Sean Hampsey

Must admit, I always had a soft spot for this 45 Dean. I bought it in a pile of UK Demos from an old Radio DJ friend - Diddy Dave Frost. Anything on a UK Demo I paid a quid for and this was one of em, all mint and complete with Release Sheets. I always thought at the time of covering it up - as Reparata & The Delrons . Its not really much of a Soul record, but a fascinating bit of Hippie / Psyche and I was surprised to hear, a couple of years later, that it had had plays, though I'm pretty sure I never heard it out. Out of curiousity, only about a year or so ago, I researched the artist (thinking it was a soloist) and came up with the same info as you did, so, yes, I did know they were the daughters of the Liberian Ambassador! Good Lookers, by all accounts too! Also found out that the SNB label belonged to ex Yardbirds Manager, Simon Napier Bell and actor David Hemming. Pretty sure I've seen mostly DEMO's of this over the years Found this snippet from Record Collector that may be of interest, Dean. It's an interview with Simon Napier Bell by Ian Shirley. I started the SNB label in 1968 mainly because I'd got myself into an impossible production deal with EMI - they had the exclusive right to all records I produced but didn't have to pay for them. (The result of a substantial champagne lunch with the managing director two years earlier after which I'd gone back to the office and signed a contract - the incredible foolishness of inexperience). The idea of the SNB label was that I would be able to produce records at CBS's expense and release them without a production credit but under a label named after my initials. The first artist we signed was Flamma Sherman - four exquisite sisters from Liberia with a very domineering but charming mum who bought them to me and persuaded me to sign them. (She was was the wife of the Liberian ambassador in London, George Flamma Sherman.) The girls were a posh bunch, all at public school in the UK, and exceptionally pretty. The first record was 'No Need To Explain' which they'd written themselves with a little help from Bach ('Air on a G string'). The string and brass arrangements were done by Ian Green, one of the top arrangers round town (Sandie Shaw, Peter Sarstedt, etc). The resulting record was extraordinarily atmospheric - in two sections, the first slow and drifting, the second up-tempo with much ad-libbing, but not in the style of American soul, more African, which wasn't surprising. At Radio One half a dozen of the top DJs flipped over it, including Kenny Everett. The weekend of release it was played five or six times each day but then disaster struck, Radio One had a strike. The station was off the air for two weeks and by the time it came back many new records were stacked up waiting for release. The producers of the various programmes that plugged new records decided not to go back to previous records but to go only for new ones. The record fizzled out, and although the group made a couple more singles neither were as potentially chart-topping as the first. So rather than become pop stars the girls stayed at school and went on to do the things their family background required of them. There's an Obit to the Mother here, and the girls are named in the family list. https://www.liberianonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=895 All very boring... unless you're really interested! Sean

It's called 'creativity' Ian. And my 'Dream Tune' was a whole lot better than that Capanni shite you've been peddlin' lately. Any road up.... aren't you at Cleggy this weekend? Sean

It's an oldie now, Dean. Must have been over 35 years ago I dreamt it... so its probably played out now! Sean

I dreamt, years ago that I found an alternative vocal track to Eddie Parkers "Love You Baby" called "The Spotlights On You". The lyrics were amazing, about how his girl always wanted to be famous, but she gave up her stage career for her man... Probably my favourite unreleased, unrecorded record ever! :-)

Agree Tony, It was just a quick dump (so to speak!) "Lover For Life" in particular, has always been a fave! Sean

Yep - I can think of a lot worse ways to make a living. Did I ever tell you about my old job... with Jayne Mansfield and the lobsters? Oh, and when you're next there, please pass on the Rotherham lads fondest regards to Suzanne Bolton. The sweetest lady in the whole of Alabama! Sean

HaHaHa! all very funny. I doubt we'd ever see him with anything Wigan related anywhere near him. He missed the 70's completely. Sean

Wonderful! Sean

Errrrrr where do we start! Tavares - Let Me Heal The Bruises Gladys Kinght - All My Love Regina Bell - After The Love Has Lost Its Shine Bill Brandon - Tag Tag Rozetta Johnson - Who You Gonna Love Rozetta Johnson - How Can You Lose Dorothy Moore - Special Occassion Loleatta Holloway - Cry To Me Barbara Hall - Drop My Heart Off At The Door Jean Battle - When A Woman Loves A Man Jackie Moore / Wilson Pickett - Seconds Aretha Franklin - Love All The Hurt Away Lorraine Johnson - Can I Hold You To It Windy City - Good Guys Windy City - Fool Or Your Man John Edwards - Vanishing Love Rockie Robbins - Hang Tough Gladys - Save The Overtime For Me Thelma Jones - Enough To Try Anything Atlantic Starr - All In The Name Of Love etc, etc, etc.... The man is a genius! Sean

