Ian Dewhirst

Nah, certainly wasn't Wigan at it's height by that point. Too much Soussan Mirwood stuff in there, made for the scene stuff like Tommy Hunt and serious dodgies like Biddu, Flower Shoppe etc. I was always biased towards Richard in terms of what he played to be honest and I'm not sure if this really reflects too much of Richard's taste here LOL.... Probably made more for the promo dept @ Spark Records methinks........ Ian D

Dusty did a version?????? Wow, I've got to hear that - I'm looking for it now....... I LOVE this song. I vaguely remember 'em playing this on Top Of The Pops and me being a bit sniffy at the time 'cos it was a Tony Macaulay UK produced hit but, now I'm hearing it some 38 years later, it just sounds fantastic. Johnny Johnson definitely got shortchanged on the N.S. scene. To have made a record like "Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache" and 'overshot' the scene is unfortunate but to have made another killer like "Sweet Inspiration" and overshot the scene again is just plain bad luck. But at least we're agreeing on this one Tony! BTW I'm having an audit of my U.S. 45's shortly and I know there'll be some stuff you'll want in there I think so I'll let you what's going shortly... Best, Ian D

Correctomundo Blake! Could there be any other use for such a fabulous recall of such minor details in the footnotes of music history LOL? Best, Ian D

OK, I know this was a Top 10 UK hit record in July 1970 but I listened to it again recently and I simply cannot find any flaws in it at all. A fantastic song, great pounding Northern production and Johnny singing his heart out. If this was on a tiny Alabama label by an unknown act surely it would be huge wouldn't it? Fairly easy to find and a fabulous feel good record with an irresistible hook but could it ever be played or is it considered too pop/available? Ian D

It's funny how things come around. I actually 'worked' this record when it came out as I used to be a plugger for Decca at the time. I HATED it then. I think the only person who played it back then was Chris Hill. Always a bit obviously commercial for my tastes at the time 'cos it was used in the perfume ad. Also, having been such a fan of "Come Back", it just didn't appeal to me at all. Ian D

Now THAT is exactly the right attitude! More power to ya Rob. Sounds like fun - I'll try and get along one night..... Ian D

Nothing Can Compare To You" - Any Winehouse Ian D

Yeah but I'm a romanticist Tony! And you're right, it was a stretch to compare the Isleys to Duffy LOL but I honestly think that the conditions for spreading Northern Soul to a new audience are better now that almost any time in the past 20 years. The general public's affinity seems to be spreading to 60's retro big productions with songs of torture and pain and they're buying it droves via Amy and Duffy. Pastiches they may be but to me they're opening up new audiences for the possible appreciation of Northern Soul to a wider market. Also when I see the sheer size of the Northern Soul section in the Oxford St Zavvi in the centre of London, it tells me that they must be stocking it for a reason. And this is just so much better than the Wigan's Ovation period in the 70's. At least these are bonafide artists with original songs who are making 60's type productions hip again. If Amy did a cover of "Nothing Can Compare To You" that'd sure shorten the canyon LOL... Ian D

Yep, good read. Bought in on Saturday night and read it over the rest of the weekend whilst dodging between different rooms, 90mph gales and my chalet crashpad @ Prestatyn..... I actually thought it was about searching for rare records in the U.S. - probably the boxful of rare 45's as the pic cover and "Searching For Soul" as a title had something to do with it, so an effective title and jacket design LOL.... So more power to Reg for getting a book done at all in this day and age. A lifetime of passion for soul is always an inspiring read! Ian D

I wouldn't go that far Tony. The Isley Brothers had a hit with "This Old Heart Of Mine" before they found another musical wagon to hitch their stars to, but it got me and my mates into Motown and then Northern. Plus the fact that Amy Winehouse has had the biggest selling album of the last 15 months with a real 60's sensibility and Duffy's been No1 for the last 2 weeks with the UK's biggest-selling single with a real 60's sensibility, I think is pointing out that people like the sound. So, I don't think it's a quantum leap but a very logical assumption that people may well eventually delve into the deeper stuff. That's generally what happens in my experience. We should be encouraging it and broadening their listening experiences and if that means encouraging Zavvi to stock up on their Northern Soul back-cat then surely that's a good thing innit? I just went to the old megastore yesterday and shock horror, the Northern Soul section was MASSIVE plus they took the back cover of Q to advertise it! Plenty of your stuff in there too. However, unfortunately, I do in fact go to Specsavers these days, so you could be right LOL..... Ian D

Haha LOL. Yes, as a matter of fact they were. Very enthusiastic young hoorays they were too. Very up for just about anything and refreshing to play to. They loved Willie Tee and insisted I play it again to round off the set. The innocence of youth....... Ian D

And let's not forget the ultimate vibe instrumental "California Montage" - Young Holt Unlimited! Ian D

Ha. Serves you right LOL..... I think the difference between when many of us got into Northern, was that the age gap wasn't so huge. The people who went to the Wheel were only a few years older so it was still very much a cool youth thing back then. Whereas, now the age differential is 20-30+ years. I go to some gigs where the kids really dress-up and dance to lots of R'n'B and Rock N' Roll and the energy is great - the last one I went to was Gaz's Rocking Blues in Wardour Street and it was GREAT, GREAT, GREAT! So much energy and enthusiam. The first all-nighter at the Rocket in London was a good example of plenty of new kids (around 1500 I think) coming along but the atmosphere dropped appreciably because of the music policy IMO. That was an opportunity missed. I've played a couple of Motown/60's nights to a none Northern crowd which were great. It's a question of getting the balance right as always..... Ian D

