Sean Hampsey

Ha! Looks as if Pete beat me to the answer, but I beat him to putting up a piccy! Sorry... Sean

That's... The Impressions "Keep On Pushing" So what's my album? Sean

Watch this space! Sean

I remember Chris following me on at Bradford Allnighter, one night. Don't know and can't remember if he did it regularly or if it was a one off. He kicked off with Detroit Soul "All Of My Life" followed by Don Gardner "We're Gonna Make It Big" off the LP (we all thought it was album only back then). I remember thinking they weren't natural tracks to link together, but he kept the floor busy and I had to applaud his good taste and 'perception' for the Gardner track as I'd been playing it up there and elsewhere for months without much success :0) lol

Anyone? Sean

Think you might be right Steve. Never thought about looking for one until last night. Seen a few online at silly prices but thought I might put a want up on here, shake the tree, and see what drops out! :0) Hope you're well matey. Sean

Anyone? Sean

That's right Steve. Back, even in the early 70's, the one that Sue collectors wanted and needed was The Lamp Sisters "Woman With The Blues". I don't imagine things have changed much. Still a very hard record. Everyone had the Elbert's and Tommy Duncan's, Phil Upchurch and Fascinations etc. but 'Lamp Sisters' was the toughie.

Might be willing to give a copy of this 45 a good home. PM please with your most reasonable price and stating condition. Many thanks, Sean

Syl Johnson 'We Did It' - Funny that you should mention it! Sleevenotes from my recent Syl Johnson comp should give you a clue as to what the record means to me! Backbeats Artists Series — Sleeve Notes - Syl Johnson - Mississippi Main Man It's 1972 and a very typical Saturday night. I'm out with a bunch of mates, in the hottest club in industrial South Yorkshire, a shady haunt known as The Charade, tucked away on the outskirts of Rotherham. We were the young, gifted and hopeful. Barathea Blazer, Prince of Wales Check and Windsor tie. Too cool for school; I’d left that summer. Money was more important than education. A weekly wage bought you the gear, the glory, the records and a genuine feeling of belonging to something significant. The DJ at the club, Dave Growns, plays classic soul, as he has for many years. Music coming from the previous decade, entwined with the new. He’s admired and respected by all that attend. A ‘visionary’ DJ. Finger on the pulse and records to die for. With a legendary status in our part of the world, tonight he drops on us his latest find. A brand new ‘import’ release from the little known, Syl Johnson. This may have been its first public airing, beyond the USA. Even the famous Blackpool Mecca hadn’t yet cottoned on to this style of Soul. Still hot from the pressing plant, the rasping horns are a clarion call to the dancefloor, and then those gloriously intense vocals, “It took a whole lots of doing, but we did it”. I gasped. I still do. This record was something special. A record of triumph over adversity. The opening track, in the compilation, ‘We Did It’ took the definition of ‘club-soul’ to an entirely different level. It set a new benchmark for 45’s, to earn a place in the collection. And it provided all the motivation I needed to be a VDJ like Growns (something, after 40 years, I’m still working on). Hi 45-2229 was a gem of a record. The feel is punchy and defiantly optimistic whilst hanging on to a heavy measure of Memphis grit. I just had to own this cookin’, shufflin’, horn stabbin’ slice of genius. Soul record collectors should always play ‘b’ sides. On acquiring 45-2229 I discovered the exquisite bonus on the flip. “Any Way The Wind Blows” reveals the underlying ambivalence that can sometimes taint a long-term relationship. Emotionally charged lyrics and superbly handled production result in, probably, his finest mid-pacer. When Willie Mitchell and the Hi Rhythm Section (Leroy Hodges on bass, Charles Hodges on keyboards, Howard Grimes on drums) entered Royal Studios, to capture this tour de force, they started a 40 year chain of events which came full circle for me today, with this collection of great recordings. While Johnson may have been new to the Soul crew in Yorkshire, England, he was no stranger to the music business in the USA. Born in Holly Springs, Mississippi, he moved to Chicago in 1950 where he sang the Blues with many of Chicago’s finest; recording in 1959 with Jimmy Reed for VeeJay and then for Federal Records of Cincinnati. In 1967, after a while with 3-4 independent labels around Chicago, he got heavily involved with Twinight Records where he enjoyed several R&B hits that have endured the ages and are still always in demand. He scored with the novelty dance track "Come On Sock It To Me" and the ‘social conscience’ album "Is It Because I'm Black?" which explored African-American identity and social problems. The record reached Number 11 in the R&B charts in 1969 and earned Syl a reputation, at home, as one of the most distinctive voices in Soul. Anyone who makes vocal comparisons with Hi stablemate Al Green simply isn’t listening! Johnson has a raw ‘masculinity’ in his voice and a dynamic range heard best on the deeper of these sides, such as ‘Could I Be Falling In Love’ ‘That’s Just My Luck’ and ‘Come On Home’. His time recording with Willie Mitchell spawned four excellent Memphis Soul albums which yielded the fine selections here. And as you take the deep dive in you’ll soon discover that ‘We Did It’ is not a solitary gem. You’re bound to find favourites of your own, from funky grooves and deep soul balladry to the ‘back to the roots’ harmonica blues of ‘I Only Have Love’ and Johnson’s biggest hit ‘Take Me To The River’. So considering this particular artist had such a major part in the development of my own musical taste, causing me to make the long trip, a few years ago, from deepest Rotherham to the Memphis studio where the tracks were all recorded, I consider it a huge privilege to have been asked to select and compile my most loved Syl Johnson sides from those fruitful Hi years. It’s been one helluva journey. I hope they give you at least half the pleasure they’ve given me. Sean Hampsey Buy it now for less than a fiver! https://www.amazon.co...58956076&sr=8-1 Sean

