The Legendary Disc Arrives In The Uk

[Guest BIGBOY]

A ONE TIME OPPORTUNITY..........................................

Way back in the summer of 1975 I had the good fortune one night to be on stage at the Wigan Casino club; even more fortunate in that I was also

one of the DJ's at the Casino.

The Casino was everyone's weekly destination - the pinnacle of northern soul. At the height of its popularity thousands flocked to the doors of the club every Saturday night and tonight was no exception!

Packed to the rafters the music boomed out on the heaving sweating dancers who gyrated and spun like dervishes. The beat of the backing tracks was echoed by the almighty coming together of 1000 sweaty palms in unison. This was Northern Soul!

In the gloom of this crazy scene the DJ sat solemn in his high alter observing the effects of every platter he selected. Then his next choice was

something very special, the announcement came "No Dean Courtney tonight I am going to spin the original version of I'll Always Need You"

Slight pause while everybody took a breath, the collectors in the down stairs bar knew something was afoot and strained their ears to catch what was coming next.

Then in an ear splitting second the opening bars of the song - sung by.......Len Barry! This was an original version much heavier and more pronounced that the version by Dean Courtney, almost tailor made for the scene...........

Did I imagine it; did all of us imagine it?

Why because it was never heard again on the scene, the best thing we had ever heard disappeared before our very eyes......or was I hallucinating?

Was the whole of Wigan on one huge mind bending trip that night?

Had we all had too much of Dave Mitchell?

This became a curse for me as the next ten years I looked for this elusive

album that it was played from. I was told by respected and knowledgeable parties that it had been released in the UK only, but nobody had ever seen the album sleeve......and on and on. Over the years some of the biggest names on the scene said, yes they agreed with the story.

The story became a legend in time and ranks alongside the elusive "vocal" of 6x6, eventually as it happens over time the legend went into a period of denial. "It just doesn't exist said one collector" backed by a number of nodding heads it almost became the pursuit of the Holy Grail!

Then in 2006, some four weeks ago a lonely figure sent out on a pilgrimage from Melton Mowbray in pursuit of a legend. This was no ordinary figure this was a man with an enormous amount of knowledge in the cataloguing of the Northern Soul phenomena.

Destined to meet John Madera, the guy who produced the Len Barry album

The hands sweated the hair stood up on the back of his neck as our intrepid traveller steps forward and places the stylus upon the acetate of this legendary studio album. Boom........its back, found after 30 years in the wilderness.

With a full history of the production and jaw dropping details of the backing artists.....wait for it.....the Tymes and the Sweet Three, our man arrives back in the UK.

With an additional four tracks never before heard on our shores the album motors through a full consultation process (2 bank managers, one intrepid traveller and one DJ) yes me!

And with a final turbo boost it makes its way to Sheffield, and yes guess what

first play at SAMANTHA'S NITER this Easter....just like the old day's.......see you there!!!!

[vaultofsouler]

A ONE TIME OPPORTUNITY..........................................

Way back in the summer of 1975 I had the good fortune one night to be on stage at the Wigan Casino club; even more fortunate in that I was also

one of the DJ's at the Casino.

The Casino was everyone's weekly destination - the pinnacle of northern soul. At the height of its popularity thousands flocked to the doors of the club every Saturday night and tonight was no exception!

Packed to the rafters the music boomed out on the heaving sweating dancers who gyrated and spun like dervishes. The beat of the backing tracks was echoed by the almighty coming together of 1000 sweaty palms in unison. This was Northern Soul!

In the gloom of this crazy scene the DJ sat solemn in his high alter observing the effects of every platter he selected. Then his next choice was

something very special, the announcement came "No Dean Courtney tonight I am going to spin the original version of I'll Always Need You"

Slight pause while everybody took a breath, the collectors in the down stairs bar knew something was afoot and strained their ears to catch what was coming next.

Then in an ear splitting second the opening bars of the song - sung by.......Len Barry! This was an original version much heavier and more pronounced that the version by Dean Courtney, almost tailor made for the scene...........

