Amsterdam Russ

Jerry Jackson for me. In fact, I'd rate them in exactly the order they're listed. Phillips James's version is very good, but as Dobie Gray sang... the original is still the greatest.

Definitely the way forward. I was at a 'soul alldayer' here in Amsterdam just last weekend. Two venues, with one running from 12 in the afternoon til 5pm, and the second open from 7:30pm til about 2am. I got to the first one at about 1:30pm, DJ'd twice, and once again (in the 2nd venue) between 7:30pm til 8:30pm. I left at about 11:30pm to make sure I got the last proper train/bus connection home - rather than have to subsequently wait for the once-an-hour night bus from Amsterdam Centraal Station that would then get me home an hour later (plus a 20 minute walk home with a heavy record box that was already stretching my arms). If I'd stayed til the end of the night, I'd get home at about 4am or later. After two-and-a-half years of lockdown, I find I don't want to do that anymore (particularly a 15-hour session from start to finish). Next time I organise an event here in Amsterdam (should that happen), it'll be an alldayer - mid-afternoon til late evening, ending before or at midnight at the latest. Very few local people here actually live in Amsterdam, and most come by public transport - hence they've always left early to ensure getting the last train/bus home. Now I feel they really want to make sure they're back home at a more reasonable hour - not just because of age directly, although that is a huge factor, but also because the idea of waiting at train stations, bus or tram stops for the next public transport connection at silly o'clock no longer appeals. Perhaps more so than at any other time, and after two years of restrictions on movement and activities, home is where the heart is.

Imagine... you're young. You're in a local pub. It's 1982 and you can't help but overhear the old guy and his wife in the corner moaning about how it's "not like the old days" and how ridiculously expensive things are 'today' compared to the good old days of 1942. Fast forward to 2022, and that same, previously young person from 1982 is in a bar moaning about exactly the same things. Yup, it's true. You've become your grandad.

The covers of the US and Canadian releases of this brilliant album have different hues. Oh, and in my humble opinion the mono cut is far, far better than the stereo version - by a long, long way.

I suspect 'someone' might have repackaged the Masterseal tracks, given them 'new' band names, and then made them available digitally. Searching online for The Green Apples brings up nothing. Likewise, if you search for the record label/publisher Popirock there's nothing to be found.

Hence why I put the word foreigner in quote marks. Anyway, on with the show and back to the subject of unchaining our hearts...

Never having heard of Don Raleigh (band leader) nor Don Raleigh (ice hockey player) until my online searches a little while earlier, the humour was lost on me. Maar, ik snap het... nu (trans for those not speaking Dutch: "But, I get it... now"). World famous comedy writer? Misschien in Nederland je bent een bekende "buitenlander" (trans for those not speaking or understanding my atrocious and unique form of Dutch: Maybe in the Netherlands you're a well-known "foreigner"). Normal English-language services will resume shortly. Just noticed, by the way, that the original post asking for any info on Sandy Phillips and "Unchain my Heart" is from Sept 2018!

A different Don Raleigh, I think. There's no mention on the Wikipedia entry (or elsewhere that I've seen) of the ice hockey star having had a musical career. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Raleigh

Pretty much exactly that... https://www.discogs.com/release/12474807-Hugh-Laurie-Didnt-It-Rain And... http://www.hughlaurieblues.com

What you said seemed obvious to me, so you ain't too far gone just yet.

Intriguing! Having had a bit of a search, it appears Sandy Phillips was a vocalist with Don Raleigh & his Orchestra - a band that recorded low budget cover versions of pop hits for the Canadian Masterseal label - much the same as you'd get on the Top of the Pops LPs from the early 70s, etc. Discogs shows Sandy Phillips and Don Raleigh together on multiple albums, and Unchain my Heart features on Masterseal's MTH-13 and titled "12 Top Hits". Pic source: Discogs Link to Discogs listing here: https://www.discogs.com/release/11736960-Don-Raleigh-And-His-Orchestra-12-Top-Hits

A recent mid-week trip to Brussels saw us, among other touristy things, visit the Musical Instruments Museum. Must admit to being initially sceptical, but it was well worth the visit. The many musical delights include a selection of brass instruments made by Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone (I did post this elsewhere on SS recently), and a surprisingly early 'pocket' gramophone player that was also known as a 'cameraphone'!

“The best”, in my view - Dutch band The Originators - seen in the vid below at the Amsterdam Soul Club in 2013. They’re still going strong, albeit with some different personnel.

Can't offer up any info beyond the fact it was set up by an Ian R Smith. And if you haven't seen it already, there's a discography here: https://tapirs.home.xs4all.nl/hotlead7.htm

That seems to be the answer to me...

I think all of that is well known, but thanks. Just to clarify, the acetate sold on eBay just recently and shown in the eBay link is not the one I posted about back in 2012. Mine is a publisher's acetate - and as documented - allegedly came from the estate of Isaac Hayes, and which had been seized along with many other things during the course of his bankruptcy. Also as documented in my earlier posts in this thread, the acetate came with a copy of the Casper Peters version with the sleeve annotated with the question to Hayes that asked "Dear Isaac, All I want to know is why?" (and initialed "JM", ie, Melfi himself). The more recent acetate is hugely interesting, although in a much poorer condition - presumably because Mr Hayes never played the one sent to him. Why would he? I suspect the more recent one was pressed at the studio for in-house reference only, and as such is also extremely rare to the degree that it - in itself - is a one-off. Regardless, it's absolutely fantastic to know of its existence. Superb!

Ah, yes. I’m with you now. But wasn’t it the case - and perhaps I’m looking too far back - that there was a clear distinction between commercial enterprises selling on platforms such as eBay and ‘private sellers’? In the case of the former, VAT had to be paid, but individuals did not. Jeez, likely that distinction is well and truly history and yet I still thought it pertinent. Upgrade 2022.4 required…

Gift? The taxation aspect seems to depend on the status of the seller. Private = no VAT. Business = plus VAT. Or am I misunderstanding what the article says?

Interesting and - at the same time - alarming story about VAT/customs charges on items bought online from the UK and sent to the Netherlands. Not of much interest to most of you, perhaps, but it's worth noting this comment from the Dutch postal service (PostNL), which states that: eBay, I suspect - and based on the surcharges I've had to stump up when buying from the UK - is charging VAT with no distinction about whether the seller is private or business, and makes it about impossible for individuals to dispute erroneous charges. https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2022/04/parcels-from-britain-you-will-have-to-pay-unless-it-is-a-small-gift/

Exactly my own definition. For John Owen, here's a fairly recent thread on the subject. Can't say I agree with all the comments, but each to their own.

https://news.sky.com/story/art-rupe-the-music-executive-who-helped-r-b-go-mainstream-dies-aged-104-12592177

Well done to the team you support - and thanks for the explanation about the pic.

A football match, obviously - and in a very empty stadium - but as someone who stopped following the 'beautiful game' many years ago, I've no idea what we're seeing beyond some very tiny figures on a pitch. Was it important?

Courtesy of the BBC News website: © Darren Cole Lots of great photos that have rightly won awards. Check them out here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-60912679

My pleasure. Glad you're sorted.