Davebanks

Not a "purist" but can wholeheartedly agree with your quest. 10 years ago I decided to sell my collection and traded it in for a large collection of CDs and then set out to find my favourite vinyl tracks in CD. I largely completed that task and now have over 20,000 mainly northern tracks committed to digital. Can confirm that the Mellow Souls is seriously hard to find and I had to resort to "ripping" a youtube video. The Cameo Parkway catalogue is not easy to find in a legitimate format. Keni Lewis is a great track but not on legitimate release as far as I know, as you say available on "on the door release" Good Luck

I see JM has this on auction now and in his usual style recalls the discs first appearance on the northern scene at the Torch. I'm pretty sure I was there that night or the next week and recall the impact that tune had on "our" group; in awe of a great sound. It was surely one of the first 70's sounds spun on the scene? having been released in 1970. And at the time was viewed almost in the same way as the Carstairs was a bit later in that it was obviously not a 60's sound. A few weeks later one of our lot, whose name sadly escapes me acquired a copy and it joined a select band of discs played on a car disc player this lad had. (you posted the discs into a slot like a CD player). And in our own sad version of a male vocal harmony group the front of the car would sing" Let her go" to be followed by the rear singing "you don't really love that girl" then front "Cant you see" then the back "she believes you do". Such happy days and great memories. Dave Banks

I'll say !! Bought a UK copy from a Mr I Levine of Blackpool in about 1972/73 at the Top Rank Hanley for £5 and then I debated with myself all night as to whether it was worth it. Loved the sound, but £5 !! About £55 in todays money. Had to borrow the money as well off my girlfriend. Luckily she became my wife and not sure I have ever given her the money back. Sold it on a few years later for £25. Thats record collecting, there's always something else you want. Dave Banks

And in the pop auction Prince Buster Sunshine with my girl went for £734 WOW! Dig out those old reggae/ska tunes Dave Banks

My first record request I'm sure was asking Billy Butler that legendary Liverpool DJ "what was that you just played?" . We new nothing back in 1970 about rare records; or even common ones come to that. Sad to say I think the first actual record I asked him for was the Newbeats Run baby run. Because not long after I persuaded him to part with a copy. I know; pop to the core, but it was huge at the time in the clubs. As usual Billy had records strewn everywhere behind the decks, give me a moment its here somewhere was almost his catchphrase! Dave Banks

Went to Va Vas a few times. My main memory is the small dance floor and buying the Producers Lady Lady Lady there. At the time I had not heard it and I said to the seller what's this? He says its the instrumental to What kind of lady. No way!!!! Its on a different label and doesn't say "Instru" on it. With that he gives it to the DJ who plays it straight away and the floor fills. I of course buy it straight away for £1.25. Maybe overpriced for the time! For a few weeks it was the wonder of our local club. Sunday nights at the Old Wirralians rugby club. Great days. Dave Banks

Went to the Raven nr Whitchurch, Soul Sams local venue at the time (early 70's) the week before he had played Bob Relf Blowing my mind. First time we had heard it. Pretty sure it was one of the first plays in the country but others will know better than me. Anyway we take along a cassette tape player to record said song. We ask Sam first if we can and he says a generous yes after seeing the crappy cheap recorder we have. We set it up on a table and when the record comes on we press play/record and fill the dance floor. Listening to the tape on the way home we can clearly hear in the "quiet bit" in the middle two voices loudly discussing a drug deal for contraceptive pills !!!!!. I can't hear Bob Relf now without smiling at the juxtaposition of that deal over the track "Blowing my Mind"; you couldn't make it up. Dave Banks

We did have it all to ourselves and often do when we are there. It is a bodyboarding wave, very shallow over a lava rock reef. It is not a wave to learn on as its very fast. The good thing about FUE is the water is a warm 20 even in winter and the air about 25C and the waves a plentiful and the crowds sparse. It is very hard getting good surfing shots from the water, not only is the subject moving fast, you are in danger of being pummelled by the wave and you can't look through a viewfinder. And in my case cannot wear your specs. So luck plays a big part. Dave Banks

