Kevin Jones

Whitchurch Civic is in Whitchurch Shropshire. It was THE place in the early 70s with the famous All - Dayers and great acts every Saturday. Ben. E King, Jimmy Ruffin, Jimmy James, Stylistics, Real Thing etc. etc. with all the popular soul artists of the day, plus Slade, Shakin Stevens and Showaddywaddy. With Soul Sam upstairs and many travellers from the Midlands, Ellesmere Port, Chester and Wrexham. Free buses as well. Great days had by all. Tony Petherbridge was the promoter and he founded the International Soul Club. Anyone else out there have fond memories of the Civic ? Kev

Go for a Phillips CD Recorder, preferably the double drawer which also does cd to cd. Buy good quality Audio CD Recording discs preferably Phillips or Maxell. Both players and discs on Ebay, but be sure to get a player that is guaranteed as working as there are loads that are advertised as faulty. I have made hundreds of discs which are vinyl to cd. They record as good a quality as the vinyl. Best of luck. Kev

It was a really great weekend. Music was superb in all rooms and the pub. OK the weather was miserable and cold but that did'nt stop what was a weekender enjoyed by all ( I would think ). It just goes to show that a great time can be enjoyed by soulies and in North Wales of course, even though the weather was against people. I really felt for the people who could not get there and I am sure that there was a lot that tried hard. Out of 10, a ten from Len. Kev

What sad, sad news. For me one of the really great singers who had so many memorable hits not just with The Temptations, but solo and also with The Contours. "It Was The Third Of September" , an all time great. Also his lead on The Contours version of It's Growing, just superb. Plus so many others. RIP Mr. Edwards you were simply wonderful. Kev Jones

Looking for a US issue of Anthony White on Philadelphia International. Can you help ?

What a sad, sad day. Jim you were one of the nicest, sincerest guys I have ever known. Always a smile, a hug and great banter every time we met. Bought some great records from him over the years. When we were at Oaklands a few weeks back he told me he had'nt been too well. My passing words were, I'll give you a ring in a couple of weeks, look after yourself. If only ! Sincere condolences to Liz and all the family. RIP my dear friend. Kev Jones

The Sound Of Young America for the youth of young America. Some of those cats have some great moves, early Northern Soul footwork me thinks. Glad you enjoyed it.

Not sure if this has already been posted, so Moderators my apologies in advance. Here is a great 1960's American TV Show with a tribute to Motown. Guests are Brenda Holloway, The Temptations and a tribute to Marvin Gaye singing Little Darling. Just goes to show that they loved their Motown even back then. Enjoy ! Kev

Peter, Could it be Dee Dee Warwick from her Canadian LP ? Kev

Looking For An Issue On ABC Records with She Almost On The B Side. Only A Cheapie But Can Anyone help ?

Such sad news. Known Steve and Chris for many years, he had a great sense of humour and probably the best genuine Geordie accent ever. Bought many great records off Steve and yes he knew his stuff. Spent many a time with Steve at Prestatyn just chatting and looking through his sales boxes. He always had time for everyone. But really, what a sad sad loss. My sincere condolences to Chris and family. Kev

For me it has to be Randy Brown - At Christmas Time. It was the last record last Saturday at Broughton Wings. Kev

I am looking for a US Motown white Demo copy of Baby I Need Your Loving in Ex condition with clean labels. Also the same title on a UK Stateside Demo along with a UK Demo TMG 507 of Ask The Lonely. Can anybody out there in Soul Land help at all please ? Many thanks. Kev

The Contours - First I Look At The Purse I don't care if she waddles like a duck I don't care if she's covered in a rash, along has she has got plenty of cash Would that be politically acceptable these days ? LOL Kev

I have very many happy memories of the Whitchurch Civic Centre in the early 70s. I went virtually every Saturday night from sometime in 1971 to late 1975. We went on the free bus from Wrexham at 7.00pm on the Beast Market, there were also buses from Chester and Deeside. Tony Petherbridge did a great job for what was probably the height of Northern Soul for many young teenagers. The Bank Holidays were extremely well attended and I remember seeing people from all over, wearing fashions of the day. From leather trench coats to Levi's and Brutus Shirts etc. etc. Always remember the burger and hot dog stall outside the main entrance, it smelt and looked revolting. On a Saturday night it was Soul Sam upstairs and Brian Ellis and a host of other DJ's downstairs. Many of the great and popular soul performers appeared at the Whitchurch Civic. Here are just a few, Edwin Starr, Jimmy Ruffin, Ben E. King, George McRae, The Drifters, the Real Thing. Also saw Freda Payne with Earl Van Dyke as the musical director. First Choice, The Stylistics, The Tymes and the list goes on. You could also see Jimmy Ruffin along with Slade or Alvin Stardust, The Real Thing along with Showaddywaddy and yes even Mud. No limits for us soulies back in those days. I would spend all day on a Saturday cleaning windows to earn enough money to go to Whitchurch on a Saturday night. When I think back I just wonder how you were allowed to go as a 14 year old. Trusting parents and probably just the way it was in those days. Made lasting friendships from them very early days, Soul Sam (who was advertised as Soul Sam and His American Sounds), Brian Ellis, Joe Dunlop, Ritchie Andrews. It was Tartan Bitter and Newcastle Brown ale along with Harp lager and for the ladies Babycham. Then came along Wigan Casino etc. and as they say the rest is history. It was great music and great times. I never thought I would still be doing it 40 years plus. Kev Jones

