Ian Dewhirst

......and can you see those little pink pigs flying around in the ether LOL....... Stop dreaming Nik and get me a Soulful House CD full of killer gems! Ian D

LOL, you know me too well Sean! However, it always helps a born bullshitter if there's actually a REAL story! Ian D

To say nothing about Berry Gordy's personal archive which is currently in temperature-controlled storage in L.A...........! Ian D

If it carries on like this, there'll certainly be a documentary on the auction of the record as, in record collecting terms, it's without a doubt the biggest story of the year, if not the millenium. I think the only things which have come close over the last few years have been the Quarrymen acetate (with 3 of the Beatles) and the Velvet Underground album acetate (with different mixes). However, I think Frank Wilson has much more of a story and probably has a wider appeal since it's effectively been in the public domain for 30 odd years and has even been beamed into everyone's living room via the Kentucky Fried Chicken adverts from a few years back. Plus the tale of the record kinda has everything - skullduggery, bootlegging, thievery, a selection of the world's most rabid collectors, that 15K price tag and the record itself which is 100% prime Northern Soul on the ultimate label. What's not to like? Killer viewing as you say Andy! This one will run and run........ Ian D

I think there's a confidentiality clause involved and the identity of the seller is being protected for security reasons. I can understand it. I've heard many tales of rare doo-wop collectors being threatened at gunpoint for rare items and this would be a record that someone would target to nick if the sellers identity was in the public domain....... Ian D

I wish he would LOL! Fact is it happened waaay back in '75 I think but I do know those two records changed hands but there may have been cash involved as well possibly......? However, in the interests of fair play, it's only fair to point out that Arthur extracted his revenge 100 times over when he managed to unearth an incredible hit @ Monarch Pressing plant in L.A. in the late 70's! I'm still smarting from that 'cos I'd been there at least 20 times in '76 and never ever saw any room with the records he brought back (although that's where I found the Si Hightower T.P.)..... It's all swings and roundabouts Maria but there's a few folk on here who would love to hear about some of Arthur's finds over the years! Please give him my regards and hopefully I'll see him @ Prestatyn..... Ian D

You may not be far off the mark there Jules. There's still a few 'ifs', 'buts' and 'maybes' but if this is a pristine previously unknown 3rd copy which is mint with no warp and a clean label and the auction gets the amount of publicity it should warrant, then it will certainly be the most expensive Soul record ever auctioned. I think the general history of the record, it's undoubted popularity since the 1970's, the fact that it's always been the holy grail of most collectors and that it's the rarest of the rare Motown release on the year of Motown's 50th anniversary will all help. My guess is that there will be several top-end bidders and the price will soar and the winner will either be a well-healed Motown completist or a Soul loving Pop star with money aplenty! It'll almost certainly eclipse my copy of the Rodeo Rustlers - Crying In My Beer Over You on Buckin Bronco! Ian D

T-Shits are slightly more expensive than T-Shirts Bearsy! Also harder to produce to order....... Ian D

No, that's a BRILLIANT idea John! A FANTASTIC piece of Marketing genius right there mate! That alone could be worth the price of the winning bid in terms of incredible PR for the site and publicity for the auction itself. Face it, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and I think literally 100's of people would be encouraged to bid just to get the t-shirt (even if they only bid a few quid)! It could be the must-have fashion item for the year and I can see this getting dozens of column inches and exposure right across the media. Whoever came up with that deserves a medal. Seriously. So two questions:- 1) Can I do your PR? 2) Can I do your T-Shirts? If you play this properly, it could be the most widely covered auction story of the year and give Sotheby's some competition for a change. Also the publicity will be absolutely phenomenal in terms of marketing the new website which must be a major plus point. I'll certainly put a bid in on that basis, so order me a triple x large! This could play as a hugely unique once in a lifetime event and you have to market it as such. It's also perfect for those 1 minute 'feel good' slots at the end of the news and I guarantee that no one will be able to resist this story. Forget 77,000 vistors in January - this could bring 100 times that amount easily. Best of luck with it all mate - it's really a one-off opportunity which most of us will never see again in our lifetimes. Ian D

LOL, couldn't stomach that! Ian D

I'm sure Russ had an acetate of it supplied by the notorious Mr Soussan. Only the one known copy of it in the 70's and that went from Soussan to Les McCutcheon to Johnathan Woodliffe....... Ian D

Nope. White guy. I actually introduced Soussan to him in the first place when Motown very nearly signed Shalamar, so I guess it's indirectly my fault LOL...... The record is still technically the property of Motown Records but I guess the statute of limitations has run out by now. Ian D

My best ever trade was a copy of the Exception "You Always Hurt Me" for the first known copy of the Four Perfections "I'm Not Strong Enough" courtesy of Arthur Fenn when he came back from his first U.S. trip bless him! Ian D

