Song:If I Could Only Be Sure
Album:The ABC's of Soul, Vol. 2: Classics from the ABC Records Catalog 1969-74
Soul singer Nolan Porter made a couple of albums in the early 70s. He's never had a hit but If I Could Only Be Sure has become a favourite in the Northern Soul scene in England and he still tours on the strength of that one song. That's not as unusual as you might think. And the most interesting thing about Porter is he has a major Mothers Of Invention connection. He's been married to Frank Zappa's sister Candy Zappa for many years. And several Mothers played on his 70s albums. I don't have any biographical info about Nolan Porter but I can only assume he was part of the Los Angeles music scene of the late 60s. Israeli born record producer Gabriel Mekler gained a reputation in the late 60s by producing Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night and Janis Joplin. He was a staff producer at ABC Records' Dunhill label. So by 1971 he wanted to start his own label with ABC distribution. Lizard Records had some chart success with Paul Humphrey & The Kool Aid Chemists. But Nolan Porter and other artists didn't sell and Lizard closed in 1972. Porter recorded two albums for Lizard. If I Could Only Be Sure is on the first album Nolan and he wrote and produced the song with Mekler. Among those who played on the album were former Mothers Of Invention members Roy Estrada and Jimmy Carl Black and Lowell George, Richie Hayward and Bill Payne of Little Feat. Those are great musicians. Unfortunately Nolan Porter's albums aren't available but you can get If I Could Only Be Sure on this ABC Records various artists comp from Hip-O. Sadly, Gabriel Mekler died in a motorcycle accident in 1977. But Nolan Porter and wife Candy Zappa still tour today and they even have a MySpace. Here's Nolan Porter performing If I Could Only Be Sure probably in England around 2005.
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