Ian Dewhirst

Totally agree too. It pisses me off that the majors and supermarkets have killed off a huge amount of indie stores over the last 10 years especially. It shows how times have changed - HMV is now classed as a 'specialist' and the supermarkets are seen as mainstream. We're now in a situation where for most companies you have to get an order from one or another of 'em to justify a release! Have you read "Last Shop Standing" by Graham Jones yet funkyfeet? If you haven't then put it on your Christmas list. Essential reading for those who care about indie record shops........ Ian D

Yep, I didn't know about that one. I should have said first time on CD in the UK LOL..... Ian D

A fiver is cheap considering that the retailer will take 50% of that! However, we now only have one national music chain left which is HMV, so if they don't order your releases then you're in trouble. So now we have to design releases which will work for HMV, especially in the middle of a recession, so that means coming up with something that they can get behind and which will work for their huge sales campaigns which are about 4 times a year. In order to clear that price you have to go to all the repertoire owners and beg for a lower royalty rate, screw down costs ruthlessly and get your maths right. And then pray that the releases will sell through LOL. It's a horribly difficult market as Ady, Tony and anyone else who is in the music biz will agree. And you're quite right about Richard not allowing his personal tastes to interfere with his job. The supermarkets basically sell music the same way they sell beans - the same principles apply and it's all about revenue and shelf space. I'm pretty sure that Morrison's haven't stocked ANY of Richard's own compilations because the average Morrisons customer probably isn't too bothered about George Soule or Rance Allen and Richard knows that. Having said that, I think supermarkets could improve their ranges beyond the Top 40 and Pop compilations and offer a wider selection in their music sections. Ever since Woolworths and Zavvi crashed it's become much harder for the public to buy CD's spontaneously and I think the supermarkets could pick up more sales if they had a wider selection on offer. It shows how much music has been devalued when you can buy a double Teddy Pendergrass CD for £4.00 and some killer compilations with over 75 minutes of music for less than a packet of fags! And it's worth keep all your CD's and Vinyl 'cos when the Chinese unleash their cyber-bomb and disable all computers in the West, then you'll still have the physical copies left to play! Ian D

Yep, there's bargains galore at the moment! The above albums are both through Demon who are very strong in the supermarkets. Watch out for a new series called Backbeats which launches @ HMV on Boxing Day - 10 albums @ a fiver apiece including a Northern Soul volume with Len Barry's "When You Call Me Baby" on (first time on CD) and a decent Windy City Soul vol with some tasty stuff on....... Ian D

Damn. There goes Mumbai now.....one of my best kept secrets......... Ian D

Beanos warehouse in St Petersburg is always worth a dig around. I found a Tartans and a Lew Kirton in there among other things. I did have a spectacular hit at an Orlando flea market about 10 years ago but only for albums and 12"'s. I went through a box in a corner of a furniture store and found around 20 great albums @ $1 apiece. It turned out the son of the people who ran the store was a prolific album/12" collector but died of aids and his whole collection was back at the parents house. Took an afternoon but I bought around 500 pieces and it made the whole trip worthwhile! Ian D

Isn't a large part of the piano intro missing from the boot? All of which makes the UK copies even more desireable............. Ian D

I'd catalogue all your records and then up your household insurance accordingly. Plus bear in mind that most collections on here would require a huge van and a couple of guys spending several hours lugging heavy plastic out of the door and then they'd have to figure out how and where to flog 'em. There's much easier things to burgle for sure so I don't think record collections are high on the hit list...........unless it's an inside job of course. There's these guys: https://www.collectingvinylrecords.com/collectiblesinsurance.html Ian D

Depends if the artist ever recouped on the original advances they got from the labels (the lucky ones who received an advance that is). In the case of most Northern Soul releases the answer is probably not as it's doubtful that the tracks ever recouped the recording, manufacturing, marketing, promotional and distribution costs which had to be covered before a record ever theoretically got into profit. Since most Northern Soul releases tended to go straight down the shitter, then it's unlikely that the artists would have anything to claim....... .....but at least they have a shot if the track is re-issued on a legitimate CD. Also, all legit UK record companies have to pay mechanical royalties on the amounts they manufacture, so if an artist is registered with the MCPS and PRS they can earn income from that....... Not that record company accounting has ever been a cause for optimism or dancing in the streets....... Ian D

No complaints on the creative side Pete, it's just that legit companies have to work within the law and pay mechanicals, licensing fees etc, etc which puts legit releases at a mammoth competitive disadvantage....... Ian D

Well how about these guys then Ady..........? https://www.righttrackrecords.co.uk/ Ian D

Would I be right in assuming that Bub is grabbing the young lady's right boob..............? Ian D

Certainly were! That was circa '71 in a pub in Cleckheaton or thereabouts at a Motown Night. The sartorial elegance of the Torch regulars stood out like a beacon of shining light on a pissing down Wednesday night in Cleckheaton. Soulboys were pretty dapper back then....... Ian D

