Dave Thorley

Morning to those reading this at work, put this up last night, hope you find something you like. Dave

What credibility, he needs none or I would thinks wants any with us, and if he has lost all of it why do guys in the UK still buy the record, some with full knowledge. Yes some are fully aware he has a shed load and have bought from him in the last few weeks cuz they want the record.

Oh why don't you all get over it. So the lad got lucky and has found shed loads of a good title, best of luck to him. Every weekend I hear many from this site out and about talking up great finds of the past or dreaming of the future big one !!!!. If any one of you found a box full of a £500+ record are you trying to tell me you would tell the world so you struggle to sell them for £100 or less, get out of here. It's a great record it will always sell at what the market values it at, that's 'a in total veiw', not one individuals veiw. Some of the people have read the several threads on here on the subject or heard chat about it at venues and have still decided to bid, their choice and their action makes up part of the current market value.

Hi All Another extensive site update, due to the great response to the Jazz LP's we have put up a few more gems. Also in the LP section some great gospel/modern soul. All along with our usual set of interesting 45's, 12"'s and CD 'From the hard to find, To the just plain good' www.topdogrecords.co.uk What's New 45's-Larry Atkins, Ambitions, Bobby Smith, Tyrone Barkley, Bud Harper, Detroit Soul. 12"-Al Hudson, Chazz Williams, Ver-sa-tyl LP's-Barbara Jean English, Bill Fridge, Nina Simone, Sonny Rollins, CD LP's-Heet N' Koolin Sistm feat Ike Strong, Point3 FM. CD Singles -Art Porter featuring Lalah Hathaway, Jeff Lober featuring Eric Benet Thanks for looking Dave & Malayka

Hi Mate Yes I know, McKinley and I met up with her for a drink. She is planning on some new stuff with him.

I met her in Detroit recently, fun lady. Very aware of the interest in her Top Dog recording over here.

Hi Guys Anyone help Cheers Dave

Hi Guys Chuck Holiday was written and produced by one of the Four Voices that had 50/50 rights to with Popcorn Wylie. As you will see on the FV credits Popcorn is one of the writers. When they wanted to do the CH version, Popcorn waved his rights to the song so they could record it. I may well be putting it legally out on a nice US pressing, but want to see how the sales of the Rotations goes first, which we will release in Feburary. In the current climate need to see how the first sells. But we have a deal to put out both Chuck Holiday and The Four Voices if we wish. Think the Chuck Holiday will sell well, but not so sure about FV, as you can get the re-issue fairly cheap. Anyones feed back would be welcome. Dave

There also might be a version by 3 Of A Kind

I think it's the same as Dee Dee Sharp, which used to get played back in the mists of time at either The Torch or The Mecca