Ko Ko Taylor - Wang Dang Doodle! Crackin record! Sean

Travis Wammack 'Scratchy' had a bit of a mid 70's revive Keith. Even got bootlegged at the time, as I recall. There were many old Wheel Sounds that came back during the following decades, but as for Round Robin I think the bird had flown for good. Shame. Always had a soft spot for it... and still own it on three different labels! Sean

Ok. We made it to 120. I think that about wraps it up. Thanks everyone for all your input and your superb contributions. Happy New Year and Happy Hunting. Sean Soul Source — Top Tips 2013 1. The Soul Survivors — Mama Soul — UK Atlantic 2. Eddie Jay & Ray — Keep Smilin — PPL 3. The Chateau Band — Feelings - Quiet Storm 4. Ishola Muhammad — Open Up Your Heart — Guess Records 5. Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson — Willing — Arista 6. The Joneses — Love Contest — Spring 7. The Ascots — She’s So Indifferent To Me Now — Crazy Cajun 8. Lee Williams & Cymbals — Get It Together — Black Circle 9. The Bottom Line — That’s The Way To Go — Greedy 10. Lee Williams & Cymbals — A Girl From A Country Town — Rapda 11. Ruby Andrews — You Got To Do The Same Thing — Zodiac 12. The Fabulous Denos — I’ve Enjoyed Being Loved By You — King 13. Tal Armstrong — Got To Let Go — Love Records 14. Larry Reynolds — Take Away The Big Hurt — Tri Spin 15. Casino Royale — To Be My Girl — Key Loc 16. Willie Dale — Let Your Light Shine — Lovie D Records 17. The Originals — Nothing Can Take The Place Of Your Love — Motown 18. Les Femmes — Closer — Power Pack 19. Jimmy Radcliffe — Lucky Old Sun — Shout 20. Major Lance — Sweeter — WB 21. Dynamic Superiors — You’re What I Need — Motown 22. Odyssey — Our Lives Are Shaped By What We Love — Mowest 23. Brethren — Can This Be Real — Teen Town 24. American Standard Band — Morning - Starizon 25. New Love Ltd — So Much To Talk About — Giant 26. The Players — Get Right — Minit 27. Syl Johnson — I Take Care Of Homework — Twinight 28. Doris Duke — I’ll Make A Sweet Man Out Of You — Beantown 29. Andrew Brown — Let’s Get Together — Four Brothers 30. Jack Jacobs — I Believe It’s Alright - Libra 31. Skull Snaps — Didn’t I Do It To You — GSF 32. Hot Ice — It’s Time To Leave The Disco — Rage 33. Independent Movement — Slipping Away — Polydor 34. Mike James Kirkland — Together — Zay 35. Fat Jack Band — Hey It’s Summer - ? 36. Sun & Rain — This Is Love — Forcast 37. Helen Curry - I Want You I Need You — Ja-Wez 38. Lou Pride — Your Love Won’t Let Me Be — Black Gold 39. Randolph Walker — Forty Love Street — Chant 40. Billy Stewart — Count Me Out — Chess 41. Four Tops — Still Water — Motown 42. Rena Scott — I Finally Found A Love - Epic 43. Bobby Taylor — Blackmail — VIP 44. Bluesbusters — Love Is The Answer — Minit 45. Miles Jaye — Let’s Start Over - 4th & Broadway 46. Point Of View — I’m Superman — Instant 47. Coming Of Man — Sunny Day — Right Kind 48. Joe L — (I’m Not Gonna Be) Worried — Clissac 49. Rex Garvin — Believe It Or Not — Atlantic UK 50. Cheryl Johnson — It’s Not Too Late — Bugs 51. Billy Sha-Rae — Do It — Spectrum 52. Mary Wells — He’s The One I Love - Motown 53. Verble Domino — Faded Memory — Toi 54. El Dorados — Looking In