Ian Dewhirst

Well, it was too slow when first found but it's one of those records which is so feel good and almost anthemic with a great singalong chorus that someday, somewhere, on some scene this will be huge....... "The Grooviest Thing This Side Of Heaven" - Wendell Watts Ian D

Was it Al Johnson "It's Not Too Late" on Marina by any chance? "It's Not Too Late" - Al Johnson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e26cbvErKxM I found a box of 'em in Telford around that time............ Ian D

Another 100mph absolute corker which has been around since the year dot. I'd have thought that this might have broken through in the same way that Bunny Sigler's "Girl Don't Make Me Wait" which was around at the same time but no cigar. Another one which never realised it's full potential but which has never lost it's appeal for me..... "I Only Get This Feeling" - Dee Irwin Ian D

OK, I can understand the slow intro putting people off but boy when it kicks off what a great record! Would have worked nicely in the same way that "Get Out" worked for Harold Melvin. Either way a fantastic vocal performance and great production! I carried it in my box for years and only ever played it a couple of times @ Samanthas I think. Never heard it anywhere since....... "Only Love Can Save Me Now" - Al Jones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZDpZgkNv1g Ian D

The only time I ever heard this out was when either Sam or Pep played it in the Midlands sometime in the early 70's. Perfect West Coast Northern Soul with all the ingredients. Shoulda been huge...... "Is It All Gone" - The Magicians Ian D

Much talked about but never really made it beyond a few plays here and there but what a fantastic record....... "Shy Guy" - The Uptights Ian D

Always gives me goosebumps and deffo his best ever performance IMO but I hardly ever heard it out. Was it ever huge anywhere? "Look At Me Now" - Terry Callier Ian D

Yep, that makes sense. Plus the instrumental is on the 'b' side of the Contemplations which makes it a dead cert for me! That's what I call a killer double-sider! Ian D

You never stop learning do ya.....? I suddenly remembered one of my favourite arrangements of all time - Rock Candy's "Alone With No Love" and when I pumped it into You Tube, lo and behold, another slightly sexier version suddenly came up. It's exactly the same recording as Rock Candy but this group's name sounds so much better. If you're studying for a music degree in the greatest arrangements of all time, then congratulations 'cos here is the the holy grail........ Joe Tate's one of my heroes along with the rest of 'em............ "Alone With No Love" - The Contemplations Ian D

Mammoth mammoth mammoth feel good anthem. Shoulda been No.1 by a country mile. What happened? I think it's the greatest male duet performance I've ever heard in my life and I saw Sam & Dave live........ I could hear this for the rest of my life and never ever get fed up of it. A truly brilliant record by any standard possible. How come some stuff sells for £5K plus and a record like this can be snagged relatively cheap? No contest for me! If God ever granted me a wish, it would be for me to be at this recording session to witness the sheer vibe and interplay between two KILLER vocalists at the top of their form. I don't think it gets much better really...... "We Got To Keep On" - The Casanova Two This is EXACTLY what I envisaged this thread being about. Records you've always loved which somehow never made it as big as they should have. Bring 'em on. Share the knowledge. Ian D

And this. My most wanted record ever at the time after hearing it on a Soussan tape. I eventually found a copy in the U.S. and then sold it to Sam. Rare as f*ck but bloody brilliant! I could hear shit like this all night......... "How Long" - Walter & Sisters Ian D

First heard by me on an Andy Simpson cassette in 1974 on the way back from Sale Mecca along with Clyde McPhatter "Please Give Me One More Chance" on the same bloody tape! Absolute killer! "I'm So Glad I'm Me" - The Ebony's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dspOjQhVgmc Ian D

How on earth could this NOT be huge? Unbelievable vocals.......... "Looking Over My Shoulder" - Marva Hicks Ian D

One of the greatest Northern Soul records ever made IMO and an incredible female anthem by any standard...... "Lord If You're A Woman" - Darlene Love Ian D

Really absolutely impossible to beat in many ways but why wasn't it huge.....? "Gotta Tell Somebody (About My Baby)" - Tony Talent Ian D

OK, a few more that sprung to mind...... This was one of the standard features in Snowy from Doncaster's box along with one of the three copies of the Invitations "Skiing In The Snow". We always knew it was a winner but there were never enough copies in the right hands to make it the biggie it should have been........ "My Heart's Not In It Anymore" - The Steinways Ian D

