(A2) KBB MIND OVER MATTER: The Myths & Mysteries of Detroit's Fortune Records (last copies)

Fortune is one of those vintage R&B labels that fans and collectors obsess over--a ton of mystique-filled releases spanning styles, trends, and even genres. At a mighty 500+ pages, Mind over Matter unlocks the Fortune story in mind-blowing detail with deep oral histories from artists and devotees, color pix of labels, and a trove of photos of Fortune people, places, and things. Clubs, neighborhood streets, performances, casual and studio pictures of the acts, plus trade paper ads and reviews, ads for local gigs, and related memorabilia--it's all here. You'll want to have lunch with Jack and Devora, and hang out with Nolan and Andre at the Twenty Grand. An indispensable musical and social history of Detroit, and an indelible portrait of the industry during a near-forgotten era..

Congratulations to Miriam, Michael and the Kicks Books staff for getting this to the finish line after Billy’s passing. If you can afford the cost of this book, do not hesitate as it is a first class publication in all aspects. A massive book loaded with pictures, records sleeves, Fortune Records ephemera and a great story to tell of the colorful characters that make up the history of the label. One of the best music related books you will ever see. Highly recommended!

Haven't had a chance to read the whole book yet. What I have read so far I really enjoyed. I will take my time and savor every word and picture!

I don't know when I've ever been so excited to receive a book! This is a clear labor of love. If you're going to take on a great topic like Fortune Records, this is how you do it. If you are thinking of getting this, don't hesitate. I cannot recommend it enough.

This is a fascinating book about Fortune records. It is beautifully produced hardback with a sewn binding and quality coated paper pages and many coloured illustrations. The contents appear to be well researched over many years and the whole thing is obviously a labour of love by the authors and a fitting tribute to the late Billy Miller. The cost is no more than many rare Fortune records which would be even more expensive and in my view this book is a bargain. Ordered from the UK on a Monday the book arrived on the Thursday. That's service for you. Buy before it goes out of print !

Love this book! So much passion has gone into it + the design & production of the printed hard cover book - top notch paper quality, even the format is great! Expensive, but well worth the money! Highly recommended! PS. FedEx did a great job in shipping it fast and hazzle free from Cleveland to Stockholm, Sweden.

been waiting for this masterpiece for years and am so thrilled it finally appeared to save our souls in 2020! dazzled by its broadness and beauty! can't wait to indulge and keep it with me forever...

Great complete information on the history of Fortune Records and the artists that recorded for them. It will take a while to read each chapter as the writers are through and enlightening. Will be a perfect addition to my collection.

The writers did an excellent job in compiling all this material in the book have archived a long-missing chapter of Michigan’s rich music history. Fortune Studios stood behind a storefront on Third Street near Wayne State University in Detroit. It holds claim as being one of Detroit’s premier sonic sources of the garage sound; in the 1950's. There were a lot of independent owned record companies. However, Fortune focused on various types of music from R&B, blues, gospel, rockabilly and country, pressing big-band and polka records. This is where I began enjoying a variety of music sounds and becoming a record collector and musician. I remember driving my bicycle to the record store on Third Ave. Inside they had an old upright piano and four cinder block walls. A small room on the side had glass and I saw Jack and Devora. That day, they had a group called "The Fortunaires" and one guy playing on the piano honky type music. People were buying records and some were in the back recording. I did purchase several records that day and came back many times. During another visit, Jack gave me a tour. The recording studio was located in a garage with partial dirt floor and carpeting. I was surprised how small the studio was in size. Egg crates on walls for sound proofing were attached to the walls. Some second hand recording equipment and several microphones and other equipment made this company a recording producer. I observed a closet size control room off to the side. I’m sure many of the musicians who recorded there look back at the company as the place that gave them their first start in business. That may have become an integral part of their lives. I believe that Jack and Devora were unable to promote and distribute as well as other companies. Jack based everything around Nolan Strong and The Diablos. When the group broke up and Nolan went into the service, The Company could not recover Later on. Nolan Strong’s health problems began to increase and he realized that he might have benefited himself earlier when it became too late. As years passed the small independent companies were out of business or sold to another company. The Mafia was now delving into the record business. Even Motown was controlled by the mob. They moved to their new offices indicating their growth. However, several years later they eventually left the business and went to California to venture the movie business. One thing as collector I’ve noticed the original issues of Fortune albums is very confusing. The 1960s albums were reissued in the 1970s with the original label. I believe the first label was red with silver print, with "fortune" in silver above the center hole. Above the Fortune logo is the slogan "for TRULY GREAT MUSIC". This label was the original on LP-3001. The next label was purple with silver print, with the same graphics. This was the original label on the 8000 series. The third label was yellow with blue printing, again with the same graphics. The albums with the yellow and blue labels are reissues from the sixties. The problem with identifying original sixties pressings is that the original purple and silver label was used again on seventies reissues. I believe that the only way to tell an original from a reissue is that the originals have thicker wax and that's definitely not a science. Over the years, I met and graduated from a Detroit high school with numerous recording artists. I still keep in touch with them. In conclusion it’s unbelievable that Fortune Records a small entity had the string of hits and also the wild stories left behind by its roster of amazing talent. This book has archived a long-missing chapter of Michigan’s rich music history