Sean Hampsey

Good Question Mark, but surely Ujima, having been played (albeit briefly) at Blackpool Mecca and then being revived (by yours truly) in the Main Room at Cleethorpes in 82 makes it simply an 'Oldie'. The same can be said of some of the others I played at the time - Bill Harris "Am I Cold Am I Hot" Brothers Guiding Light "Getting Together" Invitations "Look On The Good Side" etc. They all became big in the Main Room at, what was then, the biggest Northern Nighter in the country and went on to be big elsewhere... but they aint what I would call "Crossover Soul" records....even though they've 'crossed over' yet again, such choons are just oldies... surely? The term 'Cross Over' has been used in all music genres (particularly in the USA) for decades, but when, over here, we talk about "Crossover Soul" - as opposed to 'Northern' or 'Modern' - we are talking about that period late 60's into the early 70's... where (as per the examples I listed earlier) the tempo is more syncopated and less 'on the fours' ... or at least... that's what Rod intended the term to refer to. Sure its a little confusing... but usually (as Blake H suggested to me) only to those who weren't there (Thorne) at the time. As far as the UK Soul Scene is concerned Ujima is an Oldie... mainly because it was played on the Northern Soul scene before the 90's Canal Tavern. Had the record only just been discovered, I still doubt that it would be classed as "Crossover Soul" because the tempo/style does not fit into the genre any more than would The Natural Four "I Thought You Were Mine" ABC.... which is clearly a Northern Soul 'Classic' Oldie (Whereas the Boola Boola version is... Crossover!!). Phew! Now, am I making myself clear? Sean

Gotta say Barry, you guys were very much a big part of the PITCHES faithful. And all top drawer blokes to boot! Much appreciated mate! Make me an honory Saints fan. Sean

Yes... I think so too! Sean

And as in my penultimate paragraph... my point exactly. Good to hear that the Northern Scene's 'Main Hall' crowd are, again, beginning to try and catch up! Sean

If that's a serious question... then you are a good bit...no a lot closer... to Scotland living in the south (even if you live in Southampton) than Alabama is to Chicago. And as hinted at earlier (apart from going into the natural demographics) Lovejoy is not a particularly uncommon Surname... especially in a country with a population of over 200 million. So I doubt very much if they were related... other than by the obvious historic, pre 1808 connection. Sean

The late Ronnie Lovejoy... one of the greatest SOUL singers of the past 20 years! I doubt very much if this Alabama boy was in any way related to Joy Lovejoy, as she was almost certainly a Chicago artist. Sean

Just a typical Mid 70's Wigan Boys record collection! Even got a Ringo Starr and a Wings 45 in there! Sean

Sorry Chunky. Gotcha! Sean

That is just Fookin' Mental. Beatles (& Related) collectors are bigger frickin' nutters than us lot! Sean

But the flip side on the "Right On" issue is triffic! I've got 'em both... and reckon I'd sooner part with the Dove copy. Bloody rare. Sean

Aretha's beautiful "Never Let Me Go" spun by Dean, early doors. Bloody hell. I'd had it for years but it, somehow, never sounded better! Sean

S'right Derek. Can't help thinking I've got a version by Candye Edwards too Highly likely. same set up... Al Hudson, Kevin McKord ... One way etc. Good tune! Sean

Thanks for the note on this Brian. Barbara Hall R.I.P. Drop My Heart Off At The Door Sean Hampsey

Did you mean Charlie Rich? If so agree, most definitely. Also......... the immortal Johnnie Mae Matthews "I Have No Choice".... and you said, you said, that you'd never lie! Great stuff. Sean

A few from the top of my head:- "What Can I Tell Her" Timmy Thomas Cracked 'em up in the deep room when I played it down at Yarmouth. So good the punters made me play it twice! "I Don't Care Anymore" Doris Duke The gritty, tough, hard life tale from "I'm a Loser" "You Got Me" Jaibi You got me climbing up the wall! "I Dont Wanna Leave You" Debbie Taylor "What Ever Made You Think... I Could Go On Living This Way" Try To Leave Me If You Can" Bessie Banks "I Bet You Can't Do It" "I Keep Coming Back" Tyrone Davis The man... at his best. The climax just shakes every wall in the house. "That's How It Is" Otis Clay Please somebody take their hand... and slap some sense in me! "These Aint Raindrops" James Carr No, No...They're Tears "Not You" Walter Jackson Someone else... might be untrue... but not you, no not you, no not you! Devastating! Sean Hampsey

