I'm constantly wading through stuff and every so often I get a great surprise when I re-listen to an old record that I'd either forgotten about or just ignored first time around. A few years ago I bumped into this one again - I probably hadn't heard it since 1973.

Completely blew me away, like I'd heard it only for the first time!

I just don't get it. The record has absolutely everything, fantastic vocalist, brfilliant Northern production and a song to die for. It's even got a perfect singalong chorus which peaks with the words, "Do It With Soul" for god's sake! An absolute loud, proud 100% Northern monster. That never was.

How did it get away? Why wasn't it huge?

Why didn't I play it????

"Do It With Soul" - Aldora Britton

I have a few like this, but I thought it may be a nice idea to throw it open. What hidden gems do you have that you just love and would like to hear at a venue? How many times have you said, "if I was a DJ I'd bloody play this"!

Whack up the ones you feel really passionate about. Just imagine that you have a massive audience in front of you who are all moaning about too many oldies, not enough different tunes etc and generally looking for inspiration.

What gem would YOU pull out that that would blow 'em away?

Let's hear 'em!

Ian D

Edited November 13, 201014 yr by Ian Dewhirst

To paraphrase Mr. Manship, according to the boot guide, it wa a classic case of sell the boot as an unknown original and rake in some dosh before anyone found a real one - not uncommon at tne time, remember those Mr. X lists?

Really? So presumably all those copies that Soul Bowl knocked out were boots then? Weird. I always thought that John had simply found a decent quantity of them. I remember thinking at the time that they looked pretty new........

Ian D

OK let's have a couple of killer album tracks from two Detroit veterans from back in the day that should have been biggies but which are picking up a bit of attention finally.....

"I Can Take The World On" - Popcorn Wylie

"I'll Fly To Your Open Arms" - Jack Ashford

Ian D

Ian

Heard Bri Goucher play Jack Ashford at The Wilton a couple of years back & he told me it was an old Mecca spin???Got a copy after that but the cover on mine is different but still on Magic Disc?

Cheers

Martyn

Really? So presumably all those copies that Soul Bowl knocked out were boots then? Weird. I always thought that John had simply found a decent quantity of them. I remember thinking at the time that they looked pretty new........

Ian D

Perhaps he did...some time after the evil deed...

Perhaps he did...some time after the evil deed...

No Jerry, it was the other way around, namely, Cortez Greer was reviewed in Levine's column in Black Music which alerted me to it, then, a few weeks later, it turns up on Soul Bowl's list for £1. A shame because the record had no time to build at all - a bit like those Selecta bootlegs which came out too early on Lou Courtney, Jessica James etc, etc

Ian D

"classic case of bootleg it first.Sell the bootleg before anyone else has found the original. Well the original was found some years later. Original has 4011-in the deadwax but more important a matt finish label with silver lettering.Counterfeited is a poor attempt, with a gloss finish label.The supposed original/counterfeit was selling for £15 at its height"....which im presuming was the summer of 76.

The Pierre Hunt-I Have Got To Have Your Love must have been a big record back in the day as well as I'm sure I've a blue boot of that and I've seen gold copies.The Women in the background remind me of Generation Game or Mr &Mrs singers though!!

Just thought of another one............Mary Moultrie-There Trying To Tear Us Apart King.

Why has this never been up there with the best of em, just love it.

mary moultrie - there trying to tear us apart - king

Cheers

Martyn

Try this, dont think its had much exposure personal fave of mine, just love the horn playing,

terry caller - still water - electra

Edited November 24, 201014 yr by miff

Another oldie but goodie. Had funky in the title which maybe limited it's chances but still sounds good LOUD!

"Funky To Me" - Kent Meade

Ian D

Agree With Godzilla about Pearlean Gray Never A Monster But A Great Tune!!

Agree With Godzilla about Pearlean Gray Never A Monster But A Great Tune!!

I still think this is the best version.....

"I Don't Wanna Cry" - Dick Jenson

Ian D

Surely it's time will come one day.......

"Since You Said You'd Be Mine" - Lou Ragland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNUv0hlGl-U

Ian D

Another oldie but goodie. Had funky in the title which maybe limited it's chances but still sounds good LOUD!

"Funky To Me" - Kent Meade

Ian D

The opening bars always reminded me of " Proud Mary "

Malc

Edited November 27, 201014 yr by chalky

I think this was held back by it's rarity at the time......

"Left Out" - Jesse Johnson

Ian D

I think this was held back by it's rarity at the time......

"Left Out" - Jesse Johnson

Ian D

A first rate tune

Malc

Ive never heared this played anywhere, Just waiting for some exposure, or maybe it had some and I missed it

jones girls - will you be there - paramount demo

another russ spin was paul clemens - it aint gonna happen again on playboy....nice little 70s northern but not for the purist............love it personally............

bought that some years ago mark but never thought it was a casino spin. ive never played it out tho i quite like it

dave

Edited November 26, 201014 yr by dave pinch

Is that on UK Mam label the black one......... one I see everywhere is 5 Flights Up-black cat which is basically a reworking of Loves Gone Bad...even got a UK release on Bell.Great sound tho.

did 5 flights up ever get played. sounds ideal for today as the saying goes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_wKjU5HscE

dave

Ive never heared this played anywhere, Just waiting for some exposure, or maybe it had some and I missed it

jones girls - will you be there - paramount demo

Just about everything they do is great but for Northern dancefloors I reckon "If You Don't Love Me No More" on Curtom would be a better bet. Can't find a clip on You Tube and nothing in Refo so can't post......

