Ian Levine

These tracks represent Brit Ian Levine's producing/writing roots. Only six tracks are Motorcity productions; the rest are by L. J. Johnson, Barbara Pennington, Doris Jones, Evelyn Thomas, Carol Woods, James Wells, and Tyrone Ashley. Levine found vocalists in alleys and hole-in-walls on his sometimes horrific early missions to the States in search of soul singers. Most had never recorded, but had sung in school, bars, and churches, and Levine resurrected them from the musically dormant.

Evelyn Thomas' disco-inflected "Weakspot" (featuring a simulated orgasm) was the most successful cut, selling 70,000 copies. L. J. Johnson's "Your Magic Put a Spell on Me" was a close second at 65,000; "Running in Another Direction" by the exciting Chaka Khan-ish Barbara Pennington sold the poorest with only 5,000.

Levine signed all the acts, including the Exciters, featuring Herb Rooney and Brenda Reid (L. A. Reid's mom) to his Voltafine Production company and leased their records to major labels in the United Kingdom like 20th Century and Island Records. He brought the acts to England for a Voltafine revue tour and released albums, and later CDs, on most of them. The Motorcity cuts are some of his best, especially Johnny Bristol's "Man Up in the Sky," and Frances Nero's "Footsteps Following Me," one of his biggest records. Miquel Brown, the only non-States resident, does "Sunny Day." ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide