" in a single take.
A publishing deal for the song was reached with Brunswick after
Chess producer/A&R head, Billy Davis intervened. Writing credits
were agreed with Smith, Miner, Jackson and Billy Davis all named.
Later, Davis removed his credit and BMI now lists the song as by
the three other writers. The Dells' version appeared on their album,
"There Is" for Chess subsidiary, Cadet the same year.
credits:
Arranged By – Sonny Sanders
Directed By – Gerald Sims
Producer – Carl Davis
tracklist:
A1 (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher
Written-By – Carl Smith , Gary Jackson
2:57
A2 I Don't Need You Around
Written-By – Karl Tarleton, Rev. James Cleveland
3:43
A3 I've Lost You
Written-By – Van McCoy
2:37
A4 Those Heartaches
Written-By – Bernard Reed, Daniel Reed
2:38
A5 Soulville
Written-By – Buddy Scott, Jimmy Radcliffe
2:05
A6 Open The Door To Your Heart
Written-By – Darrell Banks
2:27
B1 I'm The One To Do It
Written-By – Billy Butler, Carl Smith
2:25
B2 You Can Count On Me
Written-By – Truman Thomas
2:18
B3 I Need Your Loving
Written-By – Bobby Robinson, Clarence Lewis, Don Gardner, James McDougall
2:43
B4 Somebody Up There Likes You
Written-By – Floyd Smith, Gerald Sims
2:55
B5 When Will Our Day Come
Written-By – Alonzo Tucker, Freddie Scott , Jackie Wilson
3:10
"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher"
is an R&B song written by Gary Jackson, Raynard Miner,
and Carl Smith. It was recorded by Jackie Wilson for
his album Higher and Higher (1967), produced by Carl Davis
As the song was originally used as a backing track for Wilson to use later,
it was recorded on July 6, 1967, at Columbia's studios in Chicago.
Produced by Carl Davis, the session, arranged by Sonny Sanders,
featured bassist James Jamerson, drummer Richard "Pistol" Allen,
guitarist Robert White, and keyboardist Johnny Griffith; these four
musicians were all members of the Motown Records house band
The Funk Brothers who often moonlighted on sessions for Davis
to augment the wages paid by Motown.
According to Carl Davis, the Funk Brothers "used to come over on
the weekends from Detroit. They'd load up in the van and come over
to Chicago, and I would pay 'em double scale, and I'd pay 'em in cash.
" Similarly two of Motown's house session singers The Andantes,
Jackie Hicks and Marlene Barrow, along with Pat Lewis
(who was filling in for Andante Louvain Demps), performed on the session
for "Higher and Higher".
As well as a drummer Maurice White also played upon the recording.
The song was originally written by Chess Records' in-house writers
and producers, Carl Smith and Raynard Miner, and initially recorded
by The Dells for the label, but not released. Another writer,
Gary Jackson made some changes to the song and pitched it to
Davis at Brunswick. When the singer recorded his vocal track,
Davis recalls, Wilson originally sang the song "like a soul ballad.
I said that's totally wrong. You have to jump and go with
the percussion... If he didn't want to sing it that way, I would put
my voice on the record and sell millions." After hearing Davis's advice,
Wilson cut the lead vocal for "Higher and Higher" in a single take.
A publishing deal for the song was reached with Brunswick after
Chess producer/A&R head, Billy Davis intervened. Writing credits
were agreed with Smith, Miner, Jackson and Billy Davis all named.
Later, Davis removed his credit and BMI now lists the song as by
the three other writers. The Dells' version appeared on their album,
"There Is" for Chess subsidiary, Cadet the same year.
credits:
Arranged By – Sonny Sanders
Directed By – Gerald Sims
Producer – Carl Davis
tracklist:
A1 (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher
Written-By – Carl Smith , Gary Jackson
2:57
A2 I Don't Need You Around
Written-By – Karl Tarleton, Rev. James Cleveland
3:43
A3 I've Lost You
Written-By – Van McCoy
2:37
A4 Those Heartaches
Written-By – Bernard Reed, Daniel Reed
2:38
A5 Soulville
Written-By – Buddy Scott, Jimmy Radcliffe
2:05
A6 Open The Door To Your Heart
Written-By – Darrell Banks
2:27
B1 I'm The One To Do It
Written-By – Billy Butler, Carl Smith
2:25
B2 You Can Count On Me
Written-By – Truman Thomas
2:18
B3 I Need Your Loving
Written-By – Bobby Robinson, Clarence Lewis, Don Gardner, James McDougall
2:43
B4 Somebody Up There Likes You
Written-By – Floyd Smith, Gerald Sims
2:55
B5 When Will Our Day Come
Written-By – Alonzo Tucker, Freddie Scott , Jackie Wilson
3:10
