Guest wigan bob Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 so am i rite in saying that ray agee is not a boot then Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Goldsoul Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I had Ray Agee in 1981. Think it was sold to either Jim Wensiora or Butch in early 82. Fee £100. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Goldsoul Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 so am i rite in saying that ray agee is not a boot then Well certainly not the one I found at a Record Show in Harrisburg, PA 1981 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Agentsmith Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 you know what?....after 22,000+ reads this is POSITIVELY, the most entertaining read that for the life of me, ISNT A BOOK. simon has come up in many other threads on here over the years and the appeal for the stories of his exploits, are enduring. ive always thought id seen some action on this scene of ours but when one comes up against scribes such as mr. dewhirst and mr. burton ( to name just two ) i can put it on the back of a postage stamp. grey matter has to be stimulated 365 days of the year, no exceptions. drifting away from the scene for a short time is akin to the blink of an eye...do so and you miss it. these guys live,eat,breathe,sleep,drink northern soul. if anyone could put a best selling, glossy hardback together, complete with pics, i would gratefully rest my case with the aforementioned and their likeminded followers. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Chalky Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 so am i rite in saying that ray agee is not a boot then No but if it is was it would be a bloody expensive one. Think the reason for the boot myth is Ray Agee told someone it was released without his knowledge, just like many records back in the day, Don Gardner - Cheatin Kind another. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Dave Raistrick Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 That puts one rumour to bed then Iain, in 80's there was a persistant rumour that Roy Agee had been an unissued track that SS had got his hands on and then sold it as a released item on SoulTown, effectively making all copies boots. While it sounded possible based on his reputation the bit that didn't add up is him only having done a few, didn't seem to be worthwhile, As an aside when did Ray Agee start getting plays then? (Maybe another thread...) I had this in my playlist around 1978/9 Covered up as James Conwell - I found it in 'Janes House of Records' on Pico in L.A. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Chalky Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Drew, I would love to share a few, the problem is the thread will turn into nothing but a slagfest. My dealings with him were positive and.....I LIKED HIM! However, I wouldn't trust him in certain situations, but in terms of...'was he good for the scene'...I believe he was. The creative and flamboyant personality drove the scene forward during the Wigan period and kept it popular, albeit for a short period. Please share them Kev, no reason for anyone to begin slagging anyone on this topic, it is a fascinating read. If it is kept to Simon and the stories and myths surrounding him then no reason for any slagging off of anyone. I've enjoyed reading the stories from all those who knew him. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Chalky Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I had Ray Agee in 1981. Think it was sold to either Jim Wensiora or Butch in early 82. Fee £100. When was this first played on the scene? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ian Dewhirst Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 That puts one rumour to bed then Iain, in 80's there was a persistant rumour that Roy Agee had been an unissued track that SS had got his hands on and then sold it as a released item on SoulTown, effectively making all copies boots. While it sounded possible based on his reputation the bit that didn't add up is him only having done a few, didn't seem to be worthwhile, As an aside when did Ray Agee start getting plays then? (Maybe another thread...) I'm pretty sure I first found it on a rare early dig with Soussan. I can kinda remember pulling it out of a pile and saying with barely controlled excitement, "hey Simon. What's this Ray Agee on Soultown"? and him wrinkling his face and saying "garbage baby boy, garbage." So naturally I assumed that he knew the record and would have written it off. Probably too slow or too dated for the time. It's not like he even looked at it. Very dismissive. The bugger was that I kept finding the Ray Agee record after that including in some loads that Simon had previously been through. I always pulled 'em out because I'd have taken as many Sweets or Trips that I could find at the time, so picking out Soultown 45's was second nature but I never bothered taking 'em. In fact I remember finding 3 Ray Agee's in an LA garage full of stuff and leaving 'em even though something was nagging at me to take at least one. Hindsight's a great thing innit Jocko? Happy New Year! Ian D Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Steve L Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Drew, I would love to share a few, the problem is the thread will turn into nothing but a slagfest. My dealings with him were positive and.....I LIKED HIM! However, I wouldn't trust him in certain situations, but in terms of...'was he good for the scene'...I believe he was. The creative and flamboyant personality drove the scene forward during the Wigan period and kept it popular, albeit for a short period. Kev, I dont think it would. Most people (me included) would be genuinely interested in any tales you could tell from those long gone days. Love reading things from people who were central to the development of the scene, there's a lot of gaps in my knowledge still to fill Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ian Dewhirst Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I had this in my playlist around 1978/9 Covered up as James Conwell - I found it in 'Janes House of Records' on Pico in L.A. Only 'cos I left it there Dave! Ian D 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ian Dewhirst Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Please share them Kev, no reason for anyone to begin slagging anyone on this topic, it is a fascinating read. If it is kept to Simon and the stories and myths surrounding him then no reason for any slagging off of anyone. I've enjoyed reading the stories from all those who knew him. Kev could start by telling everyone how he found 30 copies of the Casualeers (when the only copy then was one that Simon had in his collection) and yet somehow allowed Soussan to take all copies back to Simon's place so he could 'evaluate the one in the best condition' LOL..... My favorite is where Kev got access into a warehouse that Simon had previously been banned from and Simon ended up breaking into the warehouse through the roof window whilst Kev was in there. That's a sensational story He used to have to send his wife Sabrina around the record shops with a wants-list 'cos he was banned from so many places. He certainly knew how to piss people off LOL... Ian D Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Dave Raistrick Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Only 'cos I left it there Dave! Ian D Cheers Ian. I eventually sold it on to Gary Rushbrooke and he spun it at Wigan then Stafford etc........ All the Best for 2012. Dave. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest wigan bob Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 some one asked ray agee did you make the record and he said hes never heard it before i was told Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
SHEFFSOUL Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 ..anyone have any further info on the 'dress rehearsal' 45?..Ian D was looking into it?..prob his best tailor made/remix effort... 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Chalky Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 some one asked ray agee did you make the record and he said hes never heard it before i was told I heard as I said in an earlier post that it was released without his knowledge. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Goldsoul Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 ..anyone have any further info on the 'dress rehearsal' 45?..Ian D was looking into it?..prob his best tailor made/remix effort... Van McCoy off his album, slightly speeded up if my memory serves correct. Simon sent me an acetate on DCT recorders back in late 74, Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Dave Raistrick Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Van McCoy off his album, slightly speeded up if my memory serves correct. Simon sent me an acetate on DCT recorders back in late 74, Van McCoy - Dancin' - SSS int Album - Vocal version on the album stripped to make an instrumental version - I still have one of the acetates that SS sent over. All the best for 2012 Dave. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Goldsoul Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 (edited) OK Ian.....My favourite memory was back in March '74 when the pair of us drove to Glendale, CA to Ray Avery's Rare Records. A well known vinyl dealer and the record store that supplied local singer John Maus, better known as John Walker of the Walker Brothers, with early Soul and Doo Wop. In fact when I was on Magic in Leeds in 1990-97 I interviewed John and he told me a few wild stories about Ray. But anyway, back to my experience with Simon. I was holed up at the Ambassador hotel(venue where Bobby Kennedy was shot in 68) finally being collected by SS. 