Dayo

DOH! 47 ... and the weekend is still for canin' it! PS Just read thread title properly - Jess Fisher probably not a cheapie. But here's one for you; I Love You Yes I Do - The Independents. Mix could have a tad more balls, but what a gorgeous song.

Does "You're not loving a beginner" get played much these days? Jess Fisher (?) - used to love that tune.

Had a unique voice didn't he? In fact I've got a huge soft spot for "Well I ask You". It's one of the first records that registered on my conscienceness as a 3 or 4 year old I distinctly remember it on what I guess was the the old BBC Light programme.

Lovely melody aint it?

Yaaaay! You got it - thanks Andy!

Point taken. But I mean REALLY bombed in the States like The Tomagoes or Eddie Parker.

Which was the first rare soul fanzine? Any ideas anyone? First one I ever saw was around 1973 - Chris Savoury's Hot Buttered Soul. Remember that anyone? What a great little read it was too. Anything predate that? PS I don't count "Home of the Blues" as it wasn't rare soul based.

Was adding my two cents to the JJ Barnes/Marvin Gaye thread when an idea crossed my mind; what if "Heard it through the Grapevine" had been by an unknown artist on a label like Revilot? Imagine it had bombed, only five copies known. What a monster that cut would have been on our scene. Agree? That set me thinking. I know it's mad, but what if the entire Motown catalogue had bombed out? What if all these great songs never made it and hadn't become the soundtrack to a generation? Yeah, I know, Northern Soul would never have happened, but go with me on this... Which Motown song or songs (hits included) would have had the biggest impact on the Northern Soul scene? Would a mega rare "Can't help myself" have been a bigger record than, say, Eddie Foster? Hope I'm making sense here, or should I, as someone often says, get me coat?

Good point. JJ Barnes was, along with Major Lance and Darrel Banks, among the first icons of our scene; but can you imagine the world without Marvin? His influence as a social commentator extended beyond the confines of music. And what if he had been an unknown grafter and "Grapevine" had been another bombed out record on Impact or Revilot? Might have been the greatest Northern Soul sound of all time - not to mention "Take this heart of mine", "You're a wonderful one" or a zillion other classics. Marvin for me then.

If I were selling anything I'd go for EBay at the moment.

Welcome to the party SoundsOKEH

Excellent version which I think I came across on an old Atlantic sampler called Flying High. But Gladys is as close to soul perfection as it gets (for me).

You're right, of course! I'm confused now. The Wheel spin I'm think of may have been something with a similar group name or title. There were a lot of quirky instrumentals back then - well that's my excuse! Dreadful record, but I think all the records have to be seen in context of the times they were played. It must have sounded right to some ears at the time.

Didn't Cats Eyes get spins at The Wheel?

Thought it worked really well as an instrumental too and during the overload of Mirwood tracks that surfaced back in '74, it really stood out. Dancers loved it.

That's right - Tony Turner on Musicor. Mind you, at the same time there was also supposed to be an instrumental of Can't get enough, by the Monk Higgins Band on St. Lawrence. Now that would have been a treat! I think some of these rumours started through michevious "wants lists".

Hi Pete - Cracking track! Colin

If I recall, the Torch era rumour even came with an artist name; Tony Turner rings a bell. Can anyone else remember?

Re Simon Soussan; Anyone know what happened to him? And was anyone else at Wigan that night they let him loose on the decks? I think I would have kneecapped him that night; my gawd it was shite!

I've been pondering this one at odd times for years and my feeling regarding 6 by 6 is that the tune was obviously arranged and intended to be an instrumental. Motown habitually used brass to punctuate vocal lines. In 6 by 6 the brass often takes the lead melody and it's very unlikely that any kind of vocal would "sit" nicely in it. Simply put, it just doesn't sound like a backing track. I'm not disputing that the Wolverhampton disc exists, but it might have a funny whiff about it. Just my two Euros.

Some contend that Jimmy Saville was the first disc jockey in UK ballrooms. Ouch.

I know what you mean, but I can't help but think The Everlys were far superior vocalists!

Didn't realise this was a chestnut - sorry everyone! Colin