Magazine

Soul Source music magazine feature.

Well it's taken 30 years but the Heart Of England Soul is back at The Manchester Ritz for an All-Dayer!
The event is promoted by Music & Media Consultancy & Soulvation and takes place on Sunday July 31 from 3pm till 11pm.
Features orginal Ritz DJ's back at The Ritxz n Whitworth Street (West) -
IAN LEVINE - RICHARD SEARLING - COLIN CURTIS - NEIL RUSHTON - IAN DEWHIRST & PAUL SCHOFIELD
INFO AND ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM THE SOULVATION WEB SITE -
WWW.SOULVATION.BIZ
All the Best,
Neil

By Neil Rushton in Event News · January 20, 201114 yr

While talking to Melvin Davis, it became apparent that Steve passed away in poor circumstances and his surviving mother and brother are not in great financial shape.
As Steve and the music of black Detroit mean so much to us, myself and Rob Wigley, who has worked closely with Melvin in recent years, thought it would be good to give a little back and show our appreciation of Steve and that body of artists who have given us such memorable music.
We have therefore set up a PayPal account for a fund to provide a marker or possibly even a headstone to commemorate Steve's life and what it has meant to us.
If anybody would like to contribute the PayPal account is under stevemancha@gmx.com and will just be open for a couple of weeks as we want to get the money to Detroit reasonably quickly. If anybody has problems with PayPal please PM me or Rob (ideally him as he'll be administering it) and I'm sure we can sort out a way for anybody to contribute.
I'll be contacting all UK record labels who have been involved with Steve's recordings and I'm sure Ace Records will be contributing this week.
The gifts will be anonymous unless asked otherwise and if there are any messages for the family and soul people of Detroit I'm sure Rob can pass them on via Melvin. There is no minimum donation, I believe calling it a gift, which it will be, may mean we save on PayPal charges. Perhaps somebody could enlighten us on that?
Thanks
Ady

By Ady Croasdell in News Archives · January 19, 201114 yr

Soul Film and Photography Project Part 2

We have completed the photographic side of the project, thanks to all that came along, the Dancers and DJs; (Jo Wallace, Trickster, Rob Messer, Martin Morgan and Si Cheeba ) you all made the day brilliant.

We are now concentrating on the filming side of the project. It will take place on 30th January in North London. This time we are planning to shoot some club scenes so we're looking for some more people to come along. All ages are welcome, so as long as you can dance to Northern and are interested in taking part please drop us an email to info@lookslondon.com if possible include a picture of yourself with what you might wear...even if it's from your camera phone.

There might be a limitation on numbers so please pass your details over as soon as you can.

The result will be a short film, not be a feature film and it doesn't set out to be the definitive story of Northern Soul you'll be relieved to know, but it does aim to celebrate it.

We mentioned this before but thought it best to mention it again, this project has no outside funding, Dean will be paying for the whole thing himself, it's a labour of love.. so people would be asked to donate their time.

For more information about this project please click on the links below:

We have set up a Facebook Events page

http://www.facebook....123648004370250

And Facebook Group

http://www.facebook....7693275468&ap=1

Thanks so very much!
kelly

By Mike in News Archives · January 19, 201114 yr

New issue No 70 of Soul Up North out now...

£3 plus £1.20 postage... paypal available...

Drop me a line if you want a copy..

cheers

Steve

added by site

WHAT'S IN ISSUE 70

COVER PHOTO
TONY DRAKE & JOHNNY MOORE

SOUL UP NORTH COLLECTOR'S CD
DOWN IN THE BASEMENT - COMPILED BY CRAIG BUTLER

THE BIG ONE
Gilly continues his memoirs of his trips to Detroit with
part two of his 1990 venture with Andy "Tats" Taylor

THE WHITE STUFF - GREAT COVERS OF SOUL CLASSICS
A look at blue eyed covers of soul classics by Derek See

TONY DRAKE
Spotlight on this unsung hero of RnB by Colton Thomas

UK SOUL EP's
Stuart Drake gives us a run down on some rare UK vinyl

FUNK IN THE UK CLUB SCENE
George Mahood gives us an insight into the UK funk scene

JOHNNY MOORE - OF HOPES AND DREAMS AND TOMBSTONES
Dave & Val Box give us a fascinating insight into the career of their good friend Johnny Moore

TWOFER TIME!!
Martyn Bird from Hull gives us a review of double siders

SOUL UP STATES
New to Soul Up North is SoulManJan of Miami introduces himself
with a great read - looking forward to more from the Florida soul man

Plus all the usual great regular pages
Dave Halsall's "Good Toons & Great Grooves", Howard Priestley's "Funk in Yo' Face", Mark Randall's "Modern Musings", Wayne Hudson "Hitting the Decks", Mike Finbow's "Deep Soul Corner", Craig Butler's "Touch Of Early and RnB Obscurity", 'Bearsoul's B Sides', Howard E's "Hot Off The Vinyl Press" and "Those Little Silver Discs" CD reviews

By Little-stevie in News Archives · January 17, 201114 yr

If January 2011 is an indication of just what sort of year soul release wise 2011 is going to be, then we are in for a treat!
Kent have just stepped into the limelight with news of their new batch of 5 x 45s, 3 on the limited edition imprint City and Two on the town one.
You may have read on the forums or indeed heard some of the City 45s out and about via regular soul source members, if haven't am sure that when you do you will join the band of anticapting soul fans!
Words from Ady...

NEW BATCH OF 5 KENT 45S RELEASED 31ST JAN 2011

KENT CITY

SPENCER WIGGINS
I'M AT THE BREAKING POINT / MAKE ME YOURS
CITY 017
At last the biggest Crossover record of the past decade, Spencer Wiggins 'I'm At The Breaking Point' is available on vinyl. A recent master tape discovery from the famed Fame studios, it is coupled with a stunning update of Bettye Swann's soul classic 'Make Me Yours'. This is a taster of the Fame wonders which Ace will issue in 2011.

WILLIE BOLLINGER/WILLIE WALKER
I WON'T HAVE TO CRY NO MORE / RUN AROUND
CITY 018
The Willies (Bollinger and Walker) cut classic southern soul for Sound Of Memphis productions, though inexplicably few were issued at the time. These two sides have picked up a lot of modern soul plays from acetates and carvers in recent months and the limited edition press is sure to sell out fast.

LARRY BANKS / BOBBY PENN
OOH IT HURTS ME / WITHOUT YOUR LOVE
CITY 019
'Ooh It Hurts Me', aka 'Sweet Baby' as released by Al Gardner, gained a huge following when the Metros RCA cover of it was discovered by Kent in the 90s. This is the original recording by the song's creator; the musical genius Larry Banks. Flip it over for the best version of his own composition 'Without Your Love' which was released as an LP track by the Hesitations, covered exquisitely by the Shaladons but given extra added punch by the unknown Bobby Penn.

NB All the Kent Select singles with the City catalogue number are limited presses and several are sold out and deleted already; so don't hang about.

RUDY LOVE AND THE COMPANY/PERCY MILEM
SUFFERING WRATH - CALL ON ME
TOWN 139
Northern's gone funky in recent years and here's the track probably more responsible than any for the conversion. 'Suffering Wrath' is a tough title for a dirty, mean, belter of a song: beware.
Percy Milem's 'Call On Me' has been admired for decades by the soul cognoscenti but is about to take off big-time. It's just been featured in the recently released Northern Soul film "Soul Boy" and sounds perfect among the Wigan stompers; even if it never actually got spun there.

THE ANTELLECTS / THE RAVINS
LOVE SLAVE /YOUR LOVE IS WHAT I WANT
TOWN 140

We were tempted to put the stunningly rare combination of the Antellects and Ravins only known singles onto the Kent Select label. However they were actually issued at the time of their recording, even if there are less than ten of the former and possibly only two of the latter. Snap them up sharpish , before they dissolve into the ether once more.

Still available

CITY 005
The Two Of Us
Danny Cobus
CITY 005
You Won't Miss The Water
Chico & Buddy
CITY 007
Mata Hari
Chet "Poison" Ivey
CITY 007
Oh Baby Don't You Weep
Luther Ingram
CITY 008
I'm Gonna Start A War
Barbara & The Browns
CITY 008
Loving By The Pound
Otis Redding
CITY 009
Gone With The Wind Is My Love
Rita and the Tiaras
CITY 009
Gone With The Wind Is My Love
The Dore Strings
CITY 010
Lean Lanky Daddy
Little Ann
CITY 010
Who Are You Trying To Fool
Dave Hamilton Orchestra
CITY 011
Country Girl aka Home At Last
Little Willie John
CITY 011
(I Need) Someone
Little Willie John
CITY 012
Let's Talk It Over
Spencer Wiggins
CITY 012
Love Attack
Spencer Wiggins
CITY 013
Changes
Lilly Fields
CITY 013
We Can Do It
The Shaladons
CITY 014
What'cha Gonna Do
Phillip & The Faithfuls
CITY 014
Until The End Of Time
The Additions
CITY 015
A Man Is A Mean Thing
Barbara Perry
CITY 015
I've Got a Feeling For You Baby
Gladys Bruce
CITY 016
Hang On In There Girl
The Jesse Davis Band
CITY 016
Hang On In There Girl
Jesse Davis
TOWN 113
Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right
The Mayberry Movement
TOWN 113
Don't Send Nobody Else
Millie Jackson
TOWN 114
Baby Without You
Danny Monday
TOWN 114
I've Been Hurt So Many Times
Larry Davis
TOWN 115
The Streets Got My Lady
Bill Brandon
TOWN 115
Tin Man
John Edwards
TOWN 116
You Got Me Turned Around
O C Tolbert
TOWN 116
Challenge My Love
Tobi Lark
TOWN 118
I'm The Man
Albert Washington
TOWN 118
The Well's Gone Dry
Dorothy Williams
TOWN 119
The Magic Touch
Melba Moore
TOWN 119
Bricks, Broken Bottles And Sticks
Dean Parrish
TOWN 120
Talkin' About My Baby
Dottie & Millie
TOWN 120
Happiness Is Here
Tobi Lark
TOWN 121
What Should I Do
Little Ann
TOWN 121
Who Are You Trying To Fool
Little Ann
TOWN 122
Gonna Wait For You
The Pentagons
TOWN 122
Do Yourself A Favor
The Themes
TOWN 123
I Can't Get Away
Bobby Garrett
TOWN 123
Is She In Your Town?
Curtis Lee
TOWN 124
Come Through Me
Garland Green
TOWN 124
House For Sale
Millie Jackson
TOWN 125
Ain't No Telling
Houston Outlaws
TOWN 125
Yes I'm In Love
Unique Blend
TOWN 126
Too Darn Soulful
Morris Chestnut
TOWN 126
Handwriting On The Wall
Bobby Wisdom
TOWN 127
Cards On The Table
The Diplomats
TOWN 127
Strange Neighborhood
The Imaginations
TOWN 128
Shadow Of A Memory
Minnie Jones
TOWN 128
How Does It Grab You
The Primers
TOWN 129
Have Faith In Me
Sugar & Spices
TOWN 129
Three Lonely Guys
The Brilliant Korners
TOWN 130
If That Don't Turn You On
Millie Jackson
TOWN 130
You Can't Stand The Thought Of Another Man Loving Me
Millie Jackson
TOWN 131
Too Much For You
Bobby Angelle
TOWN 131
Try My Love
Toni & The Showmen
TOWN 132
He Broke Your Game Wide Open
Frank Dell
TOWN 132
I Idolize You
The Charmaines
TOWN 133
Sh'Mon
Mr Dynamite
TOWN 133
Elijah Rockin' With Soul
Hank Jacobs
TOWN 134
Nothing In This World
Dottie & Millie
TOWN 134
Sweep It Out In The Shed
Tobi Lark
TOWN 135
I'll Never Stop Loving You
Carla Thomas
TOWN 135
Tell Me, Baby
Karmello Brooks
TOWN 136
Wear Your Natural, Baby
Towana & the Total Destruction
TOWN 136
You Really Made It Good To Me
Ty Karim
TOWN 137
Come Out Of The Sandbox
Mary Love Comer
TOWN 137
Is This The Way To Treat A Girl (You Bet It Is)
The Hesitations
TOWN 138
Make Up Your Mind
The San Francisco TKOs
TOWN 138
A Man Of My Word
Salt & Pepper

Wholesale enquiries welcomed: phil.stoker@acerecords.com

By Ady Croasdell in News Archives · January 17, 201114 yr

The two winners of Soul Junctions ever so fine Natural Impulse 45 were just drawn from the soul source hat
and they were...

trog and toad

if you can both get your current address in to a pm to me, will get a copy of this fine 45 off to you asp

thanks to all who entered

mike

By Mike in News Archives · January 14, 201114 yr

Just received two interesting new CD's from Producer Hadley Murrell, Meet... The Servicemen and Crown Princes of funk, Freddi/Henchi and The Soulsetters.
Hadley worked in the 60's Phoenix as a radio dj and concert promoter, here he met The Servicemen & Freddie/Henchi and worked with both groups to produce some great soul music.
Hadley first met The Servicemen in 1966 when they were based at Luke Airforce Base. The group played him a copy of their 45 on Chartmaker - Connie/Sweet magic. He was very impressed with these and their live vocal style. Along with James Mitchell, he took them to Audio Recorders and cut a bunch of songs including, 'Are you angry' and 'I need a helping hand'. Haldley believed that these songs were as good as anything coming out of Detroit or Memphis at the time, so set off up and down the west coast trying to do a deal, but non came. Believing in the tracks so much, he then returned to Phoenix and deciced to put the tracks out on his own Wind Hit label, pressing up about 200 copies. Although he managed to get some local radio action, very little else happen to the tracks. A year later he went back into the studio and cut some more tracks with the band, including 'My turn' and I'll stop loving you'. He was then able to cut a deal with L.A. label Pathway for I need a helping hand and My turn, but again little success came, so nothing was done with the other tracks in the can. Not long after this the group transferred off the airbase aand with in a year they all lost touch with each other. To this day Hadley has not been able to find any of the groups members and so another northern soul ledgend is born. 'Are you angry', I need a helping hand' along with their earlier Chartmaker sides go on to become classics on the european rare soul scene.
This new CD includes all eight tracks Hadley recorded with the group, plus killer acappella versions of 'Are you angry', 'I need a helping hand', My turn' and 'Come back to me'. The whole thing comes with great gatefold hard cardboard sleeve, cool informative notes, along with several great photos of the band. Mastering on all the tracks is of the highest quality.

Hadley first met The Soul Setters at The Abel Hall in Phoenix where he was the dj. This relationship was to become the longest lasting of all the music projects he worked on, with him becoming their producer, manager and worked on the developement. In 1966 he took the group to Audio Recorders to cut their debut release as The Soul Setters, 'Cecil, the unwanted french fry' along with a rowdy version of James Brown's 'Out of sight', this came out on the L.A. label Onacreast.
That same year Fred Gowdy join the group as lead singer, after jumping up on stage at a local gig and singing a song with the group. He Join members of the original band The Fabulous Jokers, Bobby 'Soul' Fraijo, Tony Neibles, Jimmy Fraijo, Rudy Valenzuela and Paul Henricks and Chuy Castro, who had recently joined the band, Freddy's arrival gave the group a new dynamic. They then built a great reputation for their crazy stage show and dance routines and toured under the name Freddy Love and The Soul Setters. The group expanded once again to include local famed dancer Marvin Graves (Henchi) as another singer. Set with this line up the group developed their skills. As the 60's moved on the group relocated to L.A. Throughout the rest of the 60's and early 70's the group continued to record with Hadley and tour. The group started to slowly wind down by the mid 70's, doing their final recordings with Hadley in 75.
This CD spans their recordings including many of their funk classic recorded with Hadley Murrell. Just like the other CD in come in a nice hardcover gatefold, lots of great sleeve notes and a whole bunch of group photo's. Again the sound quality and mastering is fantastic.

Both CD's can be found at major internet stores, such as Amazon

By Dave Thorley in News Archives · January 12, 201114 yr

I'm pleased to announce that the masters are almost complete, the label artwork is ready, the mechanical license is sorted and the next release on Soul Intention wil be ...

SI005 - Otis Williams - Take Me Back / I Got To Have You

Hope to have it available by late Jan.

This has got to be one of the best 70's double-siders ever!

The owner and prodiucer Kent Washburn has this to say ...........

"I am so pleased to see that these two masters finally get to the public. It finally confirms my belief way back in the early 70's, of the serious validity of:

(1) the songs,
(2)the musicians and
(3) the technical staff.

These tracks are seriously good, and why they never got released is a mystery to me at this point. I even chatted with Otis (Williams) recently, and he can't even remember why he was in St Louis to start with, or what prompted us to even cut the tracks either However, he does confirm that it is him, and yes, he does remember the songs and recording them, but he can't remember how the whole thing got hooked up to start with, and neither can I!!

Never-the-less, Here are the people that helped create these two excellent sides....

Both Sides were Produced by Michael L Smith (now known as Michael Lovesmith, or just Lovesmith) along with Kent Washburn. Steve Litman, (the engineer that recorded and mixed all of their collaborations) was the Engineer. The musicians were the "A" team at that time in St Louis. This "CMC Rhythm Section" consisted of: Bass: Tom Zuzenak or Paul Jackson ( can't really remember which one played Otis' session, but I would think it was Tom Zuzenak from listening to it.) ... Drums: Michael Grimes, and Guitar: Phil Westmoreland ,(both were part of the group, Marcus Kelly and Westmoreland Co.), Keyboard: Michael L Smith. I used them on Everything I did, along with a keyboardist that was not on the Otis session, named: William "Billy B" Bickelhaupt. Some of the Horn Players were Tyrone Perry and David Hines, Myself, and some others whose names escape me (please forgive...smile). Strings were the local Symphony Strings.

And, almost 40 years later, Hello from St Louis, et, al.... You now get to finally hear it!!!"

By Phild in News Archives · January 11, 201114 yr

Passing this on from my friend Jeff Meier in Detroit, who plays with Melvin Davis-------------->

Steve Mancha is the stage name for Clyde Wilson, one of the greatest Soul singers and songwriters to emerge from Detroit in the 1960s. His may not be a household name, but in Soul music circles, he is known as one of the best our town had to offer.

I was first introduced to the name Steve Mancha by my friend and fellow music disciple, Matt Weingarden (aka Mr. Fine Wine) back in the days of mix tapes. On one such tape was the song "Just Keep On Loving Me" by Steve Mancha, a mid-tempo soul number with the most sincerely heartbreaking vocal delivery I had ever heard. In those pre-internet days information about our favorite records was scarce. Later I learned that Steve's real name was Clyde Wilson. He played in the Jaywalkers with Melvin Davis, Tony Newton and David Ruffin (Wow! What a band!), he wrote songs for Motown, did a string of singles for Don Davis in the mid-'60s. "Whirlpool", "Hate Yourself in the Morning" ,"I Don't Want To Lose You". Many thanks to our Northern Soul Brothers in the UK for keeping these songs alive!

In the latter part of the '60s, Clyde signed on with Holland-Dozier-Holland's Invictus Records, singing on hits such as 100 Proof Aged In Soul's "Someone's Been Sleeping in My Bed" and 8th Day's "She Not Just Another Woman", both with brilliant McKinley Jackson arrangements. He was part of George Clinton's revolving Parliament cast delivering the goods on the quintessential Detroit funk "Breakdown" as an uncredited Parliamentarian, as well as "Come In Out of the Rain" on 1970's Osmium LP. Clyde made some big hits in the '70s, with four gold records to show for it, but H-D-H followed Berry Gordy's assembly line style of record production and many great artists were disparaged to obscurity by anonymity. Much like the Funk Brothers, Clyde Wilson never got the fame or fortune he deserved.

Clyde Wilson made his transition on January 8, 2011 at 4:08 p.m. at Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan after several years of suffering. He is in a better place and his music and his memory lives on.

A tribute and remembrance performance for Clyde will be held on Sunday, January 23 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore Ave, Detroit (313) 873-1739. Many friends including Melvin Davis, McKinley Jackson, Pat Lewis, Buddy Smith, Joey Kingfish, and Cody Black will be performing. Proceeds will go to Clyde's mother and brother to help offset his medical expenses.

site note
title edited to include postponed due to post below

"After a discussion with Melvin, we've decided to postpone the Steve Mancha tribute. There are some other folks in town planning a similar event and we want to avoid any potential conflict. I will post any details about the other event as I get them. We are planning to do another show later this year to help raise funds for a tombstone for Clyde. "

By Mr Blue in Event News · January 10, 201114 yr

Hi Folks.
Wanted to let you know I started a Northern show on Salford City radio.
That Beatin' Rhythm goes out Sunday nights at 10pm straight after Harry & Di's great show & just before Sean Livesey playing the cream of crossover with Soulful Matters at 11pm
You can listen live or at anytime after the show with the listen again feature.
Please try & stop me plugging the shop every 5 mins ( that's Beatin' Rhythm Records now at 108 Tib St M/cr, open 7 days: 0161 834 7783) by sending any requests, dedications club news & info etc, either here, in response to this topic or to my email:
music@beatinrhythm.com

http://www.salfordci...hows.php?id=428

Tom Smith

By Guest in News Archives · January 10, 201114 yr

Veteran Bobby Robinson died on Friday, age 93.

below added by site
full article can be read via ny daily news

http://www.nydailyne...n_125th_st.html

BOBBY ROBINSON, whose tiny record shop on Harlem's 125th St. spawned No. 1 national hits and made him an uptown patriarch for six decades, died yesterday.

He was 93 and had been ill for several years - though he regularly went to work at his shop until it was forced to close in January 2008.

Impeccably dressed, well-spoken and ambitious to make his mark in the entertainment business, Robinson opened Bobby's Happy House in 1946.

His shop was the first black-owned business on 125th St., and within five years he used it to launch a series of record labels...

By Guest in News Archives · January 9, 201114 yr

Sad news from Detroit. No confirmation, but it's from a trusted source. Happened today....

site notes

2011 brings yet even more sad news with the departure of Steve Mancha (Clyde Darnell Wilson)

The following informative articles detail his recording legacy.

