Leonard Warren Borisoff, known professionally by the stage name Len Barry, was born on 12 June 1942, and was raised in Philadelphia. He had little thought of a show business career while still in school, as he aspired to become a professional basketball player, and it was not until he entered military service and had occasion to sing with the US Coast Guard band at Cape May, New Jersey, that he decided to make music a career. On his discharge from military service, Barry returned home to Philadelphia and formed the Dovells, with him as the lead singer, appearing on all of the group's best-selling records, such as 'Bristol Stomp', 'Hully Gully Baby', and 'You Can't Sit Down'. 'Bristol Stomp' sold over one million copies and was awarded a RIAA gold disc, and the group toured with James Brown. Barry also made film appearances with the Dovells in films such as 'Don't Knock The Twist', and the band toured the UK with the Motown Revue. Barry left the Dovells in 1964 and signed a solo deal with Cameo Records, who released two singles before he moved to Decca Records in the US and Brunswick Records in the UK. His first single for the new label was the smash hit '1-2-3', which he followed with 'Like A Baby' the same year, and he also co-wrote 'I Struck It Rich' with Leon Huff of the Philadelphia International Records producers, Gamble and Huff. His first two hits also made the Top Ten of the UK Singles Chart, with '1-2-3' reaching number three. He released his first album, also called '1-2-3' in 1965, and he soon became a major singing star in the UK. In 1966 he recorded his second album for Brunswick, and the title track was released as a single. 'It's That Time Of The Year' was another co-write with Leon Huff, and it was backed by 'Happily Ever After', but shortly after that release Barry signed a deal with RCA Records, and so Brunswick cancelled the album. Reportedly only three original copies without artwork exist from the aborted 1966 pressing, and so it has become Barry's most sought after record. It's a great R&B/pop album, very much of its time, and you can now hear what his fans have longed for, complete with contemporary cover art.
Track listing
01 It's That Time Of The Year
02 I'll Always Need You
03 Soul Concerto
04 It's A Cryin' Shame
05 Happily Ever After
06 Love, Love, Love
07 Somewhere
08 I'm In Love
09 Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
10 Love Is
11 First Kiss To The Last
12 When You Call Me Baby
