Dave Thorley

Hi All Whole bunch of 45's gone up on the site 2day. Including over 200 gospel 45's, check the gospel section with over 500 different titles in there now. As well as that we have a small selection below of the cool things gone up on the site. Ann Sexton - I still love you - Seventy 7 W/D VG+ £100 Chargers - You gotta be a lady - Vanguard W/D Mint £25 Toby King - Itch and scratch - Sound Plus W/D Mint £25 Troy Dodds - Rise up and walk - Penthouse VG+ £200 Kelly Brothers - Not enough action / That's how i know - Excello Demo, Mint £25 Reverend Cleophus Robinson - Shout shout Peacock demo VG+ £120 Founders - Don't you leave me / Don't turn your back - Bolivia Mint- £150 Tommy Bush - Stop and think ! - Specialty W/D Mint £75 Tommy Fontera - (You're my) Leading lady - Hi-Lite VG= £75 Plus a whole bunch more, for full descriptions and sound file of just a general mooch www.topdogrecords.co.uk Thanks for looking Dave & Malayka

Now this one is a bit crackly, but it's recorded from Randolph's own 45 which he sent me many years ago. But don't worry the Soul Junction pressing is crystal clear.

Scott Three, Three brothers born in Detroit, eldest Randolph, Michael and Zachary, although by 1965 they had moved to Atlanta with their parents Louis & Alma. On arrival in the city the family set up home in the Collage Park neighbourhood on the south side of the city near the airport. Scott drilled the three brothers into a strong harmony group even though they were very young and over the next few years they sang at local hops and competitions. In early 68 they came to the attention of local producer Tee Fletcher, who had a strong reputation for spotting new talent in the city and by this time had already recorded many. He took them into the studio to record one of Randolph's songs, which he had recently written, ‘Running wild (Ain’t gonna help you)’. For the B side Tee suggested they use a song he and James McDuffie had written called ‘Gotta find a new love’. Both sides were recorded at the local Southside Sound Studio with Tee assisting with production. Scott took the lead on both these tracks and the other brothers on backing harmonies. The 45 sold well in the Atlanta local and the group spent a few years undertaking gigs around the State along with their school work. Even with this limited success the boys never returned to the studio and this might have been it. Until about 5 years ago when the song got pick up by DJ’s in Europe and heavily played in soul music clubs there. Now 40+ years later it see its first European release through Soul Junction records, due for release late April, 2016. Big up for David & John who did the deal last year, just when the family needed it. Sadly now there is only Randolph still alive with Zachary passing in 1995 and Michael only last year. But the musical talent has continued down a generation with two of the brothers daughters LaTocha and Tamika Scott being members of the Platinum album selling group Xscape.

Yes that's the one, did know he was related to Robert Thomas though, thanks for that

Robert Lee aka General LeeRobert was a talented, song writer, producer and artist. He grew up in 1960’s Gary, Indiana and was school boy friend’s with Gordon Keith and Ben Brown, so when they stated their own record label, it was no surprise that he signed to them. He had form a group, Robert Lee & The Exquisites and had been playing gigs around the city and on Chicago’s south side which in fact was only 10 miles away over the state line. His one release on the label got some play on local radio stations, but didn’t sell that well. By the early 70’s his talents as a producer had grown and he was often called on by other local groups to work with them. His next move was under the name of Lost Weekend another vocally stylish harmony group, who released on his own Lost Weekend records and one release on the Chicago label U.S.A. He then changed his recording name to General Lee and with his latest group The Space Army Band recorded three more 45’s on his label including the currently popular ‘Pleasure’. He spent another few years touring with this set up before retiring from the business.

Matt Brown ................................... Macon, Georgia is a little city about 1 hour south of Atlanta. Driving down Main Street you get a real feeling of being in the old Deep South. As you look down any of the city’s main street and squint a little it is easy to imagine this as it would have looked back in the 50’s and 60’s, apart from the odd new building and the cars, it’s still the same. But this little sleepy corner of the Deep South was a hot bed for music, home to Otis Redding, Bobby Smith, Arthur Lee (Pep) Brown, Jimmy Braswell, Thomas Bailey, Nancy Butts, Jimmy Lee Bryant and one Matthew Brown. Like many Matt got his break through lifelong friend to Otis Redding and pall bearer at his funeral Hampton Swain. Hampton owned a very successful car dealership in town and was able to use this to fund Jar-Val records. He used the third string to his bow, local radio DJ and his talent shows, called ‘The Teenage parties’ which he held at the Roxey & Douglas theatres, to scout for talent. It is also said that these talent shows were the showcase that help Otis get a break, with him winning them for fifteen weeks on the trot, at one stage. Over a number of years Hampton (Hamp) was able to record many of the city’s young hopeful artists for his record label. In later years he would receive some competition from Otis and his business partners Phil & Alan Walden when they opened Capricorn studios. Matt hooked up with Atlanta producer Tee Fletcher for his two 45’s on Jar-Val. The first release having a Tee composed track ‘Everyday’ on the A side and a cover version of David Gates ‘Baby I’m a want you’ on the flip. His second 45 was ‘Thank you baby’ and ‘Sweet thing’ a record that 20 years later would become very popular in Europe for both sides, initially through a influential club called Top Of The World, Stafford. Both 45’s have that sophisticated Tee Fletcher production found on many of his numerous productions for many labels around the south. These records gave a small boost to Matt’s career and he was able to do limited touring around the south. Whilst on tour he met up with Major Bill Smith from Fort Worth and recorded a record for him, ‘Soul of a man / A man without a woman’ on Bill’s Le Cam label, this would also appear again on the Soft record label. By the mid 70’s Matt had stopped touring and settled back in Macon, working as a painter and decorator around the city, but in a short career he laid down some great sides.