RIP

Hitsville Soul Club Article by the late Alan Pollard on the Soul Train Yorks website

On Christmas Day 1945 in Walhall, South Carolina a musical legend was born. Clyde Darnell Wilson, or as all collectors and lovers of Detroit soul music know him ... Steve Mancha. Clyde moved to Detroit at the age of five years old and by 1960 he was already singing locally around the Detroit area when he met another future Detroit icon, Melvin Davis. Melvin Davis was already recording for Jack and Devora Brown's Fortune Records....
http://yorksoultrain...allcamefrom.htm

Soulful Detroit page by Graham Finch

...Steve then kicked off the groovy looking Groovesville label in October '65 with the great "You're Still In My Heart" and followed it up in March '66 with a Billboard hit - "I Don't Want To Lose You". This was the second of his five singles on the label - each of them a jewel of Detroit Soul. One of them is Tony Hester and Popcorn Wylie's first collaborations, "Friday Night", but sadly only

http://www.soulfulde...teve-Mancha.htm

Bio on Amg by Andrew Hamilton

... the record simmered on the charts, Mancha hit again, this time as 8th Day with "She's Not Just Another Woman," a song he wrote that was the same track on 100 Proof's debut album...

http://www.allmusic....-mancha-p189499

By Weingarden in News Archives · January 8, 201114 yr

TV One is paying respects to blue-eyed soul singer Teena Marie with a special viewing of her incredible episode of Unsung Thursday at 10pm(ET).
Can view via the details posted below.

By De-to in News Archives · January 8, 201114 yr

News of an upcoming 'two lps on one cd' release from soul music dot com featuring two great late 70s lps from Esther Phillips on cd for the first time

Info below...

esther phillips - promo video for 2011 cd release - video promo

[rs]73070[/rs]

First time ever on CD for these two great Mercury albums from 1977 and 1978

ESTHER PHILLIPS: YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY/ALL ABOUT ESTHER (SMCR2-5006)

- The late, great ESTHER PHILLIPS was one of the most distinctive vocalists in contemporary music, so accomplished in R&B, soul, blues and jazz that she defied easy categorization

- After her global success in the mid-'70s with a remake of "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes," Esther signed a four-album deal with Mercury Records, recording home to her primary musical influences, Dinah Washington

- Her Mercury debut ("You've Come A Long Way Baby") was produced by her then-musical director, Pee Wee Ellis (the famed former James Brown sideman) and featured a dazzling diversity of material, from the blues tune, "You've Been A Good Ole Wagon" to Van Morrison's "Into The Mystic"and a disco remake of The Platters' "My Prayer," a previously unreleased 9:07 mix of which is being made available for the first time on the CD!

- Esther's second Mercury LP ("All About Esther") was produced by Wayne Henderson (of The Jazz Crusaders), featured a number of star players and includes a great cover of Odyssey's "Native New Yorker."

* The albums contain two of Esther's brilliant trademark monologues/raps on "I've Never Been A Woman Before" and "There You Go Again" which give a real insight into a woman who was witty, sharp and earthy

- Notes by Soul Music.com founder David Nathan, who knew Esther well and interviewed her many times, include quotes from producers Ellis and Henderson.

YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY BABY
1. LOVE ADDICT
2. YOU'VE BEEN A GOOD OLE WAGON
3. IF I LOVED YOU
4. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE
5. IN A SOFT AND SUBTLE WAY
6. UNSELFISH LOVE
7. I'VE NEVER BEEN A WOMAN BEFORE
8. INTO THE MYSTIC
9. MY PRAYER (Previously Unreleased Extended Mix)

ALL ABOUT ESTHER
10. THE MAN AIN'T READY
11. NATIVE NEW YORKER
12. YOU THINK OF HIM (YOU THINK OF HER)
13. PIE IN THE SKY
14. S.O.S.
15. THERE YOU GO AGAIN (THERE SHE GOES AGAIN)/STORMY WEATHER
16. MS.

order via http://www.soulmusic.com/somure.html

amazon uk shows a 17th jan release date

By Mike in News Archives · January 7, 201114 yr

Had a request to put up this shout, there's an info email at the bottom

Photographer Dean Chalkley.

http://www.deanchalkley.com/

Dean is famous for his iconic portraits of the world's brightest music stars and compelling snapshots of youth sub-cultures - one exhibition you may have see recently is called
'The New Faces' which launched in April 2010 and revolves around the mod scene.

http://www.creativer...n-the-new-faces

His new project will touch on the Northern Soul and Rare Soul scene.

It is a short film and Photographic Project.

It will be presented through the bi annual culture and fashion magazine '125'.

So we are looking for good youthful Northern Soul dancers, a mixture of male and female.

The people we are looking for should also be able to dance well to Northern Soul, it would be good if some are able to do the more acrobatic style of dancing (i.e. spins, backdrops, and a bit of floor work too) but not all have to - so if you consider yourself a good dancer and are interested in getting involved then send me a message!

The potential shoot days will be 16 January and 30 January in a central London
location.

On 16 January there will be small group of dancers required and on 30 January a larger crowd will be needed.

So if you are free and would like to be involved in this exciting project then please send your details including your photo, if possible a camera phone video of yourself doing some moves, an email address and telephone number to

info@lookslondon.com

Many thanks
Kelly

By Mike in News Archives · January 7, 201114 yr

Sad news that Larry Hancock of the Cleveland group S.O.U.L. has just passed away.

This information has just been passed on by Al Boyd of The Imperial Wonders.

added by site

Sad news , some links to further reading..

Originating in Cleveland, OH, S.O.U.L. stood for "Sounds of Unity and Love." The members were Lee Lovett (bass), Gus Hawkins (sax/flute), Paul Stubblefield (drums), and Walter Winston (guitar). Larry Hancock (vocals/organ) was added in 1971 and Bernard (Beloyd) Taylor (guitar) replaced Winston in 1972. All had been involved in music before the formation of S.O.U.L. The fellows entered a battle-of-the-bands contest in 1970, sponsored by the May Company department store in Cleveland, WHK radio station, and Musicor Records. The group won the first prize of 1,000 dollars and a recording contract with Musicor. They traveled to New York City in 1971 and recorded a 45 entitled "Down in the Ghetto Parts I & II" which exceeded the expectations of Musicor by doing so well regionally. They cut a second single, then were invited back to New York to record an album.....

Read more:
http://www.answers.com/topic/s-o-u-l-1

Further info on Larry Hancocks time as a member of Truth along with his song writing output can be read via the Imperial Wonders Bio here
http://www.imperialwonders.com/bio.html

By Dave Thorley in News Archives · January 4, 201114 yr

Just as the post xmas blues are about to kick in, Soul Junction steps up and comes to the rescue, with a possible remedy for two lucky soul source members.

Yep two copies of the much talked about and much played recent Soul Junction release - Natural Impulse - "We're Gonna Make It Through" to be won in a no brains needed soul source comp

Could be said that 2010 saw the Soul Junction team make its mark even deeper, with a succession of quality releases, all pushing the right buttons at the right time in the right places! And has to be said a breath of fresh air with the way they do things

Can check out their website for more news and info - the link is at bottom, here's the comp info...

Comp

Ok seeing everything is all a bit post-xmas, won't even trouble you with a morning tv style phone in question for this double upper
to enter all you have to do is just ...

1. hit link
http://www.soul-sour...lforum/contact/

2. choose competition as subject matter

3. post "aye aye"

4. hit send

that's all , make sure you do choose competition as the "contact" subject title though!
in a weeks time will draw two winners out and they will both receive a copy of this fine 45

45 info

After a two year absence from our previous release from Natural Impulse "She Went Away" we eventually return with two previously unissued tracks by them.

The A-side is a great uptempo 70's dancer "We're Gonna Make It Through" that's sure to get everyone's toes tapping!
While the b-side features the more funk orientated "Make It Or Break It" which is an edited version of the original six minute long studio take.

The story behind the discovery of these two tracks is what really makes what we do so worthwhile.
Jesus (Jess) Gonzales the bass guitarist with Natural Impulse while sorting out some items to donate to a local charity came across an old cassette player.
Luckily for us all he had the piece of mind to open it up. Upon doing so he discovered that it still contained a cassette and thus played it.
To his delight he found three forgotten unissued tracks that had been laid down during the 70's only to have lain gathering dust for the last 32 years.

Jess contacted Rick Ramos who forwarded a soundbite of each of the tracks to us at Soul Junction wanting to know if they were of any use to us,
"Damn! right they are" was the reply.

So all that's left to say is "Welcome back Natural Impulse, you really have made it through!!"

For further information please contact
John Anderson or Dave Welding
Tel: +44 (0)121 602 8115
E-mail souljunction@blueyonder.co.uk

website

http://www.souljunctionrecords.co.uk/

By Mike in News Archives · January 4, 201114 yr

Hi all,

Well, its that time of year again

Exactly 12 months since we did the last 'Top Tips' thread... so, as it's now a Soul Source tradition, here we go again!

Here's your opportunity to tip the tunes in your box for future greatness, during the forthcoming year... or simply list any number of records that you'd like to recommend to other Soul Sourcers.

You might be a DJ with that tasty unplayed, unknown, hardly played or semi-known 45 stuck in the back of your box that you'd love to play out... but haven't quite got around to it... yet!

You might be a collector, sitting on a tune that you know, if it got into the right hands, could become massive in the next 12 months.

It could be an LP track that, for whatever reason, has never been given the recognition it deserves.

It might be a tasty 'B' side that, given the right exposure, might just have what it takes to become a monster!

We're talking, Northern, Modern, Crossover or 'Just Soul' Whatever floats your boat!

No need to post sound clips. Just let us know what you've got that you think deserves a really big plug in the coming year!

So come on. Look at your box and let's have your top tip (or tips) for 2011.

Oh... and a Happy (and Soulful) New Year to all!

Sean Hampsey

vinyl

By Sean Hampsey in Articles · December 31, 201014 yr

News of two UK live shows for those who have ordered lifes
O2 Academy Bristol
Sat 12 Feb 11
Valentine Special Duo - Soul Meets Reggae
Millie Jackson
Ken Boothe
Door time: 8.00pm
Show time: TBC
http://www.o2academy...-reggae-tickets
O2 Academy Brixton
Sun 13 Feb 11
Reggae Got Soul Valentine Showcase
Millie Jackson
Betty Wright
Marcia Griffith
Door time: 7.00pm
Show time: 8.30pm
Turn the lights down low this Valentines day with Millie Jackson, Betty Wright and Marcia Griffith.
http://www.o2academy...tickets/Details

By Mike in Event News · December 31, 201014 yr

Richard has just launched his new label.
First 2 releases are The Epitome of Sound- You Don't Love Me/ Where Were You. Full historical sleeve notes and picture sleeve.

Ruby Andrews Just Loving You flipped with Mel Britt's - She'll Come Running Back.

All tracks have been digitally re-mastered and look superb.

A series of CD compilations and Ltd vinyl will be released throughout 2011.

Go Ahead records are distributed by Expansion and available from all good retailers.

By Goldsoul in News Archives · December 28, 201014 yr

Some time ago I compiled a CD of live recordings from the Normanton Baths Hall soul nights for some of my friends. To make it look professional I included a CD booklet containing a short history about how the soul nights started. I thought this may be of interest to some of you who are old enough to remember those very early days of the UK soul scene.
For those of you that can remember the club and the fans who attended, I have been asked to arrange a reunion soul night at the Pontefract Conservative Club.
PONTEFRACT CONSERVATIVE CLUB
NORMY BATHS REUNION SOUL NIGHT
With DJ Dave Box
Saturday 29th January 2011. 8pm till late. Free Admission.
A night of soul music and friends from the early days: Crystal Bowl - Normy Baths.
Hope to see you all there. If there is anyone you think should be there please let them know.
Directions/ Info: www.pontefractconservativeclub.co.uk
NORMY BATHS SOUL NIGHTS 1967 - 1972
The Venue
The Baths Hall, situated in the center of Normanton, was built in the mid-1920s. It accommodated two swimming pools: one large pool and a small pool for non-swimmers and children. The large pool was designed to be covered with a removable dance floor during the winter months when the swimming pool was closed. During the winter months, the dance floor was constantly used for ballroom dancing events and council dinner functions, right through to the mid 1970s. In the '60s and '70s, many pop groups played there. In the mid '60s, the small pool was filled in and converted into a small function room which was available for private hire. This was to be the home of the soul nights and 'nighters that were promoted there by Dave & Howard and their ladies, Val & Lesley, in later years both to become Mr. & Mrs.. In 2006, the building was finally demolished to make way for a Netto supermarket. End of an era!
The Beginnings
Dave Box and Howard Taylor met for the first time at the Crystal Bowl Social Club in nearby Castleford. This venue ran regular dance nights and had special nights when major acts were booked to appear: Zoot Money, Long John Baldry, Georgie Fame, and occasionally soul bands from the USA. Junior Walker & The Allstars, when on tour in the UK, appeared at the Crystal Bowl quite regularly. Most of these events were very successful.
At that time, Pete Stringfellow was resident DJ at the legendary Marquee Club in Sheffield. He and his roadshow would promote 'nighters at the Crystal Bowl, which later became known as the Tinned Chicken, featuring many live acts. The music played was a mixture of pop, Motown and soul, which was a perfect mix to suit the '60s Mod culture. Howard and Dave and their ladies were in attendance at most of these nights. Howard, living locally, managed to get a regular spot DJing in the smaller ballroom within the complex, called the Blue Room, playing mainly soul music. Both Howard and Dave were already keen soul music collectors and Dave would bring his latest finds for Howard to play on these nights. The pair would spend hours going through old stock in record shops, looking for 45s that they had missed on their initial release. Friendship grew, and the two couples, on many occasions, visited the legendary Twisted Wheel Club in Manchester, along with many other fans from the West Riding area.
In 1967, they decided to promote their own soul nights, and hired the small room in Normanton Baths buildings, and what was affectionately called "The Normy Baths Soul Nights" was borne. When the Crystal Bowl nights eventually closed. "Normy Baths" became the place to go. In those early days, most fans didn't have the luxury of their own transport, but relied on public transport or, if you were in the money, you had a scooter! To make sure everyone got home, the promoters provided late night bus transport to surrounding local towns and villages. Not bad for an entrance fee of 2/6d, including a trip home.
During the early days, most of the fans who attended were from the Crystal Bowl nights and were mainly local to the area. One of the main meeting places for fans of the soul nights (those old enough to drink) was the Bluebell pub in Pontefract. The soul nights didn't have a drinks license, never needed one; hot and cold drinks, were sold in the cafe
Some people downed a few pints at their locals before, but the music was the main stimulant to create that unforgettable atmosphere that the club was famous for. Yes, I am sure other illegal substances were used, but the music was everything. Listening to this CD captures some of the atmosphere that was generated on those unforgettable nights.
The Sounds
In those days, the term 'Disco' had not been invented, and you certainly could not purchase sound equipment for that purpose locally. Dave, trained in all things electrical, got the job of providing the sound equipment. It basically comprised of two BSR record decks, rescued from old radiograms acquired from a local secondhand shop. These were then mounted together in one box "the birth of twin decks"! Amplification was provided by two old guitar amplifiers, along with a microphone from a previous life, when Dave played in a band. Eventually, the decks were replaced with Garrard SPMk 4s (sheer luxury), and a new PA system was bought. All the equipment was valve powered - for the uninitiated, glass tubes that got red hot! Aah, those were the days, but the sound was just great.
The music played at that time was mainly soul with a sprinkling of ska, reggae and blue beat, and anything else that was popular at the time. As time passed, the club matured into a soul only club where most of the records played were 100% UK 45rpm releases: Atlantic, HMV, Stateside, RCA, Tamla Motown, etc. Many were current releases at that time. USA imports were only just starting to appear in the UK, but our knowledge of USA artists, other than those with UK releases, was very limited. We would listen to pirate radio stations and AFN, the BBC's Mike Raven and Emperor Roscoe shows to increase our knowledge of all things soulful.
Soon things became easier, with a handful of record dealers selling soul records by mail order. The addresses of dealers in the USA who would send records by mail order was a well kept secret: Town Hall Records in Brooklyn and Randy's Records in Gallatin, Tennessee, were just two that Dave and Howard used.
The Soul City record store in London started business at that time, and listed 100s of USA 45s in their catalogue. It wasn't long before many of our local secondhand shops were awash with USA soul 45s. In 1970 Dave & Val, newly married, visited relatives in Chicago, USA. Quite a trip in those days. They came back with hundreds of USA 45s, (at 10 for a dollar!) many on artists we have never heard of. Many of these records were to become classic tracks in the future, but were played at the club for the very first time in the UK.
The Lost Tapes
When the old building was finally demolished in 2006, Dave felt that his memories of the club were all that was left, but remembered an old cassette tape that he had, which was recorded in the '60s at the club, using an old Phillips portable recorder (state of the art at the time). Unfortunately, most of the C120 tape was damaged, but some parts of it had survived the years. The good parts were recovered and copied to CD. Dave then remembered recording one of the nights on an old Grundig reel to reel tape deck, but where were the tapes? After many visits to the loft, fighting cobwebs and goodness knows what else, he managed to find an old reel tape marked "Normy Baths". Great, but he had no player for it. The Grundig had found its way to the bin many years ago. Dave eventually got hold of an old player that once belonged to his father, which played the tape. Wow! the memories came flooding back.
Some of the recordings had been taped over, but much remained intact. The sound quality had deteriorated, but the nostalgia was still there. After working with the sound quality of both tapes, this CD was eventually produced.
The Tracks
Dave at the decks.
Loneliness Made Me Realize - Pontefract Temptations. Before the phrase 'karaoke' had been coined, some of the regulars at the soul night took part in sing-along sessions to a couple of their favourite tracks. The Temptations track featured here was one, and Bettye Swan's Make me yours was another. The line-up varied but the main contenders were Bob Synnott, the late Peter Slygoe, John Edwards and Steve Blackett (see pictures of the boys in action). Please note this is not a polished performance by any stretch of the imagination, but has been saved from the ashes for you to hear once again. At the end of this track, Steve Falkinder can be heard enthusiastically asking for a request, but unfortunately using the recording microphone. 60 Minutes Of Your Love - Homer Banks. A true club classic. Prove Yourself A Lady - James Bounty. During this track, Dave frantically tries to keep order when somebody knocks the decks, and announces that he's surrounded with drunks. Hooked By Love - Homer Banks. Just A Little Togetherness - The Young Hearts. This went out as a request for Kenny Coleman, master of the spins. Kenny loved to dance to this record. Little Queenie - Bill Black's Combo. Another request for Kenny Coleman and partner Bev Hutchinson. Another couple that became Mr. & Mrs. This track is still one of their all-time favourites, and always produces lots of clapping and singalongs Can't Get Enough (of your love) - Johnny Sayles. A Chicago find for Dave, which always rocked the dance floor. You Just Don't Know - Chubby Checker. The clapping continues. Double clapping was a craze at that time and was always great to hear, and added to the atmosphere. I'm Gone - Billy Sha-rae. Great track., but sadly part only. The tape was damaged at this stage, but it needed to be included. Howard at the decks:
Howard and Dave always took pride in putting together sets where the tempo flowed. Here's an example, where Howard is spinning some of his personal favourites.
At The Top Of the Stairs - Formations. Sweet Happiness - Newby & Johnson. Little Misunderstanding. - The Contours. I'll Never Forget You - Chris Jackson. Somebody (Somewhere) Needs You - Darrell Banks. At this point, the flow was interrupted by Bob Synnott, who finally persuaded Howard to play a newly discovered sound by the O'Jays, called 'Deeper In Love'. The record sticks in the middle, is again encouraged to play, but it proves to be too fast for the dance floor. After a number of requests to take it off, Howard quickly queued up another classic whilst being interrupted by Andrew Wright requesting 'Heartbeat'. Howard can be heard saying 'shut up, Andrew'.
15. Deeper In Love - The O'Jays.
16. I'll Always Love You - The Spinners.
More double clapping.
Hooked By Love - Homer Banks. Yes, for the second time - it's that good. The variation in the volume on some of these tracks is caused by people walking in front of the recording microphone. This just adds to the authenticity of the recordings. Dave back on the decks.
Tired Of Being Lonely - The Sharpees. To this day, Dave still loves the sounds of the Windy City. Working On Your Case - The O'Jays. This one went out as a request for Rob Lemoine, who loved the tune and boy, could the guy dance. Come On And Swim - Bobby Freeman. An apt tune for the building that we were in. 'Deeper In Love' has the same tempo as this but being played for the first time I suppose people needed to get used to it. It did in fact become a classic in later years. You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet - Mary Love. Howard returns to the decks.
You Gotta Pay The Price - Al Kent. I'm Gonna Run Away From You. - Tammi Lynn. Shake Your Body Girl - Larry Williams. With additional credit announcements by Steve Falkinder. Some Day We're Gonna Love Again. - Barbara Lewis. That's What Love Is Made Of. The Miracles. Always a top tune at the Baths, and the crowd always loved to sing over the chorus. Listening to this is amazing. It must be a piece of history. Last two tracks from Dave.
The sound quality on the next two records is only just good enough to be included in this CD, but it would be a mistake to have left them out.
What's Wrong With Me Baby. The Invitations. Nothing But Blue Skies. Jackie Wilson. Well, that's it. I just hope that the wonderful memories of these soul nights make up for the poor quality of these recordings. After all, these tapes are almost 40 years old.
Fans came to "Normy Baths" from all over Yorkshire, and when the allnight sessions were on, from all over the UK. The venue was very successful for five years, but that success ended in 1972 at one of the allnight sessions, when one of our enlightened fans tried to sell illegal substances to a local undercover drug squad officer!!!! This resulted in the club being closed for good.
2007 - Howard and Lesley emigrated to Perth, Australia, and started a family. They still attend soul nights down under from time to time. Dave and Val still live near Normanton and are still very much involved in today's soul scene. Dave, now in his 60s, is still DJing, and is a co-promoter of two soul events: The Frobisher and The Wilton allnighter, He is still a dedicated collector and is involved in A&R and consultative work with the Grapevine/Soulscape record company, compiling releases on many old Chicago soul artists.
Well, I know you will have enjoyed listening to this CD. The production isn't polished, but the nostalgia is definitely unforgettable. On behalf of Howard and myself, I would like to thank all the fans who made the Normy Baths soul nights so successful.
I am sure that listening to this CD, and seeing the pictures again, will have refreshed your memories of the fans who frequented the venue, especially the ones who are, sadly, no longer with us.
David & Val Box
February 2008

history

By Boxy in News Archives · December 24, 201014 yr

On behalf of all those involved with Soul Source, I just like to throw out a Seasons Greetings to all of you Soul Source members !

Hope that all have a christmas so good and soulful that it hurts (in a good way!)

