Ian Dewhirst

I'm not so sure how acceptable the re-edits thing is to a traditional Northern audience. "Soul In The Sun" is more of a dubbed vocal rather than a re-edit so it's not a great example and was done without any authorisation from Cream records - the owners of Hi. But that's not unusual since 99% of all re-edits are unauthorised anyway. Northern Soul has always been about short records so there's not a lot of reason to extend them really. However, for the more mainstream 70's stuff there's every reason to re-edit them for today's audiences and in my experience a decent re-edit can totally revive a great tune and bring it to a completely new audience. For those of you who are into it, I have the first Philadelphia International Re-Edits double CD (and vinyl) coming out in 5/6 weeks time, officially sanctioned by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. This went through a torturous 8 month approval process and we had to lose Julien Love's brilliant re-edit of the Jackson's "Living Together" and Onur Engin's beautiful 8 minute re-edit of the Jackson's "Show You The Way To Go" due to clearance issues, both of which never had 12" mixes and both of which have become huge records again around the world. A shame. I can't even post the You Tube clips because they've been removed. Michael Jackson's estate is hyper active at the moment so no quick remedies here unfortunately. Maybe for Vol 2.......... In the meantime no complaints from me. Some of these re-edits have been crafted over years by people who know the records backwards and have superb skills......... Philadelphia International: The Re-Edits – 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 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 Plus, for anyone who prefers the more traditional remix, we have a 3CD Philadelphia International Tom Moulton project coming in January, where Tom finally gets to mix 14 PIR tracks that he never got his hands on first time around. A mouth watering prospect! Ian D

Coming up @ 2.00pm LIVE on www.starpointradio.com! Catch you in the Starpoint chatroom on the home page! Ian D

You're welcome Toad. I'm on the second listen and I think it comes across OK. Now, instead of having to spend half an hour trying to explain what Northern Soul was all about to people who don't understand, I can just send 'em a link...... Ian D

About two and half years ago I shot over to Essex to spend a day with my Six Million Steps colleagues...... Six Million Steps https://sixmillionsteps.com ......we're a collective of Black Music fans who got together about 10 years ago and decided to pool resources and do albums, radio shows, mixes, club dates and passionate recordings/podcasts and shows. One of the guys, J.J., likes nothing better than to spend 4 nights a week in a former mental institution which now houses the studio that the guys have used since the beginning. His workrate is prolific (check out the website and you'll see what I mean). Anyway, J.J. had been bugging me for ages to do a Northern Soul show that he could produce. So I did it. That was 3 years ago LOL.... Finally Part 1 is ready. I've just listened to it and it's like all my favourite records but interspersed with me waxing lyrical about the scene in the early 70's but J.J.'s somehow managed to dig up hundreds of interviews with both fans and plenty of stalwarts of the scene - I think I caught the dulcit tones of Keb Darge, Tim Brown and Richard Searling on there but I'm sure I've missed loads of others. It's very tasteful. God bless J.J. He did a lovely job IMO! Hope ya like it. Ian Dewhirst & A Cast Of Hundreds Talk Northern Soul History - Part 1 https://www.sixmillionsteps.com/ams/6MS-JJSmokingSessions-83.mp3 Ian D

