Godzilla

Taken from https://www.alwynwturner.com You don't get a more credible start to your career than Eddie Amoo; his band, The Chants, made their debut appearance at The Cavern in Liverpool, playing three songs in the middle of a Beatles gig. That was 1962. Fourteen years later Eddie finally had his first hit, as a member of The Real Thing, Britain's first disco band. Like everyone else in Liverpool, The Chants got a record deal during the Merseybeat explosion of 1963/64, in their case with Pye, but - as Eddie points out - 'they had no idea what to do with a black doo-wop group, they just had no idea.' Over the next decade they released a string of singles, some of them - 'Man Without A Face' and 'Trying Trying' - very good indeed, but all of them unsuccessful. By the early 70s The Chants were wedded firmly to the cabaret circuit, and Eddie was looking outside the group to satisfy his creativity. He began writing songs with his younger brother, Chris Amoo, and these songs became the basis of the material performed by Chris' group The Real Thing. The Real Thing appeared on Opportunity Knocks and Top of the Pops, were managed by British showbiz legend Tony Hall, and were critical favourites on both sides of the Atlantic - even so they went through a succession of record companies and flop singles before they finally made it. When they did, it was because of a variety of factors. Firstly, David Essex used them as backing vocalists on his 1975 album All The Fun of the Fair, and on his subsequent tour, for which they were also the support act in their own right. Then the rise of disco made the idea of black British bands more acceptable to the broadcast media and the record industry. And finally they were given a perfect pop song by writer Ken Gold: 'You To Me Are Everything'. The combination took The Real Thing to #1 in Britain in 1976 and Eddie Amoo - who had finally wound up The Chants and joined his brother's band at the end of the previous year - got his first decent break. The fact that 'You To Me' and some of the subsequent releases were more pop than soul may have typecast the group somewhat unfairly, but there were some heavier records as well; Eddie would particularly like to draw your attention to Four From Eight, their 1977 album that comes close to the socio-soul of their hero Curtis Mayfield. (The 'Eight' in the title refers to Liverpool Eight, the district where the band lived.) It also contains their greatest recorded moment, 'Children of the Ghetto'. The Real Thing are still working on the live circuit and still feature Chris and Eddie Amoo. Go see them, partly because you need to pay respect to Britain's disco pioneers, and partly because they're damn good.

Not quite that many!

This should get a bit of debate going... Here's a link to the article and voting area https://www.bbc.co.uk...st-soul-artist/

Are you saying that anyone who sells cheaper than guide price is stupid? You certainly seem to be saying that all Americans are stupid. Outrageous.

But just to confuse things there a jukebox reissue with Jackie Lee - 'The Duck' on one side and Bobby Freeman - 'C'mon and Swim' on the flip.

There's the unreleased Motown version by Patrice Holloway

JB Lenoir I Feel So Good / I Sing Um The Way I Feel: Sue (UK) or USA (US) Decent copy required thanks.

There are some bootleg labels that I'd forgotten had ever existed in that lot. Doesn't matter whose they are, it's essentially a crock.

Always had a soft spot for this tune:

Agreed. I struggle with this "You should know absolutely everything about everything before you buy" stance. If I buy an item listed as a' Sony Bravia TV' on eBay, I expect to get a Sony TV. Not to be told that I should know the telltale marks from the factory in Slovenia.

Yeah, as far as I'm aware the ABC bootleg is the first seven inch issue. Don't think there's ever been a legitimate issue on 45. The flip of the boot, "You can't even walk in the park" got a 45 release in Spain with a nice pic sleeve, but it's tough one to get hold of.

Hi, It's not on ABC. It's actually taken from the 1970 album 'Outrageous' on MGM.

We're going by train Jock so I eagerly await this fascinating cultural experience.

Cheers for the tips Nick. Main thing is just to explore the city - that's why we're going. Not been before and really looking forward to it. Mrs G has a list including plenty of Charles Rennie Mackintosh stuff, Tramway etc. Although it's not a digging trip I always like to give a bit of business to indie record shops along the way if I can though.

Setting off at noon today and going to be there until Thursday. Any record shops worth a look? Recommendations for eating, drinking and looking at things also welcome Cheers

Your posts reads as though you want to be a DJ and that's why you've started collecting again. At least you seem to be honest about it. Don't you like any other kind of music though? There's cheaper genres to collect if it's all about playing them out.

Hey Russ, don't you think the way you're addressing Bob might be a bit patronising? (that's when you talk down to people in a condescending manner...)

Cheers RS. Added it just now. Keep 'em coming people!

Well the Soussan instrumentals like the one you quote above weren't technically boots as they were the first issues of his own productions. It's a safe bet that no publishing royalties were paid though. As for origin, didn't Pete Smith say he thought the very last lot of Soul Fox releases were from a different source and UK made? Rest of them from LA.

and georgiasoul.com has a list of soul/funk on Mars La Tour MLT-2051 Arthur Willis & Soulful Dynamics - The Hurting Is Over / Gotta Find A Way MLT-2053 Alton Reid & The Voodoo Children - Funky Hogg / A Boy Needs A Girl To Love Him MLT-2066 Chain of Fools - Searching For A Brand New Love / It Takes Two MLT-2090 Ricky Andrews & the Chances Are Band - Chances Are Your Dance Is Mine / You Are What My Heart Needs

Jordan Bros on Golden Chariot too...

Quite a few on IX Chains - Trieste version of "I Can See Him Loving You" for instance

Anything else on Sync 6 apart from The Construction?

one of each I reckon Ian