Agentsmith

SO NOW WE'VE FINALLY FOUND OUT WHO PAID 25K FOR IT? :D

love you guys!, this is a love or hate tune, personally......gary holyman blew me out of the water with this 4 years ago and never tire of it. former tv film star with half decent voice meets thom bell and philadelphian magic occurs...backing track awesome for 1971. i had TWO COPIES, one week after the other, demo off gary, issue off ebay, courtesy of dolly. demo came by way of trades, issue £75, sold it on to capt. grice.......kate LOVES the record but nige has NEVER played it out. i played it at brig and CLEARED the floor!,....mr. eccles said; by eck lad, tha's braver than me! i dont know,....do we call it something of a cult classic or what?, is it played under the popcorn banner even?...one thing is for certain....its biggest fan is a certain mr. searling, richard told me he spent a complete fortnight's holiday in florida, trying to hunt down a copy but, as even pete smith has stated many times, amongst others, demo's are, in most cases, more prevalent than issues and it appears to ring true with tick-tock.

i thought that slanging matches were an after the event preserve, when everyone who's anyone with an inkling of knowledge of the scene, comes over all judgemental?......right, that would seem to be all of us then?!!....except,....the event hasnt materialised yet.....its a concept thats nearing fruition from what we read,and the question of financing shouldnt broker an issue of "smoke & mirrors",....to all intents & purposes the lady in question, elaine constantine is remaining true to her goal, her credibility is in her life's dedication to the northern soul scene, her ultimate aspiration is for a dramatisation that is as realistic a depiction of what life was like back nearly 4 decades, as is acceptable to the majority. down right bigotry shouldnt be allowed to cloud people's judgement and certainly not in a pre-emptive manner. lets see it commited to celluloid and screened...surely we all must be in agreement with that ethic?. how many people on here are going to stand up and be counted, convinced that they should be chipping in their twopenneth in an advisory capacity?.i believe that elaine knows exactly what she is doing and what she wants, what she can achieve...why shouldn't a film of our heritage be welcomed unanimously, much in the manner that quadrophenia was?, in real life, a lot of what we did, was tongue-in-cheek, the early days...when we look back, exposed us as...at the very least, nieve...how the scene & its music, was shaped and developed was down to us...it has always been a learning curve...even now as most of us frequent middle age, there's still the exhileration to hear or discover something new. the art of cinematography has always been the ultimate expose'...but to some its a stumbling block, sinful & shameful...like our youthful exasperations & inhibitions should have a dark veil drawn over them,....so what if 7 or 8 people appeared on top of the pops dancing to footsee in front of a gaggle of tank top wearing mop heads...they were doing it BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFERENT and it was a statement of HOW different they were.....hasn't that always been what WE were/ are about....the sensible alternative to the boring, mundane world of commercial music?,...who cares if it was footsee?, nobody was outspoken about the choice of music back then,..it just happened to be THE BIGGEST TUNE OF THE TIME!. this is the new millenium, a vantage point from which to look back on the emergent & most groundbreaking scene the 70's witnessed, with fondness..or are many of you out there, to go to your maker, still bearing a grudge, still in denial of a fitting testament to its enduring popularity?.... RIGHT NOW,...it is up to elaine constantine,...she's stood up and is recieving countenance, bravely and rightly so, she is NOT shirking responsibility...before its too late, she wants a permanent visual edict that will tell it like it was and is as equally relevant to today's youth who are looking for an alternative, thats funny, serious, energetic and factually descriptive as near as damn it. there's nothing to fear from the paperazzi or media as MANY northern soul addicts work within those industries...the tacky, tasteless hypocrisy that was once displayed,that was an attempt to pigeon-hole, has long since been replaced with acceptance....THAT WE AINT GONE AWAY, AND NEVER WILL, AND WE'RE HERE TO STAY, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO OUTLIVE ANY OTHER MUSICAL TREND THAT REARS ITS EMBROINICALLY DEFUNCT HEAD. and do you know what?....a film about a phenomenon called northern soul has never been a better idea for the socially conscious...a reminder of what real music used to be/IS all about and how it has come to be globally embraced,....a film that says..."WAKE UP AND BE SOMEBODY". THIS FILM IS COMING....AND "THE BOOK IS GOING TO BE EVERY BIT AS GOOD AS THE COVER"