From The Outside - Paula 55. Little Sister & The Echoettes — Up Above My Head — Su-Ann 56. United Sounds - It’s All Over (Baby) — United Records 57. Tommy & The Derbys — Goin Back To Houston — Kool Records 58. Shirley Finney — Every Day People — Jas Records 59. Voices Of East Harlem — Take A Stand — Just Sunshine 60. Othello Robinson — So In Luv — Babylove Records 61. Billy Gee — In The Name Of The Bag — Joye 62. The Loveseed — Loveseed — Amestay 63. Mike Jemison — I Want Some Satisfaction — Geneva 64. Johnny Griffith — Do IT — Triple B Records 65. June Jackson — You’re Welcome — Musette 66. The America People — Give It Up — Attack 67. Jack Harden — She’ll Be Back — Star Shot 68. Rod Keith — It’s Over And Done — Preview 69. Voices Of East Harlem — Amazing Love — Just Sunshine 70. Jimmie Braswell — Some Changes Made — Gene 71. The Caffey Brothers — Make Me Over — Aura 72. The Round Robin Monopoly — People Do Change — Truth 73. Nancy Wilson — Now — Capitol 74. Valentine Bros — Taste Of Your Love — Expansion 75. Margaret Moss — Don’t Let It Be Too Late — Three Stars 76. Arthur Prysock - (I Wanna Go) Where The Soul Trees Grown) — King 77. Upbeats — Let’s Get Together — D&A 78. The Platters — Love Must Go On — Musicor Records 79. Billy Guy — Foxey Baby — Chalco 80. Gary Ferguson — Mamma Come See ‘Bout You Daughter — Mothers 81. Los Vampiros — I Can’t Understand You - ? 82. Lady — Money — Truth & Soul 83. Roy Roberts Experience — Beehive — House Of Big Brother 84. Sherlock Holmes — What An Argument — Brunswick 85. Edwin Starr — Don’t It Feel Good To Be Free — Motown 86. Le Tre Femme — Open Up The Safe — Uptight 87. Unique — Here We Go Again — Col-la-soul 88. Enchanted Five — Have You Ever — CVS 89. Double Trouble — To Live Is To Love — Pilot Master 90. Indigos — Rest Of My Days — Wildfire 91. Cooperettes — Win All Your Love — IDB 92. Caesers - I’ve Got To Know — Both Sides 93. Emanuel Lasky — Just The Way — Music Now 94. Elements — Hey Lady — Saru 95. Benny Hall — Your Love Got Healing Power — Mammoth 96. Bobby Dixon — Woman, You Made Me — ABC Probe 97. Donald Height — A Mean Thing — Dakar 98. Afrodisia — A Fool No Longer — RD Records 99. Waltiea Maxwell - Funky Generation - Goodie Train 100. Johnny Moore - Call It What You Wanna - Chi-City 101. Joey Dees — I Need Your Lovin’ — Blue Dolphin 102. Sloan Bey — Look At Your Brother - Jonah 103. Monroe Taylor — Proud Guy — Chesapeake 104. Two Tons Of Love — What Good Am I — Paramount 105. Casper Peters — Find My Way — Enterprise 106. Latimore — Theres No End — Glades 107. Tavares / Freda Payne — I Wanna See You Soon — Capitol 108. Emanual Laskey — Right On — Music Now 109. Silver Trumpeteers — Understanding — Calvary 110. Sweet Rain — Love Don’t Go Away — RCA 111. Johnny Starr — Don’t Hold Back — Eastern 112. Bobby Moore — Can’t Get Away — Chess 113. Paul Kelly — You Make Me Tremble — WB 114. Bobby Moore — Give Me Your Love Right Now — Chess 115. Bobby Powell — Childhood Days — Excello 116. Inell Young — I’ve Never Considered — Busy-B 117. GC Cameron — Strong Love — Motown 118. Impressions — Love Me — Curtom 119. Impressions — Potent Love — Curtom 120. Sir Joe — If You Give Up Your Love — Rujac.

