Ian Dewhirst

Well, blow me down LOL. You learn something new every day. Prefer the Stylistics obviously and Connie Stevens has zero soul but I do actually like some of this stuff like the Mark Capanni, Len Barry, Johnny Caswell, Anderson Brothers etc 'cos at least they had the right production values. Even though I obviously prefer Soulful vocals I'm not completely adverse to hearing a white voice every now and then as long as the production works. But, yes, I kinda concurr that if, say, Cleveland Horne did the vocals on the same backing track as Mark Capanni that would be a record made in heaven........ Ian D

Yep Paul, the magic suitcase with 400 odd records in for £25 including a nice Art Freeman on red Atlantic! Thanks for the loan Dad! Ian D

Ian D

Yep, you're right Bechio. I've often wondered how come all these ridiculously fast records were made in the first place and what audience they were intended for. On the show last Sunday I played 5 fast-ish ones in a row - The Isley Brothers "Tell Me It's Just A Rumour", Maurice Williams "Being Without You", The Sunlovers "You'll Never Make The Grade", Bobby Treetop "Wait Till I Get To Know You" and The Idle Few "People That's Why" and it made me wonder were the kids really dancing that fast in Detroit, New Orleans, San Francisco, Chicago and New York? If so, were they dancing in the Northern Soul style? When you think how fast some of the Mirwood stuff was, were they really doing the Temptation Walk and dancing to The Olympic's "The Same Old Thing" in Los Angeles in the mid 60's? Were they honestly dancing to records like Williams and Watson "Too Late", Sandi Sheldon's "You're Gonna Make Me Love You" and Major Lance's "You Don't Want Me No More" in Chicago? Basically was America dancing in a Northern Soul style in the U.S. when the records first came out? Was anyone doing back-flips over there? Aeroplane spins? Handsprings? I'm genuinely interested.......... I guess the question is: did America invent Northern Soul dancing styles? Ian D

What that Carstairs breakage was accidental LOL.....? Ian D

OK, to each their own Pete but please, please if you get hold of a copy I implore you not to snap it in two, cover it in superglue, feed it to any passing vultures or any of those other tortures you put any records made in '73/'74 through mate........ Ian D

Oh you can't call it Lounge/Disco Wallpaper....that's just unfair..... ....or can you.......? You know what Chorley? If this is Lounge Disco Wallpaper then gimme more of it! The production is basically phenomenal, the arrangements are phenomenal, the song is brilliant, the lyrics are wonderful and it 's co-written by Bobby Taylor...... Plus it's better than Wombat innit? Ian D

Even less than that Bob. In the mid 70's a dime to a quarter a record was the norm (I think new 45's were maybe a buck apiece then). Also I would argue that good U.S. 45's have always commanded a healthy premium in the UK since the late 60's. When I started buying Northern Soul around '71/'72 a Duke Browner, Bobby Treetop or Johnny Moore would set you back around £4.00 (or $8) which was around one sixth of my weekly wage at the time. A decent U.S. original 45 that wasn't easily available was running @ circa 800% more than the price of buying a Top 20 single, so there's always been a healthy premium on U.S. Soul 45's over here. Since then it's inflated beyond belief as you say......

That's pretty much the point I was making George, but don't worry mate - we're here to collate and collect your culture so you don't have to! Ian D

Actually I thought this subject might raise the ire of some of our American brethren but there really weren't too many serious Soul collectors around the U.S. in the 60's/70's to my knowledge. I met lots of collectors in L.A., Frisco, New York, Pittsburgh and Philly in the mid 70's but they weren't particularly into Soul although they were often sat on unbelievable stuff which they weren't too bothered about at the time. No offence meant Boba - it's always dangerous to generalise I know........ Ian D

No, he definitely recorded it before the Jackson Sisters Steve......in his own words:- "Marco here (Mark Capanni). For your information, my recording was the first recording, however it was released as a promo and published after the Jackson Sisters'. Mmm.....he's obviously not seen an issue then..... Also Bobby Taylor was co-writer on "Miracles"! It obviously must have been written in L.A. not long after "There Are Roses Somewhere In This World" which ups it's Soul credentials slightly LOL.... Ian D

