Ann Byers

Ann Byers, a singer from North Philly, is virtually unidentified outside of the town of Brotherly Like. Her singles on little Philly labels seldom escaped the town limitations; if it hadn’t been for compact disk reissues of obscure Philly paths, just probably the most encyclopedic record enthusiasts would understand of her. What’s interesting about these obscure Philly produces is the brands that pop-up for the credits as songwriters, manufacturers, and arrangers — individuals who afterwards achieved popularity on larger, better-financed Philly brands. Phil Hurtt, partly, wrote Byers’ initial four produces; Hurtt’s “I’M GOING TO BE Around” revived the Spinners’ profession in the first ’70s. He afterwards became a significant cog using the Community People. Nevertheless, “Natural Sense” b/w “Was It Worthy of the Discomfort,” both compliments of Hurtt and Fred Smith, didn’t graph in 1963-1964 for Lyric Information, who acknowledged the record to Anne Customers. “Useless End,” another Hurtt/Smith work on Academy Information (1964), got potential but faltered due to finances; after documenting acts, Academy got little still left for advertising. Two even more Academy produces — “If you wish to MAINTAIN YOUR Guy” and “I’m Content Without You” — released in 1965 and 1966, respectively, are useless ringers for the audio Motown designed for Mary Wells as well as the Lovetones. Byers sounded like Wells, but sang a little higher. Her profession took popular when Academy folded in 1967 with unreleased Byers songs within the can. She surfaced on Harthon (after that Cougar Information) in 1969, but didn’t record once again until 1973 when Virtue Information acknowledged two Donald Hogan (“WHENEVER WE Get Wedded”) tunes, “Cookies n’ Candy” b/w “Blues for a Lady,” to Ann Byers Using the Masterpieces. The Masterpieces included David Ebo and Lloyd Parks (Parks sang with Harold Melvin as well as the Bluenotes, as do Ebo, who changed Teddy Pendergrass). In 1974, Virtue released “This Guy Is Ranked X,” made up by Leroy Green and Norman Harris, nonetheless it just teased at achievement. Your final Virtue solitary, “IF YOU CANNOT Stand heat Get out your kitchen,” seems a proper closing to Byers’ less-than-successful profession. One will discover her singles on many compilations, like the Northern Spirit of Philadelphia, Vol. 1 and Philly Spirit Ladies, Vol. 1.