Ian Dewhirst

The first of the Philadelphia International 40th Anniversary releases (the 'Philly 40' campaign) will be out in the new year on 16/01/12. Unfortunately we couldn't get clearance on "Show You The Way To Go" and "Living Together" - The Jacksons 'cos we couldn't get clearance from the Jackson's estate because they're currently involved in all that court stuff, so we'll save 'em for Vol 2 which will probably come out later in the year. All personally approved by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff! I'll whack a seperate thread up with the visuals and details but here's a sneak preview of the track-listing: CD 1 Uptempo Good Time Philly 1) Satisfaction Guaranteed Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 7.22 Morning Star 2) Only The Strong Survive Billy Paul 8.19 J*Ski 3) Save A Place The Trammps 6.37 J*Ski 4) Free Love Jean Carn 7.04 Victor Rosado 5) Do It Anyway You Wanna People's Choice 6.35 Keep Schtum 6) Life On Mars Dexter Wansel 5.35 DJ Mila 7) Mysteries Of The World MFSB 6.00 J*Ski 8) Ain't No Stopping Us Now McFadden & Whitehead 7.30 Noodleman 9) Dance Turned Into Romance The Jones Girls 6.55 DJ Friction 10) Be For Real Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 7.43 Tim McAllister 11) Message In Our Music The O'Jays 9.16 Jimmy The Twin Total 78.56 CD2 Mellow Slinky Philly 1) If You Wanna Go Back Jean Carn 6.46 Morning Star 2) Darlin' Darlin' Baby The O'Jays 8.08 Deep&Disco Rework 3) You're Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else The Jones Girls 8.36 Henry Greenwood 4) Strategy Archie Bell & The Drells 6.05 Touchsoul 5) Let The Dollar Circulate Billy Paul 6.41 scratchandsniff 6) Easy Money Dee Dee Sharp Gamble 6.56 Todd Terje 7) Was That All It Was Jean Carn 7.59 Morning Star 8) Nights Over Egypt The Jones Girls 6.59 Womack & TOT 9) Don't Let Love Get You Down Archie Bell & The Drells 8.00 Ed Zone 10) Wake Up Everybody Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 9.31 Apt One Total 76.00 How's that for service Garv? Ian D

It's all down to those all-important HMV and Amazon pre-orders these days Dave. They're what cover the costs of the series in this day and age. By the time the indies and exports come in, then theoretically we should be ahead. Because HMV's sales are virtually always cash cows at this time of year, I deliberately priced the series so it would fit in their 2 for £10 racks around sale time. That's what happened with Series' 1 & 2 and they sold through OK (although I wish they'd rack 'em near the Specialist/Soul/RnB sections this time). But times have changed mate. If you can pre-sell 1K of anything in the UK these days, then you're doing well. There's only so many places to sell to with a series like this 'cos the supermarkets aren't interested in 'specialist' or deep catalogue. Because of the nature of the series (and especially the price), they tend to sell well over time, so most of 'em will do 3-5K in the UK and and another 4-5K on export over the 3 year term touch wood. This is like having a normal release do 5K which I'll take any day of the week LOL. It's tough out there and the vultures are hovering. If I can get another 30 out in the next 15 months, then that'll be 60 of 'em out there as a nice thankyou to everyone who's supported the series. By the time we're finished it'll be a cute and very cost effective way of having a decent CD collection as backup for the OVO! You're not missing anything though. If you thought Sound & Media was a slog, that was like a holiday compared to now! Best move you could have made emigrating. Trust you to go to a place that's jam packed with great records ay? Ian D

Actually it kills me to say it, but Hampsey is by far the most together out of the lot of us. Quite freaky actually but there again that's what happens when you spend your life listening to wrist-slashers! Ian D

Hi Mike, It's the bane of our lives getting Amazon to list everything correctly. I've had to re-send tracklistings for the entire series (all 30 albums) and get them to re-up them all, but it's a frustrating process and it often takes a week to 10 days for them to update. Half the problem is that everybody wants stuff waaaay ahead and then when we hit the usual licensing complications or something has to be bumped off, then the whole system needs reloading again! Same thing with the prices, which only Amazon can set. They should all be 100% uniform. We're actually trying to sort it as we speak..... suffice to say the release dates for all of them are being changed to the correct one of 26/12/11 touch wood. Now let's hope there's no cock-ups with the manufacturing! Ian D

