Mike Lofthouse

No - I'm not sure about it - that's why I said 'maybe' Mike

No, despite Soul coming to a creative peak for me in 75- 77, it was a rapid decline. It was definitely over for me by '78 - as well as Disco I could never go for the likes of Luther Vandross and Anita Baker - it was not Soul as I knew it Mike

Got to be a case of 'evolution' - those 50's R 'n B and Doo Wop groups developed into Soul acts - Jackie Wilson . Clyde McPhatter (A Lovers's Question) , Drifters etc - add to the mix Ray Charles and Sam Cooke. I have always believed soul made a gradual climb from '57 ish until it was fully formed in '65, lasted until '75 then made a sorry rapid decline (with Disco) and was dead in 3 years IMHO. But so what - things don't last forever! And there is still plenty to be going at. Mike

I once saw a list of his top ten - Hoagy Lands - 'Next In Line' featured in it - maybe even number one. He was particularly keen on Philly stuff in the 70's and I feel sure the B&S articles Steve G refers to are about that particular topic. He freely admits to being semi - illiterate in his early days and reading those articles you can see he must have worked hard to put them together. Good luck to him I say - he has achieved so much -apart from the music his railway 'empire' is massive! And you don't see him getting embroiled in 'heated' discussions about tuppence 'apenny promotions and pirated wristbands Mike

I also have - 'The Whole Thing' - Creative Funk - with Veedette Williams Vocalist - CF- 1201 backed with 'The Whole Groove' (inst) My Limelites indeed went to Japan - nice sweet soul I can state categorically if the the non-spoken intro is a 'boot' it was booted by the label owner - Deek DeBerry - himself !! Mike Charlton contacted him by phone after Levine printed his details in BM. Mike ordered 6 copies -but only received 5 - Deek added a copy of 'Tow-A-Way Zone' as make wait! As I did not have either I was like a dog with two dicks when Mike brought them around for me! The copy I have - purple - silver lettering - 12006 - 'Promotion Copy Not for Sale under the publishing details on the left hand side. I believe there are several more releases on the label inc a wonderful 12 inch by - I think Chi Chi - 'Hypnotized' Hope this helps Mike

Anyone know when they started shrink wrapping albums in US ? Mike

The recent posting about the De-Lite label prompted me to follow Dave Rimmer's link to his site - whilst there I viewed the Linda Jones listing. I have often seen the record 'Body Fever' listed - mainly on 12" - I think from 1977 - but I have never heard it. Can it really be the 'real' Linda Jones? She had been dead 5 years and 'Body Fever' sounds naff disco!! any ideas? Mike

True. The simple reason was to identify them in the event of them been stolen! Bob DJ'ed a lot around the local clubs It was a rough crowd in Middlesbrough in those days!!! After he sold his collection - he sold them in two parts - his records appeared in dealers boxes all over the place - as an old friend it is always quite nostalgic to see them. Richard Searling name checked him on his last Atlantic CD - re the Cajun Hart track. Bob bought two issue copies new - wrote his name on both - gave one to Searling and I saw the second when he offloaded his collection 97/98 ish - think the first batch inc rare pieces went to Anderson and Mick Smith. OK - Hands up who has one of his 45's and what is it! Mike

Absolutely. Credited to Irwin plus Gamble & Huff. The other side is great too - 'Where Do The Lonely Go' What a great label Neptune was. Only 20 releases but included Looky Looky, Deeper and One Night Affair by the O'jays, the Bunny Sigler stuff, Surprise Party For Baby and the two fantastic Linda Jones singles leased in. Mike

Why do sellers wait for the buyer to leave feedback first? You bid, are successful, make payment - you have done all you possibly can - the seller should judge you on that. Suspect they are keeping their powder dry in case you are unhappy with the 'crap' that finally arrives - you can't leave negative in fear of receiving unfounded poor feedback yourself. IMHO Mike

Bob Slater had a lot of records - nothing like 50,000 though - I helped him get them out of the loft the night before he sold them. He was however, more interested in quality rather than quantity, impeccable taste. Mike

It ended up more a tribute to Searling's 50th birthday celebrations!! There was more fuss about that blokes fiftieth than the queens eightieth this year !