The Pye copy was much later than the Roulette issue. It was not originally put out over here, by Pye, at the time of release. More as a 'cash in' on their much later (early / mid 70's) Philly success. US Roulette 'Original' £25-£30 UK Pye 70's release £8 - £10 Unless, of course, it starts getting talked about on forums such as this... and I eventually get a clip loaded so that people can hear it.... then who knows! Nice tune whatever the label. Sean

More than fair Pete. Tried to get a clip on here all night, last night, but I aint got a clue! Got my kids over tonight so will ask the lad to do it. Sean

Tried to get to grips with the new clip thingy but struggled! Try again tomorrow. Sean

This is a wind up...right? Rotherham No 1 (obviously). Sean

Aha!.... But The Law is an Ass! allegedly Sean

Agree, Maverick. Bought it as a new release. A stunning piece of vinyl. Adore "She's Only A Woman" and "Stairway To Heaven". Simply Sublime. Sean

Goooooooooood! Now... all we gotta do... is put everybody else straight! Sean

The term 'Crossover Soul' was first used over here (in the UK) by Rod Dearlove at Thorne (Canal Tavern) to describe those records produced in the late 60's and early 70's that were neither:- a) Typical 60's style Soul / Motownesque tunes or b ) Typical 70's 'strings n' things' productions. These records had not really gained mass favour on the UK 'Northern' scene as they weren't 'typical' Motown styled 60's sounding records. Nor had they been well received on the 'Modern' scene as they weren't necessarily 'uptempo, new or 'zippy' enough for the modern crowd. These were records produced around that 4-5 year 'crossover' period between the 60's and the 70's. The term 'Crossover Soul' in the UK 'Soul Scene' sense does not refer to music that 'crossed over' from the R&B charts to the mainstream (as in the US sense) nor does it mean records that 'crossed over' from the 'Modern' rooms to the 'Northern' rooms. Typical 'Crossover Soul' records referred to at the time that the phrase was first used in this context (late 80's / Early 90's) would have included:- Bobby Reed "The Time Is Right For Love" Soul Brothers Inc "That Loving Feeling" Frank Lynch "Young Girl" Enchanted Five "Have You Ever" Vivian Copeland "Key In The Mailbox" LJ Reynolds "All I Need" Sandra Wright "Midnight Affair" Ultimates "Girl I've Been Trying To Tell You" Tyrone St German "In A World So Cold" Sy Hightower "I Wonder Why" 100 Proof "Don't You Wake Me" Will Hatcher "You Haven't Seen Nothing Yet" Ray Frazier "These Eyes" None of these had been acknowledged 'Northern' or 'Modern' soul records (wrong tempo and wrong 'sound' for the Northern scene... and far too old for the other). All of the above, though, fitted the 'Crossover Soul' genre and the Thorne crowd's requirements perfectly. In the past 15 or so years (since the phrase was first used to describe records from this period) this 'sound' and type of record has since 'crossed over' to the Northern Scene alerting many people to that rich period of Soul artistry, the late 60's and early 70's... and confusing others as to the definition. Ultimately, though, we have Rod Dearlove to thank for breaking the mould. Sean Hampsey

You're right Simon... now you mention the Blue cover (it was dark blue with a picture - a bit like Supremes Greatest Hits Vol1). The LP did come out twice on PYE (I had them both) under different titles. One certainly didn't have "Lonely Town" on it but t'other obviously did. I know what you mean by your description but it never stopped me playing it, way back when, because the production is so clear and the thunderous intro is just magnificent! Give it a whirl. Will certainly raise eyebrows I reckon! Sean

I used to have the LP on UK Pye - but I don't recall 'Lonely Town' being on it (although all other tracks were). The 45 'Maybe' did, however, come out on UK Mojo. Sean