Been enjoying playing this out in recent times. Maybe not everyones cup of tea, but if you like your soul mellow with swirling strings n' things this'll certainly please ya! Sean

Nice 'dated' bit of NOLA I've been pushing around, again for a good few years, finally starting to get the props! Inell Young - "I've Never Considered" Sean

This caused a stir first time I played it down at Just Soul... but still a Top Tip as far as I'm concerned! Bobby Powell - Childhood Days Sean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3s576_uol0

Another quality item; I've been playing this for many, many, years and since the early 'Just Soul' sessions it's finally starting to gain the respect it deserves! From the late Paul Kelly - "You Make Me Tremble" Sean

Here's a Top Tip of my own. Been playing this for the past year or so and it always gets the crowd's attention. Previously Unreleased and only available on a scarce Jap album. Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces feat Chico Jenkins "Can't Get Away" Enjoy! Sean

Old pics of me and Tats at Fame and Muscle Shoals Sound, Jackson Highway. Spent the day in both of these legendary places. The stuff dreams are made of. Sean

Saw it on the plane coming back from the States, a couple of months ago. Best movie I've seen in a long while. Totally uplifting. Anyone into real music is gonna love it. It's the story of Betty Lavette, Sam Dees, Richard Caiton, Jesse James, Darrow Fletcher, Lorraine Chandler, Mary Love and so many others, worshipped abroad yet unsung at home! I've watched it 4 times and still found it totally enthralling. And agree with Sebastian, the albums 'Cold Fact' (recorded at Tera Shirma in Detroit with Dennis Coffey and Mike Theodore) and 'Coming From Reality' are superb. Whatever you do, don't miss this. And since Christmas, now available on UK DVD https://www.amazon.co.uk/Searching-For-Sugar-Man-DVD/dp/B008CP2E7C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358599774&sr=8-1 Sean

Always loved this great Jo Armstead composition from Liz, an old 'Pitches' fave. R.I.P. Sean

Yes Dave, "How Big Is Big" "Please Take Me Back" "I Ain't Got To Love Nobody Else" etc. were all recorded at American in Memphis. Sean

