Freda Payne - Band Of Gold (Invictus - 1970)

Freda Payne - Band Of Gold

After years spent churning out hits and making of Berry Gordy a billionaire, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland decided in 1967 to rack chips for themselves and to defy Tamla Motown on its own territory, creating The Hotwax and Invictus labels. Relying on their writing and production skills, they started to scout talents all over the country. They signed a then unknown jazz singer, Freda Payne and made her record what will become an immediate soul classic, Band Of Gold, which resulted in album of the same name. A pure effort of stellar Detroit soul, Band Of Gold could have been recorded by Diana Ross. The album is maybe not as innovative or groundbreaking of what Motown was still able to produce at that time (think Marvin Gaye golden age) but is the best effort of an singer that will never meet that level of success again. Invictus and Hot Wax closed in the mid 70's and Holland/Dozier/Holland splited.