Born Austin Taylor, 16 February 1934, Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA
Soul-blues singer Ted Taylor unleashed his stratospheric, falsetto-driven voice on a wide variety of material during the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, his gospel heritage never far from the surface. He was a veteran of several spiritual groups including the Mighty Clouds Of Joy and the Santa Monica Soul Seekers. This latter group then crossed over to R&B, where they worked a dual career both as the Cadets and
the Jacks. By the late '50s, Taylor was signed to Ebb, and a myriad of other imprints soon followed (notably Duke, where he waxed his first version of the ballad 'Be Ever Wonderful'), Okeh (his sides for the Columbia subsidiary were done in Chicago and Nashville), and Ronn, where he spent nearly a decade. A car wreck claimed his life in 1987.
|
| SINGLES |
| Everywhere I go / Days are dark |
Ebb 113 |
1957 |
| If I don't see you again / Keep walking on |
Ebb 132 |
1958 |
| Wrapped up in a dream
/ Very truly yours |
Ebb
151 |
1958 |
| Be ever wondeful
/ Since you're home |
Duke
304 |
1959 |
| Count the starts
/ Hold me tight |
Duke
308 |
1959 |
| I'm saving my love
/ Chanta-lula |
Top
Rank International 2011 |
196)/60 |
| Has my love grown cold
/ I need you so |
Top
Rank International 2048 |
1961 |
| Darling take me
back / Look out |
Top
Rank International 2076 |
1961 |
| Someday
/ You know I do |
Top
Rank International 3001 |
1961 |
| A heart that's
true / Push push |
Laurie
3067 |
1961 |
| You've been crying
/ Little boy how old are you |
Laurie
3076 |
1961 |
| Lovin' hands
/ I don't want to love you |
Laurie
3082 |
1961 |
| I love being loved by you
/ Together forever |
Laurie
3095 |
1961 |
| I'm leaving you |
Melatone |
1961 |
| Someday
/ You know I do |
Warwick
628 |
1961 |
| My darling
/ She's a winner |
Gold
Eagle 1805 |
1961 |
| Bandstand drag
/ Rockin' horse |
Gold
Eagle 1808 |
1961 |
| That happy day
/ I don't care |
Gold
Eagle 1810 |
1961 |
| No matter what you do
/ Never in my life |
Gold
Eagle 1812 |
1961 |
| Anytime, anyplace, anywhere
/ I lost the best things I ever had |
Soncraft
400 |
1961 |
| I lost the best things I ever had
/ Darling if you must leave |
Dade
5000 |
1961 |
| Little things mean a lot |
Apt
25036 |
1962 |
| Pretending love |
United
Artists 152 |
1962 |
| Pretending love / Don't lie |
Okeh 7154 |
1962 |
| You must have been meant for me / Time has a way |
Okeh 7159 |
1962 |
| Can't take no more / I'll release you |
Okeh 7165 |
1962 |
| Be ever wondeful / That's life I guess |
Okeh 7171 |
1962 |
| You give me nothing to go on / Him instead of me |
Okeh 7176 |
1963 |
| I'll make it up to you / It ain't like that no more |
Okeh 7179 |
1963 |
| So hard / Need you home |
Okeh 7190 |
1964 |
| Somebody's always trying / Top of the world |
Okeh 7198 |
1964 |
| If it wasn't for you / You don't deceive me (Please don't) |
Okeh 7206 |
1964 |
| So long, bye bye / BabyI love you yes I do |
Okeh 7214 |
1965 |
| I'm so satisfied(Love is like a) / Ramblin' rose |
Okeh 7222 |
1965 |
| Stay away from my baby / Walking out of your life |
Okeh 7231 |
1965 |
| Daddy's baby / Mercy have pity |
Okeh 7240 |
1966 |
| Big wheel / No one but you |
Okeh 7252 |
1966 |
| Dancing Annie / Try me again |
Atco 6388 |
1966 |
| River's invitation / Long distance love |
Atco 6408 |
1966 |
| Thank you for helping me see the light / Help the bear |
Atco 6434 |
1966 |
| Feed the flame / Baby come back to me |
Atco 6481 |
1966 |
| Strange things keep happening / Little boy (How old are you) |
Jewel 135 |
1966 |
| Very truly yours / Days are dark |
Jewel 748 |
1966 |
| 1966 You've been crying / Close your eyes |
Jewel 759 |
1966 |
| Everywhere I go / Keep walking on |
Jewel 774 |
1966 |
| Miss you so / I'm gonna get tough |
Ronn 15 |
1968 |
| I need your love so bad / Ollie-Mae |
Ronn 21 |
1968 |
| Without a woman / Honey Lou |
Ronn25 |
1966 |
| You got to feel it / Strangest feeling |
