Up for sale is a hard to find single (7 inch, 45 RPM vinyl record) that was instrumental in relaunching the career of a terrific blues and soul singer.

Artist:   Mighty Sam McClain

Record Label:  Orleans Records

Record Number:  O.R. 42784 A/B

Release Year:  1983

A Side (O.R. 42784A):  Pray (C. Ditta) [ATTID Music, ASCAP, 3:50]  Produced by C. Ditta and A. J. Loria

     Wax matrix marks:  "OR-42784A" (etched)

B Side (O.R. 42784B):  Dancin to the Music of Love (S. McClain - M. Dillard)  [DILLCO Music, ASCAP, 4:00]  Produced by Moses Dillard

     Wax matrix marks:  "OR-42784-B" (etched)

According to 2016 article by Gary A. Johnson on the website of "blackmeninamerica", written one year after the singer's death, Mighty Sam McClain was "the greatest soul singer ... that no one ever knew about".  He was born in Monroe, Louisiana and sang gospel music from childhood.  At age 13, he left home to escape an abusive step-father, and picked cotton.  Later, he started working for rhythm and blues guitarist "Little Melvin" Underwood on the Chitlin Circuit, eventually becoming his lead vocalist.  He recorded on the Malaco and Atlantic labels and actually appeared three times at the Apollo Theater.  But his career soon hit the skids and, by the latter 1970s and early 1980s, he had became homeless and was living on the streets of Pensacola, Florida.  The single I am selling represents an important turning point in McClain's career.  In 1983, he was invited by producer Carlo Ditta to record these two songs.  (Ditta was the founder of Orleans Records.  He was also the composer of "Pray", which had been voted "Best Gospel Song" at the American Song Festival.)  The single brought McClain new attention and recognition.  He would go on to be nominated for a Grammy and for numerous W. C. Handy Awards.  Real Blues magazine named him as "Soul/Blues Entertainer of the Year" for three years in a row.  Pulse magazine called him "America's best purveyor of red clay soul blues."  McClain died of a stroke, aged 62.

The two songs on this single ("Pray" and "Dancin to the Music of Love") also appear on McClain's later album (LP) "Sledgehammer Soul and Down Home Blues".  However, they are different recordings.  On the record I am selling, McClain sings accompanied (softly) by a female background singers.  I think that both versions of each song are excellent; preference would be a matter of personal taste.

See above for complete description of condition and for photos.  Sold as is.

Attention US Buyers:  I will ship by USPS Media Mail or by USPS Ground Advantage, your choice.  Please note that if you have a Military Mail address (e.g. APO), I must ask that you pick USPS Ground Advantage as it is my understanding that USPS Media Mail is not reliable to Military Mail addresses.