Paul-s Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 Im not out and about much now and its time to move some incredible tunes.... These two are just the bollocks!SACRED FOUR - Somebody Watching You vg++ (plays) Champ Fuck me this tune is the bollocks, floor filling dirtry soul/gospel/ $%&^ dancewr! £800JOHN HARRIS & the soul Sayers - Hangin In Kerstan vg+ Plays superb) The BEST new tune on the scene...but not on it cos i dont go out and its so fucking rare!ha! Stunning is an understatement! One copy lives in Norway and i dont know of others (sure theres a couple!) Offers over £1500 SOLD (to a very wise man!) clip is smple extracts of horrible quality...not off my record! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest DeeJay Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 Im not out and about much now and its time to move some incredible tunes.... These two are just the bollocks! SACRED FOUR - Somebody Watching You vg++ (plays) Champ Fuck me this tune is the bollocks, floor filling dirtry soul/gospel/ $%&^ dancewr! £800 JOHN HARRIS & the soul Sayers - Hangin In Kerstan vg+ Plays superb) The BEST new tune on the scene...but not on it cos i dont go out and its so fucking rare!ha! Stunning is an understatement! One copy lives in Norway and i dont know of others (sure theres a couple!) Offers over £1500 clip is smple extracts of horrible quality...not off my record! Wow that John Harris fingy is the dogs doodahs DJ Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Greg Belson Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 Wow that John Harris fingy is the dogs doodahs DJ Great record, DJ - and you got a taste of the Sacred Four 45 in Seattle, mate 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 Wow that John Harris fingy is the dogs doodahs DJ You're not wrong... wow indeed! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Corbett80 Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 (edited) Good 45! Has a really compelling beat. Wheres it from out of interest? Edited November 17, 2010 by corbett80 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Paul-s Posted November 17, 2010 Author Share Posted November 17, 2010 Good 45! Has a really compelling beat. Wheres it from out of interest? Germany. Think he was posted there with USA air force.? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Paul-s Posted November 17, 2010 Author Share Posted November 17, 2010 Great record, DJ - and you got a taste of the Sacred Four 45 in Seattle, mate Hi Greg, can you post a Sacred Four clip please? best P Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Agent45 Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 Germany. Think he was posted there with USA air force.? Probably the Army rather than the Air Force, but essentially the same. A friend worked on tracking the artist a few years back and almost positively reached a member of the band, but the person denied having anything to do with it. I still believe that this WAS the correct person, but obviously, can't say for certain. If my suspicions are correct, the group, or at least a couple of them, were from the Southeastern US and were stationed in Germany with the US Army when the record was made. I'm kinda surprised more copies never surfaced. I know people have been looking hard for it for at least 5-6 years now. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Paul-s Posted November 17, 2010 Author Share Posted November 17, 2010 Probably the Army rather than the Air Force, but essentially the same. A friend worked on tracking the artist a few years back and almost positively reached a member of the band, but the person denied having anything to do with it. I still believe that this WAS the correct person, but obviously, can't say for certain. If my suspicions are correct, the group, or at least a couple of them, were from the Southeastern US and were stationed in Germany with the US Army when the record was made. I'm kinda surprised more copies never surfaced. I know people have been looking hard for it for at least 5-6 years now. Great info..cheers! I looked for a while and only know of Marius in Norway who has another copy! Its a very unique record indeed.. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Corbett80 Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 (edited) The bassline is mental. Noticed Brian you were playing this in mod clubs back in 2005 if a Monkeyfunk set list is anything to go by. And Ricky Allen on Tamboo Edited November 17, 2010 by corbett80 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Greg Belson Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 Hi Greg, can you post a Sacred Four clip please? best P Here's a clip of it, mate; https://www.4shared.com/audio/6AUQjIeG/Sacred_Four.html I can probably load a full length file to refosoul later. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Mrtag Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 (edited) Im not out and about much now and its time to move some incredible tunes.... These two are just the bollocks! SACRED FOUR - Somebody Watching You vg++ (plays) Champ Fuck me this tune is the bollocks, floor filling dirtry soul/gospel/ $%&^ dancewr! £800 JOHN HARRIS & the soul Sayers - Hangin In Kerstan vg+ Plays superb) The BEST new tune on the scene...but not on it cos i dont go out and its so fucking rare!ha! Stunning is an understatement! One copy lives in Norway and i dont know of others (sure theres a couple!) Offers over £1500 clip is smple extracts of horrible quality...not off my record! 