This single on Top-Notch is an excellent 1966 release by two different soul groups.

One side has the Highlights doing a great up-tempo number with swirling organ, “Orbit”, featuring a lead vocal backed by harmonies. The flip is credited to Carroll & London with a different harmony style altogether.

I’m posting as it is currently almost unknown and has some intriguing credits.

Joann Longenberger wrote both songs, published by Knorr Music Pub. and Oasis Music. Released as Top-Notch IMK-2, it has a Columbia pressing code of ZTSP-12677/8.

Top-Notch had at least two other singles. The first may be Herb and His Cronies with “The Phantom” / “In the Middle of a Love”. It was released on Personality A-700 in July of 1966, with an IMK Productions credit that links it to the Top-Notch singles. 45cat lists this same single as being released on Top Notch 700, however I cannot find a scan of that to confirm – anyone have one?

The other two singles that definitely had release on Top-Notch were IMK-1, J. Salvemini’s “La Salles” doing “Why Oh Why” / “Wanarupu” (both have words by Ernest Barlbeault, and music by Joseph Salvemini); and IMK-3, an artist named Coye doing “Hop Scotch” / “Sweet I Know” (both by C. Boatner).

All were registered with the Library of Congress on August 29, 1966, with the Coye songs listed as words by Mary Boatner and music by Coye Boatner. The pressing code on the Cove is ZTSP 122680, which shows these were sent together to be mastered and pressed in one batch.

I presume a New York location for Top-Notch but I don’t have any definite proof of that. There was a Coye Boatner living in the Bronx in the early 1970s, but also indications Coye and Mary Boatner lived in Louisiana at some point.