David Meikle

Thanks for finding this thread which I missed. I can undertand the need to find the Haystack Bros 45 but what a bland song! Found the yellow one on youtube and I like it a lot.

Thanks for identifying the Goodloe brothers properly. Cheers also for Joe Jones of the Jones Brothers. I wonder if Minnie Jones was related to Joe Jones as Ken wrote for both. Love Jones Brothers “Good Old Days” too.

Ken Goodloe was in the Pentagons, The Shields, The Chesterfields, The Themes, 21st Century, Soul Patrol and The Corduroys. He wrote two of my fav NS records in The Themes-No Explanation Needed and Minnie Jones “Shadow of a Memory”. I think he is far left on this photo with his brother Ted standing next to him.

I’ve been listening to this on and off for nearly 51 years. Incredible slab of Northern Soul that always delivers.

“Groovy Generation” will always make my Top 20. I was lucky get the chance to play a digital copy on a cd player in United Sound Systems. Later that day I headed to Clay McMurray’s studio on Livernois where we discussed Thelma Records in some detail. Clay wrote down the backing group information on this sheet of paper and tried to sketch his memories of the interior of 6519 Grand River Avenue. You can see “Mr. C” noted at a table by the door. That was Thelma (Coleman) Gordy’s Father, who ran the business.

I’ve watched this video many times not only because I love the song but also because I love the dee jays passion playing it. I met Mitch Ryder in Detroit’s Casino in 2004 and “bored” him to death about his garage music impact on our scene. The dee jay is someone I don't know but the credit says Glenn Walker-Foster. Well done Glenn (with thanks to Jud for capturing it). https://youtu.be/MSTjE1tfNAQ

Thanks for the tip Seano. This wasn't just about the pain that Teddy went through, it was also a reminder of the dangers of making music in those halcyon days. Enjoy your vinyl people but don't forget the pain.

JMM told Graham Finch that she relied on Danny Dallas for her early recordings. In those days he was working at Special Recording Studios which was at 138 Duffield It was owned by Fred Flowerday and my notes on Special show it as being there between 1960 to 1964. It moved next to Mike Hanks building on East Grand Boulevard in 1966. JMM also used facilities at WCHB radio station in Inkster for her Northern Recordings. It looks like it was one or the other. Can't be more specific but Graham was a regular visitor to her house on Santa Barbara when he lived in Windsor.

Edward sketched La Beat’s premises for me almost twenty years ago. RIP Edward, latterly known as Ahmad Abdulaziz.

Edward sketched La Beat’s premises for me almost twenty years ago. RIP Edward, latterly known as Ahmad Abdulaziz.

Hi Pip Enjoyed that! What do you recall about Garnet Mimms? Did you back him on “I’ll take good care of you”? How long did you get to learn the songs? Was this in London? etc etc.

Many thanks MDS aka Rod!

Can anyone please tell me what this is circa 9 minutes. Sounds like the punchline is “Help me“ but I haven’t got a clue. Anyway sounds amazing to me.

My own favourite from The Blue Album. RIP Sharon.

Our scene was very special in those early days thanks to guys like Tony. It’s terrible to hear of his passing. RIP Tony Jebb.

Both Labron Smith of Nightchill and Ken Sands Magic City’s Sound Engineer told me that Ernest Burt was shot in his premises in the seventies. Ken told me that Ernest staggered into the street and into his car which was across the other side of the road. With the door ajar and the hand brake off he passed away leaving the car to drift slowly down Grand River Avenue. I found this clip from the 1981 edition of the Detroit Free Press which appears to have been some kind of inquest outcomes for fatal killings in the city.

I asked Robert Bateman if he would draw me a sketch of the Magic City studio layout. He duly obliged and signed it for me. The stairwell leading from the image’s front right hand door is shown on the left. The word window is scribbled above and below the word Studio. The control room is at the foot of the sketch. I know it’s rough but hopefully someone finds it interesting. Robert Bateman R.I.P.

I reckon there were at least a dozen quality sides issued on the Magic City label. From so called Northern Soul to Ballads and the Funk of Butch Cheatham’s Mad Dogs. Remember this operation was primarily a recording studio, not a record label. The studio was above the shop/office and the entrance to it can be seen at the right hand side of the above image. Despite comments on this site a number of years ago about Popcorn Wylie not using the studio, I can reveal that he told me he did. Not only him but Revilot, Ric-Tic (post Golden World) and MAH’s. There is no record of who else used the studio during 1967-68 but it was probably significant as there were many labels without proper studios. Ernest Burt bought Wilbur Golden’s Correc-tone studio in 1966 and it was established in 1967. Proof is in this extract from a 1975 listing of recording facilities In Michigan. The turnover is poor but a lot had changed in the previous nine years in Detroit. From Billboard......April 1968.

Interesting read. https://www.soundonsound.com/people/marvin-gaye-whats-going I was watching an old Detroit Riots video last night when this image flashed across the screen. Thank goodness for the rewind and pause buttons. In the window the word Delrick can be seen which was the publishing arm of Magic City. The words painted on the window, ‘Soul Bro’, was an attempt to save the building from looting. 8912 Grand River Avenue, long gone, but never forgotten.

Never under estimate the role that this man played in the success of the Motown Corporation There would be no Northern Soul Scene if it wasn't for this company. Please ask whatever god is yours to save the African Americans in the amazing city which was and still is Detroit.

Carl Piper from one minute in if necessary

Lady in white dress

For Blackpoolsoul https://youtu.be/j6rDT4qnBHU

Interesting extract confirms his views on much of what he sold.

Kris has come back to me again and tells me she has contacted Cholly and asked him if he will write to me. She also provided Cholly with the link to the song on YouTube. Any news from Cholly will be uploaded ASAP. I thanked Kris for trying to help.