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Posted

Contempo were a UK (and US latterly) label run by Blues and Soul owner John Abbey from 1973, distributed by Decca , Pye and WEA. Quite a few UK only issues and lots of UK productions, some of which I'm sure are fine to play out.

Guest JIM BARRY
Posted

unsure.gif

Thanks fellas, I feel like a new man!

THATS WHAT MY WIFE TELLS MEunsure.gif

Posted (edited)

Best put this in the wants section methinks :lol:

:yes: i hear webby is looking for some action :lol:

Edited by mikecook
Posted (edited)

unsure.gif

THATS WHAT MY WIFE TELLS MEunsure.gif

my wife doesn't talk to me, that's the way i like it :lol:

sorry to go off topic :lol:

Edited by Gogs
Guest son of stan
Posted

Hi could someone explain to me who Contempo were, and are the releases considered alright to play out?

Thanks

Graham

No different than playing a 60s release on Stateside, Sue, Soul City, Action, etc..It's a brilliant label.

Posted

Probably better sound quality on The Montclairs contempo release too

Cheers Paul

Is it a slightly different mix also? I'm sure the Contempo version is a bit more sparce sounding.

Jordi

  • Up vote 1
Posted

Anyone got a listing for Contempo?

Amazing variety 45s came out-something for everyone-classic Northern, Funk, totally Oddball, UK produced stuff as well.

45s, 12" & Albums

The Armarda Orchestra LP-years since I heard "Disco Armarda" (is that how its spelt ?

Good label !

Rob

Posted (edited)

Anyone got a listing for Contempo?

I have the excellent J.J. Barnes "The Groovesville masters", are there other Lp's of interest on this label ?

Edited by Philippe
Posted (edited)

Here's most of 'em:

LANCE, MAJOR 1 RIGHT TRACK / UM,UM,UM,UM,UM,UM

FABULOUS ECHOES 2 DON'T YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU / IF YOU MOVE IT YOU LOSE IT

PITTS, RICHIE 3 EVERY COUPLES NOT A PAIR / I REFUSE TO KNOW YOUR NAME

BOB & EARL 4 HARLEM SHUFFLE / INSTR.

LEE, JACKIE 5 THE DUCK / PT. 2

TONEY JR., OSCAR 6 KENTUCKY BLUEBIRD / EVERYTHING I OWN MIDNIGHT MOVERS 7 FOLLOW THE WIND / PT 2

THOMAS, JIMMY 8 ALL GOD'S CHILDREN / THE WEAK - END IS MINE LANCE, MAJOR 9 AIN'T NO SOUL / INVESTIGATE

GI GI 10 DADDY LOVE / PT 2

YOUNG, TOMMIE 12 EVERYBODY'S GOT A LITTLE DEVIL IN THEIR SOUL / DO YOU STILL FEEL THE SAME WAY

AFRICAN MUSIC MACHINE 13 TROPICAL / THE GIRL IN FRANCE

BASS, FONTELLA 14 IT SURE IS GOOD / I'M LEAVING THE CHOICE TO YOU

TAYLOR, LITTLE JOHNNIE 15 AS LONG AS I DON'T HAVE TO SEE YOU / STRANGE BED WITH A .......

ROBINSON, ROSCOE 16 WE'RE LOSING IT BABY / WE GOT A GOOD THING GOING

WILLIAMS, BOBBY 17 LET'S JAM / YOU'RE MY BABY

HENDERSON, WILLIE 18 DANCEMASTER / PT 2

TAYLOR, TED 19 I WANT TO BE PART OF YOU GIRL / GOING IN THE HOLE

WILLIAMS, JOHNNY 20 JUST A LITTLE MISUNDERSTANDING / YOUR LOVE CONTROLS MY MIND

MACK, FREDDIE 21 PEOPLE / PT 2

THOMAS, JIMMY 22 YOUNG,WILLING & ABLE / TIME

YOUNG, TOMMIE 23 SHE DON'T HAVE TO SEE YOU / THAT'S ALL PART OF LOVING HIM

TONEY JR., OSCAR 24 LOVE'S GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN / EVERYBODY'S NEEDED

