Maria O

I agree to ask the buyer what value they want - that way they take the risk if they so wish. Otherwise, inform them what value you will put down and tell them that they run the risk of the 10% GST tax (if that's what it still is in Oz). I never had a problem with the postal service in Australia either and had bought hundreds of vinyl slices from abroad when I lived there (only one record never arrived and that seller was an eBay fraud 'suspect'). Customs are more clued up now and more electronically savy, being able to chase much more than they used to. There are even rumours that a certain government is investigating all PayPal and eBay purchases for back payment of customs charges, in order to raise revenue. m ps. The exchange is increasingly favourable for record shopping from Oz though. I remember when I lived there it cost up to $3 to buy a £1. A few months ago, I only got $1.60 for each pound I sold for that annual visit back home - and it's been a steady slide year on year.

It appeared to be the proper site (and I'd typed the address in) but then they cleaned out my bank account by tricking me with "an extra security check"! It could be a virus like mine - many of which you can pick up simply browsing the web, not just by clicking an email. They are becoming more and more sophisticated with these sites, so that the sites appear real. I'd posted my story you're interested and now check my firewall and run various virus / spyware checks regularly. As for emails, I dump many more than I used to, just in case. I went back to internet banking and the rest though - too much hassle otherwise, m

How can soul nights be the issue this way? The fact is, a few years ago Butch decided to stop DJ'ing at soul nights in the UK (just the odd exception), so now you'll almost exclusively find him on the decks at niters and weekenders only. If I use your argument, this should have improved the niter situation. (I know you attend and support Boomerang, but I still needed to clear this up. ) ....I missed his soul night sets, as some of these were his absolute best in my opinion. To have him on again this month after nearly two years, can hardly affect the niter scene. Besides, he's a free agent and can do what he pleases. We're just fortunate that it's us he's agreed to please! These themes seem to be cropping up regarding niter attendance woes: - Many are blaming the poorer economic times, which have been with us for the past year and looking uncertain for the future. People have agreed that now they seriously consider the cost of travelling to a distant niter, particularly as petrol prices rise. Soul nights are suffering as well, but niters need a larger crowd and therefore rely more on travellers. - It has been said before, but additional weekenders are competition to funds / time. This includes the growing UK travellers to certain European events, many of which have raised expectations for events in the UK because the holiday experience and meeting new people is such a buzz. Many of us have also said that we have got to properly know more people from the UK by attending European events, then seeing them for years here and having a quick word at most. - For many, the music has evolved from northern soul to "soul" and with more tastes / styles to please, diversification THEN FRUSTRATION is inevitable. The constant heated arguments on what should get played demonstrates this major factor. - Whilst the soul internet chat lists have existed for some years (KTF started in '96 I think?), the last few years of rant, rave and "you must do" discussions are turning people off. Most of us naturally resent ill-feeling or authority inflicted on us. It has often been written that we have too many nights and times are bad. How motivated would that make one to participate? Alternatively, new fresh nights seem to attract extra people, at least in the beginning. - Technology is also impacting on satisfying social needs. The price guides and knowledge chat, sound files, you-tube, event photos and other such information ...involves people in a way, that they do not miss out on the social or music side of things completely. As someone said to me recently: "why attend a niter, when I can read the various experts' opinions and playlists next morning (lol)". - We had noticed hard-edged 60s started to expand in popularity a few years ago with niters satisfying this most, whilst crossover smaller nights fell away. Perhaps the cyclical cog is now merely turning again? - And lastly, it's becoming more acceptable to say you're too old or have a life and take a weekend off. I know, I know..... No answers or interest in lengthy debates, just some thoughts. But I must send big kisses out to all those who posted up that we should just get out there and enjoy things while we can . m

Phil, I book all the DJ's for Boomerang and never really wanted it to be a Crossover/70s venue. Ideally, as advertised it should be a mix of mainly 60's and 70's soul, not bound by where it got played first or any of that sort of thing that we foreigners never bothered with when running nights or playing out . Hence, I also used the tag 'quality' to broaden it to various soul styles from those decades and to loosely describe darn 'good soul music' as trusted in the hands of those asked to play there. That is the music policy, but there are nights where a certain decade is favoured by the dancers and it's hard to keep the balance, or certain dj's favour certain sounds. Best way to judge it for yourself, is to scroll through the playlists from our last 12* nights .........[ CLICK HERE TO VIEW ] Karen & I also try and bring some of what we like in other respects to the night, and pleased to say that many have described it as a friendly night too. m (* read that as 13 once I add the Feb-10 playlists ...oops!)

