Ian Dewhirst

Hence my point earlier. The whittling down method means that your precious collection at least passes on to other fanatics. Sold my "Return Of The Moonglows" - The Moonglows RCA LP the other week to a collector in France who'd been looking for it for years! The fact that I'd only played it a couple of times in 40 odd years made the decision to pass it on easier, but the fact that I passed it on to a good, appreciative home somehow made the whole thing more emotionally rewarding. You see, I think all the records in my collection are blessed, so when I pass them on to a new, good owner, then they too become blessed with the magic of the record........ Well, that explanation fits my comfort zone! Ian D

There's never ever been a time when I haven't had copies of all my favorite records in some form or other. I held the top rarities of the time between the age of 16-21 when I was jocking and seriously collecting. I maintained several nucleus collections of decent originals from the age of 21-45. By 2000 I'd managed to accumalate pretty much everything I've ever owned or wanted on CD, so at the age of 45 I'd got several copies of most of my faves on vinyl 7"/LP/CD and Music Files, sometimes on U.S., U.K. and bootleg copies. All of which was a bit of a luxury and a pain in the ass to store. So I came to the decison that having shelves full of rare vinyl worth tens of thousands of pounds really didn't make a lot of sense for me personally. I had a wife, daughter, career and lifestyle which would hoover up any excessive cash and there were some other major priorities in my life. I also had to subsidise some other my other activities - e.g. launching Mastercuts, litigation on the Mastercuts name, launching a company, bankrolling the Salsoul reissue campaign etc, etc, so basically other priorities got in the way of my record collecting LOL... So in 2000 I made a decision to whittle down the excesses of my vinyl collection. And I'm still at it 8 years on. And having fun listening to 'em again before I make the decision as to whether I can justify keeping it on vinyl. If I did it would be 'cos it was a favorite or for sentimental reasons only. The fact is that my music collecting has become more about convenience of access rather than the way I used to collect, which was getting covered in cobwebs, rat shit and dust in the back of shop usually LOL. Plus you have to FILE records and keep the collection in order, which means countless hours spent re-filing stuff I'd pulled out 'cos I keep everything alphabetical by artist. It was like homework. Plus you have to pull the bugger off the shelves, pull the record out of the sleeve, put the record on a turntable, lift the stylus arm onto the record, listen to it, then lift it off the deck, put it back in the sleeve NEATLY and re-file the bugger back on the shelves ALPHABETICALLY. It was turning into a full-time job just keeping my records in order! I now have more music on tap then at any other point in my life. I'm surrounded by it and I have everything I want right now at my fingertips, which, is like IDEAL for me! But I'm whittling down for sure. By the time I'm 60 I should have REALLY whittled down to circa 5K vinyl, 10K CD's and 100K music files which I reckon will be more than enough to keep me happy. I'm actually saving the Miles Davis and John Coltane box-sets for old age when I'll finally have time to listen to 'em properly! So yes. Vinyl will drop in price, I have absolutely no doubt. I'm seeing it already. I actually left about 10 decent little US original items in a shop the other day because I couldn't be arsed carrying 'em! Stuff is turning up in all kinds of places. Lots of clear-outs going on - it's actually a good time to dig around I think. I can tell from what I'm selling at the moment that the market for lots of vinyl is wavering. The cheap stuff's not worth jack anymore and the rarities are still commanding a good price but only IF you can find the right buyer. We'd better recruit more young kids quickly and get some demand going for the 45's! I don't wanna see the Northern scene going the same way as 78rpm Rock N Roll.............. Ian D

Hey, another 19,999 Paup-ines and you could recoup! Ian D

I seem to remember you calling by my parent's place to see me just after I got back from the states in late 1976 (I played you the Shalamar acetate). I remember mentioning to my dear departed mum that you liked your food, so she whipped up her special Chicken & Mushroom flan which I think you devoured with relish. But I'm sure you were actually on the way to pick up a Dr Who episode from Carlisle or somewhere? The same single-mindedness was evident back then. It's a unique attribute which can often be a pain in the ass to a lot of people but I think you've always been pretty straightforward about your obsessions. I think you play by your own rules and refuse to get sidetracked by interference patterns, which a lot of people probably perceive as arrogance but I think it's because you don't like wasting time and prefer to get the job done. Which you have. Well done mate! I'm proud of you. If this brings about a re-evaluation of much of your work, that would be no bad thing. I independently found the J.J. Barnes "I've Seen The Light" and "Out Of My Mind" G.C. Cameron and played 'em both on the show before I knew they were your productions. Obviously there'll be plenty of gems in your catalogue that will re-emerge eventually. Speaking of which, how did the Sidney Barnes "Standing On Solid Ground" emerge? I hear it started naturally so I'm curious as to how that record evolved onto the Northern scene............ Ian D

Yep, a biggy @ The Mecca as well I'm pretty sure. I'm sure IL will concurr. It may have been a first-play there as I'm sure Dave Macaleer and IL were tight back then plus IL did the 'Solid Soul Sensations' Pye album for Pye, so there was definitely a conduit of some type.......... Ian D

OK, nice job Paul. Now can you get your finger out and locate Nosmo please? Ian D

Talking of which, Solomon King's version of "This Beautiful Day" is exactly the same recording as Levi Jackson's isn't it? I was never sure exactly what the story was there either.......... Ian D

