February 1967, London

At Soul City, we’re doing well with the growing number of UK releases of great R&B albums and one in particular, “Sing A Song Of Soul” through Chess Records (issued by Pye Records) is a best seller at the record shop – and a personal favourite of mine. With tracks by Johnny Nash, Etta James, Jackie Ross, Billy Stewart, Fontella Bass and Mitty Collier  among others, it’s superb. Two tracks have personal resonance for me – The Knight Brothers’ “Temptation ‘Bout To Get Me” AND Maurice & The Radiants’ immortal “Voice Your Choice”!

In the wake of my drama-filled 19th birthday celebration – with Marion in tears and Franklin mad – the message is clear: ‘Voice your choice, tell me who do you love?’ to quote the song’s hook. As it turns out, Marion makes the answer a little easier for me. We meet up in Grosvenor Square and sitting on a park bench, she says, ‘I have something to tell you…’. Has she fallen madly in love with me? Is she furious that I’ve ‘led’ her on and am really going out with Franklin? ‘Well, you see, David, my fiancé is coming back from Canada…’. Boom-shaka-lacka! The first girl I’ve ever kissed at the New Year’s Eve party is engaged – and then got the nerve to be upset because she thinks I might be sleeping with a guy! Wow. Well, choice made…