Did I imagine it; did all of us imagine it?

Why because it was never heard again on the scene, the best thing we had ever heard disappeared before our very eyes......or was I hallucinating?

Was the whole of Wigan on one huge mind bending trip that night?

Had we all had too much of Dave Mitchell?

This became a curse for me as the next ten years I looked for this elusive

album that it was played from. I was told by respected and knowledgeable parties that it had been released in the UK only, but nobody had ever seen the album sleeve......and on and on. Over the years some of the biggest names on the scene said, yes they agreed with the story.

The story became a legend in time and ranks alongside the elusive "vocal" of 6x6, eventually as it happens over time the legend went into a period of denial. "It just doesn't exist said one collector" backed by a number of nodding heads it almost became the pursuit of the Holy Grail!

Then in 2006, some four weeks ago a lonely figure sent out on a pilgrimage from Melton Mowbray in pursuit of a legend. This was no ordinary figure this was a man with an enormous amount of knowledge in the cataloguing of the Northern Soul phenomena.

Destined to meet John Madera, the guy who produced the Len Barry album

The hands sweated the hair stood up on the back of his neck as our intrepid traveller steps forward and places the stylus upon the acetate of this legendary studio album. Boom........its back, found after 30 years in the wilderness.

With a full history of the production and jaw dropping details of the backing artists.....wait for it.....the Tymes and the Sweet Three, our man arrives back in the UK.

With an additional four tracks never before heard on our shores the album motors through a full consultation process (2 bank managers, one intrepid traveller and one DJ) yes me!

And with a final turbo boost it makes its way to Sheffield, and yes guess what

first play at SAMANTHA'S NITER this Easter....just like the old day's.......see you there!!!!

Managed to get back logged in I see John.... interesting story.... as it was a couple or so years before my time, who played it as you don't say above.... and surely they must know where it went/dissapeared to.... or have I missed summat....

[Ric-tic]

im sure richard played this and its fate,,,i 'think' he had placed it on the top of his car and drove off

[vaultofsouler]

im sure richard played this and its fate,,,i 'think' he had placed it on the top of his car and drove off

Cheers.... if he did that, who picked it up/found it ????.... a "soulie" who has kept quiet all these years .... or somebody who hadn't a clue and "binned it" ....

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

Cheers.... if he did that, who picked it up/found it ????.... a "soulie" who has kept quiet all these years .... or somebody who hadn't a clue and "binned it" ....

"I'll Always Need You" was going to be one of the tracks on Len's "It's That Time Of The Year" album, but said album's release was cancelled in the USA. However, UK Brunswick did get as far as pressing at least a few copies, as I have actually held one in my hands and listened to the track several times over the past 30 years, even as recently as a couple of weeks ago...

This is not a white label test pressing, but an actual finished copy on a silver and black UK Brunswick label. The fact that it's on an actual label suggests to me that at least afew hundred copies would have been pressed. I guess most would also have been destroyed when the release was cancelled.

Apparently, although a short run of the vinyl was pressed, no album covers were made to go with it. I believe that it actually came to the person who owns it via a contact at the UK Decca company.

I should stress, before the "how much do you want for it" type questions come flooding in, that I do not own this record myself, I'm merely reporting on its existence!

TONE

[Simon T]

Then in an ear splitting second the opening bars of the song – sung by…….Len Barry! This was an original version much heavier and more pronounced that the version by Dean Courtney, almost tailor made for the

first play at SAMANTHA’S NITER this Easter….just like the old day’s…….see you there!!!!

oooooh I think I'm gona w*nk myself to death

thankfuly I can type with one hand!

[Soul-slider]

Len Barry's unreleased version did get a release over here about 20 years ago on one of the early Kent l.p's 'FOOTSTOMPERS' ...think Ady mentions a bit about it in the sleeve notes.

[Ian]

Len Barry's unreleased version did get a release over here about 20 years ago on one of the early Kent l.p's 'FOOTSTOMPERS' ...think Ady mentions a bit about it in the sleeve notes.

