Long-time followers of this blog know that I love featuring long-lost soul tracks from the 1960s that have been revived by England’s Northern Soul scene. Today’s classic song of the day is one such tune, “I Love You Baby” by Cindy Scott.
“I Love You Baby” was written by the team of Leon Huff (of future Philly Soul fame), David White, John Madera, and singer/producer Len Barry. It was released on the Veep label in 1967 and went absolutely nowhere.
Cindy Scott (real name Sundray Tucker) is the cousin of legendary Motown artist Tammi Terrell and R&B singer/producer Bunny Sigler. She was born in Philadelphia, the eldest daughter of Ira Tucker, the lead singer of the gospel group the Dixie Hummingbirds. She started singing with Philly group the Ordettes when she was just 14 years old; that group also included a singer named Patricia Louise Holt, who later became known as Patti LaBelle.
Cindy signed first with the Veep label and later with Neptune Records and released a few singles, including “I Love You Baby.” In 1970 she replaced singer Jean Terrell in the Heavyweights when Ms. Terrell left that group to replace Diana Ross as lead singer of the Supremes. Ms. Scott also provided background vocals on Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life album and sang backup for Bobby Womack, Melissa Manchester, and others. She continued performing and singing backup (and doing a little acting) through the late 2010s.
With that kind of pedigree, it’s surprising that Cindy Scott never became more well known. Still, she left us this banger of a Northern Soul track that wouldn’t have been out of place on the Motown label. Give it a listen!
