soulfulsaint

John gave me this EMI disc cut from Popcorn's 'Down in the Dumps' master tapes. Its got the old Soul Bowl logo and the address is from Portland Street before he moved to the farm. Must be from around '75-'76 ended up on the Grapevine LP but prefer the Soul Bowl EMI just for the memories.

Such sad news. I owe John a lot. He was not just a great dealer but a man with limitless knowledge of independent soul. Spent many memorable times at Soul Bowl and remember wild drunken nights too. John and his wife missed Scotland dearly and I always arrived armed with Tunnocks tea-cakes and Irn Bru. When I was heading off to USA as a student he often gave me places to go and some people to contact. He loved the 'northern soul' scene but loved winding it up too. I remember asking for his Top Ten to publish in 'Echoes' and wilfully he gave me ten James Brown 'B' sides, all deep ballads, even although he was sitting on the best collection of rare soul ever. Any information on funeral plans greatly appreciated.

I recently had a conversation with Guy Hennigan and we discussed at length the youth clubs that once fed the rare soul scene, they were often highly local, mid-week and ignited peoples' passion long before they were old enough to travel to the big all-nighters. Some youth clubs are periodically mentioned in other threads but I'm trying to gauge how many there were, and how important they were to the evolution of the scene. So - what was the youth club that you attended before all-nighters and what is the record you most associate with those times. For me it was Letham Community Centre in Perth in Scotland and the track I still love is Jackie Wilson's 'Since You Showed Me How to Be happy' (Brunswick). Many of the records will not be hugely rare but that's partly the point. So place, era and record please?

Should have been clearer that Junior worked in an aluminum manufacturing plant

I had always believed it was cancer and although I have no evidence to connect the two - his work place was pretty dire and he was regularly exposed to aluminum dust and coal-tar byproducts. The American union movement have pursued some firms for cancer related deaths especially and lung and bladder cancers and respiratory diseases too. But linking his workplace and his death are entirely my assumptions with limited proof. Not been able to track family either. Stuart Cosgrove

I appreciate your kind words and support Dave. Coming from the scene that matters a lot to me.

James Wells 'Baby I'm Still the Same Man'

Listening now Pete. Like you say I had forgotten how many tracks had been released. Some of these are new to me and as the wee cat said to the bowl of milk - lapping it up.

Read in a Billboard that in 1972 her album was on heavy rotation on only one radio station in USA - WHUR Washington DC. Back then it was the student radio station of Howard University, where Donald Byrd was professor of jazz studies. But for only one station to play her across the whole of the USA is a scandal.

My only minor addition is that JM's site is a save haven and less risky than eBay so it sells as a premium to the market, but you get what you bid on (if you win).

Hi Phil, Just came back to this thread and saw your comment. I was at Black Echoes in the electro era. A package came in from North Carolina with a 12" vocoder dance record - by the Garrett Crew, they had packed the 12" with 3 copies of Glenda McLeod. I rang the company who had already gone bust and were setting up an Amusement Arcade. So for a few weeks I had all three copies, gave one to Ian Clark (100 Club) and another to Dave Thorley (Stafford) and kept the other which I still have. Not claiming there are only three first issues as I simply don't know but not many around. Ironically, the vocoder 12" which I hated is supposedly big on the German electro scene. Great thread Simon.

No but we have a searing drama set against the backdrop of 1970s Wigan in which old men look back on records they wished they'd bought - its called 'Come Whine With Me'.

...for the avoidance of doubt no such show is currently being planned by Channel 4 and since it would appeal largely to old down-market males it would be a commercial mistake.

Sadly Gil's father passed away about six months ago. He was living in Michigan and still obsessed with Scottish football. According to Gil's brother he was banned from Michigan School's Soccer Games for swearing from the side of the pitch, a habit he picked up in Glasgow. He married a Scots woman he met in Glasgow, who became Gil's step-mother. Gil's dad Giles played for a Chicago team called the Chicago Maroons who Celtic played in a pre-season tour of USA and Canada in around 1948. Gil played for Celtic with the legendary clown prince of football Charlie Tully. I agree 'Almost Lost Detroit' brilliant. First heard 'The Bottle' at Blue Rooms Sale - courtesy of Curtis and Levine. Epic

My copy of Ronnie McNeir 'Sitting in My Class' (Deto DS 2878) has a slight click in the first 45 secs. It drives me mad. But the B side 'Isn't She a Pretty Girl is flawless and mint, so when I get depressed by the A side I reassure myself that the B side is better. So I do own it but if I had to replace it for mint-copy then I'm not sure I would (or easily could).

