Today’s classic song of the day is “Mind, Body and Soul” by the Flaming Ember. Released in September of 1969, it peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #19 on the Cash Box Top 100.
“Mind, Body and Soul” was written by Ron Dunbar and the H-D-H team, operating under the pen name of “Edythe Wayne.” Dunbar, who produced the record, also co-wrote “Band of Gold” for Freda Payne and “Give Me Just a Little More Time” for Chairmen of the Board. H-D-H, you should know about.
“Mind, Body, and Soul” was the Flaming Ember’s first hit and the second hit for the brand-new Hot Wax label overall. Hot Wax was one of two record labels (the other was Invictus) formed by hitmakers Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland (AKA Holland-Dozier Holland, AKA H-D-H) after they left Motown records over a financial dispute. The group was one of several major artists on the label, including Honey Cone, Laura Lee, and 100 Proof (Aged in Soul).
Unlike Hot Wax’s other artists, who were all Motown sound-alikes put together and nurtured by H-D-H, the Flaming Ember was an all-white blue-eyed soul group from Detroit that had a career before they signed with H-D-H. Formed way back in 1964, the group released their first record in 1967 on the Ric-Tic label, but when Ric-Tic was acquired by Motown in 1968, the band was let go. H-D-H picked them up shortly after and had three hits with them—”Mind, Body and Soul,” “Westbound #9 (#24 in 1970),” and “I’m Not My Brother’s Keeper (#34 in 1970).” It’s all good stuff and lead singer Jerry Plunk, who was also the band’s drummer, had a little bit of Levi Stubbs-like grit in his voice.
Which leads us to today’s daily bonus video of the day, the Flaming Ember lip-synching “Mind, Body and Soul” on some television program back in 1970. Note that they have Jerry Plank standing up while he “plays” the drums and sings, because you apparently can’t have a lead singer sitting down. Sigh.
