Chris L

Boo Hoo Dave you got him back with The Fuller Brothers

It did get played at Torch all the way thru (at least once) 'cos Martyn Ellis & Bruce made a tape of the stuff that got played one night and that's included on it. Chris L

They were great DJs in them days Dave. Ian L, Jebby, Minshull, Ellis, et al................................. Chris L

It was known about but a bloke called Nigel Martin had the 1st copy that people actually saw. His dad worked in Canada and got it from Martin Koppell, I think he actually got 2 or 3 copies, anyway people were camping outside his house to ty and buy it from him. Chris L

Yes Eddie, pulled it out of the basement, got Dave Hastings to play intro, knew we had a winner

57 years old in 2 weeks time

Me, Cooperettes - Shing-a-ling & Soul Twins - Quick change It was a long time ago.

Only met him and his wife the once, thought he was a super DJ, played all the "right stuff" always sad, in this case more so. RIP and see you in that all-nighter in the sky. Chris L

Without a doubt Velvet Satins - Nothing compares to you...................................mind you Spinnin' top by the Orlons can only be danced to by the Rocketeer........

My Enrish not zo gut, must you explayne me................

When you say "God" so as in "Godzilla" ??

This came out in the US sometime in 1998, sort of soft bootleg, pressed in Belgium by Marginal Records, they use a law that says that after so many years the music is in the public domain so no royalties, same as the Chain Reaction album. Chris L

Does anyone really care ? Is he/she still alive ? Do they still have their own teeth ?

Touchée............................

I once borrowed this copy of Help Me from a girlfriend I was dating in about 1968/9. I was about 16 years old at the time, to my great shame I have never returned it. (I did try and track her down her name was Janet Kemp from Guildford - she was older than me gues she's about 58/59 now) anyway..............................I kept and played it always wondering who the Spellbinders were. After getting back into the scene in 1998 come early 2002 I had found them. Lovely people. This is a rare Canadian copy, I have the album also on Canadian (also US demo, US mono & stereo too - became quite an obsession) I was delighted when the album got released in the UK, albeit on a CD.

This from the reunion in New Jersey in 2003. From left to right, Dee Grant, Bobby Shivers, Jimmy Wright & Eller Weas Little aka Elouise Pennington who was once married to Harry Starr !!

Yes, you're right, great for playing in car where the playing of vinyl could be a bit tricky. This is Bobby Shivers singing an encore of "Help Me" in New Jersey in 2006, he's quite the showman. The "lost" Spellbinder McArthur Mumford, he got lip cancer quite some while ago and had to stop singing, his appearance in New Jersey got me a bit weepy, he was just a smashing bloke. This from their 2nd tour of the UK in 1967, people forget they had 2 "hits" in the UK with "Help Me" and "Chain Reaction" only 4 of them here, Dee Grant & McArthur not making the trip both being replaced by Danny Austin from the Ad Libs (they are all big mates with each other). I'll be back................ Chris L

They never ever DID A DUFFER? I knew them all, I got them all back togethser in 2003, all the orignals (in fact there never were any replacements) got to meet McCarthur Mumford too, plus all their families. Try and track down A. Their album B. An article I wrote for Mike Ritson's Magazine Manifesto, their whole story is in it. Only Eller Weas Little and Bobby Shivers still alive but when they performed in New Jersey 3 years ago they blew everyone away. I'll post some stuff on them tomorrow off the Germany now back in the morning............... Here's a little taster, an unpublished pic of the Spellbinders in their heyday. Chris L

Classic Urban Harmony, some soul/doo wop fans, collectors & writers based in the New Jersey area have made this fitting tribute to Chris Bartley, a wonderful piece of work. https://www.classicur...y%20Tribute.htm Do read it. Chris Lalor

That's OK I used to be in the Territorial Army I'll be camoulflaged as a chip buttie and a pint of Watneys Red Barrel that'll fool 'em..................

Pretty much how it was in the South in the 70s, the London black community was either into ska/bluebeat/reggae or funk when I were a lad. They never really connected with Motown type soul. That doesn't mean that it's a completely "white" scene after all 99% of the artists, musicians, labels are performend etc by black people, albeit Yanks

What a bizare posting, just what does all this mean ?? We should all now go to Kobe, Tokyo or Frankfurt for our soul nights ? Perhaps the most inappropriate comment is that old cop-out above, 99.9999999% of returning soulies are just glad the scene is alive and well, they do however reserve the right to criticise stuff that gets played if they feel it's a load of old tat, as a lot of that real rare stuff is.

I failed becuse he wouldn't take Euros, bet you wished you had now.......................