Yes, folks, it almost half-killed me but the next 10 Backbeats albums are now released and in your local HMV for a fiver a pop. Recession-busting or what?

I'm joined on this lot by the good Sean Hampsey and Dean Rudland also doing compiling honours, so here are the tracklistings and cover shots......

"Yowsah Yowsah Yowsah" – 70's New York Disco BACKB011

Compiled By Ian Dewhirst

1 Moment Of Truth Helplessly

2 First Choice The Player

3 Eddie Holman This Will Be A Night To Remember

4 Ultra High Frequency We're On The Right Track

5 Loleatta Holloway Hit & Run

6 Players Association I Like It

7 Lucy Hawkins Gotta Get Out Of Here

8 Ripple The Beat Goes On & On

9 Gary's Gang Keep On Dancin'

10 TJM Am I Dreaming

11 Jackie Moore This Time Baby

"Love & Jealousy" – The Deeper Side Of Southern Soul BACKB012

Compiled By Sean Hampsey

1 Quiet Elegance Do You Love Me

2 Barbara Lynn This Is The Thanks I Get

3 Otis Clay I Die A Little Each Day

4 Syl Johnson Could I Be Falling In Love

5 George Jackson I'm Gonna Wait

6 Jean Plum You Ask Me

7 Al Green One Woman

8 Ronnie Lovejoy Until You Get Enough Of Me

9 Fontella Bass I'm Leaving The Choice To You

10 Bobby McClure To Get What You Got

11 The Patterson Twins Back In Love Again

12 Oscar Perry I'll Take Care Of You

13 Willie Walker I Love Her

14 Quiet Elegance Will You Be My Man In The Morning

15 Syl Johnson Anyway The Wind Blows

16 James Fry Tumbling Down

17 Ann Peebles Give Me Some Credit

18 Bobby Patterson Take Time To Know The Truth

19 O.V. Wright Let's Straighten It Out

20 The Masqueraders Wake Up Fool

21 Bobby Powell When You Move You Lose

22 Don Bryant I'll Go Crazy

23 Jean Plum Back To You

24 Otis Clay It Was Jealousy

"Motor City Soul" – 70's Soul From Detroit BACKB013

Compiled By Ian Dewhirst

1 Chairmen Of The Board Everything's Tuesday

2 Freda Payne You Brought The Joy

3 The Barrino Brothers I Shall Not Be Moved

4 The Honey Cone While You're Out Looking For Sugar

5 The Silent Majority Colors Of My Love

6 Flaming Ember Westbound No.9

7 100 Proof Aged In Soul Somebody's Been Sleeping (In My Bed)

8 Freda Payne Bring The Boys Home

9 The 8th Day You've Got To Crawl (Before You Walk)

10 Holland & Dozier New Breed Kinda Woman

11 Laura Lee (If You Want To Try Love Again) Remember Me

12 The Politicians ft McKinley Jackson Love Machine

13 Flaming Ember I'm Not My Brother's Keeper

14 Brian Holland I'm So Glad

15 100 Proof Aged In Soul One Man's Leftovers (Is Another Man's Feast)

