Who was/is Colin Bee?

[Solidsoul]

All through the mid to late 1970's, Colin Bee used to run big adverts in music papers like Black Echoes etc, to sell all the latest Northern Soul pressings/reissues.

There was a lot of them at it, but he seemed to have the latest, newest pressings first.  He ran his business from Surrey. 

Sometimes certain DJ's used to get annoyed, because records that still had a lot of life in them were getting pressed, far to early.  This always caused the record to be dropped from major dj's playlists.

I have always wondered if Colin Bee was his real name? Was he a DJ or promoter? Was he just a leach on the scene? Was he providing a needed service?

 

Edited April 29, 2021 by Halogen

[Douglaschip]

Remember the Lp - Northern Soul Gold - 17 all time hits from the north on BEE records.

[Winsford Soul]

Some fantastic stuff on those lists and as a 16/ 17 year old it was the only way I could get those tunes that I loved. I didn't know about boots in those days. But I didn't have a clue who Colin Bee was 

[Pga1]

Can't remember clearly, was it Les mcutcheon or am I getting mixed up ?, Cheers

[The Tempest]

Never seen a boot of the Illusions  in nearly 40 yrs of collecting ! That one did surprise me !

[Goldsoul]

Colin Bee Promotions was born out of a Disco Roadshow DJ Colin Bee(Balchin) from Woking, Surrey. His partner was entrepreneur Les McCutcheon, who continued a successful career with Shakatak, Passion, Expansion, Joe Boy among many publishing interests. 
His son is Stevie Mac, producer of Westlife. 
 

[Winsford Soul]

1 hour ago, The Tempest said:

Never seen a boot of the Illusions  in nearly 40 yrs of collecting ! That one did surprise me !

I had one. Think it was a pale blue / green coloured Lamon . Can't remember now. Long long time ago 

[Headsy]

Orange 

Was one in John Powneys lot that went to auction,everybody thought good stuff left in there but I looked at certain lots and one had that in.

I think people thought I was spoofing to keep them away lol

[Solidsoul]

Sorry to reply to my own post, but I like the HMV advert to the right of the first picture!

Dave Evison, Dave McAdden and Frank Elson buy their records from HMV.         BUT don't let that fact put you off

Edited April 30, 2021 by Halogen

[Solidsoul]

12 hours ago, The Tempest said:

Never seen a boot of the Illusions  in nearly 40 yrs of collecting ! That one did surprise me !

Well spotted!  Probably getting hard to find on this boot these days!

Picture of the boot.  Boot is styrene as opposed to the vinyl original.

 

Edited April 30, 2021 by Halogen

[Soulman58]

Given how close he was to Bisley, I'm sure I passed a few pounds to him at the All-Nighters there,.  As Winsford said the easy way to pick up sounds which were massive at a young age.

[Mike]

why when I am reading this topic am I thinking of a record shop in the bullring Birmingham late 70s?

sure it was a familiar back pages of echoes name such as 'colin bee'

I could be wrong but if am.. does anyone know what was the name?

[Shsdave]

Yes same here bought a lot of boots from him, I didn't know any different at the time, still got them. Had my flat rewired recently, & while shifting stuff around came across a load in a box & thought I'll play them later. Some were decent quality others were dreadful  Think I have some lists somewhere, I'm sure he sold cheaper end originals as well.