Watching the snow fall here in Devon too. Made me think of sunnier and happier times when I snapped this shot with an underwater housing on a digital camera. My son in Fuerteventura earlier in the year. Dave Banks

What happened to Barbara Cooper record seems to have disappeared off the site? Dave Banks

this seems appropriate in the UK at the moment...... Christmas Tiers Dave Banks

Oh wow. I'd forgotten just how good this track is. What memories. We had this on a reel to reel tape with a player that worked off batteries so we could take it in the car. This was before cassette tapes, never mind Walkmans, iPhones and the like. We would sing along when heading to the Torch Cats or the Raven, trying to replicate the Superlatives harmonies 'love you, need you, want you". Don't know who put that tape together for us but only recently found it when clearing out my mums house, been at the back of a cupboard for 50 years. Tape player still worked as well, but what a business threading the leading edge through the machine all the time. You could also speed up tracks as well, which we used to do to lots of Motown to play at 100mph not 80 (we were young then). Although not necessary in the case of the Superlatives. Dave Banks

Has this track been issued on a CD ever? Dave Banks

sounds like 1972, everyone now a classic and nothing remotely funky or disco. Haven't heard PJ Proby thats the tune in a long time. Just shows that not all the pop at Northern venues was played at the Casino. Dave Banks

Picture of us all at the Mecca in April 1972, thats me and Mrs Banks on the right. Must have been taking a break from the highland room as this is taken on the balcony of the main room. We are very sartorially dressed with jackets and ties on, maybe this was just after we got in up the escalator. Anyway, no Adidas bags or vests, maybe the trousers are a little baggy. But certainly we would go nowhere without our sleeveless jumpers. Dave Banks

Well in our house Bobby Hebb Love Love Love has been an almost daily play for the last 50 years. Recently, the last 15 years we have played the Len Barry original version too. And debated which is the best. Certainly one original is cheap as chips and the other isn't !!!!!!!!!! Both great though Not sure why that track shines above the almost 12000 northern and soul tracks we own but it never fails to stir us. Its only tarnish is a memory of hearing the dire Soussan instrumental version AAaagh Dave and Mary Banks

The next bay along, showing my daughter in laws "family" seat and the fields opposite part of her farm. I just fish off the rocks. North Cornwall no where better when the sun is shining.

feeling a bit "stuck in" this morning, what with lockdown and non stop rain. Dreaming of being here in North Cornwall, where I am usually to be found in the summer. Decided to listen to all of the Impressions A and B sides today, in order, seems appropriate given the current times Dave Banks

Of course back in those days there was no sat nav and stuff. Shortly after the Torch all-nighters started we set off from Liverpool, 7 of us crammed into my Dads Hillman Husky with the seats folded flat so we could all lie down. Get on the M6 to the classic conversation of "I thought you new where it was"? No "I thought you did" Several hours later we get there and had a classic night. Coming back was a bit scary as I was driving and kept falling asleep. Only to be kept awake by my mates singing hey hey brother Times a Wasting at the top of their voices. Happy days. Dave Banks

lucky to live in an area where I can cycle down lanes like this. Only a mile down the road from me but finding flat cycle routes in Devon is tricky. Dave Banks

fantastic performances

Why is this particular Kellmac release so rare? After all its not many releases after the huge success of Michael a mere 7 releases earlier. Dave Banks

Used to listen to AFN all the time in the early seventies on a tiny tinny tranny, signal can't have been that bad, I was on merseyside. Do remember first hearing the ChiLites Power to the people and being blown away by its contrast to the Motown and sweet soul I had been listening to before, and not Brown type FUNKY. Happy days Dave Banks

A stunning live performance, you can feel the soul and pain in his voice

this mornings visitor