16 The Honey Cone One Monkey Don't Stop No Show

17 Tyrone Edwards Can't Get Enough Of You

18 The Hi-Lites That's Love

19 New York Port Authority I Guess I'm Gonna Cry

20 Scherrie Payne V.I.P.

21 The Honey Cone Want Ads

22 Melvin Davis You Made Me Over

23 Tyrone Edwards You Took Me From a World Outside

24 Eloise Laws Stay With Me

25 Holland & Dozier Why Can't We Be Lovers

"Gimme That Beat" – 70's Sophisticated Funk BACKB014

Compiled By Dean Rudland

1 The Chi-Lites (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People

2 Satisfaction Unlimited Somebody Else's Woman

3 African Music Machine Blackwater Gold

4 Chairmen Of The Board Finders Keepers

5 Laura Lee If I'm Good Enough To Love (I'm Good Enough To Marry)

6 Chairmen Of The Board Skin I'm In

7 The Politicians Free Your Mind

8 New York Port Authority I Got It

9 Average White Band Pick Up The Pieces

10 Ann Peebles It's Your Thing

11 Smith Connection I'm Buggin' On Your Phone

12 El Dorados Loose Booty Pt1

13 The Memphians Sliding In And Out

14 Jackie Wilson Love Uprising

15 Gregory James Edition Shaft

16 Willie Henderson Funky Chicken Pt 1

17 Honey Cone Don't Count Your Chickens (Before They Hatch)

18 Holland Dozier I'm Gonna Hijack Ya, Kidnap Ya, Take What I Want

19 Natural High Bump Your Lady (Pt1)

20 8th Day Cheeba

21 Parliament Breakdown

22 Red Holt Unlimited Do It Baby

23 Rynell Wynglass Bar B Q Ribs

"Philly Freedom" – 70's Dance Floor Anthems From The City Of Brotherly Love BACKB015

