Ian Dewhirst

No I'm Harmless Steve......this is already getting confusing mate...... Ian D

Well, there's one I missed for a start! Too busy looking for running, jumping, winning, losing, etc, etc. I had a pretty long list but had to lose several of the more obvious ones due to licensing issues and not much time etc, etc.... Any more suggestions before I start seriously kicking myself......... Ian D

That's why I did the album Jordi. A lot of music researchers tend to go for the obvious via key word searches etc, so I thought I'd give 'em a hand with some stuff which doesn't turn up on the databases or Guiness Book Of Records...... Ian D

It was on the original track listing along with a load of others but we couldn't license it unfortunately..... Ian D

LOL, my stuff is in the best possible taste. Remember, just one synch deal from all this could make a heap of difference for the artists, writers or label owners. The real reason for doing this was to try and offer some different music to programmers everywhere as they'll probably all be looking for olympic or games related stuff to play over the next 7 weeks touch wood..... Ian D

Inspired! Blood, Soul, Sweat & Cheers - Harmless Album For The Olympics View full article

Unless you're an obsessive compulsive typa person, then don't get too hung up on the odd label markings. It's par for the course, especially for records which are 40-50 years old. You're lucky to even get a decent copy in many cases. Yes, of course we'd all love unblemished labels but I'm just being practical...... Ian D

You never know everything. It's just too vast. There's some records which I saw in the 70's that I haven't seen since. I hear stuff every week and think, how did I possibly miss that at the time. Also, through the course of several collections and a few bulk purchases over 45 odd years I've probably had 200,000 records through my hands. Dave Hill and Greg Belson's "Holy Spirit" album alone intoduced me to another 40 tunes I'd never heard before,as do many of the Ace/Kent, Numero, Grapevine and other releases these days. And I'm still finding fantastic records on my shelves which I'd maybe only played once 30 years ago. Or I'll check an LP out and there'll be a brilliant track which I'd dismissed or never heard before. It's endless............ Ian D

Yep he was smart for sure. Those two records built the foundations of the whole company when you think about it. Plus the royalties from "Reet Petite" probably didn't hurt either......... Ian D

Absolutely. Trying to press and distribute a million records in a few weeks would be a cash-flow nightmare..... Ian D

Hi Greg and welcome back to the UK mate. Hopefully we'll meet up next week. I had to close my Harmless Olympics album this week so it's been a bit mad but all done now, so hopefully we'll hook up next week. Plus my radio guy is lining up interviews which is a good sign. I'm absolutely knocked out with the reaction to what is essentially a double CD of 50 year old Gospel music. We haven't had a lot of time to promote this but luckily we've stoked it enough to put it on the map. It demonstrates that there is an audience out there for great music if you can reach them (which is the half the battle these days). Right now it's the 1449th best-selling album on Amazon, which is amazing considering the content. It's looking pretty good for Monday! https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007O3VO2Y/ref=s9_simh_bw_p15_d4_g15_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-4&pf_rd_r=0KRTB1ENGJA74X0RWM5T&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=234852867&pf_rd_i=229816 Ian D

Yep, especially when you see a playlist. Ian D

Yeah but in a way you've just emphasized why playlists are important. There's a wide swathe of music out there and playlists help you figure out what kind of stuff different people play. Obviously when you go out you may personally want million mile an hour pumping adrenalin fueled stompers which is fine and exactly what I want too when I'm in that kind of mood. But other times I may fancy hearing more sophisticated, smoother stuff. Sometimes I fancy hearing some funkier edged stuff or a crossover set. It all depends on my mood. That's why I like playlists. I can make evaluated decisions about who and what I want to listen to and choose accordingly. Playlists spread the appeal of the music as well. Putting a playlist up and then other folk copying some of your selections basically 'breaks' records to the wider scene and you'll generally get the credit for pushing the record first hopefully. People keep moaning about how the 'real' rare soul venues are losing attendances and how the audiences are dwindling at these venues and I think I can understand why. If the rare scene becomes too exclusive and up it's own arse it'll end up with a room full of well-meaning chin-strokers and no crowd or atmosphere if it's not careful. Plus of course, these days everyone's a DJ which means that the scene is diluted with too many DJ's who are really collectors at heart. That's why playlists are good. A quick glance at a playlist will give you a good idea of whether you want to spend an hour of your life listening to a particular DJ or not surely? Go on! Give us a playlist Tezza! Ian D