Just found this nice biog on the Executive Suite. Didn't now that they were The Millionairs. Unfornunatly leaves me non the wise about The Ambitions. The Philly Sound Via Camden, NJ The lead vocalist of Executive Suite was Vince Unto who recently got in touch with DiscoMusic.com to discuss his music career. While he is now living in California, Vince was born in the Philadelphia suburb of Camden, New Jersey on August 24th, 1949 of German and Filipino extract. The Philly sound had a profound effect on Vince with him wanting to learn to play the drums and later the trumpet. Things really took off when he joined the glee club during junior high and realized he liked to sing. Vince explains, "I got more interested in singing I guess because one of my sisters played all this Motown music, The Impressions, Curtis Mayfield. That kind of music really grabbed me. Also groups like The Drifters with "Stand By Me" and "There Goes My Baby," which was stuff they were playing on WIBG. Groups like the Flamingos-all them nice harmonies and smooth tenors. That really influenced me. I just kept trying and trying and I started imitating people and that�s how I actually learned how to sing." Vince goes on to say that he used to do a great Smokey Robinson and Curtis Mayfield imitation. Vince Unto would later join a high school band called the Italics consisting of eleven members. Vince describes the Italics sound as being, "So tight. We rehearsed everyday." The Italics would do shows in and around the Philadelphia area and it was during one of these shows that Gamble and Huff took notice. In 1968 when Vince Unto graduated, the group split up with one of the singers, Jimmy Williams, picking up the bass and using Winnie Whinfield as his role model. Williams went on to play with the O'Jays and appeared on countless Philly productions. Whinfield was the bass player for Kenny Gamble and the Romeos. According to Vince, "We were influenced a lot by Kenny Gamble and the Romeos because they took us under their wings since they saw talent in this group (The Italics). I guess that if we had stayed together we would have ended up being one of their first groups other than the Intruders." From High School To Millionaires It is Jimmy Williams who in 1969 connected Vince with a group of guys who would become the Millionaires. The Millionaires consisted of Henry Tuton, Charles Coniers, Billy Tyler and Vince Unto. One of the members had a brother who was with another group called The Ebonies-and they too were connected with Gamble and Huff. When asked if the Millionaires had any hits Vince replies, "No, we were doing nightclubs in Philadelphia when a guy named Sherman Marshall, who was connected to Johnny Madera and Harry Chippetz of Sigma Sound, told us to come on over to the Shubert Theatre. We did and we got to meet Johnny Madera and Harry Chippetz and we sang and signed a recording contract!" Sherman was also Barbara Ingram's (one of the Sweethearts of Sigma) boyfriend. The Shubert was home to many others such as Bobby Eli who was the guitarist of the Vibrations and Daryl Hall who was a song writer for a group called Hall Oates (not Hall and Oates as it would later become). Millionaires Become Executives Bobby Eli and Daryl Hall appreciated the new talent so much that they each would write a song for Vince and the group. It is in fact Daryl Hall who insisted that The Millionaires change their names to Executive Suite. Once The Millionaires became Executive Suite, Bobby Eli wrote a song for them called, "I'm A Winner Now," which was released on the Jubilee label and garnered some airplay, but promptly disappeared due to some interference. Vince recalls, "Gamble and Huff had it banned from the air. I don't know what exactly happened between Gamble & Huff and Johnny Madera, but there was some problem between them. We did get played for about a week, but because of that it didn't go anywhere." Around 1970-71 Executive Suite would have a ballad written for them called "Christine" by Daryl Hall, which later appeared in a Hall and Oates album. It was along the lines of The Delfonics or Stylistics in sound. On the day that the song was to be recorded, fellow band member Billy Tyler couldn�t leave work on time so Daryl Hall sang natural tenor along with Vince Unto doing high tenor on the track. The song received a little airplay, but not much. When the Fuel Runs Out "Your Love Is Paradise" was written by Bunny Sigler and came very close to hitting it very big since it was popular in regional markets such as Chicago and Detroit. Nonetheless, it wasn't until 1973 when Executive Suite would have their claim to fame, the classic song called "When the Fuel Runs Out" written by the premiere team of Norman Harris, Alan Felder and Bunny Sigler. This was released on Babylon Records out of New York in the US and Cloud Nine Records in the UK. The interesting part is when Vince explains, "I didn�t really want to sing that song because it was actually written for Henry Tuton who had more of a Teddy Pendergrass type of voice. When we got into the studio Henry just could not sing it the way they wanted him to. Bunny Sigler came in and said, 'sing this song cause we're running out of time.' I didn't feel as though I was prepared since I didn't rehearse well enough to sing it. At the time I never expected to sing that type of a song. To tell you the truth, I didn't like Disco. I always felt I was a guy who could do ballads. " The next single, which also was Disco oriented, was entitled, "You Believed In Me" on Polydor Records and produced by Scribbles who also arranged the song with Patrick Adams of P & P Records and Musique fame. Vince doesn't recall much else from this session. This is the last song that Vince sang on for Executive Suite. Vince finally left the group in 1976 to pursue a regular line of work since he claims they weren't making any money despite all the hard work and he needed to support a wife and two children. Vince got a job in construction, but did sing part-time with a Philly group called the Intrigues and later did backup with a singer called David Simmons who then changed his name to Abu Bakar. The group that was with Simmons/Bakar became known as the Neo Experience and one of the female singers according to Vince sounded like Chaka Khan and she went on to front the Ritchie Family. Her name was Vera Brown. Stevie Wonder In 1982 Vince Unto was offered a chance to work with a group that would be produced by Stevie Wonder. The group was called Myx, but things never materialized and in due time Vince ended up staying in California and worked in construction. "MYX" did perform background vocals on Neil Diamond's album "Headed For the Future" along with Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock on the song "Lost In Hollywood" and Vince appeared in the Stevie Wonder video "Overjoyed." Currently, Vince still resides in California working a normal 9-5 and is happy with his participation in the 1970s Disco music scene. Big thanks to Vince for getting in touch with DiscoMusic.com and taking time to speak on the phone about his music career. The End