Yep, same song but earlier recording. I only found out about it on here a couple of years back. Fascinating stuff. What's it worth these days? Ian D

Yep. Totally accurate. The UK's obsession with (mostly) unheralded U.S. Black Music goes back to the 50's and has continued ever since. In the 50's it was mainly the Jazz Collectors (slightly before my time but I'm fairly well read on this stuff) , followed in the early 60's by the Blues and RnB collectors (which in turn fueled the home-grown RnB scene - the Stones, the Who, the Beatles, Alexis Korner etc were all avid collectors) and then in the late 60's people like John Abbey were setting up 'Home Of The Blues' (which then mutated into Blues & Soul) and Dave Godin started the Tamla Motown Appreciation Society plus Dusty Springfield was hosting a Motown show on mainstream TV and clubs like The Flamingo, The Scene, The Whiskey a Go-Go and the Twisted Wheel were all featuring relatively unknown U.S. Black artists. Northern Soul crept into the equation at some point in the late 60's but was essentially a continuation of the previous ethos. By the time the 70's arrived the UK was ideally placed to take it's obsession even further with the advent of cheaper air travel and easier communications which meant that more record hounds could hop on planes and find records for themselves - something which has continued to this day accross a plethora of different scenes which all collect U.S. Black music whether it be Jazz, Blues, R'n'B, Motown, Northern, Southern, Deep, Funk, Jazz-Funk, Rare-Groove, Disco, Modern, Hip-Hop, Rap etc, etc. The UK has also had the liveliest Music re-issue capability in the world (although the Japanese are also very good in this area as is lately Numero in the U.S.) and I think this is simply another example of a nation which often puts a higher value on other nations cultures than they do themselves. I've often wondered why this is. Is it because the UK has a long history of cultural imperialism which means that it's possible for us to assimilate and understand other people's cultures really quickly and then document and curate them? Are we a nation of librarians and historians - something which may have been instilled within us through our education and value systems? I don't know the answers for sure, but it's a phenomenon which makes us a natural nation of crate-diggers. But more to the point, what is it about the U.S.A. which made them so dismissive of anything which wasn't an immediate commercial success? Was it something within their philosophy which only rated commercial success as being the most important thing at the time? I often wondered about this when I first went to the States in '76, went into record shops, asked where the Soul was and invariably got pointed towards the 'Oldies But Goodies' sections with the $1 represses of 4 Tops and Supremes hits. I learned very fast to cut to the quick and simply ask where the crap or 10c boxes were 'cos that's where the real gems were. However, it probably goes back a lot further. I can remember reading an interview about the Rolling Stones first visit to the Chess studios in 1964 when they enquired whether they could meet their No.1 all-time idol, bluesman Muddy Waters and Chess's boss, Leonard Chess said, "Sure. He's right here". He was painting the ceiling to earn some extra dosh. Ian D

It was a wombat. I thought it made it perfectly clear on the label. Ian D

Well, I've been looking for 2 years now and haven't turned one up! They're either all in Sweden or Bri Pinch has a load in his loft! An anthem IMO. Can you imagine anyone not dancing when this comes on........? Ian D

Hi Pete, I dunno where you're based but there's a showing in London @ the Prince Charles Cinema on Sunday 21st February @ 1.00pm - apparently tickets are going fast.......... https://www.princecharlescinema.com/events/#stillbill Ian D

"It's okay to head out for 'wonderful,' but on your way to 'wonderful' you're gonna have to pass through 'alright.' And when you get to 'alright' take a good look around and get used to it cause that may be as far as you're gonna go." https://www.youtube.c...h?v=R9Q2DFms1tA Looks great! Ian D

