Ian Levine, Motorcity, Centre City, Blackpool Mecca, And Swons

[Guest]

Think you will find that nearly half of those people listed above had stopped going to The Highland Room when Dr Buzzard was being played. The "new breed" had joined by then - BTW listen to Sunshower - there is a "house" rhythm going on in there.

Whoa !!!!!

WHOA Epic !!!!!!!!

Les Cokell, Christine Gojke, Norma Jefferies, Bernie Golding, Jow, Pete from Carlisle, Roger Stewart, Janet Thompson, and Tex.

Every single one of these people were at the Mecca when we played Doctor Buzzard, I absolutely assure you.

I can picture it as if it were yesterday.

Doctor Buzzard was 1976. In fact, when we were recording The Exciters and Doris Jones at The House Of Music in West Orange, New Jersey, in December 1975, Doctor Buzzard were finishing their album in the same studio at the same time.

[Tony Foster]

I realised that most of the people on Soul Source are quite genuine.

It's just a few anarchists who ruin it for the masses.

I explained my reasons for coming on here in my first post on page one of this thread.

I am not a damn politician and I am not beholdent to you to vote for me, so I really don't give a damn what your opinion is, to be frank. It must become blatantly obvious, even to the most closed and bigoted and intransigent of minds, that there are lots of people on here who are enjoying it and being quite nice too.

I didn't say I had an opinion about you and I was merely asking a question! You seem to be going off on a tangent and being very defensive!

I respect you have been there from the beginning and your huge contribution to the soul scene and in the old style of publicity, if people are talking about you good or bad it gets the product sold!

[Guest]

I am not surprised at all, with the response to Ebony, as only a very small few on here actually listen to new releases and are up to speed with new and recent soul releases. This is a Northern Soul site. New music is not in its make up for god sake.

Yes but most of the music I make is basically Northern Soul. And as I have argued, Northern Soul is a musical form, not a description of either a record's age or its scarcity. At least not to most people who love it.

[Guest]

I think this is a darn shame as your vast knowledge and experience would be invalueable to the rest of this forum.

I honestly think I should keep it limited to this thread.

If I take the moral high ground, and avoid exposing my stuff to those who want to avoid it, and avoid me, then if they DO come in here to criticise and hurl rotten eggs, it's they who look pathetic, not me.

[Swifty]

Ian , I've never really come across or listened to much of the music you've been involved with (apart from the obvious one's)

and to be quite honest there are few thats been posted up that I really like, which goes to show you shouldn't dismiss stuff

without listening to it!

Cheers

Swifty

p.s. what's your top 10 (non Ian Levine) records out of intrest?

[Guest Nik Mak]

Noel McKoy what a vocalist he realy is very good ,

Ian do you have a clip of him singing "determined man" fron 2006 i have the 7" Advanced promo copy on Mark4 and think the vocal input on this track is superb.

Steve J

Check out 'Days like this' or 'Time' both are on a web site called traxsource.com available for download. Probably the best british soul vocalist out there. IMHO

[Guest]

Noel McKoy what a vocalist he realy is very good

Ian do you have a clip of him singing "determined man" fron 2006

Your wish is most gladly, and indeed gratefully, my command.

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[Guest]

You seem to be going off on a tangent and being very defensive!

Be honest, is that really so surprising ???? I have several years of defences to catch up with on here.

[Guest]

Yes but most of the music I make is basically Northern Soul. And as I have argued, Northern Soul is a musical form, not a description of either a record's age or its scarcity. At least not to most people who love it.

But is Northern Soul a musical form?

For instance

Darrel Banks - Open the door to your heart

Eddie Parker - I'm gone

James Fountain - Seven day lover

Carol Anderson - Sad girl

all acknowledged as classic Northern Soul tracks but other than that very very different. Is it not the case that tracks are absorbed into the Northern Soul scene by being played on it?

Derek

[KevH]

Yes but most of the music I make is basically Northern Soul. And as I have argued, Northern Soul is a musical form, not a description of either a record's age or its scarcity. At least not to most people who love it.

