Michael V

Very sad news;Chuck was not only a Soul great but his work with The Dells in the 50's made him a legend of Doo Wop, too- a fine bass voice of R&B Group Harmony. A sometimes overlooked aspect of The Dells story is their work as-often uncredited- backing vocalists,most famously on Barbara Lewis' lovely classic 'Hello Stranger'

Dave-I'll have the Fantasions if you still have it.Thanks,Michael

Dear Dave,I'll have the Festivals- Music if you still have it. Pay via Paypal? Thanks,Michael

All I can add,if it's any help, is that as a teenage Blues(as well as Soul) fan in the early 1980's some of the first Blues 45's I bought were from someone who'd been to the States a few years before;these were genuine,official 70's pressings in 'Nashboro(Distribution)Group' company sleeves of Slim Harpos' late 50's/early 60's hits like 'I Got Love If You Want It' and 'Rainin' In My Heart' on the blue early 70's Excello label.These have a stylish 'Sheldon' written(a little like the 'Sindy' logo!) in the run out grooves. The big Excello Blues hits by Slim Harpo and Lightnin Slim still sold steadily in the South in the 70's but dwindled for sure as the decade drew to it's Disco end. I doubt more obscure 45's like Charles Sheffield went further than their initial early 60's pressings.

Personally,I don't think they are the same-Earl Beal of The Silhouettes had only one 'L' in his surname and,perhaps most tellingly,he was born in 1924,which would have made him 44 at the time of The Tangeers photo above; the Tangeers' Earle Beall looks late 20's/ early 30's,maybe mid-30's at most,to me

Dear Roger,Have you still got Clara Ward? Thanks,kind regards,Michael

Really sad news-Eddie's great version of 'That's How Strong My Love Is' was one of the first Soul records I bought-on a Charly EP in the very early 1980's when I was first getting into Soul as a teenager. 'Losin' Boy' on Murco is a stone classic and the Deep Soul 'While I'm Away (Baby Keep The Faith)' is a beauty,too. A typically fine-voiced , classic Southern Soul artist of that classic era

Hello there-I'll have the VIP's on Island if it's still available. Thanks,kind regards,Michael

Post free in the UK. Overseas email for rates. Payment by Paypal as friend,please Jimmy James & The Vagabonds-Hey Girl 76' UK Pye original £40 . Lovely,clean EX copy in original company sleeve-one feint ultra-light,superficial surface mark-otherwise vinyl is Near Mint. SOLD The Temptations-Ain't Too Proud To Beg (TMG 565 1st issue-'Precious Love' flip) £8. Really nice,clean EX- copy with original orange TM company sleeve,which is also in nice condition with just a little light creasing/wear .Feint embossed 'KT' tax code on centre.

Any other Doo-Wop lovin' Soul Sourcers ever noticed the similarity between the intro to Gwen Owen's great classic 'Just Say You're Wanted (And Needed)' and the intro to The Stereos 61' Doo Wop hit 'I Really Love You' (Cub) (MGM here in the UK) ? Not a conscious copy,I'm sure -probably just a nice bass riff that had subconsciously stuck in the back of the one writers/arrangers minds. Incidentally, John Lennon was apparently inspired by 'I Really Love You' when writing The Beatles 'Do You Want To Know A Secret'( as George Harrison later stated in an interview)using a similar melody line to The Stereos

The Ronettes' great original the best for me,followed by Jackie Trent, Linda Scott and Len Barry. Looking forward to seeing Ronnie Spector & The Ronettes at the Roundhouse in London next Sunday 27th Jan.!

Probably mid-late October 1967,as Dusty Springfield's 'Where Am I Going' album (another fine LP-and Madeline Bell sings backing on it,too) was just two issues later(BL7820) and was released 27th October 1967

Great choices David,and nice tributes from all to this talented,sadly departed lady. 'The Thrill Is Gone' is one of a group of Spectoresque beauties Clydie cut at Imperial .Clydie's late 60's Minit sides are nice,too;always loved 'I'll Never Stop Loving You'. The Minit sides were cut at around the same time as Clydie's stint as one of The Raelets in 1967/8; she's on the Tangerine (HMV over here) 45' One Hurt Deserves Another/One Room Paradise, singing back up to Merry Clayton's lead. Nice to see you post one of Clydie's earlier Doo Wop gems- 'Promises' on Philips in 62' with The Sweet Things was a treat,too. Speaking of Doo -Wop, we've also recently lost-on Jan 1st,aged 76- Sheldon 'Shelly' Buchansky 2nd tenor of the fine Brooklyn Doo Wop group Vito & The Salutations, who cut excellent & successful versions of 'Gloria' & 'Unchained Melody' but are probably best known to Soul Sourcers for their great Northern Soul classic of 65' 'I'd Best Be Going' on Red Boy (later on Sandbag) Maybe some of Clydie's gems like 'Ready Willing And Able' and ' My Love Grows Deeper' and Vito & The Salutations will get a few spins this weekend,that would be a nice tribute,too

Bobby Goldsboros' It's Too Late! I enjoyed that,thanks for posting it. Nice version

'I'll Hold You' Frankie & Johnny. I have a German 45' that's similarly 'inspired' by Little Anthony's 'Better Use Your Head' 'it's called 'Was Wird Nun' by Maria Marky on Electrola.It's quite nice actually and would probably get plays if it was in English

So sad to hear of Nancy's passing-a wonderful,unique voice. 'Don't Look Over Your Shoulder' is an underplayed gem of hers(flip of 'Mercy,Mercy Mercy' ,67') Nancy's versions of 'Uptight (Everything's Alright)' and 'Goin' Out Of My Head' are my favourites of those two (both on the fine A 'Touch Of Today 'LP) She also did a nice version of Little Willie John's 'Suffering With The Blues' on an LP Although classed as a Jazz singer ,Nancy defied categorisation really,much like one of her heroes and inspirations,the great Little Jimmy Scott

Hi Angus,I'll have the Soul Brothers Six-I'll Be Loving You if you still have it Thanks! Kind Regards,Michael

All in at least VG+ condition-some superficial surface marks at most.All play Excellent Post Free in UK. Overseas please email for prices.Pay via Paypal as friend Doris Troy-What'cha Gonna Do About It 64' UK Black Atlantic £6 SOLD Lovely,clean EX copy of this delightful shuffler from Doris-a big Mod fave in 64',and beyond! Vince Edwards-The Lively One/I Can't Turn Back Time - 67' UK United Artists £5 Nice Mod/UK Northern sound from this County Durham lad (Flip-side good,too) Plain white sleeve,not company Nancy Wilson- Uptight(Everything's Alright) 66' US Capitol original £5 Great,superior(in my view) version of Stevie's hit from wonderful Nancy Slight sticker mark on label.In company sleeve The Millionaires-It Ain't No Achievement 1971 US Specialty original Promo £6 SOLD Classic Crossover sound.Small,feint stain on label under word 'Ain't'. In plain white sleeve Ramsey Lewis-The In Crowd 65' UK Chess original £4 SOLD Nice,clean EX copy of this old Mod fave.Plain white sleeve Betty Everett-Getting Mighty Crowded 64' UK Fontana original £4 SOLD Lovely,timeless classic from Betty Edge warp(hence low price) but plays great and perfect. In original company sleeve

Sadly,if not shamefully ,only three episodes still survive of Thank Your Lucky Stars (the rest' missing believed wiped'/destroyed) one from 1963-a Merseybeat special-and two from 1966;happily the one from 25th June 66' features Roy C performing 'Twistin' Pneumonia ,his then latest UK release on Ember-who tried to cash-in on his Shotgun Wedding success with an issue of a 62' release by The Genies,Roy's old Doo-Wop group. It;s up on You Tube-enjoy Roy and the dancing nurses! The same show also features Helen Shapiro performing her nice version of Shop Around,but sadly not the flip 'He Knows How To Love Me'!

I'd say it was definitely an early to mid 60's issue,label seems too smooth and shiny to be a mid-50's Atlantic. It was still being pressed in the 70's(for the Doo-Wop collectors/oldies-reissues market) but was back on the yellow label and credited to simply 'Drifters' (no 'The') Yes,a nice record though;I prefer the other side 'Adorable',a fine Doo-Wop ballad (cover of The Colts' LA hit) with lead by their then new lead singer Johnny Moore

Sorry,yes,my mistake-Barbara Alston of The Crystals(far left,front cover)-not La La Brooks! Did'nt have the LP to hand.Minds not working too well today..

The Teri Nelson Group on this LP included two ex- Crystals- La La Brooks and Mary Thomas; La La is on the far left,Mary is 2nd from the right,back row. Teri Nelson is seated at the front. Christine Cooper ( John Clemente's definitive 'Girl Groups-Fabulous Females That Rocked The World' Girl Group bible states 'Betty Cooper',but this is,with respect, surely La La's memory at fault,unless Christine preferred to be known as Betty at this point) is 2nd from left,directly behind Ms.Nelson. The remaining singer,far right, is Ona Lee.

45's Post Free in UK(Overseas-email for prices)Pay via Pay Pal.Thanks All in at least VG+( superficial surface marks at most) condition,most EX Dooley Silverspoon-Game Players 76' UK Seville Demo -Really nice,clean EX demo copy of this popular 70's sound £13 ON HOLD Jimmy Hughes-Neighbour,Neighbour 66' UK Atlantic (Date stamp '8 July 1966' on label) Great Southern/Northern sound from Jimmy & the Fame gang £6 SOLD Johnny Jones & The King Casuals-Purple Haze 76' UK Cream reissue EX copy of this nice, out of favour oldie that's worth reviving £4 ON HOLD Earl Wright-Thumb A Ride 75 'UK Capitol reissue EX clean copy of this all-time great Northern instrumental (actually HB Barnum's Orchestra) £5 Danny Williams-Forget Her,Forget Her 64' UK HMV with original company sleeve . Nice Popcorn sound £4 SOLD

Another true great gone-so sad to hear.His 50's Cobra 45's are jewels of Post-War Blues,and,as Firecrest stated above,his late 60's Muscle Shoals sides are mighty fine,too.Can't forget his 60's Duke (UK Vocalion) Northern classic 'Homework',too. A special talent,as guitarist and singer

Joe-it's by The Honey Bees (Girl Group greats The Cookies under one of their various pseudonyms) not the Philly girl group Honey & The Bees on Arctic and Josie. A simply beautiful record -real favourite of mine.Have'nt got a white demo for sale though,I'm afraid! Good luck with finding one