Sean Hampsey

Tut Tut! Didn't leave it in the Bagel shop did you?

Was Pressed in the 70's on LaCoupe (with Brothers Guiding Light - 'Getting Together' on the flip). Some double sider that! I also saw two WB copies on eBay recently... but its always been, generally, a pretty scarce and desirable 45. Sean

On the 'Ghost' front, lets not forget the flipside of the 45 became MASSIVE too!

Shocked and saddened to read this, Bob. Always been a huge fan of the Levert clan. Just found this text on the net:- LeVert fans grieving the sudden death of Sean Levert can take comfort in a glimmer of good news: A revamped version of the R&B trio from Cleveland recently finished recording a new album, under the name LeVert II. "It's a really good project," said group co-founder Marc Gordon, 43, of South Euclid. The album is titled "Dedication." Gordon hopes to release the title track as a single in a few weeks, with the album due out by this summer. Sean, 39, died Sunday night after becoming ill at the Cuyahoga County Jail. He was set to serve 22 months in state prison for failing to pay nearly $90,000 in child support for three of his children. His older brother, Gerald, fronted the original LeVert. He died Nov. 10, 2006, of an accidental overdose of prescription and over-the-counter medications. He was 40. Their father is Eddie Levert of the O'Jays. Sean and Gordon resumed performing last year with various stand-in vocalists. They began work on the album in November, joined by new singer Roosevelt "Black Rose" Griffin of Youngstown. They recorded 15 songs, including a collaboration with the O'Jays titled "What a Woman." The new material is reminiscent of the classic LeVert sound, with one key difference, Gordon said Thursday during a phone interview. "It's different because we don't have Gerald," he said. "I didn't want to try to duplicate that." The Levert brothers and Gordon first crossed paths when they were in high school. LeVert released its debut, "I Get Hot," in 1985. The trio's string of hits included the Top 5 single "Casanova." Gerald went solo in 1991. Losing Gerald and Sean in the span of 16 months has left Gordon reeling. "They were my brothers," he said. Sean's autopsy was inconclusive, pending the results of toxicology tests. The county coroner found no obvious signs of foul play or trauma. Sean's family has called for an FBI investigation of his death. Sean phoned Gordon from jail Thursday, March 27, three days before he died. "He sounded normal," Gordon said. Sean "was a good father," Gordon said. "He wasn't like people are trying to make him out to be. "A lot of work hasn't been done since Gerald died. The kind of money people are looking for, Sean just didn't have it." A private service for Sean was to be held Thursday. The public can sign a guest book between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. today at the E.F. Boyd & Sons Funeral Home, 2165 East 89th St., Cleveland. R.I.P.

Spot on observation Tony. I'm probably in the tiny minority, from what I've read here, but I've always rated "SOS (Heart In Distress)" faaaaar higher than "the wimpish "Heartaches Away My Boy". I've always considered "Heartaches" as a dull as dish water, poor quality 'cash in' follow up to the much 'harder edged' and Soulful "SOS" (which I love to bits). The message behind "SOS" is powerful (and actually quite clever) whereas the 'supposedly' more optimistic lyric on "Heartaches Away My Boy" (such a crappy title) is a real contradiction in terms, totally lost in bloody misery, winding up with a timid, ineffectual, cheap and nasty and depressing result. It's a record I've always considered a heinous crime, ashtray fodder... and just plain bloody awful (to my ears). Sorry... maybe I need to get some sleep! Sean

Yes, the "Freddie" was based on that weird dance that Freddie Garrity (of Freddie & The Dreamers) used to do, Roger. But we all did it when we were kids... didn't we! "You Were Made For Me.............! Sean

Crikey... that was quick Steve! They're on Mr Plumbs website and it's in the cart now! Sean