Well, what an invigorating weekend it turned out to be! Friday night was spent getting loaded and listening to music all night which was sheer bliss, then Saturday down to Monumental Soul with Nelly, Niki, Girth, Mole and the good Shaun Robbins and the rest of the crew where I bumped into fellow Starpoint stalwart, Chris Box who I then dragged down to the Phoenix Bar in the West End for a mates birthday. One thing led to another and Chris ended crashing at my place and then co-hosted this week's ORIGINAL MASTERCUTS show which was FUN, FUN, FUN! Check it out - link and playlist below! We'll do another double-set of shows the next time Chris is in town for sure! Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show with Ian Dewhirst and guest Chris Box on Sunday 1st February 2009 on www.starpointradio.com. To download the show simply hit the link below! Or for this and all archived shows please pay a visit to www.sixmillionsteps.com where you can download the last 4 weeks worth of all Six Million Steps produced shows. That's 16 hours of free music over the last 4 weeks plus loads of new fully downloadable KILLER mixes in a variety of styles! So let's go with this week's show:- 1st Hour The Nightwriters - Let The Music (Move You) Yolanda Adams - Open Your Heart (Steve 'Silk' Hurley Spiritual Workout Mix) Titus - Don't Worry About Me Jimmy Ruffin - Tell Me What You Want (Tom Moulton Mix) Brenda Holloway/Steve Wonder - All I Do Is Think About You/All I Do Janice McClain - Giving My Love Halo - Let Me Do It Cheryl Hunter - It's Your Attitude Cameo - We're Going Out Tonight 2nd Hour The Supremes - Stoned Love (Long Version) Ed Summers - I Can Tell Tony & Tandy - Bitter With The Sweet Universal Mind - Reach Out For Me Main Ingredient - Work To Do Collins & Collins - You Know How To Make Me Feel Good Lenny Williams - Cause I Love You Millie Jackson - Loving Arms Judy Clay & William Bell - Private Number Zion Train - Rise Arnie's Love - I'm Out Of Your Life The Real Thing - Raining Through My Sunshine https://www.sixmillionsteps.com/6MS-...1-Starpoint.mp3 Thanks to all for listening! Best, Ian D

LOL, your welcome Mike. Thanks for the tip-off on the Stevie version. Funny that it's been on the shelf all that time and I never even heard it! The whole show is now posted so enjoy! Best, Ian D

Most of 'em eminating from Scorpio in New Jersey........ Ian D

Hey Mike, I went into my own archives, pulled out "That Girl" and hey presto "All I Do" (with abbreviated title) was there on the 'B' side. So I played it on today's show and gave you a shout mate! Good call! Ian D

No wonder he spends all his time in zoos these days LOL..... Ian D

Blimey, the Sunday Social club clocks up its 5th show of the year. Yep another ORIGINAL MASTERCUTS show beckons tomorrow afternoon LIVE between 2.00-4.00pm so please join us for another wonderful 2 hours of uplifting House & Garage, Soulful Disco, Irresistible 80's, Northern Soul, Modern Soul, Crossover Soul, Killer Slowies and Uplifting Gems and make it another Sunday afternoon to savour with what will undoubtedly be a horribly hung-over host LOL...... On www.starpointradio.com - the home of Soul on the internet of course! Also I'm threatening to be joined in the studio by fellow Starpoint DJ Chris Box who's in town this weekend, so join us and let's have a PAAAAARTY! Coming up tomorrow........ The Nightwriters, Yolanda Adams, Titus, Jimmy Ruffin, Janice McClain, Halo, Cheryl Hunter, Kleeer, Rome Jeffries, The Supremes, Ed Summers, Tony & Tandy, Universal Mind, The O'Jays, Main Ingredient, Collins & Collins, Lenny Williams, Millie Jackson, Judy Clay & William Bell, Zion Train, Arnie's Love & The Real Thing See you @ 2.00! Ian D

Wow. I didn't realise Stevie even did a version! I'll go check it now - might even be able to slip it in tomorrow.....along with some serious pant-wetters and wrist-slashers! Cheers Mike! Ian D

I take it condition won't be a factor then? With the best will in the world, Kenny must have played it a few hundred times on a variety of different decks so what condition does everone think it will be in? And will that be a factor or will the auction winner be buying it for it's historical value alone? Ian D

I swear he's probably still got it as well. Our Tim doesn't like to waste money on things like clothes LOL........he's not known as Tim "No Frills" Brown for nothing as anyone who has had the misfortune of being in that FREEZING rat-infested warehouse will confirm! Ian D

Well I did that as well Bearsy! I didn't need much encouragement. In fact whenever I got too low on funds that would propell me into a digging frenzy and usually I'd get a result.......and then go out to celebrate LOL..... Ian D

Working on it Patto. I just collated my stories from the Soussan and Greatest Record Finds threads and they come to 15,000 words just on those two. That's what I love about Soul Source -people jog my memory about certain incidents and then I get enthused and the stuff just pours out LOL... But there's a hell of a lot more which isn't Northern Soul related - the 80's & 90's, New York, Chicago, Ibiza, Serious Records, Island Records, Warner Bros, Mastercuts, drugs, sex, guns, gangsters, businesses, bankruptcy, marriage in Las Vegas, having a daughter etc, etc, so it won't be a quickie LOL.... I'm pretty capable of banging out sleeve notes and articles so a book would be a natural ambition. Thanks for your encouragement and everyone on Soul Source who have been supportive - it's pretty fullfilling to get the stories out there, so thanks for reading 'em! It'll be a motherf*cker of a book if I can get it all down LOL...... Ian D

Those were the days LOL..... I flogged you a few over the years I seem to remember......... Ian D