Compiled By Ian Dewhirst

1 First Choice Armed & Extremely Dangerous

2 The Delfonics I Told You So

3 The Trammps Where Do We Go From Here

4 Archie Bell & The Drells I Could Dance All Night

5 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Wake Up Everybody

6 The O'Jays This Time Baby

7 Lou Rawls You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine

8 Dee Dee Sharp Gamble Nobody Could Ever Take Your Place

9 Bunny Sigler Can't Believe That You Love Me

10 Billy Paul I Trust You

11 The Trammps Trusting Heart

12 Archie Bell & The Drells Where Will You Go When The Party's Over

13 First Choice Smarty Pants

14 Teddy Pendergrass The More I Get The More I Want

15 The Futures Party Time Man

16 Frantique Strut Your Funky Stuff

17 Lou Rawls See You When I Git There

18 The Philadelphia Int All-Stars Let's Clean Up The Ghetto

19 The Jones Girls You're Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else

"Soul Time" – Soul Classics 24 Hours A Day BACKB016

Compiled By Ian Dewhirst

1 Bob & Earl Harlem Shuffle

2 Alvin Cash Twine Time

3 Willie Mitchell That Driving Beat

4 Barbara Lynn You Left The Water Running

5 Jackie Wilson Whispers (Getting' Louder)

6 The Capitols Cool Jerk

7 Jackie Lee The Duck

8 Erma Franklin Gotta Find Me A Lover

9 Gene Chandler Nothing Can Stop Me

10 Lee Charles Wrong Number

11 Billy Watkins The Ice Man

12 The Artistics I'm Gonna Miss You

13 Barbara Acklin Love Makes A Woman

14 Young Holt Unlimited Soulful Strut

15 The Lost Generation You're So Young, But You're So True

16 Otis Leavill Love Uprising

17 Barbara Acklin & Gene Chandler From The Teacher To The Preacher

18 Major Lance Sweeter As The Days Go By

19 Jackie Wilson I Get The Sweetest Feeling

20 Tyrone Davis Can I Change My Mind

21 Lavern Baker I'm The One To Do It

22 Walter Jackson Let Me Come Back

23 Average White Band Put It Where You Want It

24 Syl Johnson Back For A Taste Of Your Love

25 Al Green Take Me To The River

26 Quiet Elegance Mama Said

27 Tyrone Davis If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time

28 Deon Jackson Love Makes The World Go Round

"The Big Apple Bites Back" – New York House And Remix Culture BACKB017

Compiled By Ian Dewhirst

1 Double Exposure Everyman - Joe Claussell Remix

2 First Choice Let No Man Put Asunder – Frankie Knuckles Remix

3 Inner Life Ain't No Mountain High Enough – Larry Levan Remix

4 First Choice Doctor Love - Kerri Chandler Remix

5 Skyy Call Me - Blaze DJ Vocal Remix

6 Candido Jingo - Mount Rushmore Remix

7 The Todd Terry Project Bango (To The Batmobile)

8 Black Riot A Day In The Life

9 Hardhouse Check This Out

10 Afrikali Out Of The Jungle - The Truth Mix

11 The Jungle Brothers I'll House You

"Crate Diggin' Fever" – The Cult Of Rarity BACKB018

Compiled By Dean Rudland

1 The Futures Ain't No Time Fa Nothing

2 Jean Carn Don't Let It Go To Your Head

3 Laura Lee Crumbs Off The Table

4 Average White Band Work To Do

5 Al Green Love Ritual

6 African Music Machine Tropical

7 Maryan Farra and the Satin Soul Stoned Out Of My Mind

8 Jackie Wilson Shake A Leg

9 Alvin Cash Ali Shuffle

10 Tyrone Davis Something You Got

11 Barbara Acklin Just Ain't No Love

12 Honey Cone Sittin' On A Time Bomb

13 Archie Bell & The Drells Don't Let Love Get You Down

14 The Jones Girls You Can't Have My Love

15 MFSB Picnic In The Park

16 Ann Peebles Beware

17 Holland & Dozier Don't Leave Me (inst)

18 Bobby Marchan Push The Button

19 Tommie Young That's All A Part Of Loving Him

20 Strutt Front Row Romeo

21 Satisfaction Unlimited Seeing Through The Eyes Of A Blindman

"I Get My Groove" – Crossover Soul From The Deep South BACKB019

Compiled By Sean Hampsey

1 Syl Johnson We Did It

2 Gloria Edwards Don't Mess With My Man

3 Fontella Bass Now That I've Found A Good Thing

4 Bobby McClure Was It Something I Said

5 Eddie Mcgee What Made You Change Your Mind?

6 Imported Moods What Have You Done With My Heart

7 The Montclairs I Need You More Than Ever

8 Oscar Perry Let Me Grow Old With You

9 Al Green I Tried To Tell Myself

10 Ronnie Lovejoy You Got To Know

11 The Patterson Twins Looking For A Lover

12 Little Johnny Taylor How Are You Fixed For Love

13 Bobby Patterson Everything Good To You (Don't Have To Be Good For You)

14 Jean Plum Here I Go Again

15 Ann Peebles I Didn't Take Your Man

16 Henry Shed Something's Drastically Wrong

17 Bobo Mr. Soul Hitch-Hike To Heartbreak Road

18 Pat Brown Love On Loan

19 Barbara Lynn Nice And Easy

20 Otis Clay Brand New Thing

21 Bobby Patterson I Get My Groove From You

22 Ted Taylor I Want To Be A Part Of You Girl

23 Phillip Mitchell Little Things

24 James Fry Still Around

25 Ann Peebles If This Is Heaven

26 Jean Plum Look At The Boy

"Jazzy Vibes" – Soulful Jazz Licks From The 70's BACKB020

Compiled By Dean Rudland

1 Michael Pedicin Jr Sneaky Return

2 Norman Harris In Good Faith

3 Leon Huff Latin Spirit

4 Lou Rawls Trade Winds

5 Dexter Wansell Latin Love (Let Me Know)

6 MFSB Metamorphosis

7 Hysear Don Walker Killing Me Softly

8 Lionel Hampton Them Changes

9 Larry Willis Out On The Coast

10 Reuben Wilson Cisco Kid

11 Jimmy McGriff Red Beans

12 Mike Longo Like A Thief In The Night

13 Dexter Wansel What The World Is Coming To

14 Gamble & Huff Orchestra Is It Something I Said

15 Natural Essence Killing Time

16 Funk Incorporated Give Me Your Love

Hope ya like 'em all! Pretty good value for a fiver I reckon........

Ian D

Edited July 14, 201014 yr by Ian Dewhirst

Yep. Some good stuff.

I just don't know why would you include The Sweetest Feeling by Jackie Wilson when you can put the far far far far superior Erma Franklin version

Yep. Some good stuff.

I just don't know why would you include The Sweetest Feeling by Jackie Wilson when you can put the far far far far superior Erma Franklin version

That's 'cos I wanna get 50 of the buggers out there by next year, so since there's another 30 to go I've gotta save some stuff for the next ones Dante.

This shit's not easy y'know..........

Ian D

id say job very well done -all will be making there way to milson pines this week-after i pay my 2 parking tickets for been a bad lad this week lol-judging by the tracklists theres some real thought gone into these compilations and a fiver well that adds to tremendous value imho!!

BAZ A

That's 'cos I wanna get 50 of the buggers out there by next year, so since there's another 30 to go I've gotta save some stuff for the next ones Dante.

This shit's not easy y'know..........

Ian D

!!! 50? Fair enough...

Again, good selections. And love the artwork in the NYC Disco one...

id say job very well done -all will be making there way to milson pines this week-after i pay my 2 parking tickets for been a bad lad this week lol-judging by the tracklists theres some real thought gone into these compilations and a fiver well that adds to tremendous value imho!!

