Ian Dewhirst
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Posts posted by Ian Dewhirst
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I don't think I'm providing an opposing point in the debate: in many cases I'm in more or less complete agreement with the tone and essence of your original post. I do, however, fundamentally disagree with your point about the extent of Motown's historical importance.
Motown's impact in musical terms was unquestionably large for a period of time, but as a totem of Black enterprise it has to be said that the overall story in 50 years of existence has been one of heroic failure. As each generation passes the richness of the company's musical legacy will ebb away as the marketing becomes ever more formulaic and removed from the roots of what made that music vital and special. If you don't believe me have a look at comments from young people worldwide on sites like youtube. Awareness of Motown as a brand is vague at best in that demographic.
Outside the confines of communities like this one Motown's importance registers no more than a footnote in wider stories like that of, for example, Martin Luther King, or indeed, Michael Jackson. That isn't a qualitative judgement (I own and like hundreds of Motown records but have never bought a Michael Jackson release), I'm just looking at the jackson Memorial from a slightly wider perspective.
The media frenzy and the banality of much of the coverage and reaction to Jackson's death and indeed the skewed logic and questionable taste of much of last night's event is cause for much reflection from our sometimes insular perch as soul fans, but as Brian and Ady and others point out, it's the way things seem to be done nowadays.
yours in soul,
gareth
Good point Gareth.
I see what you're getting at here. In terms of Motown, it's difficult to see what else can be done really. There's been a plethora of high profile re-issues, countless TV documentaries which reach a marginal audience at best and plenty of recent deaths of the Motown aristocracy but Motown's relevence simply doesn't touch most people the way it touches us.
It's probably a generational thing and unless you were of a certain age, the majesty of the label simply doesn't affect most people in the same way, that, say, the Sun catalogue doesn't really affect me.
I guess it's a sign of the times isn't it. The mass media convenient sound-bites and imagery of MJ are perfect for a global audience which has the attention span of a gnat!
Ian D
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Your closing statement leaves you sadly at odds with history.
Childhood stardom and adoration in America, does not tend to produce balanced, rational Adults. Far from it, even a cursory study of American Child/teen stars will throw up an overwhelming wedge of contrary evidence. There have been countless examples that dictate quite clearly, that such levels of fame often result in emotional and mental imbalance.
I am more than willing to outline a long list of 'case histories' to back this up but I suggest you think hard about that, before we go down that road.
Not just America either. Anyone remember Lena Zavaroni?
Ian D
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Edited by Ian Dewhirst
I am not saying MICHAEL JACKSON did not open up and widen cultural meters, but simply that I feel he did so by moving further away from a black-orientated style musically. This was also mirrored by the horrendous bouts of surgery and bleaching of his skin. He went from being a beautiful young black child to looking like a white Transvestite mock-up of LIZ TAYLOR and whilst this might have done MTV's bank balance a power of good, what did it do to his soul? Secondly, what message did it send to millions of black kids across the world? I was in Brooklyn not long ago, I go regularly and it is horrifying to see 'skin bleaching' treatments for kids, openly advertised in the windows of Black Salons at the top of Pitkin Avene. These issues are enormously important and must not be swept under the carpet in the face of his death.
Actually, that's almost another discussion entirely isn't it? Why would the great looking young black guy arguably at the height of his powers with "Off The Wall" decide to bleach his skin white, mutilate his face and re-christen himself 'the King Of Pop'? This was a kid who went to pains to make himself white surely?
That's what kind of surprised me when a lot of the veteran political black heavy-hitters were wheeled out at his funeral. It's almost as though MJ was being re-claimed by the Black American elite.
Considering that he spent the last couple of years of his life living like a wandering hermit without a home and staying in people's houses in Bahrain and Ireland, it begs the question of what support or help was he getting from the very people who were eulogising him at his funeral? Great speaker though Al Sharpton undoubtably is, he has a habit of turning up wherever the TV cameras are doesn't he? I wonder if he ever had a one-on-one conversation with MJ........?
There are more questions than answers here really aren't there.......?