First of all apologies for the lack of a download link for the last show. There was a technical snafu on the recording apparently (which sounds to me more like a case of el calapso situation following Al’s all-nighter @ the 100 Club). I’m pretty sure normal service will be resumed this week! A big Original Mastercuts shout out to all who attended the brilliant Love Soul Ibiza weekender last week, which was great fun in the sun with the perfect crowd, so big-ups to Lee Jeffries and Paul Dennis who were the perfect hosts and all the DJ’s and mates who made it a weekend to remember! And extra special thanks to Paul Dennis, Dan D, Vince from Drizabone, George from Nightmares On Wax and the rest of the gang for a truly historic final night on Tuesday which took in several clubs and bars and resulted in me barely getting back in time to pack and get to the airport! I’m still recovering LOL……. In the meantime, back to business! We have the usual array of stone cold classics, killer remixes and re-edits, a couple of new exclusives, a fantastic new release and the usual top quality soul music from across the last 5 decades! Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 9th October 2011 on everyone’s favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring…… Barry White & The Love Unlimited Orchestra * Sly & The Family Stone * Jestofunk * Donny Hathaway * James Brown * Pleasure * Main Ingredient * Leroy Hutson * The Spinners * The Chi-Lites * Freddy Chavez * Len Jewell * Aldora Britton * Lou Ragland * Otis Smith * Little Johnny Blair * Bobby Patterson * J.C. Brooks & The Uptown Sound * The Lovelites * Blue Mink * The Sons Of Champlin * Des’ree * The Human League * Change * Alexander O’Neal feat Cherrelle Hopefully catch you @ 2.00pm LIVE! Ian D

Damn, you're right. So it did. That's probably what I played it off. However, the thing which intrigues me, is that this was a known track at the time which EVERYONE played from the album. The fact that Dave didn't know it was a single and the two key price guides don't list it either, suggests to me that the single is not widely known. The You Tube clip with the 7" label genuinely surprised me. You learn something new every day....... Ian D

It was. Even in 1976 we knew this was a rare record. By the time I eventually got it I'd pretty much dropped off deejaying on the Northern scene, so it just languished on my shelves 'til I moved it on like numerous others over the years LOL.... I'd completely forgotten what it sounds like 'til I just played it on You Tube. I don't think it was suitable in the 70's but boy does it sound strong now..... Ian D

Always rare. I got my original copy in 1975 from Steve Caesar in Leeds who I think got it from Stuart Cosgrove when he was over in Washington studying in the mid 70's. I'm pretty sure mine went to Pat Brady in the late 80's. Never really seen it since........... Ian D

Well it's rare enough to not be in any of the price guides. Hope you got a decent price for it! Ian D

It's kinda strange nonetheless. We used to have to lug the album around. Even Levine played it off the LP. I can't remember anyone mentioning there was a single when it was originally played. Also it's not listed in either John or Tim's guides either. So it must be rare right? Ian D

Blimey. Never seen one of those in my life! Surprised it never turned up when it was first played........ Ian D

Thought it was album only Dave? Ian D

Similar thing going on there really Steve. Too much bitching, backbiting and snidy comments make it not so much fun to be around these days. I love the music but can't stand the parochialism which is one of the reasons I've always liked ducking in and out of several different scenes......... Ian D

It is. They also did a cute version of the Four Tops "Can't Seem To Get You Out Of My Mind"...... Ian D

Coming up LIVE this afternoon @ 2.00pm! Join us in the Starpoint chatroom for a beautiful soundtrack to an Autumn Sunday afternoon! Ian D

It's pretty difficult to pin down a lot of Jaimie Guyden stuff because it's always been pretty active in pressing it's catalogue from the 60's onward and always had good connections with the UK in terms of exporting it's wares - I remember Global in Manchester having loads of Arctic releases - Volcanoes records were on their wholesale lists at one point - I think I remember 'em selling "Help Wanted" for a £1 at the time and there were no shortage of copies. They'd use the same stamper and similar labels for subsequent represses across all their labels - Dionne, Jamie, Arctic, Top & Bottom, Phil-LA Of Soul etc, etc. If you think about Jaimie Guyden have always been pretty quick on the reissue button all the way back to "A Love You Can Depend On" and "Don't Stop Looking". By weird coincidence, Frank Lipsius (owner of Jaimie Guyden) was in town this week. He's an anglophile so he's always been aware of the interest in the UK.......... Ian D

