Johndelve

As you are back, Dunc, do you know the answer to the question I posed in the post above yours of today ? Thank you.

Yes. Mine are filed in exactly the same way as you state here.

Great little film. Cosgrove comes across very well indeed.

I have just finished this excellent book and think it will take its place as one of the best there is that takes soul as a theme, although it is really just as much about Detroit as a city - even a mind-set - as it is about music. The research is highly impressive, and I admire the book’s structure too, breaking down what was happening in that key year month by month. The Supremes take centre stage, and everything keeps coming back to them. If anyone is looking for lots of stories about the smaller soul labels in the city, and the artists, producers and owners associated with those labels , then you won’t find it – or much of it – here. But that’s fine with me, as its already very generous at 608 pages long. There are also a number of photos I have not seen before, and the only “constructive criticism“ I think worth pointing out is around the proof-reading which is , frankly, very poor. There are literally hundreds of typos, and I’m sure Stuart will want to rectify this for his follow-up book, Memphis ’68, which also sounds very intriguing. The only glaring error that struck me was around the song “Sam Stone”, which Swamp Dogg is credited with writing; he didn’t – it’s by John Prine – although the Dogg certainly recorded it. A lesser inaccuracy contends that ABC “under promoted“ Florence Ballard’s debut album, but in fact no such album exists. But these shouldn’t, and don’t, detract too much from a fine piece of work.

It isn't northern soul of course, or indeed any kind of soul, but the Sam Butera sax solo halfway through this great record is a killer

Where did you get it from please Dave ? As others have said it doesn't look as if it is published until March 31st .

Certainly written by Floyd- and Booker T and Al Bell. I can only assume Jackey Beavers thought he could get away with it - there are plenty of other examples of people claiming they wrote things they didn't - or it is simply a genuine mistake.

You're right. Definitely NOT a hit in the States.

Yes, "Ask the lonely" is a good choice. Would add these : Impressions - I've been trying Aretha Franklin - Baby baby baby Billy Butler - Let her love me and doubtless a few others I can't recall now....

Sorry i meant # 10 soul....

Not to be too picky, Ian, but the Billboard singles chart book says it went to # 10 pop and # 25 pop, not to # 1.

Yes, and as said above, it's very good. Slightly boring front cover like the last one and a discography would have been nice, but the music is excellent with ten unreleased tracks on the LP.

I agree with Manus, and furthermore, see absolutely no connection whatsoever between the quality and the price of a record. There are brilliant expensive records, brilliant cheap records, terrible expensive records and terrible cheap records.

Great artist. His song "Televison" is very sharp and witty. One of the best tracks of the nineties.

Get a train into city from the airport (although you will need exact money, and I'm sorry but can't remember how much it is) rather than a taxi as it was about 4 Euros on train whereas taxi is about 40. I'm sure a website somewhere will give the details. Also, if you go to the Reichstag building (which you should do) you need to book in advance AND (crucial, this) take your passport with you for ID when you get there or they won't let you in, even if you have pre-booked. Its also free to get in if you do this. Great city. Try eating the pork knuckle somewhere. But I don't think you will find any record shops of any interest.

I couldn't hear the last question about the Temps but think it was incorrect. Didn't it ask who replaced Eddie Kendricks AND Paul Williams ? Clearly if so, the answer wasnt David Ruffin.....

Poor bloke had a nightmare....

I saw her and the band live this week for the third time. As usual, they confirmed my view of them as the finest band out there, bar none. I also enjoy her records/ CDs more than I've enjoyed any new releases for about thirty five years or so. "Making up and Breaking up" and "People don't get what they deserve " from her latest CD are magnificent pieces of music. Lots of people can sing - and Sharon certainly can - but no other act can boast the songwriting ability of Bosco Mann or the constantly superb arrangements on the Dap-Kings' sides.

Ah. That solves it then !

...is, I believe, a pretty hard to get record on the Deep label. It's just come back into my consciousness as I'm just about to re-read the book of the same name by the same author. Is it well known that he was "much" (though the term is relative) better known as a writer than as a singer ? In fact, if I recall, the record is not mentioned in the book at all. All a bit odd...

Well, well. Didn't think it would be quite that easy to fine one...it is pure - and excellent - gospel.

Has this topic been raised before ? I find it interesting. "Rare" is not all the same thing as "In demand". For instance, I own a copy of Screaming Jay Hawkins' 1972 LP " A portrait of a man and his woman" and The Brooklyn All Stars "Jesus loves me" UK President LP from 1967. I don't think either record has any value, and I have never seen the slightest trace of any "demand" for either of them but try finding each one now. It took me thirty five years to even see a copy of the first, for instance.

One thing that has always intrigued me about the U.S. charts that Blues and Soul published back in the seventies (I stopped reading it in the eighties so don't know if the methodolody remained the same then or not) is this : How were they compiled exactly ? I know they were not the same as the Billboard U.S. soul charts (though they were pretty similar) and I'm pretty sure it wasn't the same as that published in "Cashbox", either. Could it have been from "Record World"? I have never seen a Record World chart so this is pure speculation. If it was NOT from one of those three sources then how did it work ? I can't believe for one minute that it was based on records being soul in UK outlets as there was no way sales over here could so closely have mirrored U.S. record buying habits.

The way Aretha sings the line : "With his arms all around me" at 0.56 on "All the king's horses" The note Ron Banks holds at 3.35 on "Make it easy on yourself " Both above on You tube The drum rolls (and her "ooohs") on Rita and Tiaras' "Gone with the wind"

The majority of Swamp Dogg's albums have highly entertaining sleeve notes written by the man himself.