BONUS SOUL TOWN
The story of this band is so out there that it sounds like a really bad attempt at writing alternative reality, but it actually happened.
Its lineup rotated over its 3-year history, but the group during its brief tenure with Motown consisted of:
Bassist Bruce Palmer, later of Buffalo Springfield
Keyboardist Goldy McJohn, later of Steppenwolf
Drummer Rickman Mason and guitarist John Taylor, who faded into obscurity
Singer Ricky Matthews, later known as Rick James!
and
Some guitar player named Neil Young.
Yes, Rick James spent his early career singing soul music backed by a bunch of white Canadians. Including the guy who wrote Down by the River and stuff like that.
This song was slated to be the band's first single release in 1966, but it was withdrawn after a former manager, as revenge for being fired by them, told Motown that Matthews was AWOL from the Navy, which led to his arrest and the band's breakup. Neil and Palmer split for LA, where they met up with Neil's acquaintances Stephen Stills and Richie Furay and formed Buffalo Springfield. "Mr. Soul" is in part about Neil's experiences with Rick James and co. The lost single finally saw an official release on a 2006 Motown compilation.
It's My Time -- The Mynah Birds