Steve G

I think Bananarama were there by accident rather than design. I do remember one DJ getting in a "lather" about it at the time......"Cor look there's Bananarama Steve!" and making reference to it on his next sales list,

Sorry it's from "The League of Gentlemen".

Chalkster, you'll never convince the "no tails" on this one m8. It does partly come down to money, perhaps more than ego in having something "exclusive". As others have said finding an unknown record in this day and age is bloody hard work, bloody expensive and a massive gamble, not comensurate with the modest DJ fees that most have to endure on the northern / rare scene. It's this point that the "old romantics" who thought it was "all good fun and part of the rough and tumble of the scene in the 70's" (a time when new discoveries were being found every week and records were turned over much faster), lose the argument. Put it in perspective - a new discovery back then was roughly commensurate with a DJ fee for an hours "booking" - some a bit more, some less. And there were always good new discoveries waiting to be had on trips to the USA, Soul Bowl etc. These days a new discovery is a rare event of itself, and is likely to be 10 times a DJ fee for an hours booking, sometimes more, if you consider (unless you get lucky) some genuine new discoveries going for £2k etc. A hell of a lot of money in anyones book. So whether the purists like it or not the DJ is investing a lot of money in something new far more than their colleagues back in the 70s ever were for a single piece of vinyl. So I do understand why that DJ would want some exclusivity in it. And then with the internet opening up access to every mom and pop in the USA, unless it's an acetate, the new discovery may well turn up in some form of "quanity", so suddenly your expensive exclusive "newie" is being hammered by everyone else / mis-credited as their discovery etc. Anyway having said no chance of convincing others, I am not sure why I have written the above .....you either get it or you don't.

Mick Webb aka "Cockney Mick" aka "Dead Eye Dick" was my biggest salesman back then.....he took 50 of each issue, and always flogged em all.....amazing really. Saw him last year with his missus, he's still about, but obviously getting on a bit now....had a nice chat with him at Farnborough when the good burgers of that town booked me to play at their Football Club knees up.

Very good.

Yes Mark correct. I went to every one until about 1983/4 and then only periodically for the next couple of years and more of less stopped going due to family commitments, with only occasional visits. I'll try and post up some old Blackbeat reviews at some stage.....I reviewed all of the clubs (Henris, W Hampstead, Last Chance and 100 Club as well as the 6Ts Thames boat trip) at the time.

100%

Hi Mark That all makes sense. Thing is these days when you get a potential c/up you do a bit of quiet digging see if any references to it on the internet, popsike, etc. ask a copuple of collectors etc. Only if you're pretty sure it's a true unknown would it be wise to cover it up. Must admit I've never understood why you'd cover up a proper modern tune, but fully understand why as a DJ you'd "cover up" a 60s-80s rare 7".

Book Just read this yesterday, by Mark Windle on here, a really interesting read about some of the South East US 60s soul & garage acts like Greater Experience, The Appreciations, Anthony & Aqua lads, The Tempests etc etc. Well worth getting for your holiday reading.

Interesting because it also crosses into my book too .....although only in passing, since the Steals were behind one of the last good Wand 45s.....Look forward to reading Dave's full account when the book is published......

....and not so many teeth :

I saw Stan last at Keb Darge's UK leaving party a year or two ago, and Lorraine has seen him a few months back in Preston (Waitrose I think she said!!! )

Ken Williams worked with Bobby Treetop at a music publishers...... Bit of self publicity I suppose, but Ken talks about Bobby Treetop here (The Music of Ken Williams) if you haven't heard it.....I didn't ask him about the Babysitters tho....bit on Bobby treetop starts about 17 mins in..... https://www.mixcloud.com/steve-guarnori/sunday-morning-soul-on-solar-featuring-the-music-of-ken-williams/

Hmmmm....methinks it would look nice in my book.......

No, Preston St Dancers were a "Clifton Hall" disco act. Preston Cyberman were hard core 60's..... Please don't ask for proof though :lol:

Nice

Yes heard that as well......A "Tony Soprano" without the Italian charm! "Find your star" is an OK dancer as it turns out, fast 70s thing, although very short 1:30 sounds about right.......so maybe there was a MOR Part 2.....I have a booking for a Tea Dance coming up in a few weeks as it happens so it would be a useful addition to the set. : Happy to send you the EP. Steve

I'll try and have a listen tonight....

No I don't believe it is Sam Dees singing!...... The EP is only short bursts of four songs. A soundtrack for a blaxploitation film would have had more than four tracks.....To the extent that Sam Dees had a contribution, assuming he did, those tracks may have appeared on a Ace / Kent CD of Sam Dees unissued material from the 70's a few years ago. There was a 22 tracker of previously unissued Sam Dees demos. I am sure these four songs are by the artists they claim to be, since they were all signed to various Michael Thevis labels. BTW Thevis was into drugs and porn mainly, records was only ever a secondary source of income!

I have the EP. I played Go on be a star over a decade ago now, not that anyone apart from Jan Barker, Andy Whitmore, and a few of the Spanish lads were paying attention.

What's to know? Originally played by Butch as an acetate, this is a limited re-press.

Lee, lovely burgers and all the latest re-issues and Kent stuff in there I see. Is the plan to put some USA OVO in there at some point?

Can't agree with you but that's a funny post......

Joseph Webster - A classic case of great dancer, nasty nasty voice.

Have to agree on acetates, the laquer may be very fragile, and prone to damage but if looked after properly hundreds and hundreds of plays you'll get out of them if you look after them.....but not as enduring as say a vinyl record which should last forever.