Amsterdam Russ

Oh, please. How dare a music journalist, label owner, and editor of the Record Collector Rare Price Guide, write about music, record labels and record collecting.

Timmy, based on that reply, I reckon you've been awake for more hours than I have.

That "master of none" includes being editor of the Record Collector Rare Price Guide and (according to his LinkedIn profile, here: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/iashirley)...

Get a supposed "expert" to write about the history and evolution of the scrambled egg mess that is "Northern Soul" and every armchair "expert" will tell you what's wrong with it - from their own subjective point of view. It's exactly the same as all the armchair football experts who'll tell you in no uncertain terms how a team - and the players within that team - should be best used. There is nothing wrong with the grammar or syntax used within the article (if anyone wants to tell me otherwise, please do highlight the errors). And whether the hired journalist has any prior knowledge - or is indeed an "expert" on the subject - is neither here nor there. The piece is functional in that it provides a potted history of the scene - and does so in a way that is useful to Discogs, albeit a narrow and self-serving way. Authoritative writing? No. But job done as far as Discogs is concerned.

I disagree. With a need to include lots and lots of links to artists and record labels throughout the article, it's inevitable that the flow of the story will come across as being somewhat disjointed. That, though, is down to the web editor/publisher rather than the writer. There's nothing wrong with the writer's cohesion in telling the story - it makes sense, even if it isn't the version you or anyone else directly involved in the scene might pen - and there's nothing technically wrong with their syntax or grammar. The story itself covers the many points that I suspect were demanded by the person who commissioned it, so any flaws lie with them and those responsible for editing the draft prepared by the writer. Ultimately, I anticipate the writer was given an unrealistic brief along the lines of "write about the history and evolution of 'Northern Soul' while including lots and lots of links to Discog listings - and all in about 1,200 words." That's mission impossible.

These boys in Poland are the business when it comes to custom adapters. https://www.sureshotshop.com Fantastic quality and speedy turnaround.

Courtesy of Sky News - Storm Eunice in pictures. Although no acknowledgement is given, I take it these are pics sent in by members of the public. The page will be updated through the day, so it'll be worth checking back for new additions. Source: Sky News / Photo: uncredited Link here: https://news.sky.com/story/storm-eunice-in-pictures-snow-and-strong-winds-across-the-uk-12544948 Keep safe and stay cosy, everyone, and hold on to your hat!

The BBC News website has shared the finalists' pics in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award. The winning pic, shown below, was taken by Italian photographer Cristiano Vendramin. There were four other finalists and their images can e found via the link below. Source: BBC News / © Cristiano Vendramin Pics here: https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-60305168

A story on the BBC News website today... https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-60310464

Balcony sunset in Noord-Holland a few minutes ago...

I bet you're not wrong. It's all gone very quiet here since the reveal.

A quick search on 45Cat and up it popped... but as Sebastian has claim on identifying it first here, I'll leave it to him to decide if he wants to uncover it.

I'm guessing that with the continuously poor weather, people here haven't had much in the way of chances for photo opportunities. That's certainly the case here in NL where it seems to be never-ending blustery winds, rain and grey skies. It doesn't look like that's going to change for the next week or so, which is a real shame. I can't wait to get back out again. In the meantime, "Your pictures of Scotland: 28 January - 4 February", courtesy of the BBC News website, provides some inspiration. Lots of great pics, and I particularly like this one of a swan in flight. I would have been well happy if I'd taken that myself. Source: BBC News / © Loreena Price Pics here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-60202060

YouTube vid here...

A new one for me - and I like it! A big city soul arrangement with a big-voiced blue-eyed singer. It's got all the drama you would want from such a tune. It sounds so brilliantly pop-soul crossover 1960s and evokes the likes of British artists like Tony Colton, Bobby Sansom, and particularly Robert Henry and his stunning 'Walk away like a winner'. Whether Barry Young was played out or not, it's a big thumbs up from me!

Understandable... but, do you think the singer in the c/u is Nancy?

Off to the Naughty Step with you!

That's almost as bad as the comment on the vid suggesting it could be Kathy Kirby! Definitely sounding a lot like Nancy Wilson, although - to these ears - a somewhat subdued performance from her if it actually is.

There's a thread from 2009 here... ...and an earlier thread from 2008 here, which is mainly about the best live act seen at a northern venue...

Plenty of stunning pics there!

If you get no success here, Gilles Petard would be the man to talk to.

That’s one fantastic line-up. Oh, to have been there!

This week's BBC News "Your pictures of Scotland" offers a great selection of photos taken by readers. I particularly liked this sunrise. Source: BBC News / © Charles MacManaway Pics here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-60023556 It's a bit dull and grey over here for going out with the camera, but hopefully that'll change soon.

I bought the Four Tops' version on 12" as a new release in 1984 and have never liked it (although I still have it for some reason). Perhaps if I'd bought the 7" mix, my view might have been different - although I doubt it. At that time I'd heard people say it was a cover of a Dells song, but it was some time before I actually heard it. Don't like that either - and a bit too 'discofied' for my liking as well. Laura Lee's take is by far the most pleasing to these ears, but I think it's one of those situations it doesn't matter who sings it, I just don't like the song. Strange that, and I couldn't tell you why, but I just don't like it. Anyway, Laura gets my vote.

Before looking, I didn't know R. Dean Taylor had a website. It's very primitive, but - as well as some biographical info - does have two or three pics of him performing in the UK. http://www.rdeantaylor.com