Nickinstoke

I just heard the sad new that John Venn - better known to most of us as Esher, from Brosely in Shropshire - died yesterday. He was 63. Esher was a stalwart of the Northern scene from its earliest days. He deejayed in the oldies room at the Stafford All-nighters, and later started and ran the 86 Club, at Swancote, Bridgnorth, which was at its peak in the late 80s and early 90s. I've known him since I was 15, and have had some of the best times I ever had with Esh. I know I wont be alone in missing him a lot.

Eugene Dixon is Gene Chandler's real name. No idea which title came first though

I'd started working on this shortly before this thread started - it pushed me to get it finished...... https://www.mixcloud.com/nickinstoke/nick-marshall-uk-soul-45s-the-power-exchange-label/

While I think of it...does anyone know the story behind the Main Ingredient single on Power Exchange? There doesn't seem to be a US release and they were still recording for RCA at the time. It has the same production credits as the Imperials "Who's gonna love me" Any ideas anyone?

Most of the early releases on Power Exchange were H.B. Barnum productions. A piece of useless information....."Ocho rios" by Sugar (B side of PX 275, from 1978) is actually "Turn me on" by the Arctic Strings. The US release is credited to Roundtree (who had a Power Exchange single) and appeared on Omni

Meant to say thanks for your reply, Kev, I grew up with the Pye International and I knew I'd heard something that didn't sound quite the same. Digging a bit more, their bass player, Gary van Scyoc (I wonder how that's pronounced) played on Howard Tate's Atlantic LP, and turned up as a member of Elephant's Memory, John Lennon associates.

Thanks Kegsy, good to know I haven't completely lost it yet. I always thought it was the HBR that came out on Pye International, but I've just done a bit of digging and it seems it might be more complicated than that... https://www.45cat.com/record/hbr494

I used to have both the St Clair and HBR copies of The Fife Piper and have a vague memory of them being subtly different. Can anyone confirm or deny this.?

Nobody's mentioned, unless I've missed it, that Little Hank's version of "Try to understand" was a regular play about 15 years ago.

One of Soul Junction's strongest releases, in my book, an essential purchase

Just spotted a copy of Eddie Holloway "I'm standing by" on Gem for sale on Facebook @ £350. There are 5 copies on Discogs at £20 or less - am I missing something here?

I can do the Themes, Dave. PM me with details of what resolution you need/round or square etc

Many thanks folks, now safely downloaded. Great stuff. Cheers Nick

Just tried to download issue 8, but got issue 7.

Top of my head, isn't it on UK R&B? No idea of value

Is it really Barbara English?

Check out this version, a couple of years before Jenny Wren, but unissued https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8WwkbwVjvk

A lot of record shops back in the day would order a copy of just about everything released, and there were many more record shops back then.

That's what I call a definitive answer! Many thanks, I know my listener will be delighted to know this too. Nick

Thanks for your excellent suggestions, alley man sounds good to me. cheers Nick

Does anyone know what Willie Tee sings towards the end of Teasing You? One of my listeners (6 Towns Radio, I'm on air now) thinks he says something about the Isle of Man - I have my doubts to say the least, but I don't have any better ideas.

I believe the guy in the Notations is a different Clifford Curry, confusingly!

Great info, many thanks Steve. I can promise you that Tommy is safe from the attentions of PUB (for now, anyway!)

What's the story behind Tommy Hunt "Jerkin' around". Does anyone know who it's really by - is it the Discotays? And is there a vocal version? Cheers Nick

You often see the name "Philip Swern" on 70s UK reggae recordings, as producer - surely must be the same guy