Soulman

PM me your address Chalky and I'll get a couple off. They are literally on cassette tape recorded on a portable tape recorder on speaker phone. I'll have a look over the next week and see what or who I can find that make interesting listening / reading for SS members Steve

Bloody hell Chalky, now that would be a mission. Transferring to PC and posting up, finding the damn things in the first place. Choosing which was best...Herb Ward having no interest in the music industry and just wanting to be a trucker, Val Simpson just being a Diva and wanting to talk about work with Nick rather than going further back into the Motown years, Jesse Davis and his foray into movie soundtracks, Barbara McNair (never printed), Linda Griner with much previously un-heard material for a book... where do I start. Maybe if someone with time and energy on here would like to do it for me I can supply the tapes. Now there's a task for someone. Over to you guys

Oh Arthur.... how could you

As per reply to Andy, I have some of the information somewhere but need to listen to the tapes again. I'm sure Frank (Howard) ... ooohh no, titter ye not, Howard is his real name, said that the Fairmount release had not been widely (within the region) distributed and the Rouser release would do better. Obviously that's not the case taking into the rarity of the two, unless someone knows different. Luckily I'm on holiday next week and that may give me time to go trawling in the loft and find said tape. Steve

One of the comfiest shoes ever made is a sock in my opinion

Hi Andy, Not all interviews made it into the magazine for whatever reason... this was one of them along with Ashford and Simpson et al. I think the reason was simply that I may have been trying to tie it in with a visit to the UK which, unfortunately, didn't happen. I need to find the tape and have another listen as he did mention something about the two releases and how they came about but because I didn't do anything more with the interview it got shelved and kinda wiped from my memory. I think maybe "Bug" Williams would have been able to answer more of the questions but he's no longer with us, although he had some 45's too and was very much a part of the Butlers but not in the line-up. Thats about all I can tellyou without listening to the tape again. I don't know if Howard (Frank) would part with the 45's as I always made it a rule never to ask for copies. Only twice have I bought something from an artists who I have spoken to. Philip Mitchell and his Cory Blake 45 and Judy Street's What, both of which I paid for Best Steve

Bloody hell Ian. Are you on the change. I didn't know you carried a handbag and wore Jimmy Choos Steve

I've just thought of where another copy is. Don't know why this didn't spring to mind before...must be old age creeping in. I spoke to Frank about 3 years ago for a couple of reasons 1. An interview for Manifesto and 2. With a view to him and the two remaining Butlers (now part of Maze) coming over to Prestatyn. From my side it was pretty much in the bag but from the Prestatyn promoters it was a no go. Anyway, he said he had copies of all of his old recordings of which one was the Rouser release. I remember now as I told him the story (see post number 13 of this thread) of how I nearly had it. Anybody got any memory pills and have we reached a conclusion as to posiibly how many there are? Steve

Classic, plenty of "sole" left in those old shoes

What do you wear now Chalky.... no doubt something reminiscent of what teacher wore back then . Fashion... what goes around, comes around. Thank God baggies are gone for good, apart from the handbag crew.... ooops

OK here we go again.... Solatio's were originally made in Kettering , Northants and became very popular late 70's. There were seven different designs with the most popular being crossover plait or diamond latice. Broad leather sole, leather heel, stitched sole available in various colours (black, brown, black/blue, black/white, black/cream, black/burgundy etc etc). These were dangerous on the dance floor as many people had them steeled (steel in the heel and toe). Then came the softer and more comfortable Polyveldt from Clark's. Originally available in a tan colour, they made them in a darker tan and black as people started dying them. The chunky laces were specifically made for the shoes and they were re-soleable at a Clark's specialist. Mid 80's, Pods came into the equation. The styles were too numerous to list but the favoured variety were almost "deck shoe" like and went with the "peg style" / "piped jean" jazz funk uniform of the day. I have scans somewhere of an article I did for Manifesto of both Solatio and Polyveldt. I even went into Clark's archives for this with original adverts etc for the Oberon variety which were favoured by the Northern crowd and me too... without doubt, the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. I bought a very near lookalike two years ago when Clark's re-introduced them, although not identical, they're not far off the original. I'll see if I can find the info to scan Steve

oops

I'm sure I have the Jackie Trent on blue Pye somewhere. Belting record but never play it. Is it worth owt?

