Soul On Sound cassette magazine

[Mike Shawe]

I just wondered if anyone here ever saw these Soul On Sound cassettes that were sold in the early 80s? I have one which I bought from Virgin just before they folded. I am trying to find a few more as they make for interesting listening, Tony Romer and James Hamilton were involved, any help appreciated. 

Edited June 16, 2023 by Mike Shawe

[Danny C]

James Hamilton did the preview mixes on first few and was pushing them in his Record Mirror column. Did well initially but he had a disagreement on the money and pulled out. He still plugged subsequent releases, every two weeks, but I think it emerged the sales figures were never as high as initially claimed. There's a full list on discogs without track details, 30 something releases. I only bought the first one. Played it to death and cost me a fortune buying the tracks. Bear in mind if you play it again, they were all new releases in a two week period. Some serious classics on the list? 

[Mike Shawe]

6 minutes ago, Danny C said:

James Hamilton did the preview mixes on first few and was pushing them in his Record Mirror column. Did well initially but he had a disagreement on the money and pulled out. He still plugged subsequent releases, every two weeks, but I think it emerged the sales figures were never as high as initially claimed. There's a full list on discogs without track details, 30 something releases. I only bought the first one. Played it to death and cost me a fortune buying the tracks. Bear in mind if you play it again, they were all new releases in a two week period. Some serious classics on the list? 

Hey Danny that’s interesting, thanks for the background info. The cassette I have features a preview mix by Peter Romer, so presumably a later one when Hamilton had already departed. That would make sense as Shannon is on the cover, so ‘83 or around then. It is fascinating listening, hearing the club news from that time which would have no doubt echoed what was written in JH’s column in Record Mirror (which I was a big fan of) buying many imports on the strength of his reviews alone as we had no real specialist stores in Bristol at that time, expensive stuff as you mention. 

[Kesalocasoul]

Here are a few more.  I think I have some of the half dozen missing numbers too; I just need to go through a few more boxes!  If I remember rightly they made a mess of the numbering and labelling around #33 and 34.

Not my favourite soul music-era, but I was living in Tanzania when these were first issued (1982), so they were a bit of a musical life-line at that time.

[Mike Shawe]

Wow quite the collection! Thanks for posting those. 

[Danny C]

I've got my facts slightly mixed up mate, terrible when your memory starts going. That's volume 1 you have there. James must've stepped in just after. I had same problem in Lincoln regarding import shops. We had one which closed in early 80s just as I was starting to earn money! Conway & Temple was the one that cost me a bit from back then. 

There's an old website with Hammy's bible somewhere, will see if I can find it.

9 minutes ago, Kesalocasoul said:

Here are a few more.  I think I have some of the half dozen missing numbers too; I just need to go through a few more boxes!  If I remember rightly they made a mess of the numbering and labelling around #33 and 34.

Not my favourite soul music-era, but I was living in Tanzania when these were first issued (1982), so they were a bit of a musical life-line at that time.

That's impressive mate, you have most of them. Last number on Discogs is 36, Sheila E which is fourth from end on your picture. Thanks for sharing.

[Mike Shawe]

9 minutes ago, Danny C said:

I've got my facts slightly mixed up mate, terrible when your memory starts going. That's volume 1 you have there. James must've stepped in just after. I had same problem in Lincoln regarding import shops. We had one which closed in early 80s just as I was starting to earn money! Conway & Temple was the one that cost me a bit from back then. 

There's an old website with Hammy's bible somewhere, will see if I can find it.

That's impressive mate, you have most of them. Last number on Discogs is 36, Sheila E which is fourth from end on your picture. Thanks for sharing.

I grabbed that pic from Discogs as I couldn’t find my tape, so not one I own! Yes, I have a link to his ‘bible’ somewhere, it’s pretty easy to find if you search his name and Record Mirror I think. I always enjoyed his detailed ‘jiggling juddering’ reviews  and 105-106-104 bpms Also what mixes worked well when he used to report back after his weekend spot at Gullivers I think it was, anyway, digressing a bit here. 