Hi Mate Thanks for that. I think The Ambitions are from New Jersey, as were Executive Suite, Camden, New Jersey. But as you know lots of lower New Jersey groups get given the Philly tag, as they are just the other side of the river. Funny the Ambitions version sound earlier.

Same backing as Determination-Fabulous Apollos-Valtone, later came out with different vocal 'Don't fit, don't force it.

So who can tell me which was released first the Ambitions on Firefly, slightly more uptempo version or the Executive Suite on Babylon. Great record and two good versions.

Yes, interesting. Could someone be bidding them up!!!

Had it in watch, but forgot to bid, bugger!!!

Is this the same Bobby King that latter recorded for Motown, 'Lovequake' ?

Hi All Anyone have a listing for this label and info on it, Philly label with Gail Anderson. I believe it had some hook up with V-Tone. Dave

Hi Guys So what do we think, I thought it would go for more $1,125 https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=370119348717

Hi John So the Fab Vagas is clearly a urban myth, I stand corrected. Still does change the fact that dear old Richie does have so very dodgy looking things for sale. I know he has found some awesome originals in his time, but he does like the old bootlegs. Dave Dave

Hi Guys Put this up over the weekend Dave

That's a shame, he used to turn up some great stuff, hope it's nothing to serious and he is able to get back on track. Dave

Hi Pete Haven't seen that book cover in years, have you got the Smoothies one as well (Bit off thread I know) A few years ago, I started a thread saying that we should collectively bombard Ebay when we saw boot legging. Was told by many on here, including several major contributors, to grow up and it was just part of the scene. Dave

Hi All Just completed a nice site update. Thanks to everyone that bought tracks from us in the last month, hope you find something you like. This time round we have put up some nice Jazz LP's, cool 45's, hard to find CD's and all with those lovely sound files 'From the hard to find, To the just plain good' www.topdogrecords.co.uk What's New 45's-Wombat, Charles Drain, World Column, Final Touch, Magnetics, Perigents, Magic Night 12"-Arthur Prysock, Bobby Womack, Fishburn & Francis, J's LP's-Luther Rabb, Rance Allen Group, Plus some killer Jazz inc Pharoah Sanders, Roland Kirk Quartet CD LP's-Clayton Knight, Kenni Wayne, Lil Jimmie, O B Buchana, Charles L Johnson CD Singles -Ebony Evans (New Promo Single) Thanks for looking Dave & Malayka

Wasn't this the same guy who sold re-presses of Fab Vagas at a large amount, forgetting he had had them pressed. Also in conjuction with the nice dealer in Vagas, or is that a urban myth. Also the nice dealer man in Vagas, was so concerned that the UK scene got copies of The Ringleaders, Toby Bullard, Visions, Towana Barnes that he re-pressed these as well, but forgot in all his rush to ask the original label owner for permission. An easy mistake to make really, but nice of him to be thinking of us.