Chris L

Good points Steve. The paradox is that the records are, as you say, sometimes worth big money, however for all people involved at the time (singers, writers, producers, etc) the costs were more than the revenue so in fact they were money losers. Can't really expect record collectors to pay a commission on top of the purchase price and give to the artists, writers, producers, etc (even if you could find them). When I win the Spanish lottery (last time was £110 million) I will get every NS artist, writer, arranger, producer to the UK and have a massive "meet & greet" (probably at a rebuilt Torch, Mecca or Casino ;-) About 5 years ago I did something very much smaller, on my own, when I tracked down the Ad Libs, Chris Bartley & The Spellbinders and got them all together for a day in New Jersey, wonderful day. The truth is the only money to be made in NS is with record trading and perhaps and I say "perhaps" with one or 2 promoters. Chris L

Take a look at these 3 St Lawrence labels, they are all originals. BUT L O O K..............the "St lawrence" text is different on all 3 of them. This one the name is to the left of the globe !! The "e" doesn't pass the globe And this one it's more or less in the middle The "e" is just past the globe But this it's over to the right !! Here the "e" & the "c" are past the globe. I'm shocked, this needs reporting to the soul police that's what I say not sure I'm gonna be able to sleep well tonight, there be a mucho chino-a-stroking....... Where are the anoraks when you need them ??

Really !! Didin't think it was that expensive, saw some go on Ebay for around £200 mark !! Chris L

The lead singer of the Tempos (Countdown here I come) only ever got paid the cab fare to and from the recording studio and worked at Lockheed at Burbank all his life. Danny Austin of the Ad Libs works in a restuarant kitchen in New Jersey. James Wright of the Spellbinders is in a re-hab house (and doing better than the last few years) he lost his wife, son & job all in the space of a year and hit the sauce in a big way (but to his everlasting credit never went on welfare - far too proud for that) Bobby Sheen became a big time crack addict and in the end nobody wanted to employ him, his behavour was so erratic. The beautiful and very sexy Leola Jiles of The Apollas had a very serious car accident, cancer and a stroke and has become a recluse (do you blame her ?) It's not all glitter and fame is it Chris L Chris L

Did you get a copy Ian, I think I have one on US Motown. Just let me know. Chris L

Hhmm................I'm not sure about that

You know, I'm not convinced that it's that black & white. 99.9% of all people in the NS (and rare) soul scene "are jolly good chaps", really I mean it. The difference I suspect is in their perception, some enjoy seeing the stampede like dance-floor reaction to a record played, others prefer to play stuff thats real rare on the basis that you wont hear it elsewhere. It must be very hard to be a "Top DJ" on this scene, after all there are a finite quantity of records and the real rare floor-fillers are out of reach for most of us mere mortals (£3500 for a Larry Clinton anybody ?) so the rest are resigned to lower hundreds and that means oldies or that rare stuff that clears a dance-floor. How would you rank a DJ at Stoke, where there's 800 people and only 400 dancing, that's 50% against a smaller venue where there ar about 60 people and 59 of them are dancing their heads off (the 60th person is on the door ;-). Back in the old Mecca/Torch/Wigan days it was far easier, clear the floor twice and you're outta here !! However today with all those sub-genres maskerading as NS choons it is a tough choice..................... of course punters can and do vote with their feet. Chris L