TheBigO

JOT - yes, got the mags and many thanks. However as there is no photo of me I of course threw a DIVAish strop and flung them around the room!!! My friend Ian is well chuffed as he's the main picture in the article, he is now banned from the Plinston! Many thanks mate and feedbacks been good so 'well done me!' :-) I will be mailing you the latest Trading Cards (Sam's one is my best yet IMHO) for your amusement and of course a CD of Roy's greatest hits. Laters TheBigO (and you could have said Otis you swine!!! By the way saw you and Alison on the LA DVD, I take it she had to be very very very drunk to marry your good self??? LOL)

Ooooh JOT you've got me 'Cry-y-y-ing over you!' with your barbed tongue, good job I can take it and have a 'pretty woman' to support and love me when these nasty comments are made by bigger boys than me :-))) I do agree with you though that Mr Levine has done ASTOUNDINGLY well at turning, well to be honest, almost 99% of the scene against him so it would have been an uphill battle for him - however given some of the 'cosher' dirge he was forcing on us I still feel that the 4 Vandals stood up well against these. The fact that he felt the need to lie and then charge collectors etc huge amounts just so that he could massage his ego is just one of the reasons why the scene is better off without him. Pity, as it could all have been so different, but as they say ' you cant teach an old dog new tricks' etc etc etc.....now, about the Roy comments :-P

Have to agree that despite it's dubious origins and the 'mystique' built up around it I do like the 4 Vandals 'Town'. It's just a shame that it had to be surrounded by lies in order to get it played rather than have the music speak for itself. I think ian would have gained a lot more respect if he'd only be honest.

OK, I'm confused....is this Trickster offering lessons or lessons being offered to Trickster and others are invited to join? I've seen Trickster dancing and, although OK, he's not a patch on Ady C or Keith Minshall :-)))). Trickster you quaffed Rockabilly wannabe, let me know mate so that I can do a Trading Card of you for future Plinston. LOL.# TheBigO

Can't understand why you guys don't like Jools, he has always struck me as someone who loves music and admires great musicians. His BBC2 prog, 'Later...', is without doubt one of the best progs on the box.

A great prog I thought and Jools is, IMHO, THE man to present musical shows in this country - By the way, did I mention that Brother Ray sang to my Mum in the White House a few years back after finding out she was a HUGE fan - sadly I wasn't over that side of the pond at the time but it didn't stop her from calling me and letting me hear him singing to her - GUTTED!!! A true top man and a wonderful talented artist - a one-off.

Gene, not another old Howard Mallett stomper are you? I LOVED that club, great atmosphere, great sounds and sadly, like many clubs, underated and unknown to many on todays scene. Can remember picking up loads of what were to become 'Stafford' tunes (B4 the venue was open) from the great Peanuts & the lovely Karen (and where have they gone?)

I'd guess their condition is...NUTS!!!

Didn't Saddam Smith own it at one stage? Sure he did?

I'm guessing that Ian valued it for them (?) if so I'm not surprised at the valuation given his articles in Togetherness and the vales and comments he made on many records that were (a) well known and ( overpriced/underpriced.

Kevjohns is right as i read somewhere (can't remember where now - old age!) that there were at least 3 other copies residing within the M25 in Motown collectors hands - how true? Well we may find out one day. I've not seen an 'All For You' on US Soul or an Adantes either for that matter and have always considered them to be just as rare - seen listed yes, seen no :-(

Sadly it's the same for most successful soul clubs at the moment. We've had similar at the Plinston where, when we were based in Hitchin promoting on a small scale, we helped out a local couple promoting a Motown night (don't remember the Nolans being on Motown though :-O and this was played at their venue!) then when we moved to the Plinston we had all sorts of back stabbing from them and some very dubious comments made about us - just another example of non-soulies trying to cash in on what they percieve as 'easy money'.

I heard that they did indeed come from the label owner (garage or basement - who knows?) and that he cashed in once he knew it was going for big money here in the UK. True or not I guess we'll probably never know but I think the present price reflects the quantity available and therefore we have to assume they are in fact kosher - still haven't got one though :-(

That should have read lardy arse by the way but I'll reserve judgement until I've seen your dance moves :-))) DO NOT mention the words 'garage' when refering to the Plinston....otherwise point yourself out to me at the next event and I'll let Soul Sam loose on you :-P Ona lighter note and before we hang, draw and quarter you the offer of the CD will be taken upthank you very much :-) Contact me at nh6tsmafia@aol.com.

You've obviously not been to the Plinston JT!!! Get your lardy arse down and we will show you the error of your comments - or just spank you :-)

Damm, there's goes my next set at the Plinston!!!! :-)

Mick, as most of my family are based in Scotland I know about warm clothing..as the other half are based in Minnesota I know about REALLY WARM CLOTHING (-40!!!) That would be Mr Hulutt you've been talking with, oooooh I'll have to spank him when I next see him :-)))) On the plus side at least you acknowledge we were mighty at some stage. We'll just have to have you and Butch back again once your trial in Iraq's over with :-))))))) Catch up with you later.

Mick, when did you turn into a Scots man???? I quote "NO BAD THO' " :-) Is that where you've been on your hol's???

There's nothing wrong with this practise and I have loads I did from '78 onwards at various venues, all with dubious chatter in the background. It was a great way of keeping up with what was being played by whom and so on. remember this was a time when there wasn't the wealth of accessability to sounds etc that there is now. I do miss going into a venue and seeing the banks of recorders lined up along the stage and near the speakers.....oh how we laughed as we'd record 'hidden' messages for those foolish enough not to b keeping an eye on their recorder :-)))) Immoral? Kolla get a life you Scots wally :-) (lol) Your turning into Jason from Big Brother, but obviously a lot shorter!!!! TheBigO

As you brought the missus a lovely bottle of wine Friday you can say what you like Janine :-) However you will still be an Aussie and therefore we are legally obliged to heckle you. Good to see ya Friday and hope Hammie and I gave you a lovely loving photo!!!!

I have a copy by Bo Diddly (I think) buried on a Jazz/Funk/Soul compliation lp I picked up in the 80's called 'Pusherman' if that's any help. It's a bluesy mid-tempo offering with deep blues vocal.

It's long been a £30 toon so God knows where the latest price tag's come from!!! IMO it's another example of just crazy pricing for what are common(ish) records. If things don't change we are going to fast become an antique scene with inflated prices with no basis in reality!!!

Ah, I see Mark and I are still in agreement :-) As I have said many times Searlings quote about Rare Soul, rare in quality not just in quantity, is perhaps the most apt description of our scene and, like Mark, we belivie in spinning a mixture of current biggies, forgotten oldies, new discoveries and classic memory jerkers, from across the eras. At the end of the day it's about the music and the dancers will always vote with their feet. KTF. TheBigO

Totally agree, it's an OK record at best and if we're talking Motown Disco covers there are far far better. A case of the Emperors new clothes methinks :-)

I'm in agreement Skippy(!) I may not agree with all the comments, and frequently don't, lol, but at least it's interesting to read and more importantly I think it gives those new to the scene an insight into the mentality and humour that is rife amongst the majority of Soulies. However, I have to ask the Welsh Man and well known sheep lover Mike (and I still think he looks like The Master from Dr Who!!!!) to edit those that still insist on attcking my stunning looks and sense of style on these very pages, otherwise I'll be getting Dolly The Sheep to spill the beans about that night last summer when.........