Wow, the first time in 6 weeks that I haven’t been doing a tribute show of some kind or another (the last two were Ashford & Simpson and 9/11 specials), so we’re back to a regular show this week. This week we’re covering a lot of show favourites plus the usual trawl through the eras covering the last 5 decades of glorious soul music. Some outstanding killer re-edits this week too! Once again thanks to the BRILLIANT audience who listen LIVE and join us in the Starpoint chatroom every Sunday afternoon. I’m looking forward to Ibiza next weekend for the Love Soul Ibiza weekender so hopefully I’ll catch up with a few people there. Bring on the sunshine! Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 25th September 2011 on everyone’s favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring…… Norma Jean * Ron Hall & The Motherfunkaz * Love Committee * Jean Carn & Shirley Jones * Maria Muldaur * The Jones Girls * William DeVaughn * Bobby Cutchins * The Four Tops * Thelma Houston * The Fifth Dimension * Friends Of Distinction * Kings Go Forth * Sidney Joe Qualls * Yates Brothers & Sisters * Moses Smith * Esther Phillips * Flowers * Barry White * Lou Rawls Hopefully catch you @ 2.00pm LIVE! Ian D X

In fact let's hear it again......... James Brown "There Was A Time" - Live At The Apollo Volume 2 Ian D

Actually my previous statement above was incorrect. Many apologies. The greatest live performance of all time is obviously James Brown's "There Was A Time". When I first heard this out circa 1972 (in the Funk clubs and good local nights), it really changed my life. I think I knew the Gene Chandler version first, but that never actually did much for me. When I heard the James Brown original live version it knocked me out. It's a king hell bastard performance. So great call Ricticman! James Brown's "There Was A Time" surely must be the greatest ever live recording played out. Can anything else even get close? Ian D

Actually my previous statement above was incorrect. Many apologies. The greatest live performance of all time is obviously James Brown's "There Was A Time". When I first heard this out circa 1972 (in the Funk clubs and good local nights), it really changed my life. I think I knew the Gene Chandler version first, but that never actually did much for me. When I heard the James Brown original live version it knocked me out. It's a king hell bastard performance. So great call Ricticman! James Brown's "There Was A Time" surely must be the greatest ever live recording played out. Can anything else even get close? Ian D

Played it out a couple of weeks ago to a live crowd in Ibiza and thwacked on my 9/11 New York tribute radio show 11 days ago. The Jimmy Michaels edit of course. A work of art and one of the greatest live recordings I've ever heard. Both "Joy & Pain" and "The Look In Your Eyes" by Maze are definitive live recordings. But the best of the lot is Dionne Warwick and Isaac Hayes's live version of Earth, Wind & Fire's "Can't Hide Love". Which is basically unbeatable. Ian D Ian D

Thinking about it, there could be several levels of rare soul collectors. In the mainsteam music biz we have different price levels for different releases, hence Backbeats @ £5, Harmless/Disco Discharge @ £7 and Mixology/Weekender @ £10 or thereabouts, so it seems reasonable to assume that some of the same rules apply to rare record dealing. People who are looking for a bargain will happily spend hours and hours trawling e-bay and lists until they finally find a goody. Other people may not have that kind of time to spare, so they'll probably be happy enough to look at the lists they subscribe to and pay a premium because it's easier and less time consuming. And then there's another strata who have zero time but tons of money who really don't mind paying well over the odds to cut to the quick. Just like the rest of life really. Then there's that rarified strata of Northern Soul mad investment bankers who have a spare £100K on account at John's with instructions to always top the last bid. Hey, what's a grand here or there.....? Ian D

Nah. It's one of the few that I knew about when it first turned up. I don't know how many have come through since. I think ALL the current prices are nuts by the way. Give it another 5 years and they'll all come down to a reasonable level. It's inevitable IMO. I also think Pete's is much more attuned to the real values then most, probably 'cos he wants a quicker turnaround rather than, say John, who is bound to market and promote his stock better because of his position in the food chain. 'Nout wrong with either approach IMO.... Ian D

Yeah but working on the basis that you're generally half the price of everyone else, then that'll be bang on for an auction then? Ian D

Auctions are exciting! It's only fair that people pay for the sizzle and bragging rights to saying "I got outbid" or "I could have had it if I'd REALLY wanted it"............... What's Dennis Edwards these days? £2.5-3K or thereabouts I wonder....? Ian D .