Ian Levine by a country mile for me! Pick up those Black Music magazines from the time and see his column for the records he was breaking week in week out. Also, thought he and Colin Curtis circa 75/76 were so right in what they were doing - although ironically I think Ian himself would disagree now Mike ps I am interested to know - what sounds has Butch broken over the years - i have no idea?

What was wrong with the Linda Clifford? - look at the title of the thread 'Is This The Longest Soul 45?' - no contest disco rubbish versus awesome deep/group soul Mike

The whole first side of Gloria Jones - Come Go With Me album is only 10 mins long and yet includes - Come Go With Me (1:53) Finders Keepers (1:52) Heartbeat pt 1 & 2 (4:17) Run One Flight Of Stairs (1:58) is there a shorter better collection of northern sides? Mike

I thought that was more a description of a philistine? i.e. 'whose interests are in material things and whose ideas are ordinary' Margaret Thatcher always struck me that way and is one of the reasons I am a cynic! Mike

How about 'Come Back Home' by Truth on Sounds Of Cleveland? at 6:59 Fantastic record and a proper one too - not a disco mix or pt 1 and 2 Mike

I have always considered Curtis to me more of a 'high' tenor rather than falsetto. He certainly is no Russell Thompkins! Mike

I go to see a lot of live acts but normally avoid 'old' Soul acts - but recently saw Syl Johnson and Jackie Ross - who were both fantastic. Also recently caught Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham who were equally good. I think the key thing is that they have an act and a full set to present and not just one old dusty single to re-hash several times. George Clinton in July next - three hour show with 30 muscians!! Mike

I was in HMV today - it had Blues & Soul on sale. It was £2.95 or £2.99 and had Mariah Carey on the cover. I bought the new Handsome Family album. Mike

Just bought a copy of this for the wonderful - 'I Want your Love Tonight' - produced by Shelby Singleton I believe. Agree with the comments on 'Silly Silly fool' - it appeared on the philly box set and was not out of place!! Just playing 'Where I'm Going' and 'Everything's Coming up Dusty' - what fantastic material was cut on her - I often wonder how they came about these these songs in the UK in the 60's - somebody must of been really 'hip' - more so than white America! And how good is the the art work on 'Everything's Coming up Dusty' ? - beats CD's hands down! Mike

Interesting I went to the Blackpool Mecca and I thought of it at the time as 'new release' Soul rather than 'Modern'. However, Around '78 I complied the following tape which I titled 'Various Northern (Modern)'. So I must of being using the term 'Modern' to distinguish 70's from 60's. In true Balderdash & Piffle fashion - I claim to have invented the term 'Modern soul' ! Mike ps though I say so myself not a bad tape ! Felix Cavaliere - Never Felt love Before Smoke - I'm So Glad You Came Along The Montclairs - I Need you More Than Ever Tower of Power - This Love is Real Lou Ragland - Since You Said You Would Mine Voices - Cashing In Nolan - Oh baby Imaginations - Love Diet Jimmy Lewis - Is That Any Way To Treat A Lady Jackey Beavers - Trying TO Get Back To You Loleatta Holloway - The World Don't Owe You Nothing Carolyn Crawford - Just got To Be More Careful Leroy hutson - Ella Weez, Could this Be Love Charles Man - It's All Over Linda Perry - It'ss All In the Back Of Me Bits n Pieces - Keep On Runing Away Originals - Good Loving Is Just A Dime Norma Jenkins - Can you Imagine That Diane Jenkins - Towaway Zone & I Need You Loleatta Holloway - Mother Of Shame Jessie Fisher - You're Not Loving A Beginner Cortez Greer - Very strong On you Chocolate Syrup - You've got A lot To Give Lee Fields - Take Me Back Skull Snaps - My Hang up Tomorrows Promise - You're Everything Good To Me The Montclairs - Hung Up On Your Love Carstairs - It Really Hurts Me