Ian Dewhirst

Those OOTP pressings weren't Selecta - they were via Chris Burton ex owner of the Torch I believe...... Ian D

LOL, he's just set off from.......Crayford in Essex. He'd better haul ass lest the ORIGINAL MASTERCUTS curse kicks in! Will we make it for 2.00? Anyone's guess but if we do the music will be fine! Ian D

Gratuitious plug LOL. Are you all sorted for Paul O'Grady then? Ian D

True. Plus you can't access the original raw vinyl material anymore. When the oil crisis kicked in during the mid 70's the raw vinyl manufacturers lessened their reliance on the petrolium components. These days I think there's just a couple of suppliers and they both use vinyl pellets. Also the whole label processes have changed - the printing, the ink and the paper itself. I tried to replicate Cream's "Disraeli Gears" sleeve when I worked at Simply Vinyl and there wasn't a single company who could replicate day-glo colours LOL..... Ian D

True, true mate. I always knew the April Silva's were originals even though they looked like boots 'cos I'd stumbled into it early on but the first time I ever saw a Kenny Smith on Goldspot was directly from Soussan so naturally I assumed the worst. Every copy I've ever seen up to that point was on GAR........ Also what me wonder was this was the period where Soussan seemed to be doing very limited presses of some items - the afformentioned Eddie Daniels, Lee Mitchell, George Blackwell etc, etc so I can be forgiven LOL. Was it the only release on the label though? Ian D

Check out "Return To The Playboy Mansion" as well Andy. His "Sexytime" mix of slowies is the best running mix of slowies I've ever heard - truly stunning plus he includes things like "For Real" - Flowers etc, etc. He knows his stuff too and he's actively collecting a lot of early Modern these days. He's got an amazing collection and all originals too. There's a real Soulboy under that smooth French exterior LOL..... Ian D

Wow! The long-rumoured female version suddenly comes to light. Ian D

So, I'll answer my own question........ "However, there's a good chance you would not be holding this CD right now if it weren't for one song in particular: "Lord, What's Happening To Your People?". Issued in 1971 as the first and only release on Kenny's own Goldspot label, (originally titled "Lord, What's Happened?"), the record was written to cash in on a particular trend that Kenny describes as the "Jesus-rock era." "It was just a market or a trend that was going on at the time, so I thought it would fit," Kenny explains. Some label owners from Chicago thought that it would fit as well. They picked up "Lord..." to re-release on their General American Records imprint. However, General American had bigger things in mind for Kenny than the Billboard charts. They made him the Publishing Director of the company and the host of their new television show: Soul Street. Soul Street, for which Kenny also wrote the opening and closing themes, was broadcast in 36 markets around the country and featured a range of guests from local artist Tommy Wills, to more well known acts such as Lynn Collins, the Ohio Players, Little Royal, the Detroit Emeralds, Gladys Knight and James Brown. Soul Street ran for ten episodes, the first nine of which were hosted by Kenny. Behind the scenes, things were falling apart for GAR. A new host was brought in for the tenth episode, and that was it as the studio pulled the plug on the show due to unpaid bills. Kenny was out of his element in the television studio. By the early seventies Kenny was a seasoned performer and a regular on the regional club scene. Used to the gritty and aggressive atmosphere of the nightclub, the cold, sterile television set was an environment with which Kenny was unfamiliar. Besides being a fish out of water, Kenny was face to face with people who he previously considered to be his idols. ""I got intimidated a little bit, by these people ...I used to worship 'em. James Brown, you know, I did all his stuff, danced like him, everything else. And all of a sudden, here I am in control of this guy, askin' him questions." However, "Lord, What's Happened" would provide Kenny with recognition yet again in a strange and unexpected way. The song failed to ride the gospel-rock wave that Kenny had tried to latch onto in the U.S., but it got a second shot at success across the Atlantic in the dance clubs of Northern England. A couple of years after its release in the States, the British Northern Soul scene discovered the record and it became an anthem at the legendary Blackpool Mecca. Demand for the single from British dj's and collectors was high enough that in 1976 that Kenny was tracked down by the infamous French rare soul dealer and producer Simon Soussan. The original contract between Kenny and Soussan's Soul Galore Disco-Sound Productions details how Smith was paid $300 in advance for the right to reissue "Lord What's Happened" for the Northern Soul market and a promise of royalties to come for any copies pressed up and sold. Look more closely, however, and one notices that it is doubtful that any "commercial" copies were ever pressed up, because Soussan had 1000 to 1500 "promotional" copies made beforehand, after which there'd be no need for any commercial copies". https://www.shakeitrecords.com/cincinnatiso...mith/index.html But I still think some of those Goldspot ones are dodgy........ Ian D

