1982 L.A. Gospel Funk 45 BILLY DORSEY Crossover Modern Soul Listen

$

20

Up for auction is an incredibly rare, completely unlisted private-press 45 RPM single from 1982. This release represents a true "graveyard find" of pristine, unplayed distributor stock. It is completely undocumented online, missing from Discogs, and holds zero prior sales history on archive databases like Gripsweat. This record stands as a stunning historical time capsule from an era when local community leaders and South-Central Los Angeles church musicians pooled their talents together to create independent media. TRACKLIST & AUDIO SAMPLES:  • Side 1: Billy Dorsey & Perfect Praise Foundation - "It's Time For The We In America" (Matrix: F1098 - LHR - 247 - 1 - RE)  Style: Heavy gospel-civic vocal delivery driving a passionate message over a distinct, infectious island-flair reggae groove.  • Side 2: Billy Dorsey & Jean Berry - "Somebody's Gotta Stick Together" (Matrix: 11077 - LHR - 247 - 2 - RE)  Style: An uptempo, secular-leaning pop/funk private-press dancer featuring tight instrumentation, bright synth stabs, and a soaring male/female vocals. With its driving rhythm and powerful vocal performances, this track carries strong crossover appeal for Modern Soul and Northern Soul collectors hunting for undocumented, dance-floor-friendly groove artifacts. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND & FACTS:

• The Male Vocalist (Billy Dorsey): A celebrated Los Angeles-based gospel vocalist, choral director, and stage actor known for a roaring, commanding baritone voice. Dorsey was deeply involved in Los Angeles’ regional gospel theater circuit. According to a Los Angeles Times archive from July 1988, he played a central role in the acclaimed South-Central L.A. musical production "Gospel," where reviews praised his "arresting voice of a deacon."
• The Background Choir (The Perfect Praise Foundation): Operating out of the Florence-Firestone neighborhood of South Los Angeles, this elite ensemble possessed immense professional caliber. According to AllMusic's album credits, the Perfect Praise Foundation was brought in as session backing vocalists for the Grammy-winning gospel legends The Mighty Clouds of Joy on their celebrated 1989 album "Night Song" (produced by Motown legend Frank Wilson).
• The Songwriter & Lyricist (Lorraine Barber): Documented as Lauraine B. Barber, she was a prominent Los Angeles county public servant, community advocate, and civic organizer who wrote these lyrics as a political and social statement. Public records list her as a dedicated stakeholder across various regional mental health and community advisory councils in South Los Angeles.
• The Slogan & Campaign: According to Justia Trademark Historical Records, Lorraine officially registered the trademark for the phrase "IT'S TIME FOR THE 'WE' IN AMERICA" in April 1982. She used this slogan to launch a regional unity and community-strengthening campaign, creating buttons, literature, and commissioning Billy Dorsey to write the melody to turn her lyrics into a physical anthem.
• The Female Vocalist (Jean Berry): A fixture in the local Los Angeles church community, frequently sought after as a duettist and session singer for independent religious records. She was brought into this project specifically to add a soaring female counter-melody to Dorsey's booming baritone on the duet "Somebody's Gotta Stick Together."
• The Label & Custom Pressing: In the early 1980s, "Lyric House Records" functioned as a private vanity imprint used to press small batches (usually 300 to 500 copies) of 45s to hand out at local L.A. civic rallies, community center events, and church fundraisers. The deadwax reveals mismatched matrix sequences (F1098 vs 11077) showing the tracks were mastered at separate sessions, while the "-RE-" stamp confirms a "Recut" done by the engineer to optimize audio levels before final pressing.