jazzyjas

I can do you a scan of the Barefootin' LP by Robert Parker. It's the US version, though. Let me know if you need it anyway. -Jason

Thanks for the positive feedback everyone! Interviewing Al Johnson and Tom Fauntleroy form the Unifics was a distinct thrill for me as I've been a fan for some years now. Back For More and Peaceful are two amazing albums and the Seville and Tavasco singles are pure genius. It also made me realize how overlooked the Unifics truly are. Don't sleep on these guys because their catalog is great! Another big mailing of magazines went out today and lots of them are headed straight for the United Kingdom! Enjoy the mags, Soul Sourcers! -Jason

Pretty much anything Mr. Breadmaker99 has been posting up on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/breadmaker99 Been enjoying that Danelle Darris track a lot lately. -J.

Hello Soul Sourcers, Just checking in to follow up on our late November mailings of There's That Beat! issue #9. We mailed it out to the subscribers and some of our usual suppliers toward the end of November. Did your mags drop yet? Would love to hear some feedback from readers of the magazine. Let us know what you think of the latest issue. If you haven't picked one up yet, feel free to drop by our site: www.theresthatbeat.com To all Soul Sourcers and Soul fans everywhere, we hope you enjoy it! All the best, Jason

Kissi Jacobs - Let it Be Him - Black Jack Fat Daddy - Fat Daddy - Johnny A Both great Christmas Northern Soul tunes. BTW-That Artie Fullilove track is wicked! -J.

I've been collecting for 30 years and all that time I've been hearing the word "pressing" in the context of how a record was issued - ex. "the red label pressing, the small print pressing, etc." Dave Moore has broken my habit of using that word to describe an original record. In the US, a boot is a boot or a repro. -J.

Dave told me the bad news earlier today. Gutted just like everyone else on here. I just feel very very lucky and privileged to have been able to talk to him on the phone and do interviews with him. His story in issue #4 of TTB! was a massive personal achievement for me. I was so proud putting that together. We stayed in touch regularly after that and sometimes he would just call and check in with me. Those little phone calls were massive to me and I'll never forget them. It's a shame he never got to put out the project he was working on with Willie Jones and Fred Bridges. I would have loved to hear it. It seriously blows my mind about how massive and impressive his CV really was. The quality was trememndous, too. So humble about it all, too. Gracious for the support and compliments, too. He's like one of the Gods to us and was so nice about it all. Really wonderful guy. I'm sure Rob Moss will agree since he got to know him quite a bit better than me. I'm about to spin some records up in Baltimore at a soul night and you better believe I'll be celebrating his 45s loud and proud! Rest in peace "Lil Funk" Your friend, Jason

Spoke with Al Johnson today. He let me know that there were a few discrepancies in the discography. He said that Ray Slyy on Salsoul (a production that credits "Al Johnson/Frankie Beverly") is not him. He also said that the record by LeRoy on Dream Machine is not him. But one that needs to be added is Lloyd Price's "Nominee" LP on Old Worlde records. Anyone have that LP? Let me know. Thanks! -J.

I was told that Ronnie Dove owns the tapes! That's a weird one. I'm thinking maybe it's only his own recordings, but I was put under the impression that he owns more than just his stuff. Let me have a look into it. -J.

Spoke with Al today and he sure remembers meeting up with Paul Mooney and going to that Southport Weekender. If anyone has any programmes, pics of Al from that event, I'd be most appreciative! Also-still looking for a high res scan of the awesome Tavasco 45. We talked a little about that session today. I'd love to show a nice crisp scan of it. Thanks! -Jason

Looks like you'll be needing a Kenny Wells, Prophonics!

Thanks for that info Dave. Will see about getting that trip mentioned in the article. In the meantime, do you have a picture of Al from that event? If so, I'd love to use it in the article. Let me know. Thanks! -Jason

Oh man! Missed a really big one here! LOVE'S TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF ME-TAVASCO-RAMPART Need a nice high-res scan of this record label is anybody's got one. Both sides if possible, but definitely the good side. 300DPI JPEG to: jazzyjas@bellsouth.net Thanks! -J.

I'm thinking it would be things like 1. Will Collins and Willpower 2. Daybreak 3. Larry Houston-Let's Spend Some Time Together I guess those would have been the ones to get played when it was starting to be recognized as its own sub-genre. -J.

Hey Derek, Al was in the Unifics and not the Hesitations, but I'll take those images anyway because we're putting together a feature about foreign versions of Soul records. It sounds like a really nice item and we'd love it for our archives. I can imagine us using something like that in TTB. Thanks! -Jason

Missing bits that I'm still tying to source scans for. I've got several web scans from this lot, but I'm trying to get some high res JPEGs scanned at 300DPI. 1975-BEST OF BOTH WORLDS-CALLA-LP and Singles 1978-POSITIVE CHANGE LP-FORTRESS 1979-ALLAN HARRIS AND PERPETUAL MOTION-JUST LET ME KNOW-EXACT CHANGE 12" 1979? EASY LIVIN' /COME WHAT MAY-DREAM MACHINE 1980-DAMION & DENITA-ROCKET RECORD COMPANY LP 1982-GAYLE ADAMS-LOVE FEVER LP+BABY I NEED YOUR LOVING 1982-RAY SLYY-HEY YOU-SALSOUL 12" 1983?-CI CI-OFF THE WALL-Q.S. 1984-CI CI-YOU'VE GOT ME HYPNOTIZED-CREATIVE FUNK 12" 1988-CLIFTON DYSON AND RICK WEBB-I CAN'T LET YOU GO-WASHINGTON HIT MAKERS 12" 1988-RICK WEBB-IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE-WASHINGTON HIT MAKERS SINGLE 1988-IMPACT LP-WE'RE HERE TO PARTY-FULL SCALE + "I'M HERE" SINGLE 1988-TYRONE BURWELL-SWEET SEXY THING/MEMORIES-TAD/CREATIVE FUNK 12" Any help would be appreciated. My e-mail address is: jazzyjas@bellsouth.net Thanks in advance! -Jason

That's a different Al Johnson on the Burt 45, and Paul-I'll give Al your regards and ask him about his trip across to the UK. -J.