Here is an extract from a feature I wrote in today's Times in Scotland (Ecosse). Its a new twist on Frank Wilson saga, and came about after the editor had attended a soul night at the Woodside in Glasgow, when Adny Dyson and Chalky were at the decks. She asked me to make sense of the fuss about Frank Wilson with a specifically Scottish angle. So here it it. (Chalky I owe you an agent's fee) Art and Soul ....."Both are driven by collectors who are fixated by rarity, authenticity and the provenance of their collections. So far both have also resisted the pressure of recession and the value of collections has either increased or held strong. Words such as "rare", "original" and "limited edition" exist in both communities. Respected dealers exist in both worlds and auctions are a familiar mode of transaction. Art and soul share a culture where fakes, bootlegs and shady attempts to replicate the look of original works are not uncommon. Here is the full article. Those that think it sometimes tips towards pretension should remember that I went to the Mecca a lot. https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/c...icle5732973.ece Cheers Stuart Cosgrove

It isn't by any stretch a great record although it is a rare won. Lester and Leslie Tipton were Detroit's best dancers and appeared on local TV on the Swingin Time Show. They reached their height mid-60s when they won two pontaics on a national TV dance contest and returned to Detorit as local celebs. I think La Beat recorded Lester Tipton almost as a novelty act. In my personal opinion, its a pretty messy record for the time, and for the city. It wouldn't be in my Top 100 Detroit. But hey its still a dobber. I am a trusting soul and believe Brad's 'reported versions'. I have bought several records of him, one that had come from a clear out of a 70s Detroit singer, and the other which was a 12" from Stanley Mitchell, which is a good modern sound but I bought for a mxture of nostalgia and curioisity. My only regret before his shop was burnt is that I couldn't spend three days just searching through old Motown.

I happily signed it ridiculous desicion - great Dj and king rarities at the time too. Casanova was never his best but as Ian D will confirm quite common for new obscurities to get played then, and for them to get pressed in quantity and even chart.

Your right I've been told its by Sir Wales Walsall.

Not a bad DJ either had a great night at his Thursday Club at Slow's Bar on Michigan Ave in Detroit. Spent a few weeks studying at Wayne State on a project and Brad's was across the road before it burnt down. Lot of good local modern Detroit too in collectors boxes above counter. The Tipton is are utterly kosher.

I am not a DJ but I'm Hezbollah when it comes to OVO. I've always been suspsicious of this idea that 'punters' who dance are different from collectors. I have a huge rare soul collection and like to dance when I'm out but if a DJ played off a bootleg and be off like a shot. At Wigan the soul-media used to use the term "the brut-soaked masses" which i though was patronising, it implied that people who danced had no taste and no ability to be discerening about music or labels etc. Rubbish. Whether is danicing or rummaging through boxes, OVO everytime.

Fianl Score was in fact an easy win for the small-frys: Little 23- 14 Large

Haven't heard that Gareth but a female singer that has always intrigued me is Little Sammy Bryant, who defiintely was of restricted growth and was a victim of dwarfism. She sang in the Rev CL Franklin's Gospel Caravan out of Detroit on the same bill as Aretha and Erma Franklin, and Sharon Scott. Any Detroit buffs with any info on Little Sammy can they PM me.

Now that I know you are logged on Jocko I'm getting this one in first. For all us Scottish soul boys with low self esteem what about Wee Willie and The Winners.

So many soul singers branded themselves by their height or weight. What is not clear is who wins - liitle or large? To get us started there's Little Stevie Wonder and Lil Major Williams, but can they hack it next to Big Maybelle? Let's have those names please - little or large?