Sean Hampsey

I saw her live in Vegas a couple of years ago too! I thought she was incredible... and so was the chicken in the basket! Like you I just loved "Neither One Of Us" but when she sang "Please Help Me I'm Falling" from the "At Last" album I was totally slain. Great performance... and after all these years too. One very classy lady. Sean Hampsey

Yo Stevie, Cryptic One. If I showed up at the Orwell without my records and had a £20 shuftie in your Pound Box early on.. would I get to do a spot? ... and would it be any better than my regular fare? (don't answer that one) Poser Man

Try "I Hate Myself For Loving You" and "Didn't You Know" For perfect Deep Soul Gladys and "Since I Lost You" (up there with Ty Karim's "Lighten Up") For midtempo majesty. IMO of course. Sean Hampsey

Sam Williams "Love Slipped Through My Fingers" An intro that takes the top of my head off everytime... Fist clenchingly magnificent!

A short burst to help quench the thirst can be found here! (until someone puts up the whole bucket full) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005YP9...v=glance&n=5174 Sean Hampsey

Jon Ford - You've Got Me Where You Want Me - Phillips - 50p Barbara Mason - Yes I'm Ready / Keep Him - London Demo - 50p Dee Dee Sharp - Standing in The Need of Love - Cameo Parkway Demo - 50p Incredibles - Theres Nothing Else To Say Baby - Stateside Demo - 50p O'Jays - I Dig Your act - Stateside Demo - 50p All from Sheffield in 1977. There were others I don't recall off hand but then the guy charged me £2.00 for PP Arnold "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" on Immediate... because he thought that was a rare one! Happy days! Sean Hampsey

Probably Priceless (I realise that's no help at all) but seriously it's a great, and I think pretty scarce, version of the Womack song. I think £5 would be a real bargain.

Thanks Brian but I beg to differ, if only very slightly. Dave's article in an issue of Blues & Soul in 1971, called 'The Soul Of The North' was about his first visit to the Twisted Wheel in Manchester. His observations were primarily about the 'scene' in the North (this was part of my original point) but yes, you're right, he was obviously struck by the difference in the type of Soul Music played in the North, differences that we are all well aware of. The main point I was trying to make (obviously not well enough) was that Dave had tried to shake of the handle for some years after, as also mentioned by Mel Bratt above. Dave (like many of us) was first and foremost a Soul lover. It's a question of interpretation I guess, pretty much like our own posts on the subject. Many thanks Sean

Soulful Strut - Young Holt Bok To Bach - Fathers Angels Festival Time - San Remo Out To Lunch - Poets Six By Six - Earl Van Dyke California Montage - Young Holt Wade In The Water - Ramsey Lewis Time Is Tight - Booker T & MG's Are the only 'Soul Instrumentals' I could ever even tolerate. But even those would be a bit monotonous all night long!

I was working for my local Record shop when all this lot came through and they ordered in quantity. I don't recall having any problems with delivery. We had two boxes of the Charades and couldn't give them away even when it was new! Of course the Joe Matthews, Ernest Moseley, Jades, George Blackwell, Flirtations etc. were huge sellers. BTW: About time we exchanged tapes again Eddie. Please send me your addy. All the best Sean Hampsey

Wow Eddie, 30 years ago, seems like only yesterday. Must admit I bought at least half of those at the time (Anderson Bros, Sam Moultrie, Freddy Chavez etc) as I was deejaying a couple of times a week and this seemed like an excellent resource with excellent titles at the right price (about half a days wages). Shame on me. Loved the f*** Off Sam bit and the "Stammering Welsh" line. Wicked man Simon. Wicked. Thank god we've all grown up since then...

