You'll Never Make The Grade - The Sunlovers

[Ian Dewhirst]

This is a perfect example of a record which really should have been a No.1 monster tune in the mid 70's but was never given a chance. It's a 100% bona fide original Northern traditional stomper with all the perfect ingredients and all the right credentials. As far as I can remember, I don't recall anyone in the UK having this record before it was bootlegged. The first we knew about it was when Selectadisc shipped in a couple of thousand bootlegs attributed to Eddie Parker & The Sunlovers on a label called Aliza. Nobody knew it and we couldn't see the point in shipping in a bootleg which had never been played. It seemed like Soussan had really shot himself in the foot with this one 'cos nobody bothered buying the boot and they were always in the 25p sections of people's boxes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcT9PxL0sJU

A real shame 'cos I think it could have been right up there with the best of 'em if it had been given the opportunity.

Also, whilst we're on the subject, does the Inspirations version of this actually exist or is it simply the exact same track with a name switch?

Ian D

Edited February 7, 2010 by Ian Dewhirst

[Ric-tic]

ian the same thing happened too with jessica james and the outlaws 'well be making out', if my memory serves me right they both arrived in the same week! i worked in a record shop at that time and you couldnt give these two away

[Sean Hampsey]

Always loved it, Ian.

Was regarded as a classic round my neck of the woods, but agree, it was drowned at birth on the scene as a whole.

Grabbed the 'Eddie Parker' - Aliza 'issue' - as soon as it arrived in 'Sound of Music' Rotherham but was late 70's / early 80's before I picked up the Mutt & Jeff copy.

Great little tune!

Sean

[Ian Dewhirst]

Always loved it, Ian.

Was regarded as a classic round my neck of the woods, but agree, it was drowned at birth on the scene as a whole.

Grabbed the 'Eddie Parker' - Aliza 'issue' - as soon as it arrived in 'Sound of Music' Rotherham but was late 70's / early 80's before I picked up the Mutt & Jeff copy.

Great little tune!

Sean

Yep. I liked it from the off but the bootleg coming first put me off playing it. There was sort off no point really. I found an original copy in '76 and remember thinking it was a great record which had been wasted pointlessly.

And Ric-Tic's right. The Jessica Jackson & The Outlaws is another prime example of pointless bootlegging along with Lou Courtney's "Me And You Doing The Boogaloo".

What I think happened was that Soussan had got used to supplying Selectadisc with x amount of titles per month, so he jumped the gun on a few records before they had a chance to go big simply to keep the production line going.....

A real shame in the Sunlovers case......

Ian D

[Baz Atkinson]

Yep its got a bueatiful flipside has the Eddie parker tune -ONE OF HIS FINEST MOMMENTS IMHO!!!

BAZ A

[paup-ine]

This is a perfect example of a record which really should have been a No.1 monster tune in the mid 70's but was never given a chance. It's a 100% bona fide original Northern traditional stomper with all the perfect ingredients and all the right credentials. As far as I can remember, I don't recall anyone in the UK having this record before it was bootlegged. The first we knew about it was when Selectadisc shipped in a couple of thousand bootlegs attributed to Eddie Parker & The Sunlovers on a label called Aliza. Nobody knew it and we couldn't see the point in shipping in a bootleg which had never been played. It seemed like Soussan had really shot himself in the foot with this one 'cos nobody bothered buying the boot and they were always in the 25p sections of people's boxes.

https://www.youtube.c...h?v=fSJGpN_KKGk

A real shame 'cos I think it could have been right up there with the best of 'em if it had been given the opportunity.

Also, whilst we're on the subject, does the Inspirations version of this actually exist or is it simply the exact same track with a name switch?

Ian D

One of my early purchases (on Aliza_) Loved it, but could never dance to it

P

Edited February 1, 2010 by paup-ine

[Drew3]

This is a perfect example of a record which really should have been a No.1 monster tune in the mid 70's but was never given a chance. It's a 100% bona fide original Northern traditional stomper with all the perfect ingredients and all the right credentials. As far as I can remember, I don't recall anyone in the UK having this record before it was bootlegged. The first we knew about it was when Selectadisc shipped in a couple of thousand bootlegs attributed to Eddie Parker & The Sunlovers on a label called Aliza. Nobody knew it and we couldn't see the point in shipping in a bootleg which had never been played. It seemed like Soussan had really shot himself in the foot with this one 'cos nobody bothered buying the boot and they were always in the 25p sections of people's boxes.

https://www.youtube.c...h?v=fSJGpN_KKGk

A real shame 'cos I think it could have been right up there with the best of 'em if it had been given the opportunity.

Also, whilst we're on the subject, does the Inspirations version of this actually exist or is it simply the exact same track with a name switch?

Ian D

How do I get to hear this now that the Youtube stream has been removed?

KTF.

Drew.

[Missing Link]

How do I get to hear this now that the Youtube stream has been removed?

KTF.

Drew.

There's the bootleg version in Refosoul (covered as Eddie Parker and the Sunlovers).

EDDIE PARKER & SUNLOVERS - YOULL NEVER MAKE THE GRADE -

Edited February 7, 2010 by Missing Link

[Tabs]

Here you go drew.

https://www.youtube.c...h?v=FcT9PxL0sJU

How do I get to hear this now that the Youtube stream has been removed?

KTF.

Drew.

[Tony Jackson]

How do I get to hear this now that the Youtube stream has been removed?

KTF.

Drew.

Hi Drew.....enjoy

EDDIE PARKER & SUNLOVERS - YOULL NEVER MAKE THE GRADE -

[Drew3]

Thanks folks.

KTF.

Drew.

[Ian Dewhirst]

Thanks folks.

KTF.

Drew.

Reinstated now Drew....

Ian D

[Rugby Soul Club]

Dean's just playing a few tunes and popped this on.

"Bloody hell" says I, "I haven't heard this in yonks" I didn't realise the story behind it and I'd probably only ever heard it at home over the last 30+ years.

I may actually die trying to dance to it now, but would would love to try

[Rick Smith]

Had the Aliza boot from the days of Selectadisc and it never occurred to me whether it was actually Eddie Parker or not. A cracking record either way. Looking on Popsike it's not the most expensive record to buy an original Mutt & Jeff, better buy a copy before someone actually starts playing this again. So many great records gathering dust that are rarely or never played in a time when we are subject to same old 'classics' week after week. Let's hope we start hearing it played out some more.