Sean Hampsey

Can't help you with a file, but what a great record. Loved it since I was in short pants! Great memory jerker mate. Sean

Nice picture. I remember it well. It is you Steve isn't it? Joking apart... did you ever break or play any cheapies... back in the day? Always seem to remember you for Shadows, William Powell, Quit While I'm Ahead etc. All decent money things at the time. RSVP Sean

A handful here Gwen McCrae "Rockin Chair" & "90% Of Me Is You" Glories (and Della Humphrey) "Don't Make The Good Girls Go Bad" Jackie Moore "It's Harder To Leave" Bobby Byrd "Back From the Dead" But there's literally dozens! Sean

That really made me smile, Simon. I trust you're still enjoying them? But you're right. I took a helluva lotta stick (or was it sh#t?) at the time. Nevertheless, I'm privileged to have a reputation as the nighter Jock that bucked the 'Rare Soul Only' trend. It gave me the chance to call upon an abundance of really good records. To be honest, I always felt I was more of a Soul DJ than purely a 'Northern' one. Good to see that in recent times there's a lot more people that feel the same. But... it's been a long time coming! Sean (Reputation Almost Intact)

For starters... You Knock Me Out Part Time Lover I'm Your Yes Man I Don't Want The Leftovers I Refuse To Give Up Sooner Or Later All good tunes! Have fun! Sean

Count me in on that scene Matt. In response to the original question... the game seems to have changed in recent years. In the late 70's and early 80's DJ'ing was my only source of income, for quite a while. I'd a couple of residencies at Nightclubs (playing mainly New Release Soul) and did the Northern Stuff inbetween. It was my profession (or at least... I made a living out of it). If I'd turned up and not been paid (although it never happened) I'd have sent the Boys round. On the Northern Scene, the Promoters used to ask you about your fee at the time that they made the booking. However, in recent years I've noticed that you're often expected to make the trip and do the gig 'for the love of it'. It's a supply and demand thing I guess, these days. There's more 'DJ's' than punters at some nights, whereas 25+ years ago, half decent Soul DJ's were very few and far between. Don't get me wrong. In some cases I've been happy to do a spot for the love of the music (Charity Nights, Free Entry nights etc.) but, by and large, I believe that any decent Jock should be paid a proper fee and I wouldn't dream of hiring a DJ and expecting him to work his Butt off to please my crowd purely as a vocation. It's a question of professionalism. And as in any profession. You pay peanuts... etc. Sean

Agree (to some extent) Paul. There are some good 'expensive' records, of course, but, you're right, by and large many DJ's won't touch stuff that isn't expensive. Sean

US Jotis, of course, but also on UK Atlantic. Just Love "I'm Missing You"... A Stunning side Good luck Sean

Yes it is George "Get Involved" Soule... the the man behind many great tunes for such artists as Archie Bell, Bobby Bland, Judy Clay, Arthur Connely, Etta James, Dorothy Moore, The Patterson Singers, Dan Penn, Esther Phillips, Wilson Pickett, Lloyd Price, James and Bobby Purify, Percy Sledge, Mavis Staples, Candi Staton, Johnnie Taylor, Ruben Howell, The Temptations, Joe Tex, Dee Dee Warwick, Pep Brown, Bobby Womack.... .....and (along with Terry Woodford) Paul Thompsons "Special Kind Of Woman" / "What I Don't Know" Soule is up there with Dan penn, Donnie Fritts, Eddie Hinton etc Blue Eyed Soul Genius (IMO). See the credits George Soule on a 45... just buy it! To confirm, the group was Blue Eyed, headed up by Paul Davis, the writer of your 45 (and himself, later a Malaco writer, pairing up with George Soule). Sean

Only the other day I was playing the beautiful "Don't Let Me Fall" and marvelled at the quality in his vocal phrasing. Of his Columbia material, the majestic Beat Ballad "It's Been That Way, All Of My Life" must surely be included, Tony. RIP