You wouldn't have said that back in the day when you had the big find.You're privelged to be able to recreate Northern,so now it just becomes a "musical form"?

[Guest SteveJohnston]

Check out 'Days like this' or 'Time' both are on a web site called traxsource.com available for download. Probably the best british soul vocalist out there. IMHO

Nik Mak i don't do downloads and i have only a very few CDs but can't remember the last time i bought one, I just buy vinyl.

I will have a look on the site to see if you can just have a listen.

Steve J

[Guest]

what's your top 10 (non Ian Levine) records out of intrest?

Off the top of my head so not entirely accurate if I thought about it for a long period

THE CHARADES - KEY TO MY HAPPINESS

SKIP JACKSON AND THE SHANTONS - I'M ON TO YOU GIRL

CHRIS CLARK - I JUST CAN'T FORGET HIM

ILA VAN - YOU MADE ME THIS WAY

MARY LOVE - I'M IN YOUR HANDS

BOBBY HEBB - YOU WANT TO CHANGE ME

THE POETS - WRAPPED AROUND YOUR FINGER

BETTY LLOYD - I'M CATCHING ON

CAROLYN CRAWFORD - UNTIL YOU CAME ALONG

LINDA LLOYD - BREAKAWAY

But there are so many more. I just thought of the first ten that gave me goosebumps

[KevH]

Off the top of my head so not entirely accurate if I thought about it for a long period

THE CHARADES - KEY TO MY HAPPINESS

SKIP JACKSON AND THE SHANTONS - I'M ON TO YOU GIRL

CHRIS CLARK - I JUST CAN'T FORGET HIM

ILA VAN - YOU MADE ME THIS WAY

MARY LOVE - I'M IN YOUR HANDS

BOBBY HEBB - YOU WANT TO CHANGE ME

THE POETS - WRAPPED AROUND YOUR FINGER

BETTY LLOYD - I'M CATCHING ON

CAROLYN CRAWFORD - UNTIL YOU CAME ALONG

LINDA LLOYD - BREAKAWAY

But there are so many more. I just thought of the first ten that gave me goosebumps

Was Kris Petersen -JUST AS MUCH one of the records in the 4000 find?

[Guest rasfoz]

Didn't you say on your last radio stoke interview that you were walking away from the soul scene because of the people, also the people on SS were up there own back sides? Also you had a go at your old rival Soul Sam! I just wondered why you are back Ian?

Its some kind of northern soul scene survey, testing the water for the grand return of soul personified, at some point mr L will stage come back & lead the unrightous wicked heritics of soul back to the light & the world of disco infused drum machined tunage , everyone will then all attend big weekly venues clap in the right spots & collect all the new material & genrally be happy just call it the 2nd coming AMEN Then you can add the saving of the northern soul scene to your already impressive cv

[Guest]

But is Northern Soul a musical form?

For instance

Darrel Banks - Open the door to your heart

Eddie Parker - I'm gone

James Fountain - Seven day lover

Carol Anderson - Sad girl

all acknowledged as classic Northern Soul tracks but other than that very very different. Is it not the case that tracks are absorbed into the Northern Soul scene by being played on it?

Derek

Those four all have a unity of sound that is immediately noticeable as Northern.

You need to step back, hear how different other outside music actually is, and realise the ties that bind us, not the conflict that pulls us apart.

[Guest]

You wouldn't have said that back in the day when you had the big find.You're privelged to be able to recreate Northern,so now it just becomes a "musical form"?

When I found Jim Gilstrap this decade, a record which is so rare no other copies have even surfaced, I felt no differently.

And I was still finding big records back in the 1970s while I was recording "Reaching For The Best".

In fact in the summer of 1975, in the middle of recording "Your Magic Put A Spell On Me" and "Weak Spot", I still went record shopping in Chicago, and even remember coming back with "You Left Me" by The Admirations for example (no idea why that one stuck in my mind), and Walter And The Admirations, which I ended up selling for a tenner to Pat Brady, because we considered it substandard at that time for The Mecca.

