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Chris
Bartley Tribute
Chris Bartley, 1947 - 2009
(Photo courtesy of Jeff Chambers by way of Ray Block)
On October
26, 2009, the world lost another golden voice. Chris Bartley, R&B, Soul,
Doo Wop and Gospel singer has died of kidney failure. He was 62.
We didn’t
know Chris well, having only met him once or twice, but we were big fans of
his music. Several of our friends knew Chris very well and by all accounts
he was a great guy as well as an exceptional singer. Ad Libs' Ray
Block said of Chris Bartley, "He had a voice laced with honey and delivered
in silk. He is truly missed."
Leroy
“Chris” Bartley was born in Harlem, about four blocks from the Apollo
Theater, on April 17, 1947. As a youngster, Chris was influenced by Frankie
Lymon and the Teenagers. Chris was attending Frederick Douglass Junior High
in Harlem in 1959 when he started singing in his first vocal group, the
Soulful Inspirations. He continued singing part time with this group for
the next ten years, while the group itself went through numerous personnel
changes. When the group evolved into the Mindbenders in the mid-1960’s they
were introduced to producer Van McCoy by their manager, Bill Downs. Downs
also managed the vocal group, Ad Libs at the time.
Van McCoy
didn’t like the group but he did like the voice of their lead singer, Chris
Bartley. He quickly signed Chris to his Vando, a label Van McCoy was
just starting with radio dee jay, Jocko Henderson.
In July
1967, Chris Bartley’s first record, “The Sweetest Thing This Side Of
Heaven,” was released. The record was distributed by Cameo-Parkway. It
soon hit #32 on the Pop Charts and #10 on the R&B Charts. The song did well
enough that Van McCoy then released an album by Chris. All the Chris
Bartley songs on Vando were written and produced by van McCoy.
First
pressing of Vando 101
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Odd Green
label pressing of Vando 101
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Chris
Bartley’s follow up record, “Baby It’s Wonderful” was a nice record but it
failed to chart.
Picture
sleeve to Vando 3000.
Photo used is the same as for the album.
Vando 3000
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
This
was followed by a cut off of the LP, “For You.” “For You” had previously
been a hit for the Spellbinders.
Vando
3002
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
As
Cameo-Parkway was in decline, Van McCoy started having his Vando label
records distributed by Amy-Mala. The next Chris Bartley record was “Truer
Words Were Never Spoken.”
Vando 14,000
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
The last
record on Vando was Chris Bartley’s “I Found A Goodie,” released in 1968.
It would later find interest among Northern Soul fans in the UK.
Vando 14,001
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
In 1969,
Van McCoy got Chris Bartley signed to Buddah Records where he had two
singles released, the first being a remake a song Van McCoy wrote as a hit
for Barbara Lewis, “Baby I’m Yours.”
Buddah
93
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Chris Bartley didn't record again until 1971 when he had one
single on the Musicor label. This was Chris' first recording
not associated with Van McCoy.
Spanish
picture sleeve to Musicor 1437
Sometime in the
early 1970's,
Chris Bartley's
name is listed as the soul vocalist for the soul/funk band, the Ray
Alexander Technique. The group released a single (Lu Jun label)
and LP (Harlem Sound label). While we are still trying to
confirm that this is the same Chris Bartley, the voice sounds like his and
the group is from New York City.
Ray Alexander Technique LP
One nice Chris Bartley release, apparently dating back to the
Van McCoy produced sides, was issued only in the UK in 1975 on the Right
On label.
Issued only in the UK.
In the
mid-1970’s Chris Bartley joined the Ad Libs, more than ten years after their
big hit, “Boy From New York City.” For the complete story of the Ad
Libs click Ad Libs Profile. The Ad-Libs returned to the studio in
1982 to record “I Don’t Need A Fortune Teller” (now a Northern Soul classic)
on the Passion label.
Ad Libs, ca. 1981
Left to right: Dave Watt, Natalie ????,
Chris Bartley, Eller Weas Little, Jimmy Hollinger.
(Photo courtesy of Jeff Chambers by way of Ray Block)
The Ad-Libs
at the United in Group Harmony Association, Feb 1981
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Chris recorded "I Don't
Need No Fortune Teller" with the Ad Libs.
Only a few copies have survived and the
Northern Soul classic is much sought after.
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
The Ad Libs
appeared in the 1985 doo wop movie, “Joey,” along with the Silhouettes,
Teenagers, Elegants and others.