AFRICAN MUSIC MACHINE 25 NEVER NAME A BABY / THE DAPP

LANCE, MAJOR 26 DARK & LONELY / MY GIRL

KOOL & GANG 1001 SUPER BAND / OPEN SESAME

CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR 1002 DANCIN' / LOVE ME

ULTRAFUNK 2001 LIVING FOR THE CITY / WHO IS HE & WHAT IS HE TO YOU

TONEY JR., OSCAR 2002 IS IT BECAUSE I'M BLACK / MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF

ARMADA ORCH. 2003 DO ME RIGHT / WON'T YOU CONSIDER

BASS, FONTELLA 2004 NOW THAT I'VE FOUND A GOOD THING / HOMEWRECKER

BOND, LOUIS 2005 TELL ME WHEN / INVITING YOU ALL

SPUNKY ONION 2006 COOKIE MAN / PT 2

MASAI 2007 CROSS THE TRACKS / PT. 2

MONTCLAIRS 2008 MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME / HOW CAN ONE MAN LIVE

BARNES, J.J. 2009 TO AN EARLY GRAVE / INSTR.

EXCITERS 2010 A LOVERS QUESTION / LIVING FOR TOMORROW

NEW EXPERIENCE 2011 I DON'T WANT NOBODY / NEW EXPERIENCE BRINKLEY & PARKER 2012 (DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE) PANDER MAN / INSTR.

BLISS, MELVIN 2013 REWARD / SYNTHETIC SUBSTITUTE

VARIOUS 2014 KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING WHEN YOU LEAVE - ROSHELL ANDERSON / NO PARTICULAR ONE - JESSE BOONE

