KING CURTIS & THE KINGPINS

This one is a strange beast, King Curtis took the backing track of Ray Sharpe's "Help Me" and added new overdubs in 1969 so that it became "Instant Groove". So Hendrix played on "Instant Groove" without being present at the sessions!

The same trick was also performed for Aretha Franklin, resulting in a "new" track called "Save Me" with new lyrics, Jimi's guitar part removed and new overdubs.

Record World 10 May 1969:
"Atco Rushes ´Groove´
Atco Records has rush-released the King Curtis recording of "Instant Groove." The Curtis single was picked up swiftly in several major areas and Atco plans a major promo push on it."

Record World 17 May 1969:
"Instant groove means instant sales for the King. Funky, groovy soul mover."


There are 3 different pressings of the US "Instant Groove" 45 and one pressing of the Dutch issue.


Released in USA
Title: Instant Groove / Sweet Inspiration - 7" single

Composers:
Instant Groove - ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Sweet Inspiration - (W.Pennigton aka Dan Penn, L.Oldham aka Spooner Oldham)
Producers:
Instant Groove - ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Sweet Inspiration - (Arif Mardin)
Arranged by:
Sweet Inspiration - (Arif Mardin)
Release date: May 1969 1
Label: Atco
Catalog number: 45-6680

Manufactured by:
Monarch Record Mfg. Co.
4852 West Jefferson Boulevard., Los Angeles, California, USA

The pressing plant can be identified by the "MR" inside a circle stamped on the vinyl and the "MO" abbreviation in the matrix number on the vinyl and the label 5

Exist with 2 different labels:
- Stock copy with yellow & white label
- Promo copy, white label with text "plug side" on side A

Stock copy:
Matrix A: on label:69C-16818-MO on vinyl:69-C-16818-MO22
Matrix B: on label:69C-14177-MO on vinyl:69-C-14177-MO23

Side A

Side B

Sleeve


Released in USA

Title: Instant Groove / Sweet Inspiration - 7" single
Composers:
Instant Groove - ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Sweet Inspiration - (W.Pennigton aka Dan Penn, L.Oldham aka Spooner Oldham)
Producers:
Instant Groove - ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Sweet Inspiration - (Arif Mardin)
Arranged by:
Sweet Inspiration - (Arif Mardin)
Release date: May 1969 1
Label: Atco
Catalog number: 45-6680

Manufactured by:
Specialty
210 North Valley Avenue
Olyphant
Pennsylvania, USA

The pressing plant can be identified by the "SP" abbreviation at the end of the matrix number on the label 7

Exist with 2 different labels:
- Stock copy with yellow & white label
- Promo copy, white label with text "plug side" on side A

Stock copy:
Matrix A: On label:69-C-16818 SP on vinyl:69-C-16818-2
Matrix B: On label:69-C-14177 SP on vinyl:69-C-14177-1

Side A

Side B

specialty pressing white label side A

specialty pressing white label side B

Thanks to Ben Slater for the white label images.


Released in USA
Title: Instant Groove / Sweet Inspiration - 7" single

Composers:
Instant Groove - ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Sweet Inspiration - (W.Pennigton aka Dan Penn, L.Oldham aka Spooner Oldham)
Producers:
Instant Groove - ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Sweet Inspiration - (Arif Mardin)
Arranged by:
Sweet Inspiration - (Arif Mardin)
Release date: May 1969 1
Label: Atco
Catalog number: 45-6680

Manufactured by:
Plastic Products
1746 Chelsea Ave.
Memphis, Tenn.

The pressing plant can be identified by the "PL" abbreviation at the end of the matrix number on the label 6

Exist with 2 different labels:
- Stock copy with yellow & white label
- Promo copy, white label with text "plug side" on side A

Stock copy:
Matrix A: On label:69C-16818-PL on vinyl:69-C-16818-(1?)3
Matrix B: On label:69C-14177-PL on vinyl:69-C-14177-(1?)3
(The "1" in the matrix is fainter than the "3" so this could be a re-use of an older matrix instead of "13")

Side A

Side B


Promo copy:
Matrix A: On label:69C-16818-PL on vinyl:69-C-16818-11
Matrix B: On label:69C-14177-PL on vinyl:69-C-14177-12

Side A

Side B

Sleeve


Released in the Netherlands
Title: Instant Groove / Sweet Inspiration - 7" single

Composers:
Instant Groove - ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Sweet Inspiration - (W.Pennigton aka Dan Penn, L.Oldham aka Spooner Oldham)
Producers:
Instant Groove- ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Sweet Inspiration - (Arif Mardin)
Arranged by:
Sweet Inspiration - (Arif Mardin)
Release date: 4 July 1969? 2
Label: Atlantic
Catalog number: 6680
Matrix A: AA6680 1F 1 670 D1
Matrix B: AA6680 2F 1 670 D1

Side A

Side B

Sleeve

 
Released in USA
Title: Instant Groove - lp
Release date: July 1969 3
Label: Atco
Catalog number: SD 33-293

