Md Records

I met & chatted to Simon a few times at events in the Gloucestershire area, and news like this is difficult to take in. I'm really sad for the tragic loss of Simon, and also my thoughts go out for his Two Children, especially at a time when Families should be together. R.I.P. Simon Des Parker

Was confirmed to me recently by a collector of old T.V. shows, that Black & White footage of Judy hughes performing both sides of the"Vault" 45 exist. Des Parker

I recently picked up some Red Reissues of the "Ditalians" whilst in the U.S. recently (though not 100% sure which market they're aimed at) so be warned, they're out there! Des Parker

I think "Walter Wilson" was something to do with, or a member of the "De Lites" on "Cuppy". Des Parker

I'm sure I've got UK & US of this, I'm absolutely up to my eyes in it tonight, but if you call me on my Mobile about 8.30 tonight (working in the Record "shed") I can check then, and can sort you out ........cheap!! Des Parker 0781 6511488

Neil Have "P.M.'d" you. Des

Went to Disney, Florida many Years ago, promising not to do the vinyl thing......but by the Hotel in Kissimmee was a Music & Film Memorabilia type Boutique with just a Handfull of oldies on "45" including an unplayed "Ad Libs - New York In The Dark - AGP" for $3. Des

There's certainly no shortage of people wanting to D.J. at venues. It's not an ideal situation, but I wouldn't like a scene that is controlled by a few individuals,so as a side issue, who do you think is honest, fair handed & forward thinking enough to be the Chairman of "Northern Soul PLC", I'd be too corrupt! Des

I think that's going to stay behind John George's counter for a few more Years. Des Parker.

Johnny Beggs often plays the "Baby, baby don't you do it" in his sets, and I think this is a slightly different cut to the one Searling has/had. As far as who it is, I've done a bit of digging amongst the great & good in the "Philly" music scene, and they've never heard it, or have the foggiest who it is......at the moment. I like it, but I feel that the cut "Johnny" has, is a little under produced, which I adore. Des Parker

In all the countless trips I've made, I've only ever visited Val's once, and although it was O.K. (he does have a lot of vinyl!!) the prices didn't warrant me making a hasty return visit. Unless you can acheive the difficult task of being one step ahead of him ( and many of the other dealers out there) then expect to pay the price. Ironically I was passing the store in June and didn't even bother going in, I don't think that wading through Thousands of unpriced 45's that you know ain't gonna be cheap is a fruitful way of spending A LOT of your time Record hunting in the U.S. Ironically, John Anderson introduced me to him a couple of years back (and after he'd long forgotten me from my only visit), and he was incredibly friendly and was insistant that I stop by the Store and have a dig around, so out of common courtesy I feel somewhat obliged to visit, but maybe not next time..eh. Des Parker

In my opinion "Margaret Littles" is an interesting piece of Detroit Soul, to which I have my own theory (please feel free to add any constructive thoughts). John Anderson pretty well had a lot of stuff off Popcorn Wylie, and then subsequently others followed(e.g Guy Hennigan) yet nobody turned up a copy? Someone then commented to me about the vocal, saying that "Popcorn" would never have used a vocalist this poor, with all the talent literally on his doorstep, whch, if you forget the superb backing and concentrate on the vocals, it's no Pat Lewis/Martha Starr/Rose Batiste!! Now in BASIC financial terms there are Two ways of having a record released, the company records you, or you pay them to record you, often referred to as a "custom" record (e.g. The Vondells, on "Airtowns" custom subsidiary) and you therefore get the number of discs you paid for and f*** off with them. I think that Margaret did just that, hence, apparently no copies at the Wylie household, as he was paid to do a job. As far as New discoveries go, the "Two Plus Two" on "Velgo" was a surprise when I first heard & saw it about 5 Years ago, now how did that one remain hidden! Des Parker