'So baby boy, you wanna go record hunting' he annouced upon arrival? I eagerly jumped in his Black Caddy and headed the 20 miles to Avery's. Upon entering , Ray greeted us with 'you are banned from my store'- fortunately not me! Simon had to stand outside while Ray allowed me in the back room. With an adjoining toilet, I suddenly heard a voice hollering Baby Boy it iz me. Listen carefully Baby Boy, look for the Casualeeeers. A scene straight out of Allo Allo, SS continued to bark instructions, as I later found out, this was the outlet that delivered us Paul Anka, Dean Courtney, Willie Hutch and I assume countless others. The store had 250,000 60's Promos. This was the day I found the Seven Souls on Okeh. Ironically, Simon took it from me, only to give it back saying 'too slow' and you know what he was right. A complete failure until the 80's. The craziest part of the story was Soussan handing me $100 bills to pay for what I hoped was a useful load. I think we ended up with 500 60's 45s at a dollar each. The rest of my trip was eventful to say the least, but I'll save any really juicy bits for personal memoirs later down the line. Over to Ian D with hopefully the story of Simon's dislike of Funk and the famous 'fist through the car stereo story' Edited December 30, 2011 by The Golden 101 3 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ian Dewhirst Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I think we ended up with 500 60's 45s at a dollar each. LOL, but how many did YOU get to keep Kev? Great stuff mate! Over to Ian D with hopefully the story of Simon's dislike of Funk and the famous 'fist through the car stereo story' Your wish is my command LOL.... For instance, his hatred of funk was legendary. If he hit a load of funk in a place, he'd start snapping copies of the records in half! I'd say 'Oh c'mon Simon, you don't have to break the bloody records do ya"? And he just keep snapping 'em and saying, "It's repetitive garbage (pronounced REPET-TAT-TIVE GAR-BAAAARRRRGE) baby boy, they just get in the way"! One time he was in real snit - I think he'd had a bust up with Sabrina and he was really pissed-off. We were driving along Sunset Boulevard in his car and he switched the radio on and the Isley Brother's "Fight The Power" came on and he went "F*&king FUNK! I HATE "f*&king FUNK"! and he jabbed the car radio's pre-set buttons to another station and the Ohio Player's "Love Rollercoaster" came on - steam started coming out of his ears and he screamed, "F*&king FUNK! What ees wrong with zees people? F*&king FUNK Motherf*&kers! Why can't zey play some Northern instead of this motherf*&king FUNK all ze time"!!! He then furiously jabbed the pre-sets again only for the Brothers Johnson "Get The Funk Out Of My Face" to come blasting out of the speakers. He looked at me, "OK, that's it now"! He then just jerked the car to a complete halt right in the middle of Sunset Strip and started smashing the car radio with his fists. When his hand started bleeding, he got out of the car, took off one of his shoes and continued smashing the radio until parts of the radio were all over the floor of the car. He then physically tore the radio out of the car and threw what was left of it onto the road and then started stamping on it with his other shoe-clad foot. By this point there was a half-mile tailback on Sunset and the horns going off were almost deafening and the driver of the car behind us was just watching all this with her mouth wide open in shock...... I said, "Err, Simon, maybe we'd better go......" He just got back in the car, slammed it into gear and said, "Well, at least we won't have to listen to that REPET-TAT-TIVE GAR-BAAAARRRRGE anymore!" Ian D 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ted Massey Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I had Ray Agee in 1981. Think it was sold to either Jim Wensiora or Butch in early 82. Fee £100. i bought Jims Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Goldsoul Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Sorta off topic, can anyone remember the version of Virginia Blakely's Let Nobody Love You by Bobby Vee? I played it at the Casino in March '74 following a LP copy supplied by SS. About the same time I spun Danny Wagner's This Thing Called Love. Reason for mentioning it, I bought it off Amazon recently and it sounds great! Check it out. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Chalky Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Kev and Ian, two great stories, keep them coming. Fascinating bloke regardless what you think of him. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
SHEFFSOUL Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Van McCoy - Dancin' - SSS int Album - Vocal version on the album stripped to make an instrumental version - I still have one of the acetates that SS sent over. All the best for 2012 Dave. ..yep remember you tellin me about that when we met up at the hotel nr heathrow just before you and Mac flew to the US.I know its from the album..but its a cut above his usual added instrumentals ...i wondered who played the strings..i think its much better than the vocal original..and why was it never booted? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Steve G Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 (edited) Is Simon Soussan still alive? Reading this thread he sounds like a right plonker Edited December 31, 2011 by Steve G Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
