Steve G

If you take a backing track and put new words over it, 9 times out of 10 the original writers / producers will be gone in my experience looking at other independent records where that has happened. Maybe he wasn't told those details by whoever he got the tracks from, we just don't know 52 years later. He is certainly a larger than life character but as to it all being about "him", yes I agree on that but it is hardly unique in this business. The sueing of Lennon was just one of a number of episodes in his life.

It is of course more than entirely possible that McGregor resold the backing track to Sam Coplin. Wouldn't be the first time that type of thing happened and he was a bit of a wheeler dealer character. I did speak to Sam a few years ago and he couldn't remember much about the origins of the track, but he could remember the group and how the record got to Wand.

Actually Coplin told me he had recorded the group but they didn't have a name at the time. He played the track down the phone to Florence Greenberg and she said "great, what is the group's name?". Coplin, needing an answer, looked out of his window and saw the freeway and that is how he came up with the name. That was obviously before it came out on Karma, and also before it came out on Wand. Soon after the record came out (within weeks) the lead singer of Stemmons Express died.

It all depends on the nature of any agreement reached with the EU. My prediction is that despite the hot air and rhetoric, we will have a close trading agreement with the EU at the end of the transition period.

Customs are short of staff. I think part of this at least depends on the volume of goods coming into the country. January is usually a quieter month so more time for staff to check things coming in. December by contrast is manic, and although I believe they put more staff on it, a lot of stuff slips through. There is no rhyme or reason to it as far as I know.

I used to think he was. But not so sure now.

I'd doubt it Rod. Customs are set in clearing centres near the airport. the PO is just the collection agent. ATB Steve

It is so strange that people think the PO should receive your parcel, ship it to your local P.O, store it, notify you of its arrival, collect the duty the government insist on from you, pass it on to HMRC, validate the accounts, and do all this for free.

It is certainly true that many people who have "had an influence" don't have an overactive ego gland, but others are almost professionals at self publicity.

Interesting and puts a different dimension on things.

I only got as far as the Wigans Ovation review, or was it David Bowie's cover of "Knock on wood"? I've forgotten already. And yes the internet is awash with mis-information and people re-writing history. Way too late to do anything about it now.....it is not going to change and will only get worse as the myths get perpetuated. For me it's about this. A real shame that far more people seem interested in some of these 'talking heads' (not all in the article fall into this category but some do), than are interested in the people who actually made the music in the first place.

The fair was mentioned in one of the early Backbeats, I'll dig it out to find the actual date.

This thread got me thinking. Who remembers the giant record fair at Ally Pally in 1979 / 80? What a fantastic event that was - did anyone not come away with armfuls of 10p gems? The BBC organised it, but not sure if any of their surplus stock was included.

Interestingly enough a non soul friend went to a works Christmas do just round the corner from the BBC. They said I'd have loved it as it was full of records and a record player and you could select records off the shelves to play. They said thy all had the BBC stamp on them. Further enquiries (well I had to ask didn't I 😉 )revealed they were all LPs and the records they saw were like Val Doonican and Mantovani. I am sure there wouldn't be any collectibles, the BBC are too savvy for that. Sounds like a job lot of "drossy MOR" sold off - the kind of stuff you can't give away at boot fairs.

Sorted now thanks.

Little Oscar on Deke.

On Philips 40171 I'll never go to a party again / Is this the beginning of the end.

Found a spare of this, water stained label (see pic) otherwise a strong vg+. £300 PP F&F + P&P A rare opportunity to own this gem. NOW SOLD

Only about 50 copies of my book Scepter Wand Forever left now and when they are gone, they are gone. There will be no reprints, so now would be a great time to buy a copy for Christmas. 500 pp, loads of photos, and facts the correct some of the internet myths out there as we trace the history of Scepter Records and its subsidiaries (Wand and dozens of others) from its humble beginnings to the disco explosion of the 70s. Also includes Scepter distributed labels. Special deal between now and 23/12/19 £29 including postage (UK), £40 including postage USA / Europe / Japan. Nice stocking filler if you don't have it. PM me for your copy. Steve