I'm gonna send you some Kris as promised for bailing me out on a few tunes! Better get that deck fixed for the next lot ay? Ian D

Great stuff Steve. These comps are designed to do just that and hopefully revive interest in a lot of stuff which would normally stall sales-wise at a higher price. The first 20 volumes have now collectively sold over 80K units which justifies the strategy thank God. Incidentaly, the reason for the Boxing Day release, is because this will pretty much coincide with the annual HMV new year sale and the price point of Backbeats means that we can get the third series into every HMV in the country in the 2 for £10 sale, which is obviously a big help sales wise. So if you're not a fan of online ordering, you can pop down to your local HMV from Boxing Day onwards and pick 'em up for a fiver a pop. I'm currently working on expanding the series and introducing a Backbeats Artists series at the same price which will make a lot of different artists repertoire available to new and wider audiences touch wood and hopefully prod people into digging deeper for more! They were really designed to be great budget-price samplers, but the series is really nearer to a good quality mid-price release IMO. Onwards and upwards! Ian D

I think it's pretty rare like a few from that period like Lou Edwards. You never see it much, so the price sounds kinda right to me. Ian D

OK, to kick us into the season of goodwill, Harmless is proud to announce the next 10 volumes of the Backbeats series which will be released on Boxing Day 26/12/11. As per usual, we've used great compilers and raided the vaults of labels like G.S.F., Sound Stage 7, Hi, Paula, Curtom, Brunswick, Bearsville, Chi-Sound, Dynamite, Sound Plus, Metromedia, Sansu, Instant, Philadelphia International, Douglas, Invictus, Strata East, Hot Wax, House Of The Fox, Toddlin' Town, T.S.O.P., Soul Power, Ronn, Jet Stream, Gemigo, Cream, Alaska, Mayfield, SSS International, Seventy 7, Canyon, Dakar, Deesu, Share, Philly Groove, Soulville, Nola, Pameline, Vee-Jay, Tollie, One-Derful!, Thomas, Audio Arts, Jewel, Mar-V-Lus, Constellation, Blue Cat and numerous others. However, the most significant thing is the price! You can buy all of these for less than £4.00 each from both HMV and Amazon including postage! Links below. Don't say we don't look after you! Merry Xmas All! BACKB021 Backbeats - Soul A La Mode - 1970's Modern Soul Compiled by Ian Dewhirst 1 Bobby Womack I Don't Know 2 Lloyd Price Love Music 3 Gavin Christopher This Side of Heaven 4 Don Thomas Come On Train 5 Willie Hobbs 'Till I Get It Right 6 The Anderson Brothers I Can See Him Loving You 7 Africano Satisfactorise Your Mind 8 The Montclairs Hung Up On Your Love 9 Gene Chandler Don't Have To Be Lying Babe 10 Wales Wallace Somebody I Know 11 Skull Snaps I'm Your Pimp 12 Barbara Lynn Movin' On A Groove 13 Sidney Joe Qualls I Don't Do This (To Every Girl I Meet) 14 Jackie Wilson Because Of You 15 Brief Encounter Human 16 Bobby Walls & Co Just You and Me 17 Danny Hunt What's Happening To Our Love Affair 18 Tony Drake Suddenly 19 Ben Monroe Broken Home 20 Ann Peebles If This Is Heaven 21 The Impressions Love Love Love 22 Leroy Hutson Ella Weez 23 The Winstons Color Him Father HMV Link: https://hmv.com/hmvwe...primaryID=music Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co...22298685&sr=1-1 BACKB022 Backbeats - What's The Word? - Socially Conscious Soul Music Compiled by Dean Rudland 1 The Impressions Mighty Mighty (Spade & Whitey) 2 Lee Dorsey Who's Gonna Help A Brother Get Further 3 Larry Darnell Son of A Son Of A Slave 4 Moody Scott Bust Out Of the Ghetto 5 Philadelphia All Stars Let's Clean Up the Ghetto 6 The Last Poets Blessed