Tank

Not quick enough or techy enough to supply scans/clips but "He's My Sunny Boy" is a long time favourite. Oblivious to it on the flip of "Someday We'll Be Together" until I heard it on a Rare Groove tape from a West Indian pal in the early eighties. Great uncharacteristic brassy arrangement. Love "Stormy" too.

Living In The Footsteps Of Another Man......does it for me. Love the other versions....Maryann Farrar tips it as second best.

Earth, Wind & Fire - Happy Feelings Milton Hamilton - My Love Supreme C.Henry Woods Troupe - The Stranger ??

Oh! And Peices Of A Dream "Warm Weather", Leo's Sunshipp "Give Me The Sunshine" - of course!!

Lonnie Hill "Galveston Bay" always does it for me....and since Jazz/Funk's been touched on Grover Washington Jr "Sausalito" - superb!!

Thanks for all the responses and info chaps. Cheers!

Hi Trev. Been ages mate! Have you or Cliff a soundclip of the spoken intro version? Liking "Recycle" too, P,S. - Not so sure about the headgear at Bamberg!!!

Indeed Joe. It also appeared on a budget compilation LP imaginatively titled "Disco Explosion"! Odd how such things were selected?

Only heard about that other version of "I Need You" a couple of years ago.Think Cliff Steele has a copy. Was there at the Highland Room when it was played - might not have been it's first airing but it blew me away at the time.

Hi Mike. It's Tony Horn here BTW (ex- Soulin Mag) I remember the True Pages Of Life track Levine touted in Black Music and it's eventual release by Goldmine. Did I read somewhere that Diane succumbed to drugs and destitution? Optimistically hope she got over it but......?

Only been on SS in recent years so apologies if this has already been covered. Has there been any unreleased stuff from Diane's Creative Funk period? Still rate "Towaway Zone" amongst my favourites. John Benson sent me the full CF label tracks years ago but I'm still curious if there's other stuff lurking? Many thanks.

:D add "sounds like a £1000 record"; "Copies drying up now"; "Underplayed gem"........

Agreed indeed! I originally bought it for "To Get What You Got", but "Hi Heel Shoes" sounds pretty good nowadays. Thanks for the comment.

Bobby McClure - Hi Heel Shoes - Hi 45 (Class!!) Al Hudson & Soul Partners - I'm About Lovin You - Atco 45 Walter Jackson - Let Me Come Back - Brunswick 45 Willie Hutch - I'm Gonna Give Her Respect - Expansion LP Stan Ivory - Come Live With Me - TTC 12" Rhonda McDaniel - Why I Am I Crying - Soul Tribe 45 Bobby Cutchins - I Did It Again - Lasso 45 Brenda & Tabulations - That's In The Past - Dionn 45 Barbara Mason - You Better Stop It - Arctic 45 (Talc assualt for this one!) Jean Battle - I've Got To Come In - Clintone 45 (Lotsa enquiries) Oscar Weathers - Just To Prove I Love You - Top & Bottom 45 (ditto above) Willy Wiley - Just Be Glad - King 45 (double ditto!!) Darrow Fletcher - Changing By The Minute - Uni 45 Sonny Til - Tears & Misery - RCA 45 Denise Lasalle - Countdown - Chess 45 Diana Ross & Supremes - He's My Sunny Boy - Motown 45 Dynamics - Ain't No Love At All - Cotillion 45 Geoffrey Stoner - Brand New Woman - Ovation LP Coke Escovedo - Rebirth - Mercury 45 Al Hudon & Soul Partners - Spread Love - ABC 45 Chapter 8 - Let's Get Together - Ariola 45

Class!

Haven't had time to check that older thread so apologies for any repetiton. Living on an estate in London during the 80's and 90s, Blues Parties went on almost every weekend and I went to many. They always had a quota of 2-Step tunes mixed in amongst the Reggae. Many were previously ignored LP only tracks as already mentioned and included some current releases like Anita Baker 'Feel The Need', Omar 'There's Nothing Like This', Cortez 'Girl I've Been Watching You' etc. Loved those Midnight Music / RAW bootleg compilations and such was the competiton between some sound systems, some titles were even covered up (bizarre eh! ). Most imaginative for me was Starvue's 'Body Fusion' covered as 'Straight Out Of The Fat Boy's Neck'!! Bit more inventive than 'Let's Shingaling At The Go-Go'!! Loved the night time Pirate broadcasts too where it was uninterrupted mellow stuff all night - unless the plug got pulled. Happy days.

Another sad passing. Be easier to name the records he didn't play on in the seventies and eighties. R.I.P.

Heard a tape from what would've been late '73/early '74 acquired by the late Rug Bowers which hastened the need to pay a visit. Seem to recall he also had a Emi-Disc LP of stuff too but that was a mixture of general rarities not just Mecca sounds. From memory the tape included: Willie Hobbs - Til I Get It Right Rock Candy - Alone With No Love Spooner & The Spoons - Wish You Didn't Have To Go Sterling McGhee - Keep On Casanova Two - We've Got To Keep On Detroit Executives - Cool Off Jodi Mathis - Don't You Care Anymore Beverly Ann - You've Got Your Mind On Other Things Malibus - Gee Baby (I Love You) Stanley Mitchell - Get It Baby Delrays Incorporated - Destination Unknown Marc Copage - Who Can I Turn To (Little Lee Howell) There were others but can't remember them all. Needless to say by the time we finally got to go a few months later I don't recall hearing any of those and the trend for the Modern stuff was well under way. 1974/75 were probably the best years for me for the balance between old and new. Cheers

The track 'Do You Believe' was on the previously unissued Side Effect 'Effective' LP put out by Soul Brother a few years ago and recorded in 1973. I don't know what the other tracks on the EP are or whether they're also on that album?

Hey Kim/Tez. Great thread this. My big bruv went to Bletsoe and there was great mistique about it. Managed the Nag's a couple of times but we were still learning in Rushden about this new undergound Soul stuff. Our introduction was via Nick of Cloud 7 Mobile Disco at The Drill Hall, Victoria Road in Rushden and the old Scout Headquarters at The Lightstrung circa 1971. First time I bumped into Tony Parker I think? Amongst the Motown stuff he used to play Dobie Gray, Mitch Ryder, Jamo Thomas, Human Beinz, Len Barry etc. He had record shops later in town and I used to pester him for a copy of "Out On The Floor". Always the promise he'd have it "next week" - until eventually he sold me his own copy. Turned out to be a slate Emidisc and on the flip was Sandi Sheldon! Is that the best introduction to Northern Soul or what? Happy days!

Terrific mix on that link Mr Blue. Places & Spaces definitely in my all time top 10 LP's. The Mizells created a truly unique sound. RIP

Can only echo all the sentiments expressed so far. Very sad news. First heard of Gil when hearing 'The Bottle' at the Mecca as a new release. Was this the first true Crossover record? We had all the North vs South divide back then but this was played at Northern, Funk and Jazz-Funk venues simultaneously. How fitting that this unique man managed to inadvertently (and unknowingly) unite our fractured scenes all those years ago. Peace Go With You Brother.

Like the feel of it. Another in same vein Tennison Stephens "Baby I'm a fool for you" - great arrangement.

Chunky Val revived this at Silks recently. The instrumental was the Mecca spin as a new release but the vocal side has that Hutson feel. Like it myself.

Hi Oldfleet I know there's a 12" issue which seems to fetch big money but not sure about a WD 7". Someone's uploaded it on YouTube too so might be worth a look at the comments? Just wanted to say great track really! Cheers Tank