Ian D
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THATS WHAT YOU GET IF YOU WERE EDUCATED IN HER MAJASTYS APPROVED SCHOOLS IN THE 6ts, as i am now 57 i try my best really I do
Dave KIL...I just noticed this bloke is from Toteham, for F**ks sake,
I have been mugged!I wasn't talking about you Dthedrug! The barb was aimed @ Phillydaveg, although I've just noticed that you can't spell Tottenham LOL......
Ian D
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Just watched the memorial service for MICHAEL JACKSON at my partner's insistence. Have to say, am I the only one on here, who found it a somehat disturbing event? Ignoring the preening simperings of TREVOR NELSON and PAUL GAMBACINI, (Who dreamt up that 'Voiceover' marriage in hell?) the whole thing seemed to revolve around canonising MJ to a level beyond the hysterical. With BERRY GORDY attending, SMOKY and STEVIE giving onstage contributions alongside a sermon style input from MARTIN LUTHER KING'S children, it felt to me as if a certain collective of people were standing up and making a very contrived statement. The REV AL SHARPTON'S raucous championing of JACKSON seemed to imply he single-handedly smashed down the barriers of racism and prejudice across the world, which to me seems both irrational and untrue.
With some of Soul's biggest names lining up alongside Preachers and Black Politicians, I am still wondering at the true agenda of this event.
I know it's a sensitive subject but I could not help reaching this conclusion at the close:
So what if even some of those people who spoke against Jackson were telling the truth?
What would it be doing to them mentally, to see a worldwide transmission and such a massively powerful and influential 'Cast' pull off this performance?
To my mind, SMOKEY, MARVIN GAYE, STEVIE, CURTIS and a number of others were all superior songwriters. In the grand lobbies of the Soul Kingdom there have been countless vocalists who could sing the pants off JACKSON. As for his stage craft, yes he was great but give JACKIE WILSON and JAMES BROWN the benefit of those videos and the production scales which JACKSON was privvy to and they would have appeared at least his equal and quite possibly superior when it came to dancing....
So just what is it about JACKSON which has created this seemingly unstoppable juggernaut of adoration and emotional meltdown? Given that the beloved image of MICHAEL and THE JACKSON 5 is so intrinsically woven into the fabric of late 60s and 70s Black American consciousness, do the figureheads of that culture, view the stains and questions surrounding his reputation as some sort of combined attack on them as a 'community'. Does this explain anything oncerning the show we just witnessed tonight?
Am I also the only one who again, felt awkward as I watched his daughter thrust forward to close the proceedings with a tearful endorsement of him as a Father? This at a time when she was clearly emotionally distraught?
What was that suposed to achieve? Is anybody really telling me that that was not supposed to be sending a message?
A strange affair to say the least.
Typical L.A. event and a little overblown and pompous for me I have to say. When they performed "We Are The World" at the end the two females in my house were shedding tears galore, whilst I was trying hard not to spontaneously projectile vomit over my laptop......
This is 21st Century Death for ya beamed around the world into a billion living rooms.
What's even spookier is the fact that the tour may well go ahead with Michael Jackson resurrected via state-of-the-art 3D technology doing all the moves he's famous for. Anyone remember Captain Zeo @ Disney World in Florida? Jacko was on the vanguard of 3D technology a long time ago and with Joe Jackson talking about a new record company integrating Blue Ray technology I reckon anything's possible.
This is what America does. If they have an iconic image - think James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and now M.J. they simply carry on re-inforcing the image and exploiting it to the ultimate degree. We haven't seen anything yet believe me.............
Ian D
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If ROGER EAGLE had indeed kept abreast of the elder Soul Statesmen of todays scene - and importantly - listened to the vast width of material the scene has turned over, in the past 4 decades, I too believe he might have re-adjusted his position on the original Northern Soul scene.
Yep, I think you're right. If anything, the new discoveries of the last 20 years or so would be more up his street than the stuff from the 70's and more towards his original comfort zone I reckon............