Are Those Who Struggle 7 Parliament Oh Lord Why Lord 8 Gil Scott-Heron Peace Go With You Brother 9 Curtis Mayfield We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue 10 Harrison Kennedy Sunday Morning People 11 Freda Payne Bring the Boys Back Home 12 Laura Lee Woman's Love Rights 13 Billy Paul False Faces 14 Chairman Of The Board I'm A Sign of Changing Times 15 The Identities Hey Brother 16 Brothers & Sisters I Am Somebody HMV Link: https://hmv.com/hmvweb/simpleMultiSearch.do?searchUID=-1408033602884004513&pGroupID=0&adultFlag=false&simpleSearchString=what%27s+the+word&primaryID=0 Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Whats--Socially-Conscious-Music/dp/B0062Y9CD4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1322298799&sr=1-1 BACKB023 Backbeats - Smooth Grooves - Sophisticated 80's Philly Soul Compiled by Ralph Tee 1 Lou Rawls Lady Love 2 Patti LaBelle I'm In Love Again 3 Teddy Pendergrass Easy, Easy, Got To Take It Easy 4 M.F.S.B. Tell Me Why 5 McFadden & Whitehead I've Been Pushed Aside 6 The Jones Girls When I'm Gone 7 The Stylistics Mine All Mine 8 Dee Dee Sharp Gamble I Believe In Love 9 Billy Paul You're My Sweetness 10 Jean Carn Start the Fire 11 The Intruders Everyone's a Star 12 Silk (I Can't Stop) Turning You On 13 Phyllis Hyman Set a Little Trap 14 The O'Jays Lovin' You 15 Bunny Sigler Your Love Is Good 16 Instant Funk So Glad You're The One 17 Anthony White Yes You Need Love HMV Link: https://hmv.com/hmvweb/simpleMultiSearch.do?searchUID=7595028002107881919&pGroupID=0&adultFlag=false&simpleSearchString=smooth+grooves&primaryID=0 Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Smooth-Grooves-Sophisticated-Philly-Soul/dp/B0062Y9CFW/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1322298852&sr=1-5 BACKB024 Backbeats - Philly Busters - Underground Philly Dance Floor Gems Compiled by Kev Roberts & Ian Dewhirst 1 The O'Jay's Darling Darling Baby 2 Archie Bell & the Drells Old People 3 McFadden & Whitehead I Heard It in a Love Song 4 Jean Carn (with Glenn Jones)Sweet & Wonderful 5 The Futures Sunshine & You 6 Anthony White Hey Baby 7 Teddy Pendergrass When Somebody Loves You Back 8 Jean Carn (No No) You Can't Come Back Now 9 Jerry Butler (I'm Just Thinking About) Cooling Out 10 Lou Rawls Groovy People 11 Don Covay Travellin' In Heavy Traffic 12 Dee Dee Sharp Gamble Happy 'Bout the Whole Thing 13 Billy Paul Let the Dollar Circulate 14 Harold Melvin & The Blue-Notes Tell The World How I Feel About 'Cha Baby 15 The Trammps Stop & Think 16 The Stylistics Found a Love You Couldn't Handle 17 Billy Paul I Trust You HMV Link: https://hmv.com/hmvweb/simpleMultiSearch.do?searchUID=7726700183841150706&pGroupID=0&adultFlag=false&simpleSearchString=philly+busters&primaryID=0 Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Phillybusters-Underground-Philly-Dance-Floor/dp/B0062Y9D74/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1322298898&sr=1-1-spell BACKB025 Backbeats - Bustin' Out - Ghetto Grooves from Dusty Cellars Compiled by Dean Rudland 1 Jackie Beavers Somebody Help the Beggar Man 2 Alvin Cash Keep On Dancing 3 Toddlin' Town Sounds It's My Thing 4 African Music Machine Mr Brown 5 The Genies Know What to Do When You Get It 6 Barbara Lynn You'd Better Quit It 7 Laura Lee If You Can Beat Me Rockin'.... 