The Uniques were an American rock band based in Louisiana, with Joe Stampley at the helm. Members included brother Bobby Stampley of Springhill, bass; Ray Mills of nearby Sarepta, lead guitar; Mike Love of Magnolia, Arkansas, drums; Jim Woodfield of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, guitar, and Joe Stampley, keyboard and lead vocalist. The members met while attending Southern State College (now Southern Arkansas University) in Magnolia, Arkansas, and formed the band. They were active from 1965 to 1970, recording most of their material at Robin Hood Studios in Tyler, Texas. They released their material on Paula Records of Shreveport, Louisiana. Their two biggest hits were "Not Too Long Ago" and "All These Things", which Stampley would re-record in his country solo career and take to the top of the charts.
"All These Things" was written by Naomi Neville, a pseudonym for Allen Toussaint.
In the fall of 2010, The Uniques were inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame during their 45th anniversary reunion concert at the Piney woods Palace in Springhill, Louisiana. Original members present: Joe Stampley, Bobby Stampley, Ray Mills, Jim Woodfield, and Mike Love.
The song "You Ain't Tuff" was also featured on the Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968 collection.
Discography
Albums
Their actual LP releases on Paula Records in chronological order were:
- Uniquely Yours (Paula LPS 2190) 1966, recorded at Robin Hood, Tyler
- Happening Now (Paula LPS 2194) 1967, recorded at Robin Hood, Tyler
- Playtime (Paula LPS 2199) 1968, recorded at Columbia Studios, Nashville
- The Uniques (Paula LPS 2204) 1969, recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
- Golden Hits (Paula LPS 2208) 1970
Singles
Fast Way Of Living / Not Too Long Ago
Too Good To Be True / Never Been In Love
Lady's Man / Bolivar J
You Ain't Tuff / Strange
Tell Me What To Do / All These Things
Run And Hide / Good Bye, So Long
Please Come Home For Christmas (Vocal) / Please Come Home For Christmas (Instrumental)
Georgia On My Mind / Too Good To Be True / Not Too Long Ago / And I Love Her
Fool Number 1 / Groovin'Out
Groovin' Out (On Your Good, Good Lovin') / Areba
Every Now And Then (I Cry) / Love Is A Precious Thing
I'll Do Anything / Go On and Leave
All It Took Was Love / It's All Over Now
It Hurts Me To Remember / I Sure Feel More (Like I Do Than I Did When I Got Here)
How Lucky Can One Man Be / You Don't Miss Your Water
Sha-La-Love / You Know (That I Love You)
My Babe / Toys Are Made For Children
You Know That I Love You / All These Things
Eunice / No One But You
Lazy Afternoon / Shadow Of Love
Lucille / One Night With You
Will You Love Me Tomorrow / I Am A Gemini
References
- Tom Aswell (22 April 2013). Louisiana Rocks!: The True Genesis of Rock and Roll. Pelican Publishing. pp. 313–. ISBN 978-1-4556-0783-9.
- Richard Carlin (25 February 2014). Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary. Routledge. pp. 382–. ISBN 978-1-135-36104-4.
- The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. 4 January 2012. pp. 475–. ISBN 978-0-19-992083-9.
- "The Uniques". Discogs.
- Source information taken directly from their LP covers and http://www.bsnpubs.com/gulfcoast/paula.html
Authorship of "All These Things" is taken from http://www.joestampley.com/Uniques.htm
External links
- The Uniques discography at Discogs