Chris L

Good Heavens !!!! Don't you know there a certain group of people who have taken upon themselves to "enlighten" the world by dictating what is good, bad, brilliant, mega, fantastic, one of the best best sounds ever, "quality" etc. Their criteria is quite secret but I'm told that if you mention the code words "only three known copies" you may just get to hear them speak. What we do know is that dancing, having a good time, re-issued record, oldies, major labels are things that will send you to hell so be careful out there, they're watching you and making notes of everything you say. Good luck......................................

The 4 Vandals did get played at the Dome, I went and heard it on at least 3 occasions. People did dance to it, I do remember Janine Snow wiggling her backside about the dance-floor (if you're reading this Janine, I'm not a perv..............well................... I am but don't tell anybody). I'm not sure if David Flynn and Carl Fortnam keep their playlists but I'm certain they were the ones who played it, must have been I tended to go just to get a look at David's sexy legs !!!!! David was playing some unreleased September Jones stuff at the same time too. The reporting of the Dome all-nighter is in fact an error on Manifestos part, I'm surprised that Mike Ritson didn't pick this up before printing. I'm rather aghast that a thread like this even gets on this medium, it is after all pretty much a non-event, I know Levine-bashing is considered quite hip, especially on SS, but reading all the mails posted so far, c'mon guys, surely we have better things to do. As much as some people don't like it and can't accept it the 4 Vandals did, maybe still does, get played at venues, saying otherwise now that's re-writing history.

It was "THE" magazine to buy if you were into soul music back in the 70T's 1000's of us headed North after reading Godins articles. Haven't seen a copy for yonks, guess the NS fratenity left it behind with dex, Brut and leather soled shoes.............................

I remember them being done in London in 1972, I guess slander stops us from naming names, however let's just say they used to go the Hampstead Birds Nest of a thursday night. Where are they now ? Well one of 'em still hangs round the NS scene, the other is a retired record dealer, one is in prison (allegedly) and the last one lives abroad. I have to own up and say I paid £5 for a Rose Batiste Hit & Run EMIdisc from one of them. Once people realised how easy it was to get them made they became quite commonplace. The real Northern Soul historians/heroes were the guys working for major record labels who somehow got some cracking tunes released. One in particular I consider to be akin to sainthood (no, not Godin or even John Abbey, although they were supermen et al).

Deffarooney Schmooney...............best instrumental break of all time.........................

Anything (almost !!) played at the Torch

Phew !! Was that 8 years ago Phil ? I've dreamt about you a lot, honest !!! I really do like the Angelo Starr single, love Rocq-E-Harrell and Standing on solid ground. I hate Harry Starr (even though I know his ex-wife and daughter) Troy Dodds slow grungy, wortha drillion, only 3 known copies type of "rare soul". It's all a personal taste thing. I am open to abusive e-mails, especially from females (only good looking mind you) between the ages of 16 - 36 in tight jeans, wet T-shirts, etc.........................

It sounds a lot like Edwin, good choon, got it about right. IF I was a dancer (never have been) I'd shuffle away happily to it, will have to make do with toe-tapping. I have the CD and some singles there's some good stuff in there, makes a nice change.

Phew !!! What a load of garbage................

As a non-smoker, I'm delighted smoking has been banned from venues. Last July Stoke was packed, right up until 06.00am, guess he ban may very well have a greater positive effect than any perceived downside. Nice to come back without my clothes smelling like an old ashtray. Just gotta train these younger soul fans not to take drinks onto the dance floor now.......................

He really was in the right place at the right time. Can't see why anybody would want to hold that against him. In fact he wasn't alone, so was Richard Searling and Martin Kappell ( hope I've spelt it right, anyway the bloke who lives in Canada, he was selling records end '71 begining '72). Loadsa people used go write a wants list and use it at some far flung record supply, usually with success (in NS terms) Soul Sam - I try to avoid going to anywhere where he's down as a DJ, I'm sure he's trying to do something, guess one day we'll all know what.