8 Harolyn Montgomery Gotta Get Away 9 Ann Peebles Somebody's On Your Case 10 Bobby Patterson Right On Jody 11 Cyril Neville Gossip 12 Sir Joe Quarterman The Way They Do My Life 13 Al Green Love Ritual 14 Lightnin' Rod Sport 15 Bobby Womack Across 110th Street 16 Aaron Neville Hercules 17 8th Day Good Book 18 The Politicians Close Your Big Mouth 19 African Music Machine The Dapp 20 Scott Brothers Orchestra A Hunk of Funk 21 Hone Cone Ace in the Hole 22 Parliament Funky Woman 23 Exit 9 Miss Funky Fox HMV Link: https://hmv.com/hmvweb/simpleMultiSearch.do?searchUID=-2214123747628532487&pGroupID=-1&adultFlag=false&simpleSearchString=busting+out+ghetto+grooves+from+dusty+cellars&primaryID=0 Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Bustin-Out-Ghetto-Grooves-Cellars/dp/B0062Y9CI4/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1322298940&sr=1-5 BACKB026 Backbeats -2 Steps To Soul Heaven - More 70's & 80's Steppers Compiled by Ian Dewhirst 1 Arnold Blair Trying To Get Next To You 2 Leroy Hutson Lovers Holiday 3 The Dells Ain't It A Shame 4 The Jones Girls This Feeling's Killing Me 5 Ken Williams Sweet Music, Soft Lights & You 6 The Notations Take It Slow 7 Leroy Hutson Lucky Fellow 8 Curtis Mayfield Just Want To Be With You 9 Archie Bell & the Drells It's Hard Not To Like You 10 Intimate Strangers Love Sounds 11 The Staple Singers Let's Do It Again 12 The Dells I Touched a Dream 13 Natural Four Try Love Again 14 Al Green Loving You 15 Joyce Cobb How Glad I Am 16 Jean Carn We Got Some Catching Up To Do 17 Patti LaBelle Love, Need and Want You 18 Strutt Said You Didn't Love Him HMV Link: https://hmv.com/hmvweb/simpleMultiSearch.do?searchUID=-4970401147272060080&pGroupID=0&adultFlag=false&simpleSearchString=2+steps+to+soul+heaven&primaryID=0 Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Steps-Soul-Heaven-More-Steppers/dp/B0062Y9CFC/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1322298993&sr=1-1 BACKB027 Backbeats - They Call It Crossover - More Mid-Tempo Soul Compiled by Sean Hampsey 1 The O'Jays Just Another Guy 2 The Five Stairsteps I'm The One Who Loves You 3 Marvin Smith Who Will Do Your Running Now 4 Erma Franklin It Could've Been Me 5 Bobby Womack Tried & Convicted 6 Otis Clay Holding on To A Dying love 7 Johnny Adams You're A Bad Habit Baby 8 Holland-Dozier ft Lamont Dozier If You Don't Want To Be In My Life 9 Eddie Billups Shake Off That Dream 10 Gene Chandler Without You Here 11 Linda Jones If Only We Had Met Sooner 12 Doris Duke The Feeling is Right 13 Tyrone Davis You Keep Me Holding On 14 Channel 3 The Sweetest Thing 15 Eldridge Holmes Lovely Woman 16 Gloria Edwards I Don't Need Nobody (To Help Me Keep Up With My Man) 17 Ella Washington Stop Giving Your Man Away 18 Tony Love Crying Time Is Over 19 The Eliminators Lovin' Explosion 20 Mary Holmes I Need Your Lovin' 21 Ann Sexton I Had A Fight With love 22 100 Proof Aged In Soul Don't You Wake Me 23 Jackie Wilson What A Lovely Way 24 Kenny Young Aint It Funny 25 Na Allen Lay It on Me Right Now 26 Chuck Armstrong How Sweet It Is HMV Link: https://hmv.com/hmvweb/simpleMultiSearch.do?searchUID=-2883511376376131371&pGroupID=0&adultFlag=false&simpleSearchString=they+call+it+crossover&primaryID=0&btnSubmitSearch.x=46&btnSubmitSearch.y=18 Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/They-Call-Crossover-More-Mid-Tempo-Soul/dp/B0062Y9CNE/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1322299040&sr=1-1 BACKB028 Backbeats - Mod Life Crisis - 60's Mod Anthems Compiled by Dean Rudland 1 Sugar Pie Desanto Do the Whoopie 2 Robert Parker Barefootin' 3 Young Holt Trio Wack Wack 4 Johnny Jones & the King Casuals Soul Poppin' 5 Jackie Wilson & Count Basie Uptight 6 Willie Mitchell Everything's Gonna Be Alright 7 Tommy Neal Going To A Happening 8 Little Richard Baby Just Tear Off My Clothes 9 Billy Preston I Am Coming Through 10 Betty Everett Getting Mighty Crowded 11 Barrett Strong Make Up Your Mind 12 Wade Flemmons That Other Place 13 The Sharpees Tired Of Being Lonely 14 Jamo Thomas & his Party Bros Orch I Spy (For the FBI) 15 The Incredibles There's Nothing Else