Roburt

Car crashes, none payment for performing, poor hotels & food .... but all are only minor matters when compared with collapsing on stage & having ongoing health problems (or even dying). We all know that Jackie Wilson collapsed on stage (a stroke) & never recovered from the incident. But I never realised that Marv Johnson went the same way in 93 .......... PLUS a reminder of happier times for him ....

Just checked & it was basically the same line-up for both shows ..... ...... York, PA in May and Toledo in November ...... though Stevie Wonder had obviously moved up the pecking order by November ... AND ... 2 M's had disappeared; Marv Johnson & the Marvelettes !! The acts were obviously out on tour & away from Detroit for around 6 months that year !!

The 1963 tour (or maybe two different tours in the same year with different line-ups) ........... ........... anyone know ???

Every sane person in the world has eaten loads of Yorkshire Pudding ............ as a lad I had it for starters (with onion gravy), with my main course (a roast beef or similar) & for afters (with jam on). Can't beat Yorkshire Pudd .... much better than owt from Wigan !!!

John, RE: sending a copy of your book ......... I'm one of the reviewers (as I stated earlier) BUT it's Mike who allocates 'who gets what' to review. However, I love all types of soul (southern, Chicago, deep, some sweet, bluesy, Nola, 60's, 70's, 80's, etc) so would love to be asked to review your book (my soul LP collection is also extensive, so I should be able to do the book justice). BTW, do you also include UK released albums (Bell Cellar of Soul, 60's Chess comps, Impression Big 16, etc.) in the book ?

I'll have to pull the box of old B&S mags out of the loft. The mag interviewed EVD when he came to the UK (backing Freda Payne) and I bet he made mention of US tours he went on with Motown acts in that (Earl was featured on the B&S front cover at the time). By all accounts after EVD returned from that UK tour, the only regular job he could get was at a Detroit High School .... what a waste of true talent. Another Motown related musician was Dennis Coffey. He cut an instrumental version of "It's Your Thing" that Motown wanted to license for release around the time Dennis first started to work @ Hitsville studio. He had earlier played on live gigs behind the likes of Edwin Starr but I'm unsure if this was before / after Edwin was signed to Motown.

Just noticed another quote in Mary Wilson's book ....... .... in a section about Motown cover versions, she makes mention of "Come See About Me" by a Philly group the NELODODS !!!! I'd love to hear that track !?!?! Seems that the Supremes played gigs in Bermuda back in 1964 @ the Clay House Inn. Wonder which musicians went on that trip with them ...... https://bermudasun.bm/Content/NEWS/News/Article/Clayhouse-Inn-will-reign-supreme-again/24/270/45970

EMI label 45s would be pressed in one country but sold in a number of others on a regular basis back in the day. I seem to recall visiting Amsterdam, Rotterdam & Brussels back in the day (late 60's / early 70's) and finding UK pressed 45s for sale there. ALSO did the same on the Algarve a few years later (finding a Motown 45 by the Undisputed Truth in a locally printed picture sleeve when the 7" inside it was a UK pressing).

So is the book just about the Wolves soul scene & the Casino back in the day. If so, it would be of very little interest to me (being from Yorks & never having gone to the Casino).

John, The site now has a review section. I'm sure if you sent Mike (or one of us reviewers) a copy of the book, we would give it a fair hearing on here & maybe the review would generate a few extra sales. JRS

The Tams are still performing, in fact they have a gig tomorrow ........... Front Beach Festival Isle of Palms, SC Saturday, March 5, 2016 12:00pm - 4:00pm Come enjoy a day of shagging and beach music with The Tams

Even though the Tams were struggling a bit by 1971, they (or at least a later version of the group) were still going strong in 2006 ....... ........ they formed in 1960, so I guess no original member was still in their line-up in 2006 ......

Mary Wilson (in her book) talks about the 1962 (fall to Xmas) Motortown Revue ...... she lists some of the musicians involved ..... Choker Campbell, Tate Houston, Miller Brisker, Norris Patterson, Herbert Williams, Little John Wilson, Tommy Perkson, Benny Benjamin, 'Swing' Lee, Marvin Tarplin, Cornelious Grant, Teddy Harris, Joe Hunter, James Jamerson, James Outcault, etc. Must say, I've never heard of some of the guys !! The 1st date on that tour; a week at the Howard Theatre in DC ....

A story that illustrates how influential the Platters were back in the 60's ........ When the Miracles first auditioned for Berry Gordy he rejected them ...... ...... coz he thought their line-up / sound was too close to that of the Platters & the world didn't need another 4 boy + 1 girl group.

Another Carl Holmes French EP release ....... he has one cut (Mashed Potatoes) on this Atlantic VA release from 62 .........

1000's of records (45s, EPs, LPs) for sale on Indian Ebay, only trouble is most just seem to be music from Hindi movies !!!

This has to be the guy from Straight Ahead Productions: Doles Dickens .... ... seems he had a long association with Decca, maybe why Little Gigi's 45's ended up on the label .........

That's not the point Pete. The days of cover-ups are long over. If it ain't Willie Tee, why claim it is. To increase the hype !?! Surely we've had way too much of that already. We've grown up & are fully developed men now not boys. Just tell the truth, it's way simpler in the long run.

Sunnysoul, I think you're right. It was late 1963 (?) & the shows were recorded and released on an LP (Motortown Revue Vol.2 ?).

Back home now & able to access my book library .... there I have had the alternate book on Burt (BACHARACH: MAESTRO ! THE LIFE OF A POP GENIUS by Michael Brocken) for some time, though I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. Tony Middleton does get a mention in this other book. It states that on BB's 'Hit Maker' LP (released in mid 65 & a charting album in the UK back then) cabaret man (!?!) Tony Middleton was one of the two guest vocalists. But "My Little Red Book" wasn't originally on this album (but was added when the LP was re-released on CD in the 90's). So I wonder which tracks Tony also adds his lead vocals to.

Two more of Little Gigi's 45s ............ seems she just about always worked with Straight Ahead ...

Little Gigi was signed to Straight Ahead Rhythm Inc in 64. This outfit was run by Jean Grace (song writer / arranger). At that time the outfit was also getting into TV work -- they made a show titled 'All The World of Music' that was screened in the US. Doles Dickens was a musical director for the company & in 64 he was making records (for them) with the likes of King Coleman (radio DJ with WWRL) and Kenny Burrell.

More stuff on Little Gigi (from 62 & 64) ............

Another Paul Anka released Indian 78 (this one dates from 1958/59 I believe) ....

Little Gigi was touring as early as 1962 when she seems to have had a popular record release ("Little Bit Of Love") .....