Garethx

Guy Hennigan would have played this at Stafford, still as Bud Harper.

May have been played as early as '81 or '82. Was uncovered definitely by the end of '83.

I've got no definitive answer to your question about which cuts feature Valerie Simpson, but I've for a long time been led to believe she is the vocalist on most of the "Easy" lp: "The Onion Song", "California Soul", etc.

Think Dave Withers was the first to have this record?

John, was playing the Laura Lee only yesterday. Excellent. I'd forgotten how good the other side was too: "If I'm Good Enough To Love (I'm Good Enough To Marry)." Records that might have sounded commonplace years ago are sometimes actually pretty amazing to revisit. To me there was a depth of quality in seventies soul music that we may have taken for granted in the past. The skills utilised in the vocals, production and playing on these tracks was sometimes breathtaking.

Some cracking records mentioned already: a very good call on the Bettye Lavette version of "Almost". To me this has all the qualities of something like Pat Lewis "No-one To Love" but at a fraction of the price; it has the magical x-factor that Jimmy Delphs' version lacks. I've got to agree with Chalky on James Lately also. To me this is one of the very best Northern Soul records ever, full stop. Barbara Lynn's "This Is The Thanks I Get" 45 seems to be reaching standard status these days, and that's no bad thing, as it's a wonderful record. I'm sure Randy Cozens would have approved. He was a master at recognizing records which could evoke the nostalgia and charisma of a genuinely anthemic 'ender'. Here are a few from me: Al Johnson "Love Waits For No Man" (South Camp) George Tindley "So Help Me Woman" (Wand) Willie Wade "When Push Comes To Shove" (Nite Life)

James Crawford was an integral part of James Brown's Revue in the 60s. He recorded for (among others) Smash, Mecury and Omen. My favourite by him is "Stop and Think It Over" on Mercury, which is a great ballad. Most of his records are pretty good.

Vernon and Jewel recorded some great tracks in this genre. Another tremendous slice of male/female duet-soul, in a seventies ballad style is John Freeman and Almeta Latimore's electrifying "I Need You" on VR. You can almost hear sparks fly by the fade-out. I've always preferred Marvin & Tammi's version of "Baby I Need Your Loving" to the 4 Tops: so much more exciting than dreary old Levi Stubbs and co. (I'll probably get strung up for saying this.)

Thanks for posting up the soundfile. Superb record.

My current favourite is "Without You Here" on Curtom.

I sold one of these a couple of years ago and have always regretted it. One of the handful I would buy back: a brilliant slice of gritty soul music. Anyone got one to sell? I think JM's price is about right.

Can only endorse what others have said about Gilly. In my formative years he was far and away my favourite deejay. In many ways some of the 'bigger names' (but that's another thread) of today are only just now catching up with his impeccable taste. He epitomises what the scene should always have been about: a thirst for finding and spinning brilliant soul records.

Fame Studios, and the splinter studios led by successive waves of musicians disgruntled with Fame owner Rick Hall like Muscle Shoals Sound, Wishbone etc. cut very little country & western. None in the 1960s and only a smattering in the 1970s. More mainstream pop and rock maybe as the area became almost a victim of its success in soul terms, but almost no country. Good call on the Bettye Lavette. How did we get from Lisa Stansfield to one of the best soul records ever?

Very interesting Mike. I should take this opportunity to urge anyone who hasn't seen Otis Clay live to catch him while thay still have the chance. He is without a doubt the greatest living live soul performer: sheer electricity from the get go, with incredible vocal power and stage presence. I think Andy Dyson made the point here a couple of mnths ago that many of the soulmen of the classic era are operating these days at half speed; Otis Clay is just as good as he ever was: a legend.

Lyn White on Waylo 1993, or Etta James on Island 1998? Original and, for me, best version of this is Otis Clay on the Japanese lp "The Only Way Is Up", although I love ZZ Hill on Malaco too.

I'm speechless. Doni Burdick's effort is a "so what?" record; Edwin's is a masterpiece.

Hello Joe: Xmas bought two of my alltime top wants: the Boz Scaggs lp on Atlantic, with a gatefold sleeve containing magical late 60s photos of Eddie Hinton, Jimmy Johnson, Marlin Greene, Roger Hawkins etc. when they were young and hip, and, amazingly, a copy of Queen and Bowie's mighty "Under Pressure". A wise man once said that if you don't like Under Pressure you don't like music, and I'm inclined to agree with him. As for new year: wish Sheridans was within easy reach of the smoke... Oh well. See you soon Mr Orton. Keep defacing library books, but keep Kenneth away from the glue and scissors. You know it makes sense.

Think there might be a thread on here from about six mnths ago which reveals the identity of these sides...

What about the various tracks on The New Sound lp on Turbo? Better version of Robert Tanner's "Sweet Memories", "Don't Take Your Love From Me" etc.

I really like to buy lps, and can't really understand why there seems to be an inbuilt resistance to playing tracks from them. Here's a few off the top of my head: Soul Children "We're Getting Too Close" Stax Kim Tolliver "I'm Losing The Feeling" Chess Leon Haywood "Not While You're Standing Here" Galaxy Maxine Brown "Don't Leave Me Baby" Epic King Floyd "I'm For Real" Chimneyville Jimmy Lewis "Thank You" Hotlanta The list is endless...

Butch's Masqueraders cover-up is a blinding record. Assume that was new in 2004. The record which gave me most pleasure to finally hear played out loud in a few venues was Jerry Washington's "Don't Waste My Time" on Glades. A brilliant, raw, funky record with tons of soul and crucially, that magical allnighter feel.

It's not on the Stax lp.

Ed Bruce went to the same high school as Steve Cropper.

Eula Cooper "Let Our Love Grow Higher" The Younghearts "A Little Togetherness" Mel Britt "She'll Come Running Back"

The Dolly Parton thing is very interesting. If it had been recorded by almost any other country singer I feel sure it would have been played and, at the right place and time, could have become reasonably big. However, DP is such a distinctive singer that you can't really 'cover her up'. I'm not saying it should be played, as I think deejays should try first and foremost to find quality soul records to spin, but to disqualify the record in question given the scene's history of finding records with similarly, shall we say, 'unlikely' pedigree smacks of hypocrisy.