Jump to content

Best and worst 'tailor-mades'?

Joesoap

By Joesoap
in All About the SOUL

 Share

Recommended Posts

Joesoap Regular

Joesoap

Posted
Posted (edited)

Spin off from the thread someone started about 'Footsee'.

Most 'tailor-made' Northern records were a bit iffy but there are some good ones. So I thought I'd start a thread. What are the decent / best ones? And what were the worst?

'24 Hours a Day' has got to be in there as one of the best. Also David Rhodes, 'Hung Up In Mid-Air'. Was that one?

I can think of a few more and some talking points. But for now, over to you.

Hopefully a bit of fun to pass a bit of time while we're all stuck at home. Was gonna suggest a 'worst tailor-mades' thread but just post 'em all here, good and bad, and we'll sort it out that way!

 

 

Edited by Joesoap
  • Replies 93
  • Views 8.5k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Most active in this topic

Most active in this topic

Popular Posts

Benji
Benji

"standing on solid ground" - horrible record. what a synthetic backing. weak vocals. don't know about David Rhodes being a tailor-made but I really like it. One that is 100% tailor-made whic

Sunnysoul
Sunnysoul

Tommy Hunt "Loving On The Losing Side" and Diana Foster "I'm Gonna Share It With You" are two of the better ones from the 70's ... and, contrary to the previous post, Evelyn Thomas "Weak Spot" is a su

Bruv
Bruv

One I have enjoyed listening to over the years, Barbara Pennington - Twenty Four Hours A Day 

Posted Images

  • Popular Post
Benji Veteran

Benji

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted

"standing on solid ground" - horrible record. what a synthetic backing. weak vocals.

don't know about David Rhodes being a tailor-made but I really like it.

One that is 100% tailor-made which I really like is Four Vandals - Wrong side of town. even though backing sounds pretty synthetic to me the melody, the lyrics, the vocals really make up for that. Hats off to Ian Levine for this one, well done!

  • Up vote 4
  • Popular Post
Sunnysoul Veteran

Sunnysoul

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted

Tommy Hunt "Loving On The Losing Side" and Diana Foster "I'm Gonna Share It With You" are two of the better ones from the 70's ... and, contrary to the previous post, Evelyn Thomas "Weak Spot" is a superb record and most definitely Levine's finest effort. 

Post 70's, Chuck Jackson "All Over The World", another Levine effort, springs to mind, although the superior mix is not the one that charted ... this is the better mix:

 

  • Up vote 4
Joesoap Regular

Joesoap

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 hour ago, Benji said:

"standing on solid ground" - horrible record. what a synthetic backing. weak vocals.

don't know about David Rhodes being a tailor-made but I really like it.

One that is 100% tailor-made which I really like is Four Vandals - Wrong side of town. even though backing sounds pretty synthetic to me the melody, the lyrics, the vocals really make up for that. Hats off to Ian Levine for this one, well done!

I'm not all that keen on 'Wrong Side of Town' myself.  But the other one, 'One Picture's Worth a Thousand Words' - I think that's a very good record judged on its own merits (ie not just the standard of 'good for a 'tailor-made'). One of the few of the kind that I own. On the odd occasion I stick it on at home am always surprised at how good it is.

  • Up vote 1
Cunnie Veteran

Cunnie

Posted
Posted (edited)

One of the best Ian Levine Motorcity 12" singles from back in the day & his vocals are stunning on it.
Was also co-written by Edwin Starr.
Was also recently repressed on 7" vinyl but it sounds shite so the 12" is the one to track down.

https://youtu.be/yyQ_4dhLPPk

Edited by Cunnie
  • Up vote 1
Cunnie Veteran

Cunnie

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, WoodButcher said:

Pasted in plain text is all ... :thumbsup:

 

That's the bugger.
Copied & pasted but for some reason it wasn't playing.
Thanks for posting it for me.

  • Popular Post
Bruv Long Time

Bruv

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted

One I have enjoyed listening to over the years, Barbara Pennington - Twenty Four Hours A Day 

  • Up vote 4

Jim Elliott Long Time

Jim Elliott

Posted
Posted

Have always been partial to "My brother" by Frankie Gaye and "Its all over the grapevine" by Steve Mancha....never owned either but nice songs,  from the Levine Motor City period late 80s or early 90s.

ATB

Jim.

grantdyche Regular

grantdyche

Posted
Posted

I remember this one being big for a week or two,Sammy Campbell (Del Larks) Under a different name,Written by Herb Rooney & Ian Levine,A deffo tailor made,Not the worst either.

