Biggordy

Just got this back from my mate Brian who used to shop at the Isen's/King's place in the 60s: Yo G-Man, thanks for the heads up on that but I'm afraid he will have to read my book for any info on Rita & Benny. He starts out saying they ended up doing Irish music, well actually that's not true. They started out by selling Irish music and one of their biggest acts was Larry Cuningham.

The UK reggae journalist Penny Reel would be able to tell you all about Benny and his wife Rita. I also know another guy who used to shop there in the 60s too. I'll get in touch with them for you.

Pied Piper by a mile, all those classics on RCA.

Lots of great repros of original posters on EBay - they look great framed on the wall. Cue the backlash from the "original posters only" crew lol........

Mp3s have a place. For listening to at home or on an iPod. Not being played at a soul event. But, I don't mind if CDs are played as A) they're a physical format you can actually look at and hold and B) many great unissued tracks are on CD and deserve to be danced to in my humble opinion. Just to add, I mean proper well compiled and produced CDs like those from Ace/Kent et al, not 2.99 ones from the local garage.

Left a message with a friend of a friend, hopefully he'll respond.

Mike Atherton now resides in Norfolk I believe. I've had some reggae bits from him over the last few years, I'll try to find an address or number.

My fiancee's favourite book of all time is Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy. She also loves soul. We'll be grabbing a copy! Good luck with it!

A colossus of music. One of the greatest of all time and so criminal that his passing has been ignored by the mainstream media despite him being a Grammy winner.

Hi All Thought I'd give my radio show a plug. Called "Step It Up And Go" and it's R&B and early soul and sometimes later soul too if I'm asked for some. Not just "scene" tunes - R&B ranges from late 40s jump blues to sixties gritty soul that could be classed as R&B. Some popcorn, doo wop and group soul too. You can catch me every Friday night at Midnight UK time on www.reggaeairwaysradio.com (where I also have a ska, rocksteady and reggae show on Saturdays at the same time). You can also listen on iTunes and on the Tune In Radio website and phone app. The station is licenced by PPL and PRS and all royalties are paid for any music that is played. As most of you are out and about on a weekend, you can listen again at anytime on www.mixcloud.com - just search for the show title or my DJ name DJ Greedy G. All feedback appreciated, but if you're going to be negative then please make it constructive and I can take it on board and improve the show. Cheers! Gordy

Five great records that cost me a fiver in the last few years (and in one case less) and should still be there or thereabouts (or maybe a tenner in a couple of cases): Going, Going, Gone - Cody Black (Ram Brock) Together We Shall Overcome - The Magictones (Mahs) A Natural Man - Lou Rawls (MGM) It Ain't Long Enough - Judy Clay (Stax) Yes I Am - Brothers Of Love (Blue Rock - £3!) All top drawer soul tunes!

Give up booze and gear. More money for records then!

His biography is great. Love the story of him "escaping" from Germany and his "sugar mummy" when he was a young man! A great singer who's lived life to it's fullest. May he have many more birthdays yet.

I saw him the last time he was here at the Band On The Wall in Manchester. Best show I've ever been to. Met him afterwards too and I can verify that he's one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet. Totally chuffed to bits for him and he deserves his success.

Gonna try and make it to the Leeds night, bring that Ike & Tina 45, love it!

Fantastic footage, especially of Buddy Lamp!

A DJ I know called Uncle Fee has a copy of Crucifixition, I've seen it with my own eyes and heard it. No idea how many got made, but he got it from a legendary sound system owner in London called Ken Gordon aka Fatman.

Price is bonkers. About 400 to 500 quid tops. A Wailers tune "Diamond Baby" goes for over a grand when it shows up (it's on Coxsone) - this is probably one of the rarest JA tunes. Another Wailers tune "Selassie Is The Chapel" on a blank goes for a couple of grand when it shows. Nothing from JA has ever reached FW proportions though. Although the interest in JA music from people on the soul scene will no doubt send prices soaring over the next year or two.

If we're talking about feelgood tunes then these two - I Hate Hate by Razzy and Riot by Joe Bataan.

18 litre XL size from the Really Useful Box Company, about £12 each. https://www.reallyusefulproducts.co.uk/uk/html/onlineshop/rub/b18_0litreXL.php

Around 1400 45s stored in plastic boxes, most of my LPs, some 12"s and a couple of thousand CDs. Also my computer is in here too. As you can see the missus has started introducing her clutter including a chest freezer........

I've got one but the missus has invaded it and put "pretty" stuff in it like flowers and paintings and her books on a bookshelf.

There's a 10 x 7" box set of Cotillion label 45s for RSD including Otis Clay, Walter Jackson, etc but no idea who's behind it.

She nicks mine!!!

Curtis Mayfield was my introduction to soul music around 20 years ago. Jamaican music has always been my first love and a mate told me that just about every rocksteady tune ever was a CM cover. So I got a best of the Impressions LP and been hooked on soul ever since. Move On Up is his greatest tune of course.