Ady Croasdell

Sorry someone told me you'd been selling bootlegs of the Standing In The Shadows Of Motown DVD which I thought was incredible as the whole film is about how deserving black musicians were ripped off in the 60s. If there were boots of the DVD around then they were ripped off again by the very fans who are meant to respect them. I also heard that you'd defended your actions in the usual "poor little me" manner but perhaps I got it wrong. No reply to my points about your "dead artists" post?

There's only you talking about dead people, most of the artists and many of the label owners are still alive and many benefit from a substantial royalty income. And if they were dead why shouldn't their next 0f kin get something from the great musical legacy they left behind them?

With your sales of CDs and DVDs this dumb reaction comes as no great surprise.

I just saw a list of some of the more recent or latest Goldmine CDs on Soul Talk and posted the following. "Not a surprise to see the latest Goldmine include several tracks where I know the owners haven't licensed the recordings out. Most of the rest are from small obscure indies where there's little chance of the owners taking any action if they ever got to hear about it. I know they don't have master tapes on the vast majority and this will screw up a lot of other more legitimate labels future plans. But what do they care, it's just a business; who's bothered about who owns the rights." Yes it does piss me off.

It's main champion and spinner was fellow Sourcer Tony Ellis at Yate in the mid 70s.

Sorry there were about 100 serious contenders to choose from and they didn't make the cut, but there are other similar items that I hope you'll like. I know we've got Daddy Cleanhead on an Ace CD and probably Bull Moose too. Go to www.acerecords.com and interogate the site.

Its from 63 after Fire. I got mine from Danny Flash's on West Adams in LA in the mid 70s. I'm just writing the note to the 6TS Story Vol 1 and I remembered how we used to go down Gaz's (Mayall, John's son!) Rockin Blues club from 1980 onwards dancing to what we called black Rock and Roll. That's where things like Daddy Cleanhead 'Somethings Going On In My Room' and Bull Moose Jackson 'Big 10 Inch' came from and eventually got played at 6Ts evening dos.

I get totally bollocked when the 100 Club's been showered in it and have to pay the cleaner extra as it's a sod to shift. Crazy Simon's great T-Shirt says it all NO TALC

Funnily enough I'm going through all that stuff and found our flyer at the time also advertising it for you. I can't remember so I was probably there. Though it's a bit tough from a historical point of view, I've noticed we hardly ever advertised DJs. It kept them in their place, they were lucky to be allowed to DJ! I think it's a good reflection on their egos. They weren't Prima Donnas like some of the Northern super stars at the time. We were more "For the people, by the people".

Derek was an absolute corker of a bloke. I concur with everyone's tributes and would just add that he left the world doing exactly what he loved doing; DJing. He was a brave man who lived life to the full and probably enjoyed himself more in one night playing to a hundred people than some of us do in our whole careers.

I assume that's a copy of the master we have (I can't access soundfiles yet) I think that's Ann double tracking, I don't think either girl really knew each other much. Ann was with Dave later than Toby.

Don't forget Mary Love Comer's 'Sandbox' and all the other 80s/90s tracks on her Kent CD ('The Price' is slow but utterly brilliant). If we do a comp we'll get Tony Clayton to do the sleevenotes. Ady PS I know Clara Ward was a gospel singer but are there any religious refernces in 'The Right Direction', I can't remember feeling very holy when I danced to it.

Unfortunately it clashed with the Acid Jazz Xmas party and a few of the regulars were down there for social rather than musical reasons. December is a bit hit or miss, there's odd one-off nights appearing everywhere. I agree it's rotten on the promoters who work so hard to give us a good night out. I feel bad that I couldn't make it. There's also the question of now the Saturdays have started will it affect the crowd on the Wednesdays

I think BMI is solely a US organisation.

I WAS TOLD "BIG NORTHERN SOUND, ADY CROASDALE FOUND THIS" (dont know if thats true) AND ITS ON HIS KENT ALBUMS, (MUST BE SOUL THEN EH...no offence meant Ady ) I've never had it and can't remember which one it is. It's not on any Kent CDs and there are no plans for it to be. There's some right arses out there who claim what we play at the 100 Club is R&B. I doubt if we ever play more than 10% R&B even when Roger's guesting once every 2 years (he did 30 mins this time his second set was soul). I play 1-3 records and Mick and Butch play bugger all. It seems that if it's not a recognisable oldie it's R&B whereas the Magicians, Nancy Wilcox, Peanuts, Thelma Jones, Devonnes, Martha Starr, Pretenders/Larks etc are anything but. Don't believe the rumours, come and listen for yourself, we don't bite.

Poppy punk, great tune but not soul.

The singer of a great cover version of Wilson Picket's 'Come Home Baby' on Parkway (one of Mick Smith's favourites) died recently and there's an obit in the Guardian today.

Also from Southern Soul Better news coming recently from David Earl, the boss of Severn records : "I talked with Lou today and he is in great spirits. He says he hasn't felt this good in 10 years!! He will be coming home on Saturday."

Here's a bit of bad news I just saw on the Southern Soul site. He was terrific at Prestatyn and the 100 Club, let's hope he recovers soon. "The organisers of the Lucerne Blues Festival were obliged to inform about a most unfortunate incident last Monday, 8.11.04. Lou Pride, one of the top acts of the festival, suffered a myocardial infarction. The 54 year old singer of the Severn Soul Revue is now in the hospital of Lucerne, where he had to go through surgery, and further surgery may still be necessary. Even though Lou Pride is already recovering, it is most unlikely that he will be on stage with the Severn Soul Revue on Saturday, 13.11.04"

Hottest sound in the South (and whenever I've played it in the North) is Luther Ingram's 'Oh Baby Don't You Weep' but as Tim Brown says Wilson Pickett's LP version is better, we've probably got it wrong again.

Anyone hear that pin drop?

I'll tick off the DJs before this years do then, although I hadn't heard that criticism before. What sort of records were getting repeated? We do the international spot on the Sat afto which goes down a storm and have a few newer DJs on the Sunday but perhaps I'll put a few more in then. Though this year it's going to be competing with "Northern Soul Bingo" (copyright applied for) for time!

I cannot comment too much on Goldmine as I have a confidentiality agreement in place. I worked with them for 14 years. Bexter How convenient; Dan, let George know that his dues can't be paid because of an arrangement between the people who forgot to license from him.

I'd love to hear this Ady if ever possible- I take it was never issued by A&S? Is it tape only or actual demo disc/acetate? Martin

The Val Simpson original demo is very good, I'll have to compare it to JA's.