Oh yes, and SIX copies of The Ivorys - "Please Stay".

Edited August 24, 2008 by Ian Levine

[Guest]

Was Kris Petersen -JUST AS MUCH one of the records in the 4000 find?

Oh yes it absolutely was indeed. Slightly scuffed as they were all without sleeves, being the entire old discarded 1960s stock of two huge radio stations, and all being promotional demos, just one copy of each on the whole.

[Guest Modern Skip Tone]

Yes but most of the music I make is basically Northern Soul. And as I have argued, Northern Soul is a musical form, not a description of either a record's age or its scarcity. At least not to most people who love it.

Do agree with the above, but to the die hards, it is to new and refreshing a sound today. I collected various Motorcity releases back in the eighties. Played Johnny Bristol recently Man Up In The Sky and a local ex Torch/Wheelite, (who is very aware of the Barrett Strong tune) wanted to purchase this version. He has never been one of your biggest fans Ian, but once he was detailed about this release, purchased it, only to complain it was on a 12". Sad but true and not to be dismissed.

[Guest]

Those four all have a unity of sound that is immediately noticeable as Northern.

They are four fantastic tracks but what links them together in my mind is the fact that i first heard all of them at northern soul venues.

You need to step back, hear how different other outside music actually is, and realise the ties that bind us, not the conflict that pulls us apart.

I do listen to all types of music, so realise how different other music is. Not trying to start a conflict here.

Derek

Edited August 24, 2008 by Derek Jack

[Guest]

THE CHARADES - KEY TO MY HAPPINESS

SKIP JACKSON AND THE SHANTONS - I'M ON TO YOU GIRL

CHRIS CLARK - I JUST CAN'T FORGET HIM

ILA VAN - YOU MADE ME THIS WAY

MARY LOVE - I'M IN YOUR HANDS

BOBBY HEBB - YOU WANT TO CHANGE ME

THE POETS - WRAPPED AROUND YOUR FINGER

BETTY LLOYD - I'M CATCHING ON

CAROLYN CRAWFORD - UNTIL YOU CAME ALONG

LINDA LLOYD - BREAKAWAY

But there are so many more. I just thought of the first ten that gave me goosebumps

I have to add

COLLETTE KELLY - CITY OF FOOLS

TERRI BRYANT - GENI

ANDREA HENRY - I NEED YOU LIKE A BABY

THE AMBERS - I LOVE YOU BABY

JACKIE ROSS - KEEP YOUR CHIN UP

GARLAND GREEN - AINT THAT GOOD ENOUGH

DANNY WOODS - I WANNA THANK YOU FOR LOVE AND DEVOTION

SANDY WYNNS - THE TOUCH OF VENUS

JACKIE WILSON - I DON'T WANNA LOSE YOU

CHUBBY AND THE TURNPIKES - I DIDN'T TRY

[Guest]

Its some kind of northern soul scene survey, testing the water for the grand return of soul personified, at some point mr L will stage come back & lead the unrightous wicked heritics of soul back to the light & the world of disco infused drum machined tunage , everyone will then all attend big weekly venues clap in the right spots & collect all the new material & genrally be happy just call it the 2nd coming AMEN Then you can add the saving of the northern soul scene to your already impressive cv

"You are ignoring this user"

[Guest]

Do agree with the above, but to the die hards, it is to new and refreshing a sound today. I collected various Motorcity releases back in the eighties. Played Johnny Bristol recently Man Up In The Sky and a local ex Torch/Wheelite, (who is very aware of the Barrett Strong tune) wanted to purchase this version. He has never been one of your biggest fans Ian, but once he was detailed about this release, purchased it, only to complain it was on a 12". Sad but true and not to be dismissed.

It was on a seven inch as well. I may have one somewhere.

[Guest]

Was Kris Petersen -JUST AS MUCH one of the records in the 4000 find?

