The Bonne Villes - Bringing It Home (1966)

The Bonne Villes were one of the better white R&B-based acts to record for the Winston-Salem-based Justice label. A sextet consisting of Donald W. Cartner (drums), Curtis Buzzy Cobb (sax, organ), Butch Carl F. Steele (bass), Nelson M. Bradshaw (lead guitar), James Alan Lovette (lead vocals), and Gary Howe (vocals), they made their way across frat parties and local clubs from their native Salisbury on out, playing early- to mid-'60s R&B; mostly covers of songs by the Drifters, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, etc., spiced with occasional originals in a similar vein by Jim Lovette. They had a fairly sophisticated vocal attack, and their instrumental skills were up to the repertory they chose; witness Steele's attack on the bass on their cover of 96 Tears.

   1  Stand by Me  Bonne Villes  3:03  

       2  The Monkey Time  Mayfield  2:47  

       3  Under the Boardwalk  Resnick, Young  3:25  

       4  For Your Love  Bonne Villes  2:05  

       5  96 Tears  Martinez  2:07  

       6  My Girl  Bonne Villes  2:25  

       7  Bring It on Home to Me  Cooke  2:49  

       8  Helping Hand  Bonne Villes  2:38  

       9  Thank You John  Bonne Villes  2:32  

       10  In the Midnight Hour  Bonne Villes  2:17  

       11  Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf  Bonne Villes  1:35 

 

     Review by Bruce Eder

Not a bad representation of the band's strengths, a collection of 11 tracks, mostly covers of R&B and rock & roll standards. The singing isn't up to the task of the most sophisticated material, including "Bring It on Home to Me," but the group does have a cohesive sound. Their originals simply don't hold up, however, and lackluster numbers like "Helping Hand" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" pale next to "My Girl," "Under the Boardwalk," or "96 Tears."

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