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When Was Strings A Go Go "uncovered"?


Jim G

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One fact missing for me is ,when was Strings a Go Go revealled (or discovered) to really be Double Cookin by the Checkerboard Squares, and who revealed ? found it?

Please tell oh Soul Source gods!

In all these years I have never heard the story, shame on me!!rolleyes.gifohmy.giflaugh.gif

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I'm sure you've seen this Jim as it may have prompted your question. It got me thinking too. John Manship has Checkerboard Squares up for auction at the moment and in the write up says . . . . . "This was in the mid-70s the biggest instrumental play at the top Northern Soul clubs of England. Bootlegged in Los Angeles before the original was discovered by the Brits it was spun to wild enthusiasm as the Bob Wilson Sounds - Strings A Go Go ". Now I'm thinking it's a simple typo and there should be a full stop between Angeles and before, otherwise it was bootlegged before discovery by us? I know it was played in many a youth club soul night around the east midlands around 1973/4 but only ever on blue Soul Galore.

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I'm sure you've seen this Jim as it may have prompted your question. It got me thinking too. John Manship has Checkerboard Squares up for auction at the moment and in the write up says . . . . . "This was in the mid-70s the biggest instrumental play at the top Northern Soul clubs of England. Bootlegged in Los Angeles before the original was discovered by the Brits it was spun to wild enthusiasm as the Bob Wilson Sounds - Strings A Go Go ". Now I'm thinking it's a simple typo and there should be a full stop between Angeles and before, otherwise it was bootlegged before discovery by us? I know it was played in many a youth club soul night around the east midlands around 1973/4 but only ever on blue Soul Galore.

I think Soul Galore operated from late 74 onwards. I remember buying Strings A Go Go in 1975. I had no idea what it was actually called for years, and Strings A Go Go is such a much better title than Double Cookin!

What he means in that description is that it was booted and played ages before anyone worked out what it was actually called and who it was by.

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I think Soul Galore operated from late 74 onwards. I remember buying Strings A Go Go in 1975. I had no idea what it was actually called for years, and Strings A Go Go is such a much better title than Double Cookin!

What he means in that description is that it was booted and played ages before anyone worked out what it was actually called and who it was by.

Wasn't This A Simon Soussan Thing? (Strings A Go Go) That Is !!

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Yep it was a Soussan find and he put it out on white labels to Russ etc (allegedly) . then Soul Galore pressing. I bought the pressing at the Casino one night.

Strings a Go Go was it name for eons, I just never knew he found it its real title or when. I went to the Casino (and many other venues) from 73 to 78 and only ever called Strings a Go Go

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Yep it was a Soussan find and he put it out on white labels to Russ etc (allegedly) . then Soul Galore pressing. I bought the pressing at the Casino one night.

Strings a Go Go was it name for eons, I just never knew he found it its real title or when. I went to the Casino (and many other venues) from 73 to 78 and only ever called Strings a Go Go

Was It Pressed As The Bob Wilson Strings Or Something Like That??

Edited by mrtag
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It was also booted on a yellow wax Villa lookalike label too wasn't it? Not sure of the title on this 45 but pretty sure it was under Double Cookin'. '77/78 ish (?)

Regards,

Dave

Not sure, Mr Manship do you have any info (assuming he reads this biggrin.gif)

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It was also booted on a yellow wax Villa lookalike label too wasn't it? Not sure of the title on this 45 but pretty sure it was under Double Cookin'. '77/78 ish (?)

Regards,

Dave

sure I got a copy of that in 76 from graham warr in the oasis bham, the B side was vocal- youre the fire by the the del satins

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It was also booted on a yellow wax Villa lookalike label too wasn't it? Not sure of the title on this 45 but pretty sure it was under Double Cookin'. '77/78 ish (?)

Regards,

Dave

I remember him (SS) advertising a "new vocal to Srings a Go Go " on one of his lists in early 76 on Villa , (Baby Your The Fire - Del Satins ?) , so it was still known as Strings a Go Go then

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sure I got a copy of that in 76 from graham warr in the oasis bham, the B side was vocal- youre the fire by the the del satins

I think that's a different boot alltogether. Del Satins wasn't on a yellow wax disc as far as I can remember? Anyone? The Double Cookin one was pressed along with Lydia Marcelle It's Not Like You - Manhattan, Bobby Garrett - My Little Girl - Mirwood and one other that I can't for the life of me remember. Anyone?

Regards,

Dave

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It was also booted on a yellow wax Villa lookalike label too wasn't it? Not sure of the title on this 45 but pretty sure it was under Double Cookin'. '77/78 ish (?)