Seasons Greetings !

mike and all the mod team

here's the link to the forum seasons greetings thread...

By Mike in News Archives · December 24, 201014 yr

M-G-M

Here we go following on from "Label Of The Week"

M-G-M & Subsidiaries (Label Of The Week)

By 45cellar in News Archives · December 19, 201014 yr

THE MAGNIFICENT 7 - THE "X" FACTOR & NORTHERN SOUL

Don't worry this is not somedaytime television style look into the role that Northern Soul has played inthe development of the musical tastes of Simon Cowell, Yul Brynner and Louisthe Leprechaun. Not such a bad idea though, come to think of it.

As any real Northern Soul fanwill be well aware, certain records are different to others. They stand outfrom the rest. A great record can send a shiver down the spine and touch anerve deep within the Soul. When you hear a record for the first time and youdesperately need to know who it is by, what label it is on and what it iscalled then that record has made an impact on you. More than that, it makessuch a deep connection with you that it becomes a part of you. When thishappens you know that a record has gotten under your skin. It is not justanother "okay" record that perhaps gets your feet a tapping. It is indeed muchmore than that when the lyrics of the song ring true and when the earnestsincerity of the vocal delivery is so completely believable that it touchesyour very Soul. Then the record could I guess, for want of a betterdescription, be said to have the "X" factor.

This "X" factor effect was the feeling thatmany Northern Soul fans became addicted to, and it was the seemingly endlessstream of so many newly discovered great records that really did give NorthernSoul fans that feeling, keeping the Northern Soul scene healthy, alive andvibrant, from the "golden age" of The Torch, Mecca, Casino, Cleethorpes,Stafford etc to today.

However, there is an old adagethat still rings very true and that is "time will tell". It is only over timethat the litmus test of the quality of a truly great record can be measured. Longevityis very important if a record is to achieve the accolade of being truly deemeda "classic". Only if after a period of five, ten, twenty or thirty years andthe record still sends a shiver down your spine you can safely say, that foryou personally, it is indeed a classic. Then such a record can be deemed tohave the "X" factor.

Of course the "X" factor effect doesnot only apply to out and out Northern Soul stompers. It is very often the midtempo or beat ballad number that gives you that rush. OK, preamble over...

One such record that instantlyhad and continues to give me that "X" factor feeling is a record that I firstheard way back in 1974 when it came to me in a batch of 45s from a guy inBuffalo, USA who I had managed to get in touch with.

Back then on my council estatenobody even had a phone in the house so it was a hike to the phone box to ringthe States and to ask the guy if he had any Soul records. This particular guysaid he had a pile of old soul / R&B 45s that I could have for $1 each. Ithink at the time I was working on some building sites in Kirby and taking homeabout 10 measly quid a week. Over the next few weeks I scrimped, saved andmanaged to scrape together a few quid and went into the local bank to ordersome USA dollars. It took about a week for thebank to get them in stock in those days. Eventually they arrived. $30 in $5notes. I eagerly and carefully wrapped them and posted them off to the guyhoping that I would soon be receiving a parcel of "Out On The Floor" styledanceable soul 45s that I was so desperately hungry for.

The weeks passed by and soon amonth had gone by. Sheeesh have I wasted my time? And more to the point have Iwasted my money? Eventually a parcel arrived and I quickly unwrapped it andlegged it upstairs to my bedroom to play them and to hear just what goodies hehad sent me from across the Atlantic Ocean.

As I remember The Marvelettes, "PaperBoy" was in there, a record that I hadn't heard before. It was okay, but onlythat, yet at least it was on the Tamla label so surely the guy knew the kind ofsound I was looking for and hopefully there would be some Northern Soul stylesounds amongst the batch of 45s. I also remember pulling out a record onWheelsville and I recognized this logo as I had heard and loved "Cracked UpOver You" by Lee Rogers, I think when spun by Mike Pace of The Soul Spinners 4at Burscough Football Club. Imagine my disappointment when it turned out to bea slowish track by Steve Mancha called "Did My Baby Call". I liked it but itwas way too slow to fill a dance floor, at least in those days it was. It wasfrom Detroit so another good reason for optimism. Ifiled Steve Mancha with my then small but growing collection of Detroit Soul 45s.

Getting deeper into the parcel, yikes, JamesBrown, Brook Brenton, not at all what I was hoping for and the parcel proved tobe sadly bereft of what back then was termed as out 'n' out Northern Soul. Thankfullythough, one particular record for me really did stand out, in the words ofPatti Young, "head and shoulders above the rest". It was down in tempo but withan intriguingly different vocal delivery. The lead singer had a very nasalvoice that grabbed one's attention. The backing singers were strong and thetrack meandered in and out, from being laid back and mellow in parts tosections of increased intensity. I was hooked. It was a Soul record out of leftfield and a special Soul record at that.

The lyrics were something else "Soclose a breeze can't come between us. So tight you couldn't part us with atommy gun. We're standing in the need of one another. Like a flower standing inthe heat of the sun"

The record in question was "NeverWill I" by The Magnificent 7 on the Dial logo.

But who were The Magnificent 7?? Where theythe same group that recorded a record that was a huge Northern Soul monsteraround that time on Dee Gee by The Magnificents called "My Heart Is Calling", Iwondered but no. They turned out to be - Thurman 'Ray' Ramsey, James Pleasantand two ex members of The Dukays - RichardDixon and Clarence Jasper.

Some time later one of John Manship's listdropped through my letterbox and I noticed a record by the same The Magnificent7, this time on the Eastern label called - "She's Called A Woman". I had neverheard this and it was, at that time, quite expensive for me but I did alreadyown "The Real Thing" and "You're Absolutely Right" by Tina Britt on the samelabel so I was sure it would be a winner. I ran again to the same phone box in Richmond Avenue and pushed button A and got through toreserve it. A week or so later it arrived and it was a stormer indeed. It was awhite demo as well and that may have been the start of another obsession, butthat is another story.

A year or so later I came acrossanother 45 by the Magnificent 7. It was a reasonable version of Marvin Gaye's'Stubborn Kind Of Fellow' and I also got around that time a batch of 45s fromLew Stanley in the States and within the parcel was a 45 on Capitol called "MuchMuch More Of Your Love" by The Magnificent Men. The group sounded a little likeThe Magnificent 7. Could they be the same group? Back in those days you couldn'tGoogle a name and get a mass of information, it was not that easy and much moremysterious, but with the aid of a subscription to Discoveries, a USA magazineand UK magazines such as Chris Savory's Hot Buttered Soul, Soul Cargo etc I wasable to gradually gain some insight.

I did read somewhere that The Magnificent Menon Capitol were most definitely a white group. My word they didn't sound likeone! In time I bought a couple of LP's by the Mag. Men from the sates, on thestrength of their Capitol 45's that I had collected, and seeing the coverpicture of them proved that statement to be true. There are some superb non 45tracks on their albums by the way. But what about The Magnificent 7? Who werethey? Going by the vocals they could surely not be the same group, or couldthey? Surely they could not be white, orcould they? Is there anything worse than unanswered questions?? And the milliondollar question is who sang that distinctive lead vocal???

The years went by and my copy ofthe 45 was upgraded to a white demo, won in an auction from a rock and popdealer somewhere in Cornwall but little info on The Magnificent 7 came to light.

I remember playing the track toPete Lawson during one of his many visits to trade, play and talk about records.Pete was adamant that the singer was "deffo not white". I was running Soul Filemagazine back then and we both used to search for group line-ups for inclusion.We both tried with various USA contacts but neither of us could come upwith any tangible or relevant information regarding the group or any of itsmembers.

I also remember having a debatewith my old buddy John Cloynes back in the early eighties as to whether TheMagnificent Men were actually the same group as The Magnificent 7 or not, andwe had a session in the Croston Soul kitchen playing all my records by bothgroups, yet no clear decision could be arrived at. Probably due to Johnbringing round a stack of those cans of strong lager.

Since then, due in no small partto the wonders of the world wide web, I have learned a lot more about the groupand shock horror, The Magnificent 7 were indeed originally an all white group,although they were certainly not the same group as The Magnificent Men whohailed from Pittsburgh.

It was in Lexington Kentucky, during 1959 that a young guy calledTony Stallard put together a group / band of musicians. He was a very talentedindividual as he played guitar and hammondorgan, plus he was the original leadvocalist for the group. He had also been given the benefit of being taught toplay the piano from the age of seven.

The group where originally called TheTemptashuns and the original line up in the late fifties consisted of TonyStallard, lead guitar/vocals; Shelby Lorrison, rhythm guitar, Wendell Sams,organ/vocals, Doug Hammonds, tenor sax; Larry Kelley, drums; and Earl Morgan,bass. This morphed later into - The second lineup of Tony Stallard, Hammond organ/vocals, Shelby Lorrison, guitar;Doug Hammonds, tenor sax; Larry Kelley, drums; John Page, bass; and Larry Orr,lead vocals.

By 1963 the line up was - Tony Stallard,Hammond organ/vocals, Doug Hammonds, tenor sax, John Page, bass, Larry Kelley,drums, John Burrows, trumpet/flugelhorn, Larry Orr, lead vocals, Carter Hackneylead guitar; and Mickey Levy, lead and background vocals.

Around this time the groupbecame much more influenced by the emergence of the R&B and Soul styledartists. Tony sites:- James Brown, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, The Mar-Keys,Little Milton, Gene Chandler, Marvin Gaye and many others from the Motownstable in particular.

They also often gigged in the style of theBritish bands during the "British invasion" that swept across the USA via The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks,etc., but as he said "We never drifted far from what brought us to the dance...rhythm& blues. Soul material was what we did best and we rode the Night Train towhere the tracks led." The Beatles were huge in their influence butLexington seemed to be, as it had been for a longtime, an R&B town due in large part to its proximity to Cincinnati, long a center for R&B music, fromHank Ballard to James Brown.

On September 22nd 1963 they undertook their first recordingsession at the Lemco recording studios in Lexington, Kentucky. The studio was owned by the group'smanager Cecil Jones and this session resulted in a release on Lemco 877 as TheTemptashuns. - Autumn Love c/w The Big B. Both sides of this 45 wereinstrumentals. The group were gaining a good reputation locally and supportedacts who toured the region, such as The Shirelles, The Coasters and TheChiffons

In February 1964 they cut - Sexy Ways c/w Strawberry Man and that release cameout on Lemco 878. The top side was a version of the Hank Ballard classic andthe flip was a groovy mod style organ instrumental that was written by TomStallard, but to me it sounds to have been more than a little influenced by "WatermelonMan".

The groups third session was on June 4th 1964 and thiswas recorded at the King studios inCincinnati, Ohio with production from Syd Nathan and GeneRedd as recording engineer and sound technician. Here they re-cut "Sexy Ways" but this time it was called Pretty Ways and they also re-cut Strawberry Man. These two were both released on Federal 12530.Two other recordings were done at the same time. You're Gonna Cry and LoveGone, Love Return. These two tracks were both written by Tony Stallard and featuredhim on lead vocals. These however remained unreleased.

Later that year, in factNovember 29th, at the same studios they cut a version of Marvin Gaye's - StubbornKind Of Fellow. This was "enhanced", if that's what you call it! By having alive audience track dubbed over it. The audience track used was actually fromthe James Brown Live At The Apollo album recordings. This was paired withanother Tony Stallard composition - "In Mist And Rain", recorded the next dayand these were released on Lemco 882. Lead vocals on both tracks are said to beby blue-eyed Soul singer, Larry Orr. This single came out in 1965 and it provedto be the group's best seller and was very popular in Detroit and across the mid west throughout 1965,but it didn't make it onto the Billboard top 100.

Despite this glimpse at the possibility atleast of success a number of lineup changes occurred before they next recorded.The then line up of :- Tony Stallard, Hammond organ/vocals, Doug Hammonds,tenor/baritonesax; John Page, bass; John Burrows, trumpet/flugelhorn; Larry Orr, lead vocals;Carter Hackney lead guitar; and Meade Brown, drums was gradually changed intothe new line up of - Randy Evans on organ (he was later replaced with RichardPeck and eventually Tom Martin for a brief time, Charlie Shuck on lead vocals. BobMcCaw on lead guitar and vocals (he was later replaced with Les Taylor on lead guitar and vocals), Roger Daneon trumpet. Earl Grigsby on bass and vocals and Meade Brown remained on drums.

By 1966 Soul music was gaininghuge national success via Motown, Atlantic etc. and in the Summer of 66 theywere back in the Lemco studios in Lexington, Kentucky again where they recorded in much moreof a "Soul" style. It was on this session that they recorded four trackswritten by one Archie Himons, best known as Little Archie.

Archie was from Virginia and he was a singer himself who had beenin various Doo Wop groups in the late fifties and early sixties in New York. These included a group called TheParliaments, although these were not the legendary George Clinton led Detroit group. The Magnificent 7 were by nowmost certainly a Soul styled band. They cut Archie's the uptempo mover - "She'sCalled A Woman" and it was leased out to Juggy Murray's Sue label and came outon their subsidiary, Eastern 611.

This track has had spins on the Northern Soulscene at various times since the mid seventies and it was backed with "SinceYou've Been Gone So Long". The group had one other single leased from thesesessions to Sue, also in 1966, this time it came out on Symbol 221- Take Me On /Skokie Drive. The flip was an instrumental similar to the early work provingthat the group was for the most part an accomplished backing band with varioussingers fronting at various times over the years.

At long last we arrive backwhere we started and the record, that still has that "X" factor for me. It isnow 1968 and the story that I have heard is that Archie Hilmon / Little Archiewas resident inNashville by this time. He had written and cut Never Will I (Make MyBaby Cry) with the group at the Lemco studios, then it was re cut at TheColumbia Records Studio in Nashville. Little Archie / Himons already had asolo single out on Dial in 1967 and he had another in 1968. The Magnificent 7release on Dial was sandwiched between these two. The other side was a greatversion of Smokey Robinson's Motown opus, "Ooh Baby Baby". The finefalsetto lead vocals on this side were actually from Charlie Shuck but who hadsang the distinctive lead vocal on "Never Will I"?

Rumors have been around for manyyears that it was Little Archie himself. I spent some time listening closely toLittle Archie's solo recording of "I Am A Carpet" and the flip side, "I NeedYou", also on Dial, I did seem to detect some very slight similarities in thevocal delivery to that of the lead singer on "Never Will I". Especially duringthe last third of "I Need You".

As a result for some time I havebeen leaning toward the conclusion that the lead singer on "Never Will I (MakeMy Baby Cry)" is none other than Little Archie, all be it with a cold.............,

No no, hold the press, after allthese years and thanks to the power of the internet, I recently managed totrack down Charlie Shuck and today he confirmed by email that he was in factthe lead singer on "Never Will I (Make My Baby Cry)".

Record case closed.

Charity Soul Events
Posted by REVILOT, 16 October 2009 ·

NORTHERN, SOUL, CHARITY, EVENT

CHARITY EVENTS

Some guidelines from HM Revenue & Customs

I thought it might be a good idea to share with interested parties this information for those engaged in or planning Charity events,

N.B. It is no as scary as it might seem.
Alot of the scary VAT implications only come in on events raising over a thousand pounds.

Iam sure that anyone acting in good faith to raise money fr charity has nothing, or ery little to fear so I hope many more will
use their efforts to help others and nt be deterred.

The following words are directly from HM Revenue & Customs

What Is A Fund-Raising Event?
For tax purposes, it is an event clearly organised and promoted primarily to raise money for the benefit of the charity or qualifying body. Social events which incidentally make a profit do not fall within the exemption. People attending or participating in the event must be aware of its primary fund-raising purpose.

An 'event' is an incident with an outcome or a result. This means that activities of a semiregular or continuous nature, such as the frequent operation of a shop or bar, cannot therefore be an event. The relief is not intended to exempt normal trading activities from VAT.

What Kinds Of Events Are Covered By The Exemption?
The following are examples of different kinds of events which may be held for fund-raising purposes.

A ball, dinner dance, disco or barn dance.
A performance - such as concert, stage production, and any other event which has a paying audience.
The showing of a film.
A fete, fair or festival.
A horticultural show.
An exhibition - such as art, history or science.
A bazaar, jumble sale, car boot sale, or a good-as-new sale.
Sporting participation (including spectators), such as a sponsored walk or swim.
A sporting performance.
A game of skill, a contest, or a quiz.
Participation in an endurance event.
A fireworks display.
A dinner, lunch or barbecue.
An auction of bought in goods (an auction of donated goods is zero-rated
This is not an exhaustive list.

Is There A Limit To The Number Of Events Held?
Yes. Eligible events are restricted to 15 events of the same kind in your financial year at any one location by a charity (including its trading subsidiary) or qualifying body. The restriction prevents distortion of competition with other suppliers of similar events which do not benefit from tax exemption. If you hold 16 or more events of the same kind at the same location during your financial year none of the events will qualify for exemption.

What Does 'Location' Mean?
Location means in the same place. Similar kinds of events held in different locations would qualify for exemption provided all other conditions were met. For example, 20 balls held by a national charity each in different towns in the same financial year would all qualify for relief.

Clearly, events which need to be held on special premises, such as a sports ground, swimming pool or theatre are easy to define. Each of these will be accepted as a different location.

If the event is held in a complex of cinemas, theatres or concert halls, the location is the specific cinema, theatre or concert hall in which the fund-raising event takes place.

We regard a charity's entire website as a location for events held over the Internet.

The rule is designed to be generous to charities which may hold a number of events of the same type in different locations, but in the same town. We will not accept arrangements such as weekly boot sales each held in different, but adjacent fields, as constituting a separate location without considering whether such an arrangement is potentially distorting competition.

Does An Event Run Over Several Days At The Same Location Comprise A Single Event Or A Number Of Separate Events?
Where an event, such as a concert, is repeated on successive evenings each performance is a separate event and counts towards the maximum number of 15 allowed within the exemption. A single event which takes place at the same location for more than one day, such as a golf tournament, is accepted as one event.

Where a concert or similar event is offered as part of a travel package this may not be exempt.

Which Events Do Not Qualify For Exemption?
Each event which counts towards 16 or more of the same kind held at the same location during your financial year.
Events which are not organised and promoted for fund-raising purposes, such as events which form part of a social calendar for members.
Events which are organised and promoted primarily for another purpose, such as an annual general meeting.
Asking the public for donations through street collections, flag days etc. The receipt of donations is not a business activity and so they are not subject to VAT.
The activity of selling goods is not an event and so is not eligible for relief under these provisions, even where all the proceeds are received by, or donated to, a charity. Where the sale of goods takes place in the context of a qualifying fund-raising event it is covered by the relief and zero-rating may be available in certain circumstances.
Travel packages which fall within the Tour Operator's Margin Scheme, for the VAT treatment of income for a non-qualifying event.
Is There An Option To Charge VAT On Fund-Raising Events?
No. VAT exemption is mandatory for any event that fulfils all the conditions. An event which does not meet one or more of the conditions will not qualify for exemption as a fund-raising event.

If A Charity Runs More Than 15 Events Of The Same Kind At A Location Are The First 15 Events VAT Exempt And VAT Charged Only From The 16th Event Onwards?
No. Every event in a programme of 16 or more events will be taxable at the standard rate. The exemption applies up to 15 events of the same kind at a location. To exempt the first 15 events in a longer sequence risks distortion of competition. If you hold 16 or more events of the same kind at the same location during your financial year none of the events will qualify for exemption.

What About Frequent Small Scale Events?
The 15 event limit does not apply to fund-raising events where the gross takings from all similar events, such as coffee mornings, are no more than £1000 per week. Such activities carried out more than once or twice a week are likely to be trading activities and not eligible for exemption,

What Happens If Small Scale Events Take Over £1000 In A Week?
All the events in that week will not qualify as small scale events and each will count towards the 15 event allowance.

Can The Hire Of A Room Or Other Costs Be Offset Against The £1000?
No. The £1000 limit relates to the income of the events prior to any costs being deducted.

Can Zero-Rated Supplies Be Made At An Exempt Event?
Yes. The sale of printed matter, such as programmes and commemorative brochures or any other goods which are eligible for the zero rate relief from VAT, may still be zero-rated when supplied at a fund-raising event.

This means that a VAT registered charity or other qualifying body will be able to recover any input tax which is directly attributable to the taxable supply of those goods.

Examples of zero-rated items are

the sale of donated goods by a charity
eligible food
eligible printed matter
young children's clothing
the supply of advertising time or space to a charity
any other goods which qualify for zero-rating.
Why Is There An Anti-Competition Clause?
The restriction prevents distortion of competition with other suppliers of similar events which do not benefit from tax exemption. We will only use this measure where

this relief is likely to distort the market, or
there is significant and systematic evidence of commercial distortion.
If a commercial organisation alleged competitive disadvantage, we would look carefully into the matter and any subsequent action would depend upon the particular circumstances. A charity would have the right of appeal against the decision.

Are Fund-Raising Holidays Or Day Trips VAT Exempt?
No. Any fund-raising activity which falls within the Tour Operator's Margin Scheme, such as a package of travel and accommodation, or which includes more than two nights' accommodation does not qualify for the fund-raising exemption. Further information about the Scheme may be found in Notice 709/5 'Tour Operator's Margin Scheme'.

What Evidence Must I Hold To Show That The Event Was Organised And Promoted Primarily To Raise Funds?
There is no single document that you must hold to demonstrate that the event was organised primarily to raise funds. Minutes of meetings, costing and similar documents should show that the main purpose for holding the event is to raise funds for charitable purposes or a qualifying body's own benefit.

The event must be promoted in such a way that those attending the event are aware that its main purpose is to raise funds. Publicity material, tickets etc. should therefore clearly refer to fund-raising. For example

'fund-raising for'
'in aid of'
'help us to build'
'help us to raise money for'.
Examples of publicity material, tickets etc, should be retained to support evidence of exemption.

Scope of the relief

Are All The Purchases For Qualifying Fund-Raising Events Also VAT Exempt?
No. Normal VAT treatment will apply to the goods and services you purchase.

Does The Exemption Apply To An Individual Or Independent Groups Which Organise Events As Part Of A National Fund-Raising Campaign?
Where an individual or an independent group holds events as part of a national fund-raising campaign such as Comic Relief, Children in Need and Blue Peter Appeals, it is unlikely that they will have charitable status or be a qualifying body. If the group does not have charitable status or is not a qualifying body the exemption would not apply to such events and the group should see VAT Notice 700/1 'Should I be registered for VAT?'. Input tax incurred on expenditure cannot be reclaimed if the individual or independent group is not registered for VAT.