But Robb, hasn't that got more to do with the fact that Universal keeps taking down lots of official releases of Motown material.

Robert Lee aka General Lee Robert was a talented, song writer, producer and artist. He grew up in 1960’s Gary, Indiana and was school boy friend’s with Gordon Keith and Ben Brown, so when they stated their own record label, it was no surprise that he signed to them. He had form a group, Robert Lee & The Exquisites and had been playing gigs around the city and on Chicago’s south side which in fact was only 10 miles away over the state line. His one release on the label got some play on local radio stations, but didn’t sell that well. By the early 70’s his talents as a producer had grown and he was often called on by other local groups to work with them. His next move was under the name of Lost Weekend another vocally stylish harmony group, who released on his own Lost Weekend records and one release on the Chicago label U.S.A. He then changed his recording name to General Lee and with his latest group The Space Army Band recorded three more 45’s on his label including the currently popular ‘Pleasure’. He spent another few years touring with this set up before retiring from the business. Today I have a few copies of his now hard to find first 45 on Steel Town for sale. Two oh so soulful and vocally sweet sides, both of which have a strong following of the Sweet n’ Low scene Robert Lee & The Exquisites – Tears are falling / Lisa – Steeltown 687 £30 +P&P When their gone, their gone for good, Gordon has none left............

Yellow like this one but mint and without writing on it

Hi All It's non-stop here uploading more from the U.S. trip on the site 'From the hard to find, To the just plain good', including these nice shiny things ................... Chocolate Syrup - You're off and running - IRA Mint- £75 Phil Lowman - Rock me til' i want no more - Palos Mint £30 sold High Voltage - Country roads - Columbia Rare Issue VG+ £45 Johnnie Morisette - Meet me at the funk house - Icepac Mint £50 Marva Whitney - I'm tired, I'm tired, , I'm tired, - King Demo Mint £25 Sly, Slick & Wicked - Surly is you is or is you ain't my baby - Paramont W/D Mint £120 sold Jimmy Braswell - Hand shake - Quinvy Test Pressing VG+ £85 Shep - Fool to fool - TNT Mint- £85 Arthur Prysock - House by the side of the road - Old Town Mint £50 Verdict - That's where I come in - Nuance Mint- £100 Plus many more, full description and sound file on site www.topdogrecords.co.uk Thanks for looking Dave & Malayka

Down to the last couple now ...........................

Hi Guys More than 200 new titles gone up across the site, including these nice things ..................... Obrey & Bernise - Stuck on loving you/Let me lay with you - Jed Mint- £150 Mighty Groove Makers - Let's dance some mo - Peanut Country Mint- £60 Fabulous Apollos - What's so good to you - Valtone VG+ £150 Dee Dee Warwick - Funny how we change places - Private Stock VG+ £25 Light Drivers - Please operator - Gemini Mint- £45 Little Willie Patterson - Letter from Jesus - Designer VG+ £75 Marion Love - Can't forget about you baby - Capitol Demo Mint £100 Chuck Corby - Soul brother / Complete opposites - Chess Demo Mint £45 Virgil Henry - I'll be true - Colossus Mint- £50 Plus a whole bunch more, full description and sound files on the site www.topdogrecords.co.uk Plus the very last few of these ..................... Bargin Of The Week !!!!!!!! Jimmy Anderson – You, me and love – Olam OL 100Jimmy had spent many years working with others in the Detroit music industry in promotion and as a writer. He had helped Tyrone Edwards in the late 70’s with the final part of his career and written a number of nice songs which they recorded. By 1983 he had built up a desire to record something himself and so went into the studio with a female singer he had been managing called Brandye and cut a song he had recently written. Greg Reilly at The Disc on East Nine Mile engineered and helped him mix down the track. The result is a super soulful sweet stepper, that just builds and builds. For many years this stayed one of the most elusive of Detroit 80’s soul 45’s with only a handful turning up in the last 30 years. A couple of months ago I managed to track him down, whilst looking for Tyrone Edwards and purchased the remaining 45’s he had. A perfect addition to all those of you with a liking for sweet n’ low with a modern twist So here at a one-time only price of £25 +P&P as a ‘friends’ payment on Paypal. All copies are mint, but as there are only a handful, when their gone, their gone for good. Thanks for looking Dave & Malayka