Stereo lp, also released in a mono mix as a promotional DJ issue. 4

You can listen to the whole lp on YouTube Music

Side A
Instant Groove ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Hey Joe (Billy Roberts)
Foot Pattin` ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Wichita Lineman (Jim Webb)
Games People Play (Joe South)
Sing A Simple Song (Sylvester Stewart aka Sly Stone)

Side B
The Weight (Jaime Robertson aka Robbie Robertson)
La Jeanne (Johnny Christopher)
Little Green Apples (Bobby Russell)
Somewhere (Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim)
Hold Me Tight (Johnny Nash)
Hey Jude (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)


Released in UK

Title: Instant Groove - lp
Release date: 1969
Label: Atco
Catalog number: 228027

Side A
Instant Groove ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Hey Joe (Billy Roberts)
Foot Pattin` ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Wichita Lineman (Jim Webb)
Games People Play (Joe South)
Sing A Simple Song (Sylvester Stewart aka Sly Stone)

Side B
The Weight (Jaime Robertson aka Robbie Robertson)
La Jeanne (Johnny Christopher)
Little Green Apples (Bobby Russell)
Somewhere (Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim)
Hold Me Tight (Johnny Nash)
Hey Jude (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)


Released in Canada
Title: Instant Groove - lp
Release date: 1969
Label: Atco
Catalog number: SD 33-293

Side A
Instant Groove ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Hey Joe (Billy Roberts)
Foot Pattin` ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Wichita Lineman (Jim Webb)
Games People Play (Joe South)
Sing A Simple Song (Sylvester Stewart aka Sly Stone)

Side B
The Weight (Jaime Robertson aka Robbie Robertson)
La Jeanne (Johnny Christopher)
Little Green Apples (Bobby Russell)
Somewhere (Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim)
Hold Me Tight (Johnny Nash)
Hey Jude (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)


Released in Germany

Title: Instant Groove - lp
Release date: 1969
Label: Atco
Catalog number: SD 33-293

Side A
Instant Groove ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Hey Joe (Billy Roberts)
Foot Pattin` ("King" Curtis Ousley)
Wichita Lineman (Jim Webb)
Games People Play (Joe South)
Sing A Simple Song (Sylvester Stewart aka Sly Stone)

Side B
The Weight (Jaime Robertson aka Robbie Robertson)
La Jeanne (Johnny Christopher)
Little Green Apples (Bobby Russell)
Somewhere (Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim)
Hold Me Tight (Johnny Nash)
Hey Jude (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)



SOURCES
1 half page ad for the 45 published in Record World 17 May 1969 issue, mentioned in the section "Looking Ahead" in Cash Box issue 7 June 1969 and listed in "Bubbling Under The Hot 100" in Billboard issue 7 June 1969

2 45cat.com lists the release date for the Dutch single as 4 July 1969 but there is no source provided for the information

3 the "Instant Groove" -lp was reviewed in the 2 August 1969 issue of Billboard and the 9 August 1969 issue of Cash Box. It entered the Billboard "Rhythm & Blues LP`s" -chart "For Week Ending 8/16/69" at number 47 in the 16 August 1969 issue.

4 see for example auctioned copies of the lp listed on www.popsike.com

5 Monarch pressing plant address published in Cash Box 14 August 1965 and 5 July 1969. Plant identification info is available at http://www.anorakscorner.com/PressingPlantInfo.html
"Each disc has their "MR" within a circle in the deadwax, and then a "Delta number", which consists of a scratched in triangle shape followed by a 5 digit number. It appears on both sides of a disc with an "X" added for the B.side. Note that the Delta/triangle system was not exclusive to Monarch, and other companies such as ALCO ( see below) also utilised it indicating that they produced the metal masters for pressing from. Record labels may use one company to produce the masters and another to actually press the discs - Monarch had the capability to manufacture discs. It is also worth noting that another metalwork company, AFM Engineering could also press records, but they used vinyl whereas Monarch produced styrene discs (injection moulded) rather than 'pressed/stamped' out vinyl."

6 Plastic Products pressing plant address published in Cash Box 14 August 1965 and 5 July 1969. Plant identification info is available at http://www.anorakscorner.com/PressingPlantInfo.html
"Atlantic singles pressed by the plant used a "PL" suffix after each matrix number on the record label to identify the origin thereof.  In addition, they pressed for Sun Records during its 1950's heyday. "

7 Specialty pressing plant address published in Cash Box 14 August 1965 and 5 July 1969. Plant identification info is available at https://www.discogs.com/label/27576-Specialty-Records-Corporation:
"Often denoted by an "(SP)" or "SP" plant code printed on center labels on many of the labels they pressed record for. Often denoted on Atlantic releases and sublabels' or partner labels' releases with a "-SP" at the end of the printed matrix number on the center labels. Otherwise a "-SP" or "-SR" can often be found at the end of the etched matrix number in the runout 'deadwax'."