NOLA FUNK: "Steppin Out" Lionel Robinson Traci Borges, Knight KN-3051 Vocal/Inst

$

40

Up for sale is an exceptionally rare R&B soul-funk single (7 inch, 45 RPM vinyl) from the New Orleans, Louisiana area.  It has the same tune on each side, one side as a vocal and the other as an instrumental.  In my opinion, both sides are killer!  (Please note:  There are other songs with the same title: "Steppin Out".  This song appears to be an original.  For example, it is not the same song as the one sung by Kool and the Gang.)

Artist:   Lionel Robinson (and Traci Borges)

Record Label:  Knight (Knight Recording Studio, Inc.)

Record Number:   KN-3051-A and KN-3051-B

Release Year:  1971 (label is marked "copyright 1971")

The following credits appear on both sides:  Written and Produced by Traci Borges; Engineer Bob Lawrence; A&R Ray Morvant

Side A (KN-3051-A):  Steppin Out (Traci Borges), Vocal Lionel Robinson [Days of Old & Jenmark, BMI - 2:50]

     Wax matrix marks:  "KN-3051-V" and in small script "DBM"

Side B (KN-3051-B):  Steppin Out (Traci Borges), Instrumental [Days of Old & Jenmark, BMI - 2:52]

     Wax matrix marks:  "KN-3051-INST." and in small script "DBM"

There is a great interview of R&B singer Lionel Robinson on the website of "OtherSounds", obtained in 2011.  He was born in New Orleans in 1951 to an 11 year old mother.  He had an extremely challenging childhood.  He spent a number of years in Chicago, but returned to the Big Easy in 1967.  Although he had no musical training, he became a street corner singer and was recruited by a band called The Blue Pearls.  That group introduced him to Traci Borges.  The website of Discogs shows a total of four releases on the Knight label for the Lionel Robinson-Traci Borges collaboration.  (He also had one release under the name Lonnie Robbinson, also for Borges, on the "Sunshine" label.)  He would go on to sing with the "City News Band" and "First Class".    Robinson lost all his possessions in 2005's Hurricane Katrina, including everything related to his musical career.  He died in Houston, Texas in 2012.

Traci Borges was (and is) the owner of Knight Recording Studio, Inc. in Metairie, Louisiana, just outside New Orleans.  According to the discography of Discogs, this single (in 1971) was one of the earliest releases from the Knight label.  Eddie Bo (Edwin Bocage) collaborated with Knight about the same time as Lionel Robinson; Robinson mentions Bo in his interview.

See above for complete description of condition and for photos.  Sold as is.

Attention US Buyers:  I will ship by USPS Media Mail or by USPS Priority Mail, your choice.  Please note that if you have a Military Mail address (e.g. APO), I must ask that you pick USPS Priority Mail as it is my understanding that USPS Medial Mail is not reliable to Military Mail addresses.

Attention International Buyers:  I will ship using USPS First Class International Parcel (to selected countries with e-Delcon service) or by USPS Priority International Mail (worldwide), your choice.  Please note that the price does not include any customs that may be charged by the country to which the record is delivered.