Melvin Davis - I'm The One That Loves You - (Soul Direction) SD022

The latest release in conjunction and licensed with the help of Melvin Davis. The original writer and recorder of the Darrell Banks classic.
PROFITS PROCEEDS HAVE GONE DIRECTLY TO MELVIN DAVIS TO HELP WITH HIS ONGOING MEDICAL ISSUES.

When it comes to Detroit soul music, there are few names come close to the achievements of Melvin Davis. A writer of over 150 songs, a musician on over 50 albums, producer, drummer, vocalist, label owner, performer, and much more, it is no wonder Melvin is known as the DSA, Detroit Soul Ambassador.

Born Melvin Lincoln Davis, Melvin’s family moved north to Detroit when he was very young, but it was in the south where he first heard the soulful tones of artists like Little Richard and Sam Cooke, who influenced him greatly.

After his time in the US Navy, where he taught himself to play several instruments and began song writing, Melvin returned to pursue a career as a musician in the thriving music scene of his home town, Detroit.

During his early R & B influenced releases on Jack Pot, Fortune & Ke-Ke records, he was relentless in pursuing his music career, even finding time to form a local band called The Jaywalkers, with himself on drums, and a certain Mr David Ruffin on lead vocals, whom at the time was house sharing with Melvin.

With the Detroit music scene thriving, Melvin was constantly writing, and following his Wheel City release, ‘Find A Quiet Place’, his talent as a singer, song writer, and musician was becoming recognised by many of the record labels in the Motor City, including Motown.

The period from 1965 to 1970 was prolific for Melvin and saw many of his songs recorded by artists including Johnnie Taylor, Steve Mancha, Lonette Mckee, JJ Barnes, Jackey Beavers, Darrell Banks, and the list goes on. His collaboration with Don Davis’s Groovesville Productions saw him pen over 35 songs, with his credits appearing on every one of the famous red & white labels releases, including his own release Groovesville 1003 the brilliant mid-tempo tracks “I Must Love You” & “Still in My Heart”.

As is well known, there were frequently alternative takes on many songs from that era, and Groovesville Productions was no different. Through the years, several alternative takes have surfaced from the label, both in acetate and tape format, some with the original artists and a number with an alternative vocalist.

Having acquired an original Groovesville tape, Soul Direction Records are delighted to be able to bring to vinyl for the very first time, an exclusive vocal by Melvin Davis at United Sounds Studios in Detroit.

Any Detroit soul fan will know ‘I’m The One Who Loves You’ by Darrell Banks, released on Volt records in 1969, but it was Melvin, the writer, that first recorded the song in 1965. With the inspiration for the song being his own emotional response to a past relationship, Melvin’s original recording is much more laid back than Banks’s , and with a “who’s who” of Detroit session legends, George McGregor (drums), Bob Babbitt (bass), Eddie Willis (lead guitar), Jack Ashford (vibes), and Melvin on drums, it’s of no surprise that the recording has all the hallmarks of a Detroit classic.

Whilst Darrell was given the lyrics personally by Melvin, it should be noted that what you hear on this release is Melvin’s original lyrics as written. Having discussed with him, he confirmed that in fact the song was originally titled “I’m The One That Loves You’ as opposed to ‘Who Loves You’.

It’s always intriguing to collectors as to why certain recording were never released, but at least now, almost 60 years later, we can now hear Melvin pleading with his girl to believe him when he tells her ‘’cause the truth is that I need you baby and nobody else, don’t let true love slip right through your hands, what can I do or say baby, to make you understand, I’m The One That Loves You’

Melvin’s contribution to the Detroit soul music scene is remarkable with very few coming close to his achievements. Whether it’s his 60’s recordings, his time at Invictus Records as a solo artist, writer & producer, lead singer of The 8th Day, session drummer for Motown records, tour drummer for Smokey Robinson, or his releases on his own label Rockmill Records, the Detroit Soul Ambassador, Melvin Davis is without doubt a true Detroit legend.