Remember those four thousand records didn't pick themselves. I had to sort through between 300,000 and 500,000 to cherry pick them, and at that time most were unknown to all of us.

[Guest SteveJohnston]

Your wish is most gladly, and indeed gratefully, my command.

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[Guest Modern Skip Tone]

Thanks Ian seeing that as just strengthend my belief in Noels talent as a vocalist

Steve J

Steve got to agree, beautiful and outstandingly talented vocals .

I do not like to compare but Bobby Womack full on in his Arista days etc. Great. .

[Dylan]

Remember those four thousand records didn't pick themselves. I had to sort through between 300,000 and 500,000 to cherry pick them, and at that time most were unknown to all of us.

firghtening to think what may have been left behind in a quantity of records that large. I bet there were an immense number of records equally as good that never got chosen.

Having a quick listen to each record to decide which ones to take must have been incredibly difficult.

And look at what happeneed to Walter and Admirations it went on to become an iconic record. Still incredibly rare if i'm not mistaken ?

[Guest Nik Mak]

Nik Mak i don't do downloads and i have only a very few CDs but can't remember the last time i bought one, I just buy vinyl.

I will have a look on the site to see if you can just have a listen.

Steve J

Both trax are available on vinyl but to get to hear them now you can check out a clip on traxsource. Also have a listen to the refosoul clip under my name. Another modern slice of Soul that Mr Levine should be checking out too.

regards

[Guest]

Steve got to agree, beautiful and outstandingly talented vocals

I do not like to compare but Bobby Womack full on in his Arista days etc. Great.

In recent years I have made an exceptional effort to work with outstanding vocalists.

I always tried to as far back as 1975 and used to fool myslef that I couldn't find any in England, but I have.

For example, listen to Shenton's voice and think Eddie Levert

Listen To Angelo's voice and think of his brother Edwin.

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[Tomangoes]

This thread keeps going on and on, but Im not really sure what its about, except the life and times of Ian Levine.

Obviously thats generated more than 10 pages in a short time, but flicking through the posts it seems to be going round in circles. Maybe its a case of agreeing to disagree.

I have never met Ian, never heard him DJ, and tend not to judge anyone until I have some kind of personal knowledge. His reputation as a record finder is no more illustrated than in Kev Roberts 'top 500' book, where almost every other tune is attributed to Ian in one way or another.

Like most on here, its a fact that we consider Ian Levine as a major influence in this scenes growth and direction. For me thats enough to put Ian at the top of the list of major players, as after all, the personalities come and go, but the music remains.

There cannot be anybody on this scene who have come near Ian Levine in terms of experiences of breaking new sounds of jaw dropping proportions for year after year, and even guiding the vast majority of followers from 60s stompers to modern sounding tunes like the Carstairs, and even breaking new releases on a scene that mainly celebrated forgotton obscurities from the previous decade.

In the Northern Soul Hall of Fame, surely Ian Levine would be at the No 1 SPOT, maybe apart from DG (RIP) who coined the phrase.

BUT, theres always a but.

As a record producer, I have to say that I just dont like 'most' of the stuff Ian Levine is making now. Just an honest opinion. For sure I could not do any better, but that still is not a reason for me and obviously several other soul sources from having an opinion on if we like something or not.

In the same token, Ian Levine has to respect that opinion from soul sources who dont like the product (or at least some or most of it).

If Ian Levine had produced a record I liked, I would not have pushed it to one side just because Ian Levine had produced it. Of course, I understand some folks would, but they would be in a minority, and probably biased in one way or another.

So, in summary, Mr Ian Levine, thanks for all youve done for this scene, and if you feel the desire, keep producing records, but please accept that if its not to other peoples taste, its not a crime on the part of either party, just how things are.

Regards

Ed

[Guest]

firghtening to think what may have been left behind in a quantity of records that large. I bet there were an immense number of records equally as good that never got chosen.

Having a quick listen to each record to decide which ones to take must have been incredibly difficult.