 

  • Up vote 1
Mr Fred Regular

Mr Fred

Posted
Posted

The four vandals:- The wrong Side of town was tailored by Ian Levine and yes it was controversial. Liked by some and not liked by others.Personally I think it's a good Soul Sound. If you think it is good, you need to listen to              the record by The Four Vandals :- A big Strong Love in my heart this is a brilliant sound and by far better than  the wrong side of town.              Regards Fred.

  • Up vote 1
Andybellwood Veteran

Andybellwood

Posted
Posted (edited)
12 hours ago, Mr Fred said:

The four vandals:- The wrong Side of town was tailored by Ian Levine and yes it was controversial. Liked by some and not liked by others.Personally I think it's a good Soul Sound. If you think it is good, you need to listen to              the record by The Four Vandals :- A big Strong Love in my heart this is a brilliant sound and by far better than  the wrong side of town.              Regards Fred.

 

'Wrong side of town'  certainly impressed Ginger Taylor to part with £££ 😅

Edited by Andybellwood
  • Up vote 2
Timillustrator Long Time

Timillustrator

Posted
Posted
8 minutes ago, Andybellwood said:

'Wrong side of town'  certainly impressed Ginger Taylor to part with £££ 😅

That's always surprised me, because listening to it it just doesn't sound like a 60's recording? Hard to put a finger on it but there's lots of little things. Maybe hearing it through a PA in an echoey room made it sound different or he scratched up the copy??

  • Up vote 2
Goldsoul Veteran

Goldsoul

Posted
Posted (edited)

A very clever piece of tomfoolery by Ian. 
He certainly didn’t need to ‘scratch any copies’ nor did he sell it for high sums. 
However, it was inevitable that while he slipped out copies to US dealers, it would surface in the UK by traders(and a fair few) looking for profitable sales. Strange how only Ian L gets the blame though. 

 

Edited by Goldsoul
  • Up vote 3
Andybellwood Veteran

Andybellwood

Posted
Posted

Remember seeing and enjoying the Four Vandals delivering an impressive live performance at Northampton as support to The Impressions . Ginger joined Steve Brookstein on stage for some good natured banter about his infamous purchase ....

  • Up vote 2
Andybellwood Veteran

Andybellwood

Posted
Posted (edited)

David Rhodes 'Hung Up In Mid Air' on Chi City which appeared in 2002 . Wasn't Chi City an Ian Levine label (? ) but not sure if this 45 fits the 'taylor made'  scenario?

2016 then saw a re issue via Record Shack with a 'disco' remix on the flip . 

 

Edited by Andybellwood
  • Up vote 1
Epic Long Time

Epic

Posted
Posted (edited)
29 minutes ago, Andybellwood said:

David Rhodes 'Hung Up In Mid Air' on Chi City which appeared in 2002 . Wasn't Chi City an Ian Levine label (? ) but not sure if this 45 fits the 'taylor made'  scenario?

2016 then saw a re issue via Record Shack with a 'disco' remix on the flip . 

 

David Rhodes was a bona-fide tune that Ian Levine had as an acetate at The Mecca - it is not a "tailor made".

Edited by epic
John Moffatt Veteran

John Moffatt

Posted
Posted

I had/have a handful from that period that I liked at the time, but I'm certainly not sure about now. 🙂

How about L.J. Johnson - Dancing On The Edge Of A Dream?

And where did Cochise and Afternoon of the Rhino come from?

Interested to hear what comes back. 🙂

John

Tomangoes Veteran

Tomangoes

Posted
Posted

If you were on the scene around 1970 and experienced the real golden years up to 1975 it must have been a real shock to see these records suddenly flooding the market and the exposure and proper commercialisation of the underground rare soul scene.

Alas, I joined the scene in 1975 and thought this stuff was the norm.

Certainly in the youth clubs and discos reaching for the best and weak spot were the main event.

It was only after going to 'proper' soul nights and cleethorpes all nighters that my education begun, and these made for the scene records were frowned upon.

Not som much the records but the concept.

I'm glad to see attitudes have mellowed somewhat all these years later.

Reaching for the best was always my favourite...and the genius who brought along the flasher should get a medal....proper northern, especially to 14 year olds...

Ed

  • Up vote 1

Tim Richmond Participant

Tim Richmond

Posted
Posted

I was a regular at The Highland Room when Levine was 'breaking' Doris Jones, LJ Johnson, Exciters ,Barbara Pennington etc, they were sensational tunes at the time! Some still sound good, it would be great to hear a few today, but it ain't gonna happen!

Tim

  • Up vote 1
Woodbutcher Veteran

Woodbutcher

Posted
Posted

Worst ever , without question in my mind , is something I've just had the grave misfortune to hear after a post on FB made me foolishly search for it ...