Do you work for a publisher Paul? It's difficult to keep up with people these days Lol..... I agree with your take on the 'retro' thing which was more Amy vocal stylings and Mark Ronson's production which took in a number of disparate 50's and 60's influences. I dunno about Duffy though. It seems to me that they were always going the Northern Soul route. I think Bernard Butler must have listened to a lot of Northern throughout the years, as he seems to go for 'big' arrangements with orchestras plus they did recruit the dancers from here (Soul Source Forum) for the video last year, so someone, somewhere, had a game-plan I reckon..... It's fantastic that it's No.1. I think this whole thing is like a breath of fresh air and can only be good for the scene if the kids aren't put off by the oldsters and maybe some entrenched attitudes. I think it would be nice for a wider age range to discover the beauty of Northern Soul for themselves. Could have done with a few more youngsters at Prestatyn for sure, not that I'm complaining or anything but it's always nice to see kids getting a taste for it....... Who didja get the covers of !If I Could Only Be Sure" with? Best, Ian D

Do you work for a publisher Paul? It's difficult to keep up with people these days Lol..... I agree with your take on the 'retro' thing which was more Amy vocal stylings and Mark Ronson's production which took in a number of disparate 50's and 60's influences. I dunno about Duffy though. It seems to me that they were always going the Northern Soul route. I think Bernard Butler must have listened to a lot of Northern throughout the years, as he seems to go for 'big' arrangements with orchestras plus they did recruit the dancers from here (Soul Source Forum) for the video last year, so someone, somewhere, had a game-plan I reckon..... It's fantastic that it's No.1. I think this whole thing is like a breath of fresh air and can only be good for the scene if the kids aren't put off by the oldsters and maybe some entrenched attitudes. I think it would be nice for a wider age range to discover the beauty of Northern Soul for themselves. Could have done with a few more youngsters at Prestatyn for sure, not that I'm complaining or anything but it's always nice to see kids getting a taste for it....... Who didja get the covers of !If I Could Only Be Sure" with? Best, Ian D

But presumably there'll be a percentage of kids which will pick up on the elements they're hearing and want to investigate further? I can imagine a few kids will keep reading about the Duffy/Dusty Springfield influence, then check out Dusty (like my 14 year old daughter has), hear Dusty sing "Bring Him Back" or "What's It Gonna Be" a couple of times and then get a thirst to hear even deeper stuff. That's how we all started off isn't it? And I don't how anyone could hear Amy's magnificent "Tears Dry On Their Own" and not want to hear some vintage era Motown as well. I think it can only be good for the long-term health of the scene. It's not a massive jump from "Mercy" to "Nothing Can Compare To You" IMHO..... And there should be some youngsters coming through. They'll inject some new energy into the scene and dance faster LOL...... Ian D

Not all of us Ady! I seem to remember spending most of my time in the bar trading records! But I know what you mean - it did get a bit political at times LOL..... Ian D

Another biggie for me at the same time of "Being Without You" - Maurice Williams, "Ton Of Dynamite" - Frankie Crocker, "Do The Pearl Girl" - Matta Baby, "Philly Dog Around The World" - Jimmy Raye etc, etc. It was very much uptempo r'n'b but it worked nicely at the time and kind of fitted with the other tracks which were breaking through back then. The diversity of stuff which was played was very wide at the time. Ian D

Hi Steve, "Do The Pearl Girl" was one of my biggies at the time. First heard it at the Mecca as per many things in those days and then got my copy and blasted it at the Central, Samanthas, Cleethorpes and Wigan. "The Gig" was pretty much Cleethorpes all the way. Best, Ian D

Couldn't agree more Tony. But the other problem is that people just aren't buying singles anymore and even the CD album is now vulnerable - I think it's got another year at the most. Basically sales have dropped off a cliff, paid download income isn't compensating for the loss in sales and everyone's swapping their music for free, so the market's being obliterated. Also, the business still isn't helping itself much either. The afformentioned majors are still charging 1995 prices even though the market's massively shrunk. It's grim out here...... Ian D

Just caught this thread and couldn't agree more! The standard of songwriting and production just ain't wot it used to be. It comes to something when the best recorded song I heard last year was Amy's "Tears Dry On Their Own" (co-incidentally an Ashford/Simpson co-write LOL) rather than the plethora of new releases I get every week! I'm currently compiling a large amount of albums covering the 60's-80's and the embarassment of riches is truly unbelievable. We never had it so good and we should be thankful it happened in our lifetime. Best, Ian D

Wow. Could be big in Brighouse LOL. The leader of the The Brighouse & Rastrick Band was one Roy Newsome who used to be my Music Teacher @ Mirfield Grammar. How's that for six degrees of separation? Ian D

I bumped into quite a few U.S. collectors in '76 who started with Doo-Wop and evolved into Group Harmony's and then Soul as a natural progression. I've long forgotten the names (other than the Val Shively) but there was one guy who lived in Long Beach called Darryl who had an amazing collection with records in there I've never seen since. Shame the bugger wouldn't let anything go LOL..... Ian D

LOL! Hilarious Imberman! You're in the wrong business mate. Made me laugh out loud again - almost as good as your "they'll get us down to London and bum us" off the Duffy Video thread. Ian D

Listen again Steve. Those are real strings, real brass and real keyboards. The stuff he did in the 70's featured the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and players like Patrick Adams and Stan Lucas - long before synths came into play. You may not like the songs but these are all real instruments unless my ears are deceiving me............ Best, Ian D