Ronn 29 |
1969 |
| Long ago / I'm gonna send you back to Oklahoma |
Ronn 33 |
1969 |
| It's too late / The road of love |
Ronn 34 |
1969 |
| I'm lonely tonight / If I thought you needed me |
Ronn 37 |
1969 |
| I feel a chill / Loving physician |
Ronn 40 |
1970 |
| Something strange is goin' on in my house / Funky thing |
Ronn 44 |
1970 |
| It's a funky situation / I'm so glad you're home |
Ronn 46 |
1970 |
| Can't take no more (So baby bye bye) / Singing man |
Ronn 49 |
1971 |
| How's your love life baby / (This is a) Troubled world |
Ronn 52 |
1971 |
| How do you walk away from fear / Only the lonely knows |
Ronn 57 |
1972 |
| I'm just a crumb in your bread box of love / Houston town |
Ronn 63 |
1972 |
| I want to be a part of you girl / Going in the hole |
Ronn 65 |
1972 |
| What a fool / Make up for lost time |
Ronn 72 |
1973 |
| Break of day / Fair weather woman |
Ronn 74 |
1973 |
| Cry it out baby / Walking the floor |
Ronn 75(with Little Johnny Taylor) |
1973 |
| She loves to do it as well as you / Ready for the heartbreak |
Ronn 77 |
1974 |
| I've got to find somebody new / For all the days of my life |
Ronn 82 |
1974 |
| Pretending love / Funky ghetto |
Ronn 89 |
1974 |
| Houston town / Cummin's prison |
Ronn 106 |
1974 |
| Be ever wonderful / I love you just the same |
Ronn 112 |
1974 |
| Everybody's stealing / Caught up in a good woman's love |
Alarm 110 |
1975 |
| Steal away / Somebody's gettin' it |
Alarm 2112 |
1975 |
| Gonna hate myself in the morning / Stick by me |
Alarm 2114 |
1976 |
| Ghetto disco / You can make it if you try |
Alarm 2117 |
1977 |
| Two minute warning / Paying for my love mistakes |
Alarm 2119 |
1977 |
| You make loving you so easy / Talk to me |
Alarm 2123 |
|
| Paying for my love mistakes / Spanish Harlem |
Alarm 2124((The Taylors feat.Ted Taylor) |
|
| Keepin' my head above water / I can't fake it anymore |
MCA 40937 |
1978 |
| Chase the world away / Double my money bag |
MCA 40977 |
1978 |
| I let you hurt me too long / Pleading for love |
Solpugids 101 |
|
| You're tippin' she's rippin' / Little red rooster |
Solpugids 102 |
|
| Children of the light / Loving you till the break of day |
Solpugids 2313 |
|
| Be ever wondeful / (Love is like a) Ramblin' rose |
|
|
| Stay away from my baby / Daddy's baby |
|
|
| I'm leaving you |
Watts City 1003 |
1983 |
| ALBUMS |
 |
SOMEBODY'S GETTIN' IT 2001 Basix
1. Somebody's Gettin' It (Colter/Davis/Jones)
2. Steal Away (Hughes)
3. Stick by Me (Taylor)
4. Standing in the Wings of Heartache (Dees)
5. Wrapped up in a Good Woman's Love (Dees)
6. I'm Gonna Hate Myself in the Morning (Crutcher/Dees/Knight)
7. It Takes a Fool (To Be a Fool Again) (Strickland/Taylor)
8. You Make Loving You So Easy (Bell/Strickland)
9. High Heel Sneakers (Higgenbotham)
10. Everybody's Stealing (McQueen/Roberts/Taylor/Williams)
11. Talk to Me (Seneca)
12. Paying for My Love Mistakes (Bell/Quezerque/Strickland/Taylor)
13. Two Minute Warning (Singleton)
14. Ghetto Disco (Bell/Strickland/Taylor)
15. You Can Make It If You Try (Jarrett) |
 |
Ronn
Records. Ted Taylor's "Taylor Made"
out-of-print LP. Includes:
It's A Funky Situation, Something Strange Is Going
On In My House, Houston Town, Who's Doing It To Who,
Call The House Doctor, (This Is A) Troubled World,
Papa's Gonna Make Love, How's Your Love Life Baby,
Only The Lonely Knows, Sweet Lovin' Pair, Can't Take
No More, I Feel A Chill. |
 |
European
Marginal(MAR 081) CD |
 |
STEAL AWAY Paula 1991
1. My Key Jumpback in My Hand
2. Home at Last
3. The Wolf
4. Feed the Flame
5. I Can't Take No More
6. Crumb in Your Bread Box of Love
7. Steal Away (Hughes)
8. Get Your Own Woman
9. Only the Lonely Knows (Taylor)
10. Torch of Love |
| |
Taylor Made For You SPG Records, TT-1002 1987
1. My Key Jumped Back In My Hand
2. Home At Last
3. The Wolf
4. Feed The Flame
5. I Can't Take No More
6. Crumb In Your Bread Box Of Love
7. Steal Away
8. Get Your Own Woman
9. Only The Lonely Knows