Also on a Goldsoul CD & a cheap comp CD, If I remember right Gary field had a copy of the LP

Ian

[Sheep]

im sure richard played this and its fate,,,i 'think' he had placed it on the top of his car and drove off

I found a copy of this, it was leaning against a car jack at the time, thought it was a bit unusual at the time.

SHEEP

[Sheep]

A ONE TIME OPPORTUNITY..........................................

Way back in the summer of 1975 I had the good fortune one night to be on stage at the Wigan Casino club; even more fortunate in that I was also

one of the DJ's at the Casino.

The Casino was everyone's weekly destination - the pinnacle of northern soul. At the height of its popularity thousands flocked to the doors of the club every Saturday night and tonight was no exception!

Packed to the rafters the music boomed out on the heaving sweating dancers who gyrated and spun like dervishes. The beat of the backing tracks was echoed by the almighty coming together of 1000 sweaty palms in unison. This was Northern Soul!

In the gloom of this crazy scene the DJ sat solemn in his high alter observing the effects of every platter he selected. Then his next choice was

something very special, the announcement came "No Dean Courtney tonight I am going to spin the original version of I'll Always Need You"

Slight pause while everybody took a breath, the collectors in the down stairs bar knew something was afoot and strained their ears to catch what was coming next.

Then in an ear splitting second the opening bars of the song - sung by.......Len Barry! This was an original version much heavier and more pronounced that the version by Dean Courtney, almost tailor made for the scene...........

Did I imagine it; did all of us imagine it?

Why because it was never heard again on the scene, the best thing we had ever heard disappeared before our very eyes......or was I hallucinating?

Was the whole of Wigan on one huge mind bending trip that night?

Had we all had too much of Dave Mitchell?

This became a curse for me as the next ten years I looked for this elusive

album that it was played from. I was told by respected and knowledgeable parties that it had been released in the UK only, but nobody had ever seen the album sleeve......and on and on. Over the years some of the biggest names on the scene said, yes they agreed with the story.

The story became a legend in time and ranks alongside the elusive "vocal" of 6x6, eventually as it happens over time the legend went into a period of denial. "It just doesn't exist said one collector" backed by a number of nodding heads it almost became the pursuit of the Holy Grail!

Then in 2006, some four weeks ago a lonely figure sent out on a pilgrimage from Melton Mowbray in pursuit of a legend. This was no ordinary figure this was a man with an enormous amount of knowledge in the cataloguing of the Northern Soul phenomena.

Destined to meet John Madera, the guy who produced the Len Barry album

The hands sweated the hair stood up on the back of his neck as our intrepid traveller steps forward and places the stylus upon the acetate of this legendary studio album. Boom........its back, found after 30 years in the wilderness.

With a full history of the production and jaw dropping details of the backing artists.....wait for it.....the Tymes and the Sweet Three, our man arrives back in the UK.

With an additional four tracks never before heard on our shores the album motors through a full consultation process (2 bank managers, one intrepid traveller and one DJ) yes me!

And with a final turbo boost it makes its way to Sheffield, and yes guess what

first play at SAMANTHA'S NITER this Easter....just like the old day's.......see you there!!!!

Have to agree with some of the other comments. its rare, but not that rare, have had a couple of copies in my hand over the years, both without covers, its not in the same league as say billy harner inst.

SHEEP

[Mick Holdsworth]

Have to agree with some of the other comments. its rare, but not that rare, have had a couple of copies in my hand over the years, both without covers, its not in the same league as say billy harner inst.

SHEEP

The Lp does contain, aparts from 'I'll always Need You' and "Love Love Love", two other tracks not available in any other format.

"I'm In Love"

"When you Call Me Baby" (Yes, it is the same song)

I've been after this LP for about 20 years (I was going to buy Soul Sams for £35 , but miised out - tracked the guy who bought it and he recorded the 4 tracks above for me - Still got the tape but sound quality is pretty poor).

If anyone does know of a copy knocking about , I would be prepared to pay for it.