"more youngish people getting into it"......this only emphasizes the point made by someone far more famous than me...,that in 100 years, nothing will ever be as good as northern soul - its a way of life and its continuing to create a growing impression on generations of youngsters. put aside your doubts & scepticism brothers & sisters,...this culture that we share is a natural sanity preservative, its the right way, its how music should sound, its a proper way to dance...its all of us under one roof. its the greatest music phenomenon the world has EVER seen, and IS likely to see, and its something andy warhole could NEVER label!

i guess we brits are not surprised these days, that the national has been going for so long and enduring thanks to the seriously professional input and dedication of both ex-pats, and aussies who've developed a mutual love for this music. this, at long last, for me in particular, is a through-the-keyhole insight into a world that, up to this moment, has been on the whole written about and perhaps has laid to rest any mystiscism about the success of northern soul on another continent. you know, brits have been making the trip to oz since the early 70's, it was probably much easier to get in there and get a job, put down roots....and just a few, at first, took their beloved tunes on the great sojourn into the unknown, not knowing what to expect...perhaps having the music would have been their greatest comfort in a strange land. the world has turned many times since then and the culmination of all that tlc & nurturing is now resultant of what we witness here on the screen. im impressed and proud that these folk have finally delivered a promotional brochure...there's just one hurdle to get over for the people tempted to go to the other side of the world for a week long festival...the cost of getting there!...trip of a lifetime? - yes!...hard saving? - definitely!

the consumate disco exponent, this is a devastating loss,...i guess she will, in many ways, be the soundtrack to the majority of us, that symbolised the developement of 70's boogie, right at the cutting edge and everyone else followed. she was a global superstar whose catalogue pre-empted the madonnaesque 80's, she could turn her hand to any style and had a scintillating, soaring voice, that became, and still is, instantly recognisable...this is such a shock...how many of us truely had an inkling that she was so seriously ill? such immense talent taken from us at an age that we now consider relatively young, god rest your soul great lady.

ere, ere guvn'r, the prevailance of sanity still exists...why oh why is this c.s.i. autopsy of northern soul and its attire STILL GOING ON AFTER 200 POSTS....FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.....GET A BLOODY GRIP!!!

yep, copies have dried up BECAUSE they are mostly in people's collections already. i picked one up off henry atkinson for £75 and even he had put it up on ebay ( or as most of you refer to it: evilbay ). i agree, its typically a record that perhaps you couldnt give away years ago, but as they say, every dog has its day and this record of course, is a product of detroit so naturally, it has its appeal. sounds muffled so you cant really make out the lyrics but it bounces along and i suppose you could class it as crossover as well...i'll play it in the windsor suite. incidentally, this is/was the SECOND copy john has put up for auction in less than 12 months, so, 2 less to appear on the market and, hence, the price grows.

there's sanity in your words pete, unlike some of the vehement sceptisism on display here. firstly you're as young as you feel even if you dont look it, its a state of mind. the music will never grow old and WILL continue to appeal to generations to come...its timeless, its tuneful, its full of brilliant lyricism unlike today's pop dross....or should i say, the last 3 DECADES OF MIND NUMBING TALENTLESS WASTE. as has been echoed so many times before, you can see why many youngsters are turning their backs on mundaneity and believing in what their parents bought them up on ( probably forcibly ) and seriously getting off on it. they must see the clothing aspect in the same way the mods did.....its alternative & different and whilst we may shudder in horror at the prospect of them replicating an age we want to brush under the carpet....WE SHOULDNT ATTEMPT TO DISSUADE THEM. the mod attitude to dress IS still revered, because it IS the height of cool, and they recognise THAT as well. they are encapsulating all of these dress codes as a positive rebellion against the boring outside world....thats not an unfamiliar thesis is it?,....remember the 70's?,....why we all got into northern soul?,....because it was a cool alternatiive?. i like to buy clothes, when i can, from house of fraser, because i want quality that looks and feels good and looks sensible for my age...but thats just me,....IT IS EVERYONE TO HIS/HER OWN. I LIKE PETER WIRTH/JACK JONES PRODUCTS & BENCH OR PENGUIN FOR T-SHIRTS, thats my taste, i wont wear anything garish or ultra floral, but im not going to put anyone down for doing just that....if you need the ultimate example of a broad spectrum, just visit the kings hall at stoke,...its an absolute kaleidescopic fashion statement, come dressed how you please and people dont stand there laughing at each other and visually dressing each other down...its of NO consequence WHATSOEVER, they're there for THE MUSIC!!. the baggies, bowling shirts, brogues,swirling skirts and the hair styles were part of an era and decade that seperated ( in our minds ) the wheat from the chaff and they will always be referred to as classics...so whilst we shy away from the euphoric past and search for suitable conformity, let others have their fling with it and give them credibility for wanting to experience what we did once.

