Soul Galore - Dave McCadden - Look Back Review From 90s
Soul Galore - Dave McCadden - Review with clips
Soul Galore - Dave McCadden - Review with clips, please note this was posted in1999
Soul Galore
If vinyl is your thing this is a mag for you, all it contains is vinyl reviews vinyl reviews and vinyl reviews. But heres the sting it is well entertaining and a good reference.
Reviews range from a sharp few liners to a full page. A good reference guide and interesting read. Edited by Dave McCadden highly recommended. Find out yourself, here's some clips of reviews taken from a back issue No 8.
Note don't think its still going as still awaiting issues, still a good read below though!
Details of mag at end:
MISS D D PHILIPS Hey little girl (Evolution)
Forgotten pop stomper with few redeeming feature. Entertained the ugly ones for a few months in 77 until the pirate jumped ship to deliver boxes of boots to Russs stall on the balcony at Wigan. Ironic really - it was Russ who was responsible for making it a biggie in the first place. Remains hard to find an original for under £20, but the pasty looking boots have all been sold to clay pigeon shooters. Click click boom!
TRADITIONS *** My llife with you (Bar Clay)
Steamy uptempo chugger doing the rounds at a tenner. Good for a workout before the serious dancing starts, but the sparse production work leaves you feeling theres less to this than meets the ear. Had spins in the eighties at around the same time as the next one...
GORDON KEITH *** Look ahead (Calumet)
A rousing Metal Mickey of a stomper, with some serious horn blowing on a riff which has you nodding your head like Bill Clinton interviewing an au pair. 80s spins, initially for Keb, made it de rigeur for up and coming jocks before its untimely demise as the flip to a boot of Lee Bates Oh, why dont you write on Dragon. Those are easy to find at £5, and the original will only set you back £25. Hard core Northern uproar.
JAY + AMERICANS Got hung up along the way (United Artists)
Innocuous pop ditty which had a following of sorts in the seventies. Imports still command £25, while the 1967 UK issue (UP 1191) is hard at £30. No soul - so no chance!
LAVERN BAKER *** Im the one to do it (Brunswick)
Currently enjoying a renewed bout of interest amongst the more selective clobbers. For those bored with Jackie Wilsons original, its worth noting this one has the same backing track but with added pzazz. By the 60s her voice was magnificent and Im perfectly happy to have shelled out £75 for this piece of soul perfection.
BLUE JAYS *** Point of View (Jay)
Still a much sought after rarity, but nowhere near as exclusive as we once thought. In 1982 I saw somebody swap their mint copy of Al Williams on Palmer for this. Theyll look back on that deal with a heavy heart, as its now down to a mere £150 while the Al Williams disc just continues to rise and rise. Fabulous dancer. The vocals sound like theyve been fed through some kind of megaphone, but its as catchy as hell.
CARL DOUGLAS ** Marble and iron (Buddah)
Easy listening black pop. Recorded a few years before producer Biddu would make the big time with Tina Charles and others, but when you listen to this alongside his later productions such as Jimmy James A man like me and Johnny Johnsons Honey Bee you can see the man had a real feeling for soul music. He was never going to make the genuine article but at least he gave it a real good shot. For me, this is his best thing he ever did. Its still a hard item at £20, and would probably fetch more but for a competent version by Jimmy James on EMI. Carl Douglas - what can you say about him? He was all over the place. Which other artist can claim to have records released on Okeh, toured with a young Elton John, and sang bare chested on Top Of The Pops! Rare sound - but still pop.
JEWEL AKENS *** Sukiyaki (My first lonely night) (Era)
Superb strolling midtempo number had a few collectors going slightly moist before a premature Goldmine release made them lose interest. Pity for you when he leaves you behind: this will be massive in about ten years. The original song Sukiyah (Ueo Muite Aruko) - "Walk with your chin up" was A 1962 hit for Kyu Sakamoto. An instrumental version by Kenny Ball made it a US and UK smash in 63. Despite the fact that it had sold a million on two separate occasions Jewel was straight in the studio to record his version. It appeared on his Birds arid the Bees album - BEWARE!! - its not the same recording as his Era 45; its much slower and consequently far less danceable. Goldmine issues still carry their retail ceiling price and only time will tell which ones start to go for money in the future. One thing the history of our scene has taught us about reissue labels - from MCA to Grapevine -there are always some releases which will turn out to be worth far more than the others. An original Era issue will set you back a hundred nicker and, as mad as this may sound, it probably represents a good investment.