To Say 16 Barbara Acklin Just Ain't No Love 17 Shades of Blue Oh How Happy 18 The Rubaiyats Omar Khayyam 19 Little Hank Mr Bang Bang Man 20 Robert Parker Let's Go Baby (Where the Action Is) 21 Kim Melvin Doing the Popcorn 22 Toussaint McCall Shimmy 23 Banny Price Monkey See - Monkey Do 24 Bill Black's Combo Turn On Your Lovelight 25 Frank Frost My Back Scratcher 26 Gene & Al's Spacemen Mercy 27 The Du-Ettes Every Beat of My Heart HMV Link: https://hmv.com/hmvweb/simpleMultiSearch.do?searchUID=7616371595229694103&pGroupID=-1&adultFlag=false&simpleSearchString=mod+life+crisis&primaryID=0 Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Mod-Life-Crisis-60s-Anthems/dp/B0062Y9D1K/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1322299081&sr=1-1 BACKB029 Backbeats - Lost In Time -More Northern Soul Treasures Compiled by Kev Roberts & Ian Dewhirst 1 Sam Fletcher I'd Think It Over 2 Barbara Lynn I Don't Want A Playboy 3 The Ad-Libs Nothing Worse Than Being Alone 4 The Inspirations Touch Me Hold Me Kiss Me 5 Didi Noel Let the Music Play 6 Linda Jones You Hit Me Like TNT 7 Sydney Barnes I Hurt On the Other Side 8 Jimmy & the Entertainers New Girl 9 The Ringleaders Baby What Has Happened To Our Love 10 Fred Hughes I Keep Trying 11 Gene Chandler I Can Take Care Of Myself 12 Nolan Chance Just Like the Weather 13 Mill Evans I've Got To Have All Of Your Love 14 Saxie Russell Psychedelic Soul Pt 1 15 Richard 'Popcorn' Wylie Rosemary What Happened 16 Detroit Executives Cool Off 17 Stanley Mitchell Get It Baby 18 Jimmy 'Soul' Clark (Come On and Be My) Sweet Darling 19 Don Varner Tear Stained Face 20 Maurice Williams Being Without You 21 Little Richie Just Another Heartache 22 Little Johnny Blair Momma's Gone 23 Sam Dees Lonely For You Baby 24 Ohio Players You Don't Mean It 25 The Skull Snaps My Hang Up Is You 26 The Valentines Breakaway 27 The Artistics I'll Always Love You 28 The Impressions Stay Close To Me HMV Link: https://hmv.com/hmvweb/simpleMultiSearch.do?searchUID=-6162827073892002067&pGroupID=-1&adultFlag=false&simpleSearchString=lost+in+time+northern+soul&primaryID=0 Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Lost-Time-More-Northern-Treasures/dp/B0062Y9CP2/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1322299125&sr=1-1 BACKB030 Backbeats - The Pain Goes Deep - More Deep Soul Gems Compiled by Sean Hampsey 1 Otis Clay That's How It Is 2 Linda Jones Fugitive from Love 3 Little Archie I Need You 4 100 Proof Aged In Soul I Don't Care If I Never Get Over You 5 Annette Snell You Ought To Be Here With Me 6 George Jackson Aretha, Sing One for Me 7 Jean Plum Loneliness 8 Melvin Davis I'm Worried 9 Doris Duke He's Gone 10 Big John Hamilton Take This Hurt Off Me 11 Tyrone Davis I Keep Coming Back 12 Charles Smith I'm Useless 13 Leon Byrd I Catch Myself Crying 14 The Whispers Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong 15 Bettye Lavette Let Me Down Easy 16 Aaron Neville Been So Wrong 17 Laura Lee I'll Catch You When You Fall 18 Sydney Joe Qualls I'm Being Held Hostage 19 Quiet Elegance You've Got My Mind Messed Up 20 Tommie Young She Don't Have To See You 21 Ann Sexton I'm His Wife (You're Just a Friend) 22 Jackie Wilson Just As Soon As the Feeling Is Over 23 Joe Valentine I Can't Stand To See You Go 24 Wilson Pickett I'm Down To My Last Heartbreak HMV Link: https://hmv.com/hmvweb/simpleMultiSearch.do?searchUID=-892792513033443401&pGroupID=-1&adultFlag=false&simpleSearchString=pain+goes+deep+more+soul+gems&primaryID=0 Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Pain-Goes-Deep-More-Deep/dp/B0062Y9CRU/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1322299163&sr=1-1 Could be worse ways to close off the year! Ian D

