Alleyoop

Cheers for replying John to my post. Not sure where to start with replying to those new comments above. Haven't got much time this morning. Basically the Esquire was opened a couple of years (1962) before the Mojo and the crowd were a continuation of those who went to the then closed Club 60 across the city centre in Shalemoor. Very jazz orientated, beatniky and studenty crowd really. I went to both clubs throughout the years I mentioned in my post. Not sure about the anomosity towards the Mojo you mention. Could well have been with the older jazzers that attended the Esquire but none with anyone I knew. Friday nights were particular good at the Esquire. Esquire closed in '67 like the Mojo and really had the same playlist as the Mojo certainly in the last 2 years of its life (an example being Lot of Love by Homer Banks which Barry Campbell the Esquire dj played as a new release the week before the Mojo) and other odd locations in Sheffield (Locarno ballrom etc) to be honest. The big difference that made the Mojo different was as I said was the imports that Mike Ward had. Stringfellow did get records from London (he was down weekly with RSG) but he did have a standing thing with Wilson Pecks shop in Sheffield centre for new releases that he would listen to there weekly. One thing that I dont think I've seen documented, I never saw hardly any demos played by him - all seemed to be regular releases. He could have been eligible to get them in his position but didnt seem to get any. The Mojo book from good few years back by the way for anybody who hasnt got it was a real missed opportunity I feel. The guys who did it are genuine enough but compared to the Wheel and Plebs and even the Club 60/Esquire books its a pale shadow of what it could have been. John Marriott

Was not gonna comment on John (Roburt)s original piece but as someone posted it onto the Mojo facebook page that I'm heavily involved with and I commented on it there, I thought to be fair I'd repeat it here. John piece did capture what the club was about well but and I now quote myself from facebook "Unfortunately he missed out the main key fact that differeniated the Mojo play list from other clubs of the time i.e. where Stringfellow got the US imports he played. Stringfellow bought and played the UK releases which he got from Sheffield record shops (mainly Wilson Pecks) every Thursday. The US imports all came from Mike Ward who was getting them from US radio stations and bringing them to Pete. So the exclusive at the time plays for example like Billy Butler (Right Track and Boston Monkey) , Alvin Cash (She shot me through the grease) and one of the Mojo anthems Billy Stewarts Exodus were all provided by unsung hero Mike. Those tracks incidentally all from LPs also." Growing up in Sheffield I attended the club from March '65 to its demise in Oct '67 and it was one of my main influences in setting me on the soul collecting path. Dont think John must have known him but I just didnt want Mikes very important and key contribution not being included in what appears to be an ongoing discussion. John Marriott

Pm re Oscar Mclollie Des

Pmd you John

Just one more comment Stevie. We were lucky enough to see Jerry 2 days after Valentines day at Blues Alley - he did 4 nights there. Absolutely fantastic show. He's in his 70's now and obviously all the tones in his voice aren't as powerful as he was all those years ago but still a great charismatic performer. Opened with "Cooling out" and closed with a beautiful "For Your Precious Love". Great tight small proper band (no synths etc) with the added bonus of brother Billy on guitar. The only was you'll see him now is over there. He doesn't fly and didn't come over to Italy to receive an award he got at the Porretta Fest a couple of years ago. John Marriott

I'll have it if still available. PM me for details of payment, pick up etc John

Hi no PM in there. John

Has the Chuck Armstrong a B side or is it same both sides. If it has a B side I'll have it please John

Tonys making his annual pilgrimage up North and as usual on the Right Track on Salford City Radio this Sunday. Now extended to 3 hours the show will run 7.00pm to 10.00pm UK time. He'll be playing his usual tasty blend of unissued tracks (including more Fame stuff), future Ace/Kent issues plus lots of other interesting titbits. The show is on 94.4fm if listening locally, elsewhere on the web on www.salfordcityradio.org. You can ring the show and him on the studio numbers 0161 793 2944 or 2942. Or email in righttrack@salfordcityradio.org Show will be available afterwards on the listen again facility on the Salford Radio site or on www.therighttrack.og.uk John Marriott

PM'd Brett F about his earlier Mojo mention. Bit off topic now for this thread John Marriott

Bloody hell- just beat me to it Mr Rounce. I was going to put it on. Actually Diana isn't coming along so you can say what you want (within station rules of course). Seriously Tonys selections are always interesting and are genuinely exclusive so listen it and phone up or email in with any comments. John Marriott