2 Very Tasty Tunes ! ! Edited November 17, 2010 by mrtag Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Greg Belson Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 Full length clip of the Sacred Four now in refosoul; Cheers! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Manfromsoul45s Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Had the John Harris 45 for a long time now and presumed rare but was'nt sure how rare..When I first had it it was'nt something people were bothered about, but then again that's the case with most things..Nice to know though.. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ralf Mehnert Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) John Harris Here`s the german picture cover. Edited January 17, 2011 by Ralf Mehnert Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Marc Forrest Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 John Harris Here`s the german picture cover. awesome Ralf, thanks for sharing ! While searching for the label and the people runnning it I came across two more Soul 45s on the label. The Soul Sisters and Mel Jackson. The best thing about the Mel Jackson is the picture cover though. The Soul Sisters were a nice girl group doing cover versions. The former label owner exlained to me that these girls in fact were from the UK and tried to make a living in the 6ts by playing the GI nightclubs in southern west germany. John Harris & The Soul Sayers were a band consisting of GI`s from the Heidelberg base. They too made a extra buck by playing all the American nightclubs in Southern West Germany. When asked how this record ("Hanging In") came about the former label owner told me that John Harris one day came to him and aksed him to press 250 copies of this record. Because "Hanging In" was the tune that was most well received by their audience they -the band- thought it would make sense to press it up and try to sell the copies at their gigs. After John Harris came to pay for the stock and took it with him the label owner never ever again heard of him. Asked what year that was he told me 64. I doubt this somehow..to me it sounds definitely more like 66/67.. Back then Germans were not allowed in those nightclubs which might explain why all of the so far four known copies were found in the US. What a great record indeed. Marc Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Marc Forrest Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Reg Scott Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Full length clip of the Sacred Four now in refosoul; Hi Greg Do you have any background on the band members? The lead sounds astonishingly like the guy from 'The Blind Boys Of Alabama' who did the theme tune of Tom Waits penned 'Way Down In The Hole' for The Wire on HBO Thanks Greg. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ralf Mehnert Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Yes...nice pic covers... ...but I`m waiting for Ben Martin - Tschigge - Tschagge - Tschonga (Kerston FK 60107) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Benji Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Marc, great write up. thanks for sharing. Mel Jackson picture cover rings a bell, think a mate played it to me a long time ago. But I don't recall it as being good, you're sure you're not mixing it up with Marv Williams - Goodbye my love? Because that's a lovely funky track, sadly a bit too fast for the dancefloor IMO. Kerston Records started in 1965 so 1967 for John Harris makes more sense. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Marc Forrest Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Marc, great write up. thanks for sharing. Mel Jackson picture cover rings a bell, think a mate played it to me a long time ago. But I don't recall it as being good, you're sure you're not mixing it up with Marv Williams - Goodbye my love? Because that's a lovely funky track, sadly a bit too fast for the dancefloor IMO. Kerston Records started in 1965 so 1967 for John Harris makes more sense. cheers Benji, appreciated. The Mel Jackson indeed is quite a weak 45. As I said, the best thing about the whole record seems to be the picture cover. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Marc Forrest Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Marc, great write up. thanks for sharing. Mel Jackson picture cover rings a bell, think a mate played it to me a long time ago. But I don't recall it as being good, you're sure you're not mixing it up with Marv Williams - Goodbye my love? Because that's a lovely funky track, sadly a bit too fast for the dancefloor IMO. Kerston Records started in 1965 so 1967 for John Harris makes more sense. a shame the kerston numbering system seems to be all over the place...still, their 1966 release by the Strangers carries 60039. So John Harris with 60050 ain`t too far away. Seems we are both right with our estimation 66/67. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ralf Mehnert Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 a shame the kerston numbering system seems to be all over the place...still, their 1966 release by the Strangers carries 60039. So John Harris with 60050 ain`t too far away. Seems we are both right with our estimation 66/67. Yes! Really a shame!!! btw: Is your spare copy still for sale? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Marc Forrest Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Yes! Really a shame!!! btw: Is your spare copy still for sale? my spare copy of Ben Martin "Tschigge - Tschagge - Tschonga" you can have...for free LOL ! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ralf Mehnert Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 my spare copy of Ben Martin "Tschigge - Tschagge - Tschonga" you can have...for free LOL ! Deal done... Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Jumpinjoan Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 John Harris is great! Now I know we have lost you forever Paul Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Greg Belson Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Hi Greg Do you have any background on the band members? The lead sounds astonishingly like the guy from 'The Blind Boys Of Alabama' who did the theme tune of Tom Waits penned 'Way Down In The Hole' for The Wire on HBO Thanks Greg. There's some info elsewhere on the 'net.....here it is copied verbatum. 'Functional since 1936, the Sacred Four are among the oldest continuously performing acts in Indiana. After nine 78s, issued on the Bullet label during the 40s and early 50s, Junior Townsend took over the group in 1956. A poorly pressed 45 of "Somebody Watching You" appeared on Champ in 1975, and the group leased the master to James Bennett's J&B label. Its two songs were expanded to eight and issued on 1979's The Lord Will Make A Way. Townsend plays preacher to a choir that includes James Turnbull, Jerry Barnes, and Richard Davis, while bassist Fred Hardy, drummer Paul Carter, and dueling guitarists Wesley Bailey and Jimmy Smith keep the energy in the tent high. Two albums followed on T-Jaye and Shield before the rechristened Junior & the Sacred Four pushed on to the shiny pastures of the CD era.' I'm not entirely sure what they mean by 'a poorly pressed 45' - whether they mean quantity or actual quality. I'll disagree if it's the quality as the 2 copies I've had of it, including my filed copy, play loud and strong. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
boba Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 awesome Ralf, thanks for sharing ! While searching for the label and the people runnning it I came across two more Soul 45s on the label. The Soul Sisters and Mel Jackson. The best thing about the Mel Jackson is the picture cover though. The Soul Sisters were a nice girl group doing cover versions. The former label owner exlained to me that these girls in fact were from the UK and tried to make a living in the 6ts by playing the GI nightclubs in southern west germany. John Harris & The Soul Sayers were a band consisting of GI`s from the Heidelberg base. They too made a extra buck by playing all the American nightclubs in Southern West Germany. When asked how this record ("Hanging In") came about the former label owner told me that John Harris one day came to him and aksed him to press 250 copies of this record. Because "Hanging In" was the tune that was most well received by their audience they -the band- thought it would make sense to press it up and try to sell the copies at their gigs. After John Harris came to pay for the stock and took it with him the label owner never ever again heard of him. Asked what year that was he told me 64. I doubt this somehow..to me it sounds definitely more like 66/67.. Back then Germans were not allowed in those nightclubs which might explain why all of the so far four known copies were found in the US. What a great record indeed. Marc the most common soul 45 in the label in my experience is marv williams and sound unlimited. it's pretty good. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Grumpyfella Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Im not out and about much now and its time to move some incredible tunes.... These two are just the bollocks! SACRED FOUR - Somebody Watching You vg++ (plays) Champ Fuck me this tune is the bollocks, floor filling dirtry soul/gospel/ $%&^ dancewr! £800 JOHN HARRIS & the soul Sayers - Hangin In Kerstan vg+ Plays superb) The BEST new tune on the scene...but not on it cos i dont go out and its so fucking rare!ha! Stunning is an understatement! One copy lives in Norway and i dont know of others (sure theres a couple!) Offers over £1500 SOLD (to a very wise man!) clip is smple extracts of horrible quality...not off my record! aye up paul hope you well been a while agree john harris is a killer and been an alex jones spin for many a year. early nineties i think. one of my fave tunes take it easy phil Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
