Modernsoulsucks

Bummer about money lads but why don't you [Dave and Joey] PM this Diego and just ask him to send your 45s to Roccia. He seems an OK kinda guy. At least you'd then know you'd not lost both 45s and money, and give you both some peace of mind. I know Joey you want the money but gotta make the best of a bad job. If Roccia doesn't receive them then you know you've got a problem. No funds or whatever excuse, he's gotta have enough monery to send the 45s internally within Italy. Im sure Roccia would be happy to send the 45s back if you cover his postage. ROD

"I never have had it - I remember us borrowing it from Mike R. - So didn't you and Alex end up with it again when you got all those 45's from him?" Here we are Dave T, Dave W's reply. I think this is a warning to all of us on the dangers of mixing Philosan and Grecian 2000 which can lead to memory loss and delusion. ROD

Sorry, posted twice.

I don't think you could describe UK soul acts as being innovative apart from IMO Soul II Soul gang and that whole "Street Soul" thing. One thing quite recently has picqued my interest and I may be on my own here. I've had Jimmy Thomas "Beautiful Night" for years but I think it was Carl Willingham who flipped it and so I took a listen. Is it me or is it very like Marvin Gaye "What's goin' on" kinda layered sound. Im sure Jimmy's 45 was done here around 68/69 and Marvin's album didn't come out till 1971. Could we claim that as a milestone in soul even before Marvin's classic album. Maybe the more modern guys could comment as I may be a 6T's fan with cloth ears. ROD

We weren't dj-ing long though as you were the only one who'd book us!!. We did Yate once as well. Dave may have got a copy later and Im waiting for his reply to my email. He's probably forgot though. No offence but it's a bit disheartening when your discoveries are always attributed to someone else just because they had a bigger profile. ROD

Well, have I stumbled on an episode of "Fantasy Island"!!!! The Combinations on Kimtone I had on tape back in 70's from a mate in N.C. I could never find a copy for myself so when Dave and I started dj-ing my mate lent it to us.When we sold up it went back to N.C. My mate in N.C. then sold up around late 90's and I got it for myself and eventually it went to Tim Brown as he made me an offer that I couldn't refuse. I asked Dave if we covered it and he can't remember and neither can I. Dave may have picked a copy up somewhere later and I've asked him about that. I did get the Combinations off Richard but that was the Chessmen c/u on Kellmac and I don't think he had the Kimtone 45. That was around 81/82 and before we dj-ed. Carl Fortnum now has that copy. ROD

IMO the best track by Vandellas that's not really been given much exposure is "I'll follow you" off the "Watchout" LP. Motown but kinda more Northern orientated like Isleys "Tell me..." , or Monitors "Save a little..." Well worth getting hold of and cheap. ROD

Although Im not a fan of the genre in question I can sympathise with what you're saying. I'd suggest you stick with the places you do like and visit some of the venues recommended outside your usual travelling area. I think avoid those places where you feel the modern room is just tagged onto a Northern do as I guess the promoter will be more interested in the main room and the number of punters through the door. Stick a modern room on and maybe get a few more in. ROD

Mel, I don't think the programme is about the Northern scene except a passing reference so bit unrealistic to expect in-depth interviews with past or current movers and shakers. I do agree however most things on TV in the past have seemed superficial but then you'd need a 25 part series to cover it all. I don't know about anyone else but I'd never heard of James Maycock and looking on the net he appears to have written about James Brown, not exactly a firm favourite Northernwise. I will take bets that James gets more mentions than Eddie Parker!! Im sure it will have loads of interesting coverage of the 60's mod scene. In London of course. But without those old mods and their Tamla Motown etc we probably wouldn't be here to post on this site. ROD

It went off in Wigan record bar once that I saw with this huge rugby-player non-soulie type throwing chairs etc Luckily I managed to get his name and adddress, wrote him a very stiff letter, and I never saw him again!! Mel, it's probably down to the fact that you instigated it!!

