Maria O

Huh - you're caught out now. Her uncle has another surname! We're close friends, so I'll give her a ding dong to look here. m

I did it the other way more than once, when I lived in Sydney. My shortest Sydney to London trip was in 2003, but I just had to see Maxine in Cleggy (and managed to squeeze in a Frankfurt weekender the weekend before). In 1999, I did a 3.5 week trip to the UK by myself with a tourist Brit Rail pass that allowed open train travel to tour around the country - attending venues on my own or occassionally meeting someone from the first soul list (KTF). Most of the time, I was scared stiff in the UK and couldn't even leave my hotel in Japan on the flight over . I've even flown to a soul night (not a niter that time) on the other side of Oz (2000 flying miles or 4000 driving it), then a hotel break and flew straight back in the morning and it was a 4-4.5hrs in the air each way, depending which way you flew. I was a bit silly for soul nights then, but didn't realise the disease had taken hold and I'd soon be travelling abroad to the uk more, as my soul tastes had changed and I needed a musical fix beyond our small local circle. But the most painful trip was over a decade ago in Oz. We'd traditionally fly to Melbourne occassionally for soul nights/allniters (as they did for ours), but decided last minute to go to a soul night there and our dear friend Max (the only male with 3 girls) would drive. We left early Saturday morning from Sydney, stopped an hour on the way and arrived 10 hours later - passing country and virtual outback. It was near 40C in places and those funny road signs (kangaroos next 25kms) were a laugh for only so long when you're dehydrated; arriving at Vince's house late afternoon and taking over his shower, one by one. After a great night out of dancing and two hours rest back at the house, we got back in the car and the temp had dropped to 12C when we left about 10am. At one point we stopped on the side of the road because a hail storm and rain was so heavy that nobody could see out and I still remember semi trailers rocking the car and making us scream from fear. The journey was a horror of seasons and we took turns to keep the driver awake. I got dropped off at home around 10pm on the Sunday night, having stopped a few times to ensure our driver breaks. ...We'd had lots of fun, but we never drove (or threatened to drive) interstate again. We used to call some of our trips "soul marathons" but that driving one was 870kms or 540 miles EACH WAY with the soul night between. Even now, I'd rather get on a plane to Australia than sit in a car for more than a few hours. These days it's the many European trips which I love the most (we usually go with Pete & Karen) having visited Germany (over 10 trips), Italy, Spain and Sweden (-immigration took my passport away during my Paris chance). Meeting so many wonderful soul people from the countries we've visited makes the travel experience richer - the places we see, the food we eat, - and the life, the galleries and history we breathe. Many have become good friends and even welcomed us into their homes. We do see some hefty miles burnt here in the UK too - like that more recent wonderful night Karen mentioned starting at Yorkshire, then to the Orwell in Wigan, then hitched on to the 100 Club in London, then back. In fact, any event less than 2 hours drive away - is what we often call "nearby" The problem with travelling, is that after a while - it better be worth going (even when someone else is driving) else it just gets harder. I don't think I'd ever be proud of the hours travelled. It feels a bit like wasting my life away doing nothing. ...and it's daunting thinking how many good records I could have bought instead of spending my wages on trains, planes and automobiles Enjoy it while you can I guess. I wonder how the world recession will impact on soul traveller numbers in 2009. m ps. I'm not generally surprised about where soul events are held in the world, but was taken aback when Malayka once told me about her soul DJ booking in ....Russia!

It's absolutely simply ...wonderful. I fear Ty may become my favorite soulstress if I listen to it any more. But I'll chance it m

Struth mate! ...never thought you'd join a soul forum again If I'm not too late, then me too Pete. The more painfully heartwrenching and breathtaking the vocal, the better. m

