Dayo

Think this is a great idea. The rule about no CD tracks makes it tough though; with so many CD's available we may not all be aware of what's come out. Might it be better to say; stick to tracks which are not widely known to have come out on CD? Or something! Any better suggestions anyone?

Thought 2 Step was another term for UK Garage? Might be dead wrong, still hungover!

DON'T DO IT! I once sold 175 rare English demo's including Darryl Banks on London to buy a crap car that was always going to go down in value. You will regret it... please think it through!

Gareth - nice post, thankyou, and much respect. The whole thing was a bit tongue in cheek, with just a hint of longing for the days when we were 21... bluey's were 7 for a quid, and The Salvadors was just another dusty record waiting in a Chicago warehouse. The scene was then about being young and part of something so cool, so elite, man...you just ruled.

Anyone think this scene can never be like it was? There are three good reasons: 1. No-one will ever again discover an unheard record with the quality of "This Heart Of Mine". 2. We are not young post-mods anymore. 3. Worst of all, neither are the chicks.

Thanks to all for the interesting Okeh info. I recall my bother in law had some old blues stuff on Okeh 78's. They were so beautiful just to look at. I was quite a ceremony whenever he would change the cartidge in his "Dual" hi fi deck for a 78 stylus(?) and pickup, then spin them with such reverence it bordered on religion.

Right, while we're at it; what's the explaination behind the word "Okeh"? "Okay" would have been more obvious wouldn't it? Or this there another reason for the name of Chicago's greatest soul/blues label?

Just thought of another one; an alldayer at the Heavy Steam Machine in Hanley. It was around '73. There were more DJ's than punters; fortunately they included Levine, Curtis, Minshall et al spinning stuff like Saxie Russel and Terrible Tom for the first time out.

Ain't it a great record ? The Shapeshifters, I mean.

The lesson is; always register your domain before you do any promotion - this applies to any field of business activity - and always do it quickly after you have found the name available. There are some supremely shifty people lurking in the darker corners of the net; they'll get access to your search and steal it in the blink of an eye.

Did Major Lance turn up Paul? Maybe I was asleep!

You had BUM gear - I don't recall getting ANY! lol The worst of it was, I ran a coach that night from Worcester; lots of very unhappy bunnies who were very ungracious and tried to take it out on me! One other thing, that night I did buy an original copy of "I've only got myself to blame" - ironic, I know. Cost me £3.50. About two weeks later I sat on it and broke the bloody thing in half! Yes, yes... I know what it's worth now! Colin "wish I'd gone to Wigan" Day

Worst night ever? Queens Hall, Leeds around 1974. The Inter City Soul Club ran an all-nighter billed as the greatest ever, ultimate event blah blah blah. There were hundreds maybe thousands there, but the place was like an aircraft hanger; the moon had more atmosphere. I'm STILL cross that I went there - lol. Anyone else remember this awful, awful night?

Me and PaulR had a conversation this week which meandered into the first record we ever heard at an allnighter. For Paul it was Alice Clark; mine was Landslide; both at VaVa. As an aside, the first song I heard at an alldayer was Duke Browner. I'll never forget how the crowd all clapped in synch on the downbeat each time the piano motif came in; it blew me away. Wondered if this might make a nice thread? Can you recall the first sound you heard at a 'nighter? Share some memories if you feel inclined...

(politely coughs) anybody any clue who my JayBoy Invitations are?

Hope you won't think I'm flooding the forum with daft questions; it's just that one seems to prompt another, and frankly, this is such a great place to get answers to those things that have puzzled me for years. Here goes: anyone know the Invitations song that came out on JayBoy around 1971? It was titled "Picking Up"; was this a label misprint? To my ears they are singing "PACKING up". And are these the same Invitations who we know and love? The production sounds a tad British. And lastly, anyone think "Hallelujah" by the (same?) group is just the most gorgeous slab of mid tempo soul? Thanks all!

ouch paul

You got it Paul: it was Soul Over Easy. But who the heck were the Hammond Brothers and Maggie? And does anyone recall that the official A side was awful, bearing no relation whatever to the classic flip? Still like to get to the bottom of this!

Whatever, I'm sure you'll seek out the car-booter and split the proceeds 50/50 (coughs)

This has been bugging me for years: Everyone knows that Soul Symphony was an instrumental version of Get Out Of My Heart (Moses & Joshua Dillard). So it made perfect sense that it came out on Coral by The Sons of Moses. But around 1974 the tune turned up on a British issue - was it the London label? - credited to an obscure outfit; think it may have been Hammond Brothers and Maggie. Same recording. If memory serves - and these days it is well dodgy - the issue was a B-Side to a song called Garbage Man (or similar). Was it a mis-press? Any Soul Detectives know the full story on this?

Welcome to the Forum, Stonesoul. My experience has been that this a small and very friendly crowd; not to mention extremely knowledgable and generous. I'm sure we'd be very interested to know just how easy or hard it is to find rarities in Chicago these days? Do your finds come mainly from dealers, thrift shops or what? What's the typical day of a Windy City crate digger like?

Wolverhampton was a great scene, dangerous, but great. Even had a motorcycle gang considered too extreme to be an Angels' chapter. Them were the days - so long as you knew the right people!

Crikey, this is turning into a two man nostalgia fest! Forgotten about Jackie Follett altogether! Anyone agree Mel Williams had the most killer sax break on any record at the time!? It's true the North West had most of the great venues; but we did have the incomparable Catacombs. I think many people forget how many great records were broken there by the likes of Pep, Blue Max, Alan 'S', Froggy, Graham Warr and Basil. And as for the atmosphere; many reckon it was never bettered anywhere. This thread now a million miles from festival time vocal: lol.

Off topic, so what!? These memories are priceless. Now you mention it, I remember an instrumental of Under my thumb at Va Va. Timothy Wilson was certainly huge, and for some strange reason records like Lord Thunder and Ann D'Andrea also stick in my mind. Had a similar experience to you at Blackpool Mecca. Had been a few times around 73 & 74, but one week I just couldn't get past the bouncer - too young get lost - had to stay in my mate's car (Triumph Vitesse). Stank it out with Fish and Chips, so he wasn't impressed. I also remember he came out raving about a brand new spin by Edward Hamilton. Baby don't you weep?! *%$@!!! I was weeping for weeks; Worcester to Blackpool was 150 miles!

PaulR - what an coincidence. I'd done one or two all dayers, but my first allnighter was also VaVa - and I was 15! The record I first heard there was Landslide, but Alice Clark must have been in the same set. Also recall Earl Grant, Lou Courtney, Billy Preston, The Shirelles and a zillion other classics. For a short time between The Torch and Wigan, VaVa was THE scene wasn't it? Searling had so many big records. Took me years to figure out that VaVa was French for Go-Go! Talking of Go-Go; had my first pills there too - 6 Blueys for a quid - danced so hard I'm STILL aching! lol