Russ Vickers

The Ol VA Soul comp has the 'fast' version, this was put out at a later date by Charlie Amos Hunter (who was the drummer with the Positive Sounds who were on backing) through Dish a Tune Ltd in NYC. I believe this version is a different mix with added strings & could be a bit faster, hence 'fast' under the title credits, essentially this is a reissue or boot I would have thought, although Nimbig Publishing was Noah Biggs (the label ownwer) publishing company, Shiptown did not have anything to do with the release as far as I know. You would think this would be reasonable money, but it has gone for a few hundred in recent years, I think because folk assume its the original issue. If anyone has a sound file of the original Shiptown release could they please post inRefrosoul. Thanks to John Smith ( & Chalky for pointing me in the right direction) who's post on RSF helped fill some of my missing gaps, although would love to know when the remix came out. Realistic value, not sure about the remix, but I would imagine the original Shiptown release is pretty rare & would fetch a couple o ton plus. Russ

Cheers mate. Russ

Just reading through the history on the Shiptown Records website & found this about Barbara Stant - My Mind Holds On To Yesterday ' 'Circumstances surrounding this particular 45 are stranger than any other release on the label. The original 45 pressed up at the time was assigned the label catalogue number # 203276. Some years later, when the single became a much sought after item with UK Northern Soul fans a second version of the 45 appeared. This featured different mixes of the tracks & had the catalogue number # 70822 ( a numbering sequence never used by Shiptown). On this later version there is a note on the label under the song title, it says FAST.' Does anyone have any information about this, I was totally unaware that there were different mixes & from the comments above, so were Shiptown, does anyone have the 2 copies or to confirm this, how do the versions differ & can anyone post the versions in refrosoul. I found this scan on Popsike, that states that this was one of 3 copies they found in the backroom of thier store & that its old store stock, it obviously has the 'FAST' written on the label. I'm intrigued, can anyone shed any light on this pse. Russ

Impossible to nail one really, but Chuck Cockerham - Have I the Right - Mala, has gotta be up there. Also: Detroit Sounds of Friction Tierra Earls on Tee Ti etc, etc Russ

I'm still after this if anyone can oblige, apologies for going off thread. Russ

Theres always one...............& I thought it would be you Pete lol.......as many of you know, I enjoy most kinds of Black Dance Music that the NS umbrella encompasses, so long as it has the X factor & its mixed into sets by competent DJ's then I'll pretty much enjoy anything............including traditional NS oldies hahahahahaha...... Russ

Crossover is the bastard child of NS & Modern Soul, it was the 'get out' clause used by DJ's who had decided to nail there colours to the wall in either one camp or the other i.e I'm only now playing sixties or I'm now only playing Modern..........when the term Crossover was coined & they realised what they were missing it enabled these DJ's to play from either decade again .........makes me titter, when Xover tunes become exceptable in the Main Room, they then become NS records, Ruby Andrews, Darrell Banks, Chuck Cockerham, Ethics, Earls, Willie Tee, Unique Blend, etc, etc, etc............. But on a serious note, its the period between late 6ts & mid 7ts (ish), as the grittier 6ts sounds were becoming more sophisticated as recording & production techniques improved, but before the worst of the disco thang kicked in.............just to complicate things though, it can also be applied to a kinda 'sound' which could be earlier or later. I would say that generally you have to be quite good looking & have a higher understanding of soul music to appreciate Xover, if you dont get it or dont like it, its cos your soul brain is too small.......... . Russ

Its Little Beaver, any info on this please label etc Russ

MJ Wade is a fab record & bloody hard to find.....someone snap this up ! Russ

You are late Barney............. way over do mate, been expecting you for days ..................while I'm here & this is a serious question, what exactly does your signature mean ? Russ

The Light Blue issues credited to Essence of Love, in my experience are far harder than the ES & EL WD. Bloody fantastic record IMHO & a hard record on either press. This was covered up as the Fiestas wasnt it, early 8ts.........for the life of me I cant imagine why it was covered as the Fiestas lol Russ

Please read the post properly. I dont mind what your preferences musically are, but would be nice if you could refrain from your incorrect opinions on what after all is the contemporary NS Scene. I have no problem with Stoke what so ever & made that quite clear in my initial post, I have been to Stoke & enjoyed the nighters there, particularly the Modern Room when it was open, whilst I havnt been since the new room has been open, I think Kev seems to have got it right again from the feedback. My issue is not with Stoke, Oldies, Kev or anything else to do with this Nighter, my sole observation was your incorrect opinion about anything that is not considered an 'Oldie' by you..........you are wrong, although I respect your opinion. You are making assumptions about the music played on the CURRENT NS Scene that are incorrect, I dont want to educate anybody, you dance to what you want, I dont really care, what I do care about though, is the caual lurkers on SS who will be given the wrong impression by your incorrect opinion on other events that are not exclusively 'oldies'. Once again I want to make it quite clear, that this is not about slagging off Oldies or the people who enjoy them, its about your totally wrong impression of the current scene. If you would like to start another thread that compares recent discoveries, I would be more than happy to contribute, however based on comments from your post my impression is that you dont really know what is being played on the current scene, so couldnt take part in a debate of that nature...........I'm lucky I think, as I appreciate good quality oldies alongside all the other wonderful genres of black music that has been played on this fantastic scene, I just feel sorry that you could be missing some pretty good stuff through being totally blinkered, have a wander into the 'other' room & stay there longer than a few records, have an open mind & heart & try to remember when you first heard your fave oldies, you might be suprised, its your choice of course & at the risk of repeating myself, I dont mind if you dont want to hear this stuff, just dont put other people off hearing it, thru your misguided opinions. Russ

