Biggordy

I've got the Billys. The shelves on mine are fitted so there's one rack of LPs then one of 45s, then another of LPs, then one of 45s then two top ones of LPs. The rest of my 45s are in the 18 litre strong plastic boxes from the Really Useful Box Company.

The missus and I will be going to Spain for the week at the end of May and we'll be going to the Costa Brava (not sure exactly where yet), Are there any good soul bars or events in the area? Not bothered it it's oldies, modern, crossover, whatever, just some soul will be nice. How far is Barcelona from the coast and could we get a bus or train back in the wee small hours? Cheers Gordon

I didn't have much deep soul before owning these, they were my gateway to the slower deeper stuff. I then went out and got the Eddie & Ernie, Kelly Brothers, Wallace Brothers, Kings Serious Soul 1 and 2 and Jean Wells CDs. More recently I got the Spencer Wiggins, Howard Tate, Candi Staton and Doris Duke CDs on Kent. If pushed I reckon I'm more of a deep soul fan than northern fan these days (due to not being able to get out much and doing a lot of home listening). Greatest deep soul 45 record of all time for me is Theola Kilgore's cut of "The Love Of My Man".

Another corker: https://youtu.be/32fGbrFocMg

No one's mentioned this classic yet: https://youtu.be/_e8mTx58xNE

Anything by Mongo Santamaria and his son Monguito, Ray Barretto, Willie Colon, Willie Bobo, Joe Bataan and Cal Tjader.

THE greatest female soul singer ever, R.I.P.

Reggae, Rocksteady and Ska are my first love, then it's Northern, R&B, Deep Soul and Doo Wop

Hi All About a year ago I bought the first volume of the Soul Discography from Bob McGrath (who did the R&B Indies books), He said he was working on the other two volumes at the time but around a year and nothing's came out again. Anyone know when they're due? Cheers G

Went to a few nights there including a Flipside nighter with popcorn in the smaller bar room. Met quite a few peeps there for the first time and Rodz and Chris were top people.

The 1976 punk shirt looks like someone's spilt their stash on it

I loved Prestwich, it was my most visited venue as a newbie to the scene ten or so years ago now, Terry and Lynne are lovely people and I'll always remember their friendliness and kindness. Great to see them being successful in their chosen business these days. G

I think I went to the last few Tony's with Dave Olley from the North East. It was there that I first met many people from the old KTF e-mail list such as Carms, Nige, Maria O, Chalky, Brian J, Matt Jahans (whatever happened to Matt?), Kit The Jock(where is he too?), Alex from Notts and many more (including a couple of allegedly dodgy characters whose names don't get mentioned these days!). Those were the days when I had regular lifts and my health was good enough for me to go out most weekends. Gordy

He's a nice guy but why is he allowed to make a small fortune playing from CDs and minidiscs when everyone else is slaughtered for it? G

Have you seen the clash in NYC where he came on stage dressed as Elvis? The guy's a nutter but a legendary entertaining nutter with amazing tunes!!!! G

I have this tune and always thought it was certain Motown musicians moonlighting, now I know it IS a Motown track! Cheers Ady. G

Sold. Cheers G

Hi All I've got the first two volumes of Bob McGrath's R&B Indies book to sell. I got these with the intention of buying 3 & 4 when I could afford to but when this time came, they had sold out. So the first two volumes can go to someone at a bargain price (I know it's not the full set but they've still got full label discographies of many great indie labels of the 40s to 80s). They're in nearly new condition still. £90 the pair (they were 75 quid each brand new 18 months ago) fiver postage to the UK, overseas buyer I'll have to sort the cost out at the time. PM me if interested. Cheers Gordon

There's a northern soul bar in Barnsley, South Yorkshire called the Soul Lounge. They have live tribute band type acts on and DJs during the week playing commercial soul and disco with a smattering of Northern oldies. You won't ever hear owt rare in there but it's a good place to have a few pints away from the chav infested boozers in the rest of town.

Being on a somewhat limited budget (mature student), buying 45s is quite an expensive habit so the Kent CDs have been a godsend to me. My favourites are the Classiest Rarities collections especially the first one with "Diplomats, Johnny Wyatt, Clifford Curry, Rockmasters etc - then Vol 2 with Jimmy Bo Horne's "I Just Can't Speak" which in my humble opinion is one of the greatest records ever made. Big thanks to Ady and everyone involved in their compilation.

More money and less arthritis......

Hi Dean, What's the DJ line up? Cheers Gordon

There used to be a night in London called "George Jackson" after the singer, but it seems to be finished now. Can't remember who promoted it. Southern Soul is amazing music but probably doesn't get played out as most of it is listening rather than dancing music.

On air for over a year now. Regular listeners include one of the Beltones, Keith of Keith and Tex, Carl Malcolm who did the original Fattie Bum Bum, Carlton Hines of Te Track and ska legend Roy Panton of Roy & Millie fame. I love DJing to actual crowds of Jamaicans and those of Jamaican heritage rather than playing the same 20 or 30 badly produced UK skinhead tunes at scooter rallies G

There's a Greensleeves CD from the early 90s that has the Let's Get Started album AND the Augustus Pablo dub versions "Eastman Dub" both on the same CD. Should be easy enough to find. Te Track have reformed - Carlton Hines with Norris Reid this time and they have a new album out very soon, Carlton sent me a few preview tracks and it's sounding great. G