Brenton Wood Best Of Released; ’60s Soul Star

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The Very Best of Brenton Wood

Concord Bicycle will release, tomorrow (Feb. 24), The Very Best of Brenton Wood, a newly remastered collection charting the ’60s soul singer’s hits for the Double Shot label. Included are “The Oogum Boogum Song,” the top 10 “Gimme Little Sign,” “Baby You Got It,” along with the ballads “Me and You” and “I Like the Way You Love Me.”

The Very Best Of also includes two deep soul gems from the vaults: a version of Sam Cooke’s Civil Rights anthem “A Change Is Gonna Come,” along with “Diamonds.” (It’s available here.)

This brand new collection is Wood’s first official remastered “Best Of” compilation since 1988. Out of print for decades, his two studio albums Oogum Boogum and Baby You Got It were digitally reissued for the first time ever in 2013. Oogum Boogum will also have a wide vinyl album release this summer.

According to a press release, “Brenton Wood arrived on the scene in 1967 with back-to-back hits ‘The Oogum Boogum Song’ and ‘Gimme Little Sign’ that would carry the then-Compton resident from a regional Southern California artist to international stardom. During this high-voltage period, Wood would record eleven 45s and two studio albums, creating a unique soul and pop hybrid style crossed with moving doo-wop ballads.”

Brenton Wood (Photo from his website)

The Los Angeles based independent label Double Shot Records found success in the late ’60s with Count Five’s “Psychotic Reaction” and Wood “The Oogum Boogum Song.” The 7-inch/45 RPM-based label was home to a diverse roster that also included the recently deceased Bobby Freeman. The label folded at the dawn of the ’70s.

Concord Bicycle is also opening the vaults to reveal various never-before available The Very Best Of collections from Freeman, the Bagdads and Kent and the Candidates. Those will be available March 24; further details will be announced soon.

According to Wikipedia, Wood—whose original name was Alfred Jesse Smith—is now 75 and last recorded in 2009, a gospel album called Lord Hear My Prayer.

The Very Best of Brenton Wood Track Listing
The Oogum Boogum Song
Gimme Little Sign
I Like The Way You Love Me
Baby You Got It
A Change Is Gonna Come
I Think You’ve Got Your Fools Mixed Up
Great Big Bundle Of Love
Me And You
Take A Chance
Darlin’
I’m The One Who Knows
Catch You On The Rebound
Two Time Loser
Best Thing I Ever had
Where Were you
Diamonds