It's interesting how a major hit can kill an indie isn't it? I've often had old time American record guys tell me exactly the same thing. "Tell It Like It Is" sold a million and the company went bust. The company was probably ticking over just fine in the New Orleans and Southern markets but suddenly having to press 1,000,000 45's and distribute them across the USA in 1967 must have been a step too far. One record veteran told me that you always have to have the next hot record ready to go otherwise the distributors will try and stiff you on the current hit. They certainly didn't press many G. Davis & R. Tyler's did they..........? Ian D

Another beautiful finished package with a lovely booklet..... Out this Monday! Zooming up the Amazon rankings as we speak! https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007O3VO2Y/ref=s9_simh_bw_p15_d4_g15_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-4&pf_rd_r=0KRTB1ENGJA74X0RWM5T&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=234852867&pf_rd_i=229816 Plus a few Radio plays happening...... Radio Craig Charles - BBC 6 Music : Play Confirmed Jazzie B - BBC Radio London 94.9 FM / Solar R adio : Play Confirmed Mark Dean - BBC Radio Northampton/ Inspiration FM : Play Confirmed Jim Ingham - BBC Radio Lancashire : Play Confirmed Steve Barker - BBC Radio Lancashire : Play Confirmed Devon Daley - BBC Radio Derby / Nottingham & Lincoln : Play Confirmed John Leech - BBC Radio Essex / Time 107. 5 FM : Play Confirmed Paul Miller - BBC Radio Solent / Surrey, Sussex & Berkshire : Play Confirmed Steve White - BBC Radio Yorkshire : Play Confirmed Robert Luis - Juice 107.2 FM : Play Confirmed Peter P - Time 107.5 FM : Play Confirmed Simon Harrison - Basic Soul : Play Confirmed Ross Allen- Ministry Of Sound Radio : Play & Interview Feature Confirmed Mike Bradshaw - Totally Radio : Play Confirmed Dave Burton - Soulconnextion : Play Confirmed + Album Playlisted DK (Coldcut) - Various Stations : Play Confirmed Laurent Garnier - Pedro's Broadcasting Basement/Various : Play Confirmed Aitch B - Colourful Radio : Play Confirmed Marcia Carr - Colourful Radio : Play Confirmed Fitzroy The Buzzboy - Colourful/Stomp Radio : Play Confirmed Andy Peebles - Smooth Radio : Play Confirmed Keith Martin - Magic Network : Play & Interview Feature Confirmed Christian Bragg - Jazz FM : Play Confirmed Robbie Vincent - Jazz FM : Play Confirmed Peter Young - Jazz FM : Play Confirmed Mike Chadwick - Jazz FM : Play Confirmed Colin Curtis - Starpoint Radio : Play Confirmed Dave Needham - Starpoint Radio : Play Confirmed Gary Spence - Solar Radio : Play & Interview Feature Confirmed Kev Roberts - Solar/Signal Radio : Play Confirmed Colin Faver - Solar Radio : Play Confirmed Mark Phillips - Solar Radio : Play Confirmed Mario Chrisostomou - BFBS Radio : Play & Interview Feature Confirmed Graeme Park - Various : Play & Online Competition Confirmed Brian Hurst - Various : Play Confirmed Press Forthcoming - press (reviews) Mojo Uncut Wire Record Collector Shindig! Echoes The Soul Survivors Online: https://www.uncut.co.uk/blog/wild-mercury-sound/the-23rd-uncut-playlist-of-2012 https://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/reviews/1781-various-holy-spirit-harmless.html Looking good for Monday! Ian D

Yep. 'Fraid so. I was trawling Paul Schofield's collection at the time and this appeared out of the blue. I wasn't even over keen on the original but, hey, there was nothing much else popping up at the time......... ....you can put Al De Lory's "Right On" in a similar catergory..... Lenny Curtis was pretty cool though, although everyone wrote it off as being too dated at the time........ Ian D

