Song:Westbound #9
Album:The Best Of Flaming Ember
Westbound #9 was the biggest hit and probably the best song by Detroit blue eyed soul group Flaming Ember. Jackson, MS native Jerry Plunk was the lead singer and drummer. Joe Sladich played guitar. Bill Ellis played piano, sax and other instruments and Jim Bugnel played bass. They started out playing Detroit clubs as The Flaming Embers and recorded for Ed Wingate's Ric Tic label in 1968. When Motown bought Ric Tic, they did not pick up The Flaming Embers. They signed with Holland-Dozier-Holland's new label Invictus and were assigned to Hot Wax Records. They changed their name to Flaming Ember. Westbound #9 reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. Flaming Ember were accomplished musicians and wrote their own songs. But that's not how things worked at Invictus/Hot Wax. It was the Motown formula. Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote Westbound #9 with house producer Ron Dunbar. Tony Camillo brought The Funk Brothers in to play on the record. This eventually would lead to the downfall of Flaming Ember. They wanted to write and produce their own music and that wasn't going to happen at Hot Wax. This 1992 Fantasy comp has all their songs. Sladich was replaced by Mark McCoy in 1972. Hot Wax was closed in 1973 and Flaming Ember changed their name to Mind, Body and Soul and went back to playing the Detroit club scene. Bill Ellis went on to play sax for The SOS Band. Jerry Plunk and Jim Bugnel reformed Flaming Ember in 2000 and recorded a CD. They're a pretty good blue eyed soul group. I think you'll enjoy this video of Flaming Ember performing Westbound #9 1970.
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