The Flaming Ember

In the early days of Hot Wax, Holland-Dozier-Holland, still tied up in labyrinthine legal proceedings against Motown, published under almost comically bland pseudonyms in order to avoid further arousing Gordy’s ire. On “Westbound #9,” songwriters “R. Dunbar” and “E. Wayne” provide the Flaming Ember with a Box Tops-style number that stands as one of the best blue-eyed soul hits of the era.