EARNESTINE EADY *** The change (scepter)
Another one likely to go up in price. Staple diet down south and caught on in a big way for a few years before finding its way into my box. Gotcha sister! Great tune and a sexy, swinging beat - £30 to hep cats.
STRIDES ** I can get along (Without your love) M-S
Old Wigan sound, now changing hands for fifty bars, and not turning up in any great quantity. Never took off in the seventies, but we appreciate this kind of sound far more today. There are far better Detroit records which only sell for half the price, but deserves its following. Flipside carries the backing track instrumental. The group mutated into CJ + Co and recorded the dreadful Devils Gun for Atlantic. That was a fave at Blackpool Mecca at about the same time as this Strides record was being ignored at Wigan. Aint life spooky, folks?!
KELLY ST. CLAIR ** Hear that beat (AMM)
Former seventies spin, originally covered up as Ian St John. Or was it Holly St James? Quite atmospheric in places, with all that stopping and starting, but it'll never make anyones Top Ten. Prices vary on this one- from £10 - £25. Almost makes you think somebody might be playing it in some remote corner of England. Stop it now! It may seem like a bad dream when we look back at the atmosphere which prevailed when we played all those terrible pop records, but I personally hope that we may one day feel the same way about some of the early 60s dancers weve decided to include under the banner of Northern Soul.
GENE CHANDLER I can take care of myself (Constellation)
Sprightly thumping Chicago beat, Genes usual impeccable vocals, lyrics courtesy of Van the Man. A real soul cocktail to drown those blues and get your feet jumping. Surprisingly issued here in 69 - many years after it was recorded -on Action (ACT 4551), as the flip to the frenetic I can save it. Despite its lack of rarity it was a popular sound in the mid 70s. It still only sells for £20 on issue, but the white demos are proving hard to get hold of. That UK issue is no great prize and shouldn't fetch more than £25. Not his best effort, but somehow they all sound like they were recorded in the summertime.
FANTAISIONS Unnecessary tears (Satellite)
From the same city comes this under-rated double eider. Although its more liked to be found on somebody's tape than heard at a venue, it has to be good value for money at £15. I'm more impressed by the sound of the go-go flipside That's where the action is, which conjures up images of girls dancing in cages and people wearing polo-necked sweaters and doing ridiculous dances.
FIVE AND A PENNY * You dont, know where your interest lies (UK Polydor)
Lacklustre British version of the Simon and Garfunkd song. If we hadnt found Dana Valerys excellent rendition we might find a little more pity in our hearts for it, but only collectors of UK releases will have a gleam in their eye when this one pops up for sale. Used to be pricey but the marginalised market means its only a £15 yester-groove, for this 68 recording on Polydor (56282)
SPINDLES ** Ten shades of blue (Abe)
Average uptempo soul sound which has perched on the edge of the swimming pool of collectibility for too many years. Unlikely to make much of a splash now with anyone but local midweek DJs w ho lack either the finances or the commitment to buy the more expensive sounds which will launch them on to the national circuit. Anything from £5- £10 and easily double that for the demo.