Regards,

Dave

IMHO The Best Way To Own ( Apart From Original) As It Has Baby I'm The Fire On The Flip! :lol: Sorry Dave Thought You Meant Yellow Label !! Doh!! :thumbsup:

Edited by mrtag
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One fact missing for me is ,when was Strings a Go Go revealled (or discovered) to really be Double Cookin by the Checkerboard Squares, and who revealed ? found it?

Please tell oh Soul Source gods!

In all these years I have never heard the story, shame on me!!rolleyes.gifohmy.giflaugh.gif

Around 1974 to 76 I used to buy records from Bob Catteneo aka Daly City Bob / Soul Odysey of Daly City ,California. At first he didn't know which records were wanted over here so he would get me records from my want list. He would let me know what he had for me and sometimes other stuff he thought I would want. I still have most of his letters and found one postmarked 30th September 1974. In this he lists what he had sent and lists some titles he had got . One of these is ''Double Cooking'' which he adds as a note- 'may have been bootleged by S. Soussan as Checkerboards or Bob Wilson Strings a go-go'

Another letter I found then lists what he had sent, this includes Double Cooking for £3. When I got it I remember it had been bootlegged on Soul Fox not long before, maybe a few months but it was still played as Strings a Go-Go as that what everyone knew it as. I don't think most people knew or cared what it was really called. So basically it was revealed about the same time it was for sale as Bob Wilson but maybe it was later when the Villa boot was done that it became well known as Double Cooking.

These letters make interesting reading as Bob would rant on a bit being accused of bootleging or such. I never met him but heard he was somewhat ecentric .

Along with Double Cooking other titles in the parcel were Cindy Scott-Love You Baby, Nancy Wilson-End, Carstairs -Girl demo, Servicemen- Helping Hand, Casanova 2- Calvin Grayson, Coasters, Magicans , most £1 or £2 each. What would they fetch today? and why didn't I keep them ,sob sob.......

Rick

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Of course I'd love to hear the story of how SS managed to get hold of the tapes - especially the instr. of the Magicians which he retitled as Love Symphony, stuck on the flip and gave himself composer credits for, as I don't believe that instr. has turned up on any of the master tapes that Ady C has subsequently obtained...

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Around 1974 to 76 I used to buy records from Bob Catteneo aka Daly City Bob / Soul Odysey of Daly City ,California. At first he didn't know which records were wanted over here so he would get me records from my want list. He would let me know what he had for me and sometimes other stuff he thought I would want. I still have most of his letters and found one postmarked 30th September 1974. In this he lists what he had sent and lists some titles he had got . One of these is ''Double Cooking'' which he adds as a note- 'may have been bootleged by S. Soussan as Checkerboards or Bob Wilson Strings a go-go'

Another letter I found then lists what he had sent, this includes Double Cooking for £3. When I got it I remember it had been bootlegged on Soul Fox not long before, maybe a few months but it was still played as Strings a Go-Go as that what everyone knew it as. I don't think most people knew or cared what it was really called. So basically it was revealed about the same time it was for sale as Bob Wilson but maybe it was later when the Villa boot was done that it became well known as Double Cooking.

These letters make interesting reading as Bob would rant on a bit being accused of bootleging or such. I never met him but heard he was somewhat ecentric .

Along with Double Cooking other titles in the parcel were Cindy Scott-Love You Baby, Nancy Wilson-End, Carstairs -Girl demo, Servicemen- Helping Hand, Casanova 2- Calvin Grayson, Coasters, Magicans , most £1 or £2 each. What would they fetch today? and why didn't I keep them ,sob sob.......

Rick

Cheers for this and other input, all clear for me. Ironic though is how many if us still remember it as Strings a Go Go, despite Double Cookin being around!

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Have seen both red and black vinyl pressings of this one.

I think it was booted on both Black and Yellow wax but I've never seen a red wax one. I got the other post wrong...it was Shirley Mathews - My Little Girl that was on the Mirwood red wax boot by SS not Bobby Garrett. So...(sorry but this is buggin' me now) we have...

Ckeckerboard Squares - Yellow wax Villa

Shirley Mathews - My Little Girl - Red wax Mirwood

Lydia Marcelle - It's Not Like You - Red wax Manhattan

What was the fourth one? Anyone?

Regards,

Dave

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i was buying records off John Hilliard in LA in 1988........and i spotted this disc on its own in a box......i fished it out and put it on my pile....".why you want that"he asked..".it was in a box Soussan sold me when he was getting out of Northern ".......i havent seen one before or since........yippee thumbup.gif ( i know Dave Alcock had a yellow one but he sure lusted after this)

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i was buying records off John Hilliard in LA in 1988........and i spotted this disc on its own in a box......i fished it out and put it on my pile....".why you want that"he asked..".it was in a box Soussan sold me when he was getting out of Northern ".......i havent seen one before or since........yippee :thumbsup: ( i know Dave Alcock had a yellow one but he sure lusted after this)

Excellent! I've never seen that before. Thanks for posting. :thumbsup:

Regards,

Dave

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Was the Del Satins vocal ever a legitimate release ? Anyone know the full story ?? :thumbsup:

Absolutely not. The Del-Satins vocalist was an L.A. session singer called Andrea (surname unknown) who was one of the three vocalists who were used on "Uptown Festival" by Shalamar - the other two being Gary Mumford from San Francisco and Pat Powdrill from L.A.