BAZ A

Glad ya like 'em Baz. I figured that if I could get clearance from the labels to do 'em at this price then it can only be good for spreading the music a bit further then the confines of looking for the 7" singles etc, so figured a 'sampler' type series at the right price would be the way to go. Also I didn't want to compete with Ace/Kent because frankly they do the best job imaginable catering to connoisseurs and the serious collector market so I've gone the route of competitive pricing in the hope I can snag a large audience who'll try 'em for a fiver a pop. Hopefully it seems to be working as the series has really taken off in a number of territories so here's hoping I can get more of 'em out there.........

Ya finding anything in Houston? I was there in '88 and snagged some decent bits and pieces but nothing phenomenal. There was an awful lot of stuff 'in storage' over there at the time which was frustrating 'cos there always seems to be a timing problem in getting people to open their bloody storage lock-ups. One guy dicked me around for 3 days before I had to split but not before describing the stuff he said he had which he reckoned included muliples across the whole Don Robey catalogue!

Maybe they're still there........?

Best of luck!

Ian D

ian - are the first lot available to anyone else besides hmv?

and when or if will be the latest batch be available to independents?

cheers

geoff

All look very good, and great value. Can you get em' online?

Edited July 14, 201014 yr by Ollie Lailey

ian - are the first lot available to anyone else besides hmv?

and when or if will be the latest batch be available to independents?

cheers

geoff

Hiya Geoff,

Yep the first 10 are all available via Proper Distribution at a phenomenal Dealer Price. I didn't really publicise 'em that much at the time 'cos there was no marketing budget due to the low Dealer Price but in case ya missed 'em here are the track-listings. Only a few that are good Soul Source material but I'm sure you could use some of 'em so here they are:-

Livin' The Nightlife - 80's New York Garage Classics Backbeats BACKB001

1 Young & Co - I Like (What You're Doing To Me)

2 Class Action - Weekend

3 Serious Intention - You Don't Know - Remix

4 Cultural Vibe - Ma Foom Bay - Love Chant Version

5 Paul Simpson Connection - Treat Her Sweeter

6 Adeva - In & Out Of My Life

7 Sleeque - One For The Money

8 Colonel Abrams - Music Is The Answer

9 Dinosaur L - Go Bang # 5

10 Cuba Gooding - Happiness Is Just Around The Bend

12 K.I.D. - Hupendi Muziki Wangu (You Don't Like My Music)

The House That Jackin' Built - The Roots Of Chicago House Backbeats BACKB002

1 Marshall Jefferson - Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem)

2 Farley Jackmaster Funk - Love Can't Turn Around

3 Adonis feat 2 Puerto Ricans, A Black Man & A Dominican - Do It Properly

4 Frankie Knuckles - Your Love - You Got The Love Remix

5 Mr Fingers - Can You Feel It

6 Jaimie Principal - Waiting On My Angel

7 The Nightwriters - Let The Music (Use You)

8 Master C&J - Face It

9 Housemaster Boyz & The Rude Boy Of House - House Nation

10 Frankie Knuckles - Baby Wants To Ride

11 Ralphi Rosario feat Xavier Gold - You Used To Hold Me

12 Joe Smooth - Promised Land

Philly Disco - 70's Dance Floor Anthems From The City Of Brotherly Love Backbeats BACKB003

