David Meikle

I love all of Clydie’s Imperial and Minit output. She was recording 10 years earlier with such as this nice doo wop number from 1957. Written by Andrew Franklin...not Aretha. RIP Clydie “Ready Willing and Able”

Kathryn I loved reading your post. It reminded me of my first trip to Manchester on 24th January 1970. It was an early start from Glasgow that day and I probably arrived in Manchester Victoria around 1pm. I bought two Inez and Charlie Foxx albums in WH Smiths on the foyer. I knew I was in heaven. From there I went around the corner to Ralph’s records in Corporation Street then on to Spin Inn on Cross Street. Had to go back to left luggage with my new found sounds! In the evening I went to see the early Soul Together concert in the Odeon on Oxford Street; where I saw Sam and Dave, Arthur Conley and Joe Tex. I don’t think Clarence Carter turned up but might be wrong. At 10pm I joined the queue outside the Wheel and had the most incredible all nighter with Edwin Starr, my hero, on circa 2am. I jumped up on the small stage with Edwin and joined in at the end of his performance of his new release “Time”. Unbelievable. I just remember that the atmosphere was electric as we all belted out the word “Time” again and again. All too quickly the dreaded doors opened at 8am. I used to hate that. It wasn’t just the long train journey home it was also the fact that you lot were off to the Top Twenty club in Hollinwell! I returned to the Wheel another 8 or 9 times I reckon. I also went to the Blue Note club on Gore Street but recall quite a bit of blue beat and ska going on in there. Great times also in Rowntrees Sound on Corporation Street and Mr Smiths. Next year sees the 50th anniversary of my first trip to the Twisted Wheel and definitely one of the greatest nights of my life. My Mother took this picture of me in my shrine to Edwin in the Summer of 1970. Where has the time gone.

Bill Martin (nom de plume) was from Glasgow. Went to same school as Sir Alex Ferguson in Govan. Wrote multiple cheesey hits.

(Sorry music link won’t play) Read this https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46699290

Hey Dufus Jeez.....I guess your David Ruffin collection copped it too?

I only got to three events this year. Best one one by far was the Benidorm International Soul Festival. Great weather, great sounds, new friends, superbly run. If you’ve never been to Benidorm before you are missing out big time.

I agree with the praise being heaped on Sam. However he played 13 records during this 67 minute set. If he hadn’t changed his tune (I know, I know) he could have played double that.

Merry Xmas to Soul fans around the world. How lucky are we to have found this amazing musical genre? To those who made the music, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I think “Wear your natural baby” is a fantastic record.

I never knew Dave but Gilly’s message struck a chord with me. Small donation made.

Many of the RT/GW records were backed by the Funk Brothers as we now know. The Funks were sick of the Motown sound and yearned to play something different. One of their best efforts was recorded in Chicago IMO....The Who Who Song by Jackie Wilson. A crazy title but what a backing track. Laura Lee told me that the only reason To Win Your Heart sounded good was because of the Funks...not her. Mike Hanks output, arranged by Rudy Robinson, was much rougher and more interesting than Motown etc but could not capture popular demand.

The reason that I travelled to Manchester from Glasgow in 1970 was to hear records which I could not hear anywhere else. Many of the imported Wheel records later turned out to be not ‘rare’ at all. But back then no one knew any better. Uk releases were to the fore at that time and many of those WERE difficult to find.

Ed’s partner was JoAnne Bratton who was married to boxer Johnnie Bratton. They had a child called Derek Truman Bratton who died in an accident in 1962. Derek’s nickname was Ric and to his Mother Ric-Tic. JoAnne told me this sixteen years ago. Sorry for digressing but Ric-Tic played a huge part in the early days of our scene.

June 1970 to be precise in Blues and Soul. Verbally by Dave Godin much earlier in London.

Is that Up the Junction in Crewe? I had a membership there.

Northern Soul is Soul Music danced to in the North of England. That must therefore include the Motown Sound. The Twisted Wheel had a large playlist of Motown records.

Thanks Sondra. We’re you an actress? Hopefully this extract of the book will display for our members. Interesting read from page 49. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=rqygBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=bobby+paris+sondra+currie&source=bl&ots=Ddmq-Wr2d_&sig=vLdEvYDGSN--JSQ2EMMrp1_ViWs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiWv7aSiOPeAhUlCcAKHepMATgQ6AEwCnoECAEQAQ#v=onepage&q=bobby paris sondra currie&f=false

Here’s the answer. Watch the guy in the white shirt at 1.46 minutes.

Anglo American sells them. Don’t know the quality. https://www.raresoulvinyl.co.uk/shop/index.aspx?categoryId=27

It’s wonderful to see a photo of Dena Barnes. thanks Tim

https://www.sittinginthepark.com/shows.htm Tragic story. Listen to the show and hear the voice of someone who absolutely respected ‘our’ music. Great gesture by the family.

Graham Finch might have interviewed Dena in the late nineties? Two of her daughters comment at the foot of this link. [Need to go to YouTube to read comments]

Upstairs is being refurbished into a dedicated NS bar to be opened in a couple of weeks time. Here’s a vid shot during the BPISF weekender in June. Smashing pub. https://youtu.be/QmO7QaOLGMU

Does this one fit?

Damian I should have added that I have zero knowledge of musical instruments ! The first half of this link might help you. https://ondioline.com/ I think I recall Raynoma declaring in her book that it was second hand when she bought it. So it might be a 50’s model.