Edwin Starr - Agent Double-O-Soul
November 27, 2008 by admin
Filed under Featured Artists
Edwin Starr was a famous American Soul singer and will always be remembered for the hit single “War” which was produced by Motown in 1970. Edwin was born on 21st January 1942 and died on 2nd April 2003. He was born in Tennessee and was a singer from childhood.
He was raised in Ohio and he started a doo-wop group in 1957, “The Future Tones” when he started his singing career. Edwin recorded his first album in Michigan with Ric-Tic, which was a record label. This label was absorbed by Motown in 1968 and then Edwin continued to record with Motown.
Edwin started his career with the song “Agent Double ‘O’Soul” in the year 1965 which was the James Bond movie song and was much popular at that period. He followed series of hits which included “S O S(Stop Her On Sight)”, “Way Over There”, “Back Street” and “Headline News”. He gave his first international chart buster “25 Miles” after three years and this songs rocked the charts and reached No 6 in U.S. in the next year.
Edwin was admired after his release “War” which was the biggest hit of his life and changed many things for him as his reputation as a great soul artist. The song was anti-Vietnam War and was more of a protest. He gave all songs complete attention and this could be seen in “War”. In 1973, Edwin moved to England and recorded his big hit “Hell Up In Harlem”. This song was recorded for the film Hell Up in Harlem. He gave some disco hits in 1979 which were “ H.A.P.P.Y. Radio” and “(Eye-To-Eye) Contract” after which he recorded for several singles with 20th Century Records. He continued to record several singles with labels like Calibre, 10 Records, Motown, Streetwave and Hippodrome.
Edwin came out with “It Ain’t Fair” in 1985 and it became the most popular album with disco and dance clubs. He again came out with another hit “Whatever Makes Our Love Grow” in 1988 in team with Stock, Aitken and Waterman Production Company. Several hits followed after this which were “Got to Keep On” which was No 17 hit in UK.
The track was mastered for BRIT Awards in 1990 and this became No 2 on the UK Singles chart. Starr also did a charity single “Let It Be”.
Later in 1989 he joined Motorcity Records and released six hit singles and the hit album “Where Is the Sound”. In 2000, Edwin recorded a new release of his earlier song “Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On” with the UK band Utah Saints.
His albums include “Agent Double-O-Soul” in 1965, “Back Street” in 1966, “Headline News” in 1966, “I’ll Love You Forever” in 1966, “Lonely Summer” in 1966, “S.O.S.(Stop Her On Sight)” in 1966, “I Want My Baby Back” in 1967, “Grits Ain’t Grocery” in 1968, “Twenty-Five Miles” in 1969, “Oh How Happy” in 1969, “I’m till a Struggling Man” in 1969, “Way Over There” in 1969, “I Just Wanna Do My Thing” in 1970, “Time” in 1970, “War” in 1970, “Stop the War Now” in 1970, “Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On” in 1971, “My Sweet Lord” in 1971, “There You Go” in 1973, “Big Papa” in 1974, “Easin’ In (Hell Up In Harlem)” in 1974, “Hell Up In Harlem” in 1974, “Contact” in 1979, “H.A.P.P.Y. Radio” in 1979, “Tell-A-Starr” in 1979, “It’s Called The Rock” in 1979, “Twenty-Five Miles” in 1980, “Get Up-Whirlpool” in 1980, “Stronger (Than You Think I Am)” in 1980, “Smooth” in 1983, “I Wanna Take You Home” in 1983, “Marvin” in 1984, “It Ain’t Fair” in 1985, “Missiles” in 1985, “Grapewine” in 1985, “Soul Singer” in 1986, “Whatever Makes Our Love Grow” in 1988, “Got To Keep On” in 1989, “Twenty-Five Miles (Remix)” in 1989, “Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On” in 2000, “Snowflake Boogie” in 2002, “War” in 2002”Twenty-Five Miles” in 2001.
His great collection is a gift to the music world.
TJ Grooves
Rare Soul Grooves & Soul Music TV
Oh so he had began that doo-wop group known as The Future Tones, way back in 1957. We really lack such talented such musically talented people nowadays. Today music has noise, noise, and more noise. It is like noise pollution. Artists like Edwin are so rare. He was a child prodigy.
Although Edwin began his singing career in the 1950s, he continued singing and pleasing our hearts after 2000. That means that he sang for about five decades, which is a long time. However, it was worth it. All his songs are so meaningful and so enjoyable. I love him sp much because I belong to Ohio myself.
Hey, what was the name of the first album that he recorded with Ric-Tic in Michigan? Edwin’s rendition of “Agent Double ‘O’Soul” was so fantastic. It made the bond flick in the 1960s even more popular. Wasn’t that a great way to begin one’s career? He was a lucky chap.
The way I see it Mr Starr didn’t know just how much of a hit he had on his hands - this song still sums up popular antiwar feeling, and has been used in countless movies, sampled in hip-hop, and continues to have a profound influence. I even read about it in a Terry Pratchett novel when one character says “War, huh, what is it good for?” to which another replies “Well…for rising up and overthrowing violent oppressors for one thing.”