Ian D
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Yep, a recession busting deal on the 3 recent Soul Tribe releases:
"Shake Off That Dream"/"Shake Off That Dream" (Alt Mix) - Eddie Billups Soul Tribe 003
"I've Got This Feeling"/"I've Got This Feeling" (Edit) - King Moses Soul Tribe 004
"Sweet Love"/"How Can We Say Goodbye" - The Sweet Inspirations Soul Tribe 005
All 3 above For £20.00 inc P&P!
Plus I've a few copies left of.....
"That's Why I'm Crying"/Good Thing" - Rhonda McDaniel Soul Tribe 001
"Give In"/"Feel The Warm" - Norris Vines & The Luvlines Soul Tribe 002
£10.00 each inc P&P.
Or all 5 of the above for £30.00 inc P&P! How's that for value?
Plus, I have a few copies of the "Rare Collectable And Modern" CD on Base Camp Records - I don't think there'll be any more of these anytime soon as I don't think they're re-pressing it so grab 'em whilst they're here.........
Track Listing:
1) The Hamilton Movement - She's Gone
2) Mixed Feelings - Sha La La
3) Rokk - Patience
4) The Differences - Five Minutes
5) Ogletree Bros - Gonna Keep A Check On You
6) Aged In Harmony - You're A Melody
7) Tearra - Just Loving You
8) Tolbert - I've Got It
9) J.O.B. Orchestra - Don't Want That Illusion
10) Trace Of Smoke - Treasure Mind
11) Tony Aiken & Future 2000 - Good Things
12) Luther Davis Group - You Can Be A Star
13) Marshall Donovan & Broomfield - Since I Found My Baby
14) Executive Force - Midnight Lovin'
15) Rhythm Machine - Put A Smile On Time
16) Anna Raye - Will You Love My Child
17) Wee - Try Me
18) Al James & The New Rhythm Band - Give Me Up Turn Me Loose
19) Frankie Zhivago Young - Somebody Stole My Love
20) Alvin Green & Green Fire - The Sun Shines (Every Time You Say You're Mine)
21) The Coasters (featuring Bobby Sheen) - Love Is A Funny Thing
£11.00 each inc P&P!
Please PM with your postal address and for payment details via Paypal.
All worth having believe me.......
Ian D
All orders from yesterday have been posted out today folks. Still copies left if anyone's late.......
Ian D
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Edited by Ian Dewhirst
I must admit, I'm swayed by Chorleysoul and modernRod. Roger Eagle: black music pioneer but not particularly Northern Soul pioneer, it sounds like he'd be happy with that too.
I think I'd concurr with that as well. All the stories which I've heard from a couple of people who interviewed him pretty much point to exactly the above, namely he was a Black Music Pioneer for sure. Actually as part of the generation that came up directly after Roger's reign, I 100% absolutely wanted the fast stuff - who wouldn't when they're 15 and full of fire?
Also, I found it interesting that he then went on to found Eric's in Liverpool which was about the most none-Soul gig you could get. I think he only pulled out his Soul collection to specific friends and acquaintances in the mid to late 70's, Mick Hucknall being a prime pupil if I what I've read is true.
Also, here's a direct quote from Bill Brewster's interview with Roger shortly before his death in May 1999:
"I started Northern Soul, but I actually find the music very limiting because in the early days I'd play a Charlie Mingus record, then I'd play a Bluebeat disc followed by a Booker T tune, then a Muddy Waters or Bo Diddley record. Gradually, there was this blanding out to one sort of sound. When I started DJing I could play what I wanted. But after three years I had to keep to the same tempo, which is what Northern Soul is".
So a 'lil too eclectic methinks for the hoards of snotty-nosed kids like me that were demanding MILLION-MILE-PER-HOUR STOMPERS LOL.....
Also, he was from a totally different generation - the same school as the Stones, John Mayall, Alexis Korner etc, etc, where Blues was their touchstone in the late 50's/early 60's, so naturally the next generation along rebelled and demanded faster records. It was merely natural evolution. It sounds as if the Northern Soul thing was almost an accident which was dictated by the dancefloors @ the Wheel which of course would have been full of 16-20 year olds off their heads and wanting to dance..........
Res ipsa loquitur - it speaks for itself..........