A lovely crowd once again this week and such a friendly vibe with everyone – it's a real pleasure to play for such an appreciative audience so thanks to everyone for tuning in! Having said that, it was gremlin city this week where everything which could go wrong, did in fact go wrong LOL. The good Alan Champ has fixed the beginning of the show but you won't hear my dulcet tones until about 20 minutes in (some people may see that as an advantage) but we managed to keep the music intact so thank heaven for small mercies! Anyway, here we go – the download link is after the playlist....... 1st Hour The Sigma Sound Orchestra – That's Where The Happy People Go – Piano Intro Janet Jackson – Together Again – Tony Humphries Mix Black Disco – Real Good Time Panevino feat Charles Dockins – The Best Of Me – DJ Meme Mix Jazztronik – Real Clothes World Premier – Share The Night - Remix Wanda Walden – Don't You Want My Loving Fonzi Thornton – I Work For A Living Sister Sledge – You Fooled Me The System – This Is For You Freddy Jackson & Ednah Holt – Ain't Got Time Teddy Pendergrass – You And Me Right Now 2nd Hour Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross – My Mistake (Was To Love You) Barbara Acklin – To Sir With Love Garnett Mimms – Looking For You Dusty Springfield – What's It Gonna Be Otis Leavill – I Love You The Promises – (I Can Feel Those Vibrations) This Love Is Real Bunny Sigler – Can't Believe You Love Me Gloria Scott – Just As Long As We're Together – Unlimited Remix Strutt – Say You Didn't Love Him Marvin Gaye – Distant Lover (Live) Isaac Hayes & Dionne Warwick – Can't Hide Love (Live) Aretha Franklin feat Marvin Gaye – One Step Ahead – Featurecast Re-Edit Al Green – I'm Still In Love With You Zion Train - Rise Sharon Ridley – Changin' – Larry Sanders Re-Edit https://www.sixmillio...2-Starpoint.mp3 Al is on next week and I'll catch you again on Sunday 6th December! Love to all. Best, Ian D

Absolute KILLER Bunny Sigler written track. Came out on the 'B' side of "I've Got My Mind Made Up" which makes that one of the best value singles ever - especially if it's the 'B' side of the original Philly mix of "IGMMMU" - which is totally different to the Levan mix and much more towards a typical Philly type mix...... Ian D

Double Exposure "Ten Percent" was the first-ever commercially released 12" single and sold over 100,000 copies in the process. Anyone who doesn't think that "Ten Percent" is choc full of soul needs their ears syringing! Ian D

My bi-monthly Sunday afternoon fix is coming up again tomorrow. As per usual I'll be zinging through the eras with a very Philly-centric first half-hour of zippy anthems including a first-play killer remix of a classic, then a cruise through some sophisticated and under-rated 80's gems, then a touch of Northern, Modern and just great Soul music before the last half-hour of gut-wrenchingly brilliant slowies and feel-good anthems. This week's show is packed with familiar names (but not always the obvious tunes) so hopefully a good one coming up! All in all, another Sunday afternoon party looms and it'll be a gas if we have a roomful of regulars again! Hope you can join me Sunday afternoon 2.00-4.00 pm on the Original Mastercuts show on www.starpointradio.com Coming up on this week's show............ Janet Jackson * Black Disco * Panevino feat Charles Dockins * Jazztronik * World Premier * Wanda Walden * Fonzi Thornton * Sister Sledge * The System * Freddy Jackson & Ednah Holt * Teddy Pendergrass * Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye * Barbara Acklin * Garnett Mimms * Dusty Springfield * Otis Leavill * Strutt * The Promises * Bunny Sigler * Gloria Scott * Marvin Gaye * Isaac Hayes & Dionne Warwick * Aretha Franklin * Al Green * Zion Train * Sharon Ridley Catch you @ 2.00! Best, Ian D

Yeah you're probably right but "Storm Warning"? I would have thought "The Laws Of Love" would have been a better bet. Mind you, substitute "Laws Of Love" for "Out Of Touch" and you realise where they got their hooks from........ I heard that great Len Barry version of "When You Call Me Baby" t'other week and it made me wonder about how many other great unreleased Philly tracks from that era may be knocking around. It's not just a Northern thing - I LOVE all the stuff from that period, Len Barry and Johnny Caswell included........ I still haven't located a decent recording of the Volcanoes version yet. I'll check this out if I can find it......... https://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1209859/a/Storm+Warning:+Philly+Original+Soul+Classics+Volume+1.htm Ian D

