Steve G

Aha another AMG collector - there are quite a few soul ones on the label, and some funny offshoot labels too like Pilot Master.

Geoff you got so much knowledge in your head about that London scene in the 60s, you ever thought about writing about it? I find the fact that Jimmy Radcliffe was played as a new release in Tottenham on Thursday nights amazing! Perhaps I shouldn't find it amazing, but you should write an article or two about it all, it would be a fascinating read and serve as a more accurate reflection of what the scene was actually like "before northern was invented" than the garbage I read and hear regularly from talking heads that weren't even a twinkle in their father's eye in the mid 60s. GO FOR IT Kiddo!

Not strictly true mate, as the Top DJs drove to Soul Bowl and got access to things that John didn't list. Most of the top DJs were all regular visitors in the 70s and 80s. What would happen is that there would be small piles of discoveries that John would prepare for each DJ to listen to. As a humble youngster, broke and living in Peterborough, I went with Soul Sam a number of times and we had seperate piles to listen through. Sam obviously got the rare stuff in his pile, and invariably I got what John thought would be some good £1.50 type soul sounds. This worked for both of us, as I couldn't afford the rare stuff and had a wife and hungry kids to feed. Over the years it has been said that there was a pecking order for DJ's and in the late 70s I think you can evidence by his playlists at Wigan, Searling got first call on new discoveries. Then it was Poke for a while, Sam with modern, Butch with 60s etc. So I'd agree that John has discovered more than anyone. Of course he didn't discovere everything and no one is suggesting that. As to DJ's again it's a timing thing - Searling was streets ahead in the late 70s / early 80's on new 60s, but since then? Sam has also had a long run as he has just kept going as Brian says. More recently the crown would go to Butch. I'd also single out for special mention people like Arthur Fenn, who has always been at the progressive end of northern, Dearlove with the slower stuff, Ady Croasdell, Andy Dyson for 60's etc. So what I am saying in a roundabout and long winded way is, there isn't a single person that stands out since 1968, but Sam is certainly up there. Though again fair to say he hasn't broke too much in the last couple of years. So the principle that best reflects this (and again not always true) the dealer discovers them, and the DJ breaks them -is that a fair compromise?

Yeah but Jason consider all his ramblings and allegations, I don't think we can take him too seriously

As others have said Stax's last pitch attempt to diversify. Lena incidently died anorexic and in poverty in a flat about 3 miles from where I live iN Cheshunt. Seems she had a pretty tragic life after her child star status which is sad .

Who was it covered up as?

Yeah welcome aboard Mr Coombes.

The Japanese scene is quite small these days isn't it for collecting? I don't mean when Keb goes over there. I understood there were some prolific collectors in the 70s and 80s and indeed at one time I think Soul Bowl had a seperate Japanese list (would have loved to have seen one of those!)....but these days I am told it is fairly quiet?

Completely different label. Nothing to do with them. Steve

Dunno m8 you spend all your life on there, you tell me!

There are several groups with this name - this is a West Coast one I think from Oakland, though maybe wrong on that. It used to be rare though a few have turned up in the last few years so I'd say probably 250 ish now. It's been played a few times by a few of us. Good record though> Steve

Same here. There's so many f'king rekkids and so many DJ's, can't see why a so called DJ needs bootlegs. If they can't afford anything else, then a DJ should be able to create a good playlist out of £5 originals. If they can't do that, then put simply they don't have any flair or imagination and don't deserve to be called a DJ.

But is the buyer from "Notts"?

It is funny though because someone did tell me that most of the copies of Jason Knight "Our love is getting stronger" were sold in the Notts area - and I don't think they were kidding.

So he's basically googling things and coming up with abstract comments then - wait til he sees "BIG IN MY FRONT ROOM"

You talking about the Madness song right?

Yes massive in the Hucknall, West Bridgeford, Derby Road and Meadows areas of Nottingham Pete. Not sure about the rest of Notts though.

Sorry about that Denbo but it was important that you knew about this!

Clever boot on the US copy as well isn't there?

It's from texas, and has also been re recorded on a CD, Ian this wasn't a Soul Sam spin until much later. Think Dave Welding was the 1st one to play the B side, followed by me, Butch and Mick H. Sam got his copy later.....Steve

Think this is quite good, and also quite hard to find. Isn't the flip a cover of something someone else did, can't remember now but I seem to recall it being pretty ok.

whatever you might think of Chris hill, he has been a very large influence on many over the years, and certainly deserves to be on the list and pretty high up. everyone remembers him for the swing nights thing, but he was ploughing a furrow as a club DJ for many years before that, and many years after.

Now shoes as well as bread!

Not at all Bearsy, think we've all had "incidents" - think someone said they even had one arrive in a baby's nappy once. Smithy I think? (he received it, didn't send it like that ) I certainly had one in a jiffy bag with no strengtheners - it was styrene and guess what? vinyl arrived split in two where it had no doubt been hurled around in a sorting depot. What gets me is that some of these blatant loonies insist that their packaging is OK when clearly it ain't so. They've probably never been outside of their home town in Texas let alone Texas itself, or even the USA (god forbid), and probably have no idea what happens to parcels in transit once they drop them in the big shiny blue mailbox at the end of their road. I realise this is sounding like a rant at some of our US cousins, and many of them are very good, but most of the oddballs also seem to come from there it has to be said! I have had discs that are extremely well packed from the USA but mainly from professional sellers, rather than Joe Dungarees in Arkansaw. Can't recall a really bad package from the UK or Europe, though obviously one or two could have been a bit better. Rant over. See you on the 11th Mr Bear.

I guess the old maxim, what you don't know can't hurt you