| From the Foundations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 1967 | |||
| Length | 29:50 | |||
| Label | Pye | |||
| the Foundations chronology | ||||
| ||||
From the Foundations is the debut album by the English soul group the Foundations, released in November 1967 by Pye Records. It contains their hit, "Baby Now That I've Found You".
According to Foundations guitarist Alan Warner, the album was made up of tracks that the Foundations recorded at their audition and some new songs. He also said that the group never had a chance to listen to it before it was released. [1]
The album was described in the 25 November, 1967 issue of Melody Maker as being half soul and discotheque music that the group really liked to play, and the other half, their single sound. Tony Macaulay said "Half of their music contains beat and a raucous sound, the other is good, strong melody". He also said that sales-wise it would sell to people who liked both. [2]
Announcing the album's arrival, the front page of New Musical Express said "New LPs by Foundations and Jimi Hendrix". [3] The album, From the Foundations was released on Pye NPL 1820. [4] The same issue showed that "Baby, Now That I've Found You" was at No. 1 in the NME Top 30 chart (Wednesday, November 22, 1967). [5]
The album was released in the United States on Uni 73016, [6] and in Australia on Astor SPLP 1237. [7] In South Africa it was released on Pye PL 2129. The cover was blurred so buyers couldn't see the band. [8] [ citation needed ] The reason for this is clearer with a later release by The Foundations. The South African authorities didn't allow multi-racial groups to be seen. [9]
The album was reviewed by Nick Logan in the 25 November issue of New Musical Express . Logan had joined Tony Macaulay and John Macleod for a pre-hear of the album that was to be released on the Friday that week. They listened to it on an old record player rather than the studio's record player so that they could gauge how it would sound to the average record buying customer. Logan said that the first three songs were of the discotheque feel and nothing like the weak copy of the soul sound that the Foundations' detractors would have people believe. All of the tracks were commented on. The songs "Show Me", a Joe Tex composition, "Jerking the Dog", a Rufus Thomas song and "A Whole New Thing", a song the band performed live were the songs with the discotheque feel. "Hold Me A Little While Longer" which used a double-tracked piano was composed by Barbara Ruskin. The song "I Can Take or Leave Your Loving" was mentioned as Tony Macaulay's favorite track. [10]
The 2 December issue of Record Mirror was positive. The reviewer started off with saying how it can be a gamble in Britain to bring out an album on the strength of a single, even a number one. He said that the band's talent came over quite well and the album was a happy sound. He also said that for those who dug sax-based backings, plentiful organ and a similar tempo throughout, then they would like it. [11]
A review in the 2 December issue of Disc and Music Echo said that the album was perfectly timed to cash in on the success of the single. The reviewer confirmed Chris Denning's statement that the band captured the Detroit sound. [12]
Released in the US as Baby, Now that I've Found You on Uni 73016, it had a brief review in the 10 February, 1968 issue of Record World . The reviewer said that the group first clicked in the US with "Baby, Now that I've Found You" and the re-did that ditty and added other popular and new tunes to the album. Songs mentioned were "I Can Take or Leave Your Loving", "Call Me" and "Show Me". [13]
The album was one of the Pop Picks in the 10 February issue of Cash Box . Mentioning "Baby, Now That I've Found You" as the song to spark the set, it was also said that the group would get a slice of the sales pie with this LP and it was well worth listening to. Good action was predicted for the album. Besides the hit song, two other tracks singled out for mention were "Mr. Personality Man and "I Can Take or Leave Your Loving". [14]
The album was re-released on Culture Factory CFU01212 in October 2022 with the vinyl in an orange smoke design. [16] [17]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Baby, Now That I've Found You" | 2:36 |
| 2. | "I Can Take or Leave Your Loving" | 2:17 |
| 3. | "Hold Me Just a Little While Longer" | 2:28 |
| 4. | "Come On Back to Me" | 2:16 |
| 5. | "Love Is a Five Letter Word" | 4:16 |
| 6. | "Call Me" | 2:27 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Show Me" | 2:53 |
| 2. | "Jerking the Dog" | 3:00 |
| 3. | "A Whole New Thing" | 2:53 |
| 4. | "The Writing's on the Wall" | 2:16 |
| 5. | "Mr. Personality Man" | 2:28 |
| Total length: | 29:50 | |
| Chart (1968) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [18] | 34 |
The Foundations were a British soul band who were primarily active between 1967 and 1970. The group's background was: West Indian, White British and Sri Lankan. Their 1967 debut single "Baby Now That I've Found You" reached number one in the UK and Canada, and number eleven in the US. Their 1968 single "Build Me Up Buttercup" reached number two in the UK and number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. The group was the first multi-racial group to have a number one hit in the UK in the 1960s.
