Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davis -

Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davis were an American soul-pop duo that released a 1976 self-titled album on Claridge Records. They scored a moderate US R&B hit with “Easy Loving” and a major UK crossover hit with “You’re Gonna Get Next to Me.”

Members: Mike James Kirkland, Ruth Davis

Background

Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davis formed as a Claridge Records duo in California in 1975, when label owner Frank Slay paired singer-songwriter Mike James “Bo” Kirkland with singer Ruth Jean Davis.

Kirkland was born Mike James Kirkland in 1949 in Yazoo City, Mississippi. He sang gospel and doo-wop with brothers Walter and Robert in the Seven Seals, then led Mike & The Censations after the Kirkland family settled in California. The early Censations lineup included Michael Kirkland, Robert Kirkland, their sister, Armand Postell, and Michael Trotter. Mike & The Censations cut “Victim of Circumstance” at Madelon Baker’s Audio Arts Studio and first issued the single through Bryan, the label associated with the Kirkland brothers.

Ruth Jean Davis recorded in Los Angeles with the Sequins, a Renfro vocal trio with Lee Hill and Moddess King. The Sequins cut “A Case of Love” and “You’re All I Need” for Renfro in 1966, then followed with “That Boy” and “He’s a Flirt” on the same label. Davis later sang with the Ikettes. Kent issued Davis’s Jimmy Lewis song “I Need Money” as a 1971 single. Davis returned to club work before Claridge added her to its roster.

Kirkland continued with Mike & The Censations through Highland and Revue releases, then used Bryan Records for Mike James Kirkland solo material with brother Robert Kirkland. Bryan issued Hang On in There in 1972 and Doin’ It Right in 1973. Frank Slay brought Kirkland to Claridge in 1975 and placed the Bo Kirkland name on “Grandfather Clock.”

Slay paired Davis and Kirkland after Davis cut Freddie Hart’s “Easy Loving” for Claridge. Kirkland added the male vocal part, and Claridge issued the duet with “We Got the Recipe” on the reverse side. The pairing gave Slay a working vocal format, and Slay assigned Kirkland and Davis to the album sessions for Bo & Ruth.

Bo & Ruth

Bo Kirkland and Ruth Davis released their debut album, Bo & Ruth, in 1976 on Claridge Records.

The album presents duet soul with ballad pacing and dance-track extensions, performed by Kirkland and Davis over strings, horns, keyboards, bass-forward rhythm parts, and background harmonies. Kirkland and R. L. Kirkland share credits across nine originals; Charles Gentry, Hense Powell, Davis, and Frank Slay appear on select titles. Freddie Hart supplied “Easy Loving.”

“I Feel Love in This Room Tonight” simmers through Ruth Davis’s opening lead, Bo Kirkland’s answering lines, and a late vamp. “To Make You Love Me” sways through slap-accented low end and a Latin-tinted backbeat while both leads trade high-pressure phrases. “Train of Desire” lingers on slow duet pleas, baroque filigree, organ wash, and growled horn breaks. “You’re Gonna Get Next to Me” vamps over chiming guitar and a long call-and-response lead split.

“We Got the Recipe” snaps through group replies and low-end thrust while strings lift the refrain. “Easy Loving” glides through tender duet phrasing, slow romantic pulse, and short brass bursts. “Can You Feel It” coils around deliberate piano chords, a sultry saxophone cue, and a rising duet return. “Grandfather Clock” prowls from clock chimes into Bo’s solo vocal and clipped horn stabs. “Stay Out of My Kitchen (If You Can’t Stand the Heat)” struts through organ washes, backing-vocal replies, and Ruth’s sharper lead entry.

A1. “I Feel Love In This Room Tonight” (3:49) – Kirkland, Kirkland, Gentry, Powell
A2. “To Make You Love Me” (3:40) – Kirkland, Kirkland, Gentry
A3. “Train of Desire” (3:24) – Kirkland, Gentry, Powell
A4. “You’re Gonna Get Next to Me” (7:10) – Kirkland, Kirkland, Powell, Davis

B1. “We Got the Recipe” (2:56) – Kirkland, Kirkland, Powell, Davis
B2. “Easy Loving” (3:24) – Hart
B3. “Sure Got a Thing For You” (3:23) – Kirkland, Kirkland, Powell
B4. “Can You Feel It” (3:42) – Kirkland, Kirkland, Gentry, Powell
B5. “Grandfather Clock” (3:33) – Kirkland, Kirkland, Slay
B6. “Stay Out of My Kitchen (If You Can’t Stand the Heat)” (2:55) – Kirkland, Kirkland, Powell

Bo Kirkland produced Bo & Ruth at Devonshire Studios. Hense Powell arranged the album, and Jerry Hudgins engineered the sessions. Jamico directed the art, Jack L. Levy designed the cover and liner, and Prince Nairn photographed the sleeve.

Claridge issued “Easy Loving” as a December 1975 single backed with “We Got the Recipe.” “I Feel Love In This Room Tonight” followed in 1976 with “To Make You Love Me” on the B-side. Claridge lifted “You’re Gonna Get Next To Me” as a December 1976 single backed with “Stay Out My Kitchen (If You Can’t Stand the Heat).”

“Easy Loving” reached No. 38 on the Billboard R&B chart. “I Feel Love In This Room Tonight” reached No. 77 on the same chart. “You’re Gonna Get Next to Me” reached No. 66 on Billboard R&B and No. 12 on the UK Official Singles Chart after EMI International issued the single in Britain.

Discography: