Johndelve

Yes, it reached #29 on the soul charts and #89 on the pop charts in the U.S. in early 1973

John Conteh cut a record, "The Boxer", in 1975. I've never heard it and suspect that may be a good thing.....

These are excellent Alex.. I hope they do very well...

Also bear in mind the following albums: Edge Of Darkness - Eyes Of Love (a 1979 set recorded by inmates) Moments - Live At New York State Women's Prison (1970) Power Of Attorney - From The Inside (1974 also recorded by inmates)

I reviewed these two LPs favourably in my book and it is great to see this long overdue reissue project. Spaceark, particularly, the first album, is very impressive. Well done to everyone concerned.

I'll certainly be there Steven, look forward to meeting you... I'll check out your facebook page, too....Best John

Stuart Cosgrove’s Harlem 69 says he - Vandross - was part of the group Listen My Brother who recorded Only Love Can Make A Better World on Maxwell but it sure doesnt sound like him singing.

I don’t get out a great deal - other than to John Browne and Tracey Shaw’s terrific Soul Kitchen in Tunbridge Wells, but am aware of other soul nights in Sussex and Kent where D.J.’s have apparently outnumbered paying guests....

Hello again, Steve...my Voices Top 100 has been posted on this site before but I will indeed send you a copy with Volume 2. I’m sure I am older than you (61) - I seem to be older than most people these days - and my tastes reflect - to a fair extent - the music I grew up with. You are also spot on about Sly & Family Stone, I absolutely love their music. As indeed I do funk in general , but only from the period 1967 to around 1975. Check out my entries on Dyke & Blazers, Chuck Brown & Soul Searchers, early Kool, early EWAF etc. etc. as examples. But after 1975 I thought it got very predictable and I never enjoyed it quite so much. ( Apart from the great Sharon Jones & Dap Kings who I also adored...) As for art, I’m still not totally convinced soul qualifies apart from some ‘deep soul’ sides, but am also of the opinion that James Brown’s music, for instance, will still retain interest and power in 100 years time so maybe it is ‘art’, after all... Didn’t include Anita B for reasons spelled out before, but although I have always admired her talent, I’ve never been her biggest fan. I love a handful of her sides but just don’t play her music that often these days...same with Roy Ayers, actually, the majority of his work passes me by but there are certainly some of his records I care for...as for ALL of smooth jazz, I’m with most people : I can’t stand it. ( I haven’t heard enough of Angie S to have an opinion.) Shame we couldn’t meet up in Bilbao, it was a cracking few days as always. Best, John

Cheers for comments on my book, Steve. Much appreciated. No one is going to agree on a top 100, and I wouldn’t expect yours or anyone else’s to tally with mine. Such lists also change over time and there are quite a few changes from my Voices From Shadows top 100. Firecrest is right about why I excluded Anita Baker, reason for her omission is spelt out in introduction..ie no solo work before 1982. As for Roy Ayers, i deemed him on balance a jazz man; im fully aware he and plenty of others are on the dividing line between funk and jazz and if I included them all the book would have moved into the ‘over 2 kgs’ weight bracket thus putting postage price up substantially. By the way will have copies of both books for sale in Bilbao this weekend and hoping to meet new and old friends who contribute to Soul Source.

Me, too. Love looking at this stuff....

Enjoying this fine new release. Well done to everyone involved in getting it out.

Ken, really appreciate these words...thank you so much..Best John

Just checked my own Donnie Elbert copy and you're right...my mind must have gone blank on that...so, yes, no doubt to me then that Susan exists...what a great bit of info...puts it in the all-time rare category....that's one thing my book is for, to stimulate discussion! thanks again...John

Very very interesting...I'd certainly never seen evidence of it, not seen the thread to which you refer and not one ever listed on popsike either. However, a photo seems compelling evidence and that sticker in bottom right corner is intriguing. Not seen one of those on any other All Platinum release.. could it be a foreign issue? Anyway, thanks very much for letting me know. Best, John

My new book is now available for purchase and thank you to those who have already bought a copy. The words on the back cover are self-explanatory to explain project. Price of this hardback book is merely £20 with £2.90 postage. I can sell anywhere in world but postage will obviously be higher. Please contact me directly to arrange sales. Thanks.

He certainly gets a favourable mention or two in the sleeve notes (and a production credit for some of the 45s) but doesn't appear to have had a great deal of input into the actual release.

"I was surprised to see these going through a legit distributor to be honest..." I think, but am nothing whatsoever to do with these releases so don't know for sure, that they are issued under EU copyright laws , which again, I think, but don't know, currently employ a 50 year time line to govern eligibility. Assuming all that to be the case, they are legit.

I was speaking with John Ridley yesterday. Three LPs to look out for on Record Store Day: Texas Soul 67 New Orleans Soul 67 New York Soul 67

Very little there. I picked up a Spanish version of a Joe Tex LP but that was it. There's only a couple of shops in the city to best of my knowledge but I didn't spend a lot of time looking.

Hi, Alex, as you probably know, one of the tracks was featured on Adrian Corbin's Radio Uckfield show last night. Hope it does well for you. Best John

I'm Lonely by Jeannie Reynolds takes some beating....

Well, this is certainly a topic close to my heart and If I can please be forgiven for - again - plugging my book which covers this very subject: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spinning-Around-History-Soul-LP/dp/1526200724/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515662847&sr=1-1&keywords=spinning+around+a+history+of+the+soul+lp I'm about three months away from publishing Volume 2 and here is a small list of 'not obvious' seventies albums in the new book about which I have been very complimentary: Little Beaver – Joey Lovelites – With Love From The Lovelites Love, Peace & Happiness – Here 'Tis Skip Mahoaney & Casuals – Your Funny Moods Manhattans – There's No Me Without You Curtis Mayfield – America Today Mighty Clouds Of Joy – It's Time Mirage – Princes Of Love Jackie Moore – Sweet Charlie Babe New Birth – Coming Together Ollie Nightingale – Sweet Surrender Freddie North – The Magnetic North David Oliver – Rain Fire Ralfi Pagan – I Can See Together – Don't You Want To Go Townsend, Townsend, Townsend & Rogers – same True Reflection – Where I'm Coming From Albert Washington – Sad and Lonely

Hello, Mal. I'm not sure Motown would have told Martha or any of the artists about the move. When a big corporation thinks of relocating the early stages are as often as not conducted in secret and its only when it suits the company to let employees know that the news gets 'out there'. Moreover, few of the singers/groups would have welcomed the move and Gordy would have wanted to play his cards close to his chest thus reducing the chances of disaffected acts giving him a hard time. Knowledge is power and Gordy had it all. I don't know any of this for a fact, but it seems reasonable to think this is how it played out. And, yes, it is a fabulous documentary.

This is very true. I've always loved this from Bad Mouthing: "You think you can get any man you want just because you look good But it ain't how good the car looks baby it's what's up under the hood" And how about this from Swamp Dogg's brilliant "Dr. M.L.G." off the Have You Heard This Story? album: "I was suffering from anxiety which gives symptoms of a heart attack Physically I was sound as a yen and could've done the work of ten lumberjacks" I don't think 'lumberjacks' has been used in many soul records....