SOUL POTION 2015 CIRCLE FULL OF LOVE / SOUL BABY

LANCE, MAJOR 2017 GIMME LITTLE SIGN / HOW CAN YOU SAY GOODBYE

TONEY JR., OSCAR 2018 MY GIRL / THE THRILL IS GONE

CYMANDE 2019 BROTHER'S ON THE SLIDE / PON DER JUNGLE ULTRAFUNK 2020 SWEET F.A. / USE ME KNIGHT, GLADYS & PIPS 2021 WHY DON'T YOU LOVE ME / MAYBE MAYBE BABY FRAZIER, JOE 2022 TRY IT AGAIN / KNOCK ON WOOD ULTRAFUNK 2023 KUNG FU MAN / INSTR. ARMADA ORCH. 2024 SAME OLD SONG / TO CHICAGO WITH LOVE AFRICAN MUSIC MACHINE 2025 MR. BROWN / CAMEL TIME SAIN, OLIVER 2026 BUS STOP / NIGHTTIME CON-FUNK-SHUN 2027 CLIQUE / NOW & FOREVER STORMY MONDAY 2028 BOOGIE CHILDREN,LET'S GET DOWN / PT 2 ESCORTS 2029 DISRESPECT CAN WRECK / LET'S MAKE LOVE AT HOME SOMETIMES GENTLEMEN & THEIR LADIES 2030 PARTY BUMP / PT 2 ENGLISH, BARBARA JEAN 2031 BREAKIN' UP A HAPPY HOME / GUESS WHO BASS, FONTELLA 2032 IT'S HARD TO GET BACK IN / TALKING ABOUT FREEDOM EXCITERS 2033 BLOWING UP MY MIND / INSTR. SMITH, MARVIN 2034 LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL / AIN'T THAT A SHAME ANDERSON, ROSHELL 2035 GRAPEVINE WILL LIE SOMETIME / SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING MONTCLAIRS 2036 HUNG UP ON YOUR LOVE / I NEED YOU MORE THAN EVER DUKE, DORIS 2037 GRASSHOPPER / PLEASE COME BACK GENTLEMEN & THEIR LADIES 2038 LOOSE BOOTY / NEW GENERATION HILL, Z.Z. 2039 SECOND CHANCE / FAITHFUL & TRUE WASHINGTON, JERRY 2040 RIGHT HERE IS WHERE YOU BELONG / IN MY LIFE I'VE LOVED SEVENTH WONDER 2041 FOR THE GOOD TIMES / PT 2 SAIN, OLIVER 2042 DOUBLE BUMP / CALIFORNIA SUNSET TONEY JR., OSCAR 2043 I'VE BEEN LOVIN' YOU TOO LONG / FOR YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE KELLY, ROBERTA 2044 KUNG FU'S BACK AGAIN / INSTR. LANCE, MAJOR 2045 DON'T YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU / INSTR. SWAMP DOGG 2046 TOTAL DESTRUCTION TO YOUR MIND / REDNECK DUKE, DORIS 2047 A LITTLE BIT OF LOVIN' / HEY LADY BARNES, J.J. 2048 SWEET SHERRY / CHAINS OF LOVE CON-FUNK-SHUN 2049 MR.TAMBOURINE MAN / BUMPSUMBODY GENTLEMEN & THEIR LADIES 2050 ONE MORE TIME PT. 2 / YOU'RE GONNA NEED ME ARMADA ORCH. 2051 COCHISE / SUNRISE ON THE ARMADA SEEDS OF THE EARTH 2052 PLANTING SEEDS / BROTHER BAD SIMMONS, SIMTEC 2053 SOME OTHER TIME / CLASSIFIED CRAZY MAN QUADRAPHONICS 2054 BETCHA IF YOU CHECK IT OUT / PROVE MY LOVE TO YOU PEACHES & HERB 2055 DOWN WHERE IT'S AT / INSTR. DILLARD, MOSES&LOVEJOY OR 2056 THEME FROM LOVE JOY / WHAT YOU SEE IN ME SAIN, OLIVER 2057 LONDON EXPRESS / BLOWING FOR LOVE FUNKEES 2058 TOO LAY / COOL IT DOWN DYNAMIC CORVETTES 2059 FUNKY MUSIC IS THE THING / PT 2 BUSH, ERNIE 2060 BREAKAWAY / INSTR. P.C. 8 DACOSTA, RITA 2061 DON'T BRING ME DOWN / NO! NO! NO! ENGLISH, BARBARA JEAN 2062 I'M LIVING IN A LIE / KEY IN THE MAILBOX BARNES, J.J. 2063 BABY, PLEASE COME BACK HOME / CLOUDY DAYS DUKE, DORIS 2064 FULL TIME WOMAN / YOUR BEST FRIEND HOWEEFEEL 2065 THE DEVIL'S ON THE RUN / JUST