V. A. - One In A Million: The Songs Of Sam Dees (2014)

Surely the greatest endorsement for any songwriter is the calibre of artists who record their compositions. Sam Dees can boast cuts on acts such as the Temptations, Johnnie Taylor, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Millie Jackson, Jackie Wilson and other upper echelon soul stars. Having previously issued two CDs of Sam’s recordings, we felt he was overdue for an entry in our Songwriter series. The aptly titled “One In A Million” is exactly that.

The CD takes its title from what is probably his most commercially successful song, thanks to Larry Graham’s chart-topping recording from 1980, and covers Sam’s career from the late 1960s through to the mid-80s. Whittling his catalogue down to a representative 22 songs was a challenge and a half. Many of the artists featured, such as Loleatta Holloway and John Edwards, returned to Sam’s songbook again and again, while others drew from it only once or twice. The common denominator between them is they all recognised a great song when they heard it.

TRACKLIST

01. Sam Dees - My World
02. John Edwards - Stop This Merry-Go-Round
03. Dorothy Moore - Girl Overboard
04. Corey Blake - Your Love Is Like A Boomerang
05. Rozetta Johnson - A Woman's Way
06. The Chi-Lites - Vanishing Love
07. Esther Phillips - Cry To Me
08. Ted Taylor - Standing In The Wings Of A Heartache
09. Jackie Wilson - Just As Soon As The Feeling's Over
10. Clarence Carter - Changes
11. Frederick Knight - I Betcha Didn't Know That
12. Sidney Joe Qualls - Run To Me
13. Millie Jackson - Mess On Your Hands
14. Ray Crumley - Good Guys Don't Always Win
15. Les McCann - So Your Love Finally Ran Out For Me
16. Loleatta Holloway - The Show Must Go On
17. The Temptations - What A Way To Put It
18. Anita Ward - Spoiled By Your Love
19. L.T.D. - Where Did We Go Wrong
20. Gladys Knight & The Pips - Save The Overtime (For Me)
21. Johnnie Taylor - Seconds Of Your Love
22. Larry Graham - One In A Million You