Sean Hampsey

I used to play this track at my local Youth Club in '72. Blew me away to hear it covered up at a Nighter, circa '79 (via Dave Raistrick I think). I remember upsetting the DJ when I told him what it was.... and that I'd had it for years. Don't you just love it when that happens? Lovely leedle tune! Sean

I reckon you're right Tony... A Clay Roberts is a Black Radio DJ in Washington.

Ted Massey's copy (posted on here earlier this year). Nice one Ted.

Portuguese EP German 45 Both quite hard.

Just reading these few tributes (especially the lyrics interspersed throughout) sends shivers down my spine. Levi Stubbs is the voice of Soul. The word AWESOME is used far too liberally when describing vocal talent. Though for Levi, the word is simply not big enough. He's inspired a generation and entertained millions... over several decades. The versatility in his voice is the real unique. The Power of 'Bernadette' The Sorrow behind "Just Ask The Lonely" We may never hear a better voice. I named my daughter 'Siobhan Bernadette' because of that incredible vocal performance... and its effect on me as a youngster! Keep on loving me........ Bernadette! Truly, truly AWESOME! Long live Levi Stubbs. Sean

Also there's a tremendous version by Betty Everett on US Galaxy/Fantasy 45. The best version (IMO). Sean Oops - Sorry, just seen Mels Post!

I think the clue is in the location:- B E L G I U M So, no thanks!

Only Just Steve! Poor old Smithy. I knew him when he was just plain old John Smith... long before the John 'Soul' moniker! As the saying goes.... "Desperate for fame... he changed his name!" But we call him something else around these parts!

I think you might come under the "and a few others" bit Steve.

Then again, Frank always enjoyed a fag! Could it have been Frank?

Or was it that Camilla Bird. She was always hanging about at one time. Camera shy too! Could have been her I reckon.

The one hanging around by the decks while I'm DJ'ing? Ermmm let me think. Big fan of mine.... Enjoys a Smoke Dodgy Jumper Could it be that sexy Columbian Singer Shakira by any chance?

Agree with Dave Moore, Fantastic Book! Read it I don't know how many times from when it first came out (early / mid 70's). Some Mouthwatering early Record Shop Ads in there too (Val Shively etc.). Also, thoroughly recommend:- Chicago Soul - Robert Pruter (Lance, Mayfield, Butler etc - they're all in here!) Say It One Time For The Brokenhearted - Barney Hoskyns (The Country Soul Bible!) Sweet Soul Music - Peter Guralnick (Stax and then some!) Nowhere To Run - Gerry Hirshey (some great interviews etc) The Record Men - Rich Cohen (Fantastic 'Chess' Related) Sean

Dead right Mark.. "I Can't wait To see You.... Running Stop Lights".... lovely Mellow Soul on the 'Material Things' CD. Agree "Kiss & Tell" is well worth a spin again. Of course, we both know that there's boatloads of quality Southern tracks such as these just waiting for the UK Soul Scene to catch up with 'em! Can't wait until 2020!!

A big track (nay... an anthem) for me at Yarmouth as a new release, in 2001, "How Can I Get Next To You" is a cover of the George Jackson 70's track on MGM. Most of his albums feature good quality Souhern Soul, and are worth picking up, but the "Woman In Need" CD featuring Pitches fave "Got My Whiskey" is essential. Love him! Sean

Here you go... I've been up all night doing it for you A Lovers Concerto Recorded by: The Toys (1965) Released in September 1965, "A Lover's Concerto" on the Dynavoice label went #4 on R&B, crossed over to #2 on the US pop charts, and also became a #5 hit in England. In 1965 the song sold over a million copies. Songwriting duo Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell took a classical finger exercise from Bach and put a Motown bassline to it - and "A Lovers Concerto" was born. How gentle is the rain that falls softly on the meadow Birds high up in the trees serenade the clouds with their melodies Oh, see there beyond the hill, the bright colours of the rainbow. Some magic from above made this day for us just to fall in love Now I belong to you from this day until forever, Just love me tenderly and I'll give to you every part of me. Oh, don't ever make me cry through long lonely nights without love. Be always true to me, keep this day in your heart eternally. Some day we shall return to this place upon the meadow. We'll walk out in the rain, see the birds above singing once again. Oh, you hold me in your arms, and say once again you love me, And if your love is true, everything will be just as wonderful. You'll hold me in your arms, and say once again you love me, And if your love is true, everything will be just as wonderful. Just reading through it in my head gets me tongue twisted! But I've found that if you adopt a Stanley Unwin stylee vocabulary it all becomes much clearer. Works for me!

I know the type of release you're referring to and its 'very similar' but not the same. I've numerous releases on the UK variant (Billy Stewart, Dells "It's All Up To You" etc) but the Denise Lasalle above is definately not one of them. Sean

A "Camp As Christmas" do by the looks of those 'lads' on the second pic. 1981 a fair guess John? Left To Right...... Alan Senior - Sean Hampsey - Kev Briscoe (Tucked in behind me) - John 'Bad' Benson - Malc Burton. Great pic John... but if you wake up with a horses head in bed with you... don't be surprised!

No mate, that's definately a US issue. The Joy Lovejoy is much lighter blue and not concaved around the centre. From memory, there's no UK issue of Love Reputation that I'm aware of. Sean

Then you are forgiven But.... make sure you're not working 10th November. Somethings going down.... and I have an invitation for you....!

Sorry mate, you might be right, its just that everytime I ask Kev to give you the heads up on a night out he says you're away . So were you away for the Bass then... or just giving us the cold shoulder?

So, to clarify.... the "Ordinary Joe" Cadet 45 and the "Ordinary Joe" track on the "Occasional Rain" Cadet LP are identical. However, the version recorded some 8 years later on the "Turn You To Love" Elektra LP are different recordings. Jerry Butlers is the original version, BTW. Sean

Top of the mornin to ya! Yet another inmate in this hyperbolatical canary fired vinyl loopin tang.....nurse over here....quick!! Don't bite your (Denis's) hand to hard........ You f***** gas**** i'll get you! Did'nt we have some laughs on that record stall in town, lord knows what the poor general public thought..... it must have been Griff's mack.....and original Ronnie McNeirs at £12 that brought it on! Struth!! How's Keith...from Thurcroft....... top man Sean...hope youre good. ALAN ................................................................................ .............................................. Good times on the best Record Stall in England, Alan. Can you believe, it's over 30 years ago!!! Ronnie McNeir @ £12 was considered 'expensive' back then. Course, this was when I used to knock Jack Montgomery's, on Barracuda, out at 80pence apiece! Griffs still got the mack.... but, sadly, Keith passed away about 5 years ago. Gawd knows what happened to Dennis. Probably still chasing cars in the great madhouse in the sky! Sean

"Always Together" and "The Love We Had Stays On My Mind" were the highlights for me that night! Absolutely stunning. Getting Goosebumps just thinking about it! No doubt. One of the greatest performances the UK has ever witnessed. Majestic and Magnificent. Sean

Nah, he was a Top Bloke. I'll never forget that he gave me a hand up in my early days.... and I'm absolutely sure he must have given you and Steve one as well, Malc. Some say that he used to blow a bit hot and cold but I always found him very warm. And as a promoter he'd not spend the entire night trying to ram it down your throat, like some do, these days. It's a pity there weren't more like him around. A very talented man who certainly knew how to make something small into a real biggie! Sean