Ian Dewhirst

Unbelievable thread! Brilliant. The level of knowledge is A.1. I worked for 'em in the 70's but it's ridiculous how many of the distributed U.S. labels got lost. I once had access to the U.S. London/Decca distributed library at Albert Embankment for about an hour. Naturally I concentrated on Northern and managed to bypass much of the above....... And now it hurts LOL......... Ian D

Well, there lies the question. I think so. Stafford should be enshrined as being the venue which provided the Northern Soul scene a much-needed shot of adrenalin when it was dying on it's arse! Suddenly there was a buzz again. And the word was Stafford. To my everlasting regret I never managed to make it because I was embedded in other things at the time. Plus too many friggin' beat ballads for my liking LOL.... But I think it could be argued that Stafford was responsible for keeping the scene alive at a crucial time. Hence my thinking that this era should be documented as comprehensively as the 60's and 70's. It's not the fact that the 80's venues may not have been as well-populated as the 70's venues (when they were at the height of Northern Soul overload) but the fact that such venues were there AT ALL! The Northern Soul mystique of why certain things happened at certain times..... So don't be shy Dave. Stafford was an era-defining club which re-invented the scene, even though it kills me to say it LOL..... The Northern Soul Story series works on the same premise as my Mastercuts series. If people have a nice time with the first four releases, then they'll be much more inclined to try further releases which have the same passion and quality control. So let's do a Stafford volume in the Northern Soul Story. Might as well get it right so that future generations don't get misdirected! Ian D X

Could be very true. I did a CD series earlier this year for Sony-BMG which covered the Northern Scene from the 60's up to the mid 70's - The Twisted Wheel, The Golden Torch, Blackpool Mecca and Wigan Casino. They're 4 bang-up albums, I'm very proud of 'em, they reflect my experience of the time and they've been very successful. In fact, you can pick 'em up @ an Asda, Tesco, Woolies or Morrisons's near you if Sony-BMG have their shit together LOL...... Because these worked really nicely and Sony-BMG seem pretty enthusiastic about more releases, this could be the time to look at the late 70's onwards. I was thinking of doing a couple of catch-all volumes covering Sony-BMG's rare and unbootlegged Northern discoveries from 1980 - present (which is already quite progressed from a reliable collector) and likewise with the Modern stuff (haven't started yet but looking forward to it). But then I started thinking how about 4 more influential clubs from the late 70's onwards? And I like doing 'em in groups of 4, like the last lot. So how about a Stafford one and a Canal, Thorne one? Dave can compile and do sleeve notes on the Stafford one and Arthur, Sam and Rod can do the Thorne one? And how about a 100 Club one with Ady doing the honours and a Yate one in a similar vein? That'll make a nice 4 album plot for Sony-BMG, which luckily, will be available at a local store near to the people who were there at the time. So if Dave's up for it, we could have a Stafford album out for mid next year. I think it would 'legitimise' the key venues of the 80's and dovetail nicely with the 60's and 70's volumes. And I'd really like to produce another 4 albums in "The Northern Story" series which cover the post 1978 era. It supplies a lovely legacy of a great era, it'll be available forever and the people who should be doing it will actually be doing it. And the way the music biz is going I'd rather get 'em out quick. The quicker the better IMHO.... So any views here on SS? We're talking a Stafford, a Thorne, a 100 Club and a Yate. Would that be a fair cross-section of the late 70's to the end of the 80's? And is there enough in the combined archives of the Sony-BMG empire to provide 4 strong albums? And will it sell as successfully as the 60's and 70's volumes LOL.....? Questions, questions........ So gimme a call Dave and let's have a natter! Best, Ian D

Yep, It's actually Alan Champ's dad, the late Des Champ who produced it. He's away for the weekend but I'll get him to do it early next week OK? Best, Ian D

Brilliant. Good for them. They always stay true to their interest and it's easily one of the best-stocked Soul stores in the UK. Good blokes and great little catalogue too. Also the record shop is a dying breed these days, so support the remaining ones ay? We may never have it so good again........ Ian D