Don't often post but the mention of Voilet Mays shop(s) got me all misty eyed. Didn't know about the book but will be ordering it after this. I grew up in Sheffield and her old shop on South Street was such a part of my young life. Date wise can't remember when I first went there but was probably mid to late '64. By March '65, I was already going to the Mojo in Sheffield and 100% into soul but before that I had been into general pop mainly from the US. I loved Luxemburg and from there and the US Record Mirror charts and used to copy down titles and take them down to Voilets to search the singles racks. The main stumbling block was cost of course even at 2/- ish a record and I was still at school till mid '68. When I've looked back over the years the stuff I got in there was incredible but what's always amazed me (and I didn't think too much about it at the time) was how few people wanted the same things I did. I could literally leave stuff I wanted and couldn't afford for ages till I could. I only got Lp's at Christmas and birthdays and I remember she had the Miracles "The Fabulous Miracles" on Stateside up on the wall for weeks before I got that (and the Markeys Last Night album on London from the 10/- standard racks) one year. She got records from people just coming in off the street and selling them, new deletions she bought up etc but from when I first went in she did have a box on the counter of new 45's on Island, Blue Beat, Black Swan and related labels ska stuff including of course Sue - almost all the basis of my Sue collection came from there. When she moved to her new shop behind the Moor at the end of the 60's , she gave me the Sue poster she had up from above the counter from I reckon '66. These new singles were of course the full then retail price but she did have one at times two boxes of "specials" on the counter. These were more expensive then the standard racks - I think 3/6 and 4/6. Here would be records she thought she would get more for and despite being a jazz fan through and through she did know that she could get this for early blues and R&B 45's,Oriole soul singles, rare Parlaphones and Londons etc. The shop was also frequented by local teds mainly just after R &R - great for me as they would discard for example certain unwanted Londons as being too soully. She didn't appear to get many new demos in there although I'm sure reps did offload records in there - the place for them in Sheffied was Kens market stall in the rag market (but that's another story). I never really took to the shop she had on the Moor - her basic 45 price had rocketted by then and she never had the one off obscurities as before. I continued to take stuff I picked up in various junk shops etc (way before boot sales) to her and she didn't give anything like she did at the old shop. Being where it was in the city the new shop was also very studenty hippyish and certainly lacked the wirky slightly seedy atmosphere as before. Also by this time she was also stocking the first pressings (on Soul Sounds etc) and being visited by people from out of town looking for the same Northern tracks. I know people have mentioned imports in there (presumably those cleared from US warehouses and turning up in the UK in late 69 early 70's) but I don't think she had anything like the quantities elsewhere in the area - the junk shops in Attercliffe and Pitsmoor had loads of ABCs and Chess Group over a few weeks for example. The aforementioned Ken himself had a lock-up in West Bar full of these US cut outs - far more than dear old Voilet had. Still a legend tho' John Marriott

It was Earl King with Irma Thomas band - he was tremendous John Marriott

Hi John, i have old workmates who went regular to the Mojo, John Needham, his wife Marina was hat check girl etc, and they said Stevie Wonder in 67 was fanatstic, Jesus i was 3, you are lucky people to have been be born at the right time. Brett That's absolutely amazing Brett. Not seen or heard of John and Marina since the mid '70's when we moved to Manchester (John had since left the soul scene and was actually into Quo at the time). My wife Mo was in fact the other cloakroom girl with Marina, her then best mate for years and years. They did it so they could get in the nighters free. They were supposed to get paid as well but Mo said Geoff Stringfellow (Petes brother and co-owner) would conveniently often disappear when this was supposed to happen. Yes it was a magical time which really did significantly change when the Mojo shut - what memories tho' - Ike and Tina, Lou Johnson, Clyde McPhatter, Edwin (when he adsolutely very first came over), Inez and Charlie Foxx, Soul Sisters, Garnet Mimms etc If you fancy PM me we could talk further on John and Marina John Marriott

Ian Dewhirst, on Yesterday, 10:05 PM, said: I got spoiled by the first gig I ever went to - Sam & Dave @ Sheffield Fiesta in early 70's. Absolutely unbelievable performance when they both came out into the audience at both sides of the venue and just blew the place apart. I thought all gigs were gonna be like that! Seen most acts over the years but I've never seen a performance as good as that first one! Ian D >>> I was there at that one - It was early '73 - and as Ian says they were great! My favs: Hit the Road Stax tour - Manchester '67 with the aforementioned Sam and Dave, Otis etc Stevie Wonder - Sheffield Mojo '67 Four Tops - Sheffield City Hall (1st tour) '67 Inez Foxx - Sheffield Romeo and Juliets '72 (16 people in the audience!) Joe Tex - Prouts Alambra New Orleans '80 Bobby Womack -Manchester Apollo '84 Irma Thomas - Colne '92 (somebody mentioned this previously - it was a truly consumate performance - seen her many times before and after at various places in the US (including her club), Holland, Italy etc and she has never topped the Colne performance. Bit unfair to say Bobby Bland was "shite"though - he wasn't in the best of health at the time) Spaniels - Wembley Rock and Rock Fest London'91 Jerry Williams - Lowton '98 Dells (of course) - Trentham Gardens Stoke '99 Rance Allan - Memphis 2003 Sorry just realised that's 11 - Some many others I'd like to mention, Marvin in Manchester, Rosco Robinson in Utrecht etc etc including the Betty Lavette show at King Georges Hall mentioned above in '92 and she still had Rudy Robinson with her -best performance I've seen of her too! John Marriott

Both sides of the fantastic Major Lance 45 are on the recent Ace CD "Birth of Soul - Chicago soul special" (in my opinion their best release this year). Take a listen to that then search for the 45 John Marriott