Cheers

Mick

https://northern-soul-records.com

PS I can add sound clips of the last two tracks if anyone wants - may not be very goog quality, just nice to hear though.

[Guest]

The Lp does contain, aparts from 'I'll always Need You' and "Love Love Love", two other tracks not available in any other format.

"I'm In Love"

"When you Call Me Baby" (Yes, it is the same song)

I've been after this LP for about 20 years (I was going to buy Soul Sams for £35 , but miised out - tracked the guy who bought it and he recorded the 4 tracks above for me - Still got the tape but sound quality is pretty poor).

If anyone does know of a copy knocking about , I would be prepared to pay for it.

Cheers

Mick

https://northern-soul-records.com

PS I can add sound clips of the last two tracks if anyone wants - may not be very goog quality, just nice to hear though.

When Len Barry left the fold of John Madara for RCA the LP was cancelled and never got release. I've only ever encounted the legardary "BRUNSWICK" label press at Cleethorpes in 1975/6. There was only one copy then, and I've never seen it since. John Madara insists the acetate is it's only format. But Tony is right I wasn't dreaming it does have a UK press but it may well be a one-off.. as it was certainly never given a cover or a release. Would be great to know the release # The FOUR travcks on the LP are absolutely stunning..and John Vincent stay poker-faced as he bought it..then ran down my yard and wheel-spinned his car down the road..was I too cheap. I'll Always NeedYou is one of the finest pieces of Northern soul ever made, without question.

For those of you who catagorise Len Barry as POP Leon Huff is on Piano, Sweet Three and The Tymes were the backing singers..the whole LP is awesome... John can I have it back?

SOUND CLIPS and scans of the label are on the site www.raresoulman.co.uk under the Rarest of the Rare PAGE 39 ..enjoy.

[Mick Holdsworth]

as he bought it..then ran down my yard and wheel-spinned his car down the road..was I too cheap.

Hi John,

It's Mick Holdsworth here, how much did you sell it for ??? .... and how long ago?

Cheers

Mick

https://northern-soul-records.com

[Eamesy]

When Len Barry left the fold of John Madara for RCA the LP was cancelled and never got release. I've only ever encounted the legardary "BRUNSWICK" label press at Cleethorpes in 1975/6. There was only one copy then, and I've never seen it since. John Madara insists the acetate is it's only format. But Tony is right I wasn't dreaming it does have a UK press but it may well be a one-off.. as it was certainly never given a cover or a release. Would be great to know the release # The FOUR travcks on the LP are absolutely stunning..and John Vincent stay poker-faced as he bought it..then ran down my yard and wheel-spinned his car down the road..was I too cheap. I'll Always NeedYou is one of the finest pieces of Northern soul ever made, without question.

For those of you who catagorise Len Barry as POP Leon Huff is on Piano, Sweet Three and The Tymes were the backing singers..the whole LP is awesome... John can I have it back?

SOUND CLIPS and scans of the label are on the site www.raresoulman.co.uk under the Rarest of the Rare PAGE 39 ..enjoy.

I well remember turning down a copy at Peterborough about 1978, cos it was a bit scratched - thought I'd try & find a better one!!! Not really collecting now, but finding that might make me start again.Have made do with an emidisc since about that time. I think Tonys mate Tone played at at Yate, late 70s.

Alan

[pikeys dog]

Just listened to these clips on rarest of the rare, and to be brutally honest, I don't think any of the tracks are an improvement on the known or released versions.

p.s. I hope he's taken the acetate and had some dubs cut as it will soon wear out...

[Guest]

I well remember turning down a copy at Peterborough about 1978, cos it was a bit scratched - thought I'd try & find a better one!!! Not really collecting now, but finding that might make me start again.Have made do with an emidisc since about that time. I think Tonys mate Tone played at at Yate, late 70s.