KevH Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Danced me nuts off to these two at Rugby Paul during your spot.Hope to do so again....in the UK.!!!! Kev.(bit slow off the mark..) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Gary Brown Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Both irresistible... SacredFour - what a tune! You'd have to nail me to the floor to stop me getting up to that. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest sigher the gutter snype Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 got to say that john harris is the best thing ive heard for such a long long time...incredible now i just got to get one...yeah yeah i know get in the queue..... on everybodys ebay search and im trawling the u.s army records as we speak brilliant for us funky soul boys.....what a sound.........how much more incredible records are out there waiting to be discovered.. anyone with a spare please pm me Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Corbett80 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 I'm looking forward to dancing to it out somewhere soon now theres two or three copies in the hands of DJs....great news for the scene with stuff like this being found. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Marc Forrest Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 (edited) I'm looking forward to dancing to it out somewhere soon now theres two or three copies in the hands of DJs....great news for the scene with stuff like this being found. Don`t we just love to keep track with rare records: Personally I know the names of two lucky UK Soulies who own a copy, one a collector the other a DJ. Plus the copy Kitch has. Plus the two copies that gone thru ebay lately which seem to have gone to the UK as well (and cant have gone to one of the two aforementioned collectors/DJ´s as its too short a time since they have been auctioned..) Plus one copy in Norway Plus one copy in Germany Makes it seven copies so far... Marc Edited January 20, 2011 by Marc Forrest Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Corbett80 Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Even better chance of hearing it out then! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
soulsalmon Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Who got the sacred four that was on e-bay ? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Shsdave Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 (edited) Don`t we just love to keep track with rare records: Personally I know the names of two lucky UK Soulies who own a copy, one a collector the other a DJ. Plus the copy Kitch has. Plus the two copies that gone thru ebay lately which seem to have gone to the UK as well (and cant have gone to one of the two aforementioned collectors/DJ´s as its too short a time since they have been auctioned..) Plus one copy in Norway Plus one copy in Germany Makes it seven copies so far... Marc I know of a UK DJ who's just bought one & it didn't come from ebay ? Could of been from owner of one of the other known copies of course Edited January 24, 2011 by SHSDave Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Shsdave Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Even better chance of hearing it out then! Coming to London soon..................John Harris & The Soul Sayers amonst other top tunes Alex Jones is the Guest DJ at Solid Hit Soul Friday 15th April A night of Underplayed, semi-knowns & current niter tunes in a packed basement .......what more could you want ? See you there (but we've got 18th Feb with Rob Smith to come first) Dave Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Marc Forrest Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 I know of a UK DJ who's just bought one & it didn't come from ebay ? Could of been from owner of one of the other known copies of course hi dave, as you say, may have been one of the other two copies if not from ebay...but just like paul sadot stated so correctly in his very first post in this thread "sure there are more somewhere in collections"...you never know really how many are tucked away and come to light once the price is right, do you ? so maybe seven plus eventually one now Have a great night at SHS with Alex...John Harris will go down a storm I am sure! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
MrsWoodsrules Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 God I love the John Harris track. Just come straight in at number one for me knocking Rogers & The Nu-tones, Make a change, Troy Dodds, Try my love & Kel Osborne Quicksand (one of these going on ebay tonght) off my personal chart this week, absolutely superb track, thanks for the upload. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Shsdave Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 hi dave, as you say, may have been one of the other two copies if not from ebay...but just like paul sadot stated so correctly in his very first post in this thread "sure there are more somewhere in collections"...you never know really how many are tucked away and come to light once the price is right, do you ? so maybe seven plus eventually one now Have a great night at SHS with Alex...John Harris will go down a storm I am sure! Hi Marc Exactly mate, once 1 emerges it can bring others out for the right price. Thanks I'm sure Alex / John Harris will go down brilliantly at SHS, they'll dance to quality newies/semi knowns the same as to stuff they know Always quality guests at Solid Hit All best Dave Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ezzie Brown Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Who got the sacred four that was on e-bay ? i was third in the bidding ............ez Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest marco Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 (edited) I wonder whether the John Harris in question is the same as the British band leader/arranger