Ian D

New ones on me.......

"Don't Take It Out On Me" - Richard Marks

"Love Is Gone" - Richard Marks

Ian D

bought that some years ago mark but never thought it was a casino spin. ive never played it out tho i quite like it

dave

===

ive had it for a bit dave,,,,reason i picked it up is read it in Blues and Soul it was a current Russ spin from Wigan,,,,wasnt disappointed,,,,i keep meaning to play it out some time,......atb mark

I still think this is the best version.....

"I Don't Wanna Cry" - Dick Jenson

Ian D

Been playing this at rugby, UK epic 45

dick jensen - i don't want to cry - epic

Edited November 27, 201014 yr by chalky

Been playing this at rugby, UK epic 45

dick jensen - i don't want to cry - epic

Kept mine since 1972 or whenever it was. It didn't seem rare at the time but I bet it's a bugger turning one up now. As good a piece of blue-eyed Soul as I've ever heard...........

Ian D

Best version by far for me. One day this song will make it.........

"I Can't Move No Mountains" - Crack Of Dawn

Ian D

Managed to keep my copy of one of the rarest Mowest releases of all time until the mid 90's when Blake Helliwell managed to prise it off me. Typically, I've never seen it since. I think it's super-duper-super rare. A powerhouse vocal performance and rare as hens teeth. Bugger.........

"Just A Little Bit Closer" - Bobby Taylor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd_RXq4jtcU&feature=related

Ian D

Edited November 26, 201014 yr by Ian Dewhirst

I'll have a go !!

jay and the americans - gypsy woman - u a french

Vertualy unknown

Edited November 29, 201014 yr by ken

three from me, that i dont think achieved the "monster" status they deserved

don varner - masquerade - south camp

chalfontes - he loves me - mercury

dean courtney - we have a good thing - rca

New ones on me.......

"Don't Take It Out On Me" - Richard Marks

"Love Is Gone" - Richard Marks

Ian D

Two great side on this one Ian, just a shame it doesn't get more plays. Cliff Steele been spinning it.

Best version by far for me. One day this song will make it.........

"I Can't Move No Mountains" - Crack Of Dawn

Ian D

great version along with margie. there the bests ones

dave

great version along with margie. there the bests ones

dave

I always thought this version by Free Movement was a great version & worthy of spins.

No Jerry, it was the other way around, namely, Cortez Greer was reviewed in Levine's column in Black Music which alerted me to it, then, a few weeks later, it turns up on Soul Bowl's list for £1.

The original version by Roy Smith on Delphi / Liberty is miles better to my ears...far more NSoul as well

was in Richard's box forever but it never caught fire along with this.....

"You're A Puzzle" - The Jive Five

This had spins during the 8Ts and the price went up quite sharpish.

The flipside is awesome, called, 'Ha Ha'...although I prefer the mix on their UA LP.

oh dave,, cortez all the way for me! lol.....

Oh boy, pure 100% Northern! Someone tell me this has been big at some time! Perfect!

"I'm A Batchelor" - Bobby Banks

https://il.youtube.com/watch?v=iTgivz75YkY&feature=related

Ian D

Managed to keep my copy of one of the rarest Mowest releases of all time until the mid 90's when Blake Helliwell managed to prise it off me. Typically, I've never seen it since. I think it's super-duper-super rare. A powerhouse vocal performance and rare as hens teeth. Bugger.........

"Just A Little Bit Closer" - Bobby Taylor

Ian D

Reminds me of this

Oh boy, pure 100% Northern! Someone tell me this has been big at some time! Perfect!

"I'm A Batchelor" - Bobby Banks

Ian D

Andy Riding RIP, played this and "Funky to me" around East Lancs mid 70s.

This never really got the recognition it deserved.

Stu.

Old Andy Rix spin, great tune!

nothing to serious but when replying to a post with a you tube clip if possible can you delete the media insert in the quote, the bit between shown in the red box in the screen shot It simply saves having to scroll through countless reposts of the same clips.

Many of the tracks are also in refosoul so would be nice if you could use those first, they are really easy to paste into the topic A lot of effort goes into building up the refosoul database and it would be nice to see the members efforts used and maybe appreciated a bit more rather than simply plugging youtube.

Oh boy, pure 100% Northern! Someone tell me this has been big at some time! Perfect!

"I'm A Batchelor" - Bobby Banks

Ian D

Another IL " find " if I recall correctly .

Malc

Edited November 27, 201014 yr by chalky

Remember getting 3 Copies of Casanova Two (Still one of my favourites and don't have one now !) off Bob Cattaneo late 70's early 80's ? these were Black & White labels but have been told these were a bit dodgy , is that true ?