1 Archie Bell & The Drells - Let's Groove

2 Dee Dee Sharp Gamble - Breaking & Entering

3 Teddy Pendergrass - Only You

4 Jean Carn - If You Wanna Go Back

5 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Don't Leave Me This Way

6 The O'Jays - I Love Music

7 M.F.S.B. - Summertime & I'm Feeling Mellow

8 Teddy Pendergrass - You Can't Hide From Yourself

9 People's Choice - Jam Jam Jam (All Night Long)

10 Jean Carn - Was That All It Was

11 Billy Paul - Bring The Family Back

12 McFadden & Whitehead - Ain't No Stopping Us Now

Boogie's Gonna Getcha - 80's New York Boogie Backbeats BACKB004

1 World Premier - Share The Night

2 The Affair feat Alyson Williams - Please Don't Break My Heart

3 Shot - Main Thing

4 Vicki D - This Beat Is Mine

5 Rhyze - Just How Sweet Is Your Love

6 Kreamsicle - Hold On

7 The Glen Adams Affair - Just A Groove

8 Lukk feat Felicia Collins - On The One

9 Mike Gee - Rapper's Revenge

10 Convertion - Let's Do It

11 Klassique - Somebody's Loving You

12 Komiko - Feel Alright

Saturday House Fever - 90's Garage Anthems Backbeats BACKB005

1 Gary Vonquest - Victim Of Love

2 Extortion feat Dihan Brooks - How Do You See Me Now?

3 Cassio - Baby Love

4 Alexander Hope - Saturdays - Saturday Nite Mix

5 Keisha Jenkins - Goin' Through The Motions - Motion Mix

6 Toni Martin - Deeper - Blaze Mix

7 Alexander Hope - Let The Music Take You

8 Bobby Blackwell - Let Love Through

9 Leisha Moore - Damn, What A Feeling

10 Debbie Pender - Movin' On

11 Kathy Brown - Happy People - Original Blaze Mix

12 Darryl D'Bonneau - Let There Be A Way

That Driving Beat - 60's & 70's Northern Soul Stompers Backbeats BACKB006

1 Jackie Wilson - The Who Who Song

2 Rose Batiste - Hit & Run

3 Bunny Sigler - Girl Don't Make Me Wait

4 Cindy Scott - I Love You Baby

5 J.J. Barnes - Our Love Is In The Pocket

6 The Just Brothers - Sliced Tomatoes

7 Len Barry - When You Call Me Baby

8 Johnny Caswell - You Don't Love Me Anymore

9 The Fascinations - At The Top Of The Stairs

10 Fred Hughes - Baby Boy

11 The Parliaments - Don't Be Sore At Me

12 The Delfonics - You'll Get Enough

13 Gloria Edwards - My Love Is Getting Stronger

14 Lavern Baker - Wrapped, Tied & Tangled

15 The Cooperettes - Shing-A-Ling

16 Adam's Apple's - Don't Take It Out On This World

17 Gene Chandler - Mr Big Shot

18 Darrell Banks - Somebody Somewhere Needs You

19 First Choice - This Is The House (Where Love Died)

20 Willie Mitchell - The Champion

21 The Demures - Raining Teardrops

22 Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon - Sweet Inspiration

23 Marvin Smith - Have More Time

24 Johnny Jones & The King Casuals - Purple Haze

25 Erma Franklin - I Get The Sweetest Feeling

26 Epitome Of Sound - You Don't Love Me

27 Johnny Howard - The Chase Is On

28 Eloise Laws - Love Factory

29 Mel Britt - She'll Come Running Back

30 Young Holt Unlimited - California Montage

Gimme A Break - 70's Breakbeats & Future Samples Backbeats BACKB007

1 Average White Band - Schoolboy Crush

2 John Davis & The Monster Orchestra - I Can't Stop

3 The Chi-Lites - Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)

4 The Evasions - Wikka Wrap

5 Al Green - I'm Glad You're Mine

6 Honey Cone - Stick Up

7 Syl Johnson - Different Strokes

8 Little Royal & The Swingmasters - Razor Blade

9 Kid Dynamite - Uphill Piece Of Mind

10 Boobie Knight & The Universal Lady - Lovomaniacs (Sex)

11 Laura Lee - Crumbs Off The Table

12 Vaughn Mason & Crew - Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll

13 Parliament - Come In Out Of The Rain

14 Freda Payne - Unhooked Generation

15 Sound Experience - Devil With The Bust

16 Dexter Wansel - Theme From The Planets

17 The Jones Girls - At Peace With Woman

18 The Stylistics - Hurry Up This Way Again

Back To My Place Baby - 70's & 80's Seductive Soul Backbeats BACKB008

1 Al Green - I'm Still In Love With You

2 Ann Peebles - I Can't Stand The Rain

3 The Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her

4 Teddy Pendergrass - The Whole Town's Laughing At Me

5 The Average White Band - A Love Of Your Own