There's a Sidra "acetate" album with an "Audiodisc" label, with this on, plus a few more unissued, and some issued bits, but no title credits, so "Timmy Willis", I presume, is as good a name as any. The album has a major hiss all the way through, rendering the lump of metal/plastic largely unplayable, but thanks to modern technology, and luckily for us, the unreleased tracks themselves were restored, and released through Joe Boy. Someone even went to the trouble of drawing a large "Sidra" logo on the White card cover in pencil - cute! Des Parker

Sanguine Seeing as you single handedly are quite rightly starting a "Barons Of Soul" appreciation Society, part of the Group also recorded as the "Ballads" (not the "Venture" lot, but the ones on "Tina") so you MUST check out "This Is Magic" by them. They also did some backing stuff for Clarence Williams. Des Parker

Barons Of Soul were:- - Tony Sharp (Lead) - Robert Irvin - James Wagstaff - Kenny Morrow (replaced by Kenny Jackson) The "Barons" mainly did back up vocals on many of the Harthon productions, including Eddie Holman. They later went on to record as "Free Spirit" on Chess, which you should be able to pick up for "pocket money". The irony of this topic is that our elitist and fickle Soul scene wants to seek out and thank these revered acts, but stops short of wanting them to rerelease the cherished tracks. Des Parker

I'm often asked to put Flyers out for people, and to be honest the situation is getting a little laughable, as I'm often putting the flyers onto a pile of about another 10 flyers on each table. I'm becoming increasingly sceptical about the value of this form of communication. Many people either quote "On The Scene" or "Soul Source" as their primary sources of venue information.

I think, before you answer this one, you have to STRICTLY define "Northern Soul" and set some parameters. When does "Northern" end and Funk/R & B/Modern/Crossover/Blues/Jazz/Latin etc, etc begin, and from bitter experience of playing through piles & piles of odd "45's" what about all those 1,000's of "sort of Northern if you know what I mean" tracks that we all scratch our heads about. Pointless exercise, but on a positive note, how f***ing dull would it be if you were into a music that only had a finite number of items to collect, and listen to! Des

Gene Woodbury, according to the owner of "Del Val" Records Des

Sonny Childe - Love Is In The Air - Music Factory Des

Just came back on line, after a well earned break and saw this thread, and can only tell you what I've been told. The Ethics are NOT the Springers, and never recorded "Nothings too good etc" When "collectibles" got the tapes off Thaddeus Wale (owner of the Wale & Ves Thad label & mentor of the "Ethics" amongst other things) he also gave them the Springers tapes, possibly unlabelled, and I think that's where the confusion began. The Springers only recorded at the most a dozen sides, and when a C.D.of the "Best Of The Springers" was put out in 2002 it had to be seriously padded out with alternate takes, instrumental versions etc. Thaddeus didn't even have a photo of the group for the cover, in fact one of the group has a photo, but figures it is as rare, therefore as valuable as the disc and wants $10,000 for it!

I've also seen/heard the "thing" and vaguely remember it being called "Goodbye Baby", like Dave can't remember the "Artiste" but I know it wasn't "Tony Turner". The lyrics fitted into the tune arrangement, but vocally the performance was somewhat under par to what one normally expects from Motown, which, in a perverse way, could add credence to it's legitimacy? Still undecided Des

I found this track in New York, on a U.S. lookalike, Black & White Kent 45, complete with the British address, presumably done for the U.S. "Jamaican" scene. Whether these were done legally, I couldn't comment, but the track IS around on a 45. Des

Have one in stock @ £8 (Inc P & P) DES

I have one in stock for £20 (Inc P & P) Des

The Sonny Hines track also came out on "Terry" Records, but it's a different cut. Whereas the Airtown release has an almost "Jazzy" laid back feel, the "Terry" one is slightly faster, with a crisp, more "Northern" feel, and in my mind knocks spots off the Airtown release. I also have this on a Sonny Hines "In Person" E.P. on "Terry" but whereas the 45 logo is rather plain, on the E.P. the Airtown "Saxaphone" logo has been incorporated. As a matter of interest "Airtown" is the nickname for Dayton, Ohio as this is where the Wright Brothers did their thing. Des TB values the Jazzy Airtown release at £20, but the (In my opinion) better Terry release at "Low".