Ian Dewhirst

Wow, just got the finished packages in and they look absolutely beautiful! HURTCDX110 Mixology: The Definitive Salsoul Mixes 3 x CD Digi Pac Released 29/8/11 Amazon That's an incredible amount of music and packaging for £8.99! How can they possibly produce a package like this at that price I ask myself..... Ian D

Damn. One of the few weekends where I’m actually not partying due to pressure of work and deadlines. I wonder how that happened? So a big shout out to everyone who’s up in Birmingham at the EMS Weekender – they’ll all be well-lubricated and partying their asses off round about now! However, for the rest of us that are working (lol), the show must go on and I’m delighted to be joined by my Original Mastercuts co-founder and co-presenter, the mysterious and slightly weird, Alan Champ for tomorrow’s LIVE extravaganza! Also I got into a bit of an MJ mood this week and then realised it’s been 2 years since he passed away, so I’ve indulged myself with a couple of his greatest tunes for a start. Plus we have some absolutely stunning re-edits on some wonderful tunes this week, some true Northern Soul, some killer slow-groovers and a few anthems chucked in for good measure. Yes folks, it all adds up to another groovin’ Sunday afternoon LIVE session with the original team. What’s not to like? Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst & Alan Champ between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 3rd July 2011 on everyone’s favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring…… The Jackson 5 * Michael Jackson * Frankie Knuckles feat Jamie Principle * Frankie Knuckles feat Bunny Sigler * Stevie Wonder * Jimmy Ruffin * The Chi-Lites * The Spinners * Ashford & Simpson * Tami Lynn * Felice Taylor * Diana Ross & The Supremes * The Velvets * Sandi Sheldon * The Funky Sisters * Stanley Mitchell * The Paramount Four * Rena Scott * The Dramatics * Bobby Caldwell * Marvin Gaye * Cee-Lo See you @ 2.00pm LIVE! Ian D

Actually Kev's right Pete. Both Bill Brandon & Lorraine Johnson and Liberty were Levine/Curtis discoveries and both broken at the Mecca first. I can clearly remember Levine telling me about it on the phone just after he'd returned from a U.S. trip and then Brad telling me about it following a trip to the Mecca a few days later. I always saw "Let Me Be Your Full Time Groover" as a Mecca/Cleethorpes record rather than a Casino classic anyway. It was a hard-sell at Wigan in my memory. And "Girl You Better Wake Up" was a 100% Curtis spin right from the git-go and a huge record @ the Mecca long before it reached anywhere else. However, it didn't take long for a zillion copies to flood in, so the take-up and follow-through was accelerated which resulted in the record peaking and dying really quickly. However, this period was when certain records were being commercially 'nurtured' so it wouldn't be unusual for several people to get their hands on copies quick. Unless I'm totally mistaken, Levine found Bill Brandon & Lorraine Johnson either on a U.S. trip or via John Anderson, but crucially, he championed and absolutely hammered it and it worked like a dream at the Mecca for an eclectic and discerning audience. It was a floor-clearer at most other venues initially before it eventually took hold. And Liberty was a 100% certified Mecca monster a good few weeks before it reached wider acceptance elsewhere. I'm pretty sure that Epic or Mel Bratt (where is he by the way?) would confirm that. But, you're right Pete. It's always a contentious issue about who did what and when. I was just lucky enough to be wired into the epicentre of the scene at the time whilst being aligned with an almost unhealthy tendency to over-focus on the acquisition of brilliant rare records. Does this sound familiar? Ian D

