Rich B

Sorry I this is delayed I wouldn't like anyone to think I wasn't up for the debate, but you know how work can be, the girlfriend in question was a bitch, but she was my bitch! A couple of things to raise when it comes down to it; 1. Dave Godin always warned we would become like the Teddy boys unless we embraced a newer sound. Wearing reproduction clothes from a bygone era? I rest my case on that one. 2. THE black face of Carl. Singular. Those things said, the tolerance of others (when I started travelling football violence was a big thing in the real world, so to queue with scousers etc and not end up fighting was amazing), but there was plenty of discord between Mecca/Wigan fans, and there is more than enough bickering on this very forum to make me wonder about how truly tolerant we are. I want to make clear though, I love northern soul (and all other forms), the years (and as anyone who knows me will confirm there were quite a lot of them) I was active on the scene were some of the happiest of my life. The people (with some exceptions - you know who you are) were great, and there isn't anything I like more than hearing a 'good' new, if there is such a thing, northern tune to this day. Yes, the scene influenced many things, because WE grew up to have jobs that influenced things and we were influenced by it. Now, I really have got to get in some work... best, RB

Hi Doog, It isn't usually my intention when I set out, but if it needs saying... best, RB

It changed our lives, and it certainly influenced other scenes and the whole 'do it all night/all day' thing. But I think we sometimes take it all too seriously. I certainly don't think we should think our scene so important it might have helped the civil rights movement - even in this country. And though I run the risk of a severe 'forum beating', when I took a ( knew nothing about NS) girlfriend to a NS do she thought it hilarious that 50 (+) year old men (most not as slim now as they once were) dressed in reproduction bags and bar towels they wore when they were young. Initially she thought I had taken her to a fancy dress do...there's a scene that has matured well eh? Try telling someone you were on a 'cutting edge scene' as a lad when she's seen that kind of nonsense. Oh, and by the way, bar towels were ridiculous when they were first worn as adornments, whenever that was. So, more than 'just' a night out then, barely qualifies as one now. ktf, RB

I seem to recall that some of his tunes sound very similar to some northern favourites, isn't Patti Brooks 'After dark' very similar to 'My dear heart'? Best all, RB

There are some nice Canadian Warner Brothers things around. I had a Three Degrees 'Contact' and a Ben Aiken 'Satisfied' amongst others, they were using the orange/black design with the triangles around the edge, so they just looked so different. Major Harris, on Epic. B & O band 'Condition red' on Reo, as well as James Carr and a bunch of other things like Rufus Lumley on Reo too. I really liked having stuff on odd labels - hang the rarity I say! best, RB.

Wasn't it a Pat Brady c/u? Well that's who I remember playing it anyway... RB

Flipside of "Everything you always wanted to know" is pretty good too... best, RB

Isn't it on the "After hours 2" cd as well? RB

I think it's managed that trick on a couple of occasions too! You love it when you first hear it, bit it just gets old real quick for some reason, couldn't say why, because it's beeter than some you hear. best, RB ps I'll let mine go, at a reasonable price if asked!

I once paid a tenner for a Checkerboard Squares that looked absolutely ready for the bin - just for the record room wall really. But when home I figured 'what have I got to lose?' gave it a good scrub, and hey presto, good as new! I just wonder why the owner hadn't tried doing the same? As Rob Smith had been the middleman on the deal I was curious as to why he hadn't taken a chance on doing the same thing. On the down side I bought a knackered cracked Bernie Williams for £15 at Stafford after playing it through the Dj headphones, and it didn't sound too bad. It did when I got home though! Win some lose some I guess. RB

Try listening to the Lou Pride tracks on itunes - I think the 'Words of caution' lp is on there, but there are certainly plenty of Lou Pride tracks to be sampled. best, RB

I have to confess I had forgotten all about it. Though on second thoughts (after giving it a listen) my mind must have blocked it out like some kind of amnesia realted to trauma - it's that bad isn't it? With reference to the Kadoo strings "Crying over you" that some one posted the scan of, the flip "Nothing but love" (also issued as John Rhys) definitely belongs in the thread about dated instrumentals, though I remember having the red Impact Kaddo strings copy, and being so pleased when I finally got it. Strange how things change eh? best, RB

