Epic

Looking at some of the postings Ian I think the answer to your original question is a resounding NO!!

It was played for a long time - but it was not played every week - it was "mothballed" every now & then. Just when you thought it may have been dropped Colin would play it again as an unexpected treat. It was the same for records like George Wydell, Major Harris, Leroy Britten, John Stansbury, Earnest Mosely etc. BTW Betty Lloyd is just such a brilliant record & evokes so many happy memories for me & all that "last hour" generation from The Highland Room.

Was a Colin Curtis "last hour" Blackpool Mecca spin way before Stafford played it!

It's not that I don't get it - I just don't think it's that good.

"There's a job opening for an experienced male vocal group" Think I'll stick with Sammy & the boys - now that is quality!!!!

Is it just me or does antbody else find the record a bit of a mess really? The intro is great but then I think the tune goes all over the place - the vocal harmonies are just not there - bit of an "Emperors New Clothes" record to me - rarity over quality IMHO.

The points raised on here are the same ones that rear their ugly heads on similar threads over the last couple of years. The conclusion I have reached is that as much as I love modern dance music it is NOT Northern Soul & never will be - yes there are similarities but people who love dancing to Dobie Gray, Moses Smith etc. are never going to want to listen to the likes of Blaze, Byron Stingily etc. There will be small groups of people who will accept "newer" music but this will be a minority. Who knows - perhaps the next generation may embrace 90s dance records & discover them just as we did back in the 70s with Northern Soul - but they may look at it without the "Northern" angle on it.

I can assure you that the modern dance music I listen to & play bears no resemblance to the stuff that kids listen to on any given high street on a Saturday night. People of a certain age dancing to modern dance music, is it any more or less cringeworthy than their peers dancing to old dance music? - 'cos over 2000 of them seemed happy enough to do it at Blackpool Tower a couple of weeks ago & not many of them suffered from acute embarassement. BTW Quentin Harris has released a shed load of tunes which are far better than the one featured in this thread - artists like Melba Moore, Patti Labelle, Joi Cardwell etc. & we all know their SOUL pedigree.

My missus bought me some boxer shorts off a street trader in Blackpool once - they said KEVIN KLINE round the waistband - do you think they may have been copies!!!!!!

Better still - it would make a great name for a female vocalist or a C/U name Vera Simillitude

Try fitting that word into one of your songs - now that would be impressive!!!!!! Whilst on the subject of Ronnie Mcneir - a question for you - who discovered "Sitting In My Class" - I know CC played it at The Mecca but was it one of your discoveries? I think it is one of the best records ever played.

Ian would have to play himself - however everybody else would be played by second rate actors with just a passing resemblance to the original people.

Could be called "Hit & Run" - 'cos that's what he did - the best sales thread on Soul Source ever!!!

I also like this - however towards the end of the tune he reverts to his "Godfather of Funk" mode which messes the record up slightly IMHO.

Never - but I've got a few records that go Snap, Crackle & Pop!!!!!

Spot on - there are far better records IMHO by Jazzanova (both as artists & mixers) - they do not have that "certain sound" which as you say people of a certain "persuasion" may enjoy. I am only bringing the tune to peoples attention - there like or dislike of it is up to them.

Jazzanova featuring Ben Wesbeech - "I Can See" https://video.universal-music.de/?vid=5317&g=corporate Think some people on here will like it.

Cheers - think that's it - anyone got a soundclip ?

Remember an old clip of Richard Searling on a TV programme (Granada) in the 80s talking about Norhern Soul - Stuart Cosgrove was interviewing him whilst looking through a box of rare records. There was a very rare record being played in the background it is a male vocal group sound & they sing someting about "being hot" - "the weathers always the same" - "my baby" I know it's a bit sketchy - but any ideas? Thanks

The Investigators - Pisces Sign of the Fish Dennis Coffey - Taurus Dennis Coffey - Scorpio Eddie Kendricks - Son Of Sagittarius Lillian Hales - The Signes Were Wrong Esther Phillips - Capricorn Princess (Album)

"Are You Ready............." became more popular at Wigan. Think "Were You Ready ...... "was far to "disco" for the Casino. Always preferred "Were You Ready........." - Warren Schatz production is superb - agreed, the strings are blinding. Great record - however even the thought of attempting to dance to it now gives me a hernia - wonderful memory though Steve.

Mike Terry, Richard Wylie & Norman Whitfield - those angels must be dancing to some fine tunes indeed. God bless Mr Terry - people with your talent pass this way only once.

In fairness some of Ian's comments have been inflammatory to say the least.

Ian has courted controversey all his life on the Northern Scene - I can't help thinking that he quite enjoys & revels in the infamy that surrounds him - he actually advertises the fact he is going to be controversial - so what has happened on this thread should be no surprise to anyone. If nothing else his latest DVD project has had huge free exposure which Ian should see as a result in his favour - I think it well definitely gain more sales after the discussions on here. Some of the comments from both Ian & his detractors at times have been unacceptable - so perhaps the closing of this thread would be a good thing in the long run.