Alan

Sure it was Tony Ellis whowas playing it at Yate. While on the subject of unreleased LPs without covers, in the 70s I picked up the sountrack LP of "Out of sight". Again it was on Brunswick, with a full label, no sleeve and it had a different mix of Dobie Gray "Out on the floor". Right at the end, as he finished he adds on "Out of sight". Not heard of any more copies of this one.

[Guest BIGBOY]

Just listened to these clips on rarest of the rare, and to be brutally honest, I don't think any of the tracks are an improvement on the known or released versions.

p.s. I hope he's taken the acetate and had some dubs cut as it will soon wear out...

AND TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST I'VE PLAYED IT ON A SYSTEM LOUD AND IT BEATS DEAN COURTNEY HANDS DOWN.

LOVE LOVE LOVE IS INFINITELY A SUPERIOR PRODUCTION - NO CONTEST.

THE JOEY HEATHERTON TRACK, WELL AGAIN FAR SUPERIOR

ALL THE THREE TRACKS ARE MORE"NORTHERN" AND HAVE A ROUGHER EDGE IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN. QUITE OBVIOUSLY THE RCA CUT IS A VERY POLISHED PRODUCTION WHICH IS THE HOUSE STYLE FOR A BIG LABEL LIKE RCA.

STANDING HAIRS ON THE BACK OF THE NECK IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT

THE ACETATE IS NOT ONY 7 STAR BUT IS ALSO OF CONSIDERABLE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE NORTHERN SCENE.

REMEMBER THIS THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL VERSIONS....!

[Guest BIGBOY]

"I'll Always Need You" was going to be one of the tracks on Len's "It's That Time Of The Year" album, but said album's release was cancelled in the USA. However, UK Brunswick did get as far as pressing at least a few copies, as I have actually held one in my hands and listened to the track several times over the past 30 years, even as recently as a couple of weeks ago...

This is not a white label test pressing, but an actual finished copy on a silver and black UK Brunswick label. The fact that it's on an actual label suggests to me that at least afew hundred copies would have been pressed. I guess most would also have been destroyed when the release was cancelled.

Apparently, although a short run of the vinyl was pressed, no album covers were made to go with it. I believe that it actually came to the person who owns it via a contact at the UK Decca company.

I should stress, before the "how much do you want for it" type questions come flooding in, that I do not own this record myself, I'm merely reporting on its existence!

TONE

Interesting one this because when I saw it played it had no label on it (I think)

[Guest BIGBOY]

Have to agree with some of the other comments. its rare, but not that rare, have had a couple of copies in my hand over the years, both without covers, its not in the same league as say billy harner inst.

SHEEP

With a label or without a label?

Was it the same copy?

Certainly rarer than Billy Harner which had a confirmed quantity of between 6-20 copies

[Guest BIGBOY]

The Lp does contain, aparts from 'I'll always Need You' and "Love Love Love", two other tracks not available in any other format.

"I'm In Love"

"When you Call Me Baby" (Yes, it is the same song)

I've been after this LP for about 20 years (I was going to buy Soul Sams for £35 , but miised out - tracked the guy who bought it and he recorded the 4 tracks above for me - Still got the tape but sound quality is pretty poor).

If anyone does know of a copy knocking about , I would be prepared to pay for it.

Cheers

Mick

https://northern-soul-records.com

PS I can add sound clips of the last two tracks if anyone wants - may not be very goog quality, just nice to hear though.

Interesting this, without a doubt when I saw it played it was by either Richard or the one time Sam spun at the Casino in 75

Maybe best thing is to ask Richard?

[Guest BIGBOY]

When Len Barry left the fold of John Madara for RCA the LP was cancelled and never got release. I've only ever encounted the legardary "BRUNSWICK" label press at Cleethorpes in 1975/6. There was only one copy then, and I've never seen it since. John Madara insists the acetate is it's only format. But Tony is right I wasn't dreaming it does have a UK press but it may well be a one-off.. as it was certainly never given a cover or a release. Would be great to know the release # The FOUR travcks on the LP are absolutely stunning..and John Vincent stay poker-faced as he bought it..then ran down my yard and wheel-spinned his car down the road..was I too cheap. I'll Always NeedYou is one of the finest pieces of Northern soul ever made, without question.