A branch of a charity may or may not be a separate charity to which the exemption applies. This will depend on how the branch and its parent are set up.

Will An Event Organised By Two Or More Charities Or Two Or More Qualifying Bodies Qualify For Exemption?
Yes, but only if all the charities (including their trading subsidiaries) and qualifying bodies have organised, either individually or with others, less than 15 exempt events, of that kind, in that location, in their financial year.

What About Events Organised By Professional Fund-Raisers Or Agents?
Events held by a charity, trading subsidiary or qualifying body which are organised by professional fund-raisers or other agents may qualify for exemption.

Generally, the VAT incurred by the charity or qualifying body in connection with an exempt event will not be recoverable. You may recover the VAT incurred in making taxable supplies within the event. This applies if the charity or qualifying body makes all the arrangements for the event.

If the agent charges or retains any part of the gross receipts, this is consideration for agency services and will be subject to VAT. This applies even if the amount is less than or equal to the cost of arranging the event.

What Income Is Included In The Exemption?
All the income for supplies of goods and services in connection with an event is exempt, for example

all admission charges
the sale of commemorative brochures (may be zero-rated,)
the sale of advertising space in those brochures (may be zero-rated, )
other items sold by the charity such as T-shirts, non-donated auctioned goods etc. Where items are normally supplied zero-rated such as children's T-shirts, then zero-rating rather than exemption can be applied , and
sponsorship payments directly connected with a qualifying event.
What Income Is Not Included In The Exemption?
Commemorative goods and souvenirs sold for a period after the qualifying fund-raising event. For example

video and audio recordings of the fund-raising event sold after the event has taken place will be standard-rated
surplus commemorative items such as adult T-shirts, mugs etc. will be standard-rated
commemorative programmes will remain zero-rated
children's T-shirts will remain zero-rated
donated goods for sale may still be sold VAT free provided the normal conditions are met.
Will All The Income For A Non-Qualifying Event Be Subject To VAT?
When a fund-raising event does not qualify for exemption, it is open to a charity or any other body to set a basic minimum charge which will be standard-rated, and to invite those attending the event to supplement this with a voluntary donation.

The extra contributions will be outside the scope of VAT if all the following conditions are met.

It is clearly stated on all publicity material, including tickets, that anyone paying only the minimum charge will be admitted without further payment.
The extra payment does not give any particular benefit (for example, admission to a better position in the stadium or auditorium).
The extent of further contributions is ultimately left to ticket holders to decide, even if the organiser indicates a desired level of donations.
For film or theatre performances, concerts, sporting fixtures, etc., the minimum charge is not less than the usual price of the particular seats at a normal commercial event of the same type.
For dances, and similar functions, the minimum total sum upon which the organisers are liable to account for VAT is not less than their total costs incurred in arranging the event.
If the publicity material for a fund-raising event suggests that those paying a recommended extra amount are more likely to be admitted than those paying merely the basic ticket price, then the extra amount becomes part of the consideration for a supply of services, rather than a donation, and as such is subject to VAT at the standard rate.

Further information about admission charges may be found in Notice 700/22 'Admissions'.

Check List To Decide If An Event Qualifies For VAT Exemption
1. Are you

an organisation whose purposes are exclusively charitable
a wholly owned subsidiary of a charity
formally appointed agent of a charity
a non-profit making body mentioned in item 1 of Group 9:
a trade union (or other staff association)
professional association
an association for the advancement of knowledge etc.
an association for making representations to Government on business and professional interests of members, or
a body which has objects which are in the public domain and are of a political, religious, patriotic, philosophical, philanthropic or civic nature
a non-profit-making body mentioned in Group 10 of Schedule 9 of the Value Added Tax 1994 established for the principal purpose of providing facilities for participating in sport or physical education, or
a non-profit making cultural body mentioned in item 2 of Group 13 of Schedule 9 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 which is managed and administered on a voluntary basis by persons who have no financial interest in its activities?
2. Is the event being held primarily for the purpose of raising funds and is this being made clear in the publicity for the event or on the tickets?

3. Are all the funds raised by the event

for your organisation's own benefit and used in carrying out its objectives
for the benefit of your parent charity, if you are a wholly owned subsidiary, or
for the benefit of the charity which has appointed you as its agent?
4. Is the event one of 15 or less of that kind being held at the location during your financial year?

5. Does the event fall within the Tour Operator's Margin Scheme?

If the answer to any of the questions 1 - 4 is 'no', or the answer to question 5 is 'yes', the event does not qualify for exemption.

These notes are for guidance only and reflect the position at the time of writing.

They do not affect your right of appeal about your tax, National Insurance or VAT.

Further help and advice
If you need further help and advice on any points covered by this leaflet, please contact HMRC Charities on 08453 02 02 03

To help us give the best service, always give us the full facts and if you have a detailed query please put it in writing.

All The Way From Heaven
Posted by REVILOT, 03 September 2009
RECORDS, SOUL, NORTHERN
I recently bought a record, that I had previouslyowned back in 1976 ( ish )having sold it on back in the eighties when it had bythen become a pretty popular sound.

When it arrivedlast week I was surprised, no flabbergasted, to find that it looks like theexact same copy. Now I could of course be mistaken but the bit of writing onthe label gives it away. I contacted the seller to let him know of its safearrival and told him of the boomerang effect of my purchase. He informed methat he had himself bought it from Soul Sam..

I had bought itfirst time around, some thirty odd years ago, from Rod (Mr. Shard) at the oldArndale market stall that he and Dave Withers used to run.. I remember Rodtelling me at the time that he had played it to Richard Searling and he hadthought it too slow for the Northern Scene. He was of course right at that timebut I was always a bit of a midtempo monkey on the quiet. And I loved it.

I wondered tomyself just how many collections it had been in over the years and what storiesthe record could tell, a bit like the old Yellow Rolls Royce movie.

After a half anhour or so of interesting daydreaming on the possibilities I decided to put pento paper

So hereis the imaginary journey of an old Soul record.

ALLTHE WAY FROM HEAVEN

It is a lateSeptember afternoon during 1968 in a back street record shop in the midst ofthe hustle and bussell that is New York City. Arnold J Scwartz, theshop owner, is going through his current stock with glee. His sales have neverbeen so good since he started his shop back in the Doo Wopp days of the fifties.He had seen his sales of 45s soar since the early days with the Rock& Rollexplosion of the late fifties through the British Pop Invasion of The Beatles,The Who etc and had done very well from the popularity of Soul and Motown. Hewas now a pretty wealthy man and quietly contemplating retirement.

Ashe undertakeshis stock take he picks out records that have been on his shelves for some timeand he picks up the one remaining copy of a record by TheChancellors called"All The Way From Heaven". Arnold looks at it and remembersthat it had been released in 1966 on the local Cap City label and had beendistributed nationally by Scepter records. Scepter had been having greatsuccess in the early and mid sixties with artists like Dionne Warwick and The Shirellesbut they had lost their way somewhat around the time of this release as theMotown sound had emerged from the Motor City . It seemed that every radiostation, even the white ones, were now willing to play the Motown records andrecords like this group vocal Chancellors 45 had struggled to gain any airplayexposure at all.

Arnold had tomake space for an expected delivery of new records so as he periodically did,with poor selling records, he put his one remaining copy of the Chancellors 45into the bargain bin at the back of the shop. There the record lay for anotherthree weeks on sale at three records for fifty cents.

Every month orso Jack Marshall, a local likeable hoodlum, come spiv came into Arnolds shop tohunt through the bargain bin for fresh records to play during his Friday nightDJ spot at the Golden Shark discotheque. It was a bit of aback street flea piton the East side of town and not the kind of place that would ever attract freedemo copies from the record companies and distributors. So Jack periodicallyneeded fresh sounds to play to the dwindling numbers of punters and the cheaperthe better.

Picking up theChancellors 45 he called over to Arnold "What's this one likeArnie?"

Arnold smiled and shrugged hisshoulders as if he had no idea and as always when Jack came in to the shop hisrecord player was conveniently not working.

"I'll give it atry" said Jack and picking out two other records from the bin he threw hisfifty cents on the counter and left. Arnold lit a cigar, picked up the fiftycents and smiled as he said to himself, "Some trip that, all the way fromheaven into the arms of Jackie boy."

It was six p.m. and Jack Marshall,despite being a nineteen year old white boy felt at home in this mainly blackneighborhood. He grew up on the streets and loved the sounds and energy ofR&B music. He was out of work, if anybody asked, but he made a livingsomehow and sometimes anyhow if he had to. As he walked along the sidewalk hecarried the record underneath his long brown leather coat, as he didn't wanteveryone to know where he got the records for his DJ spots. Standing at the busstop he checks his watch and hears footsteps behind him. He turns to see ayoung Latino girl walking towards him.. He cannot yet see her face because herlong black hair is blown across her face byte draft of a passing bus. It wasJacks bus and he now faced a two mile walker a thirty minute wait for the nextone, but that would have made him late for his DJ spot. Right now though allhis thoughts are on this young girl coming towards him with a most appealingfigure and when he sees her gorgeous eyes looking back at him he gives her acheeky wink. For a second he wonders if she's a hooker as she certainly has allthe attributes for that particular occupation but her cute smile suggestsotherwise. "You going my way?" he asks" Well I might be", she replies. "Whereare you heading?" She tells him she is heading for the Deli down the way and asthat is on his route he offers to walk with her and she nods her head inapproval. As they walk he asks her what her name is and would she like to meethim at the Golden Shark later, emphasizing that he can get her in for free. Shetold him her name was Adriana and said that she may do if she has the time, Shetakes a glance at her watch and Jack notices her pace quicken. As they approachthe liquor store she stops and as she touches his arm she says "Just got to nipin here honey" he almost dropped his records on the sidewalk as she releasedher grip on his arm and went inside. He follows her in and waits while she goesto the far end of the store and picks up a bottle of whiskey. The store keepersays "Two dollars missy". She places her handbag on the counter and as shereaches inside Jack notices the tell tale needle marks on her arm. Shit hethinks to himself with a mixture of surprise and disappointment, but hisfeelings turn to shock when from her bag she produces a revolver. "Just put themoney in the bag" she tells the storekeeper as she points the gun at his chest."Wait Adriana" shouts Jack as he stands just inside the store door front. Sheturns her head toward him slightly and the storekeeper acts quickly andknocking the revolver from her hand on to the floor next to her. She bends downto pick it up and the storekeeper brings out a colt 45 from beneath the counterand shoots her in the back. Jack realizes that if he turns and runs away nowthe storekeeper will more than likely shoot him in the back. He is stillclutching his records inside his coat and he figures the best thing to do is toput his hands above his head. As he pulls his hand from under his coat thestorekeeper believes that Jack is pulling out a gun so he shoots him. Jackfalls backwards into the open shop doorway, the records still in his hand. Ashe hits the floor two of the records smash into pieces and The Chancellors 45rolls out onto the sidewalk and into the gutter..

blogs

By Guest in Articles · December 18, 201014 yr

Picked up on this on another board and thought some would be interested in this book which is just out from Clive Richardson

Really Sayin' Something: Memoirs of a Soul Survivor

http://www.bankhouse...-something.html

Looks good

By Guest in News Archives · December 17, 201014 yr

Yeah I know what you're thinking - Cunnie's lost the plot again, a Christmas album but this is good. No honestly it really is good.

Have briefly mentioned some of Ralph Hardt's new releases on here before like the Ann Sexton release from earlier in the year & one of the tunes of the year from Cool Million - Back For More.

Anyway enough babbling from me & onto the music. The Youtube clip is the first track from the album from Eugene Wilde - I Love Christmas. Sounds cheesy as hell I know but have a listen.

The link is to some more info & also soundclips for the rest of the album including tracks from the likes of Ann Sexton, Cool Million & many more.

The album is in stock at the usual suspects like Crazy Beat & Soul Brother & also available on CD & download at amazon.

http://www.sedsoul.com/

Happy Christmas everybody.

By Cunnie in News Archives · December 15, 201014 yr

'I Wanna Be Near You' and 'Disco Music' by SIR TED FORD are released back-to-back on Shotgun SHOT 105 on Monday, December 6th.

Both tracks are in heavy demand after being overlooked by most people when originally released as individual singles in 1977 and 1979.

The tracks have been remastered at Suite Sixteen and sound better than ever.

All Shotgun singles are available from all good dealers and copies can also be ordered direct from Selrec.

Thanks for the huge support for our recent singles by Eddie Floyd (SHOT 104) and Sam Dees (SHOT 103). Watch out for news of SHOT 106 which is scheduled for January 2011.

Email info@selectarecords.com for more info.

Best regards,

Paul Mooney

By Guest in News Archives · December 5, 201014 yr

Fantastic new download album from Mr Bobby Cutchins.

Includes quality re-edits of his 'known' tracks 'I Did It Again' & 'Leaving'.

Also love 'Next To Me' that also features Cool Million.

Listen to all the tracks below.

http://bobbycutchins.../album/timeless

By Cunnie in News Archives · December 2, 201014 yr

Event Title: BURNLEY ALLNIGHTER, THE KESTRAL SUITE
Event Author: Sean Haydon
Calendar: Allnighter/Weekenders
Event Date: Sat 22 January 2011
-------------------------------------------------
BURNLEY ALLNIGHTER, THE KESTRAL SUITE.
(THE NEXT CHAPTER)

Following Barrie's unfortunate announcement that he no longer wishes to continue with the Burnley Allnighter, myself and Karl Heard have taken The Kestral Suite on to continue the nighters.
We are aware that another venue is not strictly necessary with what appears to be a very busy nighter schedule, but feel that Burnley has played such an important part in our scene over the last few years, together with the fact that we have had so much interest from the original regular attendees, is the main reason to give it a try. It would be a shame to lose such an event that Phil Kowalski created.
Both Karl and I have approached Phil in the hope that he would join us, but regretfully, due to other circumstances, has declined.
Not wanting to offend anyone or tread on toes, we aim at just having four nights per year. We feel that by doing this allows us the flexibility to work with and around other nighters throughout the calendar. Allnighters that we enjoy attending and promoters that we respect.
The club will have no hard and fast music policy and a no politics principle. It's not about DJ egos or club competition, just a place where people can come to enjoy themselves, hear some fantastic music and be happy.

The first night is booked for January the 22nd with the following DJ's confirmed. (In no order).

Willie West
Big Danny
Jumping Joan
Fred Kroll
Cliff Camfield
Stuart Bennet
Myself & Karl Heard.

With this line up and the original sound system, we aim to please.
If anyone has any questions or would like to discuss anything, please either PM me or email me at seanhaydon@me.com

Many thanks and hope to see you there.
Sean

By Guest Sean Haydon in Event News · November 29, 201014 yr

>>> BRENDA HOLLOWAY <<<

Following on from last weeks artist >>> <<<

Here we have her sister Brenda Holloway, both members of The Belles at Mirwood.

Another amazing talent who progressed from singing in the chuch choir to her signing at Motown.

Although not as successful as she deserved to be,
she recorded some brilliant tracks that are still loved to this day.

Here is the place to add scans and refosoul clips of her work as a tribute to this fine artist.

Brenda Holloway - Every Little Bit Hurts - [r]33572[/r](Sounclip from Refosoul Archive)

If you would like to give your favourite Artist or favourite Label a week in the Spotlight.
Please let us know, send a PM to Chalky or 45cellar

By 45cellar in News Archives · November 27, 201014 yr

Rugby's Freestyle Room, A 40 Year Journey
Posted by purist, 26 November 2010 ·

These days with my memory failing a little I'm not exactly sure when it was that I started collecting records, I'm fairly sure it was '67, or '68? Why I was drawn to records of a certain style is a mystery to me, the area I grew up in had it's share of West Indian families, so music best described as 'non pop chart black music' was always around. Why records at all I dunno, perhaps my mom's obsession with Tom Jones, or more likely my mates Mom, who was mad on Tamla type tunes?

Most of my early successes came from local junk shops and second hand outlets of which there were lots within my walking area, and my favourites were full of reggae and soul. All I really remember was that there were these great looking labels with artists like Laurel Aitkin (which almost always disappointed me when I heard the songs) and boring looking plain labels with great songs by names I'd equally never heard of. Never judge a book by it's cover became my watchword when buying, and my tastes grew as my senior school life blossomed and I met like minded kids.

My other fascination as a kid became speakers, and because most of my early record buying was from one of the local second hand shops which had loads of old stripped down radiograms scattered around, I'd come home with a new speaker almost every Saturday (to go with my "new" vinyl, Black Atlantics & TMG's, from three for a florin!)

I'd string these new speakers all around my bedroom, wiring them with any old bit of wire I could find. Looking back now it seems so obvious, but in my defence I was only a kid, and I hadn't yet worked out that more speakers didn't mean more volume

With advice from the various shop owners (several of whom were DJ's) I slowly learned how to get the sound levels I was looking for, if not the exact quality. This proved to be a turning point for me. With this large increase in volume my parents kindly decided I should go share my music with the world, rather than just them and our immediate (complaining) neighbours in a half mile radius!

I'd already got quite a few record decks which I'd experimented with, (all acquired from old 'grams, except one battery operated record player with really poor sound) None of my equipment had been put together for moving around, just for my bedroom, so early excursions to share my tunes with others relied on me taking my records to mates houses and being allowed to use their parents 'gram. As you can imagine this wasn't an ideal situation, but it gave me a taste of something...

My luck changed when my Mom gave me a chore and sent me to her wealthy young friend's shop. This shopkeeper friend of my mom was the very epitome of 60's style, complete with up-to-the-minute hairstyles and fashions, and I was quite in awe of her. She was always covered in gold jewellery ("blinging" decades before rappers ever thought about it) Although probably only in her early 20's, she seemed to have everything, including if memory serves a brand new Rover 3500 and a Spitfire Roadster.

Maybe I was asked to go make her a cup of tea or something, but somehow I ended up in the rear of her cake shop. Whilst there I noticed this red leather cased portable radiogram sat in the back of the shop. I was filled with an incredible lust, for this was a thing of beauty to behold, and when I touched the leather, well that's a different story !

When I asked about it, the lady told me it was only being used for the radio as the deck had stopped working. It took a while but I persuaded her to let me take it home to have a look at it, to see if it could be fixed. I remember it was extremely difficult to get into, but once I got it open the problem was obvious. The drive from the motor wasn't so much a belt as a cord, and it had simply come off the pulley. It took seconds to fix, but that created it's own quandary. Although I'd had a 'girlfriend' or several by then, this was definitely my first real love, and I didn't want to give it back. Unlike my existing portable player this had superb sound, and to top it off it had a connection to connect it to an amp and speakers.

Time went by and I still hadn't given it back. Whenever my mom asked me if I'd fixed her friends machine I'd tell her I still hadn't found out how to get it going. I managed to keep this ruse going for quite a while.

As you've probably guessed by now, I was sneaking this machine, plus speakers, amp and records, out of the house to wherever my mates would gather. My Dad's old Navy kitbag was perfect, big enough and strong enough to transport my early attempt at what the world came to know as a mobile disco. These impromptu discos accompanied virtually every activity that young lads (and lasses) get up to, and every location from park to pub back room. Often if an adult saw it they'd offer to buy it from me, such was it's desirability.

I obviously didn't realise it at the time but my desire to share my music choices with the world at large had been well and truly born. As my collection of records grew I had to stop lugging the extra large speakers, but I still took the lady's portable with me everywhere, including school for lunchtime record sessions.

In the end I had to give it back. I think she probably guessed that I'd been using it all these months but she still gave me money for fixing it (which I immediately converted into more vinyl. "While You're Out Looking For Sugar" was the hot import everybody was after at my school, and I got one, yay !) Years later I got roped into helping her family pack as they were moving house. Even though I'd got several joined together Discatron's by then, I still lusted after the red leather beauty, and her Dad sold it me for exactly the same as he paid me for 3 days hard graft helping them pack and move. I discovered that it had been a 21st birthday gift for her and had cost a fortune, brought over from abroad (Switzerland possibly) - no wonder I'd never seen anything like it.

The Discatron portables played in sequence lasted okay for a short while, but eventually I got my own decks. Funnily enough they were housed in red also, except this time it was Formica (and my Dad's electrician mate called the wiring of these first decks " a death trap waiting for a fool to switch them on") and I loved them also, just not quite as much as "my" red leather portable (** see end)

If you're wondering how any of this relates to last Saturday at Rugby then let me enlighten you. People, especially but not exclusively men, often ask you questions relating to numbers. "How many records have you got?", "How long have you been collecting?" and the one that's relevant here " How long have you been DJ'ing?". This question had been on my mind ever since it came up around the time of the Stafford reunion. These days rather than try to remember years I relate it to events, and I came up with 1970 when I first took my portable set up to a local pub back room (The Squirrel) which allowed us kids in (it helped that my then best mates Dad ran it at the time) So now my answer snappily comes back "40 years" (with a wink and a grin) whenever I'm asked this question.

Now I'd been looking forward to playing in the freestyle room at Rugby for ages because much as we all like to play big rooms full of dancers, it does mean compromising our wilder tastes. A large percentage of my record buying tends to be of the 'new to me' variety, rather than only buying the 'well known/super rare/ in demand/classics'. so having somewhere to share them like the freestyle room is fantastic for us vinyl nuts. The issue in my head became should I just go to freestyle and play my usual eclectic mix of semi known's and forgotten Stafford tracks, or should I do something to mark my "40 years". The more I thought about it the more I leaned in the direction of trying to do something special, or at least out of the ordinary. After all I'd got two sets to fill, so why not? If I did something celebratory in one set, I could do my usual in the other, right?

A few ideas came, most were quite confusing and unworkable like "I'll play one tune that broke big from every year", or "nothing but B-sides of tunes that were originally huge hits on the scene for their A-side". Once you start with these ideas, lots more come along, "Only records with Green labels" or "Tunes recorded in 1965 or 1969" ( two of my favourite years btw) One mad idea, only records with a Bell Sound Stamp, especially for the members of R.O.G.(e)R., a semi secret society of "Run Out Groove Readers, {European branch}"

From somewhere in the back of my brain I remembered going to some random Oldies nite years ago when one of the old early years guys had been asked to come do a guest spot, and as I sat listening I realised he'd played about eight records on the trot from the same label. I asked the folk I was near to, and no-one else seemed in the slightest bit interested, so I wandered up to the decks. My rare soul radar had been right, he'd played exactly what I'd thought, and when I asked him about it he said he'd taken the booking before knowing it was Oldies only, and the only Oldies he owned anymore were in his label collections, hence his deck choices. As I stood and watched for a while I think he only played three different labels in total all the way through his hour set. Talking afterwards in the bar/record bar area it was obvious that nobody had noticed, and even the DJ himself was surprised that I had - I put it down to anorakitis (which comes on whenever I'm so bored with "same old same old" nites) and filed it away in a dark corner of my brain.

