Barry

....and just to let you know...after two weeks trying to get hold of the bastard on Ebay, having not received it - it was a boot - Bastard!

Good old Gil - still keeping us up chatting.

I have the 12" issue of SS - and I'm sure it wasn't on that, again, I may be wrong - something tells me it might have been on the flip of the 7". It might have been on the promo, I don't know, you're prob right.

I suppose the Arista promo 12" was the first issue of the mix in it's entirety - I may be wrong.

I apologise, I see where you get your post from, I should have said 'official' Arista 12" release shouldn't I? You're so picky.

Correct, but in my wisdom I prefer what comes out of the speakers to the paying public - and that 12" sounds sooooo much better than the Strata release.

Last one - also beware the Arista 12" with The Bottle on the B side, the 'Live version', that I see on Ebay a lot, the sellers always shy away from stating that their 12" is just that, a 'Live version'. Someone always falls for paying through the nose for it.

The 'Drunken' edit that appears on the Champagne release has been edited awfully.

There is an original US Arista 12" promo with two other artists on the flip - goes for around £30/40 - the one to have in my book - it has been booted too.

Read 'Bass Culture - When Reggae Was King' about the old sound systems and their promoters/dj's in Jamaica, Prince Buster et al, when each sound system and it's dj had to have their own sounds to keep their particular event popular, and different, to others in the vicinity. Money was given to men who moved away and got jobs cutting cane in the US, to send back 7"s, which they covered up as to stop the other sound systems having them - thus giving exclusivity on certain big tunes and ensuring big numbers at their next event. Remind you of anything?

I'd like to hear the reasons behind the cover up names, wether they be that the track sounded like another artist, or they were in that style, or whatever. You know why the cover upee, covered them as that made up/false artist or group. There have been some fucking inspired cover up names put to tracks. I still have Lee Moore & The Resourceful Ones painted on one of me old scooter helmets, and I'm pleased I do - much more 'Northern sounding' than Ike Strong - as were most of the cover up names - part and parcel of the scene. They always came out, generally didn't cause the artist or label any harm (apart from an Eric Rapier and Richard incident I heard of) - and really....would you want it any other way?!

A great example of a class tune that a lot of people had for years and no one played, a crisp production that still stands up today (good old MGM) and nice to see it getting exposure these days.

The only record I think I fell for buying that is excrucatingly bad, for me (it's a Modern thing btw) is Mingko - Love For You - Sam & Arthur you had me off.

Nowt wrong with reactivation - shouldn't it be obvious that not everyone knows everything that's played!? Not everyone has had the chance to be there as long as others.

Anybody Remember Madeleine, Bri's wife at Wigan? used to man his 'Three For A Quid' box? Love the man btw.

Ha Ha, I've just re-read that and I apologise. I think a moment that will sum up my above rant about how and it was then, was spending about two years trying to find a copy of 'It's Not Where You Start, It's Where You Finish' - Luckey Davis - £2.00 at Leicester Oddfellows Anniversary - made up - getting to the services on the way home with the 'mafia' etc and going for a piss (stupidly leaving my 7" on the table) - then coming back and they'd turned my LD 7" into an ashtray (Lighter under four corners until it melted and then they curled them up). Would it happen now - nah, i don't think so - but you had to swallow it at that time. Bastads!!

I remember a time when youngsters were looked down upon - made to feel 'out of it'. I remember a time in the 80's when if you weren't in with a certain group of people you got hammered. I also remember a time of 'social climbing', where certain people got involved with certain groups via bullshit. The Northern scene, like any other, at its height was led as much by (social) politics, as by the music - it's a breeze now, much nicer, it seems. In a way it's great the way maturity has tempered this scene - but in a way, I feel, it kinda feels like because it has matured, the edginess has gone out of it. Yet again, I am wankered and am probably not explaining myself very well. I want this to be a positive post and I hope it is, I just remember being made to feel a c*nt weekly no matter where I turned up (I was a penniless soulie at the time, if you had the money to get there, you went, you worried about how you got home at 8am), because I attended for me (the way I see it - I didn't travel to nighters for any other reason but the music and the thrill). I've so much more to say but I think this just a pissed up bloke looking for a bit of therapy. What I'm saying is the scene now appears so much more about what it should be about than what it used to be. Anyway, I'm still here...and that's what matters.

The records I buy are bought for what they give me, and I'll get a lot out of (eventually, 28 years on) getting a proper issue of Miss Dacosta.

Hi Robin. ...as it happens, not in ages.

I can't imagine that many old legs being able to keep up these days.

Thanks for that.

I remember spending nearly a weeks money on me tassled FW slip ons - and losing one of 'em in the crush on the non membership door at Wigan - then having to get back out of the door (try that ) to rescue it.

Yes, used to have one as a lad.

Thanks mate, thought I'd got a bit of a bargain (£54.00 Ebay).

Mohawk orig - 'Don't Bring Me Down' (703) - nr mint