Tomangoes

First time ever at the famous 100 club for me, and hopefully some of these tracks will get played! Makes you wanna holla! Ed

Thanks for the insight! As you are probably aware, STAY HERE WITH ME, is worshipped by us also. Did you know Yvonne Baker (and her sensations) who also cut 'I cant change'? Sorry if this was asked already. Did you perform your RCA stuff live very often at the time of release? Oh how great it would have been to be there! Ed

Absolutely! Anything goes is an understatement. I think some DJ's just play shit like Wully Bully to create a reaction. Worse still, promoters who insist 'only soul' policy turn a blind eye as long as the tills are ringing. Makes you wanna holla............. Ed

I'm shocked at some of the records mentioned being 'hated'. Not judging at all, just shocked. Manifesto? Eddie Foster? Carstairs? Montclairs? Must cover 90% of what NORTHERN SOUL IS ALL ABOUT!! What DO YOU RATE!! Maybe the next thread is:- Linda Jones, Just cant live my life, is a great Northern SOUL record, does anybody disagree? Ed

Hi Lorraine What are your favourite tracks that you have been involved with? Either writing, producing, or singing/recording. I cant hold on, is mine, by the way! Its like a jump start when its played. Ed

Hi Lorraine What are your favourite tracks that you have been involved with? Either writing, producing, or singing/recording. I cant hold on, is mine, by the way! Its like a jump start when its played. Ed

Wow.......If you need an answer to a soul related question, for sure someone will find it on here! Thanks Tony. Lorraine, since Eddie Parker is not likely to join in on here, please also pass my best wishes to him. Ed

The glass is always half full, as they say! This love is ours - (Jack Ashford & Lorraine Chandler) - The Sunlovers - Mutt & Jeff 18 - 1967 This love is ours - (Jack Ashford & Lorraine Chandler) Eddie Parker and the Sunlovers - Aliza 48 - 1969 I also read you were in the Ebonees, who backed Eddie Parker from time to time. You are not a one hit wonder, far from it, you are a founder member of the rare soul scene and have more fans than you can imagine! You know when you perform in front of us, we sing all the words of your songs without a song sheet! We also wish we could reach your fellow 'stars' who did only get the odd recording deal and show them how much they are admired. Keep the faith and write your book!! Ed

Amongst the crap, there were some great looking labels.......... ABET, PERCEPTION, SSSINT. Bradleys record shop had a short period when they had stuff like Frank Dell, and Free Angela (Dickie Wonder) LPS at daft prices, heaven knows where they sourced them. Another small Doncaster record shop had hundreds of original US motown/Tamla singles at 50p like wonderful one, This heart of mine, Marvin Gaye. Again, no idea where they got thm from or who they thought they would sell them to in 1979! Ed

As you are aware Lorraine, the devil is in the detail with 'us', so for example You worked with Eddie Parker who in turn fronted the Sunlovers etc. There is a huge interest in who worked with who as 99% of the records we love bombed as far as sales went on release but now they fetch $000's such as Eddie's 'Im Gone'. All the intrigue about the motown stars working elsewhere under 'alias's' etc like Connie Clark (Chris Clark) etc. Rack your brains girl!! Name names. Some of our stars may be stacking shelves in Walmart or the like (Bobby Paris?) but to us they are Mega important. Kev Roberts russled up lots of folks at his USA trip like Gwen Owens and Freddie Hughes but still there are hundreds of 'one flop wonders' that we know nothing about. Ed

Back to collecting. To have an original mint copy of every single from 1963 to 1980 that could be regarded as good enough to play at rare soul events would number well over 10,000 and cost over £2m. If I win the euro lottery £7m tonight, I may well start buying again! Back in the day, I was astounded at Nev Wherry's UK demo collection he used to carry about dj'ing with. I only wish I could have gone on those USA warehouse record collecting trips in the 70s when $10k would have got you a collection to die for if you hit the right spot. Ed

Thats great. Is there also a list of artists etc you worked with along the way? Ed

Wolly Bully - Sam the Sham was played at the Tenerife 'soul in the sun' and packed the floor. You cant get more YUUFF CLUB and less SOUL than that. Still, it keeps getting souled out, so the 'anything goes' policy must please most of the folks most of the time. Ed

Amazing! Did you ever make a list of all the songs you wrote, performed, produced, or simply helped out on? If so could you share that with us. Obviously you have seen how all us 'devotees' dance like crazy to your uptempo tunes, was it in any way similar to how they were received in the USA when you were performing live at the time of issue? Ed

Hi Lorraine I read you were actually a backing singer on Eddie Parker's 'love you baby' Ashford stomper. That's another record up there with your RCA recordings that is cherished on this scene. You must have a thousand stories about experiences like that which would make a book worth writing! Ed

Hi lorraine, as you know, most of us were 14 to 18 years old when your records got played in the early to mid 1970's. So for sure you have at least 250000 fans in the UK alone It's took another 20 years to actually put the details together on how things were in period 64 to 73 when the majority of "our" rare soul scene material was made. But still we don't have many insights as to how things were then for artists like you and the record buyers who bought these sounds etc. What was it like? A book would be superb, but most of us would love to read any recollections you have! Regards Ed

Hi Lorraine Although your records are treasured on the rare soul scene, along with hundreds if not thousands of other uptempo soulful dance tracks of that era, its obvious only a handfull actually sold in big enough numbers to make any real money. Whats your opinion on why the USA did not embrace more of them at the time of release? Was there a crowd at that time who were into that kind of uptempo music? Were there any clubs who would play one after the other? Was the hope that the 'Motown/Stax/Atlantic' sound could be copied and in turn add RCA to that list? If you could write a story about those years, I'm sure everybody on here would be glued to every word!! Cheers Ed

We did this trip whilst on the LA 2004 soul week. Went down to see Gladys Knight in LV. Not much to see to be honest apart from the straightest roads in the world! Nice coming into Vegas withe lights en all. One of our group thought it would be a good idea to play 'the Joker' at full blast along the strip, with the roof down. It certainly got a few tourists attention! Did come across a poster for sale in one of the 'collectables' shops advertising 'Otis Redding' in concert 1963 - Doncaster England. Ed

Seriously, HOW did that conversation startup?? One for the 'Northern' pub quiz for sure. Ed

And dont forget all the great soul nights there before all nighters and the assembly rooms before that. Those Rotherham lads could certainly spin!! Great memories Ed

AND DONT FORGET TO MAKE CONTACT WITH OLD MATES BEFORE THEY APPEAR ON THIS LIST! Ed

Just a few weeks ago, I had a 'spat' with a promoter about music policy. I said if you have one and advertise it, then stick to it. If an event has an 'anything goes' policy, so be it and no shocks if some DJ goes way off the mark. We all started on this scene liking the most popular stuff as thats what most teenagers do. Its only as you get older your likes and dislikes become clearer. I've got no problem with whatever gets played as long as its a good night, but do object to listening to stuff not advertised. DJs play to the crowd, and get the floor full, thats part of the job, but it can get too extreme if no boundaries are set. You pay your money and make your choice, as they say. Ed

Any playlist available of the 'extreme' tunes played. If it includes Wully Bully and Ska, maybe its not my cup of tea. Ed

There was also about a year (74/75 ish) where 'Cherries' were the main choice. Bought from Army stores, same shape as brogues, but just cherry red leather lace up uppers and leather soles. Those cross over leather ones were for 'bigger boys' or at least those who were working........... Ed

Last one? Nay lad. You just got to do the final one in DETROIT. Good Luck Ed