Mickey Finn

Second that ... it would be interesting to compare lists from either side of the Atlantic, and what sort of influence these might have on each other. Isn't FB more about broadcasting than listening, anyway??

Amen to that. Dee Edwards needs little introduction on here, but her 2 LPs on Cotillion are probably overlooked to some extent. The second of these, produced by Michael Zager in 1980, is probably the stronger one (not what I would have predicted), which maybe explains why it came out reissued in Japan a few years back. Which leaves us with "Heavy love", produced in 1979 by husband Floyd Jones in Detroit and featuring the Sweethearts of Sigma (!) on background vocals. Aside from the inevitable nods to disco at this time, there are some very nice mid and lower tempo tunes, and she is in great voice throughout. Maybe a 2-on-1 with the Zager-produced "Two hearts are better than one" album would be viable, but at least let's have "Heavy love" out there:

Moving on to 1978, United Artists subsidiary Manhattan Records released "Me!", the one and only solo LP of Ramona Brooks, who is probably better known for her single "I don't want you back" that came out on Q Records in 1980 (see jazz funk thread). But this obscurity recorded in New York and produced by Neil Portnow and John Miller contains some very lush orchestral backing and arrangements that complement the vocalist over a selection of songs that stand up well overall. Around this time Portnow was involved in producing work on Grey and Hanks as well as Ralph Graham, in addition to other projects of less relevance here. Considering the prices this seems to be fetching at the moment, there would appear to be enough interest out there:

Back to ABC Records again ... what a catalogue! Chuck Jackson's 1973 LP "Through all times" is a great example of what top level production and great songs sounded like back then, along with Bobby Hutton, Charles Mann, Ralph Graham, etc. (see above). Produced by Steve Barri (see above), some of the best west coast session players are here, including Crusader Wilton Felder on bass. There's a great mix of up and downtempo tracks that give Jackson plenty of space to let forth, and overall it's a very strong piece of work that would greatly benefit from a good remastering.

Few people emerge from this with any credit, but most were in over their heads and the Nixon Justice Dept was also very selective in its prosecutions, going after Brunswick, PIR and Clive Davis at Columbia, conveniently taking out a big chunk of black music if successful. Very very murky and worth a proper investigation even today. Nat Tarnopol looks like he was in way over his head with the mob, but before he died he filed a suit against the Justice Dept alleging collusion between the Nixon administration and MCA Records, which had contributed to Nixon's campaigns. According to this site, Dick Clark footed the bill for Jackie Wilson's care: https://www.iloveoldschoolmusic.com/dick-clark-refused-to-allow-this-while-jackie-wilson-was-in-coma/2/ There's a decent-sized book in all this ...

That's the story told by Carl Davis

I can recommend Carl Davis's autobiography, which covers some of this, especially the fraud trial and the connections between the music biz and the mob.

Thanks for the tip, Dave, will definitely look out for that.

Hi Ian, the general lack of interest from majors has been apparent for some years now, although especially Sony BMG and Warners seem to be more cooperative. And the reissue specialists are still doing fine work - at least as reflected in my own spending limits compared to what keeps being put out there. But I am assuming that, in line with a lot of comment on here and elsewhere, the general direction is down. That of lot of reissues coming out now are in fact recycled earlier reissues in a different format tells its own story. The advantage, and even a function, of a forum like this is to flag up actual or potential market interest in such things. A lively and broad community of people sharing a strong interest in a particular form of music, especially to the extent that they pay sometimes stupid money for it, should be of interest to at least some in whatever remains of the music business. If there is sufficient evidence of interest that stands a good chance of translating itself into purchasing power, then all good. I agree that it's unlikely there will be reissues of even half the above, but there is at least the Choice Four example to give us hope. Meanwhile in Don Quixote style I will continue this campaign, and if it means that some forgotten gems are rediscovered, then that's at least something.

Thanks to BBR, Funkytowngrooves and Elemental Records, all of Tyrone Davis' Columbia Records output is now available on cd. But in 1982 he left Columbia and recorded a self-titled album for Highrise Entertainment, a short-lived LA-based record label that also released singles and albums on Maxine Nightingale, Sonny Charles and Alphonse Mouzon. The format for Davis' album was the same as before, with Leo Graham producing and co-writing most of the material with bassist Paul Richmond. However, the most famous track off the LP was an LV Johnson song, later recorded in 1991 by LV himself. Despite my preference for LV's version, Tyrone's stands up pretty well, as does the rest of the album, which benefits from the combination of organic instrumentation and crisper production techniques coming into vogue at that time. Time for a reissue.