Yep. It may sound hard to believe in this internet friendly age but in the 70's many people's listening habits were dictated by where they lived. The regional variation on popular Northern Soul in the UK in the early 70's was actually pretty huge. The difference in 'big' records between Yorkshire and, say, Nottingham or Leicester was substantial and quite often was merely down to what records were available in the local areas. The one that always springs to mind for me was Ila Vann's "You Made Me This Way" which was easily available in Nottingham but pretty difficult anywhere else. Ian D

Funnily enough, Duke Browner was my No.1 want virtually as soon as I got onto a serious level on the scene. I'd already bought an ex Soulboy's collection of 400 records for £25 circa 1971 and that kept me stoked for a year or so and provided me with many of the top Wheel and Torch sounds which effectively meant the disease became implanted relatively quickly. I got Duke Browner for £3 at the Mecca in '72. One of the best records I ever bought to this day. Still one of my all-time faves from any era. Does it get much better? Ian D

Good detective work Johnny! Also don't forget that anyone can always look up any publishing information via the BMI BMI Website Or ASCAP ASCAP Website All searches and info are free and you can search for songs, songwriters and publishers, so you can cross reference stuff which may help you pin down some key factors in where a record may be from, when recorded, when released, where was the publisher based etc, etc I don't have time to check this one out, but a search via the above two sites should glean something. Good track by the way! A really interesting arrangement and some intricate playing on there too. Good finds! Ian D

Mmm. That's pretty interesting Dave. Demon just got much better access to the BBC archives, so I'll do some digging around and see what's lying around. Good call mate. Gives me something to get those archive boys going! Ian D

Probably much less than EMI Keith since they were indies, had less clout with the big retailers and didn't have the advantage of having the Tamla Motown brand name. Ian D

Download link below folks. Happy listening! Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 14th November 2010 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Enjoy! 1st Hour Gloria Scott _ That's The Way Love Is DJ Friction Remix Ten City Nothing's Changed Joe Claussell Remix DJ Fudge Presents The Cheli Project Close To My People Esther Phillips All The Way Down Leftside Wobble Re-Edit Cherrelle feat Alexander O'Neal Never Knew Love Like This Surface Falling In Love Inner West Soul Re-Edit Denise LaSalle I'm So Hot Jimmy M Remix Detroit Emeralds Feel The Need In Me Eddie Tour Remix 2nd Hour Dionne Warwick Do You Know The Way To San Jose Bobby Hebb - Sunny Young Holt Unlimited & Erma Franklin Light My Fire Simple Pleasures Re-Edit Brenton Wood Gimme Little Sign The Funky Sisters Do It To It Stanley Mitchell Get It Baby Aldora Britton Do It With Soul Danny Williams All Those Lies The Sons Of Champlin Here Is Where Your Love Belongs J.R. Bailey Just Me N' You Bobby Byrd & Vickie Anderson Your Welcome Stop On By Seal - Free Sylvia Pillow Talk The Detroit Spinners I'll Be Around Mike Mauro Remix Original Mastercuts Show With Ian D 14-11-11 Al is back next week and I'll see you on the 28th. Laters....... Ian D

Not exactly Soul collecting but it's interesting to see some of the parallels between Voodoo Frank digging in Africa and us lot digging North America and Europe....... Dust And Grooves Ian D

And here's another one that's completely new to me, but what a great record (I'm playing on the show today so that's why I'm so enthused). I mean look at the label! Just great! Where does this stuff come from? Never seen that before in my life........ "All Those Lies" - Danny Williams Ian D

Coming up LIVE at 2.00pm today folks! Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 14th November 2010 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring....... Gloria Scott * Ten City * DJ Fudge Presents The Cheli Project * Esther Phillips * Cherrelle feat Alexander O'Neal * Surface * Denise LaSalle * Detroit Emeralds * Dionne Warwick * Bobby Hebb * Young Holt Unlimited & Erma Franklin * Brenton Wood * The Funky Sisters * Stanley Mitchell * Aldora Britton * Danny Williams * Sam Dees * The Sons Of Champlin * J.R. Bailey * Bobby Byrd & Vickie Anderson * Seal * Sylvia * The Detroit Spinners Laters....... Ian D