NO no no no no no.

I never listened to a single one while I was sorting them.

I bought everything that was a soul record. I knew my stuff. I knew writers and producers. I knew from looking at a label if it had the potential to be Northern. If in doubt I bought it anyway. They were only fifteen cents each. That's why I bought four thousand, and then after two weeks in Miami, where I spent every day, seven days a week, nine till six, their opening and closing hours, sorting through these records, sorting the Sons Of Moses from the Elvis Presleys, we went to The Bahamas in a little twin engine plane and the weight of my crates was stopping the plane from taking off high enough, and my Dad was absolutely livid and was threatening to throw them in the sea.

[bri phill]

Hello Ian,

Just a line to wish you good luck with your DVD.

And thanks for getting me back on the scene with the SWONS project which I do beleive was a labour of love.

Regards Brian Phillips

[Guest]

This thread keeps going on and on, but Im not really sure what its about, except the life and times of Ian Levine.

That's what it's about.

Nothing more nothing less.

Just that.

[Guest]

Hello Ian,

Just a line to wish you good luck with your DVD.

And thanks for getting me back on the scene with the SWONS project which I do beleive was a labour of love.

Regards Brian Phillips

Hello dear old friend.

I mentioned you earlier, about Soussan's sales list with "Reaching For The Best" by Bob Relf on it.

How did you come to list it at the top of the list, when it didn't exist ?? Had he promised to send it on to you ??? Can you remember after thirty four years ??

[Guest SteveJohnston]

In recent years I have made an exceptional effort to work with outstanding vocalists.

I always tried to as far back as 1975 and used to fool myslef that I couldn't find any in England, but I have.

For example, listen to Shenton's voice and think Eddie Levert

Listen To Angelo's voice and think of his brother Edwin.

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Edited August 24, 2008 by SteveJohnston

[Guest inspirations001]

that long? masachist! i have a tape of stuff like that but it's boring after a while. i'm off to listern to some womack.

[Pete S]

https://www.rare-soul.com/wordpress/?page_id=11

live recording of Blackpool Mecca, 1975 (took a while to load for some reason)

[Guest SteveJohnston]

I lasted for 5 seconds...

four more than i would have put down for you Pete well done mate

Steve J

[Guest]

As a record producer, I have to say that I just dont like 'most' of the stuff Ian Levine is making now. Just an honest opinion. For sure I could not do any better, but that still is not a reason for me and obviously several other soul sources from having an opinion on if we like something or not.

In the same token, Ian Levine has to respect that opinion from soul sources who dont like the product (or at least some or most of it).

To be fair, Ed, in the past when I haven't been on here in person, you have been less civilised than you're being today, as regards your dislike of my productions, which the passing of time has made me well aware of.

Yet, Ed, when you express your dislike in such a fair and non-confrontational and reasoned manner as this, of course I respect your opinion. I do.

It's only when people come on here saying "Levine rips us off, Levine makes shite records, I wouldn't wipe my arse with the synthesized crap he produces, Levine only comes on here to promote his overblown ego, Levine killed my cat, Levine is the antichrist, Levine ruined the Soul Scene, Levine Must Go, etc etc etc, that I give back as good as I get. The type of people who come out with this type of crap are the type of people who I have indeed referred to in the past as "cockroaches" and these specific kind of people, who are so utterly nasty and vitriolic and spiteful, as to be beneath my contempt, have still earned the title of "cockroach" in my book, but mercifully and thankfully, there are only a very few of them. In fact far fewer than I initially realised, purely because they were all coming from Soul Source at that time, and painted an unrealistic and exaggerated picture of what type of mentality Soul Source members at first glance APPEARED to possess.

In fact, when I did my big three hour radio show on Starpoint, last Good Friday, many people were expecting me to lay into Soul Source, and were rather surprised when I said on the air that most of its members were nice and fair minded people, and it was only a vicious few who were spoiling it for the rest. If someone is so beneath my contempt that merely answering their post would make me feel grossly tainted and unclean, then all you will read from me will be the words.... "You are ignoring this user". Because it means that user is "nothing" to me, and I have no wish to converse with them. I'd rather eat slugs.