LOU EDWARDS TALKIN BOUT POOR FOLKS /THINKIN BOUT MY FOLKS
Is it just me, or do you also think that's too long a title? Why, its the whole damn chorus, Lou! But I digress. A rarity in the history of the Northern Soul scene of the early 70s, as it was one of the very few to be played as a new release. Surprisingly it never attracted the animosity directed at later new releases gaining turntable action. The stompers took it under their bags and made it one of their own. By the mid 70s the scene had wearied of the sound, replacing it with Baby boy and Mommas gone, but it was still a good seller when US Columbia got their fingers out of their arses to launch their Special Products logo. (Hey Columbia were still waiting for your next release Its been twenty years since the last one you dont want to lose arty momentum) The recent Goldmine CD Soul Time has mopped up much of the more popular material on this label, but there are still loads of good 45s knocking about to choose from e.g. Beverly + Del Capris, Bonnie Herman, Ray Jimenez etc. Those reissues of Lou Edwards can be had for a snip, while the rare issues pop up for £30. White demos may look more appealing but they're to be found everywhere for an easy £25. Thumping soul music with a social commentary. Oh yes!
HOT TAMALES Loves Invention (Detroit)
You must be joking! Far too frenetic for me to even consider a leg-shake. Crikey, Id have struggled to dance to this when I was only 17. Having said that its a cracking piece of soul music with a party atmosphere and a good time feel. The only copy Ive seen recently was owned by Ray Saunders in Coventry; and if youre telling me you can dance to this Ray, then 1 suggest you get yourself over to Highfield Road. Theyre desperate for a speedy winger with two good feet. Last seen for sale for £45.
HAL MILLER *** On my own two feet (Amy)
Typical you wait years for a Hal Miller record, then loads come all at once. This was the one that started the ball rolling though, as it leapfrogged its way from venue to venue in the 80s, winning new friends in every town and city. Early 60s New York feel, with beat ballad overtones, and a simple pop score from Bob Crewe and Charlie Calello. A recent auction saw it go for £150. Truth be told its a bit dated and lacks the sophistication of many of the beat ballads were turned our attention to. Despite the presence of a UK cover version by kipper Lynch, it has remained stubbornly elusive. There are even those poor souls whove told me they prefer the British version - and they don't all live in Hastings!
HIGH KEYS**** Living a lie (Verve)
Another early victim on the Northern Soul hit parade. Considered too cheap, too common, too available for mass exposure in the 70s. It was starting to command a hefty £8 in 77 when Pep found a load of waterdamaged Verve demos and flooded the market with them. I cant believe I just said that. Lead singer Troy Keyes named the group after himself but decided they should drop an E. Then he found them at rehearsals, dancing on the tables and swigging bottles of Evian, and wished hed never bothered. More George Kerr magic where is he now? Id love to see his face when I tell him one of his old productions is going for a ton. Records like this should not even be soiled with something as sordid as monetary value. Its priceless.
MONGO SANTAMARIA * The Now generation (Columbia)
Old Mecca instrumental which would kill off any clever-arse contestants on Name That Tune - there isnt one! Had a minor following in the squid 70s, but would attract little interest now, unless it was sampled by some youth wearing a baseball cap back to front and in need of a good wash. £5-ish.
CARSTAIRS *** He who picks a rose (Okeh)
Proof positive of the pulling power of Blackpool Mecca in the very early 70s. This thundering stomper was ruined only be their insistence on keeping that awful guitar lead, an instrument that has no place on a soul record! (I blame the original arranger Norman Whitfield. He was getting ideas above his station by now and trying to mix it with the psychedelic rock fraternity.) Quite why the normally smooth and groovy Calello and Sandy Linzer kept the intro I cannot think. But it spoils the record for me. (yeah, well we like it Dave, so shut the Duck up and tell us how much its worth Disgruntled Reader). Oh. its like that is it? Fair enough. Issues are mere working girls at £15, while the white DJs are saucy little numbers at f30. The popularity of this particular foot tapper led to the Whispersman on your hands being covered up as The Carstairs.
JAY LYLE ** How good can it get (Angel City)
Unattractive and aggressive West Coast soul. Its surly attitude makes it ultra danceable but there's no emotion to make it tug at your heartstrings. Finds itself collectable at last and goes for about £30.