I get a buzz when an artist or relative of one contacts me. Most recently, I had an email from a guy in the Royal VII due to our website playlists (not my record). Also, Sammy Campbell's son contacted me from my You-tube video of the Dell-Larks when here. Plus a guy on another list who seemed to know a lot about a group I loved a record by, turned out to be the son of a member of that group and his mum was in a related female group too (he wrote to me privately, so not sure if he wants names mentioned). It's wonderful to be able to say thanks, plus ask some questions from those who know. I ask every guest dj who plays at our club for a playlist for our website and nearly all were happy to oblige: Most importantly, playlists ----> give the soul music a central focus, allows others to get a feel of what type of soul to expect (if they are considering attending), and allows those who are too shy to go up on stage and ask what a record is, to find out what made them feel something special. It's no wonder that a collectors scene has a higher ratio of people able to play records. Must admit that playlists have attracted and detracted me from venues, but I really appreciate them either way - for their simple honesty. (Shame about all the written slagging here sometimes regarding playlists, but that seems to generally be a UK boy thing, so perhaps I just don't get it .) m

I've PM'd his email/mobile, so the mods can close/delete this thread now. m

I missed a call on my mobile Sunday morning and picked up the voicemail later. Mick knows that "try" is my alltime favourite song, but I never expected a call. He said hi then put Eula on who spoke for a bit and sounded so nice and alive. I was feeling a bit down and it made my heart jump . Pity about her eyesight though, coz she kept saying how gorgeous Mick was m

I used to give them away if anyone staying over fancied one, as they were $2 or less. However, certain more obscure NS releases command somewhat more now . Some years back, Frank Driscoll wrote some info for Flynny on Oz releases (which was an extension for the one he wrote for our Sydney hosted 2000 National Oz Weekender magazine - that you might remember Pete?) . [ READ it on Dave Flynn's website here ] m ps. to be honest, I thought I had next to no Oz releases, but have recently found about 20 or so amongst my bits... I'd assumed they were British

Did some research a few years back for a second records review article for Derek that I never submitted... This particular label was apparently formed by Lou "I Travel Alone" Ragland in 1968, although the track's composer Chuck Brown, has also been credited as a probable owner. Found this somewhere back then too: "The Out-Of-Sights-Members were Gregory Still (brother of Charles "SLICK" Still lead singer on "I Was Wrong". Paul Woodall (former member of The Tam-A-Las in John Wilson's high school group), Stan Reeves who now is a policeman, Harry Stewart, the late Larry Wade. Rumored Chuck Brown was a member of this group, but he was never a musician. Always has been in The Bail Bondmans Business." m

Yep, the Graham International one has been described as "2nd issue" too. Lloyd apparently co-founded the LPG label with Don King (boxer promoter) in 1976, when this LP came out on that label. Until now I was not aware of the TSG release of the LP! So I found myself needing to dig further again: According to the TSG discography [ click HERE ], this LP was released in 1976. Therefore, we may have two 1976 releases - both on LPG and TSG. So... does anybody have both and can confirm actual dates further???????? m (mine's on LPG but not sure if I left it in Oz, before I bother to try dig it out).

Very sad news... rest in peace. One of my favourite DeeDee tracks not mentioned above is "You Don't Know (What You Do To Me)" m

This was all discussed pretty recently. I've done a search and found the posts [ click HERE ] m

F____k no - ...I think they'd sound just as good! m

Simon, you deserve a big spank across the ankles for that The guy's on SS and if he wants to out himself, that should be up to him. m Remember meeting him and his wife on NYE at Soul Rev. Both seem like lovely people (and I don't say that lightly).

Tolbert, We flew into Copenhagen when we went to one of the Malmoe (Sweden) soul nights, which was quite close. So, Helena or Hanna or...... (sorry, my mind's gone blank on all the boy's names) can possibly help you via PM. m

I logged on earleir today and felt sorry for a guy who sounded like he got a raw deal, so lended some requested advice [ CLICK HERE TO READ ] only to now see the replies to my post as well as this thread here ..obviously BOTH SIDES OF THE SAME COIN. Next time I get involved with stuff like this, can someone please send me a big e-spank on the arse. Thanks muchly, . Ms Blah Blah

Hi Tone, I edited my post when I realised that I was confused with another track regarding who wrote the track. Not sure if Rolf ever released the Boomerang track on 45, but he def did a version. I was forced to check this previoulsy and I'm not the only one who remembers him singing it. (Also, If you google it, various debates on this very issue exist!) Off course I remember 'Tie me kangaroo down sport' (without the 'cha cha') and it's also on you-tube -> click [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raYS3RGVdCE&feature=related"][ HERE ]. Rolf did a later version to the 1960 original version, changing some words because that was racist. m ps. I've taken the afternoon off as leave in order to get an assignment in by midnight e-lodgement. I can't believe I'm looking up Rolf Harris instead!

