Geoff

Thanks Ady, I'm sure it will be good seller.

Here's Mike's email address: MikeRitson@aol.com Hope it can be sorted out soon as Manifesto is a good read imo.

Is there any chance of Luther Ingram's Baby Don't You Weep coming out on a 45 on one of the Kent labels? I reckon it would sell a few copies.

I complained on here last month that I hadn't received the February issue despite renewing my subscription in December. Paul McKay kindly posted Mike Ritson's email address, I emailed him and received the magazine and subscription CD a couple of days later. But so far this month no March Manifesto. I have emailed Mike Ritson but no reply. I understand that there are new distributors involved, but this just isn't good enough. Manifesto is a well written and produced magazine, but its distribution is worthy of something done in Publisher on a home PC and printed on an inkjet and sent out by one person. In fact some magazines like that are better distributed. I really hate to moan on here about it, but if I pay my money upfront I expect the magazine to arrive. There is never any problem with In The Basement, so why should Manifesto get away with it? Often the venues we attend are not of the highest standard, sometimes sound systems leave much to be desired, now our magazines are not arriving. Just because we love soul music doesn't mean we should be treated with indifference. Sorry this is a rant but the non appearance of Manifesto is getting irritating. Perhaps some of the big names that contribute could get involved and try and sort things out.

Happy to report my February copy of Manifesto arrived today, plus the subscription renewal CD, playing it now, great Modern. Thanks to Mike Ritson for sorting it out and to all on here who replied.

I've just received an email from Mike Ritson. Hopefully it will be sorted out. I'll keep you up to date on this. Thanks to all who replied.

I've just received an email message saying that the email address manifestouk.com doesn't exist. That's the address in the magazine. Can anyone help please? Now getting annoyed.

I ask the question above because I haven't received it this month. The last one I received was the December / January issue. I renewed my subscription before Christmas, sent off my cheque, money removed from my account but so far this month no Manifesto. Anyone else got the same problem? This presupposes there is an issue this month, if not, why not? For the last 2 years I've not received the promised CD for renewing my subscription. Paul McKay took it up with Mike Ritson at Prestatyn last year, and he produced a couple of CDs for me. I've tried phoning the number in the magazine, but no reply. I've just sent ah email off as well. but I do remember this came up last year. Has anyone got a mobile number for any of the people who run Manifesto. It's a shame as it is a well-produced magazine, but problems like this make you wonder why you bother.

Thank you very much for the information, I will pass it on to my neighbour. To be honest the names you refer to mean nothing to me, as I am only into ska, etc in a smail way. But he may know them. Any other info gratefully received.

Talking to my next door neighbour who collects ska, reggae, etc vinyl in a small way, he asked me if I'd heard of a singer called Paulette Williams. He said he thought she was a rock steady singer. There is a soul singer called Paulette (Love My Baby?) but not heard of this lady. Can anyone give me any information on her please?

For those like me who are housebound at the moment on Saturday (9 Feb) at 8 pm on Radio 4's Archive Hour series is a programme entitled Mods! To quote the Radio Times (a publication I once worked on): "The history of the mods from the modern jazz-loving Soho underground of the late 50s to the seafront clashes with rockers in the early 60s, mods meant stylish tailoring Italian, motor scooters and American R&B. By 1966, bands such as the Who and designers such as Mary Quant had brought mod chic to the world. But disgusted by its commercialisation, the original movement drifted away." In his music page of the RT, Stuart Maconie discusses Mods. However whoever picked the Best Mod Moments got it wrong imo: The Who - My Generation The Small Faces - All Or Nothing Harry J's All Stars - Liquidator Secret Affair - Time For Action Squire - Walking Down King's Road I can't comment on the last 2, don't know them, presumably from the Mod revival of the late 70s / early 80s; but the Liquidator is a skinhead favourite, after Mod had basically been replaced. Nothing wrong with the My Generation or All Or Nothing, but they are pop records, pure and simple, despite any attempt to hang a Mod label. The Who were going on about pop art before My Generation was issued, and the Small Faces were an even more manufactured group than the Who. Not having a go at them, saw the Who loads of times at the Marquee, but wouldn't pick those records when discussing the Mod phenomenon. For records for Mod's Best Moments personally look at Randy Cozens' top 100, discussed here some time ago. However, judgement must be suspended until the programme is aired. I've heard some of the Archive Hour programmes and they've been good, if biased on occasion. I did my nut when I heard Andrew Neill discussing the Wapping print dispute with no one to disagree with his almost slanderous comments. But I suppose any contentious issue will raise the blood pressure of anyone remotely involved. Maybe I will write my book after all, lol.

I generally listen to ones I've compiled myself when driving. That way you know you're going to enjoy them, no dud tracks.

Very nice. Any information on it, when recorded, label, etc?

I've got Come Back Baby by Wilson on a CD. It was the single before In The Midnight Hour, I think it was his first on Atlantic. It's my favourite track by him. Played in clubs at the time. Always thought it would go down nicely nowadays. The female singer is creditted to Tami Lynn, but was told it was someone else some time ago, but can't remember who. Unfortunately can't post a music file, hope someone else can oblige

Awesome, sums up why I love beat ballads. Absolute illustration of what soul is all about. IMO of course. I should know this, but what is the other side of this record? Can't remember at the moment, and was it the A side?