6 Paris - I Choose You

7 Windy City - I Still Love You

8 Manchild - Especially For You

9 The O'Jays - Brandy

10 Teddy Pendergrass - Close The Door

11 Walter Jackson - It's Cool

12 The Jones Girls - Eternally

13 Margie Alexander - Whatcha Trying To Do To Me

14 Dexter Wansel - The Sweetest Pain

15 Jean Carn - Don't Let It Go To Your Head

16 Dee Dee Sharp Gamble - Just As Long As I Know You're Mine

17 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good

Windy City Soul - Smooth 70's Soul From Chicago Backbeats BACKB009

1 Windy City - Windy City Theme (Vocal)

2 Tyrone Davis - What Goes Up (Must Come Down)

3 Barbara Acklin - I'll Bake Me A Man

4 Mr T - Love Uprising

5 Ginji James - Honey Babe

6 The Promises - This Love Is Real

7 Mighty Doug Haines - I'll Be Right Here

8 Lyn Roman - Stop! I Don't Need No Sympathy

9 Sidney Joe Qualls - Run To Me

10 Barbara Acklin - I Did It

11 Major Lance - Sweeter As The Days Go By

12 Otis Leavill - I Love You

13 Windy City - Fool Or Your Man

14 Eddie McLoyd - Once You Fall In Love

15 Gene Chandler - Let Me Love To You

16 Tyrone Davis - Turning Point

17 Jackie Wilson - It Only Happens (When I Look At You)

18 The Chi-Lites - Stoned Out Of My Mind

19 The Dells - Your Song

20 The Impressions - All I Want To Do Is Make Love To You

21 Gene Chandler - Does She Have A Friend For Me

22 The Chi-Lites - You Don't Have To Go

Soul Steppin' - 80's Soulful Steppers Backbeats BACKB010

1 The Dells - All About The Paper

2 The Impressions - Fan The Fire

3 Patti Labelle - When Am I Gonna Find True Love

4 John Davis & The Monster Orchestra - Bourgie Bourgie

5 Mike & Brenda Sutton - Anyway You Want My Love

6 Greg Henderson - Dreaming

7 Steve Shelto - Don't You Give Your Love Away

8 David McPherson - You Can't Stop

9 The Underground - Behind My Back

10 Scandal feat Lee Genesis - Love Either Goes Or Grows

11 Sound Troupe - Can You Really See Me

12 Dee Dee Sharp Gamble - Easy Money

13 Teddy Pendergrass - You And Me For Right Now

14 Walter Jackson - Touching In The Dark

2nd batch will be available everywhere from the 1st September.

Best,

Ian D

All look very good, and great value. Can you get em' online?

Yep, from HMV online from tomorrow I think.

Ian D

having seen the tracklists in Manifesto i think i will get some of theses and you can get some in HMV 2 for £10 so that makes it all the more better.

good stuff i say and they are not even the obvious choices on all discs so it can appeal to a casusl fan and a die hard fan

Yep, from HMV online from tomorrow I think.

Ian D

Hey Ian

I was in a pub in a place called Holywell in North Wales recently where a rarther nice chap was chatting to me about your old mastercuts series.

He was telling me how you and him were quite close together with that label at the time.

he has loads of boxes of unsold mastercuts LPs from the 90s

It is quite a posh pub and he is the owner.

Do you remember this chap ?

ah thanks Ian looks like your strategy is paying off mate-not in Houston till oct -after the Austen fair so plenty of time to do my research etc-i know guy h had a top time there but its so hard now to try and pin people but this lock up scenario sounds very familiar-plus it just aint trendy anymore so i reckon some of the storage stuff will never surface-the whole Don Robey cat would of kept you busy mate!

BAZ A

Glad ya like 'em Baz. I figured that if I could get clearance from the labels to do 'em at this price then it can only be good for spreading the music a bit further then the confines of looking for the 7" singles etc, so figured a 'sampler' type series at the right price would be the way to go. Also I didn't want to compete with Ace/Kent because frankly they do the best job imaginable catering to connoisseurs and the serious collector market so I've gone the route of competitive pricing in the hope I can snag a large audience who'll try 'em for a fiver a pop. Hopefully it seems to be working as the series has really taken off in a number of territories so here's hoping I can get more of 'em out there.........