Ooops, I forgot I stuck that up on my You-tube 'boomerangsoul' account I'd never heard of Charlie Drake until Karen mentioned him to me when we had a debate on who did this song. I had been threatening to play it at our 'Boomerang' night in Thorne, just to see if anyone would notice I can't remember if it came up because someone told me that it was customary for the resident dj to finish soul nights here in the UK and that we should also get a regular ender (- not that I had any intention of listening to that advice - as I'd rather a guest dj leaves them gasping for more). ...anyway: We Aussies grew up with the ROLF HARRIS VERSION of "My Boomerang won't come back". And after now finding Charlie Drake's version [ HERE ] for a listen, I recall Rolf sounded a hell of a lot better. - off course, I was a hell of a lot younger when I last heard it . Do yourself a favour Mark and give Rolf a listen. I don't remember Rolf's version sounding offensive (to my ears) if I was an aborigine - like I have just found the Drake version to be, imho. We're very PC on the Oz south/east coast where I'm from, so maybe that's why I don't find it funny m

"Boomerang" by the Love Mates comes up as a Popcorn 'oldie'. ...Based on the treasured title, I'd be very interested in hearing a sound file if you can refosoul it please m

Dave, Apologies, but the post I had read then, implied that you had contacted Tim after someone wrote that your discography was incorrect. A few UK guys were in contact with Tim regarding Tommy Tate at the time I wrote to him (including those asking about this particular record). In case there is any doubt, I was calling myself an idiot for jogging his memory about the band name - although he wrote that he had been meaning to ask others, so guess it would have come out soon. I am grateful for online discographies and use them a lot to join the dots. I appreciate your efforts. However, I am also selfish and ridiculous at times too ...but you already knew that! m

I picked up a copy last year after seeing it amongst a bunch of others in an auction. I actually forgot to bid on it , then tracked down the seller who put me on to the new buyer. We had no idea what it was worth, but we finally agreed about 50% over the whole auction price for this one record in about 50-100 records. In the end, it worked out about £78 (with postage). I also chased up the group and thought that it must be Marva Whitney in the backing as she sang with a group with the same bizarre name. I found other members of the group and finally a contact name (or two). Lots of emails were exchanged. But no, it is not the same group and has absolutely no connection as far as I could find. Unfortunately, my next step could prove fatal after admitting this: After reading and posting in [THIS THREAD] last January, a couple of guys called RussV and DaveA PM'd me and sent me on a new direction of Dorothy Moore singing the backup (and Tommy Tate on vocals). They had done extensive research already, but they understood when I would not give them the real name, which was very honorable of them I thought. Obviously, I then found Tim Whitsett and asked him about the group only to discover that he had forgotten all about them . Unfortunately, he assumed by my email address that I was living in Australia and then also emailed back a few guys who had asked about the Tommy Tate track. He also wrote a lot of background about the group and recording (which I assume he copied to others). Regardless of Mr Rimmer saying [iN THIS THREAD] that Tim Whitsett should know because he was in the band ...well he had forgotten enough not to be able to advise anyone else asking for a Tommy Tate track with that title (or similar), until some idiot twigged his memory banks. ...I am sure that it was near being uncovered, but it still makes me feel sick. Whilst I do talk a lot, I carry secrets to my grave and it's not in my nature to normally give anything like this away. Hopefully it's a valuable lesson to the rest of you who like to find records themselves and also artists to email chat with, but hate to see prices hyped. m

Yes, bit sleepy as I woke early (+travelled over 500 miles for soul do's the last two days, after a week of little sleep from coughing fits). Not even 3 tablespoons of Lavazza is doing it for me today. ...But I still don't see anything that bad said about the record If it's on my 'wants list', I love it when people say a record I love is crap - coz I'm hopefully the only one looking for it and it's around cheap. Besides, as I always say: "Soul is Emotion ...we cannot choose what may evoke that!" Hence, the reason why everyone gets so stroppy on these internet lists - and why so many think they're right, when we know they aren't . m ps. you're safe. I only hit men I like

As far as I know, it only came out on her fabulous "OUT OF SIGHT" LP. m