For those of you who catagorise Len Barry as POP Leon Huff is on Piano, Sweet Three and The Tymes were the backing singers..the whole LP is awesome... John can I have it back?

SOUND CLIPS and scans of the label are on the site www.raresoulman.co.uk under the Rarest of the Rare PAGE 39 ..enjoy.

No you can't have it back - YET!

No I didn't do a wheelie down the road after I left ( my fucking tyres are £250 each man!)

Yes I do play poker.

And yes the unknown track is amazing.

As far as the UK press which is what I must have seen played at Wigan and most probably by Sam. Guess who was a DJ in 75 @ cleethorpes? I think you saw the same copy as me John!

This is probably another Billy Harner scenario, most likely ONE sneaked through?

If any of the guys out there know someone who has this then can we have a full track listing and the release# ???

[Guest]

I know someone who says has the album but his records are in no order at all and he has thousand and thousand and thousand across a lot of 60's genres.

I heard the utterly fantastic "1-2-3" on the radio the other day and thought to myself it was a shame it was a hit otherwise it would be the best Northern record ever made ! Who'd be brave enough to play it at a venue now ? Len Barry is great.

[Guest BIGBOY]

I know someone who says has the album but his records are in no order at all and he has thousand and thousand and thousand across a lot of 60's genres.

I heard the utterly fantastic "1-2-3" on the radio the other day and thought to myself it was a shame it was a hit otherwise it would be the best Northern record ever made ! Who'd be brave enough to play it at a venue now ? Len Barry is great.

Simon,

I agree 1-2-3 was and still is a brilliant record but unfortunately for the majority of trainspotters it charted so no good for them!

Probably we should sometimes remember that this was the whole idea of making a record to be a success!

[BrianB]

Are we saying here that Len Barry did the original versions of Love Love Love, I Struck It Rich and I'll Always Need You as well as You Baby? (Always loved Like a Baby, another Northern monster to be if it hadn't been a hit!)

The Love Love Love was on Kents Smart LP, LP no 52, with I A N Y on no 17, Footstompers. I've just been playing I A N Y on a CD and can't remember which one and who did it for me, as I'm desperate to play it now!

To me, without a doubt, Len Barry is the finest blue eyed soul singer bar none.

[Guest]

"You Baby" is originally by The Ronettes and the song is the subject of some discussion elsewhere ! Loads of versions of it tho.

[Guest]

I did a tape for someone years ago titled "Not Len Barry". It had some great stuff on it- a few Billy Harners, Johnny Caswell's brilliant "IOU" (which if it wasn't written for Len I'll eat my head) Dean Courtney, William Bonney and loads of others which I can't remember right now.

[Guest BIGBOY]

Are we saying here that Len Barry did the original versions of Love Love Love, I Struck It Rich and I'll Always Need You as well as You Baby? (Always loved Like a Baby, another Northern monster to be if it hadn't been a hit!)

The Love Love Love was on Kents Smart LP, LP no 52, with I A N Y on no 17, Footstompers. I've just been playing I A N Y on a CD and can't remember which one and who did it for me, as I'm desperate to play it now!

To me, without a doubt, Len Barry is the finest blue eyed soul singer bar none.

I always Need You

Love Love Love

When I call you baby

Sung by Len Barry

are all the ORIGINAL versions as per John Madara

[Guest BIGBOY]

I always Need You

Love Love Love

When I call you baby

Sung by Len Barry

are all the ORIGINAL versions as per John Madara

Agree on all your comments on Len Barry, I always used to hammer all his stuff at the "normal" disco seesions when I worked for Mecca at Samantha's.

And before you ask 90% of my spots in a normal scenario were soul, used to get threatened regularly by punters and the management if I need play some other stuff!!!

[Guest]

Didn't Bobby Hebb write "Love Love Love" ? Surprised that his isn't the original version.