Blimey. I didn't think anything could be much worse than the Al Wilson version but this is some of the cheesiest singing I've ever heard LOL........ Ian D

Hi Karlos, Try these out: The Whole Town's Talking - Blly Paul Got To Get You Back - The Sons Of Robin Stone Once You Hit The Road - Dionne Warwick Hooked For Life - The Trammps Plus the others recommended above. A good starting point would be "Creme De La Creme" Vols I & 2 on Warner Music:- Creme De La Creme 1 One of the best compilations of 70s soul you'll ever buy -- a treasure trove of tracks from mid 70s Atlantic and Warner Brothers Records -- all recorded in the mighty soul capitol of Philly! The set does a great job of combining hit singles with a load of lesser-known Philly gems -- tunes recorded as singles or obscure album tracks by artists who were working in the same Sigma scene as the bigger acts on Atlantic, but who never managed to crack the charts as much. The whole thing's great -- a smooth-grooving midtempo batch of tracks that never fails to please -- and honestly, if we had to dig through thousands of old records to produce such a set, we're not sure we could do a better job! Titles include "One More Time" by Dianne Steinberg, "Let's Get Together Now" by The Aristocrats, "Love Won't Let Me Wait" and "Loving You Is Mellow" by Major Harris, "Kiss My Love Goodbye" by Bettye Swann, "Welcome To The Club" by Blue Magic, "That's Where I'm Coming From" by True Reflection, "Save Your Love For Me" by Vivian Reed, "You Call Me Back" by Clyde Brown, ""I Got A Feeling" by First Choice, "Gonna Make You Mine" by Anglo Saxon Brown, "Got To Get You Together Now" by Sons Of Robin Stone, "Can We Come Together" by The Trammps, and "Once You Hit The Road" by Dionne Warwick. Creme De La Creme 2 Sublime soul from 70s Philly -- not just the hits, but a great range of lesser-known gems as well! The set follows strongly on the first volume of the series, but goes even deeper -- and presents a range of rare singles here for the first time on CD, and a few more previously unissued numbers -- alongside a well-chosen batch of overlooked album tracks from the 70s catalogs of Warner, Atlantic, and related labels who all worked often on the prime Philly scene. There's a wide Sigma Sound groove that runs deeply through the set -- a magnificent blend of tight rhythms and smooth instrumentation, mostly cut in the pre-disco years and applied to vocals from a range of excellent male and female singers! Titles include "Look Me Up" by Blue Magic, "Action Speaks Louder Than Words" by Terry Collins, "Happy Man (part 1)" by Impact, "When The Game Is Played On You" by Bettye Swann, "Each Morning I Wake Up" by Major Harris, "No Danger Ahead" by Ben E King, "What A Man" by Jackie Moore, "Mama Never Told Me (Tom Moulton rmx)" by Sister Sledge, "Spinnin Top" by Movin Violation, "Loving You Is Mellow" by Aristocrats, "Are You Ready For Love" by Spinners, "That's The Way Love Should Feel" by Dee Dee Bridgewater, "You & Me" by Margie Joseph & Blue Magic, "Never Love Again" by Holly Maxwell, "Tired Of Being Alone" by Vivian Reed, and "Some Guys Have All The Luck" by The Persuaders. Includes 4 previously unreleased tracks! Best, Ian D

Oh! So that's where they went! Ian D

Incredible story LOL! Did someone on here actually sell the MVP's to Uday Hussein???? I can see it now - 20 dealers immediately pull-out 'sandstorm-damaged' copies of the MVP's and Supremes and claim they were smuggled out of Uday Hussein's 'personal collection'. The strange world of Northern Soul continues @ pace...... Ian D

That would be Mike Pickering ex Hacienda booker/jock, musician, T-Coy and M-People Founder and now A&R man at Sony-BMG. Says he went to the Casino. Also several M.People records are stunningly close to some soul gems e.g. "How Can I Love You More" is similar to "Where Do We Go From Here" - The Trammps and "One Night In Heaven" similar to "Highwire" - Linda Carr & The Love Squad IMHO.... Also, Stuart Maconie on Radio One has waxed lyrical about the Wigan Casino days in his book and I think he is actually from Wigan........... They're growing by the minute LOL....... Ian D

Haha LOL. Wasn't that the famous time Liam got busted on Oxford Street @ 8.00am in the morning with a packet of 'white powder' according to the tabloids? Ian D

Ah, well this could sort another answer from another thread out too then........ Hi Neil, Were the Crow a black band, multi-racial or a white rock act? Nobody seems too sure.........? Best, Ian PS I've been trying to ring you for several weeks now. Is all OK?