Now I've a confession to make, like some other collectors I could name, I suffer with a type of label collecting O.C.D., inasmuch as I want to have all of each type on similar styled labels. What this means in practice for example, is that because my first Loma was a white demo, all subsequent ones have to be white demo's (yes, except the good dancer which is issue only - I wouldn't go so far as to miss out a great tune because of my O.C.D., but I do hide put it at the back of the box) If my first purchase on label is an issue then all following ones have to be issues, etc.

So my current wave of thinking was to play a set with just, let's say for arguments sake, only white Loma demo's on the right hand deck and another label set on the left hand deck. Problem though was I'd got too wide a choice, so I needed to bring it down to a manageable size.

In the end I settled on another of my favourite labels - RCA Victor (and my reasons were based on sound principles, or so I thought. It's a vast label so there's something for everybody, whichever type of northern they prefer, possibly..)

I'm not the best at filing stuff away after I've had them out, so my RCA box looked decidedly empty and it took a while to get them all back together. My first thought was "I should be able to get 20 mins of good 70's, 20 mins of good 60's and 20 mins of good early R'n'B/Popcorn out of my humble label collection". I got a large mug of coffee, dived into the box and started to put a few on the kitchen turntable, building a pile of possible's and probable's as I went.

All was going well and ideas flooded my brain. Instead of 3 lots of 20 minutes each based on style, how about splitting them up into tempo, and have so many stompers, so many mid-tempo, and a few Big City Beat Ballads.

I decided the easiest way was to pull out my favourites onto the table and leave the remainder in the box and shut the lid. Then next was to put back any tunes I would, or have, played in the main room (I dunno if this is correct, but my idea of the freestyle room is that you should only play tunes in there which you normally wouldn't play in the main room?)

Having sorted out a few off the table, they went back into the box. My table pile was still too large, so I left it for a few days to see if it got any easier with time - and also to see which tunes kept coming back to me in the following days, always a good sign if you catch yourself whistling some lesser known days after you played it in the kitchen !

So there I was, basically I'd got my head around playing one hour of forgotten Stafford era 'faves' and lesser-known's, and one hour of RCA's of mixed style and tempo. Much as I fancied playing both sets of just RCA's I thought two hours was too big a risk if folk didn't go along with the idea.

Then Sian shouts up to say she's had to reorganise the set times, and would I like todo an early hour, plus a later hour and a half set. Was this a sign Immediately I knew this made my oddball idea easier, if one hour was a bit too short to fit in all my choices, and I was worried about playing two hours of just one label, then a 90 minute set might be just perfect. And of course it meant I could do the early set with my 'Stafford and friends' types.

As each day went by I grew to really like the idea, but I decided to keep it to myself, just in case it fell flat and I had to change it part way through. I did discuss it with my mate Ken, but other than him no one else knew. I've developed a theory that when I join in with a thread saying "yes I'll definitely be there " something crops up and forces me to miss out, which in a way fed into my decision to keep the RCA idea off the forums and F/B.

It got to a few days before, and I knew I had to make a decision on which to take, so having cleared out my small two lane box I filled one side with the Stafford stuff, and just started almost blindly putting RCA's into the other lane. I'd drawn up a list of things I personally like but it was over heavy with Newies, especially in the R'n'B and 70's areas, so I had to balance them out with some more classic styled dancers and soon the lane was full. I looked at what I was leaving at home and considered getting one of the bigger boxes out, but decided against that (my theory is that if you can't play a decent set out of a 150 box then taking a 600 size box is gonna make it four times worse, not better - plus carrying a great big box looks foolish these days imho)

I must confess to changing a couple of the RCA's, well maybe five, on the Friday, but pretty much that was that, the punters would decide if it was a stupid idea. Onward and Upward, or something like that.

Arriving at Rugby Niter without much time to spare, Kyp was creating a good buzz in the F/S room, and I'd have happily left him at it if it were my venue, but needs must and all that. Fortunately for me, he ended his set with an old Stafford fave The Ad-libs "Johnny My Boy" (covered by Guy as The Magnetics " Maybe Baby") so it worked perfectly for me to start with a couple of similar TOTW era tunes. My standout tracks would have to be Marv Johnson's "With All That's In Me" which sounded brilliant played loud, plus the Johnny Preston which I've been plugging away with. As usual I wandered off the plot a little but managed to keep it roughly where I wanted it to go. I think my mind was already on my decision to stick to the RCA's only, and wondering if I'd bottle it and end up playing from the Stafford & Rare side of the box instead. Perhaps this was why the first set seemed to be over in a matter of minutes?

Catriona followed me with a cracking set, very reminiscent of happier times for me personally, when we might have had less folk on the scene, but boy did the scene dig out and break a few great tunes (virtually every week I might add) There was something very nice she played which I didn't recognise, an album track I think, which I meant to ask her about but forgot - until now. Like a few others, she really should DJ out more often, quality tunes played properly. I hope a play list appears (hint)

Anyway, I'd promised my lad his supper up the road at Mickey Dee's as he'd volunteered to help me and had missed his tea, so we snuck out for a while (actually ended up with KFC instead) but returned in time to hear most of Phil's first set. Phil's sets are always my sort of soul, first rate rare soul, top man Mr Shields!

With a full looking record bar I desperately wanted to spend time mooching through the sales boxes but I don't like to spend long out of a room where I'm gonna play later, just in case you get that "Oi, that tunes already been played mate" complaint, so I had a quick look and scampered back to the Freestyle Room, via the Main room for a brief listen.

By now Kyp was giving it plenty, I don't think I've had the pleasure of listening to him before tonight's two sets, but I certainly would make the effort again if I see his name on a flyer in a room near me. I love enthusiastic DJ's who don't follow every other bugger and think for themselves. Well done Kyp !

Not sure if it was his last record, but near the end of his set he dropped on a lovely white Ric-Tic demo Laura Lee, which made me smile. The reason for my mirth was that amongst the five I'd changed at the last minute for "more obvious, so presumably more popular" RCA's, was a Canadian green RCA copy of Laura Lee ! Great minds obviously, but even if I'd have asked the other DJ's to leave their RCA's alone so I could have a free run at them no-one would have expected me to want to play Laura's Detroit bomb.

I'd originally thought to start my sojourn in the land of RCA Victor with some 70's, kinda get them out of the way, then everything else pretty much flows together be they 60's, classics or R'n'B, being my thinking. I looked at the dancers enjoying Kyp's last couple and I thought 'this ain't the time to go jumping from his strident 60's stuff into 70's mid-pacers, so I changed my mind and went with one of my all time favourites, Dynamics " I Need Your Love". Over the years I've always thought of this tune as not just a truly great record, but a gateway record, an equal opportunity winner, which goes down equally well with the rare fans as the oldies only crowd, but at the same time doesn't lock you into playing one particular style as it allows you to come out of it in any direction you like, up-tempo, mid-tempo, classic, etc.

I won't bore you with all the details track by track, for those interested I'll add a play list, but I'd just like to mention several tunes in particular. For many years I've always wanted to air The Metros version of "Let's Groove". Yes it is as mental as a boxful of frogs, but if you can ignore the barmy parts it's a fantastic slab of soul, northern style. If ever there was a 60's side that would have benefited with a remix this has got to be it, perfect F/S fodder. The difficult Bobbettes "Having Fun", sounded perfect northern to my ears. Roger Troy staked a claim for more regular spins (please DJ's) and while Freddie Paris probably won dance floor winner of the night, it was Judy Freeman's pleading heartfelt classic which resonated with everybody present. As true today as when she made it, when the world is in trouble we all need to hark to Judy's tune.

Now if I'd not said I was gonna do something different would anybody have noticed? Who can say, but from my perspective it worked. I dug out and dusted off some of my favourites that have not seen daylight in many a year, and played them as they were intended, LOUD and to a dance floor ! From my original list of choices I missed out on playing fifteen tracks, but I did include my first two black RCA's which started me off down this road many years back. Aah well there's always next time for the ones I missed !

Thanks Sian & Co for the opportunity to do something a little bit different. Thanks too for the kind compliments, both on the night and later. One of the things which persuaded me to do this daft idea was the fact that the decks are low and can easily be seen in the F/S room, which meant folk could if they so wanted, take advantage and have a little peak at one of my O.C.D. obsessions, Black RCA's in all their finery. Deck Clocker's of the World, I salute you ! Hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed sharing with you.
Final congrats to Taff who sussed out what I was doing, it showed somebody had their brain switched on, you are a top man !

We only managed a little while longer before we had to leave but by then Phil Shields was treating the dancers and the listeners alike to some fine rare soul Free Style, style Despite being completely knackered afterwards I think I enjoyed this set more than 90% of those in my 40 years. I'm still buzzing now !

For those who enjoy play lists, here goes -

Black RCA's set - (not quite in order, and not all there, a bit like me)

DYNAMICS - I NEED YOUR LOVE

LORRAINE CHANDLER - SHE DON'T WANT YOU

SUSAN BARRETT - WHAT'S IT GONNA BE

BOBBETTES - HAVING FUN

LUCY CAMPO - EVIL EYE

VARETTA DILLARD - THAT'S WHY I CRY

JIMMY WITHERSPOON - WHO BABY WHO

JESSE PEARSON - I GOT A FEELING I'M FALLIN'

CLEO JOHNS - WHY DON'T YOU DO RIGHT

TONI HARPER - HEAVENLY LOVE

ROY HAMILTON - YOU SHOOK ME UP

LORRAINE CHANDLER - WHAT CAN I DO

LORRAINE CHANDLER - I CAN'T HOLD ON

RAY PAIGE - AIN'T NO SOUL

WILLIE KENDRICK - WHAT'S THAT ON YOUR FINGER

WILLIE KENDRICK - GIVE ME LOTS OF LOVIN'

WILLIE KENDRICK - CHANGE YOUR WAYS

JUDY FREEMAN - HOLD ON ( a cheeky yellow 'un)

ROGER TROY - DON'T PUT THE BLAME ON ME BABY

MIDNIGHT - KEEP ON WALKING BY (a cheeky Australian)

KENI BURKE - LET SOMEBODY LOVE YOU

LEE ANDREWS - QUIET AS IT'S KEPT

BOBBY DAY - PRETTY LITTLE GIRL NEXT DOOR

DELLA REESE - A CLOCK THAT'S GOT NO HANDS

GALE GARNETT - I'LL CRY ALONE

H. B. BARNUM - IT HURTS TOO MUCH TO CRY

DON RAY - BORN A LOSER

ROBERT WALKER - STICK TO ME

PAUL ANKA - WHEN WE GET THERE

METROS - LET'S GROOVE

METROS - SINCE I FOUND MY BABY

CAVALIERS - I REALLY LOVE YOU

WILLIE KENDRICK - YOU CAN'T BY PASS LOVE

ROY HAMILTON - CRACKING UP OVER YOU

LAURA GREENE - MOONLIGHT MUSIC IN YOU

FREDDIE PARIS - THERE SHE GOES

TONY MASON - TAKE GOOD CARE

The first set : Stafford & friends -

SONNY CHILDE - LOVE IS IN THE AIR (MUSIC FACTORY DJ)

LITTLE JOHN - HEARTBREAKING TIME (MARTAY)

EDDIE HOLLAND - ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN (MOTOWN)

SKYLINERS - EVERYTHING IS FINE (JUBILEE)

JOHNNY APPALACHIAN - UP IN SMOKE (GOLDIE)

MARV JOHNSON - WITH ALL THAT'S IN ME (UNITED ARTISTS)

GENE HOLIDAY - SCRATCH MY NAME OFF THE MAILBOX (JOHNSON)

FREDDIE HOUSTON - SOFT WALKING (TOTO WDJ)

JOHNNY PRESTON - IVE GOT MY EYES ON YOU (HALLWAY WDJ)

GARLON DAVIS - DON'T WORRY ABOUT DANCING FOR ME (KICK OFF)

J.C. DAVIS -THE SPLIB PART 2 (ARGO WDJ)

JAMES BROWN - OUT OF THE BLUE (SMASH WDJ)

JOHNNIE TAYLOR - STRANGE THINGS (STAX WDJ)

DONALD HEIGHT - YOU CANT TRUST YOUR BEST FRIEND (OLDTOWN)

SUE ROSE - LUCKIEST DAY OF MY LIFE (BRENT WDJ)

ILA VANN - I GOT THAT FEELING (ROULETTE WDJ)

SOUL SET FEAT NORMAN SELDIN - I DON'T WANT HER BUT I NEED HER (JOHNSON WDJ)

RAYFORD TUCKER - IF YOU NEED MORE TIME (SANDPIPER)

LARRY BROWN - BREAKING TRAINING (FIREWORKS)

MESSIAHS OF GLORY - THANK YOU (SKY HERO- played at minus 4)

RAY J & NORMA JEAN - THIS IS OUR SONG OF LOVE (HEP'ME)

HOLLYWOOD SAXONS - LOVING YOU (ACTION PAC)

BROOKS O'DELL - WATCH YOUR STEP (GOLD RECORDS)

ãâ"š¬â"š¬

**A sad footnote to this tale is that last year I had to scrap the red leather portable player, it was beyone saving after I'd repaired it many times over the years - and within a week I heard my mom's friend passed away from Cancer.

ãâ"š¬â"š¬

comments made when the blog entry was made

phil shields
Getting spins again

Posted:Nov 26 2010 11:54 AM
A brilliant read John

Rugby Soul Club
Offers

Posted:Nov 26 2010 12:15 PM
John, after reading this, I think everyone else will realise why I have the utmost respect for you as a DJ.
I would have gone for yellow labels instead for the green that was thought about, something myself and another chin stroker (Phil Shields) were talking about at Hellfire...

Loved reading every word of this blog and I usually get bored after the first sentence.

Thank you...

Carms
Carmen McCullough

Posted:Nov 26 2010 12:36 PM
What a great read , I would have kept the player even if it didn't work I love your fonts by the way , easy on my eyes

Carms

arnie j
Getting spins again

Posted:Nov 26 2010 02:48 PM
great read mate,u really can write a good story and keep the reader interested,nice one
jason

Tony Foster
"Listen, mate, 'life' has surface noise."

Posted:Nov 26 2010 04:52 PM
Excellent John, superb playlist as well. See you soon my good friend, take care

Tabs
In-Demander

Posted:Nov 26 2010 04:55 PM
That was superb.

Like This

Soulgrit
Soul Music..... it's in the blood.

Great read John, Phil mentioned that you was gonna play a full hour n' a half set of RCA, so I stayed in the likkle room and it was superb,
In time when folks mention your all RCA set at Rugby I can say "I was there", well done .

Illya
Tape swappers fav

Posted:Nov 27 2010 01:26 PM
Great read, I wish I had shared the experience, I just love RCA production and the memories some of the tunes you played. I was 15 year old joined the Junior Marines in 1975 and in 1976 I bought a copy of Jumping at the Go Go in Exeter which I still have to day. I have taken this record all over the place, may be in cassette format later but when I play or here different tune I see faces and different places. I've been trying over the years collecting the the above LP on 45 but on RCA Wdj copies which seem easier to find than the black copies

Supercorsa
Ian Burse

Posted:Nov 30 2010 02:46 PM
Thanks for a great read.

MAK
In-Demander

Posted:Dec 01 2010 08:21 PM
Loved that , thanks.

purist
Semi known gem

Posted:Dec 02 2010 12:51 AM
Thanks for all the kind comments, it means a lot to me.

RCA, blimey, it was nearly an hour and a half of Pye Disco Demands !

blogs

By purist in Articles · November 26, 201014 yr

Syl Johnson is sitting in the South Side offices of his Numero Group record label and examining a 40-year-old portrait of himself in a rare moment when he wasn't playing a gig, running a recording session or working a day job. The face in the photo is partially shaded, slightly ominous, deadly serious, staring down at the camera as if to say, "I've got better things to do than stand around posing for photographs."

"That's a guy who didn't drink, who didn't smoke, who didn't chase women, who was never very far from music," Johnson says when asked about his younger self. "I was good. Like Obama - he was a community organizer, right? - I knew how to organize. You couldn't organize and be a whiskey head."

The organizer appears on the cover of "Syl Johnson: Complete Mythology" (Numero Group), a four-CD, six-LP box set that is in many ways the Chicago label's crowning achievement, and quite possibly Johnson's as well. It documents the earliest portion of his career in Chicago as a quadruple-threat singer-musician-songwriter-producer who released quality music at a steady rate but never quite ascended to star level. Johnson trafficked in every style of the day, presaging some trends, piggybacking on others. "I've got to get over," Johnson sang on a 1965 single, and he worked all the angles: soul and funk, but also blues, pleading ballads, a hint of pop, protest music.

full article at

http://leisureblogs....ce-at-last.html

By Mike in News Archives · November 22, 201014 yr

After the good news I brought you last night with the Crosley deck this hit me like a brick in the head.

Thanks to Dave W over on EMS for posting the original story up.

RIP Technics decks.

Panasonic is set to discontinue production of its famous SL-1200 turntable after 38 years of manufacturing, due to a lack of demand and the difficulty of finding components to service the iconic deck.

The SL-1200 is currently available in its 'Mark 6′ iteration. It was the choice of turntable for DJs, mainly because it was tough as old boots and could withstand a good battering as you moved around from club to club to beer-soaked back rooms in dodgy pubs.
Yet the digital music revolution has finally seen the Technics turntable off.

With the plug being pulled on the Technics range of turntables, mixers and headphones, the analogue music era is, it would seem, officially over.
"Panasonic decided to end production mainly due to a decline in demand for these analogue products, and also the growing difficulty of procuring key analogue components necessary to sustain production," a spokesman for Panasonic told The Tokyo Reporter.

Panasonic has sold around 3.5 million Technics SL-1200 model turntables since the original launch in 1972.
The announcement comes just days after Sony revealed that it would no longer be manufacturing and selling its iconic cassette Walkman in Japan.
Japanese DJ Tatsuo Sunaga ("The Record Chief") told The Tokyo Reporter how he felt Panasonic's announcement was unfortunate - "I've been using these products for around 20 years and rarely suffered a breakdown. This type of excellence is something not seen globally, and I think the fact that one doesn't need to purchase subsequent models as being the reason for forcing the move."

By Cunnie in News Archives · November 21, 201014 yr

Just recieved a mind blowing track from hayley records
Unreleased FINAL DECISIONS...
Rob Moss On here is taking Advance orders so you can PM him on here for futher Info
Priced @ £10
great to see new Quality records being made available !

By TOAD in News Archives · November 16, 201014 yr

I've just been contacted by Jimmy McCracken from Radio Merseyside who is hosting a new soul show on Saturday nights on the station.
The format will be a mix of Motown, Northern Soul, 60s/70s Club Classics and some more up to date stuff.
Jimmy said if the show does ok it will become a permanent fixture of the stations schedule----requests, gig info and feedback are all welcome and each week will see a guest "soul selector" who will play a number of their favourite tunes.
The show will run from 8pm---10pm each Saturday evening and can be listened to again by going onto the Radio Merseyside website and clicking on the "listen again" button.
Hope this is of some interest and loads of people get involved----Merseyside has never been known for its burgeoning soul scene but hopefullty this show (with your help) will generate a bit of interest in the area and become a permanent fixture of the stations schedule.
Atb.....Tony

By Brookesy in News Archives · November 15, 201014 yr

Being very much out of the loop scene wise so from an outsider looking in as it were it would seem to be a common theme that some of shall we say the more upfront rare soul venues are finding it difficult to get decent numbers through the doors, lost count how many times I read the music was brilliant but numbers were down, seems a little odd to me that when you look at the playlists many of the DJ's are playing top end records which command the big ticket prices on auctions etc. yet fail to draw the masses in which seems to make a nonsence to the whole rare soul ethic.
Has the Northern scene become a retro nostalgia trip with little or no interest in different, lesser played or just quality rare soul? would it not be fair to suggest if the upfront or rare end of the music was that good then it would be better supported? or is it more down to attitude of the people trying to move it forward? or simply not that important to people who choose not to attend or support the upfront or different venues?

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

By Mark Bicknell in Articles · November 14, 201014 yr

Been working steadily - well very steadily on the book i mentioned some years ago on here on the fascinating and colourful record hunting addiction.Time is always a problem factor but certainly making headway now,largely due to the fact that the lovely Nicola Anderson kicked me up the backside and saved the day by getting me and the book organised ! so Nicola is now my partner in getting this project running like a well oiled eerr...machine !

A brief recap to some who may not have seen my initial post ,the book is going to be accounts from the front line by many of the top record finders,collectors,dj's and vinyl addicts (Nicola will post some of the names we got on board shortly )but it ranges from the old days of crawling through dirt,muck and filth ,trawling through hundreds of thousands of 45's to the up to date artist,producer findinding modern day vinyl crate diggers from the states.Primarily the stories were going to be focused on the states but, some interesting uk stories are more than worthy of inclusion.So if anyone out there can tell a story that no one else can ( factual of course) then shout up and let us know - storie(s) can be as long or short as you like ! It is quite a task to remember certain things from 10,20,30 years ago but very rewarding and sometimes sad going back in time to places ,situations and in some cases faded memories of characters no longer with us.To note this project is also really a labour of love ,if it does make any money ,it will all go to a charity(s) all contributers to date have done so for the love of it,although if any expenses are incurred we have no problem covering those.
Will keep you all up to speed and leave it with Nicola to list some of the names already on board.
thanks.