[Guest BIGBOY]

Didn't Bobby Hebb write "Love Love Love" ? Surprised that his isn't the original version.

sIMON,

See the last line of my post???????????

are all the ORIGINAL versions as per John Madara

[Denbo]

Have to agree with some of the other comments. its rare, but not that rare, have had a couple of copies in my hand over the years, both without covers, its not in the same league as say billy harner inst.

SHEEP

Yeah, but BIGBOY's report had me on the edge of my seat. Well written. BIGBOY, ever thought of writing a Thriller? :o)

[Guest]

Interesting this, without a doubt when I saw it played it was by either Richard or the one time Sam spun at the Casino in 75

Maybe best thing is to ask Richard?

Interestingly Soul Sam was the first guy in the UK to see and hear the acetate LP, he didn't seem to know anything about it. So I assume Soul Sam wasn't the guy who played it in the 70s.

[Guest]

Are we saying here that Len Barry did the original versions of Love Love Love, I Struck It Rich and I'll Always Need You as well as You Baby? (Always loved Like a Baby, another Northern monster to be if it hadn't been a hit!)

The Love Love Love was on Kents Smart LP, LP no 52, with I A N Y on no 17, Footstompers. I've just been playing I A N Y on a CD and can't remember which one and who did it for me, as I'm desperate to play it now!

To me, without a doubt, Len Barry is the finest blue eyed soul singer bar none.

Yes Len's version were certainly first on all three, according to John Madara.

[Pete S]

AND TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST I'VE PLAYED IT ON A SYSTEM LOUD AND IT BEATS DEAN COURTNEY HANDS DOWN.

Hello John

what a load of utter bollocks, it's a poor mans version of Dean Courtney and always has been. Played relentlessly at the casino by both Russ and Richard in 77 and refused to take off. Lacks the punch, lacks the fantastic orchestral backing (in fact the backing track to Courtneys version would have made one of the greatest n.s. instrumentals ever) and I am pretty sure you're just hyping this because of the rarity of the LP.

I'm sure Kev Roberts told me he got a tape off John Madara featuring Len Barry doing Caswell's Y.D.L.M.A.

[Guest]

With a label or without a label?

Was it the same copy?

Certainly rarer than Billy Harner which had a confirmed quantity of between 6-20 copies

Can someone come up with a release # on this Brunswick LP

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

sIMON,

See the last line of my post???????????

are all the ORIGINAL versions as per John Madara

Simon -

LLL was actually written by Joe Renzetti and Jerry Ross. As Jerry was producing Bobby Hebb's records at the time and thus Bobby was more likely to have first option on any Ross-Renzetti penned material than John Madara was, I think the likelihood of Len Barry's being the original is probably all in Mr. Madara's mind.

I can call Jerry Ross tomorrow and get his viewpoint, if it'll settle any arguments...

TONE

[Guest]

Didn't Bobby Hebb write "Love Love Love" ? Surprised that his isn't the original version. [/quote

]

Nope Bobby Hebb didn't write love, love, love. Joe Renzetti worked closely with John Madara, David White & Leon Huff he later produced the versions of Love, Love, Love for William Bonney & Bobby Hebb.

[Guest BIGBOY]

Hello John

what a load of utter bollocks, it's a poor mans version of Dean Courtney and always has been. Played relentlessly at the casino by both Russ and Richard in 77 and refused to take off. Lacks the punch, lacks the fantastic orchestral backing (in fact the backing track to Courtneys version would have made one of the greatest n.s. instrumentals ever) and I am pretty sure you're just hyping this because of the rarity of the LP.

I wondered when you'd creep from under your rock...........how are you my son? Still taking the medicine?

For all our viewers Pete was my number one fan and follower and could be seen wearing away the same piece of floor every week whilst I deejayed.

Two points here, to say it lacks the punch - you must get some new batteries for your hearing aid.

A poor man's version is an insult to the extremely credible names who participated in the recording.

Third and last there are four tracks on it......mate.

PS as you know I left Wigan late 76 luv.....