Last weekend Saturday Stoke, stayed until 06.00am. I'm not sure I could explain why, I just love going. Be back in October. Chris L

Hhmmm............I'm not Ian so I can't reply for him however Northern Soul is a genre,or perhaps really a sub-genre, dance music, happy go lucky, foot tapping, fill that dance-floor, bend those maple sprung boards kinda thing. I heard a DJ play Jimmy Conwell - The trouble with girls, for my part I wouldn't class this as anywhere near Northern Soul. I have heard some real doubtful music, more akin to rock & roll, cha-cha, country and western being pawned off as Northern Soul. Thing is the people who make these claims of a "great Northern (rare) Soul sound, with the majority of NS fans screwing up their faces up as if they were sucking lemons are never subjected to the abuse that Ian gets. Let's not be fooled, the criticisms are purely a below the belt, cheap, nasty way of getting a laugh (hey!! let's call him a Twat!!) I started going to the Blackpool Mecca in 1971, we played: This is the house - First Choice Both end against the middle - Jackie Moore Catch me I'm falling - Esther Phillips (this was really a big sound) Keep on keeping on - N F Porter 'Bout Love - Clydie King These were all current sounds you could buy at Record Corner (and we did) If Ian, wrote, produced, financed and distributed some soul music recorded in 2007, I guess it's his right to call it what he likes. I have listened to some it and it is good (to my ears) and wouldn't be alien to a NS venue, certainly more so than Troy Dodds - Try my love. Ian can never "win" any argument on this forum, he shouldn't try, I have been to venues when Standing on solid ground got played, they danced, no vicious moves to knife the DJ playing it, not on any occasion. If you like it, buy it, if you don't, ignore it, don't spill this valuable time we all have on this planet on negative garbage.

He could have called it anything, he, you, me, God & the world liked but the guy's a target for the cheap shot goons. There is no such thing as good or bad music, there is only music, you either like it or you don't. The people who slag this guy off are actually no better than Ian, probbaly no worse but certainly no better. Sidney Barnes - Standing on solid ground, like it very much, Rocq-E-Harrell, love it to death, some of the others tin pan alley to my ears.

I have for sale a copy of the wonderful Spellbinders album, most of the songs were written, arranged and produced by Van McCoy. Includes unreleased as 45's tracks "Baby I miss you" "That's the way you make me feel" and "Self defense" Considered by many to one of the finest soul albums ever made, a rare oppertunity to get either a MINT stereo copy. Track Listing Side 1 We're acting like lovers For you Self defense One of a kind A little on the blue side Stone in love Side 2 Baby I miss you That's the way you make me fel Chain reaction Long lost love I need your love Cost £30 plus £5.50 postage. Contact me off list : chris.lalor@hotmail.com Thanks Chris Lalor

NOW SOLD !!! I have for sale a copy of the wonderful Spellbinders album, most of the songs were written, arranged and produced by Van McCoy. Includes unreleased as 45's tracks "Baby I miss you" "That's the way you make me feel" and "Self defense" Considered by many to one of the finest soul albums ever made, a rare oppertunity to get either a MINT rare stereo copy or MINT White Columbia Demo in Mono - You choose. Track Listing Side 1 We're acting like lovers For you Self defense One of a kind A little on the blue side Stone in love Side 2 Baby I miss you That's the way you make me fel Chain reaction Long lost love I need your love Cost £30 plus £5.50 postage. Contact me off list : chris.lalor@hotmail.com Thanks Chris Lalor

Cleveland Ohio's radio station WBWC Sunday Night 88.3 FM The Sting Presnts A Cellarful of Northern Soul 3 Hours of classic NS from 60's to the 80's 9pm to 12am EST Hosted By Matt Slys with Special Guest Chris Lalor. listen online at www.wbwc.com

Shipping costs UK £1.90, Europe £2.00 & USA/Canada £3.50. I can accept cheque, cash, money order, I prefer Paypal. Get back off list if your interested. Thanks for looking Chris Lalor e mail address is : chris.lalor@hotmail.com