Yep, you're right. I just checked Barry's link. Wow. Unbelievable for the mid 80's IMO - I'm impressed 'cos it sounds very natural so hats off to 'em for putting down such an authentic pastiche. A stunning Northern Soul record by any measure and now I'm going to dig out the Volcanoes for comparison purposes. There was a time when you couldn't move for the sheer weight of water damaged original Arctic copies of the Volcanoes spewing out of Robinson's in Manchester....maybe I've never heard a decent copy of the Volcanoes? Every one I ever had sounded muddy and was probably water damaged.......? I quite like that "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid" as well. I like Hall & Oates anyway but I didn't realise they were making stuff of this calibre in the bloody 80's.............I'm blagging one of those box sets sharpish for sure.... Ian D

There's actually a few great tracks on there but "Storm Warning" kinda crashed through the office system. Now I'm listening to it again I'm wondering when it was recorded....? It could have been a 60's vocal that's had the drums remixed and a guitar overdub to bring it more in line with the later Hall and Oates stuff. My colleague managed to leave the all-important Box Set booklet at home so I couldn't check. Also, I've listened to a lot of their early Philly stuff but not heard that one before. I'll tell yer what though...the lead vocal, background vocals and horns sound like vintage 60's to me. If it is an 80's recording it's pretty extraordinary that they could get it so right. Musta been a vintage arranger on that one for sure - What on earth would make 'em record a Volcanoes flop from the 60's in the 80's? It's nothing like the rest of their 80's stuff at all - "Kiss On My List", "I Can't Go For That", "Maneater", "Private Eyes" etc. So what happened? They were selling millions of records at the time with their own songs, so to suddenly turn up in the studio at the height of their 80's synth-pop success and cover a Volcanoes flop from 15 years before seems odd. Damn I need those notes now..... Ian D

I always thought the Volcanoes version was a bit sluggish and very muddy in the mix - this one sounds a lot brighter. A shame the Volcanoes wasn't a better recording - they're pretty much one of my fave groups..... Ian D

A colleague was just playing a new 4 CD box set of Daryl Hall & John Oates when a 100% mph BRILLIANT version of the Volcanoes "Storm Warning" came on. This was obviously recorded in Philly in the late 60's and is actually much faster and better than the Volcanoes version and has never been previously released to my knowledge. Anyone else heard it? Ian D

Mmm. Maybe a Philly International Modern Soul package may be an idea Sean? Ian D

Wow, what a lovely show and so great to be back behind the console after a stressful few weeks. Massive and heartfelt thanks to everyone who tuned in live on Sunday afternoon – the Original Mastercuts community really made my day this week and thanks so much to everyone for their support and kind words. It really felt like a regular Sunday afternoon party this week and lifted my spirits considerably. Thanks to all! And for those who couldn't tune in live then here is the download folks – choc full of goodies from all eras so welcome to the warm, cosy bosom of this weeks Original Mastercuts show..... Mmmm....I appear to have a breast fixation again.....I must be getting back to normal..... 1st Hour Whitney Houston – Million Dollar Bill – Frankie Knuckles Remix Nicci – When You're Free – Blaze Vocal Mix The Rhythm Slaves feat Joseph – Someday (Badibaba) Eddie Kendricks – Keep On Truckin' – Play Boys Fully Loaded Remix Slave – Just A Touch Of Love – MAW Remix Switch featuring the S.O.S. Band – Borrowed Secrets – Neil Thompson Remix Jermaine Jackson – I'm Just Too Shy Sister Sledge – Easy Street Change – Friends – Original Mastercuts Exclusive 2nd Hour Walters & Sisters – How Long Africano – Satisfactorize Your Mind Spanky Wilson – Easy Lover N.F. Porter – Keep On Keeping On Stanley Mitchell – Get It Baby The Casanova Two – We Got To Keep On The Dynamics – Yes I Love You Baby Oscar Perry – I Got What You Need Neo Experience – Human – Original Mastercuts Exclusive Remix Teddy Pendergrass – The Whole Town's Laughing At Me The Jones Girls feat Ashanti – This Unfoolish Feeling – Neil Thompson Remix Jestofunk – For Your Precious Love Janice James – Set Your Sights Al Green – Everything Is OK – Ashley Beedle Love Boogie Re-Edit https://www.sixmillio...8-Starpoint.mp3 Al is up again next week and then I'm back a week on Sunday so catch ya then! Love to all..... Ian D

It's not really a multi-billion dollar music industry anymore Matt - there are only 4 majors these days - Sony, Universal, Warners and EMI and they're all a shadow of their former selves and probably likely to consolodate even further. If it's any consolation my next batch of CD's will be a fiver each @ retail and available in the last remaining chain - HMV from Boxing Day onwards and I've got 70 odd releases planned for next year. It's taken a long time and the music industry have made every mistake imaginable but music's never been cheaper to buy then it is right now...... But I totally agree with your overall sentiments. You're right - this is pretty much the most expensive country to live in, we work the longest hours and we're the unhappiest nation in Europe according to the latest surveys........ Not me though. That's why I like music. It helps me put up with the rest of the sh*t! Ian D