jocko Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 Cheers Ian. I eventually sold it on to Gary Rushbrooke and he spun it at Wigan then Stafford etc........ All the Best for 2012. Dave. Thats why I asked Dave, was pretty sure I had heard it at least Rotherham, and I was thinking Minshull but Gary makes more sense (in many ways. ) Sorta off topic, can anyone remember the version of Virginia Blakely's Let Nobody Love You by Bobby Vee? I played it at the Casino in March '74 following a LP copy supplied by SS. About the same time I spun Danny Wagner's This Thing Called Love. Reason for mentioning it, I bought it off Amazon recently and it sounds great! Check it out. Mr Roberts, nice to see you sharing some stories rather than fighting the populous, some of the best stories of the old days are going to come from the likes of you, Iain (don't tell him I am being nice about him), Mr Manship, Rick Scott, rather than just tales of the all-nighters, as interesting as these can be, it fills in blanks of how things evolved and people behind the scenes. More of this nice Mr Roberts please. However if you are tipping Bobby Vee, better stick to the tales of the old days. :D (That is a joke not a slagfest, hence smileys, so don't go getting all defensive, compliments above are genuine) 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Andybellwood Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 LOL, but how many did YOU get to keep Kev? Great stuff mate! Your wish is my command LOL.... For instance, his hatred of funk was legendary. If he hit a load of funk in a place, he'd start snapping copies of the records in half! I'd say 'Oh c'mon Simon, you don't have to break the bloody records do ya"? And he just keep snapping 'em and saying, "It's repetitive garbage (pronounced REPET-TAT-TIVE GAR-BAAAARRRRGE) baby boy, they just get in the way"! One time he was in real snit - I think he'd had a bust up with Sabrina and he was really pissed-off. We were driving along Sunset Boulevard in his car and he switched the radio on and the Isley Brother's "Fight The Power" came on and he went "F*&king FUNK! I HATE "f*&king FUNK"! and he jabbed the car radio's pre-set buttons to another station and the Ohio Player's "Love Rollercoaster" came on - steam started coming out of his ears and he screamed, "F*&king FUNK! What ees wrong with zees people? F*&king FUNK Motherf*&kers! Why can't zey play some Northern instead of this motherf*&king FUNK all ze time"!!! He then furiously jabbed the pre-sets again only for the Brothers Johnson "Get The Funk Out Of My Face" to come blasting out of the speakers. He looked at me, "OK, that's it now"! He then just jerked the car to a complete halt right in the middle of Sunset Strip and started smashing the car radio with his fists. When his hand started bleeding, he got out of the car, took off one of his shoes and continued smashing the radio until parts of the radio were all over the floor of the car. He then physically tore the radio out of the car and threw what was left of it onto the road and then started stamping on it with his other shoe-clad foot. By this point there was a half-mile tailback on Sunset and the horns going off were almost deafening and the driver of the car behind us was just watching all this with her mouth wide open in shock...... I said, "Err, Simon, maybe we'd better go......" He just got back in the car, slammed it into gear and said, "Well, at least we won't have to listen to that REPET-TAT-TIVE GAR-BAAAARRRRGE anymore!" Ian D simply fascinating insights/experiences - would be nice for a few more taster stories from both Ian & Kev , before and without compromising hopeful book releases , warts n all Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Tfk Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 (edited) simply fascinating insights/experiences - would be nice for a few more taster stories from both Ian & Kev , before and without compromising hopeful book releases , warts n all This is a ace read , i love the tales/stories from back in the day and never forgetting that way back then these guys and gals [shakers and moovers/goodies and baddies] who were really sticking their necks out and going to the ends of the earth to get their hands on the next potential rare soul biggie ...they were the pioneers of the scene back then and were leading from the front keeping things fresh and laying down the DNA for what is todays Rare/soul scene!... great mentors for sure.....still enjoying and still digging deep !!! keep on keeping on and heres to 2012 tfk Edited January 2, 2012 by tfk Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
timthemod Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 I had this in my playlist around 1978/9 Covered up as James Conwell - I found it in 'Janes House of Records' on Pico in L.A. Think you mean 'Grands House Of Records', spent many a happy day in there in the early 80's. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Robbk Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 Think you mean 'Grands House Of Records', spent many a happy day in there in the early 80's. Thatt was "House of Records", owned by Jane Hill, on Pico Blvd. near 23rd Street in Santa Monica, California. She and her husband used to service juke boxes all over the L.A. area, starting in 1961. Their store was located on Main Street in Venice, CA before the early 1970s. They had a tremendous stock of old 45s and 78s in the '50s and early '60s and 45s in the '70s and '80s. Back in the day, they sold 45s for 10 cents each. Thems were the good ol' days! 