As a footnote to the above (and probably outside of a hardcore 'Northern' perspective) I much prefer to hear DJ's playing a varied set - across a variety of genres and eras - to an hour or so consisting primarily of 'rarities' 'one-offs' 'exclusives' etc. Not suggesting that's what you'd get from someone the calibre of Butch (who as I understand it has a genuine appreciation of Real Deal Soul Music... Deep Soul etc.) but I understand that there are some who adopt that approach whilst there are many 'active' DJ's who I feel are particularly entertaining because of the diversity in their playlist. Steve Plumb, Tats Taylor, Gavin Page, Bob Cosby, Flanny, Kev Briscoe, John Benson, Cliff Steele, Gareth Donovon, Mike Charlton, Steve Guarnori, Brian Goucher, Mark Houghton and, and, and..... many more..... all spring immediately to mind because they know how to mix a set and where quality (rather than rarity) is the only yardstick. And let's face it, of those currently in retirement... few could compete with the diversity and pure quality of a Rod Dearlove set, whether he was dropping an exclusive, an unplayed album cut or a current CD track into the procedings. I'm sure that in Butch's case... taste shows through... and the cream always rises to the top! But as Gavin often says... "DJ's Should Just Play Good Records". Otherwise some people might tape your set... and play it back to you 25 years later! Sean Hampsey

Yes I know Simon. But Neil Page used to do the opposite... so I know I had at least one fan. He sent me a tape last week from 1983. A revelation. I'd forgotten how good I used to be!

Agree with this 100%. I know at least half a dozen guys, with collections to die for (including unknowns, one-offs, acetates etc), who hardly ever venture out these days... either as a punter or DJ. These are the guys who are more interested in collecting good records than getting out and playing them on a regular basis. I suspect that the real reason Butch is successful is because he's sustained his activities (both as a collector and as a DJ). He's still 'at it' after quite a few years... while others have put their 'play boxes' if not their collections out to pasture. Having a large collection may not be a prerequisite... but it certainly helps if you are able to draw upon a backlog of tasty items. In addition... (as Dave Thorley inferred) when you're hot... you're hot... and when you're not, you're not!... and when you are hot it's amazing how much hot stuff comes your way. Good luck to him. As a DJ, everybody earns their place and the respect & appreciation that tends to come with it over the long term. Sean Hampsey

Right up your street Mel, I reckon. Seek it out (before they all want one). Sean

Ah... but it is. I have it on a 45! And have 'tried' playing it out.... about 10 years ago. Was not well received at the time... but times change. A future left field monster? Hope so. Sean

Can't post em Rachel... cos I'm at work right now... but how about.. Spellbinders "Baby I Miss You" Kenny Sheppard "What Difference Does It Make" Gene Chandler "I Can Take Care Of Myself" The Bobby Reed's on Bell (Both Sides) & "I'll Find A Way" on Loma Chris Mark Jackson "I'll Never Forget You" Kenny Young "Aint It Funny" All great tunes! Some body of work Van McCoy left behind. Over to you guys. Sean

Wow... good to see this getting a mention on here. A great record from this 'semi-psychedelic' bunch, and featuring the late great Minnie Ripperton! Wonder how well it would be received played out. Sean

Great thread 5 Top Tips.... from the top of my head. Double sided Masterpieces. 1. Check the Flip To Carol Anderson "Sad Girl"... I'll Get Off At The Next Stop......... Tremendous! 2. How about the B side to Sam Williams "Love Slipped Through My Fingers" namely "Let's Talk It Over" 3. Masqueraders "I Aint Gonna Stop" on AGP reveals the superb "I'm Just An Average Guy" on the reverse. 4. Tyrone Davis "Turn Back The Hands Of Time" has the crushingly brilliant "I Keep Coming Back" on the flip. 5. And the B side that turned me onto the Deeper shades of Soul, way back in 1969... the Flipside to Sam & Dave's "Hold On I'm Coming" hides the majestic "I've Got Everything I Need" which is up there with the very best from Eddie & Ernie, Willie & Anthony, James & Bobby (and then some). Sean

Jackie Lee - You were Searching For A Love - on Uni is a lovely Crossover 45. Well recommended. Uni Catalogue now belongs to Universal Music Group (as you might expect). Sean

Thanks for this! As a matter of interest, it seems that this great track was originally scheduled to be titled "Ain't No Turning Back", at least according to a test pressing I have of it. Sean

Hi Roger, The 533 was issued in 1973 when distribution moved from Capitol (US) and EMI (UK) to Columbia (UK CBS) and they apparantly wihdrew it soon after... due to lack of interest. Understandable really as "BOG" had been a huge seller on both sides of the pond only a couple of years earlier. I had a copy up on eBay about a year ago for about £12... but didn't get any takers. Bizarre really given its scarcity, but I guess that some folk (most folk) didn't realise what it was I was advertising. UK Collectors will certainly know how hard it is. Anything less than £25, in Mint Condition, would be a good price I'd say. Sean