[Guest]

Just listened to these clips on rarest of the rare, and to be brutally honest, I don't think any of the tracks are an improvement on the known or released versions.

p.s. I hope he's taken the acetate and had some dubs cut as it will soon wear out...

If you hear them on a system they are absolutely in the different class to the other versions. Also need to hear them all the way through.. I'll Always Need You is one of the greatest recordings of our music ever made.. long time since i've had goosepimles listening to a record.. Try I get to hear one of John's sets..the sound reproduction is so strong..

[Guest]

Hi John,

It's Mick Holdsworth here, how much did you sell it for ??? .... and how long ago?

Cheers

Mick

https://northern-soul-records.com

mick,

sold it on Friday ..

[Mark Bicknell]

About time we had a good old back to basics debate on here...lol i'm a soul fan so i can't really get involved on this one......lol

Mark Bicknell.

[Cunnie]

Seem to remember the late Nev Wherry also having a copy & spinning it at the KGB nighters in the late 70s.

[Pete S]

I wondered when you'd creep from under your rock...........how are you my son? Still taking the medicine?

For all our viewers Pete was my number one fan and follower and could be seen wearing away the same piece of floor every week whilst I deejayed.

Two points here, to say it lacks the punch - you must get some new batteries for your hearing aid.

A poor man's version is an insult to the extremely credible names who participated in the recording.

Third and last there are four tracks on it......mate.

PS as you know I left Wigan late 76 luv.....

Please forgive me.

I was wrong, it's f*cking brilliant, best record I've heard in my life from the best artist I've ever heard and played by the best dj I've ever heard play a set.

[Guest]

what a load of utter bollocks, it's a poor mans version of Dean Courtney and always has been. Played relentlessly at the casino by both Russ and Richard in 77 and refused to take off. Lacks the punch, lacks the fantastic orchestral backing (in fact the backing track to Courtneys version would have made one of the greatest n.s. instrumentals ever) and I am pretty sure you're just hyping this because of the rarity of the LP.

.M.A.

"poor man's version" ??? Do I miss the point of this forum................is it to take the piss??

Edited April 9, 2006 by john manship

[Rob Wigley]

Seem to remember the late Nev Wherry also having a copy & spinning it at the KGB nighters in the late 70s.

Yes Martin very true ,Nev had one but no cover as stated earlier, I had len barry on an EMI DISC when I was at school !!! (I left in 75) have heard it played several times over the 30odd years since then and I am quite surprised at the fuss to be honest, still a nice collectors item and obviously very rare in both US/UK format.

Would love a copy but only because i love Len Barry's records, my older Mod sisters played them to death when i was a toddler along with the Motown and Atlantic stuff they were buying. When you listen to 1,2,3 or like a baby there's no wonder I got into Northern !!!!

[Spanner]

mick,

sold it on Friday ..

Wasnt a ebay bargain was it John ?

span

[Pete S]

"poor man's version" ??? Do I miss the point of this forum................is it to take the piss??

No it's to give an honest opinion, which I did, apart from you two clowns I doubt anyone thinks this version is better than Dean Courtney's, and as for the version of Love Love Love, it sounds unfinished so to compare it to the Bobby Hebb version is like comparing a chicken to another chicken which isn't quite as good as the first chicken.

[Guest BIGBOY]

No it's to give an honest opinion, which I did, apart from you two clowns I doubt anyone thinks this version is better than Dean Courtney's, and as for the version of Love Love Love, it sounds unfinished so to compare it to the Bobby Hebb version is like comparing a chicken to another chicken which isn't quite as good as the first chicken.

Funniest thing I have ever heard, I will get the presciption tomorrow and drive around straight away Pete

[Guest ShaneH]

john, you got an event coming up?

Shane

[Makemvinyl]

love both versions of "ille always need you"

but always had a likeing for the Len Barry Version

have played it out loads of times from the Kent Album with sleeve notes by Ady

in the welsh swamps of tennessee or some such thing

Excellent dance soul cant knock it

Doug

Edited April 9, 2006 by MAKEMVINYL