 There were those who felt Jerry Butler might fade into obscurity. But, you can't keep a good man down and he's back with a vengeance…a Top-5 single and two fast-selling albums, one with Thelma Houston.
AFTER WHAT we can only term as a false start with Motown, Jerry Butler has finally attained the long awaited breakthrough in the States. As his career at Mercury was allowed to wane, there were those doubters who felt that Jerry would eventually fade into obscurity — but like the true stylist and professional that he is, he has fought his way back into prominence with a good old one-two.
He lead off with a Top 5 single, "I Wanna Do It To You" which also helped his second Motown album — "Suite For The Single Girl" — achieve a satisfactory chart position in the States.
And now he follows through with a duet album with Thelma "Don't Leave Me This Way" Houston.
Of course, Jerry isn't new to the twosome stakes because his Vee Jay days included some classic duets with Betty Everett and then he also discovered Brenda Lee Eager and had a Mercury gold single with "Ain't Understanding Mellow".
"It all came about when I heard the Everly Brothers singing 'Let It Be Me'," the self-styled Ice Man explains when asked how it all started. "I felt that the song was perfect for a man and a woman — even more so than for two guys harmonising.
"You know, there are some songs that are more believable when sung by a man and a woman, don't you agree? So that's how the thing with Betty began and then when I was with Mercury, we had 'Ain't Understanding Mellow' written specially for us as a duet and that was how the thing with Brenda Lee Eager came about.
"And in both cases, we had an immediate hit because both sold over the million. In fact, 'Ain't Understanding Mellow' was so big that the company requested that we do an album together, too. So, when I first signed with Motown, Berry Gordy suggested that I should continue with the duet idea and it was he who suggested Thelma. Of course, all of this happened before she hit with 'Don't Leave Me This Way'.
"Actually, we started work on this album early last year — before 'Suite For The Single Girl' was even thought of, for instance. But we were working with other producers and when Barney Ales took over as President of the company, he suggested that we put the project back and cut some new things.
"Only three of those original tracks remain to be on this album because the main part of the album was produced by myself and Homer Talbert. Those tracks were done in January of this year."
Of course, Jerry has only one serious rival as far as boy/girl duets are concerned.
"Yes, there's really only Marvin Gaye who has worked and recorded with three girls," Jerry points out. "He worked with Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell and Diana Ross. And then Brook Benton had some success, didn't he, with Dinah Washington.
"But I've pretty much got the field to myself just now!"
Of course, talk is now rife that Jerry and Thelma will hit the road together — but that doesn't look a very likely prospect at present.
"Well, at first we thought it would happen and it's sonething I'd dearly love to do," Jerry replies candidly. "But what with Thelma's current popularity, it may be that her manager will feel I'm riding on her shirt-tail and that could stop it altogether.
"I have to be honest about it because that's the way some people think. But if this album is very successful, it may force people's hands — it will ultimately be down to the managers, though.
"The project was something I dearly enjoyed doing because Thelma herself is such a professional that it all went so smoothly. In fact, the whole thing seemed to fit into place as it went along and that's always a good sign."
Does Jerry have a perference from the trio of lovely ladies he has worked with?
"I can't say," he firmly smiles. "It's like asking me which of my children I love the most — it has no answer. I have to admit that I tend to like everything I do but there are candidly. "But what with Thelma's current popularity, it may be that her manager will feel I'm riding on her shirt-tail and that could stop it altogether.
"I have to be honest about it because that's the way some people think. But if this album is very successful, it may force people's hands — it will ultimately be down to the managers, though.
"The project was something I dearly enjoyed doing because Thelma herself is such a professional that it all went so smoothly. In fact, the whole thing seemed to fit into place as it went along and that's always a good sign."
Does Jerry have a perference from the trio of lovely ladies he has worked with?
"I can't say," he firmly smiles. "It's like asking me which of my children I love the most — it has no answer. I have to admit that I tend to like everything I do but there are some things that I wish I had done better with high sight.
"But this album pleases me. I'm sorry if it sounds like I am evading your question but it's one with no answer!"
OF COURSE the timeless question as far as Britain is concerned is when are we going to see the Ice Man on this isle of the Atlantic.
"It's no secret that I have always wanted to perform in Britain,'" he asserts. "But all of the promoters that we have ever had talks with suggest that may not draw too well over there. Now, it may just be a ruse to get the asking price down but it has always forced me to back off.
"And the there is the union problem concerning musicians. I fell that if and when I do come, I wnat to be able do my very best and the only way that can happen is if I bring my own men. That way I feel I am flexible, it would be an unfair burden to have to use all new musicians, I feel. Actually, there was some talk that I would be coming over to Europe in July with the Supreme, but that all seems to have fallen through.'"
FOLLOWING the success of the "Suite For The Single Girl" elpee, Jerry's old apetite seems to be returning. Having completed the Jerry/Thelma he has been hard at work with partner Homer Talbert on producing and writing some tracks in the next Smokey Robinson LP.
"And we have been researching songs for my own next album," Jerry adds. Actually, we have already competed one track for the next album.
"I guess in just pleased to be back in charge of my own production — this way I can take both the blue or the accolades and that real is the way I like it to be."
This much celebrates the nineteenth anniversary of Jerry's very first chart record — the chart-toppin "For Your Precious Love" with the Impressions. The odds look and that he may be celebrating with another hit of equal status.
One thing for certain and that is that Jerry Butler is a man capable of surviving the roughest ordeals and he has proven that time and time again.
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