Yes Paul, Look for the story in issue #9 of There's That Beat! I'm nailing it all together right now. -J.

Thanks Sutty-just found a web scan of the creative Funk 12". Appreciate the info! -Jason

Ahhh-that's the one I was looking for. I knew there was a third one on Columbia: 1980 - 45 - Al Johnson - School Of The Groove / You're A Different Lady - COLUMBIA 11348 And Paul-I've done an entire stand-alone story about the Unifics, including everything they've ever done. The Al Johnson story will start on the next page as its own feature. Steve, what are you saying about Ron Carter, Artwork? The Clifton Dyson and Rick Webb-any chance of a high resolution scan? Thanks! -Jason

Never heard of either of those, so I'll ring him right now and ask. I'll take a scan and a sound file of that version of BFM you've got. I'd like to show all the versions and I'd love to hear that one. Thanks again for the responses. -J.

Also, just a quick one... The versions of Back For More by Leo's Sunshipp (the first version) and the one by Marlena Shaw have no involvement from Al J. His version is the third one. What a great track by all of those artists! Would love to hear the other one(s). -J.

This is anything he was involved in musically, in any capacity, including his own stuff outside of the Unifics. The other version of "I'm Back For More" is by Tata Vega isn't it? I know there are a few things to add that I just remembered, like the third Bobby Thurston LP in the boxing ring. Anywhere you want to chime in, just go for it! Thanks! -Jason

Here's a discography that's in chronological order as best as I could make it. Please fill in details about each project and please add to it wherever you see that I've left something out such as other Tata Vega LPs, Peabo Bryson, Dells, Deniece Williams, etc: 1976-TERRY HUFF-THE LONELY ONE-MAINSTREAM 1977-TATA VEGA-TOTALLY TATA 1978-BLOODSTONE-DON'T STOP-MOTOWN 1978-POSITIVE CHANGE LP-FORTRESS 1978-AL JOHNSON-PEACEFUL-MARINA (plus one single) 1979-NORMAN CONNORS-INVITATION 1979-BOBBY THURSTON-SWEETEST PIECE OF THE PIE-MAINLINE/PRELUDE 1979-ALLAN HARRIS AND PERPETUAL MOTION-JUST LET ME KNOW-EXACT CHANGE 12" 1980?(IS THIS THE RIGHT YEAR?)-SEVILLE-SHOW ME THE WAY-KAYO 45 1980-BOBBY THURSTON-YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES-PRELUDE 1980-NORMAN CONNORS-TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT 1980-AL JOHNSON-BACK FOR MORE-COLUMBIA (plus two singles-was there a third US single?) 1980-SYMBA-BODY BAIT-VENTURE 1980-DAMION & DENITA-ROCKET RECORD COMPANY LP 1981-CLIFTON DYSON-SLOW YOUR BODY DOWN-AFTER HOUR EP 1982-JAY PLAYER-LOVE IS THE ANSWER-BEVNIK 1982-TERRY HUFF Come On Around / I Wish 45-CIRCLE CITY 092682 1983-WHISPERS-LOVE FOR LOVE-SOLAR 1987-CROSSWIND-WE CAN WORK IT OUT-HARBOR CITY 1999-AL JOHNSON-MY HEART IS AN OPEN BOOK-CLOUT-1999 I've also been told about these and need more information: Ci Ci Hypnotized Impact Hitmakers LP (I'm thinking this might be something on Washington Hit Makers label CJ's Uptown Crew-found info about a relese but it looks like a rap record and Al's name isn't on it. Any help would be great-even if it's extra facts about the smaller projects. Thanks again! -Jason

Love all types of Latin music as well as Chicano stuff, which is a whole other ball of wax, but as far as the NY Boogaloo oriented stuff: 1. Ozzaboo-Ozzie Torrens-Decca-Boogaloo in Apt. 41 LP 2. Never Learned to Dance-Harvey Averne-Uptite-I've been playing this since 93-what took people so long! 3. Horsin' Up-Orchestra Harlow-Fania? 4. The Joker-Xavier Cugat-Decca Bang Bang LP 5. Pow Wow-Manny Corchado-Decca-OF COURSE! So massive in Pittsburgh since the late 60s that it got pressed up as "The Fly" by the Mosquitos on Spear records. I know the guy who pressed them up, too. In the "Burgh" they've got just about as many cover-ups as Northern Soul-you can thank Mad Mike Metrovich for that. Off topic, but there's a nice 3 volume compilation of Mad Mike's Moldies on Norton records available on CD and vinyl-nice packaging with label scans and everything. All sorts of music on there, soul included.