Tony Macaulay is an English author, composer for musical theatre, and songwriter. He has won the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors Award twice as 'Songwriter of the Year'. He is a nine time Ivor Novello Awards winning songwriter. In 2007, he became the only British person to win the Edwin Forrest Award for outstanding contribution to the American theatre. Macaulay's best-known songs include "Baby Now That I've Found You" and "Build Me Up Buttercup" with The Foundations, "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All," as well as "Love Grows " and "Don't Give Up on Us".
"Baby, Now That I've Found You" is a song written by Tony Macaulay and John Macleod, and performed by the Foundations. Part of the song was written in the same bar of a Soho tavern where Karl Marx is supposed to have written Das Kapital. The lyrics are a plea that an unnamed subject not break up with the singer.
"Call Me" is a song composed by Tony Hatch for an original recording for Petula Clark. It was later an easy listening standard via a hit version by Chris Montez.
Clem Curtis was a Trinidadian British singer, who was the original lead vocalist of sixties soul group The Foundations.
The Ramong Sound was a British R&B, soul and ska band, active from 1965 to 1966.
Eric Allandale was a trombonist, songwriter, and bandleader. During the 1960s, he was in number of bands in various genres which included jazz pop and soul.
Alan Warner is an English musician who has been active from around the mid-1960s. He was a member of groups such as The Ramong Sound, The Foundations, Pluto, and The Polecats.
"Let the Heartaches Begin" is a song performed by British singer Long John Baldry. The single was a number one hit in the UK Singles Chart on 22 November 1967 where it stayed for two weeks. It was the second of two consecutive UK number one hits for the writing partnership of Tony Macaulay and John Macleod. The title of the B-side song is "Annabella ".
Clive Chaman is a UK-based bass guitarist and session musician, born in Trinidad and Tobago.
Mike Elliott is a Jamaican-born British saxophonist. He played on ska recordings in the early 1960s and on pop and soul music hits in the late 1960s. He is best known as a co-founding member of the British band The Foundations, and played on their hit singles "Baby, Now That I've Found You" and "Build Me Up Buttercup".
"Back on My Feet Again" is the second single released by the Foundations. It was the follow-up to their hit single "Baby, Now That I've Found You". It was written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod and produced by Tony Macaulay. It charted at number 18 in the UK and also in Ireland. It reached No. 59 in the U.S. and number 29 in Canada.
John Macleod is a Canadian-born English songwriter and musician. he co-wrote the hits "Baby, Now That I've Found You" for The Foundations, "Let the Heartaches Begin for Long John Baldry, "Heaven Knows I'm Missing Him Now" and many more.
Trend Records was an English Record label which existed from the late 1960s until the early 1970s. It issued recordings by such notable artists and personalities as Consortium, The Foundations, Audrey Hall, Marcus Lipton, Julie Stevens, Warm Dust and Colin Young.
Stoney Ground was a single for UK soul group The Foundations. It made it on to the US Billboard chart in 1972. It also represented the group's last charting first release of a single.
Sea of Faces was a 1966 single of English group The Ways and Means. Composed by Brian Parker and Kim Fowley, it became a hit for the group in early 1967.
Digging the Foundations is the final studio album by English soul group the Foundations. The album includes two of the group's hits, "In the Bad, Bad Old Days" and "My Little Chickadee". The album was released in the UK on the Pye label in 1969. There would be various issues relating to the album that would be a cause of concern for the group.
David Myers is an English songwriter who has written songs for artists such as Dalston Diamonds, The Foundations, Linda Kelly, Billy Ocean, Rainbow, Sonny Reeder, Clodagh Rodgers, and Johnny Tudor. His greatest hit success was with "Jack in the Box".
Baby, I Couldn't See was a 1969 single for The Foundations. It enjoyed some popularity in the Netherlands there where it was a chart hit. It has been recorded by a number of other artists in the early 1970s which include, a number of South American acts, a Mexican band, and a New Zealand band.
Barry Class is an entrepreneur, former music store chain owner, band manager, record label founder, musical director, producer and recording studio owner. His greatest success as a manager was with the soul group The Foundations. He also managed the group The World of Oz, Swegas and others.