Ian D
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Yep, a recession busting deal on the 3 recent Soul Tribe releases:
"Shake Off That Dream"/"Shake Off That Dream" (Alt Mix) - Eddie Billups Soul Tribe 003
"I've Got This Feeling"/"I've Got This Feeling" (Edit) - King Moses Soul Tribe 004
"Sweet Love"/"How Can We Say Goodbye" - The Sweet Inspirations Soul Tribe 005
All 3 above For £20.00 inc P&P!
Plus I've a few copies left of.....
"That's Why I'm Crying"/Good Thing" - Rhonda McDaniel Soul Tribe 001
"Give In"/"Feel The Warm" - Norris Vines & The Luvlines Soul Tribe 002
£10.00 each inc P&P.
Or all 5 of the above for £30.00 inc P&P! How's that for value?
Plus, I have a few copies of the "Rare Collectable And Modern" CD on Base Camp Records - I don't think there'll be any more of these anytime soon as I don't think they're re-pressing it so grab 'em whilst they're here.........
Track Listing:
1) The Hamilton Movement - She's Gone
2) Mixed Feelings - Sha La La
3) Rokk - Patience
4) The Differences - Five Minutes
5) Ogletree Bros - Gonna Keep A Check On You
6) Aged In Harmony - You're A Melody
7) Tearra - Just Loving You
8) Tolbert - I've Got It
9) J.O.B. Orchestra - Don't Want That Illusion
10) Trace Of Smoke - Treasure Mind
11) Tony Aiken & Future 2000 - Good Things
12) Luther Davis Group - You Can Be A Star
13) Marshall Donovan & Broomfield - Since I Found My Baby
14) Executive Force - Midnight Lovin'
15) Rhythm Machine - Put A Smile On Time
16) Anna Raye - Will You Love My Child
17) Wee - Try Me
18) Al James & The New Rhythm Band - Give Me Up Turn Me Loose
19) Frankie Zhivago Young - Somebody Stole My Love
20) Alvin Green & Green Fire - The Sun Shines (Every Time You Say You're Mine)
21) The Coasters (featuring Bobby Sheen) - Love Is A Funny Thing
£11.00 each inc P&P!
Please PM with your postal address and for payment details via Paypal.
All worth having believe me.......
Ian D
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This week, I will be looking at the label design and procedure for commissioning the 45's I hope to press in the States. This is the next hoop to jump through. How on earth do labels, artists, musicians, producers and writers cope with all the administration and technicalities associated with music production and song writing? They must be at their wits end, and financially drained. Without live gigs and airplay they must struggle. However for this project, I have decided not to use UK pressing plants as I want an authentic product from the city that gave me the music in the first place. If I tie that up with a reasonable price after manufacture, shipping, duty, vat and the nightmare of doing it, I may be put in the position of generating a royalty for the producer(s) and artists involved after sales. More news when I have it....
I honestly wouldn't go through all that Carl - it'll drive you nuts and simply won't be economically feasible mate. It'll be hard enough to find a pressing plant in Detroit that will be interested in a small run of 7"ers, leave alone then shipping 'em back to the U.K. They'll end up costing a fortune and the logistics will be nightmare-ish believe me........
PM or buzz me and I'll talk you through it........
Ian D
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Edited by Ian Dewhirst
I played all three of the Detroit tracks on the show yesterday in case anyone wants to hear 'em in a radio context........
Click download link after playlist to hear the show. Carl's sessions are just over half-way through.....
Hour 1
Bob Sinclar feat Michael Robinson & Ron Carroll - Tribute
The Dreamgirls Cast Family Blaze Remix
The Collective Vs Peyton Promised Land
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Be For Real Remix
Gee Bello Summer Girl
Melba Moore with Lillo Thomas When You Love Me Like This
Armed Gang - You
Heatwave Find It In Your Heart
Chaka Khan Eye To Eye
Hour 2
Dennis Lee & The Notables Sunday Afternoon
Spyder Turner Tell Me (Crying Over You)
Bandtraxx Detroit (City By The River)
Pree Suddenly There's You
George Kirby What Can I Do
Natural Impulse She Went Away
Duane Williams Yes My Love Is Real
Blue Mink Stay With Me
Tomi Jenkins - Time
Teddy Pendergrass My People
T.L.C. & Michael Jackson We're Almost There/No Scrubs
Aaron Neville My Brother, My Brother
https://www.sixmillio...5-Starpoint.mp3
Could you send me the Philly session Carl? I alluded to it in the piece but I'd like to hear it properly......
