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Mike Lofthouse

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Posts posted by Mike Lofthouse

    As it is the 50th Anniversary of the Stones 1st gig, I thought I would record my memory of them which I only have because of my interest in Soul records.

    I saw the Rolling Stones live at the ABC cinema in Chester in 1964. I actually went to see Charlie & Inez Foxx who were on the same show. Charlie & Inez were great, Charlie carrying Inez off stage in his arms at the end while they were singing Mockingbird. I was more than a but snotty about the Stones at the time due to what I regarded as their attempts to cash in on R&B/Soul originals by putting out what I thought were very poor copies. However, I had to admit they were great. Their sound was just something else on stage and they had charisma in bucketloads, although I did not know what charisma meant then!

    Actually the Stones championed Blues & Soul and many artists got royalties and recognition they would never have had if it wasn't for them.

    I met Keith Richards in 1982 in a small club in Bleeker St, Greenwich Village. I had gone there to see Etta James and he was in the audience and did a number with her. I spoke with him after the show for about 10 minutes, he was really friendly and was just like 'one of the lads'. He remembered the Chester gig and told me some anecdotes that have since appeared in his autobiography.

    I've kept the programme and scanned a couple of pages.

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    On that tour they also appeared at the ABC Stockton , I believe as well Inez & Charlie Foxx, the following appeared Mike Berry, Don 'Fireball' Spencer, Simon Scott & the Leroys and the Mojos. They also appeared there the following year with Ike & tina Turner and the Yardbirds.

    I saw them at St James Park in Newcastle in 1982 with J GEILS BAND and GEORGE THOROGOOD & DESTROYERS

    Just a few observations for you - don't want another discussion about plagiarism and the like :)

    Mike

    Patrice isn't with Nolan this visit (I met her at Prestatyn & she has some fascinating tales to tell).

    I got the impression from Nolan that he would be travelling up to the UK nether regions (anywhere north of Yorkshire) on his own.

    Paul, I advised him when coming to meet you to travel by CrossCountry trains from Brum New St to Durham (is that your local main stn ?).

    He was going to ring you to sort out the details.

    Which was the Madchester group that cut an awful version of "Keep On Keepin On" for John Anderson & Richard Searling?

    ... & was that cut actually released after they started having pop hits ?

    Joy Division - the 'cover' evolved into 'Interzone' on their 'Unknown Pleasures' album.

    now my collection is very large and filled with expensive top tunes which I get great pleasure of playing from time to time at soul nights in the North West.

    Here's my problem, whoever is consistently reproducing the latest crop of top tunes on almost exactly the same label please f*ck OFF doing so, put them out on your own FUCKING label if you want. Nothing worse than getting your records ready to do your spot when you see the DJ putting on a £10 boot which cost you £100's on the exact same label and now you cant get the pleasure of playing it.

    I have never liked bootlegs - don't buy them, don't own them. I'm not really fond of legitimate re-issues - I'd rather have a CD compilation. However, I can't see how you have a problem - the release of bootlegs does not affect your collection and its value. Indeed, what does it matter how expensive your records are? Why are you DJing at events were people are carrying out such a reprehensible act (to you)? Indeed why are you DJing? take the records home and play them, I assure you, you will get pleasure listening to them there and no one will spoil it! :)

    Mike

    I did mean a general public fuss, rather than the very minor maelstrom occurring here on SS, Mike. Guess I should have put that in my first post, really.

    When singers/groups like this come along I always ask myself how they would have fared when basic talent and originality wasn't so thin on the ground as it now is.

    My feeling about the Alabama Shakes is 'not so well'...

    I never take notice of the general public!! Yesterday I heard Joss Stone on Andrew Marr talking about re-visiting the Soul Sessions - she chose to perform 'Teardrops' because she thought we would know as it was the only song she knew from those picked for her!! She was bloody awful. A quick glance on Amazon showed the first volume for sale for 1p !! that's the general public for you :yes:

    I respect both MIke's and Geese's tastes as a rule but I fail to see what the fuss is all about when it comes to the Alabama Shakes..

    The woman's voice is truly horrible and soul-less in the same way that Janis Joplin's was...

    Well I wouldn't say a 'fuss' Tony. I know saying 'I really enjoyed them' could be construed as 'a fuss' from someone from the North East :) ..... but a change is as good as a rest. It is nice to hear some good live music from time to time. Don't suppose I'll be listening to them in 20 years but I'll have a listen and enjoy them for now.

    Mike

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    Alabama shakes, just came across this act on r6 this morning, and mighty fine they are too, anyone else like it? have the album? seen them?

    top notch on this track at least methinks!

    They were on Jools Holland a few weeks back - really enjoyed them - thought they might of been touring but I think they flew in with Jack White with whom they were touring in the US. It was a particularly good show that night - think Norah Jones was on too. Look out for these too - supporting Dr John at Newcastle shortly -

    Mike

    I do have a bit of a chuckle about all this talk of 'The Scene' and young blood and the likes - when I was 18 I would not of went within a 100 miles of the Casino, Mecca and Cleethorpes and the like if 90% of the people there were older than my dad!! You silly old duffers!! :)

    He can always come back with another pop at them which he would not of been able to do had he undersold them . They are his records so he can do what he likes with them as long as he does not come here complaining that he can't sell them !

    Sam says he got it there, Tony Rounce says he didn't?

    I feel like a go between :lol: between two old geezers discussing the war.

    My money is on Tony - can't believe Sam was buying new releases like this back then - especially obscure stuff like that - his taste even 5 years later on was appalling. It was a long time before he 're-invented' himself to be a lover of all things modern :o)

    Think with a label like Stax they knew that the next Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas etc. would sell thousands, and they advertised them widely (Cashbox, Billboard, TV appearances etc.) because these acts already had hits under their belt, so they'd press more and get them round the country, plugged and into the shops. Not so with the Roz Ryan's, Paul thompson's etc. which had to try and fit in around the hit makers. So yes I am sure press runs were lower. The great thing about our music though is all these wonderful non hit wonders eh?

    Of course by the time Paul Thompson ( and the blue Volts) were getting released Stax no longer had the Redding, Sam & Dave et al catalog as Wexler and Co at Atlantic had had away with it !!! Stax had to diversify and took the label in all directions hence the bought in Detrioit stuff and the like. And ultimately the influx of gangsters which eventually ruined and killed the label. So post Atlantic I'm not sure they ever had an established roster to compare to the glory days of the 60's. IMHO. Mike

    there definitely still are Japanese collectors, not only older deep soul collectors but lots of the rare funk 45s are in younger people's collections over there. If you're looking for a specific funk 45, a Japanese funk collector is your best resource. And obviously there's LP collectors in different genres.

    Japanese collectors seem more conservative in bidding and (mostly) not stupid enough to go crazy for a 45 and bid ridiculous prices because it just sold for a ridiculous price or because someone else has it and they have to emulate that person. Waiting it out is the difference between being in it for the long run and building up knowledge versus just trying to be what's hip. If you buy good records (versus popular records), eventually the good records you bought will be popular. I don't understand the whole buy high - unable to sell later approach that people have. I think it's driven by DJ culture.

    Bob nails it once again :)

    I was at the London show of Albert King, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. I have always attended all the Blues shows I can in the North East - Robert Cray at the Kirk (as well as Lowell Fulson and Louisiana Red). Joe Louis Walker and Sherman Robertson amongst others at Harveys in Stockton. Whilst I did not travel to Switzerland I saw Henry Gray upstairs in The Central in Middlesbrough.

    What does someone who likes Soul and Blues look like? how can you tell?

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