I remember both Jimmy James and Johnny Johnson [got played more I think] at the Torch but I wasn't keen. Only my opinion but compared to say the popular 45s like Eddie Parker or Rose Battiste they sounded very flat and sing-a-long in a club. "Sometimes Djs can be criricised (I think) by being too hung up on playing the latest few 'big' tunes of the day. Result? The same handful of records are played at lots of venues, and very similar sets played by DJ X DJ Y and DJZ. etc etc." Back in early 70's I think, and maybe others who were there could confirm, all the DJs played basically the same big 45s but the high turnover stopped it from becoming stale. At one time as soon as a 45 was pressed it was pretty worthless. It was maybe Ian at the Mecca and later Richard at the Casino that started the exclusive to one spot idea. That's just my take on it and it was 30 years ago so memory can play tricks. ROD

Joe, I think if Brad is on Ebay, and I've seen his ads, I doubt there's much chance of picking up a bargain cheap at his shop. I'd suggest that if you're going over to Detroit the idea would be to find the places where Brad gets his stuff, other than with people just walking into his shop with 45s to offload. No reason not to call in but I'd guess he'd run his stuff through Ebay first. ROD

Im a bit hazy about this but was there another faster disco version of "Heaven in the afternoon" that was an LP track by someone or other. A disco style group. Maybe some of the modern guys may know it if I didn't imagine it. ROD

What is on other side. Im wondering if it's a Beach Music label. The Pad is a club in Myrtle Beach that is the equivalent of our Wigan Casino. ROD

Pete, this has been covered before Im sure. I have a blue "Bell Sound" that I got back in early 80's off my mate in North Carolina. He'd had it since 70's before he was even aware of Northern Soul. I did mention elsewhere that vinyl/stamps were the same as J.J.Barnes "So far away" on Mickays which I don't think has been booted. Im also pretty sure I have another Detroit 45 in my box that's Bell Sound stamped but can't be bothered going through them all to find it. I thought the Bell Sounds were Detroit pressings and the Rosettes were West Coast and aren't they on styrene. ROD

What Simon?. It's a blatant attempt to sell the 45 on my mate's behalf and you're lost for words at my temerity. In my defence he is getting marrried soon so will need the money. You know how women like to be kept in a style that, when you married them,you had no idea they were accustomed to!! ROD

Pottsy, you silver-tongued flatterer you. Im married!! I'll give it a go later when I have time. It was so cold on that reviewing stand sitting there for around 90 minutes that I expected a march past by the Queen's Own Polar Bears. ROD

A mate of mine has just turned a copy up in USA. Knowing him it will be Mint. What's going rate for this nowadays and if anyone's interested they could PM me with an offer and I can put him or her in touch with seller who takes Paypal. Thanks ROD

Re the Willie Hutch issue. I have a copy and when I got it back in the 80's I sold another copy to Paul Johnson from Bolton for £40. So that's 2. If anyone noticed my efforts to download Tamiko Jones were fruitless,although I did manage to scan it into "Photo and Imaging gallery" ,whatever that is. Mark,next time I come up maybe you can show me what to do. Didn't post info on Willie Hutch yesterday cos I went to my stepson's passing out parade at RAF Halton. Station commander was changing at the same time so we got to see a fly past by a spitfire not far above our heads. As I sat in the reviewing stands and heard the roar of the plane coming out of the sun I couldn't help thinking that if it turned out to be a Messerschmitt we were all fcuked!! ROD

Trying to get picture of Tamiko Jones now. ROD

Miff,what's on other side of "Higher and Higher" DJ. There was an old thread about this too and whether "Im the one to do it" came out on other side of any promo variation. ROD

Well Roger, there goes my theory that maybe there was a small run where GW didn't put out dj copies. I have a YDJ of Cooperettes. I think it's pretty common. ROD

Well that's #'s 25 and 27. Is there a demo of 26 "Eenie meenie..." Debonaires I wonder. Roger, with a rough calculation in my head I've worked out you have 15,000 45s but only 12 different songs cos you've got them on every conceivable variation!!! You were doing really well and then you put up that "Shing-a-ling" on regular. Every collector knows that the yellow demos are much better looking. I have Artistics "Hope we have" on yellow demo which took me ages to find as in my experience most of the "Im gonna miss you" demos have Barbara Acklin on other side. Tony P. has sent me instructions how to upload pictures onto site. Unfortunately he omitted the bit about getting pics onto computer in the first place. Im awaiting further instructions. Fence has partly blown down. Can anyone give me an inkling of what a "hammer" is, although the term "nails" does ring a bell. I think I took that "new man" stuff too seriously and need now to get out of touch with my feminine side so I can talk "cylinder head gaskets" with the best of them. Right now the scatter cushions need plumping so Im off. ROD

Re Adorables. I was just going to ask that. Think I've only seen yellow copies. Mine is yellow with "demonstration copy" sticker so Im thinking NOT or really rare. ROD

Tony, I've got the yellow issue of Tamiko Jones but unless someone tells me how to upload it on here Im afraid Im fcuked. It would have to be very simple instructions understandable by a moron or a Southerner!! ROD