The poll does not work unless you answer every question, therefore one is made to answer the question of whether the problem is too many venues or too few venues - even if one doesn't vote that there is a problem in the question prior. Irrespective, the choice for diagnosis of any envisaged problem is likewise narrow (not something Dr House would admire) Hence, my conclusion is that this poll is causing problems on the scene. Boom boom , m

Well I'll contradict you . Sam's 60th was a few months earlier. By memory, he'd actually first played it at the last Albrighton on 1st December 2001 - the night of that unusually large full moon. The reason I remember this, was that while I was sent to work in the UK, I had met Sam's best mate there that night (after a close female friend in Oz had asked me to say hello) and we 'clicked', and chatted all night. But this shy lovely man apologised for needing to divert his attention away to hear that particular record*, which Sam had just bought and raved to him about. ...it's never made me cream my pants, but hey - each to their own. m * ps. I'll probably get corrected now

I took both photos, that's why you're confused. Martin is right - that photo was Walthamstow the night Keb guested for us. The Rimini photo was much funnier as the guy next to you (in a 100 Club t-shirt) was lobster red from the sun, you were both asleep on red leather lounges under the dj booth and think we even placed some of our shoe shopping bags in front of you (...or was that the photo they took of me and Kim). It used to be on the 100 club website. Here's a photo I took on my first trip to the UK in November 1996. Took me years to save for the next visit from Oz, so it was quite a musical treat for me. Think I finally met you on my 3rd trip over (...no surprise, as I'm so shy ) m

Such sad news - what a great voice and still performing recently. Rest in peace. m

If there was a box that simply read: "Awesome, love it!", then I'd vote but the "super rare monster" bit turns me off voting, because that's not what attracted me. Love the main vocal and backing harmonies, quirky tempo and uplifting roller-coaster flow of this track. Here's the rehearsal I caught at Prestatyn (apologies for the wabble in my walk towards the stage): m

I'll give him a slap for you next time I see him . To be honest, a poster caught my eye but I can't bear to read this full thread with that really rude title started by an ex-pat who went to Wigan briefly, then woke up to soul two decades years later in a foreign land and told us locals they can't be soulies because they aren't British, etc! No wonder the Americans can be a bit wary on these lists. I don't think he'd get Europe scene either, so no point me adding thoughts on their scene from the perspective of a regular visitor. ...But didn't we have a seriously wonderful soul time in the 80s and 90s on the south east coast of Oz. I'd kill to do our radio show again or attend some of our clubs as they were, advertised heavily to all who might feel this amazing music. It's usually only in Europe that I get some of that passion back again now m (will always a Sydney girl in my heart too - and looking forward to my next visit back home soon)

This was it here >>> [ click ] I had it in my watch and but forgot to bid in time. and was kicking myself for a good fortnight after m

Spot on. Not read all posts, but I think the thread has gone a bit off topic. The first post asked why DJ's say they have a requested record, then don't play it. It's not about whether we should make requests or silly things people ask for (like pop music). If someone does not play a record that they say they will play, it sounds a bit like they don't actually have it, or they just want you out of the way quick or they aren't really even listening. For what it's worth, I think the answer is simple. Most lie, because most of them are men ...sorry, had too much sleep and couldn't resist that one! m

Back when I was living there, I recall one of their guest singers was Demi Hines (Marcia's daughter) and someone said the modern scene here picked up on a track. ....ahhhh, having a homesick moment right now. I remember the Red Eye Records stores in Sydney so well - the import comps, the 2nd hand vinyl, the soul event flyer drops m

Met the Ady in question at an 80th birthday do last night (ya can't say we don't get to some wild parties ) - nice guy I thought - and he got chatting with Arthur about this record. Apparently he recalls it being found on the other side of town to where Arthur insisted they were. ..Don't ask me where, but finding out Arthur was wrong, made my night! Especially when he said it was like finding out Jesus Christ was actually born in Teneriffe! (Don't get it myself. I'm more interested in where the record was made, rather than the exact location of a spot of record shopping all those years ago. For what it's worth, I do like the record and there are lots that I don't). m

I think I paid about $200 for the LP, which I found embarassingly high, but has proven cheap over the years. In my opinion, it's not rare enough for the price it goes for. However, I adore and prefer this slower version of "Try Me" (LP version) and wasn't fussed about getting the faster 45 version for someone who wanted it more (he also had the LP). I never care about musical connections when I'm considering buying because I simply love a song and need to own it. That interest sometimes comes later, unless it's related to finding it. Even if they were copying the Isleys, it stands alone as sublime soul for me - with serious emotion in the voice. I knew the LP had been reissued, but didn't know it had bonus tracks. Anybody heard these and could comment further? m

Not as bad a move as Arthur selling it to Sam in the first place . (I know he's always regretted letting that one go, coz I've overheard him tell enough of his mates) I'd asked Arthur last night whether I remember William Powell as one of his plays (as told to me, that he'd played it first on the UK scene) and he gave me the full story of how he took his mate Ady to a record shop in America... blah, blah, blah, blah... ...anyway, wish I hadn't asked! m

It's on Narco ....and NOT cheap m

Might be purely coincidence, but "Rich Man" by Wolfticket is on a compilation LP called W4 Homegrown, issued by WWWW(various artists - local band compilation) m

I agree with you Sam - but we two do share history ;-). (Only picked my copy up only a few years ago and recall it was an easy one. ...Good luck !) m

A recent addition to the line-up: DAVE THORLEY's been talked into a month ...actually, he's pretty excited about his photo & outfit m

I was just reading this thread thinking...not this record again Regret posting anything about it to be honest, but forget myself online now and then. Rather than cover old ground by others, here's 3 old old threads about this record - click to read: [ click - JAN 08 etc ] [ click - other JAN 08 etc ] [ click - MAY 08 etc ] m