True Roger, I got a DEMO in a job lot, only last week (a nice surprise) but never had my mitts on one before! The flipside of the issue (mentioned above) "I Know" was always tipped as a future 'Northern' sound BITD. Wonder if the scene is ready for it yet . And as an aside, the 'Young Hearts' album also features "You Bet Your Sweet Love" an old Rod Dearlove 'Soul Essence' spin from 10+ years ago - still sounds superb! On a 'future monster' tip, watch out for the previously unissued Candi Staton FAME track "One More Hurt" which I'm hammering to all and sundry. Another Ace / Kent find that's destined to go on to be a classic! Takes some beating, Candi, in the vocal stakes. The voice of an angel. Sean

I'm assured there's a huge bunch of stuff yet to see the light of day, Mark, from the likes of George Soule, Bettye Swann, Candi Staton, Spencer Wiggins, Marcell Strong, Roscoe Robinson etc. The Candi Staton "One More Hurt" is an outstanding dancer (I'll be playing at Rugby next weekend, if you can't make Just Soul) but the deep stuff is also mouthwatering, by all accounts! Spare a thought for poor Mr Rounce, who has had to endure the past nine months, wading through all those dusty old tapes! Don't envy him for a minute, poor guy! Sean

Loved this record for what seems like a lifetime, Steve. I just got a cold shiver, just thinking about the first few times I heard it. Records like this left the insipid UK chart sounds of the time for dead - and turned a generation onto Soul music. There could be no turning back, not after that Brass... that Beat... and Don Bryant tearing it up... holy smoke... it ought to be worth a fortune! So around the price of a cheap shirt. A small price to pay for a Memphis Soul classic... ...but I've no idea of the 'book' value. Sean

Wonderful mate. Bloody Wonderful! :-)

Are we talking Candi, Spencer etc. Steve? Sean

That's the spirit guys! Miss this one and weep. Hard to recall a richer time, in the past 10 years, for real quality. Hats off to Ace / Kent - Still delivering the goods. Sean

Just want to give everyone immediate 'heads up' on one of the most exciting Soul Music compilations in ages! The long awaited "Steppin' Stone" CD is out now on Kent, featuring 22 tracks from the XL / Sounds of Memphis catalog... Tap to view this Soul Source News/Article in full

Well if you're going down that road, Mr Croasdell, Willie Walker "Runaround" and Willie Bollinger "I Won't Have To Cry No More" are equally wonderful and both are MASSIVE in my neck of the woods! Sean

I'll settle for 999 out of 1,000, Dave. Even me and the Missus don't agree that often mate! Sean

This next track is bloody awful, but it cost me big time... so you're avin' it!

You could try money. I bribe easy.

Sean, don't give me that Prime Steak bollocks....please.....when you need feeding you'll eat anything... Agreed, unless you have a choice... and as Soul fans we DO have a choice! There is no shortage of 100% Real prime meat around. It's just that the 95% (I was referring to earlier) don't really mind what they indulge in... cos they can't tell the difference. Sean

There's no right or wrong, Dave. Its a question of 'taste' and that's an individual and personal trait. I'll be the first to admit, I'm pretty uncompromising when it comes to second rate material, especially when there's no need for it - the original being far superior in the case of this particular track. Think Soul Fans need to get a bit more 'passionate' about their music. Its being dumbed down (especially on the Modern scene, but also 'across the board' these days) by poor quality dance fodder, that many find acceptable, but my own taste buds just won't tolerate. Second rate will always mean second best, in my book. But for those who are prepared to take McDonalds over Prime Steak, good luck to em Sean

We would, only we're too busy 'enlightening' you, my little Bradford Boogie Buddy! Sean

Less than 5% of those who say they are into music, Webby. I think its a fair reflection of the Soul scene also. To most, the 'scene' and its many attractions are more important than the music itself. Its not a criticism though, just an observation of the way it is. Ask your average 'Soul fan' at a Soul Night what his favourite 'Deep Soul' record is and you'll be lucky if he grunts back at ya. It's because he (she) has never really 'LISTENED' to it - the 'depth' is in all REAL Soul music. Big subject this. Goes way beyond the boogie! Sean