Alvin Cash & The Registers: Twine Time

 

 

 

 

Rare Chicago Soul Records: Alvin Cash's Twine Time on Mar-v-lus MLP 1827 

 

 

 

Mar-v-lus Records 1965– MLP 1827

 

 

 notes:

The Beat of Chicago: Alvin Cash and The Registers' "Twine Time"

If you want to understand the raw, rhythmic pulse of mid-60s Chicago soul,
 you have to start with Alvin Cash and The Registers. Their seminal album, 
Twine Time, released on the legendary Mar-v-lus Records (MLP 1827), 
isn't just a collection of songs—it’s a historical document of the "Twine" 
dance craze that swept through the Windy City and beyond.

Alvin Cash, a born entertainer from St. Louis who made Chicago his home,
 possessed an uncanny ability to command a groove. Unlike the polished 
harmonies of Motown, Twine Time offers a grittier, more spontaneous feel. 
The title track, an infectious instrumental punctuated by Cash's rhythmic shouts,
 peaked at #4 on the Billboard R&B charts and remains a staple for Northern Soul 
enthusiasts and vintage funk collectors today.

Album Detail: The Mar-v-lus MLP 1827 pressing is highly sought after by collectors 
for its authentic mono punch and the vibrant, period-specific cover art
 that captures the high-energy aesthetic of 1965.

Beyond the hit title track, the album serves as a masterclass in the "One-Derful!" 
family of labels' production style—driving basslines, sharp horns, and that unmistakable 
Chicago shuffle. Whether you are a vinyl crate-digger or a casual soul fan, 
Alvin Cash’s work represents a pivotal bridge between early R&B and the birth of funk.

 credits:

The album was recorded for Mar-v-lus Records, a subsidiary of 
Chicago’s One-der-ful! Records empire run by George and Ernie Leaner.  
  Producers: Andre Williams, Harold Burrage, Monk Higgins 

(credited as M. Higgins), and Otis Hayes.  
 Key Arranger: Monk Higgins.

Musicians & Line-up

The credits on the original 1965 release can be slightly confusing due
to the group names "The Registers" and "The Crawlers."
Vocals/Performance: Alvin Cash (born Alvin Welch).  
The Crawlers: This group consisted of Alvin’s brothers (Robert, Arthur, and George). 
While they were his primary dance and touring group, 

they did not actually play the instruments on the recording.  
The Instrumentalists: The backing band on the hit title track and much of the album 
was actually a group from Louisville, Kentucky, called 

The Nightliters (who later became New Birth).  
The Registers was a stage name used for the studio musicians and touring band to
 maintain a consistent brand for the "Twine" dance craze.
Recording Date & Studio
Recording Date: The title track "Twine Time" 

was recorded in late 1964 (around November). 
The full LP followed in 1965 to capitalize on the single's massive success.
Studio: The sessions took place at the 

One-der-ful! Studios located at 1827 South Michigan 
Avenue (the "Record Row" of Chicago).

tracklist:

A1 Shake A Tail Feather    2:27
written by     A.Williams,O. Hayes,V. Rice
A2 Twine Awhile    1:42
written by     A.Williams    
A3 Hawk Eye    2:38
written by M. Higgins, H. Burrage    
A4 Bump    2:22
Written by A. Cash, V. Rice    
A5 Twine Time    2:23    
written by     A.Williams, W. Rice
A6 Fool That I Am    2:25    
written by M. Higgins, H. Burrage
B1 Barracuda    2:19    
written by B. Williams
B2 You Shot Me Thru The Grease    2:55
written by O. Hayes, M. Higgins,    
B3 In Need Of Love    2:40
written by M. Higgins, H. Burrage    
B4 Burn Just A Hair    2:30    
written by M. Higgins
B5 Shake    2:30    
written by S. Cooke
B6    Do It One More Time
written by M. Higgins

 

 

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