Roburt

A big jazz & pop hit in 1964 ......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caFcdMhb2Mc

An extract from a chapter of my (upcoming) book ...... this chapter deals with the 1940's / 50's entertainment scene in Baltimore .............. .... APRIL 1952 .... the Comedy Club was staging a really strong line-up in the Rene Hall Trio plus Dog Bagby (both acts still to enjoy their best commercial record successes). Doc Bagby was an interesting guy. Back in 1948, he had helped pen a tune titled “Rock The Joint” which had become a R&B hit in 1949. The song was cut yet again in 1952 by Bill Haley. Using a lick lifted from the song, “Rock Around The Clock” was written in 1955 and once again Bill Haley recorded the song. The rest is history. Taking the 1948 Wynonie Harris hit "Good Rockin Tonight" as it's inspiration, "Rock The Joint" had been penned. The song was offered to Gotham recording act Jimmy Preston & his Prestonians. They cut the song in Philly and had a big R&B hit with it in September 1949. I guess this recording's history is typical of those times, The Jimmy Preston version sold to (mainly) a black audience and it was only later that it became known to white music fans. When discovered by the white audience it was credited as one of the first 'Rock & Roll' records. Haley's version was dubbed a rockabilly cut as he changed some words and cut it in more of a C&W influenced style.

A typical Hip Joints track ............. "Rock Hopper" ............. It was a tune similar to this that they played when Lou Ragland joined them up on the stage at the Old Trout gig .... ....... he just made up words that went well with the funky vibe and the jam went on for 6+ minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLUnEai5aes

Lou Ragland had a great night @ the Old Trout. He performed his spot over backing tapes and afterwards was called up on stage for an impromtu jam with the UK band (Hip Joints ?) who were also on that night (I have a cassette recording of Lou & the band's extended number here somewhere). Also went the night Sidney Joe Qualls was on, that was another gudun. Got some photos of SJQ and Lou at the place but no idea where they are at present.

As is stated above, the packaging is top class. The folder, 50 page booklet (including loads of great photos of the artists), 6 x 45's & 6 x CD's all come together to make a great present (even if you're only rewarding yourself).

Frank came over to the UK with John Ellison recently and was selling copies of the 45's as single items. I already had a copy of the full package so didn't buy any (extra) copies of the 45's. I'm sure a few UK soulies must have done so though.

I got to spend some time with Oliver in the mid 80's up in Scotland (when he was signed to Move Records). He was a very amiable guy, easy to get on with and very down to earth for someone who had enjoyed a few big hits. I loved a few tracks off his Oliver LP 'The Boss' and his album with Round-Trip but "Get Down Saturday Night" has always been my top fave from him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2UZ7BGRkE4 A Round-Trip cut ................ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTsbxY7MTl8 R.I.P.

Dave, you must have started a few years after many other UK soul fans. We (my mates & I) were collecting UK soul 45's from 1965. Much of what we chased were records we only knew about from hearing in the clubs OR (as you say) from 'word of mouth' recommendations. We couldn't get US import 45's back then (or they were very very rare at least ... though I did pick up a few Euro released soul import 45s from 2nd hand shops in Hull -- a busy port -- in the mid to late 60's). HOWEVER, at some specialist 2nd hand record shops, from market stalls & in London record shops you could pick up UK demo 45's reasonably easily (if you went looking for them). I have a couple of UK Brunswick demo 45's similar to the above Sylvia Sims (nowt special though).

Yep you're right Dave BUT it only seems to be available in Kindle format these days (unless you buy a 2nd hand copy). Is it worth chasing up a decent 'paper copy' ?

Anyone here read 'Motown: The Golden Years' -- Bill Dahl ?? It's Kindle only so for me that's a bit of a drawback but may consider going electronic virtual book friendly in the future. It is a decent price @ under a fiver and the photos were sourced from Weldon McDougal, so they're both plus points.

In the early 1970's, 70p (or less) bought you some goodies .......... ..... an extract from a Contempo list from around then .........