Hi all, Apologies the update took a while and due to prolonged illness not been on SS for a few days. Really good response this year. We have 98 Top Tips to date! I can see we have a big influence and suggestions from outside the UK, which always adds a bit of variety and spice. Also, a few 'funkier' contributions, as anticipated. So, here we go with the consolidated list, thus far. Will be interesting to see how some of these transfer into more and more playlists through the coming year(s). Thanks everyone for you contributions and continued interest. All the best, Sean Soul Source — Top Tips 2013 1. The Soul Survivors — Mama Soul — UK Atlantic 2. Eddie Jay & Ray — Keep Smilin — PPL 3. The Chateau Band — Feelings - ? 4. Ishola Muhammad — Open Up Your Heart — Guess Records 5. Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson — Willing — Arista 6. The Joneses — Love Contest — Spring 7. The Ascots — She’s So Indifferent To Me Now — Crazy Cajun 8. Lee Williams & Cymbals — Get It Together — Black Circle 9. The Bottom Line — That’s The Way To Go — Greedy 10. Lee Williams & Cymbals — A Girl From A Country Town — Rapda 11. Ruby Andrews — You Got To Do The Same Thing — Zodiac 12. The Fabulous Denos — I’ve Enjoyed Being Loved By You — King 13. Tal Armstrong — Got To Let Go — Love Records 14. Larry Reynolds — Take Away The Big Hurt — Tri Spin 15. Casino Royale — To Be My Girl — Key Loc 16. Willie Dale — Let Your Light Shine — Lovie D Records 17. The Originals — Nothing Can Take The Place Of Your Love — Motown 18. Les Femmes — Closer — Power Pack 19. Jimmy Radcliffe — Lucky Old Sun — Shout 20. Major Lance — Sweeter — WB 21. Dynamic Superiors — You’re What I Need — Motown 22. Odyssey — Our Lives Are Shaped By What We Love — Mowest 23. Brethren — Can This Be Real — Teen Town 24. American Standard Band — Morning - Starizon 25. New Love Ltd — So Much To Talk About — Giant 26. The Players — Get Right — Minit 27. Syl Johnson — I Take Care Of Homework — Twinight 28. Doris Duke — I’ll Make A Sweet Man Out Of You — Beantown 29. Andrew Brown — Let’s Get Together — Four Brothers 30. Jack Jacobs — I Believe It’s Alright - Libra 31. Skull Snaps — Didn’t I Do It To You — GSF 32. Hot Ice — It’s Time To Leave The Disco — Rage 33. Independent Movement — Slipping Away — Polydor 34. Mike James Kirkland — Together — Zay 35. Fat Jack Band — Hey It’s Summer - ? 36. Sun & Rain — This Is Love — Forcast 37. Helen Curry - I Want You I Need You — Ja-Wez 38. Lou Pride — Your Love Won’t Let Me Be — Black Gold 39. Randolph Walker — Forty Love Street — Chant 40. Billy Stewart — Count Me Out — Chess 41. Four Tops — Still Water — Motown 42. Rena Scott — I Finally Found A Love - Epic 43. Bobby Taylor — Blackmail — VIP 44. Bluesbusters — Love Is The Answer — Minit 45. Miles Jaye — Let’s Start Over - 4th & Broadway 46. Point Of View — I’m Superman — Instant 47. Coming Of Man — Sunny Day — Right Kind 48. Joe L — (I’m Not Gonna Be) Worried — Clissac 49. Rex Garvin — Believe It Or Not — Atlantic UK 50. Cheryl Johnson — It’s Not Too Late — Bugs 51. Billy Sha-Rae — Do It — Spectrum 52. Mary Wells — He’s The One I Love - Motown 53. Verble Domino — Faded Memory — Toi 54. El Dorados — Looking In From The Outside - Paula 55. Little Sister & The Echoettes — Up Above My Head — Su-Ann 56. United Sounds - It’s All Over (Baby) — United Records 57. Tommy & The Derbys — Goin Back To Houston — Kool Records 58. Shirley Finney — Every Day People — Jas Records 59. Voices Of East Harlem — Take A Stand — Just Sunshine 60. Othello Robinson — So In Luv — Babylove Records 61. Billy Gee — In The Name Of The Bag — Joye 62. The Loveseed — Loveseed — Amestay 63. Mike Jemison — I Want Some Satisfaction — Geneva 64. Johnny Griffith — Do IT — Triple B Records 65. June Jackson — You’re Welcome — Musette 66. The America People — Give It Up — Attack 67. Jack Harden — She’ll Be Back — Star Shot 68. Rod Keith — It’s Over And Done — Preview 69. Voices Of East Harlem — Amazing Love — Just Sunshine 70. Jimmie Braswell — Some Changes Made — Gene 71. The Caffey Brothers — Make Me Over — Aura 72. The Round Robin Monopoly — People Do Change — Truth 73. Nancy Wilson — Now — Capitol 74. Valentine Bros — Taste Of Your Love — Expansion 75. Margaret Moss — Don’t Let It Be Too Late — Three Stars 76. Arthur Prysock - (I Wanna Go) Where The Soul Trees Grown) — King 77. Upbeats — Let’s Get Together — D&A 78. The Platters — Love Must Go On — Musicor Records 79. Billy Guy — Foxey Baby — Chalco 80. Gary Ferguson — Mamma Come See ‘Bout You Daughter — Mothers 81. Los Vampiros — I Can’t Understand You - ? 82. Lady — Money — Truth & Soul 83. Roy Roberts Experience — Beehive — House Of Big Brother 84. Sherlock Holmes — What An Argument — Brunswick 85. Edwin Starr — Don’t It Feel Good To Be Free — Motown 86. Le Tre Femme — Open Up The Safe — Uptight 87. Unique — Here We Go Again — Col-la-soul 88. Enchanted Five — Have You Ever — CVS 89. Double Trouble — To Live Is To Love — Pilot Master 90. Indigos — Rest Of My Days — Wildfire 91. Cooperettes — Win All Your Love — IDB 92. Caesers - I’ve Got To Know — Both Sides 93. Emanuel Lasky — Just The Way — Music Now 94. Elements — Hey Lady — Saru 95. Benny Hall — Your Love Got Healing Power — Mammoth 96. Bobby Dixon — Woman, You Made Me — ABC Probe 97. Donald Height — A Mean Thing — Dakar 98. Afrodisia — A Fool No Longer — RD Records Thanks a bunch. Sean

Really good start to the thread everyone. Thank you. Will give it a couple more days and then I'll do a consolidated list. And don't be shy posting. Just because someone else already knows the track, or has played it (or heard it played out) doesn't mean it's not right to share with the rest of us. With so many venues on throughout the UK, we can't all be everywhere, can we! Sean

Really like that Adam. Right - Who's got one for me? Thanks, Sean