When B&S last spoke to Lanier & Co back in February of last year (was it really that long ago?!), the group were hoping that their third single for Willie Mitchell's Waylo label would be the one. While "Dancing In The Night" can't really be regarded as a hit in terms of the small U.K. market (having peaked outside of the Top 75 at No.78) it has at least brought them to the attention of a major label in EMI. Hopefully the single is selling sufficiently well to convince EMI to go with a follow-up, and maybe their now-completed album as well.

                          

When B&S last spoke to Lanier & Co back in February of last year (was it really that long ago?!), the group were hoping that their third single for Willie Mitchell's Waylo label would be the one. While "Dancing In The Night" can't really be regarded as a hit in terms of the small U.K. market (having peaked outside of the Top 75 at No.78) it has at least brought them to the attention of a major label in EMI. Hopefully the single is selling sufficiently well to convince EMI to go with a follow-up, and maybe their now-completed album as well. Since last year, Lanier & Co have had quite a lot of exposure on the U.K. dance scene. Initially with a bootleg of some of the tracks from their only album release to date on LARC, back in 1983, and then more recently via the release of their debut Waylo single "I Don't Know (What To Do About You)" on Threeway just a few months back (some 3 years after its original U.S. release). In America, while no doubt selling well locally in Memphis the group have yet to make any kind of impact with their Waylo product, although Willie Mitchell suggests that it's still early days for "Dancing In The Night" in the vast U.S. market.

 If quality was all that was required then "Dancing In The Night" would certainly have made the grade by now. Contemporary but retaining a soulful quality with its hypnotic chugging bass line providing a strong hook overlaid with a lovely lilting melody. As usual with the group the lead vocal is warm and emotive. Perry Michael Allen (Waylo's in-house arranger and a

recording artist in his own right) should be applauded for the excellent arrangement. Willie Mitchell's production touches under-line what a fine producer he really is.

 "The Lanier & Co album is finished", Willie points out, "and we're cutting it right now, There's lots of new stuff on it as well as "Let's Go For It" (their second Waylo single) and "I Don't Know". In fact we have four albums coming out: Lynn White (her 4th), David Hudson, Billy Always and Lanier & Co. We've already got pre-orders on the Lynn White LP".

 White is Waylo's most successful act to date. With a pruned down roster, which no longer includes either Antonio or Kesha Wright, Willie Mitchell is quietly confident that given time Waylo will come through with some hits.

 "I've been taking my time", he says. "I think we're gonna do alright this time. I listen to what's going on out there and I'm trying to be competitive.

We've only just got our staff together and this is the first time we'll be out there to say here we are.

 "My daughter takes care of the business and we've now got three in-house writers. Willie Bean runs our promotion department and we've got four independent promotion people working our product as well."

TO RECAP briefly on Lanier & Co's career, the group hail from Jackson, Tennessee and began their recording career in 1968 when they signed to the Cleveland based Way Out label as the Jacksonians recording just one single as Fred Towles & The Jacksonians. In 1970 they had another one-off on MGM and then six years later a single on Pawn (a subsidary of Hi Records for whom of course Willie Mitchell produced countless hits for Al Green).

In 1983 they signed to LARC (Los Angeles Record Company) who were then an independent distributed by MCA. By this time the Jacksonians had become Lanier & Co with LARC putting out a self-titled LP on the group. In the delay when LARC chanaed distributor to CBS to re-emerge as Private I (subsequently to be swallowed up by the major) the group and record company parted company.

 The foundation of the group are the Lanier family with Farris Lanier Jr fulfilling the role of main lead singer with support from brothers Fenoye and Marion. The only other remaining member from the LARC days is Lee Freeman with the more recent additions being Stephanie Beard, her brother Van, Arvall Wiley and Marvin Hill. Sister Monalisa Lanier is the group's choreographer while mother Lavern manages the business affairs.

 Like the rest of the acts on Waylo's roster Lanier & Co's career is maintained by live performances. "They work most of the Southern tours", Willie says. "Lynn White does a lot of touring appearing with Little Milton, Bobby Bland and B.B. King".

 Asked about the possibility of recording again himself Willie admits that "every now and then I get the urge. I've thought about going in and modernising some of the old tunes three or four times".

 According to Willie the music industry is again turning to Memphis. "Every studio is really busy right now", he says, "and even Ringo Starr and Z.Z. Top have both recorded in Memphis in recent months." As Willie confidently predicts "Southern soul music is coming back". Let's hope he's right! (Steve Bryant B&S)