Missing Link

Sure - that's how I could quote what was in them!! Sadly, my memories not good enough to recall that much from the 70s. I can scan them if you want though it might take a little while as there's 18 pages worth.

Tony Cummings actually wrote three articles in 'Black Music' magazine and was also supposed to have been writing a book called 'The Strange World of Northern Soul' which was due to be published in 1976 but never was. The first article was entitled 'The Strange World of Northern Soul' and came out in the June 1974 issue. As Dave Greet said, it started with Eddie Foster and his fictional 'dream' about Wigan. Tony visited Tiffany's Newcastle, Whitchurch Civic Hall, Blackpool Mecca and Queen's Hall, Leeds. He makes some observations about some of the DJs of the time which make quite interesting reading: RICHARD SEARLING: Plays the Wigan Casino on Saturdays and seems to play mainly discs supplied by bootlegger Simon Soussan. SOUL SAM: alias Mr. Martin Barnfather. The joker in the pack, playing streams of unknown pop records which just happen to have the right beat. RUSS WINSTANLEY: The most likeable of the Wigan Casino crew, though his recent circular to fellow deejays proclaiming: "We, as the creators of the Northern Soul Scene" seems to indicate a peculiarly distorted view of black musicians. The second article in the January 1975 issue was entitled 'Northern Soul Revisited' was mainly about the 'split' in the scene between Blackpool Mecca and WIgan Casino. The third article was published in November 1975 and was called 'Northern Soul: After the Goldrush'. Again there are comments on Blackpool and Wigan but this time the emphasis is on 'tailor made' records, the Simon Soussan instrumentals played at the Casino and the records produced by Ian Levine played at the Mecca (although I recall hearing a number of the latter being played at the Casino. There's also a few paragraphs about Cleethorpes. All the articles make interesting reading after 35 years.

Charles Johnson - Never Had a Love So Good (Alston) Thompson Brothers - You Brought Love Into My Life (WMOT) Both these just crept into the 80s.

I can't believe nobody's mentioned Curtis Mayfield singing 'Pusherman' in the night club scene in 'Superfly'. He also wrote all the music in what must be one of if not the best film soundtracks ever.

Try this: https://echoesmagazine.co.uk/

If you click on the flag then you get the details.

If my memory serves me correctly it was Keith 'Mr. Magic' Clarke who lived in Tregonwell Road, Bournemouth. He used to have a record shop but I don't remember him renting records out. He used to DJ at Pandora's in Boscombe with Steve Sheppard circa '74, '75.

Yugoslavia was probably the most 'Western' of the Iron Curtain countries under Marshall Tito and it was possible to travel there without too much fuss in the 60s and 70s unlike the rest of the countries such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, etc. It, therefore, doesn't seem that likely that the records were illegal.

It's a pleasure to help out. Cleethorpes was probably the best 'Nighter I went to because of the 'across the board' policy. Sadly, I only managed to get there a couple of times because of where I lived at the time (Southampton) and the fact that the cars I had at the time would probably have got there, with a bit of luck, but probably wouldn't have got back!

Here's the photos in a smaller format.

Haven't got any Jugoslavian Motown but I do have a Jugoslavian Stateside of Eddie Holman from about 1970.

Just done a little browsing on the net and found this: https://www.pdinfo.com/copyrt.php Seems like the Americans say it is 95 years. Selling any 'home made' CD compilations is totally illegal but the question is will anybody prosecute?

Think you're perhaps at cross purposes here. You're right that Tamla Motown ceased in 1976 but the question was about the new Motown label with the 'starburst' effect. There were about 7 releases in 1976 on the 'new' label and some 115 releases between 76 and 79. With regards the original question I have 2 green demos (1105 and 1137) and 2 blue ones (1151 and 1167) if that's any use.

Remember Tony well - sharp dresser, brilliant dancer and all round good guy. For those that don't know him, he's the dude in the brown jacket and black shirt in the ' ' video.

Here's a track listing: Eric Burdon Declares War: The Vision of Rassan Tobacco Road Spill the Wine Blues for Memphis Slim You're No Stranger

You're quite right on both accounts!

It's my age as well! I used to hear loads of funk in the early 70s when I lived down South and 'Me and Baby Brother' was one of the biggest along with 'Funky Nassau', 'Soul Makossa', James Brown, Fatback Band, Kool and the Gang (before they went pop), etc. - great sounds. A lot of later War tracks are very Latin.

Yes, it's about the cars with hydraulics that are popular with the Latinos in Los Angeles. The band is probably best described as Latin Jazz Funk and 'Me and baby Brother' used to be a huge sound on the funk scene back in the early 70s. Eric Burden (of the Animals fame) recorded with them not long after. Try this for some 'Lowriding':

This used to be a big sound at the 6Ts nights in London (forerunner of the 100 club) in the late 70s, early 80s - it was a bit too slow to be 'Northern' at that time. I guess someone at Peterboro' maybe heard it there?

That was 'Mal' by Martin Stevens on Pirate (a French Canadian record from Quebec). Also around at the time was 'Lindbergh II' by Toulouse, another Canadian record.

You could try this: richard.searling@smoothfm.com

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse...........

There's the bootleg version in Refosoul (covered as Eddie Parker and the Sunlovers). EDDIE PARKER & SUNLOVERS - YOULL NEVER MAKE THE GRADE -

Still available on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Searching-Soul-Reg-Stickings/dp/094671987X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265476068&sr=1-1 Definitely worth a read though don't expect a definitive history of Northern Soul.

Brenda Holloway - Just Look What You've Done/ You've Made Me So Very Happy (TM 27.009) on Orange and Black label manufactured by Artone Holland.