Edited June 16, 2023 by Mike Shawe

[Kesalocasoul]

The last issue I have is #39 (Frankie Beverly - bottom right), so it ran on for a few more months. 

Two different issue 33s inside two 34 boxes (see pic), a planned club in central London and the addition of northern club news around this time, so production issues and seemingly a last attempt to expand its audience, before its inevitable demise, I fear. 

I'm playing number one as I am typing and it plays OK for a forty plus year old much-travelled tape.

I can't find any more, but if anyone is interested in making a serious offer (as seen, not heard), do send a pm...

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Danny C said:

I've got my facts slightly mixed up mate, terrible when your memory starts going. That's volume 1 you have there. James must've stepped in just after. I had same problem in Lincoln regarding import shops. We had one which closed in early 80s just as I was starting to earn money! Conway & Temple was the one that cost me a bit from back then. 

There's an old website with Hammy's bible somewhere, will see if I can find it.

That's impressive mate, you have most of them. Last number on Discogs is 36, Sheila E which is fourth from end on your picture. Thanks for sharing.

Re the import shop in Lincoln was it in the square near the cathedral  i recall one there early 83 when i was doing my basic training at RAF Swinderby.

[Danny C]

7 minutes ago, Djack said:

Re the import shop in Lincoln was it in the square near the cathedral  i recall one there early 83 when i was doing my basic training at RAF Swinderby.

I'm racking my brain to remember which one you mean mate, so many have closed over the years.  The one I was thinking of was Revolver, on Clasketgate near the theatre. 

[Rob Fox]

Hi, done a Google search and found this forum thread.

I hope you can help!
 

I’m  looking for the SOS cassette that had a preview mix that had Rockers Revenge Walking On Sunshine, DTrain You’re The One For Me and Wham, Wham Rap.

Does anyone know what issue this was on please?
 

Many thanks!!

[Kesalocasoul]

Rob,

Welcome.

It must have been one of the early mixes - 1982 - so issues 1 to 10.  

A version of Walking On Sunshine by Rocker's Revenge (featuring Donnie Calvin) is part of the mix on issue 1, along with Keep On by D Train, but not You're The One For Me or the Wham track (not really our thing!).

I'll keep listening and let you know if I come across the other tracks.  They are only 30 second bursts and the sound quality of the first issue was poor; they got better.

Here is the rest of the mix on issue 1

 

 

[Kesalocasoul]

Rob,

I suspect the one you are referring to is SOS #5, where the mix includes D Train - Keep On, Wham - Young Guns and Rockers Revenge - Acapella Sunshine (Walking On Sunshine), together.

There are many, many versions of Walking On Sunshine listed on Discogs, but this one is called Acapella Sunshine.

https://www.discogs.com/release/19735-Rockers-Revenge-Featuring-Donnie-Calvin-Walking-On-Sunshine-82

In 1982 I was living in Tanzania, so the SOS tapes were my soul lifeline.  This issue introduced me to some wonderful tracks for the first time including Curtis Mayfield - Hey Baby, Johnnie Taylor - What About My Love, Gil Scott-Heron - Explanations, Gwen McCrae - Doin' It, Willie Hutch - Inside Out (we'll ignore Wham, Nick Straker etc).

Here is the list of the complete mix:

 

[Rob Fox]

Wow, thank you,  that's the one!

Brilliant!

[Simon Dee]

Hello

Only joined tonight,can you confirm exactly how many issues there were.

Thanks

Simon

[Kesalocasoul]

Welcome Simon,

My collection goes up to number 39 (1985), which as far as I am aware, was the last.  It featured interviews with Frankie Beverly, the Dazz Band, Joanna Gardener and Steve Arrington as well as two preview mixes from Mick Parkinson.

[Simon Dee]

Thanks for the prompt reply, I did get these and spent far too much money on imports because of them.

I'm 58 and still love dance and soul music from the years 1982 to 1988,did anyone offer to buy them ?