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest giant Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 Thatt was "House of Records", owned by Jane Hill, on Pico Blvd. near 23rd Street in Santa Monica, California. She and her husband used to service juke boxes all over the L.A. area, starting in 1961. Their store was located on Main Street in Venice, CA before the early 1970s. They had a tremendous stock of old 45s and 78s in the '50s and early '60s and 45s in the '70s and '80s. Back in the day, they sold 45s for 10 cents each. Thems were the good ol' days! keep the stories coming ' fascinating stuff. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest giant Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 OK Ian.....My favourite memory was back in March '74 when the pair of us drove to Glendale, CA to Ray Avery's Rare Records. A well known vinyl dealer and the record store that supplied local singer John Maus, better known as John Walker of the Walker Brothers, with early Soul and Doo Wop. In fact when I was on Magic in Leeds in 1990-97 I interviewed John and he told me a few wild stories about Ray. But anyway, back to my experience with Simon. I was holed up at the Ambassador hotel(venue where Bobby Kennedy was shot in 68) finally being collected by SS. 'So baby boy, you wanna go record hunting' he annouced upon arrival? I eagerly jumped in his Black Caddy and headed the 20 miles to Avery's. Upon entering , Ray greeted us with 'you are banned from my store'- fortunately not me! Simon had to stand outside while Ray allowed me in the back room. With an adjoining toilet, I suddenly heard a voice hollering Baby Boy it iz me. Listen carefully Baby Boy, look for the Casualeeeers. A scene straight out of Allo Allo, SS continued to bark instructions, as I later found out, this was the outlet that delivered us Paul Anka, Dean Courtney, Willie Hutch and I assume countless others. The store had 250,000 60's Promos. This was the day I found the Seven Souls on Okeh. Ironically, Simon took it from me, only to give it back saying 'too slow' and you know what he was right. A complete failure until the 80's. The craziest part of the story was Soussan handing me $100 bills to pay for what I hoped was a useful load. I think we ended up with 500 60's 45s at a dollar each. The rest of my trip was eventful to say the least, but I'll save any really juicy bits for personal memoirs later down the line. Over to Ian D with hopefully the story of Simon's dislike of Funk and the famous 'fist through the car stereo story' thanks for sharing these stories 'fascinating stuff Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Will Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 A mate of mine (Nick Cowan, from Stoke) knew Simon back in the golden days... he remembers him fondly and one of several stories he told me was about the time that they were browsing through records together in a shop in London and Simon found Bobby Paris' "Personally" during their visit. It was high on my friend's wants list at the time. He then gave Simon a lift to the train station and Simon handed him the record as a thank you, for giving him a lift. He reckons he was a decent bloke who really knew his stuff (he owned c.50,000 7" singles by the end of the 70s) and I always prefer to believe eye witness accounts! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Robbk Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Kev, I dont think it would. Most people (me included) would be genuinely interested in any tales you could tell from those long gone days. Love reading things from people who were central to the development of the scene, there's a lot of gaps in my knowledge still to fill LOL, but how many did YOU get to keep Kev? Great stuff mate! Your wish is my command LOL....For instance, his hatred of funk was legendary. If he hit a load of funk in a place, he'd start snapping copies of the records in half! I'd say 'Oh c'mon Simon, you don't have to break the bloody records do ya"? And he just keep snapping 'em and saying, "It's repetitive garbage (pronounced REPET-TAT-TIVE GAR-BAAAARRRRGE) baby boy, they just get in the way"! One time he was in real snit - I think he'd had a bust up with Sabrina and he was really pissed-off. We were driving along Sunset Boulevard in his car and he switched the radio on and the Isley Brother's "Fight The Power" came on and he went "F*&king FUNK! I HATE "f*&king FUNK"! and he jabbed the car radio's pre-set buttons to another station and the Ohio Player's "Love Rollercoaster" came on - steam started coming out of his ears and he screamed, "F*&king FUNK! What ees wrong with zees people? F*&king FUNK Motherf*&kers! Why can't zey play some Northern instead of this motherf*&king FUNK all ze time"!!! He then furiously jabbed the pre-sets again only for the Brothers Johnson "Get The Funk Out Of My Face" to come blasting out of the speakers. He looked at me, "OK, that's it now"! He then just jerked the car to a complete halt right in the middle of Sunset Strip and started smashing the car radio with his fists. When his hand started bleeding, he got out of the car, took off one of his shoes and continued smashing the radio until parts of the radio were all over the floor of the car. He then physically tore the radio out of the car and threw what was left of it onto the road and then started stamping on it with his other shoe-clad foot. By this point there was a half-mile tailback on Sunset and the horns going off were almost deafening and the driver of the car behind us was just watching all this with her mouth wide open in shock......I said, "Err, Simon, maybe we'd better go......" He just got back in the car, slammed it into gear and said, "Well, at least we won't have to listen to that REPET-TAT-TIVE GAR-BAAAARRRRGE anymore!"Ian D Hahahahahaha! :lol: Good Ol' Simon! A cartoon character if there ever was one! If I were writing "The Simpsons", I'd certainly have added him in as one of Springfield's zany characters. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Peter Richer Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 I'm pretty sure I first found it on a rare early dig with Soussan. I can kinda remember pulling it out of a pile and saying with barely controlled excitement, "hey Simon. What's this Ray Agee on Soultown"? and him wrinkling his face and saying "garbage baby boy, garbage." So naturally I assumed that he knew the record and would have written it off. Probably too slow or too dated for the time. It's not like he even looked at it. Very dismissive. The bugger was that I kept finding the Ray Agee record after that including in some loads that Simon had previously been through. I always pulled 'em out because I'd have taken as many Sweets or Trips that I could find at the time, so picking out Soultown 45's was second nature but I never bothered taking 'em. In fact I remember finding 3 Ray Agee's in an LA garage full of stuff and leaving 'em even though something was nagging at me to take at least one. Hindsight's a great thing innit Jocko? Happy New Year! Ian D Err ... Trips is Soundville, surely? I believe you're normally spot on with clarifications Ian, but this doesn't help to quash the Ray Agee Soultown bootleg conjecture. That said, I am in the 'I'm Losing Again on Soultown is genuine' camp. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ady Croasdell Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 A mate of mine (Nick Cowan, from Stoke) knew Simon back in the golden days... he remembers him fondly and one of several stories he told me was about the time that they were browsing through records together in a shop in London and Simon found Bobby Paris' "Personally" during their visit. It was high on my friend's wants list at the time. He then gave Simon a lift to the train station and Simon handed him the record as a thank you, for giving him a lift. He reckons he was a decent bloke who really knew his stuff (he owned c.50,000 7" singles by the end of the 70s) and I always prefer to believe eye witness accounts! He was personable and knowledgeable. The only problems people had with him was that he was a lying crook. Not the first or last on this scene of ours. 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
SHEFFSOUL Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 (edited) Van McCoy off his album, slightly speeded up if my memory serves correct. Simon sent me an acetate on DCT recorders back in late 74, would love to know the full story/technical aspect...i assume SS had some access to the original recordings in order to remove/separate vocals..i also think strings were added? by whom? same as his Mirwood additions?..and where is SS now?...if he did have access to the original tapes..might explain why it never was booted like his other stuff, VM was a big name and SS probably decided against further exploitation.. Edited April 6, 2015 by SHEFFSOUL Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 (edited) some one asked ray agee did you make the record and he said hes never heard it before i was told There are lots of artist who can not remember their non selling sides! They tend only to remember the hits or special records to them. Understandable I think, as how many people can remember each days work they did 30/40 years ago! Edited April 6, 2015 by Guest Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Dayo Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I was there the night Soussan did a guest DJ spot at Wigan. All the tailor made instrumentals and his pop-tastic mic style... The awfulness of it all still haunts me. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Steve S 60 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I was there the night Soussan did a guest DJ spot at Wigan. All the tailor made instrumentals and his pop-tastic mic style... The awfulness of it all still haunts me. Sounds like Post Traumatic Soussan Disorder. I would seek professional help. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ian Dewhirst Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I was there the night Soussan did a guest DJ spot at Wigan. All the tailor made instrumentals and his pop-tastic mic style... The awfulness of it all still haunts me. Did anyone ever read that old list of his that talked about the 'Soulclap' club in Los Angeles with 400 Northern Soul fans who loved stompers? Needless to say it didn't exist......... Ian D 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Professorturnups Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Dayo, on 07 Apr 2015 - 11:02 AM, said: I was there the night Soussan did a guest DJ spot at Wigan. All the tailor made instrumentals and his pop-tastic mic style... The awfulness of it all still haunts me. Pretty sure that some old Wigan tapes I listened to contained his set. Sounded like a mega-mix of how to play the organ badly with some vocal chanting in the background Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
