Only been on SS in recent years so apologies if this has already been covered.

Has there been any unreleased stuff from Diane's Creative Funk period? Still rate "Towaway Zone" amongst my favourites.

John Benson sent me the full CF label tracks years ago but I'm still curious if there's other stuff lurking?

Many thanks.

Only been on SS in recent years so apologies if this has already been covered.

Has there been any unreleased stuff from Diane's Creative Funk period? Still rate "Towaway Zone" amongst my favourites.

John Benson sent me the full CF label tracks years ago but I'm still curious if there's other stuff lurking?

Many thanks.

The 'True Pages Of Life' is the obvious 'unreleased' track from the label. Got a play (and a mention in Black Music) by Ian Levine. That acetate is still kicking about and I think the track got included on a Goldmine CD. Paul Mooney has some tapes from Creative Funk sessions but I don't think anything has jumped out from them. Towaway Zone remains one of my favourites also. Mike

Hi Mike.

It's Tony Horn here BTW (ex- Soulin Mag)

I remember the True Pages Of Life track Levine touted in Black Music and it's eventual release by Goldmine.

Did I read somewhere that Diane succumbed to drugs and destitution? Optimistically hope she got over it but......?

Hi Mike.

It's Tony Horn here BTW (ex- Soulin Mag)

I remember the True Pages Of Life track Levine touted in Black Music and it's eventual release by Goldmine.

Did I read somewhere that Diane succumbed to drugs and destitution? Optimistically hope she got over it but......?

Hello Tony

I know Ian L attempted to contact her for his SWONS project and I re-posted it on here his previous posting about this on his old ANS site . Yes, sounds like another very sad tale. ..........this is Ian's posting again...

I tracked down Creative Funk label owner Deke DeBerry. He's now living

in Carolina.

His brother Gary DeBerry still lives in New York, and was the bass

player in Creative Funk.

Back in 1976, Sheila Hart and I went with them all to an open air

concert upstate New York for radio station WLIB. diane jenkins performed

with Creative Funk, and I got introduced to the audience. It was what

was called a "Picnic In The Park".

We'd made "Tow Away Zone" such an underground hit at Blackpool Mecca and

the Northern Soul scene, that they'd asked me to explain what sound we

were into, and so "I Need You" was born, as an attempt to create

something that the Northern Soul Scene would also like. Anyway, forward

to 1999. We were desperately trying to find diane for the

"Strange World Of Northern Soul".

Gary DeBerry tracked her down to a block of flats in Brooklyn and got

her phone number. But she wouldn't return any messages. He said he'd

heard she was a bit of a junkie, but didn't know if this was true or

not. In the end, he went over to Brooklyn twice, but couldn't get her to

even answer the door. I left many pleading messages on her answer phone,

but to no avail. As I said...... The STRANGE world of Northern Soul.

Ian Levine

Moderator - Advanced Northern Soul List

Not so much un-released,but there are 2 versions of "I need you".One with a spoken intro,quite hard,,,the common one without.Same issue number i believe.

I love all of Diane Jenkins records - Just sheer brilliance - Hope she is alive and well!

WONDER WHY IT GOT RELEASED IN THE UK ON THE CRYSTAL LABLE.

CRYSTAL #7025 DIANE JENKINS # TOW-A-WAY ZONE / ANNIVERSARY,

I SEE THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 7 RELEASES ON THE LABLE ?? ( MAYBE MORE )

JOE.

Not so much un-released,but there are 2 versions of "I need you".One with a spoken intro,quite hard,,,the common one without.Same issue number i believe.

Only heard about that other version of "I Need You" a couple of years ago.Think Cliff Steele has a copy. Was there at the Highland Room when it was played - might not have been it's first airing but it blew me away at the time.

WONDER WHY IT GOT RELEASED IN THE UK ON THE CRYSTAL LABLE.

CRYSTAL #7025 DIANE JENKINS # TOW-A-WAY ZONE / ANNIVERSARY,

I SEE THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 7 RELEASES ON THE LABLE ?? ( MAYBE MORE )

JOE.

Indeed Joe. It also appeared on a budget compilation LP imaginatively titled "Disco Explosion"! Odd how such things were selected?

Hiya Tank - Me and Cliff got the spoken intros from a guy at Yarmouth a few years back.He had 3 or 4 copies.Personally coz its not so well known and gets less plays I am well into Recycle.Hope you're well mate.Trev

Hiya Tank - Me and Cliff got the spoken intros from a guy at Yarmouth a few years back.He had 3 or 4 copies.Personally coz its not so well known and gets less plays I am well into Recycle.Hope you're well mate.Trev

Hi Trev. Been ages mate!

Have you or Cliff a soundclip of the spoken intro version? Liking "Recycle" too,

P,S. - Not so sure about the headgear at Bamberg!!!

