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Ned Doheny – To Prove My Love / A Love Of My Own. 7 inch vinyl single record.

Item ID: EX7025
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If you are a collector of AOR, Yacht Rock, or West Coast Soul, EX7025 is one of the most essential 7-inch singles in your box. Ned Doheny is the ultimate "musician’s musician"—a man who grew up in the same Malibu circles as the Eagles and Jackson Browne but possessed a soulful, funky sensibility that set him apart from the folk-rock crowd. This 2018 Expansion release captures the absolute peak of the "California Groove."

Ned Doheny – To Prove My Love / A Love Of My Own

Label: Expansion / Columbia

Format: 7" Vinyl Single (45 RPM)

Catalog Number: EX7025 Release Year: 2018

Side A: To Prove My Love

This is the holy grail of West Coast Soul. Taken from his 1979 album Prone, it features an incredible, percolating rhythm section and a horn arrangement that is pure fire. It is a massive anthem on the UK's "Modern Soul" and "Jazz-Funk" circuits. It’s the sound of a sun-drenched L.A. afternoon distilled into four minutes of perfection.

Side B: A Love Of My Own

Originally from his 1976 masterpiece Hard Candy, this track was produced by the legendary Steve Cropper. It is a smoother, blue-eyed soul classic that highlights Ned’s incredible songwriting—so good, in fact, that it was famously covered by The Average White Band.

Fascinating Collector’s Facts & Figures

1. The "Japan Only" Legend

The album Prone (featuring "To Prove My Love") was famously not released in the US in 1979 due to a label dispute.

  • The Figure: For decades, the only way to get "To Prove My Love" on vinyl was to track down a rare Japanese import of the Prone LP.

  • The Rarity: Original 1970s Japanese 7-inch promos of this track are legendary among collectors, often fetching £200+ ($250+). EX7025 finally brought this "Blue-Chip" rarity to a standard UK 45 format.

2. The Steve Cropper / Stax Connection

While Ned was a Malibu native, his sound was deeply rooted in Memphis soul.

  • The Fact: Steve Cropper (of Booker T. & the M.G.'s) produced the B-side. Cropper rarely worked with "California" artists, but he was so impressed by Ned’s soulful guitar playing and timing that he agreed to produce the Hard Candy sessions.

  • The Result: This gives Ned’s records a "snap" and a "grit" that most other AOR records of the era lacked.

3. The "Two-Step" & "Balearic" Anthem

In the UK, "To Prove My Love" occupies a unique space.

  • The Impact: It is played in Northern Soul "Modern" rooms, Jazz-Funk sets, and by Balearic DJs in Ibiza. Its tempo (approx. 104 BPM) makes it a universal "bridge" record that works in almost any sophisticated musical setting.

4. The Columbia "Red Label" Aesthetic

Expansion utilized the original 1970s Columbia Records design for this release.

  • The Detail: The labels feature the iconic "walking eye" logo and the classic orange-red hue of the late 70s, making it a visually stunning addition to a vintage record box.

Technical Specs for Collectors

  • Mastering: Expansion utilized the original Sony/Columbia master tapes. The 45 RPM cut is highly praised for its "dynamic range"—the brass stabs on "To Prove My Love" are sharp and punchy, while the bass is warm and well-defined.

  • Market Status: Because Ned Doheny has a massive global cult following (particularly in Japan and the UK), this 7-inch sold out quickly upon release and is now a sought-after item on the secondary market.

Collector's Tip: "To Prove My Love" is the perfect partner for Leon Ware’s "Why I Came To California" (EXPAND112). If you play these two back-to-back, you have successfully captured the entire essence of the 1979 West Coast soul sound.

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