Charlie Rich - Charlie Rich - Don't Tear Me Down / Hotels, Motels

Country singer Charlie Rich has previous on the rare-soul dance scene with ‘Love Is After Me’, the Hayes/Porter track recorded in Memphis for Hi Records, being popular in mod-frequented soul discotheques of the 60s. ‘Don’t Tear Me Down’ was recorded around the same time, but was unissued until a 1988 LP collection of Rich’s Hi-recorded tracks. Astute DJ Dean Anderson picked up on the powerful beat ballad and played it in the 90s, making it very popular - leading to a Kent 45 release in 2007. That pressing is long-gone and the record continues to be spun at northern soul venues, thereby causing this second issue of the superlative soul song.