Couldn't agree more Russ. Ian D

OK, this week's show came at the end of a hugely busy week what with Kenny Gamble being in town and 10 new Backbeats albums to finish. But I got there in the end even though it half-killed me. So, as a result, I was full of flu for this week's show so hope I didn't sound too dull. 'Twas quite exciting though as I was joined by Kev Moore for the duration which made me forget about how knackered I was. Also we got the chance to feature another great bunch of the usual re-edits and remixes plus some upcoming tracks from the previously mentioned forthcoming Backbeats releases, from which there'll be many more over the course of the next 4 weeks so stay tuned! Hope you enjoy! Download link after playlist. Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 20th November 2011 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Download link below! Featuring...... 1st Hour Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - The Bottle - Daz I-Q Remix Gregory Porter - 1960 What? - Opolopo Kick & Bass Remix Angela Johnson - Better - Danny Krivit Re-Edit Plantlife feat Jack Splash - Someone Special 4 U 480 East feat Sean Oliver - You & Me Herbie Mann - Stomp Your Feet - Womack Re-Edit Slave - Watching You - Tony Johns Re-Edit Alex Wilson - Ain't Nobody 2nd Hour Archie Bell & The Drells - Here I Go Again The Formations - At The Top Of The Stairs Billy Paul - The Whole Town's Talking The O'Jays - Time To Get Down Leroy Hutson - Ella Weez Willie Hobbs - 'Till I Get It Right Gene Chandler - Don't Have To Be Lying Babe Pt 1 Brief Encounter - Human L.J. Reynolds - Come Get To This Aaron Neville - Hercules Betty Wright - Clean Up Woman - Frico Re-Edit The Intruders - Everyone's A Star Anthony White - Yes You Need Love Beyonce - Love On Top Eugene Record - Overdose Of Joy - DJ Colourzone Re-Edit https://www.sixmillionsteps.com/drupal/node/1521 Al's back next Sunday so I'll see you on Sunday 4th December @ 2.00pm LIVE! Thanks for listening! Ian D X

Good luck Ste. Not on vinyl yet so no chance of plays in O.V.O. venues which is a shame......... Ian D

Yep, that would make sense...... I've only just heard it and I've certainly never seen a copy 'cos I've got just about everything else he's ever done. A mate of mine in the U.S. sent me the files and they knocked me out........ Ian D

Very interesting album this. It appears to have mainly 60's recordings all presumably recorded around the same time as "Sweet And Easy" as well as "Just Another Dress Rehearsal". It looks as though this was a '76 release to cash in on his Disco success but it's got nothing but pure 60's vintage Van McCoy productions on it. https://www.discogs.com/Van-McCoy-Friends-Dancin/release/1789059 Standout Northern/Crossover vocal tracks are "Help Is On The Way", "What Kind Of Man", "The Woman Who Made Me A Man", "With All My Heart" and "Ain't No Love". But does anyone have any info on who the vocalists are? Ian D

