1980 (?) RE of ’77 OG The Mighty Chevelles “Black Gold” on Flaming Arrow

So, the provenance on the RE is disputed as to year, or if there is an early RE and a later Grey Market, but after a good deal of research I can safely say….that I’m still not sure. Word on the street is that Donzelle Reeves (organ, vocals) was unhappy with the OG and so had another run pressed out of his own pocket, which is virtually indistinguishable from the first, except for the DG-ish groove being a bit more shallow the second time around. My cover is 100% 70’s vintage, with the cardboard frame and back slick, which fits with the claim that Reeves reused old covers left over for the 2nd. There is also a later CD issue boot, and a more modern boot. So, I think I have an OG cover and an early but undated re-issue. All of which, in the end, makes not a whit of difference, because the music is GREAT. Do I love this album? I love this album. It’s SO right in my wheelhouse, earnest, super funky streetside soul with no BS or gimmicks, great percussion and backing vocals, killer bass, and filigree guitar fills. The Chevelles (long my fave car, always wanted a ’68 but had to settle for a ’75 LeMans back in the day) put out two legit singles and one record, and that is a genuine shame.

​They were initially a SUPER hot band out of Milledgeville, GA that got big in Detroit and played the Apollo to great accord, Oscar Havior on that guitar, brother James “HeyBoy” Havior killing drums, Lonnie West and Emmitt “Red” Green with the horns, and out in front is Gloria Walker, all moves and octaves, charm-sexing the uptown clubs into submission. The single backing her “Talking About My Baby” charted huge, and James wanted her for the JBs, but it was never meant to be, Vietnam and life intervened, and “Black Gold” was cut without her, and eventually the Chevelles morphed into The Music Makers, who veered more towards soul disco, and were reissued by Now And Again in 2020, which itself is definitely worth checking out. But yeah, this record SERIOUSLY rules.