David Meikle

Cholly Bassoline is on Facebook. I asked him THE question some time ago but didn’t get a response. Worth a try anyone else? (Edit I’ve asked someone else who knows Cholly if they would speak to him - will post any response) Palmer label was owned by Handleman Distributors if that is any use. I asked Popcorn about Palmer and he couldn’t recall the owner(s) or Jimmy Mack. They issued People’s Choice and distributed Jimmy Soul Clark as we all know.

It was refreshing to hear John’s account of this part of his life. However the many interruptions especially towards the end grated quite a bit. I’m uploading an advert listing the shop John got Hoagy Lands in. It was a treasure trove for many years and was a room within a store which sold virtually anything. The shop was Silverdales and the record room was called Record Bazaar. I’m almost certain that John sold a substantial amount of his unwanted cargo to the owner after one of his trips. it was good to hear that John also purchased pop records because he used to dee-jay in the Phonograph discotheque at the top end of Buchanan Street in Glasgow. I remember climbing the twisting stairwell only to have the biggest let down of my life over what he was playing! When he could get a word in near the end of the interview it was also good to hear his interpretation of what was being mooted as Rare Soul in this country when in actual fact quite a bit of it is/was not! Hear, hear. Also downplayed the idea that no one cared about the old records in the States. I immediately thought of Ron Murphy, Carl Pellegrino, Joe Moorehouse, Robb Klein and many many more I met over there. It was great to hear John but the interviewers could have done so much better. Pffft.

There was a Top Ten of John Andersons doing the rounds last week but I can’t find it. I am pretty sure there was only one Northern track on it albeit the best one ever made IMO, Alexander Patton. Nobody has said John didn’t like Northern; Tomangoes said John was ”not a great fan” which is a pretty accurate description. He was a ”deep soul” and “rough uptempo soul“ man. But it was Northern that gave him a great living.

I met the guy on the right of another Godin image in London Euston. We were all sleeping rough and I noticed him and his mate carrying some imports. His preferred shirt was a pink checked effort. Never had it off his back and he’s wearing it here. His name was Mike Curtis and I think he lived in Moss-side. Worked in a Durex factory which was a bid laugh back then. His mate was Dave Hall who I met many years later at the latter day version of the Wheel. Dave said he approached Mike about coming down for Wheel reunions but he virtually slammed the door in his face LOL. Nobody was into the scene as much as Mike was and I met him in Catacombs after the Wheel closed. I guess Mike was the one who got away. The boy with the sideburns got his pic on front of a Goldmine cd doing a backflip.

Dave Godin took this photograph and Dave/Keith is at the back with his favourite shirt on. We were poor but we had the time of our lives. I don’t think a day has passed without me thinking about the Twisted Wheel. I spoke to most of these guys but most names are lost in the sands of time. I’d Still love to know their names again. Francisco O’Brien is centre with moustache.

Fantastic image!

W.....It’s thanks to Dean Anderson/Chalky. I just blew it up from the radio show image because I knew Marissa when she was young.

Nice to hear Val mentioning Marissa too.

More later if there is an interest.

I started listening to the show on December 7th 1969. Here’s a reminder of the intro and also my notes for the rest of that year then onto 1970.

This is one of John’s early lists when he lived in Glasgow. Craigbank was between Pollok and Nitshill. Newfield Square has been demolished.

Riley Hampton.

Hopefully the Twisted Wheel will be mentioned in your book! This photograph was shot inside the building and includes some of the real pioneers of our scene. Not only that but one of our greatest dancers, Frank “Booper” New [dark blue shirt]. It is not my photograph but the owner should be easy enough to find.

Apologies this should have been a quote in relation to above.

{See the message this is responding to in next post) I remember Dean, Charlie. Going through a tough time financially I took a suitcase of mint UK Motown albums to sell after a meeting in Manchester in the mid eighties. I thought John might be interested and I made my way to Expansion on Corporation Street. I used to frequent Ralph’s records in the early seventies and I’m sure Expansion was in the same premises. Dean was on the desk and was really excited with what I handed over the counter. He picked up the telephone and called John for a price. John had no idea it was on behalf of me and Dean said “I’ve got someone here from Glasgow with a mint collection of Motown LP’s.” The response was quick and low. Even Dean was surprised and I wonder if he recalls this? (Edit- Apologies, I had no idea that Dean had passed-RIP) So I left the shop with my optimism in tatters. John sold thousands of records at fair prices but jeez he knew a bit about procurement too. It wasn’t long before I got my price when I sold most of the albums to Pete Lawson at his home in Ormskirk. Sadly Pete was murdered sometime later. Two legends of the scene but for today we remember John. RIP.

Sorry, I don’t know who took this photo but it speaks volumes. edit: October 21st. The owner appears to be Neckender as per Soul Bowl thread.

I first met John in my home town of Glasgow in 1969. We used to meet up in Paterson’s store in Buchanan Street most lunchtimes listening to UK 45’s in those iconic record booths. John’s wife Marissa was always with him. I met Charlie Rees in Benidorm in May and he told me her passing had hurt him badly. I have just realised it’s 50 years since we first met. Where has the time gone? I recall visiting his home in Glasgow and squeezing past the record boxes on the verandah. They were mainly albums. John’s taste in Soul Music at that time was definitely of the balladry variety. I lost touch with him when he moved to England and often wondered if that ever swung in the direction of so called Northern Soul. I told him about the Twisted Wheel and the wonderful 45’s played there. When it came to Round Robin however he gave a typical Glasgow response. Listening to that recently I see where he was coming from LOL. I’ve still got some of his old Glasgow address record lists at home. A time of innocence which has long been lost in those ensuing 50 years. Finally, I’m so proud that someone who was brought up in the infamous district of Pollok in Glasgow played such a huge part in our amazing scene. John Anderson...thanks a million!

Graham Finch, who wrote the article, sent me this message today from Taiwan. “Theresa was wonderful - one of the stars I'd often pop and chat to. It's very sad she's gone” Graham lived in Windsor for awhile during the 1990’s. This hauntingly beautiful song reminds me of Graham driving me through the streets of Detroit in 2001.

Confirmed on Facebook by her brother that she has passed. ”Daddy O” one of the great Northern songs. RIP Theresa Tap to view this Soul Source News/Article in full

Getting back to the San Remo disc, John Rhys told me that Ed and JoAnne named the musicians as such after a visit to the San Remo Music Festival in Northern Italy...hence the Italian named flip... “Quinto Sei Bella” ie ”How Beautiful You Are”. Arranged by Mike Terry and Bert Keyes.

This was gifted to me in Detroit. I am adding it to the thread as there isn’t one on show. Sadly it’s battered and bruised but this song means a lot to me. One of the best ever played on the scene IMO.