Billy Butler :: Right Track :: Northern Soul Monday

“Well, my shoes got a hole in the bottom,
but I can’t stop now.”

Welcome to this Week’s Installment of Northern Soul Monday, featuring the Best in Northern Soul Music Every Monday, Every Week. This Week we bring to you a Classic Northern Soul Track from Billy Butler, called “Right Track”. This Week’s Song is a Stunner of a Tune, ready made for Dancing. One Listen will never be enough of this Quintessential Northern Soul Number, so get ready to hit Play, and then hit it again and again. Be sure to Turn this One Up, and Dance like you are back at the Wigan Casino (pictured below).

Billy Butler, born William E. Butler in Chicago, on June 7, 1945, was an American Soul Singer and Songwriter in the Sixties and Seventies. Billy was Jerry Butler, the Original Lead Singer from The Impressions, younger brother.

Billy formed the Vocal Group The Enchanters while he was still attending high school. He went on to record for with Okeh Records, in 1963, where he was initially Produced by Curtis Mayfield, and later by Carl Davis.

On early recordings he was backed by the Chanters, a renamed version of the Enchanters; other members were Errol Batts and Jesse Tillman

The Enchanters first and biggest Hit was 1965’s “I Can’t Work No Longer”, which reached # 6 on the U.S. Billboard Black Singles Chart, and on # 60 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Group broke up in 1966.

Billy then recorded “Right Track”, right before he left Okeh Records. It was considered a “Minor Solo Hit”, though many would argue that it became a Northern Soul Classic. This was proven when the Song placed at # 11 in the Northern Soul Top 500.

“Right Track” was Billy Butler’s Final and Most Popular Single for Okeh Records, in 1966. The Single label credited Billy Butler only, but his comrades The Chanters accompanied him, uncredited.

“Hung Up On You” :: Billy Butler & Infinity

Billy Butler later formed a new group, Infinity, with Errol Batts (from The Chanters/The Enchanters), Larry Wade and Phyllis Knox.

Infinity went on to have three minor R&B hits: “Get on the Case” (1969), “I Don’t Want to Lose You” (1971), and “Hung Up On You” (1973).

Billy Butler also Wrote Songs for his brother, as well as for other Musicians such as Major Lance, and Gene Chandler, among others.

He went on to play guitar in the band of his brother, Jerry, until he died at age 69, in 2015.

“Right Track” :: Billy Butler (Instrumental)

“Right Track” marks our 8th Installment of Northern Soul Monday, the space and place where we Feature the Best Northern Soul Music. We hope you enjoyed “Right Track”, this Week’s Northern Soul Music Snog.

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Be sure to check back every Monday for More of the Best Northern Soul Music you can find, all Ready-Set-Go to start your Week off on the “Right Track”.