"Walkin' on My Mind" is a hit for soul singer Dianne Brooks. Released in 1969, it was the first single released by Revolver Records. It was also Brooks' first release on a Canadian owned label. It is also an example of how the quality of a song can activate a record label.
Background "Walkin' on My Mind" bw "Need to Belong" was a Mort Ross production.FUNKMYSOUL.GR - Dianne Brooks – 1976 – Back Stairs Of My Life It was released in February, 1969 on the Revolution Records' subsidiary, Revolver.Billboard, March 15, 1969 - Page 64 From The Music Capitals of the World, College Music Contest Opens Talent HuntRPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 6 Week of April 7th. - Page 8 HERE'S GONNA BE A Revolution.... ON REVOLVER RECORDS!RPM Weekly, Volume 12 No. 5, September 20th 1969 - Page 13 DIANNE BROOKS' NEW SINGLE It was also released as "Walking On My Mind" in the United States on Ray Charles' Tangerine label, cat no. TRC 993.Cash Box, March 8, 1969 - Page 68 Canada45Cat - Dianne Brooks - Discography, USA
The song started off in 1969 as one of two demos at a newly built recording studio that was set to open for business later that year in August. It wasn't the intention of the studio owners to start off with a record company. Mort Ross, Doug Riley and their engineer, Englishman, Terry Brown wanted to build a studio with recording facilities superior to what was in Canada at the time. However Dianne Brooks' vocal work on the two Doug Riley compositions changed things. The songs were deemed to be too good to remain unreleased. As a result of this Revolver Records came into being.Billboard, May 24, 1969 - - Page C-34 Radio Legislation Should Better Recording Studios
Distribution For Canadian distribution in Canada, the Compo Company was chosen. Revolution's chief, Mort Ross had travelled to New York to set up the distribution deal with Ray Charles' Tangerine label for the current record. The deal also involved any future releases from Brooks. For English distribution Morgan Records was chosen.Billboard, May 24, 1969 - Page C-34 Radio Legislation Should Better Recording Studios
The record was released in New Zealand on the Viking record label.Sergent.com.au - Record Labels, Viking Records 10, VS.240 1969 Non NZ Artist
Chart performance By April 21, 1969, the song had entered the RPM Weekly Canadian Content Chart at #10.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 8, Week of April 21st. 1969 - Page 4 RPM Weekly Canadian Content Chart By May 2, it reached #4 on the RPM chart. It got to #67 nationally.Canaukstan Music - Dianne Brooks, Walkin' on My Mind / Need to Belong - 7" by Michael Panontin
Releases
+ Releases Title Catalogue Year Country Notes # "Walkin' on My Mind" / "Need to Belong" Revolver REVS 001 1969 Canada "Walking On My Mind" / "Need to Belong" Tangerine Records TRC 993 1969 United States "Walkin' On My Mind" / "Need to Belong" Revolver REVS 001 1969 United Kingdom "Walkin' on My Mind" / "Need to Belong" Pink Elephant PE 22.013 1969 Netherlands "Walkin' on My Mind" / "Need to Belong" Viking VS.240 1969 New Zealand Discogs - Dianne Brooks – Walking On My Mind45Cat - Dianne Brooks - Discography, All
References