SOUTH SHORE COMMISSION
Still Sealed 8-Track Tape
South Shore Commission's claim to fame are the disco classics "Free Man,"
"We're on the Right Track," and "Train Called Freedom." All three were mid-'70s
hits produced by Philly soul songwriter/singer Bunny Sigler and included
on South Shore Commission, an album released by Wand/Scepter in December
1975. The LP was mixed by Tom Moulton, the club DJ who did numerous remixes
for Salsoul Records (Sigler's "Let Me Party With You," Instant Funk's "No
Stoppin That Rockin," Loleatta Holloway's "Love Sensation," Eddie Holman's
"This Will Be a Night to Remember"). The group consisted of vocalists Frank
McCurry, Sheryl Henry, guitarists Sidney Lennear and Eugene Rogers, bassist
David Henderson, and drummer Warren Haygood. Formed in 1960 in Washington,
D.C., they were originally known as the Exciters - not to be confused with
the '60s NY vocal quartet who hit with "Tell Him" and "I Want You to Be
My Boy." By 1965, they were the backup band for the Five Dutones, who were
signed to George Lerner's One-derful label in Chicago. The group's biggest
hit was "Shake a Tail Feather," which peaked at number 28 R&B in summer
1963. Some of the Exciters moved to Chicago and nearby Gary, IN. In 1967,
the Five Dutones disbanded with the band's lead singer McCurry joining the
Exciters and this new group became the South Shore Commission. They recorded
a 1970 single for Atlantic, "Right on Brother," and "Shadows," a 1971 single
for Nickel. New York-based Sceptor Records, who had success with Chicago-based
acts like the Independents ("Leaving Me," the group included the songwriting/production
of team Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy who had hits with Natalie Cole and
Ronnie Dyson), signed the group to their Wand label and released the group's
only LP. With some production from Dick Griffey, the bulk of the album was
produced by Bunny Sigler at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. The backing
tracks were by Instant Funk's core lineup of bassist Raymond Earl, guitarist
Kim Miller, and drummer Scotty Miller. South Shore Commission yielded three
Billboard-charting singles: the jubilant "Free Man" that hit number nine
R&B in spring 1975, the smooth "We're on the Right Track," and "Train Called
Freedom." The aforementioned singles and the LP track "Handle With Care"
were club favorites and charted high on Billboard's disco charts. The 12"
version of "Free Man" breaks into a hypnotic four-on-the-floor vamp that
directly connects it to the disco-influenced house music of the '80s and
the ambient techno of the '90s. SONGS: HANDLE WITH CARE, WE'RE ON THE RIGHT
TRACK, FREE MAN, I'D RATHER SWITCH THAN FIGHT, JUST A MATTER OF TIME, ANY
DAY NOW, TRAIN CALLED FREEDOM, BEFORE YOU'RE GONE, EXCERPT FROM "WE'RE ON
THE RIGHT TRACK"
This seldom seen 8-Track tape appears on the Scepter / Wand label (TWDS-6100),
from 1975, and is MINT Still Factory Sealed.
