Ian Dewhirst

Actually, talking of House Of Sounds, it's about time I pulled out "Stiffed" again for another read. There's a particularly gruesome picture of a badly beaten-up John La Monte in there when the mob moved in on him...... https://www.amazon.com/Stiffed-Story-Music-Business-Mafia/dp/0060924942 Ian D

Well, it's been 40 years since I went but, yeah, that looks about right....... Ian D

I've got an issue of BDA297. I bought it in the 70s and kept it along with a UK demo so I had the option of Part 2 if needed. I think it's relatively rare. I think a couple have gone through Discogs and BDA310 isn't on there at all. So pretty rare I'd say. Happy Xmas old bean! Ian D

Great story! I had that happen a few times in 2006 when I last went digging there. I think a combination of the Brit accent and the internet killed a lot of it stone dead for me. In effect I felt like I was being used as a record selector who then gets hijacked at the end of several hours of hard-digging. Plus a lot of the stuff I pick up is varied and not particularly worth much so I wouldn't be looking to to pay top prices on those anyway. Digging on the internet is more my thing these days 'cos at least you know what the prices are and you know you'll turn up something. I bet that last sentence will come back and bite you in the ass though! Ian D

Damn. Levine again. Another myth blown. But credit where credit is due. An incredible find. Very gracious of you Rick. Thanks for clearing that up. Ian D

Well, we tried...... Ian D

Hi Rick, Hope you're well and all is good! Brilliant story and thanks for contributing! Just wanted to clarify one thing. I always remember Kev telling me that you'd discovered a killer Gene Chandler record on Constellation called "Mr Big Shot" and there was a big buzz about it the week it emerged. Was that how it happened? And yes. I make most people nervous because of my overwhelming confidence.... Ian D

And there's still a Record & Tape Exchange further down Berwick Street..... Ian D

Don't even get me started on the stories Robb. I was hanging out in Highland Records in '76. The weird English guy who seems to like Disco.....:) I can't believe I didn't bump into you back then....... Ian D

Quentin Tarrentino uses the Human Beinz for slasher soundtrack.....

Blimey. The above comment was 5 years ago when I was a relatively sprightly 55 years old. Time flies when you're having fun ay? Ian D

Good choice Steve. I just did that too. I'm amazed to read it all again. A real treat and EXACTLY what Soul Source is all about when you read those stories. Blimey, we were so productive weren't we? Northern Soul diggers really set the pace didn't we? And we continue to do so. We invented obsessive compulsives really.......:) Ian D

Good timing Mike! I've probably forgotten most of the stuff in this thread so I'll re-acquaint myself with it.... Happy Xmas etc, etc Ian D

Well I'm not actually with any company at this point in time, so nothing to measure. This may change but right now I'm unencumbered by any corporate baggage......:) Ian D

Hahaha lol. Very funny article by Bill Brewster in today's Guardian about the Vinyl Revival on the The UKs high streets........ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/07/vinyl-sales-tesco-lps-labels Ian D

There's more than people may think. Some of 'em are great. I'm quite partial to Brenda Holloway sounding spunky on this.... Ian D :)

Both killers right there. "Once I've Been There" is one of my favorite records ever. Prince Phillip Mitchell on vocals and sounding the best he's ever sounded! https://youtu.be/AylrqoBZOTM Ian D

There's TONS of huge Disco and Jazz-Funk Rarities. It's a whole different scene though.... Ian D :)

The review is right. It was just another song at the time and wouldn't have punched through back then. There were too many better records competing for attention. The only scene that would give a record like this the subsequent recognition is the UK Soul scene. A good thing I think...... Ian D :)

I know you've been looking for this for a while. It's not this version is it? Louisiana Purchase "Baby Come Back" Fantastic song full stop! Ian D

I'm sure they would have but I don't know where they were sent. Most of the UK majors automatically got sent US releases which were generally kept in archive somewhere. The only archive I ever had access to was the Decca/London archive and that had every copy of every U.S. release religiously filed in catalog number order. I think exactly the same for RCA UK. I'm not sure about EMI, even though I worked there for a few years in the 80s. Many of the UK major publishers also had similar archives full of U.S. singles. Every so often, one of those 60s record company/publishing guys rolls up at a London record fair with a stall of goodies rescued from their lofts...... Ian D

It's funny because over 45 years of going out to Soul clubs, there's some periods of one's life when one is caught up in the other stuff - Marriage, Responsibilities, Children, Careers, Unemployment, Jail etc, etc, so I've always made a point of at least trying to keep in touch with what's going on whilst I'm other-wised engaged with other stuff. So those comps always kept me abreast of those years and I keep 'em for reference purposes as well. If it was 2000, then I had a 6 year old daughter and was working for Simply Vinyl re-issuing lots of classic Pop & Rock albums mainly and doing 10 releases a month, so I certainly wasn't hopping up North much. So these releases were invaluable to me which is why I love Ralph Tee so much! Ian D

Yep, one and the same Mark. I first met him when I was doing club promo at EMI in 1983 and we thought he was a Disco weirdo back then. Then I got conversing with him again earlier this year when he did some free promo for the Mike Maurro Remixes album which turned into a big album for me. I'd been seeing these DSG releases coming through for last year or so and the quality of the records was always pretty good, so we eventually hooked up the other day and I got the chance to hear some of the forthcoming releases and I'm impressed. Gary's a true believer and his releases are hitting the spot with plenty of people. There's not many like him left these days so I'm hopefully going to be able to help him with some stuff. Ian D

I'll get Gary to drop you a PM then Chalky. I'm sure he'll need a comprehensive bio and stuff he can use for sleeve-notes etc, so as ever, let's put it to good use. Best, Ian

Chase him up Chalky. I think DSG want to put out an album..... Ian D