Mmmm. Interesting. Are there any other releases on Goldspot then or was Kenny Smith a one-off? I'm pretty sure they didn't emerge until Soussan was doing his limited boots. When he was trying to counterfeit originals and pass them off he told me that he used to put them into a washing machine wrapped in a sheet and put bits of wood and coins in to try and replicate the wear and tear....... But the Goldspot thing has got me wondering now. I know Soussan was in touch with Kenny, so is it possible that he got the different mix from Kenny Smith and booted it on another label so that Kenny wouldn't have any problems with the GAR people......? This would have been exactly the same time as the Lee Mitchell's emerged...... Ian D

Have there ever been any other records on Goldspot then? I remember ordering Kenny Smith, George Blackwell and Prince George from Soussan and being bitterly disappointed when Kenny Smith arrived on Goldspot, George Blackwell was a convincing re-press and only Prince George appeared to be real......... I thought Soussan did the Goldspot version as he was actually in touch with Kenny Smith 'cos I was there when he spoke to him a couple of times a few months later..... Ian D

Actually I think Tommy Chong was one of the Vancouvers and Cheech Marin came along later. Either way, I guess you could say political correctness wasn't at the forefront of either Four Niggers & A Chink or Cheech & Chong....... Ian D

Wow! F*ck the record, just gimme the sword! Ian D

What about Kenny Smith "Lord What's Happening To Your People" on Goldspot? Ian D

Both a l'il bit manic for me George LOL although I'm sure they'd work OK at the Frontier in Batley where the kids seem to love the million-mile an hour ravey stuff....... Ian D

Yes folks, He may have been something of a recluse just lately..... ........and he may have a vocabulary which is limited to just 2 words, namely 'Soul' and 'Bowl'...... ........and he may have issues of a highly embarassing personal nature...... ........but Simon M does have an immense amount of knowledge and a record collection to die for! So come join us this Sunday afternoon on the ORIGINAL MASTERCUTS Show between 2.00-4.00pm on www.starpointradio.com and you'll be hearing some astoundingly good music and some in-depth nattering to find out exactly how Simon M ticks. Hopefully we'll get behind the mind of how this highly complex character thinks and what motivates and moves him besides Soul Bowl. Can't wait LOL! See ya Sunday @ 2.00pm sharp! Ian D

Yes dear. I seem to remember ringing you from the studio saying that I'd taken a few calls on it! Ian D

As if to prove the point, quite simply this is the greatest remix I've ever heard in my life. An absolute work of art which totally vaidates what can be done when someone puts their heart and soul into it and totally understands the record........ "Down To Love Town" - The Originals Dimitri From Paris Disco Citay Remix https://www.zshare.net/audio/574790283d411ba8/ Ian D

That's the general plan Mark....... Ian D

Well, if you put it like that what's the point of the thread then LOL? Good point though Cunnie. Is there any Northern or Modern 'DJ' who started off as a DJ and then started collecting......? The only one I can think of is John Vincent..... Ian D

No, it's Ron Murphy's old copy which Kenny had which was apparently originally purchased from the owner of the pressing plant. Tim Brown's copy is the one which was 'liberated' from the Motown library. However, I believe the statute of limitations has run out (6 years I believe) and it would difficult to launch any kind of action I believe since that copy has gone through so many owners over the years...... Ian D

Most deejays on this scene started off as collectors anyway didn't they? There's a massive difference between 'serious' DJ's who nurture and break music and people who want to get behind the decks at any cost. If I I'm in a club, then gimme a DJ anyday - most serious DJ's I know are there for a good reason, namely, they know about tempos, working a crowd, building atmosphere and peaking the night at the right time. Collectors are often of a different mentality which doesn't always translate to a club full of people who want an electric atmosphere. I've spent many a pleasant night at collector's houses listening to tunes which they may be passionate about but which probably won't electrify a club full of people and that's the main difference. Maybe venues, should have a 'Collectors Room' whereby numerous collectors can try their tunes and do 30 minute sets before the next guy takes over - this would give collectors an opportunity to spread their tastes to a wider audience and maybe make the jump to the bigger rooms eventually? Ian D

Mmm. A one-off? That's rarer then the damn record.......... Ian D

Looked like BJ's for the boys by the looks of it Benji.........or do you require further explanation? Ian D

Yep, that's right! I knew someone on here would know her. She certainly knows her stuff. I usually bump into her at Rare Disco type events but haven't seen her for a year or two........... Ian D

You see - another perk of the job. You'll tell me they actually paid you wages as well I suppose! Ian D