Yeah but that's the thing about playlists. You nail your balls to the floor and people can make their own minds up about your taste and whether it may appeal to them or not. It's a pretty democratic process. To come out guns blazing and having a go at someone who's been bold enough to release their playlist, without you releasing your own, is kinda one-sided and too easy in my opinion. You seem to want to denigrate other people's musical tastes without revealing your own preferences. So, in a perfect one hour DJ spot what would you play mate? If I knew your personal favoured playlist, I'd then be able to gauge your personal taste and then put your thoughts into context regarding other people's playlists. Does that make sense? Ian D

The thing I like about playlists, is that people are prepared to put their balls on the line by printing what they play. I ALWAYS check playlists, mainly out of general interest to see what's cooking for certain crowds but also radio-wise it's always interesting. I always release my radio playlists. If nothing else, it's a handy archive as to what I've played over the years and always accurately dated, so it's like a personal musical diary. But to hark back to some earlier posts on this thread, in my younger years (early 70's) playlists were incredibly exciting and, in my opinion, provided a lot of mystique to the scene. The Glories, the Sweets, the Tempos, the Tartans, Bob Relf, Moses Smith, the Wingate Love-In Strings, Bobby Treetop, Duke Browner...? Who were these people and why were people putting 'em in their ads? It suggested a scene that celebrated something different to the norm and it hooked me from the age of about 15 years old in 1970. Playlists gave me a major thirst to obtain more knowledge because I didn't recognise any of the records. Playlists were a huge part of attracting me to the scene. So I think they're cool. Ian D

That's a great idea. I'm looking for some new areas for Backbeats and that could be a feasible one couldn't it? I'll give it some thought when I can squeeze a moment. I wouldn't mind having a few decent beach music comps myself......... Good thinking Soulfinger! Ian D

Coming up LIVE @ 2.00pm. Join us LIVE in the Starpoint chatroom on the homepage www.starpointradio.com. Hope you can make it! Ian D

Good 'cos I hate the Spooky & Sue version LOL. She's actually off key throughout the record. The Moments original for me every time - one of the truly great early Modern Soul anthems in my opinion...... Ian D

Hey, I'm back for 3rd time in 4 weeks and looking forward to this one! Try and join me in the Starpoint chatroom along with the Sunday afternoon regulars for the usual odyssey through the eras. Some cracking stuff this week! Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 17th June 2012 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring...... Stevie Wonder * Black Sun * Wipe The Needle feat C.T. Martin * Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce & Jaimie Foxx * Heaven & Earth * Rene & Angela * Glenn Jones * Bettye Swan * The Steve Karmen Big Band feat Jimmy Radcliffe * N.F. Porter * The Rance Allen Group * Jackie Beavers * The Ghetto Children * Al Mason * Sandra Wright * BPM Generation * The Controllers * Judy Clay & William Bell * The Real Thing * O.C. Smith * Des'Ree See you @ 2.00pm LIVE! Ian D

It's good to know that you're in-tune with the current parlous state of record companies. These days the artists feel so sorry for us that they usually invite us out for a meal LOL... As it happens I've got a great 'lil private place around the corner that's full of impoverished actors and ex record company execs where you can get a full home-cooked Italian meal for under a tenner including drinks so lemme know when you're next in town... Ian D

Most of it was new to me Mike. When I was digging around Jewel/Paula/Ronn in the 70's most of it was too 'raw' for me apart from the Montclairs, Tommie Young, Bobby Walls & Co and a few others. So I never even bothered with the Gospel output. So hearing this compilation has been a bit of a revelation. I never realised that Leroy Hutson and George Clinton were so involved with Gospel for a start. Some very interesting stuff on here. Dave and Greg did a superlative job compiling this. To think I've been sat on this repertoire for the last couple of years without realising the wealth of the catalogue is just embarassing LOL. Some really good input is coming in from a variety of sources on this and I think we'll score some serious radio plays in the next week or two, so it'll be interesting to see whether there's an appetite for this release. You're never too old to learn ay? Ian D