Amsterdam Russ

Wow, now it gets messy - a menage a trois!

There is an 'answer' record to this song - "You don't want me no more" by Queen Esther on Guest records. It starts off in the same way, with the telephone ringing, but we hear the conversation from woman's side... "You don't want me no more?" asks Queen Esther. "Listen, used-to-be poppa..." It's a cracking R&B number with an equally good flip! Aha - just found the flip "Take it easy baby" on Refosoul (although the artist's name is spelt incorrectly) Queen Ester - Take it easy baby -

Found this photo online late last night of The Enchanting Enchanters aka The Enchanters on Atco (but for the life of me can't remember this morning where I found it!) Obviously not the same group, so the mystery continues...

All male band, are they not?

How'd you get a scan of my photo? That is indeed the very same one I have in my collection! On the back it says "The Enchanters" [plural] - and gives the date of 6/65. Ah, yes - I take it you must have pulled the scan from eBay when it was up there recently.

According to scribble on the front and back of this publicity photo from 1966, the group is The Enchanters. However, I have doubts that this is the group that supported Garnett Mimms and later recorded on Loma. The original line-up consisted of Zola Pearnell, Charles Boyer & Sam Bell, but the photo shows a quartet with two female members. Do you know who this group is or who any of the members are?

The quality of the acetate itself, which is single-sided, is very good indeed. The sound reproduction is even better - it's loud, crisp and clear, so I doubt that it's been dubbed off another 45. Having had a look now, I've seen a few images on the web of a similar LTS label design. These though seem to be for contemporary and legitimate 1970s releases. Might this have been mooted for a 're-release', exactly as so many other 60s soul 45s were during the commercial height of the Northern scene in the 70s?

Finally got round to doing a scan of it. An acetate cut for a djing?

Thanks, Pete. Thought for some reason that it came out on UK Sue, but couldn't see it in the discography. I have an acetate of it, but think it's a carver from the 70s. The label on it says LTS.

Did Sylvia Robbins - 'Don't let your eyes get bigger than your heart' get a UK release? If so, what'd the going rate for one? Ta...

Not on the Northern Soul scene Flynny, where the obsession to find the rarest of the rare and to own the one that no one else has are the driving forces for many. I'd say that the listings and descriptions do a very good job in targeting and appealing to the more darkly compulsive collectors who furtively lurk in the less-trodden corners of record shops desperately searching for... the one 45 to rule them all...

Loz Doyle at 'Sleeve It Out' (I kid you not) specialises in sleeves of all sizes and varieties. He was recommended to me some time ago by a record shop owner in the South of England I've known for years. When he gave me his details it turned out I'd bought from the guy at the Utrecht Record Fair before. Does nice record boxes too, and is always happy to give good deals on bulk buys . You know he's a good source when you see that a few of us 'over here' are going around with the same record boxes! Not bought from him in about a year though, but presume he's still doing business. I'll be looking to buy more sleeves and maybe another record box from him when he comes back over for the next record fair. Top marks all round Tel: 01634 578251 Email: lozdoyle17@hotmail.co.uk

It's a bit of advertising for the record shop...

Two on the Loma label feature Spector on the writing credits. There's Brenda Hall's version of The Ronette's unreleased 'Soldier Baby of Mine', which is pure Spector pop. The second one is this little underrated gem from Artie Lewis... artie lewis - ain't no good -

According to the caption it's Richard E. Stamz, who apparently unleashed his autobiography on the world earlier this year. The caption also stated that the image comes from Stamz's own collection. Well, rather than me tell you, why not find it all out for yourself. Here's the link... Book: Give 'em Soul, Richard! Might have to add that book to my Xmas list...

Another one...

I used to make mini crop circles in the living room shag pile practising the spins. That always got me found out until I learned how to cover my tracks!

Informative, impressive, compelling and inspired! A marvellous job for which I take my hat off to you!

Likewise, no axe to grind here. I don't even have an axe as I didn't go to the Casino. I agree with the point wholeheartedly. If you asked, let's call them Bob, Fred and Sally - all of whom went to the Casino at the same time, but did not know one another - to describe what went on and what they saw, you'd get three completely different versions of events. It's the same with anything in life where witnesses are called to give their perspective on events. One person's experiences and interpretations will be different to another's: there is no 'definitive' version of events and people should not look for one. From what I've read from his own pen, Tim Brown is a competent writer. So, as long as he has a good editor to call upon, the book should be a stirling read. Will look forward to it.

Spot on. I've a number of books about ancient Egypt, yet not one of them has been written by an ancient Egyptian!

I recall seeing Boy George's brother there a few times. Had no idea who he was. People would just point him out and say "That's Boy George's brother"! Must have been quite upsetting for him! The point is though that bars are opening up all the time, so why not one with Northern Soul as a major influence. Sod catering for the Northern Soul crowd though, you couldn't expect to make a living out of them because they'd just be griping all the time about the price of beer, the toilets, the music policy, or whatever. On top of that you'd have factions; some who'd sit on the left of the bar, and others who'd only sit on the right. Market it to tourists domestically and internationally - to the Japanese, for example - and maybe you could do quite well. Play all the endless Wigan video clips morning, noon and night, have some Northern SDoul dance classes (much in the same way as 50s clubs have been teaching people to Lindy hop, etc, for years), have a rack of CD's, reissue vinyl and books on the subject (sponsored by Ace or Kent, obviously). Don't forget the Wigan T-shirts or T-shirts with any sort of Northern Soul-associated logo on it, and away you go! Beyond that, have live soul nights, with new and up-and-coming talent, which would allow you to become a showcase for the best young, modern soul acts today. That in itself would allow you to create a revenue stream not dependant on the 'Northern Soul' brand name. Instead you would be creating a 'Soul' venue and, with persistence, would have a reputation as such, which would bring in even more people even further removed from anything so old-fashioned as 'Northern'. Easy...

Yes, there was. I mentioned it earlier. A popular haunt with the tourists and the many casual visitors to the market. It became something of a hang out for the local Portobello Road drug dealers as I recall. Jim Demetriou dj'd there on a good number of occasions - had a regular weekly slot for a while. I spun a few with him, but only once or twice. One night the bar manager, who obviously didn't have a clue about soul music, but had been instructed to ensure the DJ's stayed in line, started getting shirty about my choice of 45s - you can't play that sort of music in here, he said. Think it was something non-Motowny like Bobby Bland! Had my tattoos done just a few doors up at Marc Saint's. In fact, after my first one that's where we went for a drink afterwards. Don't remember much about the rest of the day. God, that must have been 93-94!>

Don't know about you, but I would not be looking to sink too much of my own money into such a venture - that's exactly what investors are for, to spread the risk & free up capital! Most independent ventures of this sort exist through financial partnerships of one sort or another. I still say it has a lot of potential...

Not so much of a bad idea. Blues bars, rock bars, jazz bars, why not a soul bar? West End is possibly a bit hopeful unless you have deep pockets, of course. And who is to say that norwichbloke does not have such pockets? There used to be a soul bar on London's Portobello Road about 15 years ago, so the precedent has already been set. Northern Soul is mainstream. For goodness sake, there's even a film about it! Good luck with the venture, that's what I say.

If you haven't come across them already, look on eBay for seller: vintagenewsstand They recently found the mother-lode of soul & r&b pics and have been steadily filtering them through eBay. Well worth a look!