QUOTE; Are we going to get the story of the KR/SS break in, and also why SS disappeared?
Hopefully I know what Ian is refering to. Apologies, if this story has already been revealed earlier in the thread.
In March 1974, Simon took me to Ray Avery's Rare Records in Glendale, CA.
He appeared to annoy the owner and without any warning was hoofed out of the store(allegedly he made a big mess on a previous visit), leaving yours truly in the back room/warehouse staring at 250,000 45's...mostly 60's promos.
I distinctly remember picking up Otis Leavill, Obrey Wilson, Lou Edwards-Columbia promos plus I think..an unknown Lance Rentzel at the time.
Just sidetracking for a moment, Lance married Joey Heatherton, the sister of my best friend Dick(former WCBS DJ in New York).
Anyway, I suddenly heard the legendary French accent hollering through the toilet window....Baby boy...
listen to me carefully...I am going to tell you what to look for...before rattling off unknowns he had recently found ie Willie Hutch on Dunhill, Tony Middleton on Mala etc etc.
I ended up pulling around 600 sides of which he paid for and threw me a few winners... F.O.C.
If my memory serves me correctly, this was the store that gave us the Casualeers first.
Ironically, 20 years on from that story, I happen to be interviewing 60's hitmakers The Walker Brothers for Magic, whereby John(Walker) grew up in Glendale and bought Make It Easy On Yourself-Jerry Butler from the same store. The rest is history.
As for Simon Soussan...rather like Ian D, I found him charming, delightful company and never felt threatened by him in deals.
I think his flamboyance got in the way of his natural talent, hence his dealings with some, turned sour.
Certainly without his 'creativity' in enhancing the Northern scene during 1973-6, I doubt its popularity would be as strong. I do feel sorry for the late Tom Dieperro in the Frank Wilson saga...but just imagine if SS had not been involved, we might have very little to talk about on that particular subject!
Probably the best dinner guest you are ever likely to meet and a fantastic record hound.