The top 5 this weekend thread is good for that ... but if people are going out and about regularly it would be good to get a better overview of what's popular on the dance floors, whether "northern", modern, across the board or whatever. That's why a thread like this might have its uses. I say "northern" because: How widespread is this? I've only been to weekenders in recent weeks but I'm sure if anyone in the northern rooms had tried playing that Bob Sinclar tune they'd have been dodging bits of heavy masonry. Are smaller events more liberal in their music policy? Or is the fixation on OVO leading to strange choices?

No, definitely wouldn't confuse either Lou/Louis Johnsons with LV of Chicago, who died in 1995, and whose voice was one of a kind. Louis Johnson of the Bros Johnson died in 2015, whereas Brooklyn-born Lou Johnson seems to be still with us. Around 1979 LV was recording in Chicago for ICA Records, Louis was enjoying major success produced by Quincy Jones and sessioning on other Jones productions, and then went on to record a gospel album with wife Valerie as "Passage", released in 1981; which leaves us with the Pasadena-based Lou Jay Records, which seems to have released only a few singles, and very occasionally: https://www.discogs.com/label/563742-Lou-Jay-Record Just to confuse matters there was a label out of Baton Rouge also called Lou Jay that released a few in the mid-60s, but looks more rockabilly than soul: https://www.45cat.com/label/loujay Involved in the Pasadena productions were Louis Johnson Jr., and Deborah Johnson, presumably family of the singer (and label owner).

That's Louis Johnson of the Brothers Johnson ... bloody autocorrect. Anyway, the track credited to Lou Johnson appears on the BBE comp from 2 years ago "Private Wax Volume 2", released on both vinyl and cd (download too). According to the compiler Zaf Love Vinyl (of Shoreditch) and DJ Tom Noble this is the same Lou Johnson. It sure isn't Louis Johnson of the Brothers, but I can see how age might have altered the other Lou's voice... If anyone has any further info on this it would be much appreciated.

Lou Johnson's "Keep that fire burning" 1979 single is credited in Discogs to Louise Johnson of the Brothers Johnson https://www.discogs.com/Lou-Johnson-Keep-That-Fire-Burning-Wanting-You/release/5543687

Nice selections - you seem to be busy on the deejay front! That Voices of East Harlem track I've heard a few times on my travels this summer, definitely popular just now, and as if by magic Soul Brother are bringing out reissues of their 2 later LPs on one cd, with the self-titled LP also getting a vinyl release: https://soulbrother.com/shop/voices-of-east-harlemcan-you-feel-it/ https://soulbrother.com/shop/voices-of-east-harlem-4/

Brilliant stuff ... Kent keeping us very busy this year and roll on more undiscovered/forgotten 70s gems

Available at Soul Brother: https://soulbrother.com/shop/complete-loma-singles-vol-1/

No, but I've seen adverts for OMO events. Apparently these allow the use washing powder instead of talc on the dancefloor.

Ellie Hope:

I'm not surprised, as it seems to be fashionable just now. Good if it leads people to buy more serious equipment to properly enjoy a growing collection, but we'll see how that goes in the next 2-3 years probably. Will we be tripping over stacks of novelty turntables in Oxfam in years to come? No question the record companies are loving it, but it's surely gonna feel strange to some people to be paying the same money for usually 2 tracks on a relatively faster degrading and more easily damaged medium than for many more tracks on a robust (if manufactured properly) and less easily damaged medium that is sonically superior Let battle commence!

Dr John's 1978 LP "City Lights" showcases his soulful side to good effect:

Nice try I've got thousands but I'm hanging on to them and accumulating more. With the reissues still coming (although apparently less than before) as well as new comps (feels like more than before), for music lovers it's a steal. Disagree about the obsolete bit, though ... if true, it's a matter of fashion rather than technology.

and Elkie Brooks, Robert Palmer (both Vinegar Joe) also Melody Stewart

Eric Burdon, Delaney and Bonnie, David Clayton-Thomas and Nils Landgren

And while we're at it, Rod Stewart and Steve Marriott