cornerstone of memphis's historic house band, dunn, originally a member of the markey's, replaced steinberg in 63, and became part of the furniture...if there was a genuine answer at the time to jamerson, this would have to be the man...the stax studios reverberated to his consistant sound...god rest your soul brother, amen.

C & W NORTHERN SOUL STYLE....YEE HAW!! BUT I DO LIKE IT! oh, and kelly garrett

incidentally, a nice little aside to this.....mr. pugh is a great admirer of this tune and according to the tale, butch told him if he ever sold it, john would get first preference....i think ive got more chance of collecting my bus pass

correct on the latter, mick had kenny's copy. fortunate myself that i have a crystal clear recording on cd courtesy of the seller!

here, here russ, and what a fantastic double header THAT record is eh?. remember seeing a 25 count in max's shop in the mid seventies....now a £400 tune

roddie joy - is there anything else you want - red bird margorie black - one more hurt - sue ......the list quite honestly, is endless, oh, and i think "sleepless nights" was scheduled originally for the four tops

6 extra verses and a middle chorus with an extra verse

please answer me this question.....WHY OH WHY, has their brief fling with atlantic records NOT been addressed and quite simply, air brushed from history?. did they not cut at least FOUR singles on the label?. anyway, "the last girl" is a truly amazing beat ballad and deserves recognition in that catagory. the budget priced albums were a cheap & quick way of aqquiring the group's motown output and to be honest, there isnt a bad track on them. fast forward to 3 years ago and the long awaited anthology, just when you thought the vaults had been swept clean, you get the ultimate jewell in their crown..."SURE IS A LOTTA WOMAN"....can you imagine the response to this at station road?....i would stake my money on this blowing everything previously, clean out of the water and that includes "why" & "rumour",...storming tracks in their own right. would everyone here agree, that in terms of output, the isley brothers ARE the most prolific when it comes to the northern soul scene? one final note: the original interpretation of "who's that lady", i find quirky.....but is it relevant to the dancefloor?, i dont think it stands up to their motown output but then, they hadn't encountered H-D-H, prior to 65.

the cameo-parkway release was recorded in mono. if you know anything of the history of this ill-fated label, it was that they realised the emergent r&b market too late, having got embroiled in an expensive lawsuit over the beatles, from which they never recovered. its amazing to think they had so many talented black artists on the books at the time they shipped in the doris troy release for what they believed was a last ditch lifesaving launch/ venture in the u.k. as a result of this people like don covay, bobby marchant thom bell etc, weren't given the time, money or credibility to produce the goods that could have stopped the ship from sinking. perhaps doris had a say in what got released as a b-side or perhaps two different companies had conflicting ideas on what sounded better...obviously " but i love him" is a dancer, perhaps it was thought to be a bit dated to some but the outcome is, that whatever she recorded actually made an appearance on vinyl...ive yet to hear of something by her that is magical & unreleased and a northern soul monster in the making. overall, the label's appeal through its self-inflicted demise, has proved an enduring magnetism for collectors of obscure/rare soul releases as many of the catalogues dieing embers are real gems both in quality & value...issues proving to be rarer than demo's in some cases.

and, you will probably see mr & mrs burrell out on the dancefloor!

