Artist:Jean WellsSong:Have A Little Mercy
Album:Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures: Taken From The Vaults Vol. 1
Have A Little Mercy was the biggest chart success for obscure soul singer Jean Wells in 1968. Unfortunately, Jean only recorded one album and then quit the music business. Too bad. It's a great song. She was born Aug. 1, 1942 in West Palm Beach, FL and grew up singing in church. She moved to Philadelphia and recorded a few singles. She wasn't getting anywhere until she was discovered by songwriter and producer Clyde Otis. Otis is best known for his days as an A & R executive at Mercury Records. He worked a lot with Brook Benton and wrote and produced Benton's duets with Dinah Washington. By the mid-60s, Otis was an independent producer. He got Jean a record contract with Calla Records. Calla was owned by Nate McCalla. He was a former bodyguard for Roulette Records owner Morris Levy, a notorious crook with mob connections. He needed a bodyguard. Among those who recorded for Calla were Jerry Williams AKA Swamp Dogg, The Emotions, Lonnie Youngblood and The Persuaders. McCalla closed Calla in 1977 and was murdered in 1980. Jean Wells recorded one album for Calla called Soul On Soul and Have A Little Mercy reached #25 on the R & B Singles chart. Clyde Otis wrote Have A Little Mercy with frequent songwriting partner Dorian Burton and Paul Kelly. Kelly had a significant singing career in the 70s. I can only assume that Jean Wells left the music business afterwards. The British label Kent Records released Soul On Soul on CD. But it seems to be unavailable. So you can get Have A Little Mercy on this various artists CD compiled by British music historian Dave Godin. Here's a video for Have A Little Mercy by Jean Wells.
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