By Dysonsoul in News Archives · November 10, 201014 yr

Taste Of Hell Fire
Posted by Tony Foster, 08 November 2010
First of all a big thank you to Captain Morgan for inviting us a long to the Taste of Honey at the Hell Fire Club, secondly a big thank you to all the wonderful friends we had the pleasure to share the day with.
It's probably the first time I've walked in to a place and was speechless, it's still makes me smile while I'm writing this, check the photos out you'll know what I mean. If you've not been to the Hellfire Club then go, life will never be the same again, a great spooky place with the strangest of managers I've come across, however he did work his nuts off and tried very hard to accommodate everyone, which he accomplished with ease, no complaints about the service from anyone, he also made the most terrific chicken and stuffing baps.
The music and atmosphere were relaxed with a party spirit, we had loads of laughs, listened to great tunes and we will definitely be going back to visit this place again. Also a big thank you to Willie West, who gave me 4 cd's of really nice tunes to go home with, it really is refreshing when people like Willie come along and say listen to these, he has a great knowledge of the music and wants to share it with others. That really is the essence of this great music, it inspires you and others to listen and carry it on further. Well done and thank you to all who made this a memorable day.
Here's what I played in no particular order
Dynamics - You make me feel so good - RCA
Voltaire's - My, My, My Baby - Bacone
People's Choice - Savin' My Lovin' For You - Palmer
Ringleaders - Baby, what has happened to our love - M-PAC
Little Dooley - If ever I needed you - Koko
Eli "The Prophet" - Take a little give a lot" - ALA
The Soul City - I shot for the moon - Mercury
El Anthony - We've been in love to long - La Cindy
Lee Fields - Take me back - Angle 3
Volcanos - Your number 1 - Arctic
Herman Hitson - Yes you did - Minit
Ster-phonics - Don't leave me - Mas-tok
The Moments - You said - Deep
Barbara Mason - You better stop it - Arctic
Temptones - Girl I love you - Arctic
Archie Bell - A thousand wonders - Spanish Atlantic
Delegates of Soul - I'll come running back - Up-look
Intrigues - Fly now-pay later - Janus
Natural Four - I thought you were mine - ABC
Stratoliners - What do you want with my love - Federal
Claude Huey - Why would you blow it - Galaxy
Wil Collins & Will Power - Anything you can do - Bareback
Soul Suspects - Funky Drop - Black Prince
Willie and the Magnificents - Funky 8 Corners - All Platinum

2010-10-30 Lifeline Real Deal Rare Soul All-Nighter
Posted by Tony Foster, 31 October 2010 ·
Without doubt last night was the real deal!!! If Carlsberg did all-nighters they would surely put their name on this one. The Lifeline DJ's served up an absolutely terrific serving of soul, tune after tune, rare, quality soul and then some more.
It just seemed as though the soul scene has been moved on to another level and the people were united in one place giving it a 100% vote in favor of the move.
For me the spot of the night was from Butch, I've been listening to his selection of music closely over the last twenty so years and now he really is on top of his game. Tune after tune, he just blew me away and that's not to say the others didn't. When you think some of who I would personally put in the top ten DJ's bracket in the country if not Europe was on the bill at Lifeline, it really is hard to choose between them. Andy Dyson is right up my street when it comes to soul music, you can tell every 45 is carefully chosen for his spot at Lifeline, Arthur Fenn and Soul Sam again another two who are ahead of their game and let us not forget Chalky, Cliff, Mick H and Rob Smith who are the essential ingredients for this mix that works so right.
Comedy moment - Mace getting bit on the finger from something lurking in a record box, it's just goes to show when a man delves into the unknown in search of treasure you just don't know what you may find, the odd chip and more.
Here's looking to 2011 at Lifeline, it just gets better and better.
Jct 17, Sports & Social Club, Sandbach, Cw11 1Gf
Posted by Tony Foster, 03 October 2010 ·
Thank you to the promoters Pete Best and Chic for putting on a great show at J17. Albeit a slightly quieter night purely down to the amount of events on and quite a lot of people away either due to other engagements or record hunting in the States, it was still quality all the way and very enjoyable. The new sound system, venue, large dance floor and great punters make this place ideal for a proper soul night.
Unfortunately we missed Pete's spot but got there in time to listen to Jim Smirk, Geese, Kenny Onions and Chic. A really nice set from Geese was followed on by Kenny Onions who as always comes up with the goods, then to finish off the night was Chic, who as always is very modest about his collection, but boy has he got some big tunes in his collection. Hopefully the DJ's will post their playlists so you will see for yourselves the kind of tunes that were played.
I'm glad to say that the venue that was originally started by Ann and Steve has been left and taken on in fine style in the very capable hands of Pete Best and Chic. Don't miss the next one, Saturday 6th November 8 till 1am with guest DJ's Carl and Maria Willingham, Kev Spittle, Dawn Carmen, Pete best and Chic, now that's a great line up for a quality soul night and only £4 to get in. A not to be missed night I think, keep up the good work, here's looking forward to the next one.
Bridlington 2010
Posted by Tony Foster, 02 July 2010
First time visit to this fantastic event, first impressions when you walk in is the outstanding building and design, next is the sheer amount of soulies that attend, I was told that there was in excess of 2,500 people.
The main room dance floor is huge and the DJ's kept the floor full at all times with ease. Musically in the main hall it was almost all Wigan oldies with a bit of Twisted Wheel and Mecca tunes etc thrown in for good measure, all in all a cracking atmosphere that takes you back to the days when politics and who played what didn't matter. Everywhere I looked there were people having a great time, singing, dancing, stomping and clapping. It's been many years since I've seen people dancing on the balcony, this place had it all.
We soon started exploring the other rooms and decided to spend the weekend between the Rare Room, the Mod R&B and the main room. The Modern Room and Club rooms were also good and packed with an electric atmosphere; however the Rare Room and the Mod R&B ticked our boxes.
John Parker, Tony Hatfield and co from the York Soul Club kept everyone entertained with no end of quality rarities, many of which you just don't hear played out, also there were some excellent quality new rarities that were well worth putting on the wants list. The guests who played in this room really did have to play there best sets to keep up to the mark. I certainly will be putting the York Soul Club on the place to visit in the next year.
The Mod R&B room, what a great selection of music everything from gritty R&B tunes to Northern monsters, well worth a visit, a nice size room off the main balcony.
There were not many record dealers which was unusual considering the size of the event, also the 2.30 finish was a bit strange but seemed suited to this type of nostalgia weekend.
Sunday night was the big finish that went on and on, the last four records Dean Parrish - I'm on my way, Tobi Legend - Time will pass you by, Bobby Sheen - Something new to do and finally at least I think it was because we left after the second time of playing this was Jimmy Radcliffe - Long after tonight is all over.
The weekend next year will undoubtedly be sold out again, if you've not been to Bridlington put it on your to do list, it took us three and half hours to get there, however it was worth the journey, we did the weekender and then stayed a few days over to do some sightseeing around York and Whitby, this place has so much to offer.

J17 Sandbach Saturday 1St May
Posted by Tony Foster, 03 May 2010 ·
This place has really gone from strength to strength. What's unique about it is that the emphasis is on the collector and what you've got interesting to play, so there is no real pressure to fill the dance floor, although it's always good to see the dance floor full with punters enjoying themselves.
A nice relaxed atmosphere with plenty of great music, put it on your list of places to visit.
Saturday was a great night with people travelling from far and wide, thank you to everyone especially Ann and Steve for sticking with it and making this a top soul night and letting me loose on the decks, it's always a great pleasure to do J17. Also a special mention to Kenny Onions and John Pugh for all their support, these guys are way ahead, great to see them on Saturday.
All the DJ's as usual were on top form, Chic, Pete, Steve and Mick all were superb. Top marks all round
What I played in no particular order
ROGER PACE - THE MINUTE MY BACK WAS TURNED - SELECT
BILLY SOL -TIME, TIME - DOMAR
ISONICS - SUGAR - KAMMY
BARBARA CARR - MY MAMA TOLD ME - CHESS
CLAUDE HUEY - WHY WOULD YOU BLOW IT - GALAXY
LEE FIELDS - TAKE ME BACK - ANGLE 3
DELEGATES OF SOUL - I'LL COME RUNNING BACK - UP LOOK
JIMMY REED JNR - I AIN'T GOING NOWHERE - MERCURY
CAROL ANDERSON - TAKING MY MIND OFF LOVE - WHIP
GWEN DAVIS - MY MAN DON'T THINK I KNOW - SOUND STAGE 7
BARBARA CARR - YOU BETTER STOP IT - ARCTIC
TURNPIKES - CAST A SPELL - CAPITOL
OSCAR WRIGHT - FELL IN LOVE - FAIRMOUNT
CALIFORNIA ROCK CHOIR - WHOEVER YOU ARE - CYCLONE
HERB WARD - STRANGE CHANGE - ARGO
PAT & THE BLENDERS - JUST BECAUSE - FAST EDDIE
WILLIE & THE MAGNIFICENTS - FUNKY 8 CORNERS - ALL PLATINUM
EDDIE HILL - YOU'VE GOT THE BEST OF ME - THELMA
DANNY WOODS - YOU HAD ME FOOLED - CORREC-TONE
WADE FLEMMONS - JEANETTE - RAMSEL
ATHENS ROGUES - SHE COULD LOVE ME - STOP
LEE FIELDS - TAKE ME BACK - ANGLE 3
RUBY - DECIEVED - GOLD TOKEN
ROY ROBERTS - YOU MOVE ME - HOUSE OF THE FOX
SAM DEES - LONELY FOR YOU BABY - P-VINE ALT TAKE
GARLAND GREEN - AIN'T THAT GOOD ENOUGH - REVUE
VOLTAIRE'S - MY, MY, MY BABY - BACONE
I think that was it, once again thank you to all especially all the people that came and made it such a memorable evening.
One guy in particular that needs a mention was Mick Welsh, this guy is a collector and it was his first time behind the decks anywhere, even though he was nervous before hand, he played a blinder. I'm sure Geese has him down for his soul night shortly, it'll be well worth going and giving him a listen.
Next month Neil Felton is among the guests at J17 so go and give him your support. I'll be there as usual if everything goes to plan.
Just a quick reminder that Bidds All-nighter is on next Saturday 8th May, great line up, don't miss it.
Jerry Brown And The Legacy Of The Yellow Labels
Posted by Tony Foster, 16 April 2010 ·
Jerry Brown and the legacy of the yellow labels
I thought I may be too late to get this in the next edition of Soul Up North so I thought I would post my short tribute to Jerry in my blog.
Now I probably didn't know Jerry for as long as some of you, just a couple of years or so, but every time we bumped into one another he made me laugh. I remember him coming up to me at what was the DDA at Lowton sitting down beside me and saying "I really enjoyed your spot here a few months ago, I don't care what the others thought about you, I thought you were good, what's your telephone number". Just one of many one liners I heard him come out with, he also told me about the yellow labels being good and you know what, he may have had something there! Out of the ones that went in the bin here's a few that I've still got and surprisingly I keep finding more!
El Anthony - We've been in love too long - La Cindy
The Vows - Tell me - V.I.P.
Sandi Sheldon - You're gonna make me love you - Epic
Ike & Tina Turner - Somebody needs you - Loma
Delegates of Soul - I'll come running back - Up look
Danny Woods - You had me fooled - Correc-tone
Willie & the Magnificents - Funky 8 corners - All Platinum
Carol Anderson - Taking my mind off love - Whip
California Rock Choir - Whoever you are - Cyclone
Lillian Dupree - Hide & Seek - D-Town
Ebonies - You got what I want - Midwest
Pat & the Blenders - Just because - Fast Eddie
Philharmonics - I need, I need your love - Soulin
Ringleaders - Baby, what has happened to your love - M-pac
Claude Huey - Why would you blow it - Galaxy
Chimes - The beginning of my life - Down to earth
Major Harris - Call me tomorrow - Epic
Younghearts - A little togetherness - Canterbury
Vibrations - Cause you're mine - Epic
Johnny Guitar Watson - Ain't gonna move - Jowat
Parliaments - Heart trouble - Golden World
Al Gardner - Sweet baby - Gooda Mooga
Skip Jackson - I'm on to you girl - Dot-Mar
Vows - Tell me - V.I.P.
Jerry was a real nice guy and it was always a pleasure to spend time and have a natter with him, the last time I saw him we shook hands said our goodbyes and he said "I just might ring you and scare you". Sadly that was to be the last time I saw him, I still miss seeing his smiling face.
P.S. Have a look through your box and see how many yellow labels you can find, you may be surprised.
Soul Or Nothing - Friday 26Th March 2010
Posted by Tony Foster, 28 March 2010 ·
Underplayed 60s/ 70s Northern, Rhythm and soul, Crossover, Deep funk, Ghetto grooves, rare soul, Beat ballads.
The Blue Parrot, Manchester Piccadilly Gardens, DJ's on the night Paul Grant, Karl Heard, Tony Foster, Paul Sadot, George Mahood, Wayne Dearman, Steve Cato.
Thank you to Steve and everyone at Soul or Nothing for a terrific night of soul music. A really nice venue, great people and a music policy that's really up to date and forward thinking for the soul enthusiast.
All the DJ's on the night played something in their sets that made you sit up and listen, I came away with a few more on my wants list which is always a good sign of a good night. There were some very good cover ups played by Big George that really caught my ear, some of which were outstanding.
This is definitely not a same old venue playing the same old tunes, it's a forward thinking up to date promotion run by and attended by devoted soul folks who have got a feeling for music. There are no boundaries set on what can be played just as long as it comes from the heart and the music inspires you to move. One I will definitely plan to attend again in the future.
Just a quick mention for Wayne Dearman and Paul Grant, these two pulled some great 45's out their boxes, keep watching and listening to their inspiring sets.
Once again thank you to all everyone for making it a very memorable night.
Tony
Bidds, Quality & Rarity 06.02.2010
Posted by Tony Foster, 07 February 2010
BIDDS, QUALITY & RARITY Finally we managed to fit a Bidds all-nighter in and wow did we have a cracking time. Loads of familiar faces and welcoming arms, it was just superb. The venue itself has a large wooden dance floor, a very late bar and ample parking facilities, just what you need for a successful all-nighter. The music policy is basically rare quality soul with a hint of R&B and some really nice Latin movers, many of which would be on everyone's wants list. All the DJ's played superb sets, Roger Banks, Mace and Rob Smith really played sets that were of a great liking to my personal tastes. Johnny Beggs played some of the finest Latin and soul tracks I've heard in a long while. Alex Jones and Killa played interesting sets, unfortunately we missed Ted Couldstone but I could well imagine he would have blended it all together nicely. This all-nighter does exactly what it says on the tin with the emphasis being on quality. How could you not want to go to a venue that plays tracks like these, Royal Robins - Something about you that sends me, Sparkles - Try Love, Brooks Brothers - Looking for a woman, Hector Rivera - A chance for romance, Harvey Averne - Never learned to dance, Fascinators - In other words, Thornton Sisters - I keep forgetting, Bobby Valentin - Use it before you lose it, an alternate version of the Tranells - Blessed with a love that was better than the released cut and the Kinetics plus loads more. Will we be going back for more on May 8th with guests Andy Dyson and Mick H, you bet we will. Thanks to Mace and all for a terrific night, get a long and give them your support on May 8th, put it in your diary, stick it on your fridge and on your note book, don't miss this upfront all-nighter.
Torch Reunion 24.10.09 Plus Photos
Posted by Tony Foster, 25 October 2009 ·
The Torch Reunion 24.10.09
Fantastic, atmospheric, foot tapping, floor packing, four beats to the bar, stomping Northern Soul, that's was the order of the day at the Torch reunion.
Regardless of the critics, this was definitely the right place with the right people at the right time.
I was never old enough to attend the Torch so I give the meeting a miss at Hose Street at 1.00 pm and left it for the people who really deserved to be there as they contributed and lay the foundation down for this now historical music. My era was the Casino and onwards, however I grew up surrounded by all the Torch media. Everyone back then was talking about the Torch, the graffiti on the walls had slogans of the Torch and Soul-on-Trent. Even the local record shops were full of sew on and pin on badges of the Torch and artists that appeared at the legendary place. The local record shops and market stalls were full of soul records, little did I know back then how rare some of those records would be in later years.
Yesterday at the Torch Reunion it captured my imagination and filled in all the blanks of what the atmosphere must have been like at that legendary building in Hose Street Tunstall. Stories were shared, among them was one from Dave Evison who told us all of a woman with a huge afro asking him for a light for her cigarette at the Torch, as she bent over to light her cigarette and her afro caught fire, leaving Dave with the duty to put the fire out with his pint of beer.
Now in the past I've had the good fortune to contribute as a DJ at some of the past Torch Revivals with Keith and Colin at the Queens at Basford, Stoke-on-Trent. Unfortunately Keith and Colin were unable to make it yesterday and I was there as a punter loving every minute of the magic.
Now from experience I can honestly say that yesterdays Torch Reunion was probably the best one I've ever been to, the music was superb, the DJ's were outstanding, the venue was perfect for the job. Legends, Barmy Barry, Blue Max, Dave Evison, Kev Roberts, Neil Rushton, Alan Day, plus all the other DJ's who shared their musical memories as punters at the Torch, they did a sterling job.
The dance floor was full from when we arrived just after 2.00pm until the end of the night. The atmosphere in the place was electric, the dance floor was full of sweating, stomping bodies, eager for more. Tracks from the Hesitations, Soul Twins, Johnny Caswell, Archie Bell, April Stevens, Little Richard, Isley Brothers, Superlatives, Cooperettes, Johnny Sayles, Fred Hughes, Roscoe Shelton, Dean Parrish, Barbara Mills, Al Kent, J.J. Barnes, Bobby Freeman, Johnny Taylor, Phillip Mitchell, etc, etc, etc, kept the dance floor packed and the temperatures soaring.
What a privilege to see Alan Day, he was absolutely brilliant and Dave Evison really rose to the challenge of being on late and managed to play a spot without repeating any of the tracks that had been played earlier. By 10.00pm the place was packed to capacity, what a superb night, if they had put tickets on sale for another Torch Reunion, the same time next year, I'm sure it would have sold out, it was that good.
I love the rare stuff myself, but I also like nostalgia, the oldies and classics of times gone by and a chance to meet up with old friends and meet new ones. It was really good to see and to spend time with Nogger again yesterday, a true soulie through and through, I've learned a lot from him over the years. If outsiders could have seen how the soul fraternity look after one another, they might begin to understand why we are all so devoted to this music scene.
Also as a bonus, I won an Al Green poster on the raffle. What a winning day all round.
Thank you to everyone who put in all the hard work and made this day such a success. Please, please do it all again next year.

The Vinyl Junkie
Posted by Tony Foster, 11 October 2009 ·
The Vinyl Junkie
Symptoms
Sleeplessness - Waking in the middle of the night or staying a wake to secure that elusive 45 on an auction site.
Tourette's - Uncontrollable movements and involuntary shouting at the pc, especially if you missed your chance to buy that rarity in the last few seconds or you were outbid by 50p.
The postman syndrome - Standing at the window or pacing up and down your living room while waiting for the postman to deliver you record only to find out that he -
A - Hasn't got it
B - Delivered it to the wrong address
C - The very worst, he sat on it while having a mid-morning break and it's in bits.
Watching the clock or putting post it notes on your TV or Fridge to remind you when an auction is finishing.
You find yourself driving like a maniac to pick your parcel up from the post office only to find when you get there it's closed. This brings on fits of rage!!!
Sweaty palms, high blood pressure and an increased heart rate while standing behind someone waiting for your turn to go through a box of 45's and seeing that he's missed that £200 record marked up as £20.
Extra thick thumbs from flipping through price guides and lists.
You consider buying your wife or your husband a nice demo you've been after for while for that special occasion, instead of going away to lovely location!
You keep a record fund which is always empty and you keep dipping in to your savings or bill money to pay for that next 45.
You keep kidding yourself that it's the very last one you're buying!!!
You send money to strangers over the internet that you don't know from Adam and you are willing to voluntary give them hundreds of pounds for a piece of vinyl. But you will only give a pound in collections for people you know at work!
Your wife talks to you but you are totally oblivious to what she's saying unless she is talking in the language of vinyl!!!
Lastly you are unable to comprehend the value of money i.e. a reasonable second hand car costing £3,000 that will take you more or less where you want to go, or a 45 at the same price that you play once and it doesn't go anywhere!
If you have any of the above symptoms you could very well be a vinyl junkie!!!
I wonder what lengths have you gone to for a rarity?
Genuine Soul At The Biddulph Arms Sept 2009
Posted by Tony Foster, 27 September 2009
GENUINE SOUL AT THE BIDDULPH ARMS SEPT 2009
DJ's - Graham Fran - Shute - Stef - Geese
First thoughts, what a refreshing change to have a rare soul night on the doorstep, so many local soul nights encourage me to travel and seek entertainment elsewhere for a variety of reasons. The Genuine Soul night at Biddulph seemed to tick all the boxes!
It was relatively easy to find, although travellers from outside the area did seem to get lost mainly to a few dodgy directions. The pub part of the Biddulph Arms was busy and the locals kindly pointed us to a door marked private to where the soul night was being held. There was a Stannah stairlift for anyone who couldn't make the stairs! Geese welcomed us at the top of the stairs and gave us a cd included in the admission price of £3.50. Reading the sleeve notes on the cd it read Genuine Soul - Genuine Vinyl. It was looking good!!!
The room soon filled up to capacity, this may prove to be a shade too small for the Genuine Soul Club!!! A mixture of oldies were played in the first couple of hours with a mix of newer and more up to date tunes played later on in the night.
Now, just a suggestion, if you're going to take the name of the Genuine Soul Club - Genuine Vinyl. It really would be good if the vinyl was genuine all-round. Original vinyl? If you going to stand out among the rest and the best and pull the punters in who have been staying away from the other venues you need to put right what they aren't doing!!! It doesn't matter whether you playing old or new stuff as long as it's original.
All the DJ's kept the dance floor busy all night, and the punters kept the bar staff busy all night!!! Good job there was another bar downstairs!!!
The promoters of this new night will go from strength to strength, after all it's a very steep learning curve and a risky business when you take on a new venture. You don't know how it's going to go, will people turn up, what sort of music will go down etc, etc, etc.
For a first night it was a really good turn out and a good foundation to build on. I'm sure bigger and better things will come from the promoters in the coming months.
Below are a few photos from the night.