CAN'T DO WITHOUT LOVE WALKER FAMILY 2066 HAPPY ENDINGS / THINK IT OVER SNOOKY 2067 SUGAR LIPS / WAITING FOR YOU BANZAII 2068 CHINESE KUNG FU / DISCO VERSION ARMADA ORCH. 2069 FEEL THE NEED IN ME / THE DRIFTER BANKS, BESSIE 2070 TRY TO LEAVE ME IF YOU CAN / YOU SURE KNOW HOW TO GET TO ME ULTRAFUNK 2071 STING IN YOUR JAWS / PT 2 DREW, PATTI 2072 MIGHTY O.J. / INSTR. SEEDS OF THE EARTH 2073 PHIRE / ZION & I LEAVILL, OTIS 2074 I LOVE YOU / TELL THE WORLD TONEY JR., OSCAR 2075 CHICKEN HEADS / EVERYBODY'S NEEDED THIRD TIME AROUND 2076 SOON EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT ( INSTR.) / VOCAL SAIN, OLIVER 2077 SHE'S A DISCO QUEEN / GET UP & HUSTLE ARMADA ORCH. 2078 CLASSICAL BUMP / TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT JONES, TAMIKO 2079 I'M SPELLBOUND / T.J.'S MAGIC JONES, JUGGY 2080 INSIDE AMERICA / PT 2 SAIN, OLIVER 2081 APRICOT SPLASH / PARTY HEARTY BOOGIE MAN ORCH. 2082 LADY, LADY, LADY / INSTR. ARMADA ORCH. 2083 BAND OF GOLD / SAME OLD SONG ? GAYE, A.J., DISCO BAND 2084 MOONLIGHT SERENADE / HAPPY GATE SUPERBAD, MR. 2085 MR.SUPERBAD / INSTR. RICE, MACK 2086 IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE / INSTR. MOORE, DOROTHY 2087 MISTY BLUE / HERE IT IS JONES, TAMIKO 2088 LET IT FLOW / LET IT FLOW TAMIKO ARMADA ORCH. 2089 THE LOVE I LOST / PT 2 TAYLOR, TED 2090 STEAL AWAY / YOU MAKE LOVING YOU EASY FLOYD, EDDIE 2091 PARADISE / SOMEBODY TOUCH ME MOORE, DOROTHY 2092 FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY / IT'S SO GOOD HIGH, DON & MIGHTY 2093 BLACK KOJAK / LOVE IT COMES IN ALL COLOURS JONES, TAMIKO 2094 REACHIN' OUT FOR YOUR LOVE / AFRAID OF LOSING YOU JAMES, JIMMY 2095 RIVER BOAT JENNY / IF I WASN'T BLACK BYRD, BOBBY 2096 HERE FOR THE PARTY / THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE BELL, REUBEN 2097 I STILL HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE / ASKING FOR THE TRUTH TAYLOR, TED 2098 I'M GONNA HATE MYSELF IN THE MORNING / STICK BY ME MAHONEY, SKIP & CASUALS 2099 BLESS MY SOUL / LAND OF LOVE ULTRAFUNK 2100 GOTHAM CITY BOOGIE / INDIGO COUNTRY FLOYD, EDDIE 2101 CHI-TOWN HUSTLER / NEVER TOO OLD SPARKY & INNER CITIZENS 2102 GOLDEN GATE GET DOWN / LONG VERSION FLOYD, KING 2103 BODY ENGLISH / I REALLY LOVE YOU DUPARS 2104 LOVE COOKIN' / WE ROCKIN' SAM & DAVE 2109 WHY DID YOU DO IT / CASH, ALVIN 2110 ALI SHUFFLE / DOING THE FEELING BARNES, J.J. 2111 SARA SMILE / LET ME FEEL THE FUNK PATTERSON, BOBBY 2115 IF HE HADN'T SLIPPED AND GOT CAUGHT / I GOT TO GET OVER WHITEHEAD, CHARLIE 2120 I WAS DANCING WHEN I FELL IN LOVE / PEOPLE TELL ME I'M LOSING MY BABY EASTBOUND EXPRESSWAY 2122 CLOUDBURST (LONG VERSION) / SHORT VERSION BARNES, J.J. 2123 I'M THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU / HOW LONG JONES, TAMIKO 2130 CREEPIN' / BOY YOU'RE GROWING ON ME JONES, TAMIKO 2131 BAND OF GOLD / FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE

Edited by Paul McKay

Guest SoulRenaissance
Posted

Anyone got a listing for Contempo?

Amazing variety 45s came out-something for everyone-classic Northern, Funk, totally Oddball, UK produced stuff as well.

45s, 12" & Albums

The Armarda Orchestra LP-years since I heard "Disco Armarda" (is that how its spelt ?

Good label !

Rob

Rob by coincidence saw a Contempo and Contempo-Raries listing at the weekend, in a German magazine. Only one number missing. I'll see if i can get it up here.

In response to the origins of the label. Was started up by John Abbey to replace the Mojo label, which i saw in another magazine some time back. The difference was that more in house material was to be recorded and released, rather than mainly reissues.

Martyn

Guest WPaulVanDyk
Posted

Have a few in the box, many by Armarda Orchestra. Got to admit some good stuff but one thing at least it's nice to play some UK issues for a change and not have some snobs who say it should be American issues

Posted

Hi could someone explain to me who Contempo were, and are the releases considered alright to play out?

Thanks

Graham

hatsoff2.gif Graham this is a fabulous Soul label, managed by John Abby the man who worked at Islands SUE Records in 67/8 also did a soul mag, BLUES & SOUL which was a must have read up unto 1980 when most of us followed record collector A-Z of UK Soul Chris Savory (RIP) all records are good even the POP stuff I likedthumbup.gif Some of the records are very collectible. here are 2 that would cost you £200+ these days:-boxing.gif

ph34r.gif DAVEpost-13241-12670648726586_thumb.jpgpost-13241-12670649142437_thumb.jpg KIL

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Guest Carl Dixon
Posted (edited)

Blimey - I have that 'Planting Seeds' single! It's worth more than my total digital Detroit and Philly sales put together!!

The Armada Orchestra involved UK arranger Gerry Shury who sadly is no longer with us. He was also a co writer with a colleague of mine called Ron Roker, who was involved with all sorts of productions in the 1970's. Polly Brown, The Real Thing, The Fortunes, Sweat Dreams, The Pearls etc. Songs covered by the likes of Dionne Warwick (Do you beleive in love at first site), C J and Co (Devils Gun), Philly group First Choice (Guilty). Gerry was a great arranger and was involved with hundreds of releases. A sad loss. Look at Rons catalogue and to think he wrote for Cliff Richard and a host of other artists - what a pedigree. So I agree, it's nice to see some UK input to soul music. One of my favourite Roker tracks is 'Stone cold love affair' by The Real Thing. I think it has a great singalong and should have done better.....

https://www.ronroker....oncatalogue.htm

Edited by Carl Dixon
Posted

Rob by coincidence saw a Contempo and Contempo-Raries listing at the weekend, in a German magazine. Only one number missing. I'll see if i can get it up here.

Paul & Martyn

Thanks for the replies you 2 ,mag article sounds good

just sorting through some stuff and found another one I forgot about Atmosphere Strutt Cloud one

nice individual label

Rob

Posted

Hi could someone explain to me who Contempo were, and are the releases considered alright to play out?

Thanks

Graham

Play both sides.

Posted

Some of the records are very collectible. here are 2 that would cost you £200+ these days:-:boxing:

Dave,

How exactly do you get these prices?

I.M.O. both of these these are circa £20 records - as are most 'scarce' Contempo 45s - with the possible exception of Melvin Bliss being in the £50 range (due to it being sampled in the past, making it in demand by a different scene).

If you are just plucking these prices from thin air, then can I suggest that you don't as the uneducated can take what is posted on t'internet and use it as gospel... meaning what should be reasonably priced 45s become unobtainable due to 'pie in the sky' pricing.

Posted

Dave,

How exactly do you get these prices?

I.M.O. both of these these are circa £20 records - as are most 'scarce' Contempo 45s - with the possible exception of Melvin Bliss being in the £50 range (due to it being sampled in the past, making it in demand by a different scene).

If you are just plucking these prices from thin air, then can I suggest that you don't as the uneducated can take what is posted on t'internet and use it as gospel... meaning what should be reasonably priced 45s become unobtainable due to 'pie in the sky' pricing.

think you can add bobby byrd "thank you for your love" to the £50 bracket easily on quality and availability also another top tune jj barnes "she's mine"easy to obtain but top top quality tune

atb

dave

Posted

think you can add bobby byrd "thank you for your love" to the £50 bracket easily on quality and availability also another top tune jj barnes "she's mine"easy to obtain but top top quality tune

atb

dave

hatsoff2.gif As a collector of UK Soul and a label completes, you have to take the rare Northern Soul head of (RESPECTFULY) and look at the the UK collecting scene properly, how many times have I heard the story of Reggae 45s worth only a few quid? back in the 8ts yes but not in 2010. many are worth more than UK classic Soul. Jeanette White "Music" A&M DEMO in 1980 was about £15 now its about £20??records like Sam Dee's "Lonely for my Baby" I use to sell for £12 in 86 now £200+thumbup.gif

