Studio One Disco Mix (2004) – Various Artists
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I want to talk to you about “Ain’t Gonna Change My Mind” by Doreen Schaeffer, featured on this excellent Soul Jazz compilation. I first heard this in a version of soul and disco queen Loleatta Holloway (in fact the track was originally recorded by Tyrone Davis in 1968.); in her version it’s called “Can I Change My Mind”. It is featured on the crappy sounding but nevertheless great comp Cry to Me: Golden Classics of the 70s, 14 tracks Loleatta Holloway cut for Georgia r&b and soul Aware Records [run by gangster Mike Thevis] between 1971 and 1975. It came out on the cheapo Collectables label in 1992.
There is a very intimate connection between soul music and reggae. In the sixties and seventies of the 20th century, reggae producers and record shop owners made regular trips to the south and east of the United States.
Two more compilation albums in a similar vein are Nice Up the Dance-Studio One Discomixes and Studio One Showcase, Vol. 1. And on the last one I mentioned is the same song again, the one I know by Loleatta Holloway and Doreen Schaeffer, now sung by Alton Ellie, and it’s called “Can I Change My Mind”.
And here are the lyrics:
Aww, she didn’t bat an eye
As I packed my bags to leave
I thought she would start to cry
Or sit around my room and grieve
But y’all, the girl, she fooled me this time
She acted like I was the last thing on her mind
I would like to start all over againBaby, can I change my mind
I just wanna change my mind
Baby, let me change my mind
As I took those steps
Toward that open door
Knowing all the time
Oh, Lord, I just didn’t wanna go
But she didn’t give me no sign
Nothing that would make me change my mind
I would like to start all over againBaby, can I change my mind
Please, please, please, baby
I just wanna change my mindOh, I played my games
Many times before
But peoples, let me tell y’all
Oh, I never reached the door
But ooh, the winds howl tonight
I keep lookin’ back but my baby’s nowhere in sight
I would like to start all over againBaby, can I change my mind Please, please, please, baby Baby, let me change my mind [fade]
See also: Studio One
Glad to hear you recommend this, Jan. I’ve had my eye on this album for a while but was hesitating to order it before hearing someone endorse it. Studio One Soul is one of the favorite CDs in my collection; I play it constantly.
It’s Soul Jazz and Studio One, so you can hardly go wrong, can you ;), Girish, glad you like them too. Apart from perhaps the Hustle! – Reggae Disco (2002) there are very few duds in this combination.