Johnny Harris, who put out the "Movements" Jazz/Funk/Fusion LP on Warner Bros that features the jazz funk stormer 'Stepping Stones' and his version of Light My Fire (which was also the version that Shirley Bassey sang over, incidentally - lush, strings-laden funky version)? I ask because the white fella on the left in the picture sleeve photo could pass for him and me and Joel reckon the production does sound a little 'British Jazz' and experimental for a soul record - double bass, left field guitar arrangement etc etc? Anyone? Tony (Smith) - can you shed any light? Gareth? PS not usually a fan of gospel soul vocals in a club context but the guys on backing and great backing track give Sacred Four an edge for me. Certainly sounds very powerful out loud. Lyrics not too heavily religious either. Edited February 2, 2011 by marco Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Dylan Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 PS not usually a fan of gospel soul vocals in a club context but the guys on backing and great backing track give Sacred Four an edge for me. Certainly sounds very powerful out loud. Lyrics not too heavily religious either. yes agree here the lyrics do have a secular meaning but its not to obvious or in your face. we have to draw the line somewhere or we might as well pack up gouing to soul nights and start attending church. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest sigher the gutter snype Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I wonder whether the John Harris in question is the same as the British band leader/arranger Johnny Harris, who put out the "Movements" Jazz/Funk/Fusion LP on Warner Bros that features the jazz funk stormer 'Stepping Stones' and his version of Light My Fire (which was also the version that Shirley Bassey sang over, incidentally - lush, strings-laden funky version)? I ask because the white fella on the left in the picture sleeve photo could pass for him and me and Joel reckon the production does sound a little 'British Jazz' and experimental for a soul record - double bass, left field guitar arrangement etc etc? Anyone? Tony (Smith) - can you shed any light? Gareth? PS not usually a fan of gospel soul vocals in a club context but the guys on backing and great backing track give Sacred Four an edge for me. Certainly sounds very powerful out loud. Lyrics not too heavily religious either. from what i can see on the german sleeve john harris being the front man would be the guy wearing black...the soul sayers would be the rest of the kats wearing white......thats nornally how it works Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest marco Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 from what i can see on the german sleeve john harris being the front man would be the guy wearing black...the soul sayers would be the rest of the kats wearing white......thats nornally how it works You're probably right - that's what I thought at first too... just that the more you listen to the record the more it feels like a British 'jazz influenced' production. Probably just coincidence tho... Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Benji Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I wonder whether the John Harris in question is the same as the British band leader/arranger Johnny Harris, who put out the "Movements" Jazz/Funk/Fusion LP on Warner Bros that features the jazz funk stormer 'Stepping Stones' and his version of Light My Fire (which was also the version that Shirley Bassey sang over, incidentally - lush, strings-laden funky version)? I ask because the white fella on the left in the picture sleeve photo could pass for him and me and Joel reckon the production does sound a little 'British Jazz' and experimental for a soul record - double bass, left field guitar arrangement etc etc? Anyone? Tony (Smith) - can you shed any light? Gareth? PS not usually a fan of gospel soul vocals in a club context but the guys on backing and great backing track give Sacred Four an edge for me. Certainly sounds very powerful out loud. Lyrics not too heavily religious either. See post #16 for background of John Harris. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest marco Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 See post #16 for background of John Harris. Thanks Benji - I suppose I wondered whether Johnny Harris hooked-up with the vocalists (Soul Sayers) - was he posted in Germany too perhaps? But the more I think about it the more unlikely it seems... Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest sigher the gutter snype Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 the u.k johnny harris was to busy frying bigger fish for sure, shirley bassey, his own material, paul anka etc.... as for the production dont think its sounds u.k, just sounds awseome thats all someone put me out of my mysery and sell me a copy.. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Corbett80 Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 (edited) The bass line is reminicent of Roy Budd stuff.....also the arrangement just sounds like it should be on some sort of late 60's Deram rarity or something. Very unusual sound, and great that so many people are into it! Edited February 2, 2011 by corbett80 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
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