Ya finding anything in Houston? I was there in '88 and snagged some decent bits and pieces but nothing phenomenal. There was an awful lot of stuff 'in storage' over there at the time which was frustrating 'cos there always seems to be a timing problem in getting people to open their bloody storage lock-ups. One guy dicked me around for 3 days before I had to split but not before describing the stuff he said he had which he reckoned included muliples across the whole Don Robey catalogue!

Maybe they're still there........?

Best of luck!

Ian D

Hey Ian

I was in a pub in a place called Holywell in North Wales recently where a rarther nice chap was chatting to me about your old mastercuts series.

He was telling me how you and him were quite close together with that label at the time.

he has loads of boxes of unsold mastercuts LPs from the 90s

It is quite a posh pub and he is the owner.

Do you remember this chap ?

Hey Mossy,

Do you know the guy's name by any chance? Mastercuts is 20 years ago now so I'll need a bit more to go on. Also those Mastercuts LP's are all selling for bundles on e-bay these days (£150+ some of 'em), so if he has boxes of 'em he's sat on a small fortune!

Ian D

Cheers Ian, I'll be on to Proper very shortly

Yes, folks, it almost half-killed me but the next 10 Backbeats albums are now released and in your local HMV for a fiver a pop. Recession-busting or what?

I'm joined on this lot by the good Sean Hampsey and Dean Rudland also doing compiling honours, so here are the tracklistings and cover shots......

All look good Ian but the two Sean H compiled are right up my street. I was talking to Sean at Just Soul last week and he was very excited by them and rightly so. Good Luck, Mike

Hey Mossy,

Do you know the guy's name by any chance? Mastercuts is 20 years ago now so I'll need a bit more to go on. Also those Mastercuts LP's are all selling for bundles on e-bay these days (£150+ some of 'em), so if he has boxes of 'em he's sat on a small fortune!

Ian D

I will find out his name bud, He did tell me but I it was a few months ago.

I do remember him telling me all about working with you and the mastercuts series.

He does still have boxes of stuff at the pub.

I shall have to drop in again for a pint, And see if he wants me to help him make some room in the place !!!! LOL

Which LPs have been selling for 150 Ian ?

I have thought a bit about posting in this thread as I didn't want to show that I was biased in any way as all of these CD's are top notch, but I want to comment on the two Southern Soul CDs.

In my opinion they're two of the best compilations that have come out and I don't say that lightly, even in the light of Kent's: Stax, Goldwax, XL/SOM and Fame projects or other labels earlier digging into the Hi vaults.

With a backbone of Hi recordings they're both a great mix of known and less obvious tunes which for me actually shows people what soul is all about. Full marks to Mr.Hampsey with his choice of some fantastic tunes. The mixing of rare and common has always fitted well with me as it should always be about the quality of the soul rather than rarity or fashion. I'm ashamed to say that I actually forgot how good The Masqueraders Wake Up Fool was, so just looking at the playlist has inspired me to go back and revisit tunes I haven't seen or played for years.

It looks like the series of CD's is going to give the music we love the exposure it deserves and for a fiver a CD, I hope they sell bucket loads.

Edited July 15, 201014 yr by John Reed

Cheers Ian, I'll be on to Proper very shortly

Good shout Geoff!

At a £2.50 Dealer Price they're the best value compilations in the world!

Ian D

I have thought a bit about posting in this thread as I didn't want to show that I was biased in any way as all of these CD's are top notch, but I want to comment on the two Southern Soul CDs.

In my opinion they're two of the best compilations that have come out and I don't say that lightly, even in the light of Kent's: Stax, Goldwax, XL/SOM and Fame projects or other labels earlier digging into the Hi vaults.

With a backbone of Hi recordings they're both a great mix of known and less obvious tunes which for me actually shows people what soul is all about. Full marks to Mr.Hampsey with his choice of some fantastic tunes. The mixing of rare and common has always fitted well with me as it should always be about the quality of the soul rather than rarity or fashion. I'm ashamed to say that I actually forgot how good The Masqueraders Wake Up Fool was, so just looking at the playlist has inspired me to go back and revisit tunes I haven't seen or played for years.

It looks like the series of CD's is going to give the music we love the exposure it deserves and for a fiver a CD, I hope they sell bucket loads.

Me too John!