I had a minter back in the day Russ, and it too had an odd noise at the beginning, I had always assumed it was a pressing fault. I also wonderd whether there was a connection between the Rika label that the Fabulous Jades and the Rika Tommy Bush was on. best, RB

With you all the way on this one, my older brother and his mates put me in a crombie and a trilby and smuggled me into the Brit, I don't think it would have been called northern at the time, they just referred to it as a 'soul club' - I have dim recollections of hearing Edwin Starr (Headline news) and Robert Knight (Love on a mountain top) as well. best, RB

Not taking overseas northern soul scenes seriously? I don't even take anything south of Watford seriously! It's called "northern" soul for a reason you know, my car doesn't even like being driven further south than Leicester....and before you all jump on me, I'm only joking! If you love soul music, who cares where you are? and who cares what anyone else thinks anyway? best, RB

I think the days of (most) top end prices just have to come to an end eventually - if you got started on the northern thing in the early 70's like me, retirement is getting nearer, there's the credit crunch, everything else seems to cost more. Don't get me started on how much kids cost - forever! Frankly it could never go on until the end of time could it? Buying records should never be viewed as an investment, buy what you like, play them to death. if you want an investment get an ISA! I took the decision to sell up when I did in a fairly cynical way to max out the price the collection would fetch - I don't think I got the time totally right, but even at wholesale I made a whacking profit. But will those who bought my tunes (after the dealer has added his percentage) if they keep them for any length of time, see a return on thier money? I hope so, but not in the order that I did I'm sure. But again, it shouldn't be about the profit unless you are a dealer. The only records I ever bought that I didn't like were because I bought job lots, and had to take the 'rough with the smooth'. Ironically, because they weren't filed with what I considered my collection the damn things are still here in a box somewhere! Do any of you remeber what happened to all the 78 rpm's the grandfolks had? Because that is highly likely what will happen to most northern 45's in 20 years time! Cheerfully, RB

Ed Cobb did a version? You learn something new every day! best, RB

Morning chaps, Judging by the numbers on some of the cards there are some old buggers out there! Scanning and the like totally beyond me (I'll get someone to do it at work tomorrow!) my number is "Jun 1416" its blue and - fortunately - its a gents. With earlier reference to members not paying for drinks, mine say "MEMBERS NOTE - Non-Members MUST NOT Pay for drinks". I seem to remember by the time I got there I felt like a proper newcomer, and that everyone else already knew everything and everyone already. I always had an aversion to badges (I still do) and have never ever bought one, even if it came as part of the admission I gave it away without fail. And I still would! best, RB

Slightly different tack - the John Schroeder orch version - Uk/Lp or tailor made? What's the story? Issued/re-issued on Alaska if I recall. best, RB

Isn't there a 12" release on Expansion? is it the same mix as the 7" Alston copy or extended? best, RB

For what it's worth, my copy of "He's a flirt" had a really nice version of "That boy" (same as Carl Henderson) on the flip. You can spot a Renfro original from the 60's a mile off though. Wasn't it bootlegged on red/black Soultown as well? best, RB

I'm with Maxwell, Keanya definitely does it for me - looks good, sounds good and by golly it makes you feel good! That said I love Patti's (and the Lovelites of course) stuff. I'm glad it's not either or. best, RB.

I seem to remember from the time the AMG copies surfaced being told that the AMG recording was actually the 6 pack recording credited to Melvin Carter. urban myth? I never managed to turn up any of the 4 - what kind of collector could I have been! best, RB

I'm sure I was given a boot in the hope I would play it in my spot once - would have been late 80's or early 90's (it was at the Swan in Mansfield if that helps) and that did have a date stamp. you could see through a colour through that one too. best, RB

Crikey that is good! Like others, I bought it for "You don't mean it" and though I played the rest of it at the time nothing else particularly stood out. Presumably because head was in a 'northern place' at that time. I have a copy of the album but sadly I have never had the sleeve for it, any guesses on what it might fetch? The vinyl is in good nick. best, RB