And Ian Levine points out: "Maxine Nightingale was a whole year later, and Steven Jameson successfully sued Pierre Tubbs for about three quarters of the publishing". Blimey, I'll feeling less and less sorry for Nosmo! "Right Back Where We Started From" was a No.2 hit in the U.S. and featured in the Paul Newman film "Slap Shot" and would have made a mint....... Mmm. Nosmo King did OK out of Northern Soul it seems......... Cheers Ian. Ian D

God you're right Epic! A full year later in fact..... OK, that blows that theory out of the water then. So did Nosmo King in fact DESIGN the record for the Northern Soul scene then? Was it the first tailor-made? Ian D

Good point. It was a 'claimed' record as the original Nosmo King came and went on original release without a ripple. I think Dave Macaleer may have had something to do with it and maybe passed it to Levine and Russ - one of 'em effectively covered it as the Javells I think...... I think Jack Bollington from Derby was onto it quick as I seem to remember buying the original off him...... I don't think it was tailor-made per se. Probably used the template from Maxine Nightingdale as I alluded to earlier..... Ian D

And believe it or not, I never even got the connection until about 3 weeks after I got the record! I just thought that Nosmo was an interesting name....... Same thing happened when the "Batman" film came out - I never saw the bat in the logo - I just saw an open mouth with a few teeth in it...... Think I may have problems....... Confused from Carshalton

I was under the impression that you were exempt for some reason Simon? Any guy who can squeeze Uday Hussein into a thread deserves credit....... But the searing question is, how on earth did some guy called Nosmo King come up with such a blinding production? I just played it for the first time in 30 odd years and it's all there - great intro piano riff, pounding brass, swirling strings, pumping bassline, great singalong background vocals and a 4-4 stomping Northern beat. Only thing that let's it down is Nosmo's lead vocals LOL........... Ian D

Blimey. If his particular brand of comedy extended to coming up with a name like 'Nosmo King' I shudder to think what his live act is like! But how did he get the production so spot on 'cos the track was actually produced by him as well........? Reckon he may have heard "Right Back Where We Started From"...........? Ian D

I'll tell yer what though - "Goodbye Nothing To Say" was absolute magic as a new play and one of the biggest monsters at the time. Sounded brilliant over a huge system. I had a Nosmo King copy within two days of first hearing it. It was then covered as The Javells and then re-released as The Javells featuring Nosmo King before hitting No.26 in the charts in late '74. But I always thought Nosmo King got a raw deal. First of all he gets landed with a crap name and then booted off his own record! Very humiliating. He's probably in a retirement home right now pondering where it all went wrong......... But who was he? A mate of Micky Moonshine's no doubt.........? Ian D

Due to the overwhelming popularity of Micky Moonshine on SS, I thought it was high time we got to the bottom of another Northern Soul mystery vocalist..... Who is Nosmo King? I think we should be told. Coming soon: a detailed retrospective on the careers of Guy Darrell, Solomon King, Vince Edwards and Jack Hammer..... Ian D

Hah! Hoisted by his own petard! Well spotted Pete! Although you couldn't miss "Oh Lori" at the time 'cos it was played incessantly on the radio when Radio One had 15,000,000 listeners! Ian D

I think they may have all gone now John. I'll double check in the morning and let you know if I have one left, OK? No more enquiries folks....looks like they've all sold. Ian D

I reckon Mighty Joe Drake's got 'em all beat! Ian D

Don't need to mate 'cos you just did LOL! What's your commission by the way........? Naturally it's a KILLER book and trainspotter's delight otherwise I wouldn't be flogging the last of a dwindling stock on here! Whoops, there goes another. Thanks Tony! Only the last 2 or 3 left now and then that's it. Speak or forever lament to heaven........ Ian D

It is isn't it Toad. It's expensive but before this came out I had to use the discography in Sharon Davis's Motown Book from the 90's I think and I wore that out at the time, so this one is now a fixture on my shelves and DEAD handy for reference...... Essential for matrix freaks LOL... Ian D

Mmm. There seems to be a thirst for good Northern Soul reading material as the nights close in, so here's a hot-off-the-press new price guide and some other golden goodies I dug up......... Just In:- "The New & Improved Essential Northern Price Guide Edition 2" - Tim Brown & Martin Koppel (brand new just published - also includes a Bootleg Guide & over 25K records) - £30.00 (includes P&P). And: "The In Crowd" - Mike Ritson & Stuart Russell £20.00 + P&P "Casino" - Dave Shaw £10.00 + P&P "Guitars, Bars & Motown Superstars" - Dennis Coffey £15.00 + P&P Anyone who wants 'em should PM me. A good time to stock up on books methinks...... Ian D

5 sold in the last 24 hours! Only a handful left, so just letting everyone know as I won't have any more of these anytime soon! Best, Ian D

Is this the Jay-Boy one? If it is it'll outdo Ray Merrell at this rate...... Gonna raid a couple of places right now if it is....... Ian D

I stand corrected! Always got Pip Williams and Richard Hewson mixed up as they were around at the same time. There was a period in the early 70's where I'd automaticaly buy almost anything with either of their names on it........ Ian D

Yep, he was a fantastic arranger. I think he did Jigsaw's "Sky High" if my memory serves me properly and was really active in the early 70's. He did lots of UK proto disco stuff at around the same time as "Name It You Got It" (funny that this is also the top thread in the Record section). And did you ever hear Pip's arrangement on Mud's Disco track "Shake It Down"? Phenomenal. Even made Les sound good! Ian D