I was at a Fleet all-nighter (Peterborough), must have been about '78. I already had a copy of the Fairmount release at the time. A guy came up to me in the middle of the dancefloor having been pointed in my direction by a friend of mine who knew I collected. At the time I wasn't familiar with the Rouser release (you can't know everything can you?) and with it being a bit dark I turned it down. Can't remember the guys name but he about 5 foot 5, not tall and blond hair I think. What I can remember is the price. £20...twenty bloody quid. I think I must go through moments of being a tw*t and that was one of them. As a matter of interest, how many copies are there on Rouser. Think Tim Brown's still got one and there are two in Carlisle methinks. Who else? Steve

It's a pretty hard 45 now. John Anderson had a 100 count box when he was selling them originally (at least that's what I saw). That's why it was a bit more expensive on his new release section than others. So I guess it has that rare element. That said, happy to accept £150 for mine Steve

$350 would seem to be the average price on the Net. If the record is in nice shape I'd grab it at $240. (Note for Premium Stuff - offer at the moment is about £800 from an American buyre- will PM you later) Best Steve

B side is "Where can my baby be". Mr Manship has one in stock at £200. Steve

Belting do's at St Ives... some of the best dayers (apart from the Palais) just a buzz from the moment we walked out of the Peacock Pub in Kirton through to leaving the do and .... walking into the Peacock pub in Kirton, only to be told it was closing time. All those mentions of Phil O'Hearne, he's no longer with Yaz which is a shame. Picked him up many a weekend to go to a do or record fair from his "van" in Dukesmead along with Malc Evans, Vic Fairhurst and the rest of the wreckin crew Happy days Steve

So asks Smudge who was so sveldt in those days. Have you lost weight hahahaha

Yeah, just imagine it! Patrick: "Wellll heeelllloooo George, how are you today?" George Clinton: Hey Patrick, don't call me George otherwise I'm gonna take my Mutha Ship and shove right up yo ass". Patrick: Oooohh George, don't make promises you can't keep." BTW, the Americans would probably make a comedy sketch from it but this is in no way meant to be derogatory to the Gay community or the straight community for that matter because if George Clinton personally wanted to shove a Mutha Ship up my ass I probably wouldn't argue. If I did he's probably shoot me

Hi Bob & Pete, Not going to drag this out, I accept all you say but somewhere I have a chart where it is listed in the top 20 R&B singles. Without being able to check I cant say whether its an official sales chart or a radio chart. On that basis I'll back down and accept what you say. Thanks for your replies Steve

On that basis Pete, if it was mid range on the chart and sold 20,000 copies as an example, why the rareity ( and maybe that explains the multiple run in pressing). Not disagreeing with Kev at all in what he says but at what point do you say it sold bugger all. 10 copies, 100 copies, 1000copies or Gold disc standard? Steve

Already agreed with what Kev said Pete, just that you get these rumours etc. The reason I said that is that I'm sure when I got my first copy, John Anderson had said that he had spoken to (presumably) Joe Welz and that it was pressed in much more of a multiple run than normal. Maybe I have that totally wrong and I'm willing to be corrected as always. Not taking away from what everyone has said, the fact that there is evidence (which I dont have to hand) that it hit the high end of the R&B chart, does this mean that whatever was at number one sold 1000 copies and Jimmy Mack in all his glory singing about his world being a bit high on the celcius scale sold maybe 300 copies, possibly giving him a number 7 spot on the chart. Was it really that cut-throat back then numbers wise. I don't know so I'm willing to throw the forum open and be shot down in flames. Humbly yours Steve

Kev, I do trust you. Not arguing Like I said originally, I don't know how many it originally sold Steve

Heard differently Kev but bow to your superior knowledge if Joey said that. Seems strange though that it should do "so well" by selling nothing. Best Steve