Dean

I was hoping he was still in business ................. clearing out a box I found a hand written credit note from 1976 ..................... been waiting until I saw something I fancied

Humorous insult of the year - out of a very strong field as usual - Re Paul Donnelly - Why don't you F*** off back to 1975 and stay there Paul - you also get the undercover nice guy award in my book, thanks for the record pack.

I'm dreaming of a supermarket sweep type moment

You didn't think I meant you did you Kev . You're important to me in so many other ways darling

Can I order a Lee Fields for £3, I always was a bit on the slow side. Always a funny thing about our scene isn't it, the cheap records are out there but stupid people like me pass over them until someone "important" stcks 'em on the decks and then I want one! It's often who plays rather than what's played. Still got the Edwin Starr at Wigan tape (sure there's a photo of you as well, with Big Rob Marriott as we cornered the poor bloke at the bottom of the stairs near the gents tiolets) there's a Jr Walker at St Ives too, and possibly a JR walker from Wigan - I'll have to check how that plays. Do you want any to take a copy Rob, or to play through? I'll check current quality. Just ask.

Thanks for wishes Rob & Karen. Kept the birthday low. LaBeat sales tape number 25, don't have a date on it but it must be around 20 years. Smiling that it includes Lee Fields - Take Me Back, you always were ahead of your time, I wonder how much you were selling this for back then . Hope all's well mate.

Didn't know whether to post here or " Look in Your Box", but here goes. KevH was chatting to me about an old tape, set me to sort out looking for old tapes I had. Got some good old live ones from Wigan, Peterbro, St Ives, a good few live acts, John Manships tape sales circ 82/83 (I think one is later - no date just number 128 - "Rare Soul Stompers", prob my favourite). Then came across this one................ THE GENTLEMEN FOUR - YOU CAN'T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN IT AINT NO BIG THING - THE JORDAN BROS E.RODNEY JONES - PEACE OF MIND BETTY LAVETTE AND THE BIG WHEEL - EVERYBODY'S TALKIN CLARENCE REID - I'M YOUR YES MAN THE CAPITOLS - I CAN'T DENY THAT I LOVE YOU THE HONEY BEES - LETS GET BACK TOGETHER THE GROOVETTES - THINK IT OVER BABY MASQUERADERS - THAT'S THE SAME THING TONY DIAMOND - DON'T TURN AWAY PROFESSIONALS - THAT'S WHY I LOVE YOU SANDY HADLEY - THATS WHY I LOVE YOU JOE HICKS - I GOTTA BE FREE BILLY WELLS - THIS HEART THESE HANDS ENTERTAINERS - LOVE IN MY HEART PATTI STOKES - GOOD GIRL PARAMOUNTS - I WON'T SHARE YOUR LOVE FASCINATORS - IN OTHER WORDS FASCINATORS - YOU JUST KEEP ON WALKIN BY AMBERS - FUNNY FACE GIRL SHIRLEY MATHEWS - YOU'LL ALWAYS BE IN STYLE BERNARD WILLIAMS - TEARS TELL THE WHOLE SAD STORY VAN McCOY STRINGS - DRESS REHEARSAL THE YOUNG BROS - WHAT'S YOUR GAME SHERRI GIBBS - CRAZY JIMMY ARMSTRONG - MYSTERY THE CAUTIONS - NO OTHER WAY MARY SAXTON - LOSING CONTROL FRANK FOSTER - HARLEM RUMBLE DAVID RUFFIN - LOVING YOU (IS HURTING ME) MELVIN DAVIS - I MUST LOVE YOU THE INVERTS - TIME WILL CHANGE THE FALCONS - LOVE LOOK INHER EYES TY KARIM - YOU JUST DON'T KNOW DON GARDNER - TIGHTEN UP YOUR LOVE BONE BILLY ARNELL - PRAYING FOR AN ANSWER CLEVELAND WILSON - I'M SHOOTING HIGH I'm thinking Rob Marriott?? - I'm also thinkin nice history piece! Rob Wigley - was it you who did the LaBeat tapes/sales? I've just found number 25. Don't worry I'm not going to refer to the tape you made me about 1976 By the way - Happy bloody Christmas to anyone on here who knows me - you aint gettin a card Ho Ho Ho

Just wish I was better at doing it, the only way to afford improving collections sometimes I think. Good luck to you.

