The Sophisticates - Really Hope You Do / Unreleased Take - Crates of Soul. Mailing April 30th

The Sophisticates – I Really Hope You Do was originally recorded in 1967 on Underground Sounds in Los Angeles ,California.
It’s rarity has sadly contributed to its lack of awareness as it has remained under the radar. This limited edition vinyl reissue will assist in raising its awareness and popularity. Never bootlegged or counterfeited since its 1967 release the track has all the ingredients to rise in status that the wonderful soulful delivery so richly deserves.

The Sophisticates female singing group out of Los Angeles were : Doris Dixon, Carol Mayfield, Sandra Thorpe and Marilyn Hill respectively.
Crates Of Soul are pleased to present release CS 007 The Sophisticates in a limited 300 unit press complete with certificate of authenticity and a previously unissued extended mix from 2024 as an added bonus.

In the words of Rod Gaines producer of : I Really Hope You Do
I paid to have the songs recorded at the Tangerine Recording Studio ( owned by Ray Charles ). We were lucky enough to have him at the sound board when we recorded : I Really Hope You Do. Underground Sounds was a label I was given by the ex boy friend of a young lady I was dating at that time. After hearing the song : I Really Hope You Do I decided I wanted to record it. Initially my friend Keg and I had created a singing group with John Lehman. Through record producer H. B. Barnum we were invited to audition to become lounge singers on a 14 week contract in Tropicana Casino Hotel in Las Vegas. I decided that I didn’t want to take the chance on becoming a recording artist and a Las Vegas lounge performer. So I spoke with another friend : Robert Dixon who I sang with in a singing group in basic training in the military in Louisiana.
Robert told me his sister Doris was in a female singing group named The Sophisticates. We hired the group to record two songs.
Back in 1967 in order to get airplay on radio you had to pay the DJ to play it. Unfortunately as a clothing salesman I could only afford to have a few plays on KGFJ radio station in Los Angeles.

No master tape is in existence despite Rod’s efforts contacting the Ray Charles Foundation. Unfortunately Tangerine Recording ceased trading in 1973 and like in many other situations the sands of time results in destroyed or lost master recordings disappearing from the archives.

Take a listen....