HOAGY LANDS

Victor I. Hoagland Sr. (May 4, 1936 – January 12, 2002), known professionally as Hoagy Lands, was an American soul singer whose recording career spanned from the late 1950s on into the mid-1970s, Best remembered for the Northern soul classic "The Next in Line," Hoagy Lands was reportedly the favourite singer of the renowned producer Bert Berns, who helmed many of his recordings. Berns' admiration failed to translate to commercial success, however.

Lands was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States, to an Afro-Cuban father and an African American mother of American Indian descent was in middle school when he formed his first vocal group, the Dynaflows. A stint in the New Brunswick Heart Throbs followed. Lands mounted his solo career in 1959 with his debut single "Oo-Be-Do" for the Ivory label. He first teamed with Berns for 1960's "(I'm Gonna) Cry Some Tears," and “Lighted Windows” initially issued on the independent label Judi.

This was completely eclipsed by the next 45. The lovely Latin-tinged doo-wop ballad “My Tears Are Dry”, which he cut for MGM in 1961, is one of the greatest examples of a blend of doo wop and soul. The following “It Ain't As Easy As That” finds Lands again in wonderful voice on a rhythm track that could have been a refugee from a Drifters session with typical Berns hook lines and some careful and beautifully judged phrasing from Lands. Neither was a hit, however, and Lands did not resurface until 1963, recording "Tender Years" for ABC-Paramount. His masterpiece, the Berns-produced ballad "Baby Come on Home," appeared on Atlantic the following year and was his sole release for the venerable soul imprint.

Lands spent much of the late 1960s at Laurie, cutting five singles for the label from 1966 to 1968. None were commercial hits upon their original release, but "The Next in Line" (featuring girl group extraordinaire the Chiffons on backing vocals) later proved a major fan favourite on Britain's Northern soul circuit. But as is so often the case, the little known ballads, where Lands has the room to really stretch out, are the ones that have stood the test of time the better. Among the ones to watch out for are "Two years and a thousand tears" and the luscious "Forever in my heart" - with Cissy Houston singing the stratospheric background phrases.

Berns' tragic death on December 30, 1967 effectively spelled the end of Lands' creative heyday and in 1969, he moved to Laurie's Spectrum subsidiary, a tenure inaugurated with "Beautiful Music," the first of two duets with Lily Fields. "Sweet Soul (Brother)" followed a year later. One oddity from this period of Hoagy's career is the issue in the UK in 1971 on Jonathan King's UK label of a side - "True Love At Last" - which doesn't seem to have ever appeared in the US. While this is a pleasant ballad, despite the date both sides were Laurie tracks rather than later Spectrum ones.

At this time Lands teamed with producer John Bennings and arranger Robert Banks and adopted a funk-inspired approach for efforts including 1972's excellent "A Man Ain't No Stronger Than His Heart," recorded with session aces Richard Tee on guitar, Gordon Edwards on bass and Bernard Purdie on drums. After one final Spectrum effort, "The Bell Ringer," Lands exited the label, effectively bringing his recording career to a close.

After close to 25 years out of the limelight, he appeared at several Northern soul clubs at century's end, although 1998 open heart surgery slowed his pace considerably. After suffering a severe fall at his Orange, New Jersey home, Lands died January 12, 2002 at the age of 65 years. His grandson Jaheim carried on the family business, however, recording a pair of hip-hop LPs for Warner Bros.

One day the story of New York soul will be properly set down and Hoagy Lands' position as one of the greatest of all the city's soul singers will be assured.