Ian D :thumbsup:

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i was buying records off John Hilliard in LA in 1988........and i spotted this disc on its own in a box......i fished it out and put it on my pile....".why you want that"he asked..".it was in a box Soussan sold me when he was getting out of Northern ".......i havent seen one before or since........yippee :thumbsup: ( i know Dave Alcock had a yellow one but he sure lusted after this)

That's typical Simon. He'd have probably done a handful of each of his pressings from that period on coloured vinyl just for the rarity of 'em. Nice though......

Ian :thumbsup:

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Absolutely not. The Del-Satins vocalist was an L.A. session singer called Andrea (surname unknown) who was one of the three vocalists who were used on "Uptown Festival" by Shalamar - the other two being Gary Mumford from San Francisco and Pat Powdrill from L.A.

Ian D :lol:

:hatsoff2: Thanks Ian . Was it the same session singers who did that awful vocal to 'Rhino' ?

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I think it was booted on both Black and Yellow wax but I've never seen a red wax one. I got the other post wrong...it was Shirley Mathews - My Little Girl that was on the Mirwood red wax boot by SS not Bobby Garrett. So...(sorry but this is buggin' me now) we have...

Ckeckerboard Squares - Yellow wax Villa

Shirley Mathews - My Little Girl - Red wax Mirwood

Lydia Marcelle - It's Not Like You - Red wax Manhattan

What was the fourth one? Anyone?

Regards,

Dave

The fourth was The Charades - Dreaming Up A World Of Fantasy - Green wax

(then black vinyl with a different B side)

Checkerboard Squares, also released on Red wax (Yellow and Green variations are around, but I've only ever seen one Red copy)

In order of rarity, Red, Green ,Yellow, and finally Black would be the order.

The Black vinyls were a good while fter the 3 coloured variations)

Cheers

Mick

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The fourth was The Charades - Dreaming Up A World Of Fantasy - Green wax

(then black vinyl with a different B side)

Checkerboard Squares, also released on Red wax (Yellow and Green variations are around, but I've only ever seen one Red copy)

In order of rarity, Red, Green ,Yellow, and finally Black would be the order.

The Black vinyls were a good while fter the 3 coloured variations)

Cheers

Mick

Cheers Mick. Thought I'd lost the plot for a while there. I can sleep at night again now! :thumbsup:

Regards,

Dave

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The fourth was The Charades - Dreaming Up A World Of Fantasy - Green wax

(then black vinyl with a different B side)

Checkerboard Squares, also released on Red wax (Yellow and Green variations are around, but I've only ever seen one Red copy)

In order of rarity, Red, Green ,Yellow, and finally Black would be the order.

The Black vinyls were a good while fter the 3 coloured variations)

Cheers

Mick

that makes sense....Dave A told me he got his off Keith Minshull...he said the multicolored ones were sent by Soussan to UK djs to promote the issue......i guess the one i got was one he had left.......
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I think it was booted on both Black and Yellow wax but I've never seen a red wax one. I got the other post wrong...it was Shirley Mathews - My Little Girl that was on the Mirwood red wax boot by SS not Bobby Garrett. So...(sorry but this is buggin' me now) we have...

Ckeckerboard Squares - Yellow wax Villa

Shirley Mathews - My Little Girl - Red wax Mirwood

Lydia Marcelle - It's Not Like You - Red wax Manhattan

What was the fourth one? Anyone?

Regards,

Dave

The Charades " Dreaming Up A World Of Fantasy "

As far as I recall , it was alleged at the time , that RS had something remotely to do with their " issue " .

Malc

Edited by Malc Burton
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the subject seems to be going off tangent...ever so slightly people!,...to my mind everybody must have been scratching their heads long and hard but to no avail. i broached the subject with tim brown and other than the fact that soussan discovered and subsequently bootlegged it under an alias, even he agreed that the little matter of who was resposible for uncovering it, is a complete mystery. i remember purchasing an aquamarine blue solid chunky vinyl pressing from max millward in 74, the very year of its discovery and instant fame on the northern scene so,....it appears this will run and run, perhaps in the olng run it may turn out to be ( for want of better words ) the lord lucan of northern soul...we'll never find out the truth!.

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