Steve G

It's now a Hot Box record.......yawn....

Without checking my copies they're from Cleveland or something like that.

Like the Royale 7 another white nband aren't they? Still a nice record though.

You reckon? Down this way it's a bit played out Gusher. Quite catchy though

Via Chris king and then Pat Brady.....£15.

Yes you are right. My memory is going. Pass the tablets please.

Good point.

Dunno Nick, it was mixed by Tom Moulton and that;;s where the acetate originally came from, that's all I know.

Sheepherders ffs? You couldn't make it up.

Thanks for clearing that up...Lady Bianca did her fair share of good stuff as well. A Hamburger? Big Mac for that surely?

I don't think it is Clarence Mann on vocals. Probably one of those urban myths but don't know 100%. Christian in Norway did track the band down some years back but was only able to get an acetate (with some unreleased stuff on it too). B side is of course a pretty good funk track as well. As for it being ordinary Jim G - N.F.W. It's a magical piece of 70's.

Corrr very deep that. Yes have been to the 100 this century, but don't go regularly. On the DJ front I am restricting bookings these days, but it's not about that. Been to plenty of nights as a "punter" which on paper should be good (new music, good DJ's who aren't afraid to mix it up) only to find wishy washy attendance. And that's my beef - not enough support for the good venues. Too much nostalgia. Declining interest in new sounds, over indulgence in the tried and tested, and in many cases just plain boring. Steve

Thought Ray was Ray Monique from Detroit who also recorded on other labels or was that Michael & Raymond???. Always thought Derek was Derek Dougan the ex Wolves supremo!!!

Yeah and did he say how he got the Don Gardner in the first place? In a straight swap with Soul Sam for Larry Houston "Let's spend some time together" OUCH

So what are you saying? Nothing to worry about? We shouldn't be pessimistic because the northern scene is OK? I think not.

Natural Impulse was a bargain at that price. I was offered 6k for my copy and turned it down. Maybe the bottom has fallen out of......very rare 70s

Russ nice thought, but there are too many snouts in the trough now - too many diverse interests and total fragmentation to bring it all together. The opportunity - if it was ever there - has been lost, and what we are left with in the UK for Northern soul is a revival scene that is to all intents and purposes irrelevant (unless you want to relive your youth) and a dwindling number of forward thinkers scattered far and wide who want to take the scene forward. Because they're the pasionate ones - rather than the money grabbers - they will continue with their passion - with little / no new blood, over time, declining attendances, and eventually mergers etc. until we get probably 4 quality events a year which the remainder of us left will all make a bloody good effort to go to.

Yes but it was irrelevant then as we discovered / broke many thousands of record in the post Levine era.

an old japanese collectors record.

I think the northern scene has long been largely a revival scene just regurgitating the same records. It's become largely what I hoped it would never become - a nostalgia scene like the rock and roll scene was years ago with Teddy boys, drainpipes and silly dancing. Perhaps it's not that surprising as the music itself is largely so old now. As this revival scene has grown, so has the baloney that goes with it - clocks, northern soul greeting cards, Frank Wilson keyrings etc - all part of this "NS is a way of life" nonsense. To me it's always been about the music first.....but as time has gone on, fewer and fewer have been interested in expanding new horizons, hearing new sounds etc. (well apart from Duffy!). Yes it's partly an age thing, and also partly true that most civilians don't tend to expand their musical horizons either (grew up liking Quo, you probably still have their greatest hits in your car CD player). However the soul scene was supposed to be different, fresh, exciting, different, cool. It's a real damning indictment about the state of the NS scene that the forward thinking progressive venues just about get enough in to make it viable a few times a year and even some of them struggle. By contrast in large parts of the country you by an old rig, put on a Wigan oldies night and you get 350+ in all clapping to the breaks etc. Too many DJ's, too many venues, tackiness and stagnating musical taste - all true I am afraid. Thankfully continental Europe offers such a fresh perspective where more new sounds can be played without some old codger shouting in your ear "You got Barbara McNair mate?".

in a word yes. I know I played it, possibly others/ Part 2 is wicked.

Great track and one I never tire of. Not for sale though.

Yes it did. a record that took a while to take off. Massive now though.

James, something like Lee Fields works on two levels. It may he hashed out at the main upfront venues - Butch and Andy D have been playing it for ages etc. we all know that. Searling played it at Wigan in 75 etc. But at the smaller local venues round here it still gets plays and isn't seen as chasing anyone's coat-tails or second rate or pop, nor is it a bad reflection on the DJ at all. It fills the floor, the punters love it etc etc. and of course it's a great little record. As far as I am aware the only people that play it round Herts/ Beds / N London northern clubs are Dave Fleming (when he DJs which ain't that often), and myself. Hardly played out or pop then, and I'd wager the same is true in other local areas up and down the land. Not everyone goes to Lifeline or Burnley, so I really don't think you can class people playing it as "pop DJs" or chasing Butch's (or Andy Dyson's) coat-tails. I thought about your comments and of course largely agree that DJ's should be breaking new sounds when they can, but we all know you can't do that all night most places (anywwhere in the UK?). In fact you yourself, I understand, use The Tamangoes and Salvadors in your sets - surely the most overplayed totally played out quality oldie of all time? - with the possible exception of "Cause your mine" (equally an excellent record). "Stick by me baby"? "Stick it in yer garage" more like! As for the "Top DJ's" bidding on this I don't know who these are nor do I care, preferring to allow them to spend their money (or trades) on whatever they like without ridicule - even if the price is very high and a bit of a shock to us. They're adults and presumably know what they're doing with their cash (or trades), and it's not for us to tell them how to spend it or ridicule them. Now where's me copy of The Tomangoes then?

think that's the third copy on here for sale today? Is this a first for soul source?