I want to get it from you, Mr Plumb. Can this be arranged? Poser Man

That was trific Brian, so glad you put the effort in. Had my fair share of UK hits too. Three that immediately spring to mind... First was in the mid 70's, I got talking to a Rock & Roll dealer on a market stall in Nottinghamshire. Picked up a few bits off him, nothing too exciting, couple of bits on London (Ruby & Romantics etc. and a Charlie Rich "Love is after Me") for about 50pence each. I told him I collected R&B, left him my phone number and asked him if he'd ever got anything else to let me know. Less than two weeks later, he called me and said he'd acquired a 'Record Reviewers' collection and that there might be some things I'd be interested in. He'd taken out all the Rock asnd pop for his stall, but said I was welcome to take some of the 'Soul'ier' stuff of his hands. I met him at his place in Sheffield. It was truly breathtaking. He'd over 10,000 UK 45's, in boxes all over the place. apparantley the 'Reviewer' had passed away and his Widow had sold my guy the entire collection. Everything was stone Mint... all in original covers... and 99% of them were DEMO's.... Stateside, TMG's, Capitol, the whole nine yards...! Needless to say, he wanted a reasonable price for them (he was a record dealer afer all) but I left with a pile of Stateside Red & Whites and Green & Whites .... Incredibles "Nothing Else To Say", O'Jays, "I Dig Your Act" "That's What I Want To Know" "What's Wrong With Me Baby" "Breakout" etc. piles of TMG's "Why When Love Is Gone" "My Weakness Is You" "Lonely Lonely Girl am I" "Little Darling" etc and stacks of other 'random' label things... PP Arnold "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" Jerry Jackson "It's Rough Out There" and about a dozen more choice pieces... for less than fifty quid! Around the same time, I regularly used to visit a guy on a Market stall in Bawtry, picking up whatever Soul bits and pieces he had. Again, I made sure he had my telephone number to "call me first" if ever he dropped on any decent soul stuff. Lo and behold, the call came one afternoon and he told me that he'd just bought a "Girlie / Group" collection off a guy and that I might be interested in some of what was in there, and I was getting 'first pick'. I caught the train up to Leeds to see him the very next day. Can't begin to list the entire 50 - 60 pieces I came home with that day (all issues) but for starters:- Mary Love - Bitter Into Sweet - King Fascinations - Girls Are out To Get You - Stateside Sapphires - Gotta Have your love - HMV Barbara Mason - Keep Him - London Bettye Swann - Make Me Yours - CBS Chiffons - Nobody Knows - Stateside Reperata & Delrons - Panic - Bell Barbara Lynn - Water Running - London Barbara Lewis - Hello Stranger - London Kim Weston - I'm Still Loving You - TMG Mary Wells (several) on Oriole etc. Next was a bit more recent... and probably the best.... about 6-7 years ago, I was at the office and on the phone to Steve Mannion... talking music... instead of working... as you do. While we were chatting, I was also scouring eBay... (sorry Steve).... at which point Steve started asking me which I thought was the rarer... the UK or the US Alexander Patton "A Lil Lovin Sometimes". Simultaneously, as we talked it over, without giving it much thought, I typed "Alexander Patton" into eBay... ... and found a Mint UK Demo sat in the Pop section for £12:00 on a "Buy It Now"... ...which of course I did, in a heartbeat.... without letting on to my buddy on the end of the phone. Turned out the seller lived near Mansfield - about half an hour from my office - so I arranged, via email, to call and pick it up the next night! En route, I phoned the guy and told him I was on my way. T'was then I asked him if he'd any other records for sale. OMG. The young fella had an older sister... who, back in the mid 60's, used to date an EMI Rep. Needless to say... he was a very generous bloke... as he'd given 'big sis' hundreds of records (in exchange for sweet kisses I guess) over the year or two they'd courted. All I can say is she must have been very, very good at it! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Around midnight, I left the young guys house with the Biggest pile of UK Red & White demo's (HMV - Capitol - Stateside - TMG's) I'd seen since the '75 hit in Sheffield - MINT Red & White Motown - loads of early numbers, ("I Can't Help Myself" "How Sweet It Is" "Road Runner") "Can't Satisfy" on HMV "Lovers Reward" on Columbia and a few dozen other gorgeous Mint Statesides, Capitol 66, and, of course, the stunning Alexander Patton. Which all goes to show, that when you're scouring those racks and boxes, it pays to push a little bit harder and ask to see more. For years I made a habit of telling new acquaintances "I'm a Vinyl Archaeologist" ...and there's Gold in them there hills! Sean

Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac Gangsta whitewalls TV antennas in the back You may not have a car at all But remember brothers and sisters You can still stand tall Just be thankful for what you've got Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac Diamond in the back, sunroof top Diggin' the scene With a gangsta lean Gangsta whitewalls TV antennas in the back Awsum Choon.... Great WDV LP too! Sean

BTW.... Apart from that particular trip, I reckon You and Tats would be able to make some pretty awesome contributions to this thread... don't you?

Hi Rob, Don't you ever wonder what we left behind? Especially when you consider that we each had a box at a time, to go through. That means that we each only saw 25% of what was actually there (i.e. so did you, so did Tats.... and..... so did, a very young, Bully!). What was in HIS boxes that he didn't spot? I tell thi'.... I'm off to have another look! Sean

Just for the Record - this was also issued on the UK Action label. A tune I've loved for years, with Hoagy sounding very 'Sam Cooke' to my ears! Sean

Think Ivor Jones (on here) had one for sale recently.

Ermmmmmm... some nice 'wide angle lens' stuff there, Mr Burton! Sean

From my 'Ian' collection.

Flipside of "Walkin' Down King Street" Think I still have that! Sean

Dave is far too modest to join in this thread (although he definarely should) Ian, even though he's had more hits than Cliff Richard! One of the absolute TRUE Gentlemen of the UK Soul Scene.

They don't get much better than Cal, Chris!

Good on yer Mik! Sean

You won't regret this one Buddy! See you next week. Sean

Ah....... Terry! A man of great taste... much like yer good self! Very much looking forward to a Beer with you next week, Binsmeister! Sean

Gavin.... believe me it's TREMENDOUS! Features the title track (SUPERB Modern Groover) and the SUPREME.... "A Night Like This In Georgia" - Malaco Deep Soul Heaven! And then some! Sean

Awsome Double sider Mark, I bought as a new release.... and still love it (especially the flipside!) Sean

I'll second ALL three of those Gavin. A Hat Trick of some of the best things around right now! And all Suvvern Gems prime for the East Coast in 10 days time! Sean