It's actually quite a hard 45. I've had mine for over 10 years but never see it come up for sale. Lovely Summery Tune. The sort of thing you could imagine Lenny williams doing a blinding job of. I have the LP too, which features another superb modern dancer in " I Think It's Gonna Turn Out Fine" if anyone fancies a stab at a quality tune... there's the LP on eBay now. https://cgi.ebay.com/WILSON-WILLIAMS-Up-The...1QQcmdZViewItem Good luck with the hunt for the 45. Sean

Interesting comment from Rod on the Rhonda Davis, Dave. 1974/75 I bought the Duke 45 / Purple Promo for a couple of bob and at first only played the Deep side "Long Walk On a Short Pier". Some time later (several months) I played the flip and was wowed by the Ann Sexton soundalike "Can You Remember" which I consequently 'covered it' as and it became a pretty big spin for me locally (76). It was 3-4 years later that I uncovered it and first played it at Rotherham Clifton Hall and then later at Cleethorpes where it became a Monster! Interesting though how (after all these years) I thought I'd discovered it too Dave! Deluded? Quite possibly. Just hadn't realised it was known in the North West prior to that time and nobody ever told me otherwise. A couple I must take credit (or blame) for: 1977 I'm living with a girl in Lincoln. I spent a lot of time in Lincoln's only decent record shop (Tony's) on a Saturday afternoon and on the pretty good outdoor market stall where on this particular occasion I picked up a Ronnie Dyson 45 "Cup Runneth Over" on US Columbia for 35p. A couple of years later, me and Steve Croft were ploughing through our records looking for our 'next big thing'. I pulled out the Ronnie Dyson and played the side I bought it for but Crofty just pulled a face. OK I says, let's try the flip. Lady In Red. It was one of those moments. That's it. Tonights BIG record. Took it along to Cleggy that night. I played it twice in my spot and then Steve played it twice in his (our usual 'make it massive in one night' ploy). Sure enough, it became huge. Short lived... but huge. Can't stand to listen to it nowadays though! Mid 70's I've an ambition to own every Soul record on British. Had a virtually complete ACTION series, only missing a couple of 'so so' tracks and the Bobby Patterson 45 "Married Lady" which at that time I'd never heard. In 1975 my sister moved down to Wembley, so, naturally, while I'm visiing her I hit a few shops in London. Came across a box of really nice English stuff (literally ) which included the Bobby Patterson 45, on ACTION, I so badly needed. Had to wait until I got it home to hear the side I'd purchased it for and then was blown away by the flipside "I'm In Love With You" which (unlike the Ronnie Dyson) I think has featured in just about every spot I've done since that day! Summer of 1974 and I've just bagged the Saturday night session at my local club 'The Charade' in Rotherham. Northern Soul is the order of the day, but I'd just picked up a copy of Darrell Banks "Just Because Your Love Is Gone" on a UK Stax 45 at my local junk shop in Dinnington, Nr Sheffield and was determined to give it a spin. Just before I packed up my box I flipped it and was immediately struck by the other side "I'm The One Who Loves You" so that side got the spin on the night. I played it out locally almost every set for years and it was 1978/79 before Tim Ashibende offered me a US copy for sale at Clifton Hall... for a couple of quid. That night my UK Stax Darrell Banks got it's first allnighter airing. If it's good enough for Tim I thought! Like the Bobby Patterson... I play it almost every set to this day! (Boring Bast##d). Late 70's I drove a rather gorgeous young female back to her home after I'd been DJ'ing at a Soul Night near Doncaster. One thing lead to another... as you might expect... and pretty soon... I've got my hands in her Record Box. In there was a copy of Eddie Billups "Shake Off That Dream" which I'd never heard before. She let me have it... as payment for the lift home ... but that's another story. Another Clifton Classic was born... and yes... I believe it was played at the Mecca, at some miniscule point some years earlier, but I don't believe for a second it would have gone on to be the huge sound it became had I not been so chivalrous! None of the above are (or even were) particularly rare records. That's why I loved playing them so much... because back in those days, at Northern Nighters, nobody else would. Great thread Dave. Got tons of similar stories but I'm knackered so calling it a night for now! Sean BTW: I think my 'Ann Sexton' cover up name, for Rhonda Davis, is far better than Lyn Vernado

Now you're talking Ged. Features Anita Harris too (which can't be bad) Sean