Playlists!
Posted by Tony Foster, 27 September 2009
I thought I'd post this up for the purpose of those who like to read play lists. I know I certainly do, it always interests me what others are playing. Please feel free to add yours!!!
Middlewich 2009
HARVEY AVERNE DOZEN - NEVER LEARNED TO DANCE - FANIA (LP)
GEORGE KIRBY - WHAT CAN I DO - CADET
TONY CLARKE - WRONG MAN - M-S
STERPHONICS - DON'T LEAVE ME - MAS-TOK
VOLTAIRE'S - MY, MY, MY BABY - BACONE
CLAUDE HUEY - WHY WOULD YOU BLOW IT - GALAXY
DYNAMICS - YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO GOOD - RCA
TEARDROPS - HERE COMES LONELINESS - KENT (ANNIVERSARY)
MAJOR HARRIS - CALL ME TOMORROW - EPIC
CLIFF NOBLES - LOVE IS ALRIGHT - COLUMBIA
ATHENS ROGUES - SHE COULD LOVE ME - STOP
IKETTES - WHAT'CHA GONNA DO - PHI-DAN
PAUL SINDAB - I WAS A FOOL - KNOX
GARY DEAN - YOU CAN SAY - YOUNG
SHIRLEY WAHLS - BECAUSE I LOVE YOU - CALLA
JAMES WAYNE & THE SOUL SOOTHERS - I'VE FOUND SOMEONE - KEY- LAN
RUBY - FEMININE INGENUITY - GOLD TOKEN
SPARKELS - TRY LOVE - OLD TOWN
DANNY WOODS - YOU HAD ME FOOLED - CORREC-TONE
ROSE BATTISTE - HIT & RUN - REVILOT
TERRY CALLIER - LOOK AT ME NOW - CADET
EDDIE HILL - YOU GOT THE BEST OF ME - THELMA
HARRY DEAL - I STILL LOVE YOU - ECLIPSE
FREDERICK HYMES - TIME AIN'T GONNA DO ME NO FAVOR - FAB VEGAS
DENISE LA SALLE - A LOVE REPUTATION - TARPON
ISONICS - SUGAR - KAMMY
LEE FIELDS - TAKE ME BACK - ANGLE 3
JESSE FISHER - YOUR NOT LOVING A BEGINNER - WAY OUT
HESITATIONS - IS THIS THE WAY TO TREAT A GIRL - GWP
PARLIAMENTS - HEART TROUBLE - GOLDEN WORLD
GENO WASHINGTON - I'LL BE AROUND - ATAC
JIMMY BURNS - YOU'RE GONNA MISS ME WHEN I'M GONE - TIP TOP
SAM DEES - LONELY FOR YOU BABY - P VINE LP (ALT TAKE)
Hopefully something for everyone here!
Looking Back At Rare 45's & The Prices Back Then
Posted by Tony Foster, 31 August 2009 · 71 views
Days gone by!
Talking about an old Guy Hennigan spin on Soul Source, Billy Hines - Ling ting tong, inspired me to dig out some old play lists and tapes from 1991 and 1994. Looking at them it was unbelievable of the tunes that were readily available and that have now become three or four figure collectable 45's.
Back then finding the rare good records was done by word of mouth and back breaking hours of searching through boxes. Today with the internet, punters and DJ's have a vast array of great music more readily available. However the elusive rare stuff still carries a very hefty price tag, but if you have very deep pockets or a fat cheque book, you can almost acquire whatever you want.
Anyway looking at the records on the two tapes that Dave Rimmer very kindly promoted for me during the early 90's and may I add he also did the art work, the quality even though I say it myself was quite high.
What's also surprising is that some of the so called rare records of today were in abundance in the early 90's. It wasn't uncommon for a record dealer to have 50 plus copies of a record from the States. Below I've listed some of the prices I paid back then with a little information to where they were bought and whether or not they were relevantly easy to come by. If you combine what was hard to find back then to now, you come out with reasonable list on quality to rarity.
I've selected certain tracks that spring to mind for different reasons, so first off on tape 1, we have the following.
Hyperions - Why you wanna treat me - I bought this off Tim Brown for £70, at the time that was the going rate and there were a few of them about. However years later they seem to be really elusive, probably a real rarity now.
Jimmie and the Entertainers - New Girl - Old Stafford spin as I remember, paid £300 for this back then, not sure of the price now, but this too has remained elusive. Probably harder to get than the Hyperions but doesn't command the same price.
Soulful Two - I can't let you go - I paid £8 for this from Nick Marshall at a YMCA record fair in Hanley, there were loads of them about and turned up regularly in soul packs. Where have they all gone?
Lenny Curtis - Nothing can help you now - One record I regret selling for £125 at the Ritz in Manchester. It used to turn up on record lists, but not anymore.
Major Harris - Call me tomorrow - £75 for a demo, one of the hardest Okeh records to find, a lot harder than the Seven Souls. It was hard to find back then and is still difficult to find now!
Billy Kennedy - Groovy Generation - Bought this originally for the other side Sweet things from Butch for £150. I remember Butch saying to me at the time I bought it "You don't want to play that side play the other side 'Groovy Generation'". How right he was!
Jesse Davis - Gonna hang on in there - Bought for £150 off Butch, great tune and so hard to find even then, one that probably deserves it's big price tag now!
Constellations - I didn't know how to - £8 for this one, there was loads of these about, how on earth did it get to £70 plus? I also had the other Constellation - I don't know about you - I think I paid £35 for that one; now that is hard to find!
Donna Coleman - Your loves too strong - This was £100 from Keith Williams at the Raven. Nice one Keith!
Masqueraders - How - £40 at the 100 club, now that was a place to find tunes. Very rare even today, I think I sold this for £120. Loads of regrets about selling this one.
Tape 2
Spencer Wiggins - Let's talk it over - Originally a Rob Marriot spin taken from the Goldwax cd, a great dance floor packer. All those emi discs of this floating around, still worth picking up as the original recording didn't have the full backing as the later release on Torch.
Ascots - Anytime - £75 again off Tim Brown, one that I beat Tim Ashibende to, first on the phone back then won the record.
That was something else I used to ring the wife from work and get her to read through the new record lists and ring straight away for the big sought after tunes. She's put up with some crap from this vinyl junkie over the years. But bless her I wouldn't have been able to do accomplish the things I have done without her.
Reatha Reese - Only Lies - £300 from Bretby. A recommended soul night back then with rare 45's in abundance. I also picked up the Ascots - Another Day for £120 there as well.
Dynells - Call on me - Atco - £40 at the time as a semi known. It was good but not great, if you know what I mean.
Anita Anderson - A little bit longer - £300 from Saus at Balckburn, a great double sider, really rare and definitely worth the big price tag today.
Les Chansonettes - Don't let him hurt you - £120 could you believe at Blackburn, another one that's really hard to come by.
Philharmonics - I need, need your love - loads of these about then and now. £25 back then and not much more now!
Karmello Brooks - Tell me baby - £120 paid for this off Duncan Pollett, great guy and Dj who had a brilliant collection. Now this is still rare and you hardly ever see it come up for sale, back then there was talk of being about 25 copies? Who knows for sure?
Jive Five - If I had a chance to love you - I give this one it's first airing at Hyde all-nighter. Butch put me on to this off one of his tapes. Credit where it's due, the guys been there, done it, seen it and got the T shirt.
So a quick summary, you can't hang on to them all forever, but if you like it, buy it and enjoy it, now is the time for greater times ahead, musically of course. There's probably more good stuff about now than ever, so get discovering and playing.
Once a vinyl junkie, always a vinyl junkie, I'm glad to say that I'm still finding, collecting and listening to new stuff every week.
It's spreading the faith that counts! Not keeping it to yourself!

United Sounds Of Soul
Posted by Tony Foster, 03 June 2009
UNITED SOUNDS OF SOUL SATURDAY 30th MAY
Another fantastic night at what has become (for the time being anyway) the travelling soul show. AKA - United Sounds of Soul.
All the Dj's played great sets from start to finish and I even got a chance to look at Carl and Maria Willingham's play boxes. Wow!!! Everyone thinks they have got one or two nice tunes, however those two play boxes were stunning, just to have the opportunity to see the rarity and quality of them was a privilege indeed. Fred & the Turbines, Wow!
Anyway here is what I played in no particular order.
Lee Fields - Take me back - Angle 3
Fantasions - Unnecessary tears - Satellite
Frederick Hymes III - Time ain't gonna do me no favour - Fab vegas
Cookie Scott - I don't care - Orr
Skip Jackson - I'm on to you girl - Dot-Mar
Spiedels - Dream girl - Providence
Flairs - You got to steal it - Rap
Ster-phonics - Don't leave me - Mas-tok
Claude Huey - Why would you blow it - Galaxy
Major Harris - Call me tomorrow - Okeh
Athens Rogues - She could love me - Stop
Clarence Jackson - If it don't fit don't force it - Valtone
Charles Thomas - The man with the golden touch - Loma
Gary Dean - You can say - Young
Parliaments - Heart Trouble - Golden World
Masqueraders - Do you love me baby - Wand
Invitations - Watch out little girl - MGM
Isonics - Sugar - Kammy
Ruby - Deceived - Gold Token
Paul Sindab - I was a fool - Knox
Arabians - Please take a chance on me - Le-mans
Willie & the Magnificents - Funky 8 Corners - All platinum
Temptones - Girl I love you - Arctic
Thank you to all especially Kev, Sharon and Martin for a terrific night!!!
Read the reviews from this top soul night and don't miss the next one!!!!
John Pugh's Spot At Bishops Wood
Posted by Tony Foster, 29 May 2009 ·
Posted on behalf of John Pugh, too good to miss, read carefully and take in the enthusiasm of the guy.
What a fantastic spot he did at Bishops Wood. Can't wait to hear his next one!!!!
Had another good nite( r ) at Bishops Wood. I think it's now at the stage of being a case of maintaining the level set, because it's now built enough, if you get what I mean.
Just as there's a place for the hugely attended Kings Hall type events, and there's a place for the 250 to 400 type Niters, there's also a place for the more genuinely attended 100-200 capacity, where folk enjoy each others company as much as the music, and size of the venue is more intimate. When it's good it reminds me of the original Niters at Lea Manor, which is high praise in my book.
By picking the right blend of top drawer guests like Carl Fortnum, Maria Willingham, Des Parker, and adding in genuine soul lovers who are also great dj's, ( a bit like the organisers them selves & the other local and not so local guests) you can end up with a Niter that covers enough bases to keep everybody happy.
I feel I should explain something to the several people who asked me afterwards. I've got a habit, and yes I know some people don't understand, but it's me and I'm an unapologetic traditionalist as far as this scene goes. If I know the cover up name of some old tune, or the original dj who broke it, or the venue, I think its good to keep our history alive by occasionally (not always) introducing a record I'm playing under it's original scene identity. For instance I'd much rather introduce a tune as " Here's one of Guy's Stafford tunes, Casanova Bennet c/u," than say "Bobby Hutton Come See What's Left Of Me". Well on Saturday I was off with the little green men as these days it takes a bit more go juice to get me out of the house and up onto my legs than it used to, and the old identities were coming out thick and fast, so for those I misled, I introduced Little John as "Keb at Stafford - Jimmy Raye " The Only One"c/u., and quite a few others followed.
My mania for keeping hold of our past doesn't end there. If I've kept a former c/u of my own I try not to peel the c/u label, leaving it covered. Obviously not because I'm trying to hide the identity because everybody now knows what these tunes are, but because it reminds me of what it was covered as, and also if I ever sell it the buyer will know they had the first copy that got played covered. I did that on Saturday and noticed two dancers who glanced over do a double take when they saw my copy of Papa Bear & Cubs going round on the deck with it's c/u label still on - I still think my c/u name of Johnny Henley sounded more accurate anyway, play this and then play Cant Get Over These Memories and tell me it doesn't sound like the same singer ! All I can say is to those 2 dancers, if you want to catch hold of me later I'll gladly lift the label if you want to see what it looks like underneath. I know I like to look at the labels, so I do understand.
Anyway, thanks for the kind words. My set was early so nothing too adventurous, more a 'getting the dance floor warmed up' set -
(Not in order, memories of Stafford, Detroit, Albrighton & The Catacombs)
Vondells - Hey Girl You've Changed - Airtown
Royal Robins - Something About You - Tru-Glo-Town
Little John - Just Wait & See - Go gate ( or was it Jimmy Raye J
Timmie Williams - Competition - Mala
Ty Karim - You Really Made It Good To Me - Senator
Willie Tee - Please Don't Go - Nola
Jimmy Gresham - This Feelin I Have - Teri De
Dickie Wonder - Nobody Knows - Sound Of Soul
George Tinley - Aint Gonna Worry About You - Doo Wopp
Hector Rivera - I Want A Chance For Romance - Barry
Gloria Grey - Sweet World - Warner Bros
Danny Woods - Had Me Fooled - Correc-Tone
Sam Dees -Lonely For You Baby - SSS Int
Johnny Guitar Watson -Aint Gonna Move - Jowat
Soul Bros Inc - Pyramid - Golden Eye
Bottom & Co - Gonna Find A True Life - Motown (sic)
Paul & Paula - Something On My Mind - Karat
Vanguards - Good times - Lamp
Papa Bear & Cubs - You're So Fine - SMS
Matt Lucas - You Better Go-Go - Karen
Pat Lewis - No One To Love - Solid Hit
Johnnie Mae Mathews - I Have No Choice - Big Hit
Oh and one in true Stafford style,
"Sylvia Jackson - Things Won't Be The Same" c/u,
Has to be played at plus 6 - stomping, storming, almost veering into r'n'b (but actually swerving it neatly and relying on rough edged beat and sharp vocals to deliver the dance floor winner it could have been back in the 80's.
if anyone knows what it is please don't say just yet as I'm having a bit of fun with a mate over this. I just want to give him a few days to see if head scratching will help.
Soul @ The Legion
Posted by Tony Foster, 24 May 2009
What a great night at the Legion in Burscough. A warm welcome awaited us as we entered the venue, that was a good start and from there on it just got better and better. All the DJ's were terrific with a mixture of styles of soulful music and R&B. The venue itself is ideal with a good size dance floor and plenty of seating around the outside. The most important factor here is the people who attend, a really warm, welcoming and very freindly and supportive crowd.
I could definitely recommend a visit to the Legion.
Thank you and long may Soul at the Legion continue!!! I'll definitely be going back for more!!!
Play list in no particular order as follows;
Clarence Jackson - If it don't fit, don't force it - Valtone
Gary Dean - You can say - Young
George Kirby - What can I do - Cadet
Skip Jackson - I'm on to you girl - Dot-mar
Marty Lewis - I can't do without you - Big Deal
Wade Flemons - Jeanette - Ramsel
Cookie Scott - I don't care - Orr
Steve Flanagan - I've arrived - Era
Athens Rogues - She could love me - Stop
Paul Sindab - I was a fool - Knox
Frederick Hymes III - Time ain't gonna do me no favour - Fab Vegas
Ster-phonics - Don't leave me - Mas-tok
Ruby - Deceived - Gold Token
Temptones - Girl I love you - Arctic
Major Harris - Call me tomorrow - Okeh
Masqueraders - Do you love me baby - Wand
Arabians - (Please) take a chance on me - Le-mans
Jack Montgomery - Do you believe it - Scepter
Bobby Garrett - My little girl - Mirwood
Spiedels - Dream Girl - Providence
Isonics - Sugar - Kammy
Lee Fields - Take me back - Angle 3
Dda - May 2009 - Thank You!
Posted by Tony Foster, 09 May 2009
DDA, 08th May 2009
What a privilege to play at the DDA at Lowton !
A big thank you to everyone at the DDA and Lowton for giving me the opportunity to play more than an hour long spot. Terrific! Thank you to John Weston for giving me the opportunity to play a double up spot with him! Top man (Rare and then some!!!)
A special thank you to Joan, Karl, Paul, and everyone who came along to give us support it was really appreciated.
All the DJs on the night were absolutely fantastic, and once again played top quality tunes and without doubt you're bound to hear some of the tunes played last night in the major halls up and down the country in the coming months.
Over the last year or so, I've heard so many records played at Lowton and the DDA that started small and then went on to be huge successes for the big DJs. This has got to tell you something, this place is a nucleus and a breeding ground for tomorrow's big sounds.
The undiscovered, the underplayed, rare and just soulful original 45's is the order of the day at the DDA.
Here is my playlist from last night. Not many groundbreaking records here, but just nice soulful tunes. Hope you enjoyed it.
Thanks again, Tony
Playlist as follows in no particular order
Willie & the Magnificents - Funky 8 Corners - All Platinum
Frederick Hymes III - Time ain't gonna do me no favor - Fab Vegas
Moses Smith - Come on, let me love you - Cotillion
Geno Washington - Rat race - Atac
Ster-phonics - Don't leave me - Mas-tok
Jimmy Burns - You're gonna miss me when I'm gone - Tip Top
Lee Fields - Take me back - Angle 3
Skip Jackson - I'm on to you girl - Dot-Mar
Spiedels - Dream Girl - Providence
Fantastics - Me and you - Sound Stage 7
Soul City - Cold hearted blues - Good Time
Eruptions - Price of love - Val
Ernie & Ed - Indication - Jay boy
Flairs - You got to steal it - Rap
Invitations - Watch out little girl - MGM
Arabians - (Please) take a chance on me - Le-mans
Jimmy Reed Jr - I ain't going no where - Mercury
George Byrd - You better tell her so - TRC
Cookie Scott - I don't care - Orr
Ruby - Deceived - Gold token
Chris Morgan - Who am I - Bell
Isonics - Sugar - Kammy
Phonetics - Pretty girl - Trudel
Paul Sindab - I was a fool - Knox
Johnny Guitar Watson - Ain't gonna move - Jowat
Lewis Clark - I need your lovin' so bad - Tigertown
Gary Dean - You can say - Young
J17 Well Done! It's Going From Strength To Strength!
Posted by Tony Foster, 03 May 2009 ·
J17 deserves a huge pat on the back for the last 6 months of growth.
This venue is going from strength to strength and has seen a steady increase in numbers of the last months. Last night was terrific with people coming from all over the midlands and the North of England to enjoy a night of quality, no politics, just damn good soul music.
The DJ's included resident's dj's Steve Jenks and Pete Best and guests Glen Hunter, Carol Vare and Chic. All played excellent spots and kept the dance floor buzzing all night. Come on folks lets see those playlists posted!!!!
It's great to see in times when most venues are struggling to find the right mix of music or are unable to pull the punters in, that this is one venue that is growing with popularity and that is just down to everyone's enthusiasm. Whether you want to go to relax and enjoy the music or sit back with friends and talk about the 45's or dance all night long, J17 is the place to go.
Well done to everyone and thank you for another exceptional J17.
J17 Sports And Social Club
Posted by Tony Foster, 05 April 2009
Saturday 4th April
M6-jct 17 to Sandbach-Offley Lane - Left thru 2 mini roundabouts - Bradwall Rd. opposite closed Texaco garage.
Sat-Nav CW11 1GF
J17 is situated in Sandbach and really easy to get to via junction 17 off the M6; you can't miss the venue as it has good clear sign outside that clearly states J17 Sports and Social Club. 20 minutes away from us, so it's really good to have a local event that plays rare soul music with a no politics. It is immediately apparent that the DJ's are given a free reign to play what ever they want as long as it's original and its good quality soul music, none of your cuttings and pressings here!!! A warm welcome awaits you as you as you enter the venue and for just £4 for an evening's entertainment, it's a real bargain. Bar prices are cheap and there is a nice size dance floor that doesn't require talc. The room soon filled up with enthusiastic punters set for another night at J17, so take a tip from me, get there early!!!
Generally the line up consists of residents Steve Jenks and Pete Best who play some great 45's, Pete was on when we got there and played a cracking set which included George Cameron, Darrow Fletcher and later the Athens Rogues to name a few.
The guests for the night were Paul Cross, Derek Watmough, Andy Lindop & Gary Hopkin. All of which played something different from the norm with some top rarities thrown in for good measure and if you're a collector a wealth of knowledge is ready to be shared among all. The dance floor was kept busy for the majority of night, but if someone wants to play something different the punters are equally happy to sit and listen, great stuff.
All in all we enjoyed a great night at Junction 17 and came away putting the next night in to the diary to attend.
Well done to all involved, see you next month!
Give it a try!!!
United Sounds Of Soul 2nd Anniversary
Posted by Tony Foster, 29 March 2009
UNITED SOUNDS OF SOUL 2nd ANNIVERSARY
Premier League soul music at the Premier Suite.
Congratulations are in order to the promoters of the United Sounds of Soul for what was a very successful night at their temporary venue at Cannock. After a number of setbacks, none of which were the promoters fault i.e. venues closing down etc, their dream of providing quality soul music to the masses came true.
The United Sounds of Soul DJ line ups are always very strong and last night was no exception,Kev Bod, Phil T, Ian Cunliffe, Jumpin Joan, Arthur Fenn, Mick H and Carl Willingham. By the close of the night at 2.00 am the effects were stunning. An absolutely fantastic sight as the soul fraternity came together dancing all over the room and showing their appreciation to everyone who was involved in making last night a success.
It's been along time since I have seen DJ's getting receiving rounds of applause and standing ovations, but last night the faithful soul fraternity shone through making last night a very memorable evening, one that is sure to live in the memories of all concerned.
Musically it was tremendous, 60's through to 70's soul and the quality of the music was outstanding from your £20 selection to £1,000 ++ 45's. I didn't hear one bad tune all night, in my humble opinion it was just what the midlands had been crying out for.
After visiting a number of mediocre soul nights over a number years I was almost at the point of throwing the towel in and selling up for third time in thirty years. However nights like this restore my faith in the soul fraternity and the promoters who work so hard at putting these nights on, sometimes at great expense and sometimes unrewardingly.
Last night was just the starting point of the shape of things to come and I'm sure over the next year or so we will see them go from strength to strength. I can't wait for the next one, well done to everyone concerned and personally it was a pleasure to be a part of something so great!!! Thank you!!!

By Tony Foster in News Archives · November 8, 201014 yr

Thought I'd draw attention to the latest Kent release, a mid price CD featuring all 12 of the cuts recorded by The Minits for Sounds Of Memphis in the early 1970s. It features all six of their released sides including of course 'Still A Part Of Me', rounds up various tracks that we have included on compilations over the last few years and two previously unreleased gems. The first of these is an alternative version if 'Love Letters' that comes complete with a wonderful vibes part, the second is a stupendous piece of funky soul 'If You Don't Like My Apples (Don't Shake My Tree)'.

The booklet has some stunning colour photos of the girls, and some slightly informative notes from myself.

http://www.acerecord...59&release=8588

Dean Rudland

By Dean Rudland in News Archives · November 1, 201014 yr

Richard has started a blog, which he says he will keep updated regularly.
News in there of a new book and the launch of his new record label.

Here's the link
http://www.richardsearling.co.uk/

intro from the site...