Adey, I have a Tamla Motown 45s released in India. Regards Kev

Hello Roy, Happy New Year to you both. Paul Williams always appeared to be in the background but was really the backbone of The Temptations. I believe that whenever they played the likes of The Copa or did TV Specials, Paul would make this is own individual performance, like Melvin Franklin would do his interpretation of Ol Man River. A number of the great early and un released Temptations tracks have Paul on lead. Yes emotion in every word on every song. A fantastic talent who like many others came to a very sad end. Kev

Just to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported Soul For Santa at Broughton Wings on Saturday December 12th. I asked for anyone attending if they would kindly consider donating a toy for a sick child who was in hospital over Christmas. The response was overwhelming, there were that many toys donated we were able to donate to the children's wards at The Countess Of Chester Hospital, The Wrexham Maelor Hospital and Hope House Childrens Hospice. I ran a raffle for two Christmas Hampers and enough money was raised to buy a new 40" flat screen TV for the children's ward day room at the Wrexham Hospital. It was just what they needed as their old one had packed up a week before. The generosity of the soul fraternity is wonderful and I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who attended and made it such a great night. Thanks to Ginger Taylor, Soul Sam and Me for the music. Also to Harry Dennett who allowed me to raffle another hamper at The Warmy in Runcorn last Friday. I will be delivering the toys and TV tomorrow. Thanks once again to all, as I know there will be a lot of happy faces on Christmas Day even though they are in hospital. Kev Jones

Following a fascinating and in depth conversation I had some time ago with Andy Rix with regards to unissued Motown, the Motown tape vaults and numbers on the master tapes, the following has had me really thinking. With the release over the last few years of Motown CD Box sets ( Four Tops, Temptations, Supremes ) The Complete Motown Singles and the great Kent CDs, they all have fantastic photos from the 1960s and 1970s. These are either part of the fantastic booklets or cd covers and inserts. Where do they come from ? Is there a master library somewhere, are they subject to copyright how do the music companies research the photos for their releases. I know The Michael Ochs Archives are extensive and Europe and Japan insisted on picture covers throughout the 1960s and 70s, but where do they actually come from ? It is something that I should really know after collecting Motown for 45 years, but I hold my hand up and say I don't really know the true facts. If anyone could help like Andy Rix, Ady Croasdell or Keith Hughes or anyone for that matter I would be very grateful. Regards Kev Jones

Can anyone help ? I am looking for US Demo's copies of Baby I Need Your Loving and Something About You by the Four Tops. In Ex to M- if possible. Many thanks in advance. Kev

RIP Joe. A good friend and as people have said previously a wealth of knowledge. He had a great sense of humour and was there from the early days. I thank him for his support at Wrexham RAFA and Broughton Wings. You always wonder why, such lovely decent people are taken from us. I will play a few tunes in his memory a week on Saturday at Broughton. Such sad, sad news. Kev

The following are for sale. Postage is £2.00 recorded. Paypal is family/friend. PM if interested or for any info. Gene Chandler - Does She Have A Friend / Let Me Make Love To You - UK Chi-Sound - VG+ to Ex £5 Great 70s Double Sider Mitch Ryder - Jenny take A Ride - UK Stateside - Ex £5 Classic 60s Wheel Marvin Gaye - My Last Chance - US Motown - Ex+ £5 Great Late Release from Marvin Gene Chandler - Groovy Situation - UK Mercury - Ex+ £3 Nice 70s The Spinners - I've Got To Make It On My Own - UK Atlantic - M ( Looks Unplayed ) £60 Great UK Hard To Find 45 Teddy Pendergrass - I Just Called To Say - UK Philadelphia Int. - Ex+ £5 Great 70s David Ruffin - Rode By The Place - UK Motown - VG++ £20 Great 70s Gloria Gaynor - This Love Affair - UK Polydor - Ex ++ to M- £25 Great 70s The Intruders - A Nice Girl Like You - UK Philadelphia Int. - Ex+ £8 Great 70s Roni Hill - I Would'nt Give You Up - UK Creole - Ex+ £8 Great 70s Gladys Knight - You've Lost That Loving Feeling - UK Tamla Motown - M- £6 Great version 21st Creation - Tailgate - UK Motown - M- £5 Wigan Spin Thelma Houstom - Saturday Night Sunday Morning - UK Motown - M- £6 Great 70s The Dells - Thinkin About You - US Cadet - £35 The vinyl looks Vg- to VG but the record plays really well. Label looks a bit aged but has no damage.

Wanted a copy of Charles Drain on RCA - I'm Gonna Stay. On a 45 preferably. Thanks in advance.

For me it was the Broughton Wings 14th Anniversary Night back in June. Had to close the doors at 9.15 and was genuinely gutted for the people who could not get in. However, £2500 was raised on the night for The Breast Cancer Trust. Great to be able to give something back. Kev Jones

One of the best pieces of informative writing, presentation and tributes put on Soul Source, IMO of course. Well done Dave and huge congratulations to Ady, a well deserved accolade for all the hard work and commitment you have tirelessly put in. Kev