Contempo records used to be seen as Joke in the North following the crass Major Lance "ain't no Soul" very apt. and apart from a couple of records Montclairs being 1 no one bought the records except in London area, this is the reason why some records are so scarce as even those that were bought sold in quantities of 10s not 100s the 2 records I posted are worth £200+ for the Pair as they are quality soul, if you can buy them for £20 I will give you £25 for them any day so would Ian Clark? if you had £500 to buy these records tonight how many would you get? my valuation comes from personal Knowledge and looking at Dealers lists, I have added 4 more great records from Contempo you price them? none of them cost me over £5 but that's a ELEPHANT to the matter??ph34r.gif DAVE KIL!

post-13241-12671318760448_thumb.jpgpost-13241-12671318382252_thumb.jpgpost-13241-126713180745_thumb.jpgpost-13241-12671317780998_thumb.jpg

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Posted

I've always had a soft spot for Contempo.

I still have almost everything they issued (just a few odd things missing) and I don't think any are particularly rare but some are hard to find now and others have grown in demand over the years - often after being sampled as in the case of the Melvin Bliss flip side.

37 years have passed since the label was launched so we should expect some issues to be thin on the ground.

Posted

Taking account of John Abbey's profile in the UK, of the label's wide access to the US studios and to the enormous output, there were very few great releases, certainly from my northern standpoint. It was around at the time that there was a distinct north/south divide. I remember we up north felt like we were being sneered at. As a then avid British collector I had no time for the label and despite now recognising the odd ok release I still regard it as a crap label, a major disappointment even a contender for 'Worst UK Soul Label of all time' !

Guest JIM BARRY
Posted (edited)

Taking account of John Abbey's profile in the UK, of the label's wide access to the US studios and to the enormous output, there were very few great releases, certainly from my northern standpoint. It was around at the time that there was a distinct north/south divide. I remember we up north felt like we were being sneered at. As a then avid British collector I had no time for the label and despite now recognising the odd ok release I still regard it as a crap label, a major disappointment even a contender for 'Worst UK Soul Label of all time' !

HI RICHARD, DIDN'T THEY HAVE A NORTHERN SOUL RE ISSUE LABEL.....CONTEMPO RARIES?????

Edited by JIM BARRY

Posted (edited)

hatsoff2.gif POPSICK price guide is based on EBay's sales, I got a Ron Kieth UK DEMO of EBAY 2 years ago for £1.95. so what is your point?? as I said all my Contempos cost under a £5, however the 2 records in question have appeared on respected dealers list for more than I valued them at Ian Clark & Will Johnson to name 2, have a listen to this one, it sounds right to me, still what the fuck do I know after 43 years of collecting soul???

post-13241-12671437247539_thumb.jpg

ph34r.gif DAVE KIL (50% Irish 50% Romany)boxing.gif THIS STATEMENT WAS NOT PERSONALY AIMED AT "PIKEYS DOG" DAVEwicked.gif

Edited by dthedrug
Guest WPaulVanDyk
Posted

I have one i like on the red label Johnny Williams - Just a Little Misunderstanding.

Posted

Probably better sound quality on The Montclairs contempo release too

Cheers Paul

That's certainly the case on Johnny Williams - Little undersstanding- the US copies are not good the UK Contempo quality is far better......:hatsoff2:

  • 1 year later...
Guest Richyrichuk54
Posted

I have loads of Contempo...Played them regulary in the 70's at many a do......Mainly Funk, but a fair few Ballads

Used to go to Conway Street just off Oxford Street to Contempo Records (Blues & Soul) to get these and all my imports...Great Days

Guest Matt Male
Posted

Probably better sound quality on The Montclairs contempo release too

Cheers Paul

It does! I sold one a few years back when I got one on Paula, now I wish i'd kept my Contempo copy. :(

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