Jimmie & Vella

American soul duo, comprised of brother & sister producers and singers/songwriters.

They began their recording careers in 1964 when they migrated to Los Angeles, CA from their native home of Chattanooga, TN.

They have collaborated with Barry White.

Members:

Jimmie Cameron, Vella M. Cameron

Jimmie & Vella Cameron – 1981 – Song Painters

Song Painters by Jimmie & Vella Cameron is the product of the lifelong association of two talented artists. A brother sister act that has been evolving for sixteen years, Jimmy & Vella has shared both the writing and production chores for their debut release on Unlimited Gold Records. Barry White is the executive producer of the album. Albumart prints

Jimmie & Vella Cameron began their recording careers in 1964 when they migrated to Los Angeles from their native home of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Two albums and several years later paths crossed with the “maestro” Barry White who realized their talent and potential and offered them a contract with his Unlimited Gold records.

Tracks

A1 Here Is Where You Belong 4:56

A2 Be Fair To Me 5:18

A3 You’re Gonna Need My Love Someday 5:15

A4 We Share The Meaning Of Love 5:23

B1 Mornin’ Time 5:13

B2 I’ve Got To Live For Myself 4:06

B3 Someone Loves You 5:34

B4 There’s No Other Love 4:52

From the late 60’s and early 70’s mod look on the cover of 1968’s ‘Heartbeat‘ LP to the afro’s and dashikis of 1971’s self titled ‘Jimmie And Vella‘ they’ve looked cool as ice. Not much is known about this brother and sister duo and they have had a ghost like career floating about through several decades with no real huge success. But, their legacy is deep and such a talented duo they are indeed.

Success might have eluded them, but milestones are what they left us on all three of these LP’s. They bounced around on a different label for each decade. ‘Heartbeat‘ is a quality straight soul LP with stunning production but it most known for the tune ‘Hey Boy Over There‘ which was also flipped by DJ Premier. It’s a great soul LP produced in a very typical style for 68-71 in Los Angeles. Released on the Imperial label. StreamR&B Hits

In 1971 Jimmie and Vella expanded and deepened their sound with ‘Jimmie And Vella’ released on Atlantic Records. They turned away from commercial stresses, explored more folky grooves and wrote about social issues and injustice. In ‘Lord Abide With Me‘ they came with a heavy gospel and revolutionary feel. This ‘self-titled’ LP is a fine crafting and example of ‘hippie soul’ or ‘folk funk’. At times laid back and delicate and at other times empowering, passionate and furious. Just a well rounded work.

Now this one, their third and final album represents a diverse musical presentation from Jimmy & Vella. Their musical interest run the gamut from R’n’B to classical and even country. I am a sucker for Soul duets, I love most of them, the interplay, the bond between the two different voices. This album has been reissued in 1994 by a small French label specialized in Rare Groove, it has been an early piece of my collection, and one of the rare I never changed my mind about: I love it, period. Albumart prints

As it is an Unlimited Gold label production, a Barry White influence is perceptible in the arrangements, but it is different in the whole, lighter, breezier, almost West Indian sometimes. Just listen the amazing opener ” Here Is Where You Belong” written by Jimmy and arranged by the great Gene Page.

But to me the two standout tracks are the magnificent and seductive “I’ve Got To Live For Myself ” written by Vella and produced Barry and “Be Fair To Me” an unforgettable club anthem very important to the French scene reminds the days of the Pacific Club and Barry’s Love Unlimited days with the amazing brass part at the end.

I don’t know anything about Jimmie & Vella, but the cover of this album definitely has them doing their Ike and Tina Turner impressions. Hopefully things worked out better for them. The music (all original) bears some resemblance to the Turners, though with a significant dollop of both protest folk and gospel, making this one of the precious few albums that actually lives up to the current nom de vogue of “folk-funk”. Musichistory books

The songs are actually rather captivating, with the gospel influence making for some beautiful, heart-rending ballads, the folk influence responsible for some intelligent, hard hitting lyrics, and the funky rock keeping everything interesting. When all of these ingredients are added to the batter, the result is “Lord Abide With Me“, which sounds for all the world like a tailor-made civil rights anthem, though as such it was probably a little late by 1972. A very unique sound. Nice psychedelic gatefold too for some reason.

Tracks

A1 The Door is Open 4:40

A2 Old Men 3:28

A3 Do You Really Know How I Feel 5:52

A4 To the Master of Every King 4:41

A5 Then I Woke Up 3:40

B1 Chica Boom 3:16

B2 Rain 7:40

B3 Just Hasn’t Been the Same 3:41

B4 Lord Abide With Me 6:30

From the late 60’s and early 70’s mod look on the cover of 1968’s ‘Heartbeat’ LP to the afro’s and dashikis of 1971’s self titled ‘Jimmie And Vella’ they’ve looked cool as ice. Not much is known about this brother and sister duo and they have had a ghost like career floating about through several decades with no real huge success. But, their legacy is deep and such a talented duo they are indeed.

Success might have eluded them, but milestones are what they left us on all three of these LP’s. They bounced around on a different label for each decade. ‘Heartbeat‘ is a quality straight soul LP with stunning production but it most known for the tune ‘Hey Boy Over There‘ which was also flipped by DJ Premier. It’s a great soul LP produced in a very typical style for 68-71 in Los Angeles. Released on the Imperial label. Soulmusic documentaries

In 1971 Jimmie and Vella expanded and deepened their sound with ‘Jimmie And Vella’ released on Atlantic Records. They turned away from commercial stresses, explored more folky grooves and wrote about social issues and injustice. In ‘Lord Abide With Me‘ they came with a heavy gospel and revolutionary feel. This ‘self-titled’ LP is a fine crafting and example of ‘hippie soul’ or ‘folk funk’. At times laid back and delicate and at other times empowering, passionate and furious. Just a well rounded work.

Musically quite good, instrumentally and vocally. Worth it for “Rain“. Pretty hard to find music like this these days. Just good songs, really good singing. Fine instrumental backing. The album was recorded in 1972 at Electric Lady Studios and produced by Dave Palmer, so there is a lot of quality in the technical aspects of the record. The music is “soul” based but moves all around stylistically. All of the songs were written by either Jimmy or Bella Cameron, or by both.There is a really unique blending of soul, funk, folk, and spiritual here. Oh yeah, if you can pick up a vinyl copy, the inside of the gate-fold cover is pretty cool!

https://www.discogs.com/artist/952847-Jimmie-Vella-Cameron

https://www.funkmysoul.gr/albums-no-review/jimmie-vella-cameron-1981-song-painters/