IIf you’ve ever stopped and considered the number of recordings left unattended or unfinished, shelved away from listeners and airwaves, or which have simply disappeared from the public’s view… this album is dedicated to you! 

Reluctant to leave a gem such as this one uncovered, the folks at Afro-Kats Records took the necessary steps to bring you this enduring masterpiece! Taken straight from the vaults and rendered for this re-mastered edition, this is our first tribute to all great musical collaborations that may have been neglected, but which were never forgotten.  ¬

Originally printed in 1976, Floyd Lawson & The Hearts of Stone’s “Coming Out” remained un-released and was mainly used as a promotional tool, helping to land gigs within local and international tour circuits.

Throughout this classic recording, Floyd Lawson delivers his timeless vocals with a unique and soulful approach, accomplishing the virtues one would attribute to the likes of Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield.

How this one got away is hard to understand!

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In 1959, Floyd began his singing career alongside his brothers and cousins with their local church’s gospel choir. He quickly learned to combine soul and faith into one, and how to deeply connect with his audiences.

  In the early 1960s, he moved to Florida where he formed “The Larks” alongside his good friends John Myers, Rudolph Hill, Lindsey Griffin, and Clemmons Daniels. Together they gained confidence as performers, and perfected their skills throughout various live appearances and club gigs.

By 1964, the group had evolved into “The 4 Pennies” (Lawson, Myers, Griffin, with the addition of Carl Cuttler) and recorded at Brunswick Studios in Detroit.

This brought them their first two successful 45s; “You Have No Time to Lose/You’re a Gas With Your Trash” in December of 1966, and “Tis The Season/Shake A Hand” in May of 1967, both of which earned them the reputation they deserved.         

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    In 1970, “The 4 Pennies” changed their stage name to “The Hearts of Stone” and recorded a series of singles & a full-length album with Motown Records’ VIP subsidiary.

Although the Hearts of Stone’s - “Stop The World: We Wanna Get Off” stood out as a promising album, all promotional efforts were halted after the band refused to sign a managerial contract with the label.

They then ventured on to successfully self-producing and promoting their act until 1982, at which point daily events drew the closing curtain for the group.
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 “The Hearts of Stone” have stood tall through trials and tribulations, and have proven themselves as an inspiration to us all. They have shown us that Time itself can’t stop a great thing from being shared with all who are willing to listen.