5 pence worth: I like playlists. There are so many nights that it helps to have a flavour to discern. I'm interested in this scene of ours, I'm interested in what people are playing. There are people out there I respect who I haven't met because of their playlists. . . . . . . . . . . . .and if some of us make a claim to play "underplayed" it's useful to know who, what, where. I'm guilty in the past of posting "demo" on my playlist. I'm undecided. I appreciate it can look a bit elitist and egotistical, I stopped because I didn't want to appear as such. But, I love my records and am proud of them. The scene I know and have taken so much pleasure from has been built on rarity - over the years we've all listened to some poorer quality soul records in the name of rarity, and ignored other brilliant records that are common. I think I like to know what label / issue a record is played on. I've huge respect for those many people with quality boxes who play them out, little respect (at best) for those not playing originals. There's always the question of same title different sounds different labels - a whole new thread here, my starter is Grover Mitchell - Take Your Time and Love Me, Josie and Decca - very different takes. When it comes to records it just matters, if you don't get it we just disagree.

I've only ever put two wants up on here, one came through and resulted in a great record for me, one didn't get any response. On both occasions I put the want and what I was prepared to pay. As it's me that wanted the record I thought it only fair to state that. If I'm selling I put a price I expect to sell for, may not always get it right as records we but and sell don't have intrinsic value, only what another (or two in bidding) is prepared to pay.

Promise not to put it on ebay Rob. I am liking this. Would be great to have somewhere for people over the next few years to have a place to say I was there when . . . . . . . . . It's like planning the future of the next retro scene I'll go and lay down now.

Rob / Karen - This is blooooooody cheeky I know, BUT - I'm thinking membership may prove to be an important aspect for small scale (which I like) that could be over subscribed. Can I bags an early membership number , preferably well in front of Garry Churm - just to annoy him . Good luck with it, sounds like an obvious go-er. Dean (member No8??)

Just sorting through a box: Selling: Bobby Diamond - Stop / Usually You, Columbia radio staion copy, authentic ZSP stamp. Both labels Ex+, both disc sides VG++ (usual few very minor light scuff marks, conservative grade). Overplayed in the day now hardly ever gets a play. Classic wigan oldie. £60 Teddy Randazzo - You Don't Need A Heart / As Long As I Live, dcp issue. Both labels VG+, some sticker mark at top on Need a Heart side (see pic), other side label solid but has some minor water stain. Both disc sides VG++, plays very strong. £55 Marian Love - Right To Cry / No Advice, Capitol promo. Both labels VG+/VG++, light pen mark on Right to Cry (see pic), both disc sides VG++. £15 Motown SOUL label pack (all duplicates from label collection). S35110F JR Walker - Dancin' Like They Do On Soul Train (promo) Ex; S35078 Gladys Knight - Tracks of My Tears Ex with bb hole; S35042 Gladys Knight - The End Of Our Road Ex with bb hole; S35083 Gladys Knight - I Don't Want To Do No Wrong Ex with bb hole; S35079 The Originals - God Bless Whoever Sent You Ex with bb hole; S 35077 Jimmy Ruffin - Maria VG++ with bb hole; S35070 JR walker - Gptta Hold Onto This Feeling Ex. 7 SOUL label Records £15. Accept paypal (no additional charge), cheque / PO / Cash, payment within 7 days please. Add £1 first class UK postage, £2 recorded UK. £3 Europe, £4 world.

I'll send you a cheque for £12.20 for True Tones. PM if acceptable. Dean

Hi Rob, I like the small venue notion, would make it feel special to be there. If I'm honest I think some NS acts can be dissapointing from a music perspective (only some, not all). I do like attending some live acts for the chance to show some appreciation for years of my enjoyment to records the artists may not have been rewarded for. Needs to be managed well in my opinion, I really don't get on well with extended soul medleys that can show the artists weaknesses rather than previous greatness. Just my opinion. This sounds like the return of an underground scene - bring it on, about time. BTW, as a bloke of varied musical tastes, appreciating many strands, attending festivals every year for the past ?? years, still attending current bands (not missed NME new bands tour in years), CHUCK JACKSON at the old Sherwood rooms in Nottingham (Can't remember the year Rob but would think you were there, long time ago) remains the single best performance I've ever been lucky enough to hear and see. £50 would be cheap to be near that man in a small room

be far too strong to say I hated any, but at a time of thumping "northern" I was quite neutral about large slabs of popular Motown sounds. I love Diana Ross these days, having got over my rare snobbery . . . . . . .