Anyway Ed, that doesn't apply to you. Certainly not today.

If you don't like my stuff, but still you come on here to say so as nicely as you just have done, then fair play to you.

[Guest Nik Mak]

Oh sorry, I utterly hate it.

The sheer metronomic coldness of the drums and the emptiness leave me cold.

I love warm drum sounds, pianos, strings, brass, warm bass sounds.

Everything about it made me cringe apart from the vocal.

I try to steer clear of this type of stuff, or else it would put me off producing records again.

The funny thing is that people accuse my drums of being soulless and electronic. I don't see it, especially after hearing this.

I like three minute songs with huge full warm productions, fast beats but cloaked in rich orchestrations. I loathe sparcity.

But the VOICE! This is what makes the tune the beat keeps it contemporary and accessable to a bigger audiance. Your songs don't have that they are great compositions but lack a wider appeal because they are stuck in a time warp. When I can reduce some of the sound files I have you will hear songs that sound so similar in content to your own but with one important difference they are NOW not THEN. 3 minute songs don't have any relevance anymore they don't appear on radio and they don't appear on the dance floor. Your fighting a loseing battle but if you were to open your mind a bit and take on board the observations your material would reach a much larger audiance then you would be in a position to re-educate people to your tastes as you wish. Check out people like the Basement Boys or Joey Negro (Dave Lee) or just about anything on Kingstreet (Label) also Louise Benadetti the list goes on and on. The One thing that pisses me off more than anything is waisted talent and the fact that you have all the tools at your disposal to MAKE a difference and yet you ignore the obvious. Such a shame.

[KevH]

NO no no no no no.

I never listened to a single one while I was sorting them.

I bought everything that was a soul record. I knew my stuff. I knew writers and producers. I knew from looking at a label if it had the potential to be Northern. If in doubt I bought it anyway. They were only fifteen cents each. That's why I bought four thousand, and then after two weeks in Miami, where I spent every day, seven days a week, nine till six, their opening and closing hours, sorting through these records, sorting the Sons Of Moses from the Elvis Presleys, we went to The Bahamas in a little twin engine plane and the weight of my crates was stopping the plane from taking off high enough, and my Dad was absolutely livid and was threatening to throw them in the sea.

What percentage were turkeys'?.Seen some lovely labels,with potentially good credits,but when the needle hits the record.....

......turns out to be country like Jim Reeves - "Roly Poly" or some dire rock n roll.

[Guest]

And thanks for getting me back on the scene with the SWONS project which I do beleive was a labour of love.

Regards Brian Phillips

It was, still is, and always will be, Brian.

Some are accusing me of coming on here to promote it.

The truth is that having filmed almost 200 artists, for posterity, all of whom have an interest for Northern Soul fans, shouldn't we be at least letting people know ?? No-one is forced to buy it just as no-one is forced to read this thread.

Those who still think that I did it to make money must be mentally disturbed.

[Guest]

Standing on my own two feet for me is the beter of the two tracks if i did not know i would have thought there was two diffrent singers his vocals on standing are far more polished to my ear and i'm willing to bet that Standing was the later track.

Steve J

They ARE two different singers.

Go back and look again.

The first is Shenton Dixon, the second is Angelo Starr.

I did say this above the videos.

[Guest]

I lasted for 5 seconds...

I tried for longer, but hated it so violently that I had to switch off after a while.

SO SO SO SO SO not me !!!!!!!

[Guest]

Your songs don't have that they are great compositions but lack a wider appeal because they are stuck in a time warp.

And thank heavens for that.

I have no desire to make records like this.

I hate them.

Let me make the records I love. Someone somewhere will appreciate them, and already do.

PLEASE, PLEASE, I BEG of you, don't try to make me into something I'm not, something that so goes against the grain.