ian, the tributes here are humbling to read, leaving a lump in the throat...it imbues all of our lives with a sobering perspective...that we cannot escape from...the inevitability of death. it hurts nevertheless...grief is a remorseless attribute that we suffer frequently and as we roll on into this millenium it is becoming an all too familiar concept, but in death there should be and, indeed is, a joyous recollection and celebration of life shared so devotedly by yourself and the friends you & helen made. i recall, as an attendee of the catacombs at the behest of my badgering cousin, sharon, casting a gaze on the couple who quite intimately hid theirselves in one of the club's many alcoves, sharing each others company, yet the shining light that is helen, would also embrace the dancefloor publicly, casting her spell...she always stood out from the crowd...but in truth she WAS the crowd and people just gathered to her like a magnet. from the point of view of actually getting to make your aqquaintance, that happened at your first shop in stafford street, in walsall, where i worked. i would walk the short trip every lunchtime to hang around and check out the sounds. i remember one particular occasion where her promotional nous involved me balancing ( ney, juggling ) half a dozen copies of stanley mitchell in various positions, even wedged in the collar of my tee-shirt, and then posing outside the shop for a photograph!!.....fun and mischief would always abound. the shops became the hub of relationships...many lifelong friendships were forged there, and helen was the centrefugal driving force, be it or be it not her intention. as i stated recently, helen was THE FIRST LADY OF NORTHERN SOUL and, it is a testimony to her sincereity, her warmth, her devotion and most importantly...her humanity, that WE as followers of the scene, pay homage to her...every step we took, every breath we made, she oversaw in her motherly way. god, in his infinite wisdom, has shone his light to guide the way to everlasting life...helen is amongst the stars...looking down on you, ian and all of us, letting us know how much we are all loved. with deep affection & sincere regards, rob.h

is that right, you would still have been in your pram when she appeared young un'

thats a well spotted chalkx, and of course, a relevant nod to the sadly departed jimmy ellis....tributes galore over this last weekend i expect....cant get over how good "WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE" is

sure dave will be on the case, bro

just read the herald edict and thats a truly unrehearsed, astonishing piece....couldn't have put it better. i dont profess to being knowledgeable on group line-ups, so realising that its not only his voice that fronts the trammps, but a whole variety of numbers associated, ironically, with the northern scene, is an eye-opener....you certainly live & learn! sheer tenacity handling the lyrics in the manner he did, on disco inferno, bears out to great effect what people are expressing about his vocal range...has to be in the top ten disco records of all-time. all of a sudden it comes to mind that jimmy ellis, for his magnanimous contributions to r & b over 5+ decades sits alongside the greats who have passed by our way. i connect with the volcanoes through to the trammps and am waking up to everything else in between, and all the time jimmy's was the guiding voice...now he's ( to coin a well spun phrase ) "burnin' that mother down" up in heaven city!!. r.i.p. jimmy ellis

back that up bro, top spot again and cheers for request...fook off and put yer gripes on the "world's no.1" thread and anyway......HOW CAN ANYONE POSSIBLY EXPECT ALL DJS TO TURN UP ATSAME TIME?, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT TRAVELLING DISTANCE AND WETHER THEY'RE WORKING SOMEWHERE ELSE BEFOREHAND, WHICH AT THIS JUNCTURE, IS A SIGN OF THEIR POPULARITY.they may even be at work, they may have families to attend to as well as a social life outside of the scene.....any number of LEGITIMATE REASONS REALLY!. i'll be brutally frank right here, right now....the djs at the kings hall HAVE gone to the trouble of avoiding repeats where possible, infact if im on stage, on many an occasion, ginger, kingy and others have asked me about whats been played because im pretty observant in that department...if it just so happens that THE SUPERLATIVES was subject to a repeat during the course of the niter, is that tantemount to overkill then?...perhaps some people are failing to notice ONCE AGAIN, that a good many tunes have been locked away in the drawers gathering dust, waiting for the right moment to be reactivated and WITH the influx of so many youngsters who want to experience the adrenalin of "THE STOMPER", the right moment happens to be NOW!! and if its asked for again during the night then STOP POLITICISING AND PLAY THE FOOKIN RECORD !!