I went the day after you Rod if you remember. Got around 250 UK demos (most of the remaining non Northern soul stuff plus lots of the rare collectable pop stuff for resale). There was only one TMG - Marv Johnson (525) but only a stickered demo (which I think was the only form demo was issued?). I've always thought somebody else got the Motown ones if there were any there in the first place.What I got was soul like High Keyes, Barbara Mason, Tommy G and the Charms etc etc on London, lots of yellow Chess, Atlantic, Red Bird and Cam Parkway, some Soul Supplys, girl group stuff (which I've always collected) etc. The pop stuff including Johns Children, Dantalians Chariot, Nico on Immediate, Bowie etc . Funny thing tho' was that I left all the "common" pop chart records like the Searchers, Swinging Blue Jeans and lots of Beatles ! (which all had release sheets with them and would now have been worth more than a lot of the Northern now).The other funny thing was that when I went into Indigo the price was 20p each but mid way though (probably when they saw how much I was buying) they shouted upstairs that the price has gone up to 35p. I had to nip out to the nearby bank to get more money! I have been told they were in fact the demos sent to the Manchester Top of the Pops studio. You could almost work it out that there were none after the time it had moved to London John Marriott

Rarely post I'm afraid but thought I must follow up and agree with soulfingers comment about Rogers Rockin Dopsie gig In Manchester. I was there too and it really was great. I'd seen him a couple of times before in open air concerts in the US but the atmosphere he generated here was tremendous. It ties in with soulfingers above mention of the Irma Thomas concert also (don't really agree with him and others about Bland though - he wasn't well and I think could be excused a bit). She was absolutely unbelievable that night. Again I'd seen here several times before in the US (and have done since) but the sheer soulfulness of that night makes that one one of the best shows I've ever seen While I'm on I'll mention several other favourites - Jerry Williams at Lowton in '98, 4 Tops at Sheffield City Hall '67, Sam and Dave on the Stax/Volt tour, can't believe anybody hasn't mentioned the Dells at Trentham Gardens in '99, Sam Dees several times at the end of the 80's, Inez and Charlie Foxx at Sheffied Mojo '65 etc My absolute favourite individual show though was Joe Tex in NO in '80 with a real tight band (including Herman Hitson). I've never seen anybody work a crowd as good as that including James Brown, Ike n' Tina etc. Although the 2 most favourite individual song performances of any shows were Rance Allen doing "That will be good enough for me" at the Stax Museum opening concert in 2003 and the Spaniels doing "Piece of Mind" at the Wembley Rock and Roll Show in '91. Just as a foot note and back to Roger Eagle - did anybody here attend his scandulous poorly attended Lavern Baker gig in Liverpool in the early 90's ('92 I think). They didn't have the money to pay her so used the bar takings and even reputedly the money from the Durex machine in the gents! John

I'd really recommend this theatre group. I've seen two productions by them over the years. One was entitled "Du Wap" which was a sort of musical revue looking back over the 50's group scene with particular attention to Chicago groups with the backing band lead by Tom Tom Washington. Another in 2001 was "The Jackie Wilson Story". This was absolutely fantastic, very different to the one that played over here in the '80.s. It was really accurate with people playing stars like Barbara Acklin etc and again with a great small orchestra. A photo in the foyer was the cast with Jerry Butler 2 days before we went - damn !!! I was on their mailing list and they have done tons of mouth watering soul related productions since John Marriott.

In answer to Rod's question about whether Bland still gigging see below from Ohio.com <<<<Genuine practitioners of melancholy music make area stop Friday for Cleveland Blues Fest. By Malcolm X Abram Beacon Journal Published on Thursday, Feb 21, 2008 Every reasonably educated music fan recognizes the names of blues giants such as Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and B.B. King. But while the blues' PLACE as a building block of pop and rock music is solidified and many blues artists have crossed over into mainstream consciousness, there are many more who have built and maintained successful careers the old-fashioned way. They put together a band and hit the road playing the contemporary version of the old ''chitlin' circuit'' in small clubs and blues festivals and by recording for smaller blues- and soul-dedicated labels such as Malaco. On Friday night, that so-called circuit passes through Northeast Ohio with the Cleveland Blues Fest, featuring Bobby ''Blue'' Bland, Marvin Sease, Mel Waiters, Shirley Brown, Theodis Ealy, Latimore, Sir Charles Jones and Roy C. Though these artists are largely unknown to blazing hip-hop and R&B fans (and even some blues and soul fans may be more familiar with the names than their music), collectively they have been recording and performing for more than a century and have had some hits during their careers.>>> John

I remember him from gigs in Manchester around early 80's early days jumping on stage with every soul or blues act who'd let him - I can think of Ben E King, Bobby Womack and the Womacks themselves off the top of my head - there was certainly more. He certainly was buying soul records all around the place even pre-Red in his Frantic Elevators days - he used to buy 45's off me at Manchester Piccadilly Fair at the time - he's the only person I've sold to that actually asked me for a receipt to give to his record company or accountant or whatever. He certainly is a fan - doesn't make the gruesome idea of him doing a Bland tribute any more palatable tho' John PS Perhaps Bobby himself might turn up, join him on stage and show him how it's done.