Jimmy Anderson – You, me and love – Olam OL 100Jimmy had spent many years working with others in the Detroit music industry in promotion and as a writer. He had helped Tyrone Edwards in the late 70’s with the final part of his career and written a number of nice songs which they recorded. By 1983 he had built up a desire to record something himself and so went into the studio with a female singer he had been managing called Brandye and cut a song he had recently written. Greg Reilly at The Disc on East Nine Mile engineered and helped him mix down the track. The result is a super soulful sweet stepper, that just builds and builds. For many years this stayed one of the most elusive of Detroit 80’s soul 45’s with only a handful turning up in the last 30 years. A couple of months ago I managed to track him down, whilst looking for Tyrone Edwards and purchased the remaining 45’s he had. A perfect addition to all those of you with a liking for sweet n’ low with a modern twist So here at a one-time only price of £25 +P&P as a ‘friends’ payment on Paypal. All copies are mint, but as there are only a handful, when their gone, their gone for good.

Here are a few things out of my own collection, for sale today only, if not then back into the collection. Union Pacific - Need your love - UP Mint £250 Earth Child - It's your day/there's nobody like you - Marjon Mint £700 Blue Rhythm Combo - Take the funky feeling - Caravan VG+ £225 Gwen Owens - Make him mine - Lau-Reen VG+ £250 James Bell & The Highlighters - Amazing love / Poppin' Pop Corn - Ro-Jam VG+ £300 Tolbert Family Singers Feat O.C. Tolbert - Ride the gospel train - MTF Mint £350 Tammaraw - I don't want to lose you - On A Star Mint £350 Ice - Cold - Love - Sheer Magic / Wonderful to be loved - Tammy Mint £250

Morning all Here are a few things out of my own collection, for sale today only, if not then back into the collection. Dawn and Sunset - What it is - DT&V Mint £175 Ron Harrington - It happened to me - Hillside Mint £350 Slip and Dell - Gotta get away - Modern Artists VG+ £250 Leroy Barbour - I ain't going nowhere - Frontiersman VG+ £350 Enchanting Enchanters - Boss action - Ben Mo Keith VG+ (Rare first press, Standard print label name) £250 Joni Adams - Las Vegas - Zodiac Mint £300 Forth Session - She's gone/Would you love me too - Jayville Mint £250 Shades Of Love - Such good friends - Delon VG+£600 Al Johnson & Angela Coulter - You got to make it for yourself - B.S.P. Soul City Mint £275 Lovers - Without a doubt - Frantic Mint £800 Tyrone Edwards - You did it - Olam Mint £550 John Simone - Who do you love - TNT Mint- £275

Hi Mate I have a few left @ £25 +P&P

The Truth & Soul, Spec & The Mighty Outlaw Gang come from the same stable of labels, Faces/Memorial from Shreveport, La

Yes Kev it is his vocals on the Soul Continentals, he is also the lead singer on Flame & The Lovelights

Stafford classic ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Here a new Sweet N' Low mix for ya. Hopefully this will make you smile on a cold wet day !!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1.God getting tired byTruth & Soul 2.Should I follow my heart byAnn Byers 3.Just another lazy day byApaches 4.My heart belong to you byProfessional 5.Baby I love you byRight Track 6.We want freedom byRotations 7.Ohh baby I love you bySoul Continentals 8.Hell girl bySpec & The Mighty Outlaw Gang 9.Your Eyes byUnknown Artists 10.I can't lie to my heart byBetty Fikes & The Passions 11.I need ya byFaces Of Truth 12.Stop look over your past byL.J. Reynolds & The Relations 13.Give me some credit byLa Que

Interesting record, as it is one of those record that an artists recorded on several occasions updating to the latest sound but never losing the essence of what it is and all version could be called 'Crossover' right through to his 1980's version on MT. So in effect providing the 'Blueprint' for the definition of crossover. PM Records PM 103, 1972 United Artists 50926 , 1972 Tchula 808, 1982 MT Records MT 003, 1982 (added horns version)

Have edited above to included him, thanks Ivor

We all can fall into the trap of sighting what we know as the main. Any of the guys above that weren't going frequently in the early to mid 80's would feel the same, that it was a discovery of their generation. But many of the DJ's of the 80's partly built their reputations on the Crossover sound, Ian Clark, Robin Salter, Adam, Bob Jones, Colin Law, Bob Jeffries, Simon Dunmore, Soul Sam, Arthur Fenn and I'd put your good self in there.