Jaco

You stick to your principals, Russ. I think the reason why most people are ambivalent to the ethos you support is because the values that may have existed in an earlier period within their life, have been diluted by the progress that 21st century life provides. Once you have unlimited access to music for example in a convenient and painfree medium, it ceases to have substantive value on any level. For some, access in this manner trumps any feeling of achievement in searching out new sounds in the manner that was accepted as the norm when travelling to a venue to hear the sounds sourced by a jock who spent the time and effort in doing so, was the only way.

But if they dont fall by the wayside in Europe how can that be anything but the right policy for that particular venue/night? No need to try? What a crock of shit.

We'll take that as none then. How you can make a judgement about what works at a venue without actually attending it is beyond me , despite the piss poor Tyson analogy.

Asking for trouble as in making stuff available for anybody to have as an MP3 and therefore diminishing the tracks kudos? There are lots of tracks that are rare and in the hands of a small number of DJ's that are on Youtube but I'm not aware that this makes a significant difference to that part of the scene as a whole. Those that want to seek out the upfront scene will continue to do so no matter how many tracks are on Youtube. Just a view, mind.

Veep would give us a decent top ten. Cindy Scott, Star Treks, a few from Little Anthony, Elbie Parker, Rose St John, Timothy Wilson, Barbara Banks etc, etc

Awesome Steve and no surprise you picked a label like this.

Ujima, Daybreak, Enchanted Five.

See this is the bit I don't understand. No further reference is needed with regards to Colin Curtis as his 'act of betrayal' was the subject of a feisty thread not that long ago . But why would Kevin Roberts and Richard Searling feel the need to use anything other than original vinyl? Surely they both have collections that could sustain interest throughout most nights if not the most cutting edge night without having to resort to another medium. Baffling.

Ok Eddie, top of the head..... Alex Brown - I'm not responsible Belita Woods - I just love you Esther Phillips - I've never found a man Minits - Still a part of me

Got the Temples of Sound book Dave, it's from a few years ago if my memory serves me well. Will check out Showtime at the Apollo - thanks for the tip.

So you're in the 'don't care what format' camp. If it works for you, so be it. Do not however underestimate, and therefore devalue the importance attached to those that believe the format gives some semblance of credibility to the scene, even if those people are in an ever diminishing minority.

If it counts to you what format, you will continue to do so. If it's never counted what format, you will equally continue to do so. Simples.

So by my reckoning that's another 5 books in the pipeline! Xmas 2013 might be a belter.

Thanks Bob. Really looking forward to this publication, never did get the original despite much hunting.

So some news that Richards book will be out late 2013. Any news on the other 2 books?

I recall being more Interested in the Motown sound rather than the Beatles etc in the mid 60's and that this would have been a fairly standard route to the fuller appreciation of Black American music and then Northern. My musical tastes broadened in the late 70's particularly when new wave came along. I thought that the New York scene of the mid 70's which spawned punk was one of the most exciting musical eras. Bands like Television, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, New York Dolls, Pere Ubu etc transformed my lack of appreciation for the music of the day. This path then took me to appreciate the likes of Sonic Youth, Dead Kennedys, Big Black etc in the 80's and these tastes remain intact together with an undiminished respect for The Band and more recently Arcade Fire. But it is without doubt that those early influences have stayed with me for almost 50 years now and show no signs of abating.

Any news on the various books in the pipeline? Richards Searlings, Soul Harmony Singles, Record finding stories? Would be a welcome addition prior to Xmas.

Beautifully crafted analysis - as always, Garath.

It's the anniversary of his death. 5th October 1992.

Is this one of Butch's main spins? How many copies are now known?

I'll repeat my selection from 3 years ago - Shelbra Bennett and Anita Louis (joint). I can concur with lots of other suggestions but these two for me would be top of the pile.

Correct, Sean. March 2011.

Hear what you are saying Nev but if I disagree with somebody's comment about a record I ought to be able to say so on a forum without fear of that person taking real offence. Too much angst evident if you disagree with somebody's view on here sometimes. The topic itself may have been done more than it seems necessary but new members will no doubt contribute and some of the time served members may not have contributed in the past. The diversity of opinion is what can make subjects like this have some merit.

Now this is just getting silly.

Oh for f**ks sake. Cartoon fu**ing soul. Go and listen to "Tell the truth" or "Otis Blue" and tell me that is cartoon soul. The fact that he had some commercial success with a more mainstream type of song does not and will not diminish his position as one of, if not the, greatest soul vocalist of all time.