Cheers

Swifty

P.S. Great thread loads of great stuff i've never heard

There are both dodgy black and white and orange and black Casanova Two. In the 70,s every soul pack had either one in, stand them next to the genuine Demo and issue and they stand out a mile, the typeset is aweful on them and they just look crap.

But as I have stated earlier, one hell of a record which I think only now is getting its day in the sun.

Kev

There are both dodgy black and white and orange and black Casanova Two. In the 70,s every soul pack had either one in, stand them next to the genuine Demo and issue and they stand out a mile, the typeset is aweful on them and they just look crap.

But as I have stated earlier, one hell of a record which I think only now is getting its day in the sun.

Kev

Kev , I remember when I got them thinking how dodgy the type was (as I work in Graphic Design) but at the time had other stuff

which wasn't rare but still looked amatuerish and thought these were ok , knocked 'em out @ £2 each (Dragons Den here i come!)

Still one of the best in my mind , what is a proper one fetching now days ?

Cheers

Swifty

Kev , I remember when I got them thinking how dodgy the type was (as I work in Graphic Design) but at the time had other stuff

which wasn't rare but still looked amatuerish and thought these were ok , knocked 'em out @ £2 each (Dragons Den here i come!)

Still one of the best in my mind , what is a proper one fetching now days ?

Cheers

Swifty

Hiya Swifty

Not sure, but I would think at least £60, anyone else any Idea ?

Kev

Hiya Swifty

Not sure, but I would think at least £60, anyone else any Idea ?

Kev

Will have to put it on my Xmas list !

Awesome record though !

Cheers

Swifty

bought that some years ago mark but never thought it was a casino spin. ive never played it out tho i quite like it

dave

Another one on US Playboy with a great production.Al Wilson

And this one....I know Running Out Of Fools was played at The Mecca from LP...ut what about her other tracks

Edited November 27, 201014 yr by wiggyflat

globeliters - the way you do - philtown

always liked this cheapie, if it wasnt big then i think it could have been,great thread

jason

Think Jesse Johnson and Something New To Do had their day...

Russ was telling me he plugged this for 2 weeks and dropped it when it never took off.Gerri Grainger-I Can Take It Like A Man

Well, ya never stop learning do ya?

I vaguely remembered the J.R. Bailey tune but I'd sure never heard the Universal Joint version! All this on the J.R. Bailey thread over in the 'Is This Record Overpriced" in the 'Look In Your Box' section.

Great records both of 'em. Woulda been too slow by far in my day but a good tempo for old joints these days methinks......

"Love Won't Wear Off (As The Years Wear On)" - J.R. Bailey

"Love Won't Wear Off (As The Years Wear On)" - Universal Joint

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c3RGAGA9a0&feature=related

Ian D

Hiya Swifty

Not sure, but I would think at least £60, anyone else any Idea ?

Kev

I think I got circa £110-120 for a copy a while back. If you can get it for £60 I'd consider that a bargain for a tune of this calibre.

Ian D

I think I got circa £110-120 for a copy a while back. If you can get it for £60 I'd consider that a bargain for a tune of this calibre.

Ian D

Absolutely, just shows the buzz, at last that this gem is creating, still, check out one half of the two., Freddie Hughes version of this on his Wand set.

Kev

Absolutely, just shows the buzz, at last that this gem is creating, still, check out one half of the two., Freddie Hughes version of this on his Wand set.

Kev

Wow. Fascinating. I don't think I've ever heard this before!

Totally, totally different but what a wonderful version.

"We've Got To Keep On" - Freddie Hughes

freddie hughes - we gotta keep on - wand

I prefer the Casonava Two version 'cos I love the interplay between the vocalists and the complete over-the-topness of it all.

By the way, who is the other vocalist in the Casanova Two?

He must have been great to duel Freddie like that!

Ian D

Edited November 29, 201014 yr by chalky

Mammoth mammoth mammoth feel good anthem. Shoulda been No.1 by a country mile. What happened?

I think it's the greatest male duet performance I've ever heard in my life and I saw Sam & Dave live........

I could hear this for the rest of my life and never ever get fed up of it. A truly brilliant record by any standard possible. How come some stuff sells for £5K plus and a record like this can be snagged relatively cheap? No contest for me!

If God ever granted me a wish, it would be for me to be at this recording session to witness the sheer vibe and interplay between two KILLER vocalists at the top of their form. I don't think it gets much better really......

"We Got To Keep On" - The Casanova Two

This is EXACTLY what I envisaged this thread being about. Records you've always loved which somehow never made it as big as they should have.

Bring 'em on. Share the knowledge.

Ian D

Ah THE CASANOVA TWO,

One of my all time faves this.

Seem to remember it being covered up by Colin Curtis as the CASINO BROTHERS .

Also the JIVE FIVE - YOU'RE A PUZZLE was a Searling spin at VA-VA's in 73 if my memory serves me correctly.

Brilliant thread this Ian.

CHRIS BROOKE

Edited November 28, 201014 yr by chalky