Did you hear the version of Burns Like Fire that Edwin recorded shortly before his death? Its all adlibbed - check it out on his website. He sounds like he was still going strong - I bet he’s still singing now!
He was really called Charles Edwin Hatcher but changed his name to further his career when his manager said he thought would could see him as ‘a Star’. His back up band went on to find fame in their own right as Rose Royce.
About himself “I just take care of myself. I never drink. I’ve never been involved with drugs. I don’t let the business control me. I don’t feel the need to be in the public eye. I’ve never searched for adulation, and I’m not gonna start, at this point in my life, to do so.”
The purpose of his hit song “War” is not to give up faith in a peaceful humanity, but to restore it.
Starr went to a Bruce Springsteen concert in 1999 at Birmingham’s NEC and was asked to duet War with the rock superstar.
His soul hits S.O.S was promoted in a short film with Sean Connery.
Wow what a magnificent singer he was! As his fans, we will always remember him as Agent Double-O-Soul. How can we ever forget that immortal tune from the Bond movie? I think one of his best albums is and will be “Agent Double-O-Soul”. I love his other albums like “Oh How Happy”, “Twenty-Five Miles”, and “Lonely Summer”.
Starr remained a hero on England’s Northern Soul circuit.
Being such a good talent how could anyone stop him from being a singer since childhood? That was just not possible. I have his albums like, “Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On”, “Tell-A-Starr”, “Big Papa”, and others. Of course, I am one of those millions of fans that he has and thus love to stock my music collection with his albums.
Edwin Starr was revered for his fierce protest classic known by the name of “War”. After that, there wasn’t any real need for him to get another hit to achieve the status of a legendary soul singer. That one single performance was so electrifying that it did not need anything better.
Edwin Starr made his name “Agent Double-O-Soul,” for the first time when he transferred his contract to Motown. After that, he became an instant hit. He was one of the toughest as well as roughest vocalists during that time. After “War”, Starr gave many Top Ten hits on R&B charts during the late 1960s.
In a Guardian interview in 2000, he said he never took drink or drugs and avoided adulation and the pressures of fame that go with it. Edwin Starr wanted to live up to his name, and in every way he tried to do this. When he moved to Britain in the 80s he toured regularly on oldies/soul revues. He would have loved Soul Music TV, thats for sure!
Yes, he played at various charity events in the UK and was due to perform at the WOMAD festival in July 2003 but sadly died that April. And, yes, supposedly there is a short promo film that Edwin Starr made with Sean Connery around the time of Double-O-Soul, but I haven’t managed to track it down on the internet yet.
There are numerous websites which detail Edwin Starr’s early career but none seem to identify an album released on Ric-Tic, only singles. Unless he recorded Double -O-Soul for Ric-Tic originally but when Berry Gordy bought the label and it became part of Motown, it was re-released as a Motown album?
Edwin Starr is best known for the single ‘War’ which has an anti-vietnam war theme. If you look closely at the lyrics, it could well apply to the Afghanistan war now. I like that he doesn’t focus on romance, which is an abused topic.
I found two of his hits on YouTube — “I Am Your Man” and “You Set My Soul On Fire”. I’m rediscovering his music. I keep thinking — Where has he been all these time? He deserves to be more famous.
Another Nashville son! I first took note of him with his hit ‘25 Miles’. He has a rough quality to his voice. Raspy and sexy..
Edwin Starr stood out from all of Motown’s artists. He was the best live performer I’ve seen in a very long period. He won’t be forgotten, that I am sure of.
“S.O.S. (Stop Her On Sight)”, “Big Papa”, “Grapevine” and “Hell Up in Harlem” — all soulful and provocative. He toured excessively and his live performances are monumental. He knows how to work up a crowd, he has charisma — loads of it.
Have you heard The Temptations’ version of WAR? It doesn’t have the intensity of Starr’s rendition. A theme that serious would have to have the angst and the frustration showing clearly. Instead, it’s almost a pop tune.
Edwin Starr’s signature song is “War” undoubtedly. It boosted his career and turned his image into an outspoken artist of worthwhile causes. I’ve heard the song being used against the Iraq war, which of course draws comparisons to the vietnam war.
War has been heavily sampled in hip hop music. It’s also been mentioned countless times in game shows, sitcoms, even movies like in Tropic Thunder. “War, what is it good for?”
I love the disco era and I’m glad to inform you that Edwin Starr had a couple of hits in this genre. They are titled “(Eye-To-Eye) Contact” and “H.A.P.P.Y. Radio”. Two of my favorites.
Edwin Starr aka Charles Edwin Hatcher is a fine fine man. Weird enough that he started with doo-wop. Honestly, I think doo-wop is so faked out and the choreography’s ridiculous.
Edwin Starr died at his home in Beeston near Nottingham. His brother Angelo Starr now fronts The Team, the band that Edwin Starr toured with until his death because Edwin was dearly loved on the English Northern Soul scene and his fans still want to hear his music.