Vibrations - 'Cause you're mine - Epic Ex £85 Rose Batiste - Hit &run - Revilot re-issue Ex £25 Supremes - Itching in my heart/He's all I've got - Motown Mint dh original Motown sleeve £15 Spellbinders - Help me - Columbia Mint sticker residue on label £20 Bobby Treetop - Wait till I get to know ya - Tuff re-issue b/w instrumental sol £30 Billy Sha-rae - I'm gone - Spectrum vinyl mint label worn old store stock £25 Soul Twins - Quick change artist - Karen official re-issue Ex £30 Spencer Wiggins - Let's talk it over - Soul Series demo Mint £20 Freddie Chavez - They'll never know why - Look re-issue Ex £25 The Exciters - Blowing up my mind - RCA (48-1035) Mint original sleeve £20 Sounds of Lane - Tracks to your mind - Cobblestone Mint £30 Linda Carr - In My Life - Ranwood Mint £30 Lou Johnson - Unsatisfied - Big Top Mint dh £25 Sandy Wynns - The touch of Venus - Champion Mint sticker £25 Ronnie Walker - You're the one - Philips re-issue Mint sticker residue £5 The Vibrations - Finding out the hard way - Okeh Ex sticker on label - easy come off £10 The Orlons - Spinnin' top - Calla Ex £18 Shipping costs UK £1.90, Europe £2.00 & USA/Canada £3.50. I can accept cheque, cash, money order, I prefer Paypal. Get back off list if your interested. Thanks for looking Chris Lalor

Very sad note, McArthur Munford one of the original Spellbinders died yesterday 6th September 2006 of cancer complications. As you maye know I'm probably the world's greatest Spellbinder fan having tracked them all down and got them back together 3 years ago, culminating in their electrfying live peformance in New Jersey, their home state, in April this year. One of the few soul acts to have ever performed live at the legendary Manchester Twisted Wheel in the mid sixties, his bass voice will missed sorely Chris Lalor "A little on the blue side"

Not on your life, not for me, that's how I go into Northeren Soul, living in London in the early 70T's it was only pop, reggae or funk, luckily Tony Rounce sent me up north (I think it was to get me and my mates out of Record Corner on a saturday :-) I reckon James Brown should be recycled into a garden knome. Chris L

Just do what you feel like, looking good might be cool but if you need to go on a Royal Marines Commando course just to get there, kinda defeats the object. A woman I know recently joined the NS scene, watched others dance, got on the floor and did her own thing. She said she stopped worrying about what others thought after about 5 minutes. As someone else said, nobody cares..................don't believe me ? Then you haven't seen Johnny Redpants dance. Chris L

"We were pretending to be black. We danced as though we were black. We even sang as though we were black". This is the quote Do you think northern soul involves pretending to be black? This is the question The quote is ridiculous, the question being asked is by someone who has read something, given it very little thought then asked "well, what do you think" who cares what 1 NS fan says ? They don't speak for the entire NS fraternity, if an intern of mine asked such a question I'd run over him/her in my car, set him/her on fire and then urinate on them to put it out..................and that's on a good day. What's next ? "Do you think wearing bowling shirts is a message statement that all NS fans are secret 10 pin bowling addicts" "Are NS dancers drunks and/or alcoholics because lots of them seem to have beer towels in their waistbands" "Are NS dancers drug addicts because they dance all night, can't stop talking and seem to be very bad tempered next morning" I rest my suitcase. Chris L

Frankly it's an outrageous question. Verging on racist. Not all soul singers are black skinned and not all black skinned people soul singers. Bin it for the garbage it is. Chris L

A minor embarrasment was telling all my mates in the early 70T's that by buying records with "ZTSC" stamped in the run-out was a sure fire way of getting top Noprthern Soul records (they still like to remind me of that) 50 copies of The Yoddeling Cowboy anyone ? Chris L