Would love to hear them again,i wonder if anyone ever digitised them.

Simon

[Rob Fox]

Are any of these still around?

I'd love the new release section from volume 5. Are they online anywhere?

[Kesalocasoul]

Hi Simon,

A couple of adverts from Blues and Soul, one in May 1985 showing number SOS #038 and then in July 1985 with an offer of buy one get one free (to clear the remaining stock?).  I can see no more adverts after that.

This was at a the time when CDs were taking over from cassettes (and vinyl, but not for many of those on here!), so perhaps demand for anything on tape was dropping.

I'll pm you about the remaining tapes.

[Simon Dee]

Superb,thanks for the flashback £1.95  including p+p(the cost of a stamp today)

[Razorushford]

On 16/06/2023 at 09:34, Kesalocasoul said:

Here are a few more.  I think I have some of the half dozen missing numbers too; I just need to go through a few more boxes!  If I remember rightly they made a mess of the numbering and labelling around #33 and 34.

Not my favourite soul music-era, but I was living in Tanzania when these were first issued (1982), so they were a bit of a musical life-line at that time.

what a great memory seeing these. I remember assisting Peter Romer with some of these mixes in Garrick street. Was over in Hamburg some years ago and met up with Peter and reminisced about the preview mixes. I would love for images of the track listings if possible of the preview mixes. From memory they weren't always on the sleeve. Sadly Peter passed away suddenly 6 years ago. Thank you !!

[Mike Shawe]

1 minute ago, Razorushford said:

what a great memory seeing these. I remember assisting Peter Romer with some of these mixes in Garrick street. Was over in Hamburg some years ago and met up with Peter and reminisced about the preview mixes. I would love for images of the track listings if possible of the preview mixes. From memory they weren't always on the sleeve. Sadly Peter passed away suddenly 6 years ago. Thank you !!

The cassettes had no track listings sadly, however the artists and titles were mentioned at the end of the mix. Sad to hear about Peter’s passing. 

[Mike Shawe]

On 24/01/2024 at 19:42, Kesalocasoul said:

Hi Simon,

A couple of adverts from Blues and Soul, one in May 1985 showing number SOS #038 and then in July 1985 with an offer of buy one get one free (to clear the remaining stock?).  I can see no more adverts after that.

This was at a the time when CDs were taking over from cassettes (and vinyl, but not for many of those on here!), so perhaps demand for anything on tape was dropping.

I'll pm you about the remaining tapes.

Any remaining takes I would be interested in please 

[Simon Dee]

Hello

Still looking for a few issues 25 26 31 and 34 or 33 (there was a numbering issue?)

Any help with info on if there ever an issue 33 would be great and finding issues 25 26 and 31.

Thanks

Simon

[Simon Dee]

I have also found out there was another series called Soundwave I have issues 5 and 9 any info on these would be great as well.

Simon

[Kesalocasoul]

 

I spent a little time transcribing the contents of about 30 tapes that I had, including the mixes, using a combination of Shazam, Blues and Soul and a little bit of my own knowledge (this isn't really my musical era).

I tried to attach a PDF here, but that hasn't worked, so if anyone would like an Excel spreadsheet of my transcription, which has 1,382 entries, please pm me.  I suspect those on the scene at that time will immediately spot some howlers, but it is a start. 

No charge, but perhaps a small donation to our local homeless/refugee charity in Chester, would be welcome.  https://shareaid.co.uk/

A terrible distraction from the book I wasn't meant to be writing at the time, but many enjoyable musical moments (and also some terrible interviews).

 

[Mike Shawe]

Please message me a link to the Excel sheet please (donation noted)

[Kesalocasoul]

Thanks Mike.  I have sent you a pm.

[AJC]

On 07/10/2024 at 21:07, Simon Dee said:

I have also found out there was another series called Soundwave I have issues 5 and 9 any info on these would be great as well.

Simon

H Simon,  I've sent you a pm regarding sound wave. A.