Best,
Ian D
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Edited by Ian Dewhirst
Well, I boogied 'til the early hours, had a few hours sleep, woke up feeling like death, wolfed down a breakfast, scoured some of the Buckinghamshire countryside, hauled ass back into town, picked up Champy and then headed over to Starpoint Towers for another Sunday afternoon session.....
So one of the old type ORIGINAL MASTERCUTS shows this week folks with the usual cock-ups and stupefying conversations with the good Alan Champ who, if anything, has taken an even wider deviation from normality LOL.....
But above all, plenty of quality music this week with the results of Carl Dixon's Detroit sessions, a quick look at the excellent Soul Junction label and another very timely exclusive Neil Thompson mash up of Michael Jackson with TLC along with the usual trawl through 40 years of brilliant music.........
Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show with Ian Dewhirst on Sunday 5th July 2009 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com.
Hour 1
Bob Sinclar feat Michael Robinson & Ron Carroll - Tribute
The Dreamgirls Cast Family Blaze Remix
The Collective Vs Peyton Promised Land
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Be For Real Remix
Gee Bello Summer Girl
Melba Moore with Lillo Thomas When You Love Me Like This
Armed Gang - You
Heatwave Find It In Your Heart
Chaka Khan Eye To Eye
Hour 2
Dennis Lee & The Notables Sunday Afternoon
Spyder Turner Tell Me (Crying Over You)
Bandtraxx Detroit (City By The River)
Pree Suddenly There's You
George Kirby What Can I Do
Natural Impulse She Went Away
Duane Williams Yes My Love Is Real
Blue Mink Stay With Me
Tomi Jenkins - Time
Teddy Pendergrass My People
T.L.C. & Michael Jackson We're Almost There/No Scrubs
Aaron Neville My Brother, My Brother
https://www.sixmillio...5-Starpoint.mp3
Next Saturday I'll be @ The Soul Purpose All-Dayer in Hinckley and then back to London on Sunday for another LIVE session from 2.00pm so catch ya same time next week.
Ian D
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Well after last week's Michael Jackson tribute I guess we're finally getting back to some sense of normality (until the funeral on Tuesday that is), so the show is back on more familiar ground for this week's show.....
However, I will be fragile following the Independence Day Boogie All-Dayer (4th July), so to keep me on my toes I'm featuring a couple of shouts between 3.00-3.30pm for Carl Dixon and his recent excursion to Detroit featuring some of the first fruits of the tracks he recorded plus a look at the Soul Junction label with some of the excellent tracks they've recently put out.....
Plus there'll be the usual couple of exclusives here and there and the full 2 hours of Soulful gems across the different eras, so please feel free to join me this Sunday afternoon.....
Featuring the usual array of superlative talent.........
Bob Sinclar feat Michael Robinson & Ron Carroll * The Dreamgirls Cast * The Collective Vs Peyton * Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes * Gee Bello * Melba Moore * Armed Gang * Heatwave * Chaka Khan * Gigolo * Dennis Lee & The Notables * Spyder Turner * Bandtraxx * Pree * George Kirby * Natural Impulse * Audio * Duane Williams * Norman Connors * Blue Mink * Tomi Jenkins * Teddy Pendergrass * T.L.C. & Michael Jackson * Aaron Neville
Fun-packed and LIVE from 2.00pm Sunday afternoon - see ya later!
Ian D
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Soul Purpose are very pleased to announce that our first Summer All Dayer, on Saturday 11th July, will now be broadcast live via Starpoint Radio.
We have organised full accoustic microphones for the main room to capture the sounds of shuffling feet, chinking glasses, and smiling faces !!
Come along and MAKE SOME NOISE !!!
tickets:
tel: 07771 374846
email: info@soul-purpose.net
I'll be there! I think I have to do an interview with some guy called Mark Randle............