CHRIS BARTLEY *** Sweetest thing this side of heaven (Vando)
More sophisticated production work from the Coy Boy. Chris doesn't have the best soul voice but its such a cracking song that even l could have sung it and it would have sounded good! Er, well - maybe not. US copies have tucked their feet under the tables of the poor house for more years than I care to remember Domar once made a nice coffee table out of his stock copies - and you shouldnt be asked for more than a bluey. For some unknown reason it was given a UK release circa 65. (Take no notice of the UK dates for this label in the Record Collector Price Guide - theyre hopeless). That Cameo Parkway (P101) issue is far rarer than its price tag of £50 suggests. Ive only had one copy in the last 25 years.
PAT LUNDY ** You hit me where it hurts (Leopard)
Early 60s roller from a lady who has always been of interest to soul collectors. Turns up on tapes quite often but rarely goes out to play in the clubs. These dated sounds have a following all of their own so £30 doesnt seem unreasonable. Shall we speed up?
SHIRELLES * March (You I// be sorry) (Scepter)
Not half as sorry as l am for hearing it. Has to be one of the most grotesque numbers Ive ever danced to. Dave Evison played it at Wigan one night when I was so off-my-box I would have danced to anything. This sure tested me - I failed miserably. Luckily, noone noticed (I hope) so l may have got away with it. Apparently, some people consider it worth buying so I should tell you its market value is a stunning £4. It is some time since my heart was broken by the sale of my Disco Demand collection but I seem to recall it was also on the flip of the DDS 115 Last minute miracle-a more realistic £2.
ERNIE ANDREWS** Fine young girl (Capitol)
Had this been an 80s discovery, collectors would have been doing cartwheels all the way to the record bar. Instead it had the misfortune to wake up one morning and find the mid-70s Northern scene shining a torch in its face - and pouting. Sure, there was quite a few mid tempo records being spun, but they were a damn sight classier than this one. Made a UK issue alongside Reggie Garner in 76 on Capitol (CL 15873) - both records received the same promotion despite one being a national monster and the other a virtual unknown in many parts of the country. That reissue was a poor seller and may catch us out one day if some cheeky saucepot gets behind it, but for now its virtually worthless and only goes for a couple of pounds. Originals can still be found for a bargain £15.
LORRAINE CHANDLER * Love you baby (UK Black Magic)
Tee hee! You Nottingham wags, what will you think of next! As you sat in your dream little pubs thinking of ways - any ways - to make money, who came up with this one? Lets take a copy of Love you baby to a recording studio and get some woman to sing over the flipside backing track. Hey, well call it Lomine Chandler! Selectadisc will chuck it out on Black Magic. And to make it seem more authentic well stick her authentic recording of What can I do on the Beside. Chortle, chortle! Grow up, saddos. This technique was used a few times in the eighties, which is why you'll never be able to find a Ric Tic release for the supposed Little Ann version of The way you're been acting lately. And there are even worse examples than that. (Cassietta George "Theres nothing else to sat" - get real, Kev! She was a trained gospel singer. That woman you got to sing for you sounded like she worked in the local cake shop.) The travesty of a record, which Lomine Chandler swore she never recorded, may be worth £4 simply on the strength of What can I do Obviously there are no US originals of Lomine Chandler singing love you baby, so save up your money and buy one of her original records. After all - you only live twice!
5 STAIRSTEPS + CUBIE .** Stay, close to me (Windy C.)
Exhilarating foot-tapper. As our taste broadens and we move on up to rarer records, and we tend to dump things like this. We shouldn't. We should remember how GOOD it is before we remember how CHEAP it is. Otherwise well fall into the trap of spending hundreds of pounds with dealers on records that are designed to impress other collectors, rather than continuing to do the Vega thing that brought us onto the scene in the first place -buying great soul dance records. Period! Its probably become something of a cliche to you readers out there by now, but this one hovers at a bluey. First UK issue in 69 on Buddah (201 026) is less common than the 1971 issue of the US Curtom release (Buddah 2011 092) credited simply to the Stairsteps (without the Rubik Cubie) Neither issue b rare, so don't be a Burke if you see it under a fiver.