I've always believed that Dave's coining of the phrase had little or nothing to do with the music but was a geographic reference to the scene only i.e. "the Soul Clubs in the North". It was an appropriate enough reference at the time, but he spent many decades afterwards trying to disassociate himself from the phrase in the way that it had been contorted and often said that the 'scene' needed to ditch the description as a classification of the music itself. It was the 'scene' that 'took up' and adopted the term and I can assure you that he would have said a big Amen to your comment that "Soul Is Soul whatever sub-genre you file it under". Let's remember that, whether you're from the North or the South of the country, Dave's contribution to the growth, acceptance and appreciation of real Soul Music in Britain is unparalleled. Those of us whose lives were enriched by his reviews and recommendations (of any tempo or sub-genre) will be forever in his debt. Sean Hampsey

His "There Goes My Sanity" is an outstanding record. Played as new in the Deep room at Essence. RIP Sean Hampsey

King Floyd died from a stroke. Really loved his "Can You Dig It". If you don't know it I reckon it would be right up your street. A truly beautiful record. Also worth checking is the equally lovely "I'm For Real". RIP Sean Hampsey

Good to see such an appreciation of Gene Pitney on here. His contribution to our music was (although indirectly) much greater than one might first imagine. He could easily have been signed by a Major (RCA/Columbia etc.) but thankfully for us lot his hits were with MUSICOR who (because of the income generated from his sales) were able to finance such things as Radcliffe, Melba Moore, Jyve Fyve, Dean Parrish, Platters, Porgy & The Monarchs, etc. releases in which sales were minimal in comparison. Respect Well Due Gene Pitney RIP (ask Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams how much he rated the man).

If you like "Are You Gonna Leave Me" I'm guessing you'll be dissapointed with "I Wanna b/w I Gotta". It's quite a common record... in comparison to "Are You Gonna" but still nice to have! Sean Hampsey

Certainly was Gavin. Circa 1995 I don't remember anyone else up north (or even at Pitches) having it or playing it... course I remember some Southern shandy drinkers raving about it around 3 years later... at Essence!

Top "Version" (IMO) is by Major Lance on WB. Worst "Version" (IMO) is by Amen Corner... just as a matter of interest! Sean Hampsey

Just Gorgeous isn't it. Always Loved her 'little girl' vocals. Of the Arctic sides "Yes I'm Ready" and the flip "Keep Him" have always been a fave, but fans will also love "Half A Love" (very similar in feel to "I Dont Wanna Lose You") and my old PITCHES spin from about 10 years ago "You Better Stop It" which is crossover perfection! Of the Buddah sides, the reply to Shirley Brown's "Woman To Woman" entitled "From His Woman To You" is another winner! Just remembered I have an old video of Barbara doing "Yes I'm Ready" live on stage... and she brought the house down. Wish I'd been there! Sean Hampsey

Right, it's almost past his bedtime... Everybody round to Gavin's Shed!

Just in case you missed the earlier post. Some nice n' cheap stuff (low reserve) ending this evening (GMT) Thanks for taking a look! https://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZsoulmanuk Sean Hampsey Paypal Accepted & UK Cheques (or cash...better still)

It's on there Mate! Sean

Got a few spares up for sale on eBay for sale under SoulmanUK https://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZsoulmanukQQhtZ-1 Ends tonight (Thursday GMT). Includes:- Rare Issue of Henry Shed (Mindblowing double sider) Ed Crook - Tri Sound David Sea - Night After Night Bobby Jonz - Win Your Love Soft Touch - On Shout! (Answer to Hesitations on GWP) Jerri Jackson - I Can Almost Believe etc. All pretty low reserve. Few bidders on so far - but Loads watching - so take a look! You Might Bag A Bargain! Thanks a bunch. Sean Hampsey

Great Question and even more difficult to answer if you collect ALL things Soulful. Way back (35+ years ago when all US issues were rare) I always had them alphabetical by Label name (Action, Atlantic, Beacon, Bell, etc.) but, although Label name is still the main filing order, the collection is now divided into US (60's & 70's) & UK (60's & 70's) 'Top level' sections and then by label with seperate drawers (and boxes) for such sections as Deep Soul, Motown and some by certain Key artists (Womack, Dees etc.) Works for me.. but, certainly, only I would be able to find my way around it. If you just collect 'Northern' or 'British' the task has got to be a hell of a lot easier. Always perplexed me how others do it though! Sean Hampsey

Agree?