By 1988,
the Ad-Libs had undergone more personnel changes. The group now
consisted of Chris Bartley, Dave Watt, Mary Ann Thomas, Abby Grant and Ray
Block. Ray Block and Abby Grant had been part of the group Vintage (Catamount label)
in 1972 along with James Wright from the Creators, Cada Brooks from the
Atlantics , and Eller Weas Little from the Spellbinders.
The Ad Libs recorded four records for John Taylor’s Johnnie Boy
label at this time. The first was a remake of the Creators’ “I Stayed
Home,” this time featuring Chris Bartley’s lead.
The Ad Libs
at UGHA in the Spring of 1988.
(Left to right: Dave Watt, Abby Grant, Ray Block, Mary Ann Thomas, Chris Bartley)
(Photo courtesy of Ray Block)
The Ad-Libs
at WFUV 90.7 FM, Fordham University, The Bronx, 1988.
(Left to right: Dave Watt, Ray Block, Abby Grant, Mary Ann Thomas,
Chris Bartley.
In the background is the late music historian and author, Mitch Rosalsky.)
(Photo courtesy of Ray Block)
Acappella
recording of "I Stayed Home" with Chris Bartley doing lead.
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Johnnie
Boy #2 in blue vinyl
(Donated to the Classic Urban Harmony Archives by Ray Block)
Johnnie
Boy #3
(Donated to the Classic Urban Harmony Archives by Ray Block)
Johnnie
Boy #4 in green vinyl
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
By 1991, the Ad Libs' personnel had changed again, but Chris
Bartley remained a fixture in the group along with lead Mary
Ann Thomas and original Ad Lib Dave Watt.
More recently, Chris Bartley sang with the Newark Community
Choir. He then he joined the gospel group New Vintage. The group
was formed by former Spellbinders' Eller Weas Little. The members
were: Jimmy Hollinger, Toni Byrd, Abbey Grant, Chris Bartley and Eller Weas
Little. Ray Block performed with the group on occasion.
A Vintage/Ad Libs/Spellbinders get-together a couple years ago.
(Left to right: Norman Donegan, Abby Grant, Chris Bartley, Dee Grant,
Pat Magnacavello, Eller Weas Little, Ray Block, Bobby Shivers)
(Courtesy of Ray Block)
In 2006 Chris joined
the Spellbinders for an appearance at SoulTrip USA New Jersey.
Members of the group were
Chris Bartley, Abby Grant, Eller Weas Little and Bobby Shivers.
The Spellbinders at
SoulTrip USA New Jersey, 2006
(Left to right: Chris Bartley, Abby Grant, Eller Weas Little, Bobby Shivers)
(Courtesy of Bobby Shivers)
The Spellbinders at
SoulTrip USA New Jersey, 2006
(Left to right: Abby Grant, Chris Bartley, Eller Weas Little, Bobby Shivers)
(Courtesy of Bobby Shivers)
Chris Bartley Singles
Discography
As Chris
Bartley
Vando
101 - The Sweetest Thing
This Side Of Heaven / Love My Baby 7/67
Vando
3000 - Baby It's Wonderful / I'll
Be Loving You
10/67
Vando
3002 - For You / You Get Next To
My Heart
12/67
Vando
14000 - Truer Words Were Never Spoken /
This Feeling You Give Me 68
Vando
14001 - I Found A Goodie / Be Mine
Forever 68
Buddah
93 - Baby I'm Yours /
I'll Take The Blame 69
Buddah
115 - One Wonderful Girl / I
Know We Can Work It Out 69
Musicor
1437 - A Man A Woman / Tomorrow
Keeps Shining On Me 5/71
As Chris
Bartley [UK only releases]
Right On
105 - I See Your Name /
[Instrumental]
75
Move
4 [EP] - Baby I'm For Real /
[rest of EP reissues of Vando material] 85
[this is actually an Ad Libs' cut w/ Chris Bartley on lead]
With Ray Alexander Technique
Lu Jun
2001 - Let's Talk /
[Instrumental]
ca. 74
With the
Ad Libs
Passion 1 - I
Don’t Need A Fortune Teller / Spring And Summer 82
Johnnie Boy 1 -
I Stayed Home / I Stayed Home [acappella] 1/88
Johnnie Boy 2 -
The Tide Has Turned / The Tide Has Turned [instrumental] 88
Johnnie Boy 3 -
Close To Me / Close To Me [instrumental] 88
Johnnie Boy 4 -
I Stayed Home / Santa’s On His Way 11/88