It was actually mainly via the Soul Source and Essential Modern Soul forums via Sean's postings that led me to contact him for these albums. Also, I thought he did an excellent job with the Millie On The Dancefloor CD for Ace so it was really a no-brainer to ask him if he fancied having a crack at the Hi/Cream/Jewel/Paula/Ronn/Ace/Crazy Cajun catalogues.

The boy done good! If 10,000 people buy these albums, then that will build a solid international audience and that can only be good for the Soul scene in general IMO....

Ian D

Me too John!

It was actually mainly via the Soul Source and Essential Modern Soul forums via Sean's postings that led me to contact him for these albums. Also, I thought he did an excellent job with the Millie On The Dancefloor CD for Ace so it was really a no-brainer to ask him if he fancied having a crack at the Hi/Cream/Jewel/Paula/Ronn/Ace/Crazy Cajun catalogues.

The boy done good! If 10,000 people buy these albums, then that will build a solid international audience and that can only be good for the Soul scene in general IMO....

Ian D

These compilations look an absolute treat Ian .

In respect of your previous " creations " , I still have most of the Mastercuts albums , and they get an airing at Chez Burton on a regular basis .

If I had to pick a particular favourite one , it would have to be " Classic Mellow Mastercuts Volume 1 " . The recordings on it still have a magical quality about them , especially Jeanie Reynolds' wonderful " The Fruit Song " .

Assuming you will probably know , but if not , were you aware that the backing musicians on the track were Parliament , and that JR was the sister of LJ Reynolds of the Dramatics ?

Thanks for all your hard work Young Foggy : much appreciated .

Malc

Edited July 16, 201014 yr by Malc Burton

These compilations look an absolute treat Ian .

In respect of your previous " creations " , I still have most of the Mastercuts albums , and they get an airing at Chez Burton on a regular basis .

If I had to pick a particular favourite one , it would have to be " Classic Mellow Mastercuts Volume 1 " . The recordings on it still have a magical quality about them , especially Jeanie Reynolds' wonderful " The Fruit Song " .

Assuming you will probably know , but if not , were you aware that the backing musicians on the track were Parliament , and that JR was the sister of LJ Reynolds of the Dramatics ?

Thanks for all your hard work Young Foggy : much appreciated .

Malc

The pleasure's all mine Malc.

I actually heard "The Fruit Song" when I first went to L.A. in '76 and it was on constant rotation on Kute 102. I wish I'd know that Parliament had played on it 'cos I met them in the studio on the same trip - when they were recording "Flashlight" in fact. I met them through a guy called Jim Callan who was engineering for 'em at the time. Jim had a small label called Earhole Records which had a track called "Smoke Your Trouble's Away" by the Glass Family (a doper's anthem) and I ended up buying 500 copies from him and had to pick 'em up at the studio and that's where I met George and co.

Jeanie Reynolds is one of the best records ever made! I'll be playing it @ a beach party in Ibiza on Wednesday night just as the sun goes down......that should get 'em steaming LOL......

Ian D

OK, the new 10 Backbeats albums are now all up on HMV's site at a mouth-watering £4.49 each including free delivery!

How's that for value?

https://hmv.com/hmvweb/directQuery.do?Ntt=backbeats&searchType=0&N=4293486146&Ne=12&adultFlag=false&rid=129EAD137100&Ntk=Products

Happy Listening!

Ian D

OK, the new 10 Backbeats albums are now all up on HMV's site at a mouth-watering £4.49 each including free delivery!

How's that for value?

https://hmv.com/hmvwe...00&Ntk=Products

Happy Listening!

Ian D

Excellent value Ian.

Very well done mate.

Thanks all for the positive feedback on the Southern (Deep & Crossover) compilations.

Makes it all worthwhile.

Go get em!

Sean

Excellent value Ian.

Very well done mate.

Thanks all for the positive feedback on the Southern (Deep & Crossover) compilations.

Makes it all worthwhile.

Go get em!

Sean

Yep, they're selling at a fair old clip Sean. All good!

Just in case anyone's stumbling around HMV wondering where they're likely to be, you'll find them in the 2 for £10 Sales Compilation Section which is usually at the front of most stores.

If a store has their stuff together, you'll also find them in the Soul Compilations section in those stores which have specialist sections. In some of the larger stores you could even find a dedicated rack like I just did @ HMV Oxford St!

Ian D