macca Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Could we really do without the shysters, gangsters, oddballs and generally frothing at the mouth, red eyes in the dark loons that populated the scene from the beginning? I don't think so. Anything else just smacks of revisionism. The name Simon Soussan was on the lips of so many people, clueful and clueless, in the 70s. Why would we have it any other way? I've loved reading these stories. It's a shame he can't found, debts pardoned and given a rafter shaking welcome at next years Prestatyn that this year chose to honour JA. Forgiveness is next to godliness. What? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Modernsoulsucks Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Temporarily closed for moderation ROD Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Modernsoulsucks Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Re-opened. ROD Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Stevemochan Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Funny enough he was the only person to pay Doni Burdick for the use of Bari Track when he put it out on Soul Galore, quite unlike the latter day people who released it on their coalmine CD's for which Doni never received a penny. I'll dig the letter out Sunday that SS sent to Doni Burdick and put a scan up on here....... Scan is now attached - its a bit hard to read as its a copy I have got. But it reads: Dear Don A quick note with your cheque for $200. Any additional gratuity will be paid to you on same basis. Please rush me I have faith in you instrumental URGENT plus Tamiko Jones " I am spellbound" All the best Simon He never did send him any more money but neither did Don send him any more tunes. This was in June 1975 so not sure when SS put out the instrumental to IHFIY? Also if anyone knows if Bob Foster from LLandudno is still around I have got a copy of a letter he sent to Don in 75. Cheers Mike Yeh Bob is still about and has recently started collecting again and pops into the local do's Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Robbk Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Not correct. Soultown was a legit 60s label. SS might have nicked the label design for some of his pressing though Yes. There were a couple pressings of tunes that originally came out on non-Bobby Sanders labels that bore no relationship to Bobby Sanders productions, or Soultown Records. And I sincerely doubt that Sanders leased the rights to re-issue them. They looked suspiciously like bootlegs, and were pressed up at Monarch during the late 1970s, during a time in which Soussan was pressing up scores of titles. Maybe he also had business cards showing himself as a member of "Soultown Records' staff or a sales agent for them, just to make it look legitimate, as Monarch's staff should have remembered Sanders as head of Soultown. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
SHEFFSOUL Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I'm surprised SS appeared to get away with unofficially pressing so many titles. Surely in some cases the technicians at Monarch would have been suspicious, would he supply the actual disc to be copied or a tape of said disc..wonder what line he used to spin? Illegal but completely fascinating...has anyone dared to suggest a list of which songs he was involved with? 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ian Dewhirst Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Yes. There were a couple pressings of tunes that originally came out on non-Bobby Sanders labels that bore no relationship to Bobby Sanders productions, or Soultown Records. And I sincerely doubt that Sanders leased the rights to re-issue them. They looked suspiciously like bootlegs, and were pressed up at Monarch during the late 1970s, during a time in which Soussan was pressing up scores of titles. Maybe he also had business cards showing himself as a member of "Soultown Records' staff or a sales agent for them, just to make it look legitimate, as Monarch's staff should have remembered Sanders as head of Soultown. He had a tight relationship with Monarch and generally supplied some kind of paperwork to them for most stuff on the odd couple of occasions I went down there with him. I mean he pressed Joe Hicks there on a styrene re-press even though they still had multiple copies of the original in the back which Arthur Fenn found several years later. Plus he could pretty much talk anyone into anything back then it seemed....... Ian D 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Arthur Fenn Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 He also used the Arco pressing plant in LA, me & Dave Raistrick saw evidence of that while visiting Lou of Dore records who had an office there, well i'm assuming the boots we saw there were Simon's Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
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