Nobody interested in our little underplayed fire-side ponderings. Did I mention that Levine and Roberts were there? (Levine is Kev's tortoise - he has to bring it inside for the winter, and Roberts is Steve's canary from the Pit days )

Just sharing this from a drunken sense of comradeship. Every now and again SteveL, KevH and myself get together in my front room to play a few to each other over a couple of bottles. Blowing a gale outside, proper coal fire, and these on the deck: Jean Elias - How Long Can I Go On Fooling Myself, Backbeat Carol Kay - This time you're Wrong, Wright Sound Joe Simon - Long Hot Summer, SS7 Ithacas - If You Want My Love, Fee Bee Carl Burnett - Jerk Baby Jerk, Carmax Ideals - I Got Lucky, St Lawrence Fury's What is Soul/ I lost My Babay, Mak4 The Mob - Unbelievable, Twinight Benny Latimore - It Was So Nice While It Lasted, Dade Grover Mithcell - Take Your Time and Love Me, Decca (very different to the Josie take, a whole thread here in itself!) Keep it to 10 for risk of boring you . . . . . . . . . . . . .The point is, there were several tracks one of us didn't know. I didn't know the Joe Simon track!!! Some of them are very cheap, some not so, but amazed that there's still such "underplayed" quality. Will it ever dry up?

Is there any chance of a photo/scan Steve. I'm not sure if I've seen an orig green/white written demo, are they like the boots in design? Dean

Does anyone have an original issue to compare - no doubt this is genuine, just wondering if the issue is as sea green?

Apologies if pic isn't too clear. Anyhow, not a difinitive answer but may help others to comment to find one. JM's guide (do you think John ever minds us quoting this?) mentions a fake look a like boot that even has a drill hole, pale blue as opposed to the sea green original. Also states that the 'leggers got the matrix wrong by including a - . This one isn't sea green, though has no drill hole, but has scratched matix D 203 - B (Polly Wolly side has D - 203 - A). I'm thinking this is prob a look-a-like boot without the drill hole, please please feel free to correct me. Just out of interest the Echoes write up that I stuck to the sleeve (when I was much younger!) reads: "Originally covered up as Pat White's 'One More Once' this is brilliant Wigan '76 stomper. The maxim widely used when listening to a new song - 'If it grabs you in the first twenty seconds - grab it'. Works with this one.The unique thumping drum opening and off key brass compliments Larry's wailing tortuous voice, so reminiscent of a Teddy Vann Production a la 'Moonlight Music & You' and 'What Shall I do'. Watch out for the Blue Diamond Normal copies as against the green and white demo which is a pressing" Who knows? Dean

I'll post a pic of mine about 5 ish and check on the run-out markings if it helps. It's an intersting point to me as I'd picked it up in the record bar at Wigan, the following week it was listed as "One to watch" in Black Echoes. I cut out the article and stuck it to the record sleeve, proud that it said "watch out for the green an white copies which are boots". Only realised a couple of years ago it wasn't an orig.

At work so not got access to records or guides at the moment. But, from memory, I was disappointed to learn that my Larry Hale, which looked like the one Prophonics had pictured was a boot according to JM guide. I think it states that the orig is more blue/green and the pale blue is a look-a-like boot, verifyed by deadwax markings. I'll have a look later and check, I'd be happy to find mine isn't a boot but I think it is. The green and white print one is an obvious boot as I recall. Dean

Hi Stevie -previous thread may be of interest. Hope to see you soon, hope all's good with you mate. Sorry mate just tried it and think I've only copied the link for Look At Your Box rather than the thread I intended to. I just looked back it was 27 Oct if you want to check back - I was pondering on the thread if there had been any Goldspot demo's / boots or only GAR demo boots. /index.php?showtopic=85147 That might be it! I'm soooo good at this techno stuff