"Welcome to my blog - I ll be keeping you up to date with all my music-related projects, and who knows, if the team plays well, a bit about football too! Hopefully you find it all thought provoking and informative and I look forward to receiving your feedback - as long as it's all positive of course!"

By Dave Thorley in News Archives · October 29, 201014 yr

"Northern Soul, Nightshift and Frank" is a short promo video to celebrate Northern Soul and Pete Mckenna's works which include the new edition of "Nightshift", "Who The Hell's Frank Wilson?" book and theatre production and the book the "Mis-spent Memoirs of Northern Soul" all coming in 2011.

By Mike in News Archives · October 29, 201014 yr

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings have a new 45 out...

Better Things b/w Window Shopping

Blurb below, follow the link to order at $4.99

Daptone Records predicts a late October heat wave that will continue clear into the next year. The forecast is high heat with periods of heavy soul claps. That's right!

On October 26th, "BETTER THINGS", the hit song from Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings' latest album I Learned the Hard Way - that has been melting dance floors across the globe - will finally be available as a 45.

Please drink plenty of liquids and dress accordingly before you drop the needle on this one

But don't be afraid, if it gets too hot, simply flip the record over and cool off to "WINDOW SHOPPING" - that silky deep cut that gets everyone in the mood. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.

http://daptonerecord...tem_cat_id=5561

30 sec clip of both sides below

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/sharonjones-clip.mp3

By Mike in News Archives · October 28, 201014 yr

Sad to report the passing of James Phelps yesterday.

James was responsible for the wonderful, Sam Cooke styled, "Love Is A Five Letter Word" and the beautiful ballad "Wasting Time" on Argo as well as being highly regarded in the UK and Europe for his Apache label rarity "The Look On Your Face".

James died at the age of 78 after what is believed to be complications arising from diabetes.

Commiserations to his family and all those who knew him.

R.I.P.

Sean

By Sean Hampsey in News Archives · October 27, 201014 yr

As you may have read in the forums Weldon Arthur McDougal III recently passed away on the 22nd October.2010

A West Philadelphia native Weldon Arthur McDougal III is rightly credited as a major contributor to the "Sound of Philadelphia". During four decades he has been involved in many ways, as a song writer, artist, group leader, independant producer and of course as a founder member and co-owner of Harthon/Dynodynamics record labels,

While its hard to actually track down all his soul music related work due to the sheer amount, his involvment with Motown is also credited as a major part of his contribution (see links below for just two of the major artists he was involved with.) along with his contributions to the Philly Sound.

As the forum thread has many great posts from members such as Dave Moores the aim of this short article is to just act as a news header

The original forum thread has been attached to this news article

Links below are just a small sample of the Weldon McDougal info on line, google will take you further, radio interviews, articles, books, dvds, recent cd releases and more

Weldon McDougal - You Know I Know
a 2007 single
youtube clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH8RcwcTMSU&feature=player_embedded

An Interview with Weldon McDougal III on his Jackson 5 motown involvement
How It All Started...

http://j5collector.b...dougal-iii.html

An Interview with Weldon McDougal III on Marvin Gaye (Video Interview)
http://www.pbs.org/w...the-program/75/

RIP

By Mike in News Archives · October 24, 201014 yr

Rare Records and Raucous Nights: Investigating Northern Soul
A spirited examination of dance culture, record collecting, and the perpetual British love for American Rhythm & Blues

Lucy Gibson has been in touch with soul source and wished to pass on details of a upcoming event at the University of Salford..

"Professor Dave Sanjek has organised a symposium on November 4th (1-5pm) called 'Rare records and raucous nights: Investigating northern soul'.
The event will involve a number of talks from academics that research/write about northern soul, a screening of 'The Wigan Casino' (Tony Palmer 1977), lots of discussion, and a talk from a special guest - Ady Croasdell - on copyright issues.
I am very keen to invite fans to the event and would like to put the details on this site.
Best wishes, Lucy
Dr. Lucy Gibson
University of Manchester "

Details follow...

School of Music, Media & Performance
Popular Music Research Centre

Symposium
Robert Powell Theatre, 4 November, 2010; 1-5 P.M.

A spirited examination of dance culture, record collecting, and the perpetual British love for American Rhythm & Blues

Programme

1:00 Tim Wall, Birmingham City University

"Northern Soul: There's Nothing Northern About It (And While We're At It, It Isn't Soul and the Dancers Aren't Break Dancers")

1:30 Nicola Smith, University of Wales Institute Cardiff

"Dancing Alone, Together: Pleasure, Competency and Competition On The Northern Soul Dancefloor"

2:00 Screening "The Wigan Casino" (Tony Palmer, 1977)

2:30 Panel Discussion of visual representation of Northern Soul

3:00 Lucy Gibson, University of Manchester

"Nostalgia, Symbolic Knowledge and Generational Conflict: Contentious Issues in Contemporary Northern and Rare Soul Scenes"

3:30 Ady Croasdell, Ace Records

"Acquiring Rights and Righting Wrongs: The Copyright Clearance of Northern Soul"

4:00 David Sanjek, University of Salford

"Over & Over & Over: Repetition, Reanimation and Northern Soul"

4:30 Open Discussion

For more information, please contact d.sanjek@salford.ac.uk

Speakers

Ady Croasdell

Ady Croasdell went to this first "Old Soul" all nighter in 1969 and now bosses the longest running Northern Soul club/all nighter of all time (31 years and counting) at the 100 Club in London's Oxford Street. He has worked for Ace Records since 1982 compiling Northern Soul LPs and CDs for their Kent subsidiary. He oversees the production of these from concept to product and actively seeks and negotiates deals with the US owners.

Lucy Gibson

Dr. Lucy Gibson is a temporary lecturer in Sociology at the University of Manchester. Her doctoral research explored popular music and the life course, which included ethnographies of Northern and rare soul, rock music, and electronic dance music scenes and interviews with over 70 adult fans. She is particularly interested in how ageing shapes participation in music scenes and music taste and is currently working on publications in this area.

David Sanjek

David Sanjek is a Professor of Music and Director of the Popular Music Research Centre at the University of Salford. Previously, he was Archives Director of Broadcast Music Inc., the performance licensing agency. He has advised many organizations, including the R&B Foundation, the Blues Foundation, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Library of Congress and the Experience Music Project. He is currently readying a collection of essays (Always On My Mind: Music, Memory and Money), a special issue of Popular Music & Society on copyright in sound recordings, and a conference collection on music documentaries for publication.

Nicola Smith

Dr. Nicola Smith is Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Popular Culture at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff. Her doctoral research explored the British Northern Soul scene and she writes widely on ageing music cultures, adult-frequented music scenes and the performance of identities within fandom and popular dance. Her current research is aimed at convincing people that popular music is not just for the under-25s.

Tim Wall

Tim Wall is Professor of Radio and Popular Music Studies and Director of the Birmingham City Centre for Media and Cultural Research at Birmingham City University. More importantly, he's been dancing to Northern Soul since the early 1970s, even if it is a little less energetic these days. He's written widely on the relationship between African American and white popular culture, including an analysis of Northern Soul dancing. He may play some Northern records, but he won't be dancing himself today.

School of Music, Media & Performance

Popular Music Research Centre

Symposium
Robert Powell Theatre, 4 November, 2010; 1-5 P.M.

Robert Powell Theatre at Salford University
Frederick Road
Salford
Lancashire
M5 4WT
+44 (0)161 295 5000

By Mike in News Archives · October 21, 201014 yr

A collection of clips from Mattew Warren featuring interviews for a forthcoming documentary that he is working on all about Latin music in New York from 1965-70

featuring Joe Bataan, Larry Harlow, Johnny Colon, Joey Pastrana, Richie Ray, Harvey Averne, Jimmy Sabater, Pucho Brown, Bobby Marin, Nicky Marrero, Kent Gomez and Jose Mangual Jr.

http://vimeo.com/11226223

view in full screen for best effect

http://mathewwarren.com/

By Mike in News Archives · October 19, 201014 yr

News and a mini-doc video of a upcoming cd release from Concord featuring a wide range of unreleased tracks from Ray Charles
Due out 26th Oct looks like one for Ray Charles fans

Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters -- Ray Charles

press release below

Concord Records is celebrating the 80th birthday of the legendary Ray Charles with a special gift for his legions of fans: Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters. This treasure trove of newly discovered recordings, highlighted by a duet with fellow icon Johnny Cash, will become available on October 26th, 2010.

Culled from four decades worth of demos and other previously unreleased material, Rare Genius showcases the remarkable artistic vision, stylistic range and emotionally rich vocals that crafted Charles enduring legacy. Listening to the ten gems from the '70s, '80s and '90s that comprise this CD, fans will have no trouble envisioning the late singer rocking back and forth at the piano as he effortlessly segues between R&B/soul, pop, country and gospel. "Ray would always get inside the meaning of a lyric and make the listener believe every word," says Concord Music Group Chief Creative Officer, John Burk. "His vocals carried incredible emotion and intensity, even on demo tapes. What we have here with Rare Genius is on par with some of his greatest works."

And that's crystal clear right from the album's sparkling opener, "Love's Gonna Bite You Back." The March 1980 session track features an upbeat horn arrangement behind what Rare Genius liner notes author Bill Dahl calls "a Charles vocal that's a signature mixture of sandpaper grit and heavenly goodness." Up next is the stunning ballad "It Hurts to Be in Love," which underscores the album's main thematic focus and one of Charles' favorite subjects: the ups and down of romance. Another compelling standout is the gospel-stirred Charles and Cash duet on Kris Kristofferson's "Why Me, Lord?" Discovered in the Sony vaults, the song was produced by Billy Sherrill in Nashville and recorded in 1981 for an anticipated release on a CBS album. For unknown reasons, that didn't come to pass. What's more important, however, is the emotional charge you get listening to these two powerful voices come together in this spirited and inspired pairing. Except for "Lord," the nine other Rare Genius tracks including the soul-drenched "I Don't Want No One But You," a blues-infused cover of songwriter Hank Cochran's country classic "A Little Bitty Tear" and the joyous "I'm Gonna Keep on Singin'" were found in the vault at Charles' R.P.M. International Studios in Los Angeles. Adding a little sweetening to some of the sparse, stripped-down tracks was a team of top-notch musicians and artists: guitarists Keb' Mo' and George Doering, organist Bobby Sparks, trumpeter Gray Grant, trombonist Alan Kaplan, bassists Trey Henry and Chuck Berghofer, drummers Gregg Field and Ray Brinker and background vocalist Eric Benet.

As with its Concord predecessor, 2004's Grammy-winning Album of the Year Genius Loves Company, Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters is another fitting tribute to Charles, who would have turned 80 on September 23, 2010. It's a fresh, vibrant reaffirmation of the music icon's unparalleled artistry and legacy.

By Mike in News Archives · October 18, 201014 yr

From: Lifeline Bank Holiday Weekend Bonanza
Posted by chalky, 16 August 2010 ·
After our recent foray into Mace Land, Bidds and Stoke that is, we are pleased to be getting back to the Stables. Many thanks to Mace and Chris for the help last time out.
Anyway we have a fantastic all-nighter planned (well I think so). Along side the resident rascals of Butch, Andy Dyson, Mick H, Soul Sam, Cliff Steele and myself (Chalky for those who need reminding ) we have Karl Heard, one of the Countries most popular DJ's right now. If thats not enough we have Kev Murphy spinning his wares to kick off proceedings, probably playing stuff he rarely gets the chance to play....it will all be good stuff And as usual to send you home hopefully wanting more is Nottingham's Legendary Rob Smith.
So hopefully we will see you all there on a balmy (or should that be barmy?) hot summer night to hear some of the finest in Rare Soul Music.
If you can't wait that long I've started a podcast to highlight the DJ's and the records you are likely to have heard or hear at Lifeline. The first one is courtesy of Lifeline main man Andy Dyson (hopefully his co promoter Mick H next).
The Podcast can be found >>>>HERE<<<<
THE LIFELINE SOUL CLUB
presents
The Real Deal Rare Soul All-Nighter
At
The Brookfields Club (The Stables),
Cannock Road, Shareshill, Wolverhampton, WV10 7LZ.
(Directions: Just off the M6 junction 11, A460 towards Wolverhampton then 400 yards on your left).
August 28th 2010
9pm till 7.00am, a tenner gets you in!
Resident rascals are the Countries TOP Rare Soul DJS
Butch, Andy Dyson, Mick H, Cliff Steele, Soul Sam & Chalky
This month's special guest
KARL HEARD
In addition, this months Collector opening the night will be
KEV MURPHY
and as usual closing proceedings Nottingham's
ROB SMITH
As for the music, the emphasis will be on the 60's but as usual Lifeline will feature the very best in 70's and crossover plus the odd track from across the Soul years. In short the very best DJ's playing the very best in the rare, obscure, forgotten and underplayed soul music from a fiver to £15000!!!
In short all Dj's playing the very best in the rare, obscure, forgotten and underplayed soul music!!
For further information
Andy Dyson @ Dysonsoul@aol.com or telephone 01302 744927
Mick H @ Trentsoul@aol.com or telephone 07968 030464
Chalky @ chalky@mailme.co.uk or telephone 07743 863 523

Lifeline Soul Club Rare Soul All-Nighter October 31St 2009
Posted by chalky, 04 October 2009 ·
THE LIFELINE SOUL CLUB
presents
The Real Deal Rare Soul All-Nighter
At
The Brookfields Club (The Stables),
Cannock Road, Shareshill, Wolverhampton, WV10 7LZ.
(Directions: Just off the M6 junction 11, A460 towards Wolverhampton then 400 yards on your left).
October 31st 2009.
8pm till 7.00am, a tenner gets you in!
Resident rascals are the Countries TOP Rare Soul DJS
Butch, Andy Dyson, Mick H, Cliff Steele, Soul Sam & Chalky
With this month's special guest gracing the Lifeline decks for the first time
The One and Only
Dave Greet
After the success of our early opening with two collectors Lifeline will once again be opening its doors two hours early
Guests TBC
and as usual closing proceedings Nottingham's
ROB SMITH
As for the music, the emphasis will be on the 60's but as usual Lifeline will feature the very best in 70's and crossover.
In short all Dj's playing the very best in the rare, obscure, forgotten and underplayed soul music!!
For further information
Andy Dyson @ Dysonsoul@aol.com or telephone 01302 744927
Mick H @ Trentsoul@aol.com or telephone 07968 030464
Chalky @ chalky@mailme.co.uk or telephone 07743 863 523

Lifeline Rare Soul All-nighter...summer Madness!
Posted by chalky, 23 June 2009 ·
The next instalment of Lifeline is this coming Saturday, 27th June. Along with the usual crew of Butch, Andy, Mick, Sam, Cliff and Chalky......Kitch will be making a long awaited return to the Lifeline decks to treat our lug 'oles to mighty fine music Hopefuly we will see you all down there nice and early
THE LIFELINE SOUL CLUB
present
The Real Deal Rare Soul All-Nighter
At
The Brookfields Club (The Stables),
Cannock Road, Shareshill, Wolverhampton, WV10 7LZ.
(Directions: Just off the M6 junction 11, A460 towards Wolverhampton then 400 yards on your left).
10.00pm till 6.00am, a tenner gets you in!
Saturday 27th June 2009
Resident rascals are the Countries TOP Rare Soul DJS
Butch, Andy Dyson, Mick H, Cliff Steele, Soul Sam & Chalky
This month's special guest
Kitch!!
As for the music the emphasis will be on the 60's but as usual Lifeline will feature the very best in 70's and crossover.
In short all Dj's playing the very best in the rare, obscure, forgotten and underplayed soul music!!
For further information
Andy Dyson @ Dysonsoul@aol.com or telephone 01302 744927
Mick H @ Trentsoul@aol.com or telephone 07968 030464
Chalky @ chalky@mailme.co.uk or telephone 07743 863 523
Lifeline Rare Soul All-nighter...the Next Installment!
Posted by chalky, 29 March 2009
THE LIFELINE SOUL CLUB
presents
The Real Deal Rare Soul All-Nighter
At
The Brookfields Club (The Stables),
Cannock Road, Shareshill, Wolverhampton, WV10 7LZ.
(Directions: Just off the M6 junction 11, A460 towards Wolverhampton then 400 yards on your left).
April 25th 2009.
10.00pm till 7.00am, a tenner gets you in!
Resident rascals are the Countries TOP Rare Soul DJS
Butch, Andy Dyson, Mick H, Cliff Steele, Soul Sam & Chalky
With this month's special guest digging deep into his collection
The North East's
Steve "Hoss" Watson
As for the music, the emphasis will be on the 60's but as usual Lifeline will feature the very best in 70's and crossover. In short all Dj's playing the very best in the rare, obscure, forgotten and underplayed soul music!!
For further information
Andy Dyson @ Dysonsoul@aol.com or telephone 01302 744927
Mick H @ Trentsoul@aol.com or telephone 07968 030464
Chalky @ chalky@mailme.co.uk or telephone 07743 863 523

Lifeline Soul Club 5th Anniversary.
Posted by chalky, 29 December 2008 ·
After a longer than planned break due to dates being unavailable and just too much on other nights Lifeline is back!! February the 28th 2009 see's the return with the Lifeline team celebrating 5 years of "The Real Deal Rare Soul All-nighter".
To help celebrate 5 soulful years the resident rascals, Butch, Andy Dyson, Mick H, Soul Sam, Cliff Steele and Chalky will be joined by Lifelines very 1st guest 5 years ago "Marco". Joining Marco behind the decks for his first time will be Flanny!!
Along with the residents, Marco and Flanny will be providing the very best 60's soul music, along with the best in 70's and crossover. In short all Dj's playing the very best in the rare, obscure, forgotten and underplayed soul music!!
For any further info contact Andy, Mick or myself. We hope you can join us to celebrate 5 years of what we consider quality soul music!!
THE LIFELINE SOUL CLUB
presents
The Real Deal Rare Soul All-Nighter
5th Anniversary Special
At
The Brookfields Club (The Stables),
Cannock Road, Shareshill, Wolverhampton, WV10 7LZ.
(Directions: Just off the M6 junction 11, A460 towards Wolverhampton then 400 yards on your left).
February 28th 2009.
10.00pm till 7.00am, a tenner gets you in!
Resident rascals are the Countries TOP Rare Soul DJS
Butch, Andy Dyson, Mick H, Cliff Steele, Soul Sam & Chalky
With this month's special guest digging deep into his collection
See's the return of our very first guest
"MARCO"
And making his debut behind the Lifeline decks
"FLANNY"
As for the music, the emphasis will be on the 60's but as usual Lifeline will feature the very best in 70's and crossover. In short all Dj's playing the very best in the rare, obscure, forgotten and underplayed soul music!!
For further information
Andy Dyson @ Dysonsoul@aol.com or telephone 01302 744927
Mick H @ Trentsoul@aol.com or telephone 07968 030464
Chalky @ chalky@mailme.co.uk or telephone 07743 863 523

Ralph "soul" Jackson
Posted by chalky, 02 November 2008
A couple of years ago, a good friend of mine Andy Dyson, through his friendship with John Ciba agreed to bring Ralph over to perform, John Ciba is Ralph's manager. A few last minute hitches kept Ralph away. Hopefully Ralph may yet make it to these shores in the future. Anyway John sent over a bit of a biography about Ralph and I can't remember if we ever used it so here it is......
Ralph Soul Jackson
A biography & discography by John Ciba.
Legends from the golden age of soul music haven't always achieved their status through gold records, flamboyant lifestyles, or appearances on cable television. Many cut one or two 45s for small, independent record labels with little to no distribution and only regional radio play. But they still became popular to an international audience when England's Northern soul DJs sought out obscure American soul records to keep their dance floors full. These tracks, relatively unknown in the United States, gained traction in foreign markets, where buyers considered demand for esoteric soul proof of their music savvy. Ralph Soul Jackson, with six rare Southern soul 45s ranging in price from $50.00 to $1500.00, is no exception to this anomaly.
Forty years ago, Jackson got a call from Rick Hall at FAME Studios who wanted to record Ralph's Don't Tear Yourself Down with Hank William's Jambalaya and leased the single to AMY/BELL Records. It was this soul-drenched first session in Muscle Shoals that led Hall to give Ralph the moniker he uses to this day. Hall chose to use the Hank Williams song as the A-side and tried to market the single to an unreceptive Black audience. During these sessions Jackson befriended A-list songwriter and session man Spooner Oldham who wanted to record Ralph singing Creams Sunshine of Your Love backed with a Penn/Oldham number Cause I Love You. Atlantic Records released the single in 1967 but it quickly faded while competing with Otis and Aretha for promotional support. In the early 70s local DJ Eddie Dr. Jive Mendell brought Ralph to Birmingham, Alabama, to play his songs for producer Neal Hemphill. They paired Ralph with Oldham again in Muscle Shoals and cut a driving version of Carl Perkins Matchbox and Let Your Sweet Love Surround Me for Hemphill's legendary Sound of Birmingham label. Once again, poor radio and distribution drove the single into obscurity. After two poor experiences with the industry, Jackson walked away from music. In 1975 Ralph came to Neal's new Hemphill Studios and wrote, played all instruments, and sang the soon-to-be Northern soul classic Set Me Free backed with Take Me Back for Hemphill's Black Kat Records. The record, along with others from the label, suffered from a poorly structured, crooked distribution deal. While Jackson was performing on a circuit of U.S. Air Force bases he stopped off in Nashville in 1980 to record three modern soul rarities over two 45s for his own RAJAC label. These highly sought after records had no distribution or radio play and all sales were made during the military base shows.
Ralph Soul Jackson is a native of Southern Alabama where he still lives and has never stopped writing, performing and recording music, whether its in his home studio, as the music minister in his church, or at his cousin Jo Jo Bensons club. Soul fans can look forward to the reissue of the classic tracks mentioned above; some newly discovered unreleased gems, as well as the first full length album of new material by Jackson, recorded between anticipated live dates.
Jambalaya b/w Don't Tear Yourself Down - Amy/Bell Records1965
Sunshine of Your Love b/w Cause I Love You - Atlantic Records1967
Matchbox b/w Let Your Sweet Love Surround Me - SOB1971
Set Me Free b/w Take Me Back - Black Kat Records 1975
Ill Be a Real True Man b/w This Is My Prayer - Rajac/Black Stallion1981
I Can't Leave You Alone b/w Instrumental - Rajac Records 1981
More about Ralph can be read at his Myspace page....
http://www.myspace.c...lphsouljacksonÃ¯¿½

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