I dont want to take anything away from what sounds like another great Night at The Kings Hall, but it would be nice if you could have left out the slagging off of the current scene. You like what you like, which is great & I'm pleased you had a good night, but if you had been at Lifeline the week before you would have seen a rammed dancefloor all night to lesser known 'Rare' sounds, other venues around the country that cater for the current scene as opposed to the nostalgia scene are generally well attended too................Stoke does what it says on the can & long may it continue to do so.......just cos you like ya oldies tho, doesnt mean that there arnt relevant current plays that wont wont eventually find there way to Stokes Main Room. Extremely pleased it was a great night & that you had a good un, but please refrain from the mud slingin' in ya review .............after all, which comes first, the Newie or the oldie, when we get bored of em, you can boot em & av a listen in the oldies venues........... Russ

I dont know who is daftest........you for selling this in the first place or the buggers for not buying at this bargain price !!! Russ

ATB Russ

You seem to want to disagree with everything I say, so I'll call it a day, as I dont want to become involved in a pointless argument. Have a nice day, if you are at Lifeline at the weekend come & say hi, you may find that I'm quite a pleasant approachable person with an absolute passion for soul music, smart clothes & dancing . Just remember though, that your version of events is just that.. Russ

Russ

Totally agree & Carol is a sweetheart, still see her at local events & she aint bad for an older lass, if you know what I mean.

Without wanting to get all hot under the collar, I cant see the problem with this, I'm not asking anyone to agree with me, its just my opinion. What was once an exciting under ground dance scene has turned into a pastiche of its former self, with what were the original ethics of the scene being frowned upon & worst by a majority that seem to just want to relive thier youth, I dont mind what people choose to do, but many of these same people get very touchy about OV, new discoveries, the wearing of retro clothes or oldies only events to the exclusion of everything else.........the ORIGINAL scene would have shunned many of the things that the nostalgia events hold so dear, but this is defended by attendees & argued as being the Real Deal..........there are thousands on the so called Northern Soul Scene...........but the genuine scene is still comparitively small, exclusive & underground, listening to new, rediscovered, forgotten & underplayed gems, with DJ's still diggin' for that new discovery & a dancefloor who are still open minded & excited about hearing soul records that havnt been flogged to death. Northern Soul is dead..............long live Northern Soul ........anyone for Lifeline ?. Best Russ

Technically its Southsea innit, so no need to get involved in the footie politics Russ

Bang on Dave............nice one mate & very interesting to read, the highlighted sentence regarding Soul Nights/Nighters that had no/little asscotiation with the NS scene I have actually come across before down south......I did some research in the Portsmouth area some years ago & found that there were at least 2 clubs in the late 6ts early 7ts playing similar music to the 'Wheel' with acts like Major Lance etc performing regularly, I was also told by a much older & wiser friend, that most large towns & cities had similar clubs, I actually think, like the 'wheel', there was a continuation from the Mod thing, deffo with one of the clubs in Pompey. Also to this day, there is a regualar soul night in Pompey that is rammed to the rafters every month with people from this era, who would almost sneer at the term NS, the music played these days is mostly Motown/Club Soul & some commercial NS, however these people would neve dream of ascotiating them selves with NS or going to another venue either........most strange !!!. I actually went to a reunion of the Birdcage Club with Jimmy James 'Live' a few years back on South Parade Pier in Southsea, a fantastic NS venue if ever there was one, I have often been tempted to do a promotion there, however it would really take some filling for a NS event..........guess what, at the Birdcage Reunuion it was rammed to the rafters, with very few people I had ever seen at another Soul Event in the area. Best Russ

Round of applause for this man............I have been saying this for bloody years, I'm not on the NS scene, the term is cringeworthy in the context that most use it in these days, 'Rare Soul Scene' (Rare meaning the rare quality in the recordings as opposed to monetary value) is a far better term & one used for years, even prior to WC........I have been trying to distance myself as much as possible from the 'Pantomime' NS scene, as I find it embarrassing, the main stream try to turn the term Rare Soul into a derogetary term............I would wear it like a badge of honour. Russ

'Dont Lose Weight, Go Straight'........... Russ

Hi Jas, the show is the business as usual......& my list of 'wants' grows ever longer, The Carolinas are one of my fave areas for music & it never ceases to amaze me the amount of great tunes that came from there, I'll be in touch my friend & keep diggin' as your efforts enrich our soulful lives..... Speak real soon buddy Russ

Russ