Ian D
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Incredible stuff Jerry. Maybe that's why I love it and why it brought a tear to Imberboy's eye. It was obviously one of the key songs of my early musical awareness - I obviously heard it on the pirates of the time when I was 'secretly' listening to my Mitshubishi transistor radio with an earplug in bed and obviously prior to me discovering other things LOL....
So "Soul Coaxing" was a key record from a pre-adolescent era when things were musically fascinating and oh so simple then etc, etc, so the tune instantly zaps me back to a pretty good phase in life, hence the nostalgia angle......
How's that for a theory Simon........?
Ian D
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Blimey, so much controversy over a string led instrumental LOL....
Lest people forget the Northern scene was built on string-laden instrumentals whether they be the San Remo Strings, Wingate Love-In Strings, Milton Wright & The Terra-Shirma Strings, Kaddo Strings etc, etc. String instrumentals have always been part of the scene. I find it amazing that the scene preferred to play the Peggy March crap vocal version rather than the superior Raymond Lefevre instrumental but there's no accounting for taste LOL....
Great record.
Ian D
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Can't believe the prices people pay for that Jayboy rubbish. I couldn't sell an unplayed one for £75 last year. Must be the wrong strategy, if I'd have put £150 on it then it might have gone.
Who wants to give me £500 for my Ray merrell?
I bet John could get £500 for Ray Merrell. The power of his mailing list must be huge. I see Lee Fields has halved in price!
Ian D
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Kinell Ian that's mega and your info has just added a little missing jigsaw piece into one of my memory banks, Major Minor had A Touch Of Velvet-A Sting Of Brass (I'm always banging on about that track!).
Great orchestral productions with almost "John Barry" sensitivity and crossover to the mainstream, without compromising the poetry, if you know what I mean?
This track should be out there, played now!
Superb music.
Another version here by our own John Schroeder..............
https://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Soul%20Coaxing:%20The%20Many%20Moods%20Of%20John%20Schroeder:1922106309
Haven't heard this one but boy that cover's groovy LOL.....looks like it could be worth a punt........
And yes, Jerry, I think was played extensively on Caroline now come to think about it. Can anyone confirm?
Ian D
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Raymond Lef¨vre - Soul Coaxing
Just had me in tears
Raymond Lef¨vre - Soul Coaxing (Ame C¢line) 1968 written by Michel Polnareff.
Never heard this version before and I stumbled upon it on youtube, the soaring strings have just made me cry.
Who, what, when, where did this track come from and has this version ever been outed on our scene? Not sure if it's a mega dancer but I kinda freakin love it!!!
It's a brilliant record Simon. I first heard it when a Radio One DJ used to use it as background music (can't remember who it was now). It came out on Major Minor over here and on a label called 4 Corners Of The World (a division of Kapp) in the U.S.
It's pure Northern IMO and one of the best string-sections ever committed to vinyl and it's probably the French sensibility of composer Michel Polnareff which touches the heartstrings 'cos he's an unbelievable arranger........
Ian D
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best £2.20 i've spent in ages
inspired by leader of the pack? which came first? any ideas?
alan
"Leader Of The Pack" I think. "Condition Red" was later I believe - '66 or '67 thereabouts?
Got mine off Bradford Market for 10p in '74 thinking it was a vocal to the Baltimore & Ohio Marching Band LOL.........
Ian D
The Rarest Known Micheal Jackson On Vinal? Please Read
in Look At Your Box
I think it died off pretty quickly though. Every MJ related record I had on Discogs sold out the night of his death, so I put up a brilliant batch of Jacksons/Jacko mint promos and rarities on E-Bay - 19 in total @ £200 but no takers. I think everyone else had the same notion because there is now more MJ stuff up there then before but the bidding has slumped right off by the looks of it.
My mate put up his "Off The Wall" test-pressing with the track-listing on the cover and got £37.50 for it yesterday, whereas one week before I think he would have got £100+ easily. All the HMV's are racked to the hilt plus MJ's being TV advertised so the mainstream is holding up ut I think the collectors market has been saturated by the looks of it..........
Ian D