Here's the spoken intro/outro version. https://www.divshare.com/download/18209839-f61

This is a re-mixed version, quite different production wise that the other (original?) version.

If anyone would like an MP3 please ask.

That's the one i'm STILL after...thanks for posting up the clip.

WONDER WHY IT GOT RELEASED IN THE UK ON THE CRYSTAL LABLE.

CRYSTAL #7025 DIANE JENKINS # TOW-A-WAY ZONE / ANNIVERSARY,

I SEE THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 7 RELEASES ON THE LABLE ?? ( MAYBE MORE )

JOE.

Crystal was just another company cashing in on Northern Soul, they were owned by President who of course owned Jayboy, no strangers to soul music, so once they got word that they had the rights they'd have had no hesitation in releasing the record. They also released Ede Robin, Berry Street Station, and a cover of Ace Cannon. The album mentioned above was also a President thing I think.

p.s. there's way more than 7 releases on the label, they started off in 1969 doing pop psych and reggae.

69 Sands John Kilimanjaro CRYSTAL CR 7001

69 Junior Smith Put On The Presure CRYSTAL CR 7002

69 Cassidy Jimmy What A Feeling CRYSTAL CR 7003

69 Merryweather Jason Abigail CRYSTAL CR 7004

69 Pavement Double Decker Of A Man CRYSTAL CR 7005

69 Soul Horatio Nobody'S Gonna Sleep Tonight CRYSTAL CR 7006

69 Quest James Ecstasy CRYSTAL CR 7007

69 James David Nothing Left To Lose CRYSTAL CR 7008

70 Cats Sherman CRYSTAL CR 7009

70 Pavement Boomba Man CRYSTAL CR 7010

71 Douglas Craig All Kind Of People CRYSTAL CR 7011

71 Luckhurst Reg Misty Moonlight CRYSTAL CR 7012

71 Imitations Walking Up A One Way Street CRYSTAL CR 7013

71 Imitations Open Your Heart CRYSTAL CR 7014

72 M U 5 Rain Dance CRYSTAL CR 7015

72 Not Trace CRYSTAL CR 7016

72 Luciano Without You CRYSTAL CR 7017

73 Pastures New Boy Child Is Born CRYSTAL CR 7018

74 Not Trace CRYSTAL CR 7019

75 Sax Of Soul Sea Cruise CRYSTAL CR 7020

75 Sounds Of Sunset Canadian Sunset CRYSTAL CR 7021

75 Cottage This Thing Caled Love CRYSTAL CR 7022

75 Robins Ede There Muse Be A Love Somewhere CRYSTAL CR 7023

75 Berry Street Station Chocolate Sugar CRYSTAL CR 7024

75 Jekins Diane Tow A Way Zone CRYSTAL CR 7025

75 Wisdom Nefertiti CRYSTAL CR 7026

76 Cottage You Got Me Wrong CRYSTAL CR 7027

77 Captain Rock & Skyriders Lupy Lu CRYSTAL CR 7028

77 Richardson Neil Orchestra Theme From Master Mind CRYSTAL CR 7029

77 Buzz With Bexley Heath Scouts & Guides Jubilee Rock CRYSTAL CR 7030

77 Buzz What A Feeling CRYSTAL CR 7031

Edited June 6, 201212 yr by Pete S

. Way back I 'm sure Paul Mooney had some stuff direct from Creative Funk with a view to licensing... - I scanned some Diane Jenkins 45s for his project. Not heard anything since so over to Paul......

HI PETE,

THANKS FOR THE LIST,

I KNEW THERE WAS MORE THAN 7 BUT I WAS ONLY SURE ABOUT THE 7,

SO I HOPED SOMEONE WOULD PRINT A LIST UP,

WHAT SORT OF MONEY IS DIANE JENKINS GOING FOR ON EITHER OF THE US / UK ISSUES,

JOE

HI PETE,

THANKS FOR THE LIST,

I KNEW THERE WAS MORE THAN 7 BUT I WAS ONLY SURE ABOUT THE 7,

SO I HOPED SOMEONE WOULD PRINT A LIST UP,

WHAT SORT OF MONEY IS DIANE JENKINS GOING FOR ON EITHER OF THE US / UK ISSUES,

JOE

Mate after seeing those latest auction result I am giving up pricing anything for anyone! I'm obviously f*cking clueless.

If you support Wolves - Your bound to be clueless! LOL!

HI, I SEE THERE BOTH ON HERE FOR A FIVER EACH,

JOE.

HI, I SEE THERE BOTH ON HERE FOR A FIVER EACH,

JOE.

Yeah that guy has some very reasonably priced stuff on there

Thanks for all the responses and info chaps. Cheers!

Hi Tony,

Sorry but I don't have anything to add to this, but thought I'd let you know I'm still around!

Hope you're keeping OK.

There is also supposedly a (one-off?) LP by the band Creative Funk on the label. Would love to hear it at some point.