I will not post a clip for fear of being hunted down and burned at the stake so you'll have to find it and judge it yourselves , and don't blame me for the foul mood it'll put you in on this fine sunny Sunday morning ....

"Richie Sampson - Tears at the end of a love affair/Memories live on forever" 

 

tenor.gif.53307c9a567ec7dd52d2d07a3b889d10.gif

 

  • Up vote 1
Blackpoolsoul Veteran

Blackpoolsoul

Posted
Posted (edited)

I don't mind posting it, I have had my breakfast. It reminds me of those New faces 1970's singers we used to have appear in the Tower Town (perhaps that influenced Ian) (no offence meant it's just my opinion), O dear, woe is me ! Please please wait for the B side it gets "better ?" I had never heard it and will go back to bed and re-surface later

 

Edited by Blackpoolsoul
Blackpoolsoul Veteran

Blackpoolsoul

Posted
Posted
8 minutes ago, Woodbutcher said:

Just about to have my bacon and eggs here , thanks for being such a selfish sod and

trying to re-ruin my morning .... :hatsoff2:

How very dare you, my wife won't let me have that type of breakfast

 

Tomangoes Veteran

Tomangoes

Posted
Posted
8 minutes ago, Blackpoolsoul said:

Marmite

Show off dancers....

Those were the days...he couldn't do a somersault at the 100 club..

I wonder if it was not targeted at the northern scene if it would have got a better press from the scene?

Ed

John Moffatt Veteran

John Moffatt

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, Tomangoes said:

If you were on the scene around 1970 and experienced the real golden years up to 1975 it must have been a real shock to see these records suddenly flooding the market and the exposure and proper commercialisation of the underground rare soul scene.

Alas, I joined the scene in 1975 and thought this stuff was the norm.

Certainly in the youth clubs and discos reaching for the best and weak spot were the main event.

It was only after going to 'proper' soul nights and cleethorpes all nighters that my education begun, and these made for the scene records were frowned upon.

Not som much the records but the concept.

I'm glad to see attitudes have mellowed somewhat all these years later.

Reaching for the best was always my favourite...and the genius who brought along the flasher should get a medal....proper northern, especially to 14 year olds...

Ed

Interesting comment about The Flasher. I still like the flip Life Is A Song Worth Singing.

 

 

Godzilla Veteran

Godzilla

Posted
Posted
18 minutes ago, John Moffatt said:

Interesting comment about The Flasher. I still like the flip Life Is A Song Worth Singing.

 

 

It’s only the flip on the UK issue done fir he NS scene John. Life is a Song got a few plays before The Flasher came out - probably why the artist was already on the radar. The flip of Life is a version of Living For The City, which is pretty nice if I remember correctly.

  • Up vote 1
Joesoap Regular

Joesoap

Posted
  • Author
Posted
16 hours ago, epic said:

David Rhodes was a bona-fide tune that Ian Levine had as an acetate at The Mecca - it is not a "tailor made".

I knew it was played at the Mecca but thought there was some question of how it originated because of the involvement of Danny Leake who collaborated with Ian Levine on a lot of his 'tailor-mades'. He was also in the group 100% Pure Poison and worked on loads of other stuff with other/major artists that Ian wasn't involved with too, of course.

Just noticed while checking this comment on Discogs that Danny Leake apparently passed away a couple of weeks ago, sadly. So RIP to the man...

https://www.discogs.com/artist/366574-Danny-Leake?page=1

 

  • Up vote 1
Jaco Veteran

Jaco

Posted
Posted
16 hours ago, John Moffatt said:

I had/have a handful from that period that I liked at the time, but I'm certainly not sure about now. 🙂

How about L.J. Johnson - Dancing On The Edge Of A Dream?

And where did Cochise and Afternoon of the Rhino come from?

Interested to hear what comes back. 🙂

John

"Afternoon of the Rhino" was from a 1969 album so not sure how this would be considered to be tailor made. First played around 1973/4 from memory.

  • Up vote 3
Godzilla Veteran

Godzilla

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, Jaco said:

"Afternoon of the Rhino" was from a 1969 album so not sure how this would be considered to be tailor made. First played around 1973/4 from memory.

Ditto Cochise. A jazz drummer who played with Les McCann among others. There’s a difference between non-soul records picked up by the scene and Tailor Mades 😉 

  • Up vote 2

Get involved with Soul Source

Add your comments now

Join Soul Source

A free & easy soul music affair!

Join Soul Source now!

Log in to Soul Source

Jump right back in!

Log in now!
 Share
Go to topic listing

Source Advert





×
×
  • Create New...