Opolopo Remix here Kev. This is the one! https://rhythmandgroove.blogspot.com/2011/02/gregory-porter-1960-what-opolopo-kick.html Ian D

Played it on the show yesterday (the Opolopo remix of course) right after the Daz I Q remix of "The Bottle". Works like a dream. Great record! Ian D

I'm going by the Billboard Top 100 RnB charts which are the most accurate overall. I doubt if a record could have made the Top 100 without any physical sales back then........... Ian D

I think that's probably exactly what happened. By the time they got around to dealing with a single, people had bought the LP or moved on. They may have had a difficult time constantly re-pressing the abum which would have eaten their cash-flow and time (I think the originals were all gatefolds weren't they?). Ian D

No I don't think so. I should have said 'at the time of original release' perhaps. Maybe those were a later re-press perhaps? I just can't understand why I seldom see U.S. copies and virtually no promos. Weird...... Ian D

That Wikipedia info is wrong too. "The Bottle" didn't make the U.S. RnB singles chart at all until the live version was issued by Arista in 1977 and even then it only made No.98. Needless to say nothing on Strata East charted in the RnB charts, least of all a 'hit' single that was never even released LOL. Ian D

I think they confused 'hit track from the album' with 'hit single' LOL. "The Bottle" was never a U.S. Strata East single apart from the promo. Ian D

I'm tempted to put a call into Warners and ask 'em what they're up to with this. I think they're missing a trick here 'cos this has been huge for the last year. I even heard it playing on "The Only Way Is Essex" t'other week LOL...... Ian D

Well, what a week! I had the pleasure of hosting a visit to these shores by one Kenny Gamble esquire and what a gas that was. A total gentleman and one of the most inspirational people I've ever met. These are the things that make the job worthwhile. We got some killer interviews including a 2 hour filmed session with Richard Searling and Ralph Tee interrogating Kenny with EMS's Phillydaveg lurking with a huge smile on his face. What a brilliant day. Plus what a great gig @ the Bexley Holiday Inn a week on Friday back with Greg Edwards! Once again an absolute pleasure to DJ with Greg and my sincere apologies for strolling up to the DJ stand 10 minutes late! It won't happen again (Greg was playing "Jingo" so I figured I had an extra 10 minutes LOL...). Great week. Pretty knackered though. I'm so run down I've caught a cold as well. No rest for the wicked ay? Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 20th November 2011 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring...... Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson * Gregory Porter * Angela Johnson * Plantlife feat Jack Splash * 480 East feat Sean Oliver * Herbie Mann * Slave * Alex Wilson * Archie Bell & The Drells * The Formations * Billy Paul * The O'Jays * Leroy Hutson * Willie Hobbs * Gene Chandler * Brief Encounter * L.J. Reynolds * Aaron Neville * Betty Wright * The Intruders * Anthony White * Beyonce * Eugene Record See you in the Starpoint chatroom @ 2.00pm! Ian D

For sure the only way to get it in the U.K. was on the album. However, we were lugging a few albums around at the time - Betty Wright, Bobby Hutton, Skull Snaps, Thelma Houston, The Miracles, The Moments etc, etc so it wasn't too unusual....... I don't remember this at all. Maybe it happened while I was away or off the scene but if this was the case you'd have thought that more of 'em would have surfaced since. In my experience I've never seen another U.S. promo anywhere and boy, have I been around LOL. I always thought it was rare, I never for one minute thought it was a boot or 'pressed for demand' reissue.Looks real enough for me. Now the French ones I'm pretty sure were pressed for demand, not least 'cos they were on Soulbowl's list at the time and I think 1000's of 'em came in. So sorry Purist. Mine's real, the only one in the world and not for sale LOL..... Ian D

I'm in complete agreement except I think the promo single may have come after the album. I think when the company realised that they had a potential crossover (in the old sense of the word) disco hit then they probably rushed to get the promo 45 to the none Jazz stations. Most club DJ's would have played the album cut (this was pre 12"), so I guess the U.S. 45 promo was the most efficient way to get the track to more people. I think they missed a trick actually. If they'd have promoted this to all the U.S. RnB stations at the time, I reckon they'd have scored a Top 20 RnB hit. These were Jazz guys and they weren't geared up for wider hits. Ian D