7-Inch Corner: Eddie & Ernie “Bullets Dont Have Eyes”

For the past few days, I’ve been overwhelmed and beaten down by the flu. The bastard has stolen my will to move and my income. A real son of a bitch, that flu is. Through the aches, the fevers and the fever blisters, I’ve found my beacon of light ladies and gentlemen. And it’s got soul. Oh yes, it’s got soul. Eddie & Ernie’s “Bullets Don’t Have Eyes” will cure what ails you better than any kind of chicken noodle soup or self-help book. If you’re like me, you’ll probably keep the 7-inch on the turntable all day, endlessly moving the needle back to the beginning to play it again and again.

The only way to properly describe this song would be ‘bottled and recorded perfection.’ The kind of soul music that gets ear drums peaked and rejuvenated. I’m not a religious man but somebody was looking down on this duo when they recorded this one many years ago.

Read more after the jump.

I got a little background on the group from Wikipedia:
“They [Ernest Johnson Jr. and Eddie (Edgar) William Campbell] sang in gospel groups before working as backing vocalists from the early-1960s. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, they made their first recordings as a duo (initially as Ernie & Eddie) in 1963, also making solo recordings. Although they recorded for several labels, some quite large such as Columbia, Chess, and Buddah, they never had any significant chart success, their biggest R&B hit being Time Waits For No One on Eastern records in 1965. In 1971, they both joined a local group, Phoenix Express.”

Sadly, Eddie & Ernie didn’t become the pop superstars they certainly deserved to be. Like all too many musical geniuses, their story is riddled with disappointment and tragedy. Their climb was forever halted by the premature death of Campbell in the early 70′s.

A quote on the back of the sleeve by Dave Godin states “if this one got the plays it could really go places.” Well, here’s to hoping that more people find this amazing piece of American soul music.

The good folks at Daptone Records have this record available for purchase through their Ever-Soul imprint. You can check out a video of the song below but I’m warning you…you might wanna have your credit card ready.