Mmm. Interesting. So if Mark Capanni's version was recorded first (as I've been informed), then how come it took Capitol 14 months to issue the original on a promo? In fact, maybe it's lucky that it got issued at all since the Jackson Sisters version actually spent 5 weeks on the R'n'B Top 100 in late '73. Maybe that's why it's so rare - it was 14 months too late and the Jackson Sisters stole the thunder.....? Also I've got to be sceptical about it appearing on any European LP. Why would it (unless it was Publishing promo album)? Mark Capanni wasn't even a household name in his street in L.A. leave alone anywhere else...... Ian D

Cheers mate. The Light Of The World feat Cylena Cymone was hot from the mixing desk so isn't even @ final mix stage yet. Sounds like it could be a Summer anthem to me. And there's a lot of stuff from around the Tyrell Corp era which still sounds great today. Wouldn't mind hearing another mix of "Going Home" though.... Ian D

I've not had an offer like that since '73 LOL..... Ian D

Yep, it was you and that bloody Morag that made me pull my finger out! Trying to relax with you lot around is a none-starter! Ian D

I think that's a bit harsh Sean. It's merely another great record in a long line of white fellas who occasionally managed to get all the ingredients right within a masterpiece production. OK, so Mark Capanni's plainly no Deep South razor-throated Soul royalty but I think he makes a pretty good stab at it and follows a long line of white vocalists who knocked a great tune out every now and then. He follows Dean Parrish, Johnny Caswell, Paul Anka, Bobby Paris, Benny Troy, Felix Cavaliere and the Anderson Brothers IMO.... Plus I drink proper beer like which I'm quite prepared to prove when we meet up! Dig me one up for ten bob if ya can then! Ian D

And heeeeeere's the playlist. The emphasis today was on happiness, energy and spreading the gospel so it sure went fast! Many thanks for everyone who could join us live and here's the link for everyone else....... Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show with Ian Dewhirst Sunday 31st January 2010 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. 1st Hour 45 feat Stephanie McKay I Believe Light Of The World feat Cylena Cymone Sunshine Exclusive Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr - Shine On Silver Moon Deep Sensation Somehow, Somewhere (There's A Soul Heaven) The Tyrell Corporation Going Home Curtis Mayfield What Is My Woman For Jimmy & Vella Cameron Be Fair To Me Marcia Hines You Gotta Let Go Syreeta & G.C. Cameron Love To The Rescue Marvin Gaye - Praise 2nd Hour The Isley Brothers Tell Me It's Just A Rumour Maurice Williams Being Without You The Sunlovers You'll Never Make The Grade Bobby Treetop Wait Till I Get To Know You The Idle Few People That's Why The Ohio Players feat Towanda Barnes Love Slipped Through My Fingers The Modulations Never Too Late The Individuals Why Can't We Be Together Sydney Joe Qualls Run To Me Anita Baker Sweet Love Cuba Gooding All I Can Give You Is Love The Real Thing Raining Through My Sunshine Average White Band Atlantic Avenue Koffee Brown feat B-12 Weekend Thing Cool Million Leave Me Shirley Slaughter I Love Him Old School Remix Mark Capanni I Believe In Miracles https://www.sixmillio...1-Starpoint.mp3 Al will be back behind the decks next week and I'll be back on the 14th February - Valentine's Day! See ya next time! Ian D

LOL, I picked him up at the airport Paul but I was probably outside having a fag 'cos I can't remember hearing him play that. Good on Lasse! It sounds like there's more copies in Sweden then anywhere else then? Ian D

Damn. I dunno Sebastian. I was at a record fair in the Capitol Records car park in L.A. in 1976 and a guy called Bob 'The Bear' Hite from a group called Canned Heat gave me 10,000 records off the back of his truck. There were tons of Capitol promos 'cos Canned Heat were signed to Liberty - a sister label to Capitol but I never saw that bloody Mark Capanni. I would have pulled it out back then 'cos I already knew the Jackson Sisters, although I didn't like it at the time - too messy back then. Mmmm. I wonder if the UK publisher has any copies.....? Well, I guess we've established that this is one of those real oddball rarities then.......... Ian D