JAYNETTS ** Peeping in and out the windows (Tvff)
Late eighties spin which seems to be a forgotten tune these days. Sparse, moody and slightly fretful, but it must have had something if it got me on the dancenoor. The longer it goes on the more powerful it becomes - youre hooked by the end. A mere £15 and its yours governor. Sorb, we dont take fifty pound notes, got any less?
MILLIE JACKSON *** A house for sale (Spring)
Many months before its belated UK issue this was a surprise floorpacker in Mr Ms. For a 1976 release that was a unique achievement, and it remains something of a soft classic even today. In the early 70s she took up where Laura Lee left off and released several love triangle concept albums. An x-rated stage show filled houses wherever she went, but sales never passed beyond her R+B audiences. (I'm still filled with a sense of wonderment whenever I hear her version of Loving arms) Whereas the roots of My malt a sweet man lie with Motown, A house for sale is a pleasant Philly inspired disco sound which is well worth the fiver you're likely to be asked for it.
JOHNNY WILLIAMS *** You're something kinda mellow (Babylon)
Deceptively hard to find now. There was a time when this was all the rage, and sold for two pounds. Early 70s soulful thumper and a cut above the disco sounds of the time. Picked up by the sirloin for a chance at the big time, circa 76. Had its seven minutes and promptly said, Ill get my coat. Aches for another chance. Still got your copy. Pull it Out and listen again -its better than we thought. I met Searling through this record. In a whim of juvenile fancy I suggested in my column in Hot Buttered Soul that hed waited for the UK issue to be deleted before playing it. In those days it was insulting to accuse a man of un-soulful behaviour, and on my next visit to the home of the ugly ones I was summoned behind the stage to have my legs slapped. I muttered my apologies and left with my tail between my legs. (Quite right too McCadden you ve got for too much to say for yourself ) Both US copies and UK issues on Polydor should be bought on sight at anything between £5 - £10.
TIM TAM &TURN ONS * Wait a minute (Palmer)
Utter rubbish. With my hand on my heart I can say I never danced to this, even when it w as a Wigan floorpacker. Its astonishing to think that it came from a label with we associate with such soul excellence as Jimmy Mack, Al Williams and the Peoples Choice. They made at least three singles for the label - all pop nonsense of course - and (tears out hair in frustration) of all the great records on Palmer this was the only one given a UK release by the British bootleg company Island Records. (Surely you mean totally legitimate record company who like their forerunners Sue records released US recordings from labels that were so small they couldn't find them again to pay any royalties t) Er yeah, I probably do. That UK release from 67 (W16007) can be found (but don't look too hard please) on the pink label design and sells for about £15. The US issues once fetched money at the height of Wigan Britpop, but now sulks moodily at £3. Such was the mood of the times it was even bootlegged - 50p please and Ill throw in a packet of Revels.
SHARON SMITH *** I m Waiting (Venus)
A difference of musical opinion amongst the musical maestros of Chicago saw the deepthroated Miss Smith walk away from a contract with One-Der-Ful. She'd been employed as a session singer and sang back up on many of the great Otis Clay sessions. This organ-drum-and-bass stroller has all of the guts and glory we associate with the label. A clumsy sensual dance beat and that superb bluesy guitar break that has becoming something of a hallmark of Chicagoan R+B. Copies are starting to stand up and be counted as collectors get wise to its enigmatic appeal, so anything under £30 should be considered a bargain. Its a One-der-Ful life!
ADAMS APPLES **** Dont take it out on this world (Brunswick)
A friend of mine in Oakland who is part of the 60s garage psych collecting fraternity tells me this is a hot potato for his gang. It made me wonder if they're white? Are there any white artists on Brunswick? Quite simply a phenomenally popular stepper which is so contagious you have to listen to it from the next street. A big mid 70s sound, and potential bootleggers were given a bloody nose when it was issued here in 77 on UK Brunswick (BR 42). That demands to be bought at £5, or you may prefer to pay £40 for a US copy. It's up to you. Petula!
There you go and that was just from 4 pages as each issue is over 30 plus you can imagine how many reviews packed in. Contact details :
note: originally posted in late 90s since this was published sadly Dave the author has since passed away
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