Selling a few duplicates (I don’t need multiple copies of records!)….These are what are left after yesterday's bonanza sale, and all conservatively graded as vg+ or above. Please PM me to reserve. Payment by PP F&F. Postage: UK: Over £100 add £7 P&P, under £100 £2.50 P&P. Overseas, please enquire. ....... Jimmy Soul Clark -Come on and be my sweet darling (Soul Hawk) £150 Erma Franklin - Whispers (Getting louder) Brunswick £90 Floyd Beck- Show me (Timeless) £70 How good is this! Neglected early 80s, reminds me of J Blackfoot etc. Africano-Satisfactorize your mind (Hi) £70 *Fabulous Philadelphia meets Memphis 70s and a neglected stormer of a 45! Anthony White - Hey Baby (Philadelphia Int) WD £65 Cozy Corley - I love you (Malaco) (early Malaco deep soul and his only record as far as I know) £70 Wildflower - Sugar baby / Wind it up turn it loose (Dash) £25 Viola Wills-You’re out of my mind (Bronco WD) £20 vg *Has a bit of scuffing but plays through fine. Pretty good west coast northern that is more common on a UK President release* The Checkmates Ltd - Take all the time you need (Fantasy) £20 *Great 70s dancer, again semi forgotten / neglected - nice stocking filler. Tyrone Mack- Maybe we (Express) £15 The Invitations - They say the girls crazy (SIlver Blue) WD £15 Heywood Cash - Give it up Epic D £10 *same both sides* Clarencee Ashe - I’m a working man who needs a good woman / She said I’ll be a failure (J&S) £5 Don Gardner - AIn’t gonna let you get me down / Somebody’s gonna get hurt (TrueGloTown) £7 The Anglos - Four walls of gloom / Broke down piece of man (Soul4Real) £5 *two previously unissued sides from Noah Biggs / Jerry Williams collaboration* Remember to PM please with any you would like.

As promised I have looked again and Roburt's original post, and to be honest it makes even less sense than it did the first time I read it! Emeralds group 1: per Roburt Luther Bond Willis Miller Charles Godfrey / Wardell Fallon Cedirc Cox Clyde Giles John McGue The Victorials per Uncle Marv's R&B notes Willis Miller Clyde Giles Cedric Fox Charles Godfrey Harold Davis Emeralds group 2 per Roburt Luther Bond Robert Trice Willie King John Johnson Jerry Rembert Drivers (RCA) Doo wopp blog Leroy Smith Carl Rogers Paul McCoy James Pate Charlie Harris Edison Thompson Drivers (King / Federal) Doo wopp blog Charlie Harris Leroy Harmshaw Carl Rogers Leroy Smith Willie Price Leroy & Drivers (Duo) Leroy Jones (leader), Randy 'Butch' Yates (sax), Reggie Cavinaugh (drums), Jimmy Welch (guitar), (who wrote a song for Lou Bond & The Emeralds in the 50s) Mike Chappell (bass). Cannot see any real connection between the Emeralds (Lou Bond) and Leroy & the Drivers. Clearly the Drivers on King / Federal share some members who also wrote Leroy & The Drivers Coral sides in the 60s (notably Willie Price and Leroy Smith). The Coral 45s are harmony / soul records whilst the Duo 45 is an instrumental. The matter is compounded by the two Leroy's Smith & Jones. This tends to point to that Leroy (Jones) & The Drivers band (as opposed to the vocal group members Leroy Smith & Co) were the only ones involved in the Duo 45. It was very common for groups to have their own band, and that would explain the complete difference in line ups between The Drivers personnel and Leroy & The Drivers (Duo) personnel. If that is right, the bit of the jigsaw that is missing is who were the remaining members of the singing group (i.e. on Coral) beyond Willie Price and Leroy Smith? In other words were Harris, Harmshaw and Rogers still in the group by 1966-67 when the Coral sides were made.

Exactly right, there is so much good ignored and affordable soul music out there. To me buying boots just shows a lack of imagination.

I see the guy in the 50th and 3rd link uses the same photo again!!! I shall put together some further thoughts later.

Thanks and not a single mention of Leroy & / or The Drivers in Uncle Marv's notes either, which confirms what I've have been saying. Cheers.

If you can afford £10-30 boots, you can afford originals.