Steve Craddock from Ocean Colour Scene likes his Northern and let's not forget the lovely Corrine from Swing Out Sister if they qualify....... Ian D

I bumped into him in the loo at a launch party for a Northern Soul DVD and thought he was Eddie Piller from Acid Jazz..... There's an awful lot of people down here who claim to be into Northern and I'm sure they are to an extent but I'm also sure there's a lot of revisionism going on as well. I reckon Marc got into Northern in the very late 70's/early 80's - I don't think he went to the Casino although I think Dave Ball did. He only recorded "Tainted Love" after he heard me play it at a Q.Tips gig @ Leeds Warehouse in '81, so it's my fault LOL....... Ian D

Well, there's only two people who would know and that's Johnny and Colin! There was a lot of mystique in those days about the prices which were paid. No one wanted to overpay but, on the other hand, if you HAD to have a record then you'd really push the boat out. Also, I think this period was when the prices really started going nuts. I've think I've written about it elsewhere on here, but as an example, Bernie Wiliams went from £40 to £120 plus a World Column and Rosey Jones I believe totalling aprox £150. And that was over the period of a week! This was a bidding war between myself and Mr Manship which unfortunately Johnny won. One reason why I never decry some of the prices that Johnny gets these days, is because I can remember a time when he was happy to pay BIG prices for big records, so good luck to him some 32 years later I say! Ian D

Oi! Don't you besmerch my name by suggesting I'd pay double for something Ady! I'm a Yorkshireman and well-known for buying stuff for 20p which later would top £100 - a habit I've never managed to get out of LOL.... The "Cigarette Ashes" story was slightly before my time (I did buy it on Jay-Boy) but I heard the horror story which always made me double-careful when buying high-priced stuff in the future. I think the Robbie Lawson story is correct. Didn't Colin buy it off "Disco" Bob Catanneo from San Francisco? And the James Fountain story was definitely Johhny Manship. It was the most wanted record at the time and I think he bought it off Colin if my memory serves me well. I also thought the figure was nearer £500. Johnny was driving me nuts in those days 'cos he was targeting the same records as me and usually winning them - James Fountain, the Anderson Brothers and Bernie Williams to name a few. One of the reasons why I decided to go off to the States and find 'em myself LOL...I'm sure John will confirm the James Fountain story...... Best, Ian D

In the 70's there was a certain amount of derison for Soul Packs. It was thought that the only things which went in there were records which the seller had a few hundred copies of. So terms like 'it's a Soul Pack record' meant it was common and not that exciting at the time. Occasionally, someone would stumble into 'a Soul-Pack find' which were almost never taken seriously because there'd probably be hundreds of 'em..... But times change LOL.......The Innersection record was a 50p staple for years........ Ian D

Thanks Mark. In which I have it here - too many records, too many cd's............ Best, Ian D

I only ever heard this once or twice and I remember it as being 100mph stomping pure Northern Soul on some tiny L.A. label I think. Does anyone have an MP3 of it? Is it rare and was it ever played anywhere? Best, Ian D

Also there's a great million mile an hour poppy stomper called "It Ain't Gonna Happen To Me Again" by Paul Clemens on Playboy...... Ian D

Me neither! Used to be a £2 cheapie which was in everyone's box! Ian D

I'm Getting On Life - Wombat! Ian D

Hi Brian, Long time no see! Hope you're well mate and I guess the beard's grey now LOL! Best, Ian "Frank" Dewhirst

Do The Pearl Girl - Matta Baby Broadway Sissy - Roscoe & Co Ton Of Dynamite - Frankie 'Loveman' Crocker Wrong Crowd - Prince George Ian D