Steve G

So the box I saw was no more than 500 - all the big titles - wonder who had the rest? It was broked as "Soussan's collection".

young man, I am old enough to remmeber one night at the end of the 1970's when his record collection appeared one night at a nighter in a big box courtesy of let me see Les McCutcheon maybe. A lot of interest and a queue to look, but compared to nowadays and the knowledge we have now - not that much to slaver about really Bob.

Is there a prize for being the first person to find him or something?

But a totally different label Cunnie....King Tutt Jimmy Bo Horne's drummer - label from Alabama.

That's a French "IT" guy who works for Cap Gemini in France and California though. He'd probably be horrified to be linked with THE Simon Soussan.

Yes but it's not about that, it's the Scepter-Wand story.

One day I'll get round to putting them on line. Promise! Maybe when I've finished writing my book.

Yes Nick, that's right one of the first post Wigan modern sounds.

Unless I am mistaken Clifton Hall. I went to his dentist practice once in South Memphis - not for long though - metal walls ffs!

God this fascination with this guy is something else! A true scene villain - and classic style wide boy / rip off merchant. He had access to the records, but unlike others blatantly ripped loads of people off, left money owing everywhere, stole stuff and hasn't contributed anything whatsoever to the scene since the 1970's. (I did find some of the Dewhirst stories quite funny though). And yet up he still pops every few weeks with another sighting, another rumour someone saw him in the toilets at LAX or something and another thread.... Bah Humbug!

Nice one!

Apart from records I got four crates of CB and BB magazines. Great reading, but James had this annoying habit of circling reviews and lining the margins of reviews he thought were interesting....but what a character.

I hope someone has proof read the sleeve notes.....

After this 45 he became member of The Independents.

Not sure what you mean "shed any light on" - they are a kosher outfit from Chicago who have been reissuing stuff and issuing the unissued for years.

As well as his records he amassed quite a collection of "Gentleman's magazines".....I remember at the auction pre view there were complete runs of Mayfair, Playboy, Penthouse and Men Only

I understand fully why there are cover ups these days. It takes many hours of research, and costs a fortune to source genuinly unknown records at this point. I've seen total unknowns go on ebay for 3k+ etc. They simply ain't lying about waiting to be discovered at $5 as anyone that really knows about rare records would understand. One of the challenges is when something genuinly new 'comes up' no one knows whether it is a genuine one off or someone has 5-6 copies or even a small box to drip feed out "to all the DJs". So can understand why a DJ would want to keep exlusivity on it. And yes not denying there is an ego element - DJ-ing is a competitive business afterall and many Djs want to have things that others don't have. It's what differentiates them.

Hi Swifty, Some interesting stuff, nothing really rare. His 60s UK records all had centres removed and scratches around the label to make them stick to the slip mat....Yuk-ola! So I didn't bid on any of them. Think Clarky got one or two bits. You know there were some good fillers Duprees on Polydor type stuff, loads of funk / Atlantic stuff but nothing really rare. He wrote his reviews on the singles in shorthand - quite interesting. I prob. got about 1,500 45s and 500 12s and a box of 60s albums all mint and pretty nice...oh and some boxes of old Billboard and Cash Box magazines 65-75....the whole lot weighed a ton! Apparently the widow wasn't happy since she only made a few grand after the auctioneers took their cut and the costs of storage / moving etc. Lots of people went to look at the "lots" but honestly it was only worth cheap bids. Not taking anything away from the guy, that's just the way it was. Tons of records though. Steve

James Hamilton the DJ and Record Mirror singles reviewer? If so he ended up in Notts. When he died they needed 7 lorries to ship all the records down to auction. His letter box was enlarged top 13" so the postman could pop LPs and 12s through, and you could hardly get into his house. When he died his widow just wanted shot of it all and commissioned auctioneers to sell it off. Ian Clark was involved in pricing and pulled out any rarities (of which there weren't many). Most of it was promos with release sheets etc. But with anything like that the market ain't there for a collection of that size. I went and had a look and put some cheap bids in - like £30 for 500 assorted import singles and £30 for 500 12s. I won several lots and getting the records home from peckham was a "challenge". Like the back of the car was on the floor and all I could see out the front was sky! Anyway interesting times!

Still is.....

Pure speculation on the seller's part. I paid a lot for Sam's copy when it was a one off - not a secret, but where the site get their figures from heaven only knows! Not even US$ maybe?

Here's what I played.....all credit to Ady, Tony, Dean et al.....Those Kent guys have put out some fantastic stuff over the last 30 years.... 1. John Edwards Tin man 2.Darrow Fletcher What are we gonna do about this mess 3.Marshall McQueen Any fool can feel it 4. Unknown artist - All in your mind 5. Alcapa Phase 3 - Someone to run to 6. The Finishing Touch Don't put me down 7. Loleatta Holloway This man's arms 8. Willie Walker Run around 9.Sam Dees I know where your coming from 10. Mayberry Movement Two wrong don't make a right 11.San Fransisco TKO's Make up your mind 12. Candi Staton One more hurt 13. Hesitations Gotta find a way 14.Art Jerry Miller Put me in the mood 15.Johnnie Taylor Please let me in 16.Johnny Watson It's better to cry 17.Queen of Losers - Eleanor Rigby 18. Little Royal Keep on loving 19.Garland Green Come through me 20.Art Gentry This is my chance 21.Unknown When I'm back on my feet 22.Rockmasters Pretty girl 23.Willie Bollinger I won't have to cry no more Steppin Stone 24. Hesitations Go away 25.Ty Karim If I can't stop you 26.Betty Bibbs Pounds of soul 27.Jimmy Lewis Three into two won't go 28.Jimmy Ellis You 29.Millie Jackson Don't send nobody else 30. Mayberry Movement I can see him loving you 31. Sam Dees Standing in the wings of a heartache 32.Sam Dees Meet me halfway 33. Spencer Wiggins I'm at the breaking point 34. Paramount 4 Sorry ain't the word 35.The Sweetens So much love to give 36.Millionaires I'm the one who loves you 37. Art Jerry Miller Always treat your woman 38. John Edwards Cold hearted woman 39.Choice of Colors Love is gone

Wish him the best Dave.

All the best Dave

Yes that's right it was controversial at the time it turned up 85. Another one: Babara Mason "Another man"