macca

Christ almighty, Lee David sounds fabulous. The essence of it (there are a lot of them, I know) I reckon.

Hair standing on the back of the neck listening to it again after all these years. Thanks guys!! Don't think I can justify putting it on me shopping list though. :-( Those horns are bit mariach, no? M

I remember this former monster being booted in the mid 70's. There's no refo clip on here. Has it appeared on any KENT compilations & what are originals going for these days. Great memories of Gwen & Ray. Reminds me of packed dancefloors & as one of those sounds that used to get applause before applauding records became common place.

One thing that is true, the advent of Internet has meant that there are loads more people chasing the sounds today. I know of Spanish people that have undertaken record finding trips to the States. Same goes for the Germans, Scandos, Italians & French. It's no longer the preserve of eccentric brits. :-)

I think I'm right in saying that Brian Epstein was instrumental in bringing them over for their all conquering 65 tour of Britain. He told the press that they were the best group in the world after his Fab Four (he had to say that I guess). Baby I Need Your Lovin' was quoted as his fave track. Many say that for Epstein, the 'baby' in the song was Lennon. Levi's vocals in the unrequited/unattainable love songs are some of the most moving things ever committed to vinyl. The reaction to his death on here & other forums is entirely fitting. I deeply felt the loss of Marvin Gaye, but it's nothing like this.

There's an awesome clip of them in action in Belgium in 1965 doing I Can't Help Myself. Don't think we can post Youtube links, can we? It should be easy to find though. "The Four Tops 'sugar pie' in Belguim" ...

Lost for words. RIP Levi.

I think Aretha would have languished had she not been pushed so much by Jerry Wexler & co. She is undoubtedly a great singer, but sometimes I find her a bit tedious. She has the ability to blow me away or completely bore my gonads off. I prefer Etta James, if pushed. Linda is simply a huge, unsung talent. it's only fitting that people in the US are starting to discover that searing emotion. JCLML is flawless, hardly suprising considering George's involvement.

Christ Trevski, not keen on that at all. I prefer Johnny & June Carter Cash's version, but then I'm a lost case.

Darlin' is a great record. John B Sebastian, the lead singer in The Lovin' Spoonful, apart from being a top musician/session man in the 60's, had a great, soulful voice in my opinion. Daydream could have been written decades before the so-called Summer of Love.

Love this story about Elvis & JW. Personally I don't think his version of IGTSF has been bettered. The very talented Erma Franklin 'goes off on one' too much for my tastes & Soul Sam used to play another version of it, but I can't recall who the artist is right now. Anybody remember it? https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/jackie_wil...s_presley.shtml

I remember the Peterborough Fair for the big commercial hits of 1974 like 'Rock The Boat' The Hughes Corporation, 'Rock Your Baby' George McRae & 'Hang On In There' Johnny Bristol, and then the funkier stuff like 'Low Rider' & 'Me & Baby Brother' War. 14 years old & the old hormones going through the roof. Lots of clumsy fumblings & tongue thrashing under the arches, so to speak. I'd hate to go through all that again... :-)

I will gladly watch the film. I was nervous when Dickie was making Gandhi, but my fears were soon assuaged. The portrayal of a slight man in a loin cloth, rimless spectacles and flip-flops could have been open to all sorts of abuses.

It's only a film after all. If half of us spent a quarter of the time, energy & passion on something really worthwhile, I reckon the world would be a better place. People will vote with their feet, some will like it, some will loath it, end of story.

In the bogs with Trotter? Loafers? I hope you're not referring to the ingestion of illegal substances old boy. I've heard he's back in town. & thanks for clearing up it for me, though I still don't remember 'love machine', 'overture' or 'waldo roderick'. The mind is a strange thing. I obviously had a miracles filtering device surreptitiously installed in my frontal lobe.

I don't know why I was bunging the miracles in the same sack then. I attended all-nighters in the east anglia area from late 74 & throughout 75 & 76, with occasional visits up north to wigan. I just don't remember the miracles getting plays at the wirrina or st.ives. paul donnelly might be able to put me right on that front. I remember all the ian levine produced stuff, and things like barnaby bye, rodger collins, alpaca phase III etc, but NOT the miracles. maybe it's a case of selective memory. the mind is a funny old thing... M

s'truth. never would have thought. 'love machine' by the miracles was another of those, wasn't it? I see it on compilations now but associate it more with your 'annabelle's nitespot' than the all-nighter scene.

What's KC & The Sunshine Band doing on a Wigan CD? The Queen of Clubs was a chart hit & pub disco favourite, or am I missing something? M p.d. Holly St. James? Dire record in my opinion, but certainly had them flocking...

A nine year old PD watching Black Beauty? Pull the other! BB wasn't shown until at least 1972, when you were lurking in the dark alcoves of hose street.

Sublime poet in my opinion, so I can take his fibs on board. Winter In America is stunning.

Sorry Paul, I wasn't paying enough attention... :-)

the levine campaign was much earlier, 1977, I'd say... I don't remember a searling campaign, & I was much more tuned to moses dillard than larry atkins back then. are we going to see some cap in hand apologies then? :-) M

Thanks everybody. Thought the issue was a lot more common for some reason...

Well done Mark. If anything it serves as a reminder of just how grim things got musically. 1978 was a seriously naff year for me, but as others have said, you had to be there to grasp it. peggy march I used to find particularly irksome, but that said, the next record might have been something awesome like matt lucas. the references to trains that people have made, I reckon, are inseparable from the whole 'wigan experience'. the waiting on the platform of crewe station for that saturday night train up from euston. if there were football fans about, one just tried to blend in & hopefully not draw their attention, a fairly difficult thing considering the 'uniform' we were wearing, our bags, record boxes etc; those travelling from peterborough had to change in nuneaton as well. I used to find it was like going on holiday with my mum & dad to the coast, you were just itching to get there, every waiting room, train platform, overhead bridge was an ordeal. it's a great britain that has largely disappeared too, don't you think? only 30 years after WWII for gawd'd sake!! oh' for tardis, indeed!