Don't worry Paul, I think I'm unembarassable (is there such a word?) after my alcohol intake at Boomerang, lol.

Yes, I must plead guilty to this faux pas. Guess it was nerves, and I didn't realise till halfway through. Sure I went bright red. Think Nige and Carms played an instrumental of a Rotations track at Maria's do in Thorne on Saturday, not sure if it was deliberate. Good dancer though.

I remember hearing about the Upper Cut club, but never went there, might have felt a bit nervous there, lol. I went with Lesley to see the Stax revue at the Finsbury Park Astoria, one of the best live shows I've seen. No boring British acts to start the show, soul stars from the onset. I think Otis got the biggest response, but may be wrong, a long time ago, but I can still see him striding up and down the stage. As regards Jimi Hendrix being referred to as a soul singer, his first 3 singles, Hey Joe, Purple Haze and The Wind Cries Mary all got in the Record Mirror soul top 10. I think any artiste who was black was regarded as soul, unless obviously MOR.

First heard it played by Paul McKay at Soul In The City. He had a spare so bought it off him. I've played it out a couple of times to nice comments. In fact, Little Reg bought a copy off Paul after I played it at the Blue Skies alldayer last year. Will the fact that it isn't a rare dear record stop it being massive?

Thanks for the sounds posted, great stuff, quite a few new to my ears. Never Let Me Go is an old Johnny Ace song, it's been revived by the Impressions and Aretha Franklin among others. Sorry I can't contribute any sounds at the moment, but when my PC problems are sorted out I will have a go.

Thanks for that, quite a few there that I don't know. I will look out for it.

That's a great selection there Al, don't know all of them, would love a CD, lol. Seriously though, so many good ones, I'm playing my CD of Beat Ballad Bliss as I type this, Jerry Fuller's Turn To Me has just started, wonderful. Is there a volume 2 of this, and if so what is on it? I've got Beat Ballad Heaven on Goldmine, but otherwise the only other CD is one from a friend. Are there any other legit ones around? Don't want to repeat what's been said about beat ballads, but is it mainly a man thing? Usually it is blokes gliding around to them, or that is my experience. No offence to Jo and any other ladies into them big time. My wife used to like them, but never to the extent I did. I remember raving over the Masqueraders' How Big Is Big, and she just said it's okay. But our tastes did vary. Just played Lenny Welch's I'm Over You. Soul heaven.

Cheers Ady, I'd like that. The only people I'm in touch with who went to these clubs are my close friends. And none of them have kept on being such an obsessive soul fan as I am. Won't be at the 100 tonight as am off to Thorne very soon. But will try to get down there soon. My worry is that a proper all nighter might leave me dead for the whole of week. Powers of recovery wane with age, lol. Not sure really if there is a proper definition to a beat ballad, usually just know it when I hear it. Personally I can glide round the floor to slowies like How Big Is Big but too slow for some people. Classic beat ballads for me would include The Panic Is On, The Drifter, Lonely People Can't Afford To Cry, I Never Loved Her Anyway. Would anyone regard the Volumes' The Same Old Feeling as a beat ballad? I thought it was, but someone disagreed. Doesn't really matter, for me the whole genre is marvellous. Just hits you in your heart.

The Tottenham Royal was a Mecca dance hall, similar to the Orchid, Purley and the Streatham Locarno. Played soul and R&B records, but also the hits of the day. Every time I hear Let's Go by the Routers I am back there. Long After Tonight Is All Over was originally issued in 63, but my recollections of hearing it as the last record at the Royal was when I used to go there with Lesley in 66 and 67. Current British releases were played in the clubs I attended, but some records must have been American imports as I remember hearing many tracks well before release here. And many that were not released here on 45 at the time. As for writing about my experiences, well Little Reg's book is a good read, not sure if anything in my life is that interesting. I do feel that the Mod scene has never really been documented as it was. I've got a couple of books about it, but they left me dissatisfied. Hard to explain what I mean. There was another one that I meant to get that took it right back years before, but I can't remember the title. Dr Bob Jones has posted on the Mod scene in the past, are there any other old Mods on here? I remember Ady Croasdell mentioning that one of the Scene DJs attends the 100 Club sometimes. It would be interesting to talk to him or her, the playlists would be fascinating, or at least for me.

Doowop is one of my favourite non soul styles of music. Interesting how it gradually changed from the Orioles to the days of the doowop revival prior to the arrival of the Beatles and the British invasion of the American charts. Quite a few doowop groups had a go at soul, e.g. Lee Andrews & The Hearts, The Charts (who remade Desiree as a soul song), Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels, the Del Vikings (hope that is the correct spelling) and others I can't think of now. Also the Volumes had an American hit with I Love You prior to their more mainstream soul records. I find the crossover between doowop and early soul very interesting. Please post up some doowop, can't contribute myself due to computer problems but would like to hear the choices of others.