According to a newspaper article on Bobby that dates from early summer 1982, his cut "Get a Hold of Yourself" (c/w "Daydreamin Nights Away") was originally planned to escape in mid June 1982 on Showroom Records. An album was to follow closely after the 45. I guess that original release fell through as I don't know of any releases on Showroom Records at that time. Makes you wonder if all the proposed album tracks had been laid down though. If so, no doubt there are some more decent tracks out there that have yet to escape from the tape vaults.

"Going out of my mind" sounds very familiar (didn't know I knew it till now). I guess Richard must have played it a lot at Clifton Halls in the early 80's. Move Records had a deal with Chris Bartley in the mid 80's (via Bill Downs). Pity his guys hadn't kept copies of his unreleased tracks or they could have made them available for UK release back then as well.

Bobby Finch joined Jimmy Briscoe & the Beavers in 1977 and I think this was the first recording he appeared on ......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G1GMDt7uSk I don't think he was still with the group in 1979 but he may still have been on their Salsoul recording "Into The Milky Way".

Bevnik Records was based out of Baltimore and is also known for releases by First Class, Jay Player, Checker Kabb & Fabulous Friends. ......... SEE HERE ............ https://www.discogs.com/label/Bevnik+Records A 1983 piece about Baltimore's answer to Michael Jackson: Bobby Finch ...............

Over 2,500 hits on just this youtube vid ............... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqnVHJ5twgM

The 45 does look good .............

Thought I would post up these links for 2 current Angel City Records artists ............ Xiantoni Lynch .... https://www.angelcityentertainment.info/#!xiantoni-lynch/c1enr Xavier ................ https://www.angelcityentertainment.info/#!xavier/cve1 There are music vids of both performing and I must say they are quite impressive. Mind you that shouldn't be a major surprise, as their mother is none other than Gwen Owens. Xiantoni's track was originally download only but Gwen tells me that the track is now also available on vinyl, though I can only find it for sale at present on Angel City's own web site ..... BTW, the B side of the 45 features a track most here will know >> "Just Say You're Wanted (& Needed)" .... .... ..... https://www.angelcityentertainment.info/#!merc/c1yqi ..... AS THE 45 IS A LIMITED EDITION (500 copies) RELEASE, I GUESS IT WILL NOT BE MADE MORE GENERALLY AVAILABLE. Info on Xiantoni Lynch was posted up on a thread here earlier in the year (but not the above links) ....... ......

A few of the various 45 variations ..............

If I recall correctly, they had a private box reserved for them but some nights would let mates use it instead of themselves -- they'd usually only attend one show as well (the night I went there were 2 houses; 1st started about 6.30 & the 2nd about 9pm)

You're right about Brian Epstein being involved. He owned the Saville Theatre at that time & the Beatles were in the audience for a great many of those shows.

A ticket for a show staged @ the Nite Owl in Leicester on 24th March 67. It was a long time ago & I can't even remember how I ended up with this as I didn't start attending sessions at the Nite Owl till May 67. No idea who was backing Lucas up that night (probably Mike Cotton Sound though).

Wigan Casino ........ was closed down in 1981 under pressure from the police and the local authority as drugs gangs had the venue in its grip. Copied from ..... https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Lost-Tribes-Leicestershire-Northern-Soul/story-12027767-detail/story.html#axzz2hc4JfQsC

Locals up in Norfolk could also have signed up for a USAF related course that has just finished (though no doubt little of the info detailed in the lectures would have related to visiting entertainers on the bases). The bases just over the Suffolk border (though many of the personnel who work on them actually live at RAF Feltwell which is a couple of miles away in Norfolk) also had their own newspaper / magazine, Jet48. Some of the later editions of this are now available on line. I scanned a few issues of it (from 2006) but the only black music related item I have found so far is a piece on a Tim Westwood visit to the base ...... see Page 7 here >> https://www.lakenheath.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070112-011.pdf