If you thought I would like this record, you know NOTHING about me, I'm sad to report.

[Pete S]

Some are accusing me of coming on here to promote it.

What difference would it make if you did come on here to promote it?

Why shouldn't you?

I sell records on here, as do many others.

You can do whatever you like!

[Guest]

What percentage were turkeys'?.Seen some lovely labels,with potentially good credits,but when the needle hits the record.....

......turns out to be country like Jim Reeves - "Roly Poly" or some dire rock n roll.

Of course there were turkeys.

Most of those I sold to Bernie Golding for ten pence each, after all the best had all been creamed off.

Keb Darge and Guy Hennegan then spent weeks in Bernie's barn, going through them, and these became all the big Stafford records.

[Guest Nik Mak]

I lasted for 5 seconds...

As the first 30 seconds or so are just beats then I'm not surprised.LOL. Didn't really expect anyone to like it just makeing a point about the vocals. If you say they are NOT soulful then your deaf. It's a bit frustrating to hear such great vocals on some if Ian's compositions backed up by out of date drum sounds and arrangements. Even when the instrumentation is totally live (full orchestra etc) the production is SOOOOOOO 'nice' that all the energy disappears and the whole thing becomes flat. Early Motorcity stuff had bounce and drive and energy that lifted the song and demanded the ear as well as the feet but the stuff I've heard on here is just so PLAIN JANE production wise it makes me wonder if he's listend to anything post 1985. The Ebony vids/songs he posted have so much potential but the production is beautifully BORING for todays market. No wonder no one brought it. They probably looked at the vids on you tube and gave it a wide birth after that. Sony & Expansions should have been shot for allowing it to go to market as it just does not stand up to anything contemporary that is out there doing the business, and don't get me started about the VIDEOS my God who dreamed them up, Stevie Wonder? No wonder they refused to put anything into the marketing! Ian Levine's musical output has been outstanding but the music he is producing now needs to be dragged screaming and shouting to the present day. Not stuck in the rose tinted memory of the 80's.......

Edited August 24, 2008 by Nik Mak

[good angel]

Ian,

I know you can start a argument in a empty room,but how much have you spent on records,just a rough guess Ian,

And thankyou I know how many sounds you have turned up for the unwashed over the years.

Kev

[Pete S]

As the first 30 seconds or so are just beats then I'm not surprised.LOL. Didn't really expect anyone to like it just makeing a point about the vocals. If you say they are NOT soulful then your deaf. It's a bit frustrating to hear such great vocals on some if Ian's compositions backed up by out of date drum sounds and arrangements. Even when the instrumentation is totally live (full orchestra etc) the production is SOOOOOOO 'nice' that all the energy disappears and the whole thing becomes flat. Early Motorcity stuff had bounce and drive and energy that lifted the song and demanded the ear as well as the feet but the stuff I've heard on here is just so PLAIN JANE production wise it makes me wonder if he's listend to anything post 1985. The Ebony vids/songs he posted have so much potential but the production is beautifully BORING for todays market. No wonder no one brought it. They probably looked at the vids on you tube and gave it a wide birth after that. Sony & Expansions should have been shot for allowing it to go to market as it just does not stand up to anything contemporary that is out there doing the business, and don't get me started about the VIDEOS my God who dreamed them up, Stevie Wonder? No wonder they refused to put anything into the marketing! Ian Levine's musical output has been outstanding but the music he is producing now needs to be dragged screaming and shouting to the present day. Not stuck in the rose tinted memory of the 80's.......

I gave you the benefit of the doubt and listened for about 3 minutes, I can't decide whether you're having a laugh with us or not, if you think that is any better than the Levine stuff then you are seriously delusional. Terrible singer, mechanical production, and totally soul-less. I mean it's just music for shopping malls or something. No offence.

[Guest SteveJohnston]

They ARE two different singers.

Go back and look again.

The first is Shenton Dixon, the second is Angelo Starr.

I did say this above the videos.

edit on my post complet Ian back up to speed

Steve J