10. Torch Of Love |
| |
Be Ever Wonderful Solpugdits Records 1001 1985
1. Be Ever Wonderful
2. Pleadin For Love
3. It Hurts To Be In Love
4. Some Day
5. Little Red Rooster
6. How Could You Do That
7. You're Tippin, She's Rippin'
8. Stay Away From My Baby |
| |
Keep On Walking Charly 1980
1. Everywhere I Go (Taylor)
2. Days Are Dark (Taylor)
3. Strange Things Happening
4. (Hold on) I Got the Chills
5. If I Don't See You Again (Taylor)
6. Keep Walking On (Taylor)
7. Miss You So
8. It's Too Late (Willis)
9. She's Got a Munchy Tunchy
10. Bread Box of Love
11. How's Your Love Life Baby (Grayson/Lexing)
12. Only the Lonely Knows (Taylor)
13. Don't Be Slapping My Hand Buddy
14. Houston Town (Williams)
15. I Need Your Love So Bad (Dunham)
16. Keep What You Get (And Like It) |
|
Soul-singin' Ted Taylor employs his airy falsetto on uptempo and ballad tracks in an obvious attempt to spread his talents to the masses. He updates his signature song "Be Ever Wonderful," losing none of the original's richness. On the upbeat "Double My Money Bags," his stratospheric false voice sounds Bee Gee-ish, and "Keeping My Head Above Water" is a good attempt at emulating the Stylistics' Russell Thompkins. "Born on the Wrong Side of Temptation" has a fast disco beat, similar to what Salsoul Records was doing with Eddie Holman. The other beaters and ballads are equally as pleasing, a good effort that never got recognized. |
KEEPING MY HEAD ABOVE WATER
MCA 1978
1. Keepin' my
head above water
2. Love in an open hand
3. Chase the world away
4. Double my money bag
5. Just two people (sharing the same address)
6. It's in my blood
7. Be ever wonderful
8. Born on the wrong side of temptation
9. Flashbacks
10.I can't fake it anymore
Thanks to Eliot Williams
for the tracklisting |
 |
Ted Taylor & Little Johnny Ronn 7533 1974
1. (I'm Just A Crumb In Your) Bread Box
2. Cry It Out Baby
3. Everybody Knows About My Good Thing
4. Funky Ghetto
5. Gonna Find Me A New Love
6. Honey Lou
7. I Can't See Myself As A One Woman Man
8. Make Love To Me Baby
9. Only The Lonely Knows
10. Pretending Love
11. Walking The Floor
12. When Are You Coming Home
|
 |
TAYLOR MADE Ronn LPS 7531 1971
1. It's a Funky Situation (McQueen/Williams)
2. Something Strange Is Going on in My House (McQueen/Williams/Williams)
3. Houston Town (Williams)
4. Who's Doing It to Who (McQueen/Williams)
5. Call the House Doctor (Taylor)
6. (This Is A) Troubled World (Taylor)
7. Papa's Gonna Make Love (McQueen/Williams/Williams)
8. How's Your Love Life Baby (Grayson/Lexing)
9. Only the Lonely Knows (Taylor)
10. Sweet Lovin' Pair (McQueen/Williams/Williams)
11. Can't Take No More (Taylor)
12. I Feel a Chill (Davis/Day)
|
| |
SHADES OF BLUE Ronn 1970
1. You've Been Crying (Taylor)
2. The Girl of My Dreams (Taylor)
3. I've Got the Chills (Peace/Taylor)
4. This Love of Mine (Parker/Sanicola/Sinatra)
5. Keep Walking On (Taylor)
6. If I Don't See You Again (Taylor)
7. Very Truly Yours (McCoy/Singleton)
8. Everywhere I Go (Taylor)
9. Days Are Dark (Taylor)
10. Wrapped in a Dream (Berlin/Best)
11. Only Your Love (Taylor)
12. Close Your Eyes (Petkere)
|
 |
YOU CAN DIG IT Ronn LPS 7529 1970
1. It's Too Late (Willis
2. Cover Me (Greene/Hinton)
3. If I Thought You Needed Me (Glover/McCoy)
4. The Road of Love (Carter)
5. Ollie Mae (Taylor)
6. You Got to Feel It (Beard/Leflore)
7. Funky Thing (Taylor)
8. I'm Lonely Tonight (Geramita)
9. Without a Woman (Ivy/Miller/Penn)
10. Long Ago (Killen/Penn)
11. Strangest Feeling (Oldham/Penn)
12. I Need Your Love So Bad (Dunham)
|
 |
BE EVER WONDERFUL Laurie 1963
1. Be Ever Wonderful (Matyka/Robey/Scott)
2. Pleadin' for Love (Birdsong)
3. It Hurts to Be in Love (Dixon/Toobs)
4. Some Day (Taylor)
5. Little Red Rooster (Burnett/Dixon)
6. How Could You Do That (Jackson/Taylor)
7. You're Tippin', She's Rippin' (Taylor)
8. Stay Away from My Baby (Pennington)
|
| Thanks go to Alberto Secades for his help in compiling the above Discography |