OK, this is the first show I've managed to post for the last 4 weeks due to some technical snafus that buggered up the previous couple of shows on download, so apologies for anyone who's been trying to collect all of 'em! However, we're back with a vengeance now and I'm pleased to say that this week's show is a goodie to come back with! Much interest in the very hard-to-find "Up The Ladder To The Roof" - The Supremes remix, plus good vibes on the Jackson 5, Gwen McRae and Trammps re-edits, the Orlando Johnson and Jamiroquai new releases along with the usual bunch of goodies from across the eras. Enjoy! Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 19th June 2011 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring...... 1st Hour The Miracle Workers - Overture The Originals - Down To Love Town - Dimitri From Paris Remix The Supremes - Up The Ladder To The Roof - Awesome Remix Eddie Kendricks - Date With The Rain The Jackson Five - Looking Through The Windows - Womack Re-Edit Sister Sledge - I Want Your Love - Mozart Mix Jimmy & Vella Cameron - Be Fair To Me Gwen McRae - All This Love I'm Giving - Ramsey Hercules Re-Edit New York City - I'm Doing Fine Now - Scratchnsniff Re-Edit The Trammps - Hold Back The Night - Scratchnsniff Re-Edit 2nd Hour The Foundations - Baby Now That I've Found You Carl Douglas - Serving A Sentence Of Life Dusty Springfield - Bring Him Back Jimmy James - A Man Like Me Johnny Johnson - Sweet Inspiration Bobby Taylor - Don't Be Afraid Willie Hutch - Just Another Day S.O.U.L. feat Larry Hancock - This Time Around The Jacksons - Blues Away The Real Thing - Raining Through My Sunshine David Ruffin - Everything's Coming Up Love Orlando Johnson - Two Can Make It Better Jamiroquai - Smile Sister Sledge - World Rise & Shine Frankie Knuckles feat Jamie Principle - I'll Take You There - Dimitri From Paris Remix https://sixmillionsteps.com/drupal/node/1422 Al's up next Sunday so I'll see you on Sunday 3rd July @ 2.00pm LIVE! Thanks for listening! Ian D

Mmmm. Same year as the Carstairs Pete. Are you getting into Disco.....? Nice purchase by the way. This week I picked up nice white demos on the Temprees and Carl Graves plus a Mandrill to round things off.......a good time to buy. Ian D

Cool Immy will do. They're on my lappy @ home, so I'll dig 'em out and blast 'em over in the next day or two OK? Ian D

OK, all good today with "Mixology" today as it hits the Top 15 in both Amazon's Disco and Funk charts a good 5 weeks before release. Also couldn't help noticing that it's even cheaper than it was last week - you can now get it for £8.99 inc P&P which @ £3 a disc has to be one the bargains of the century! It's never been better for buyers.... Mixology - Amazon £8.99 Ian D

Also I forgot, I did put out Eddie Kendricks out on the Motown Disco comp from a few years back which you can still pick up for £5.50 if yer quick! Motown Disco Ian D

Yep, I think it's important to conserve great recordings too. Luckily we're well served in the UK with some cracking specialists like Ace/Kent, Expansion, Cherry Red, Demon, Big Break etc, etc. The UK is far more active in preserving music then any other country in the world these days and hopefully long may that continue! Ian D

Coming up LIVE @ 2.00pm! Stay warm, dry and cosy with 2 hours of Original Mastercuts this afternoon! Ian D

Well, I just had the last couple of weekends off but somehow there never seems to be enough time does there....blah blah blah........ Let's just cut to the quick OK? If you do nothing else this week, make sure you listen to this Sunday's show comin' right atcha from 2.00-4.00 pm LIVE! This show is very organic. I have no idea how each one will turn out until I'm finally happy listening to the finished result myself. This one's a F*CKIN KILLER! The only thing that can possibly go wrong, is if I f*ck up the presentation or if the stream gets hacked etc, etc, etc. Musically it's perfect for a show which bounces around the different eras (I hope). For instance, this week the first half-hour concentrates on a 70's Motown kinda vibe with some interesting remixes and re-edits going on, the second half-hour looks at an interesting Sister Sledge housed-up remake of a Chic classic plus some incredible fresh re-edits of some of the show's regular faves, the third half-hour looks into UK produced Northern Soul and some underplayed 70's gems and the final half-hour sees the show glide into a heady mixture of the old and the new. A total gas putting this one together and looking forward to spreading the joy! Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 19th June 2011 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring...... The Miracle Workers * The Originals * The Supremes * Eddie Kendricks * The Jackson Five * Sister Sledge * Jimmy & Vella Cameron * Gwen McRae * New York City * The Trammps * The Foundations * Carl Douglas * Dusty Springfield * Jimmy James * Johnny Johnson * Bobby Taylor * Willie Hutch * S.O.U.L. feat Larry Hancock * The Jacksons * The Real Thing * David Ruffin * Orlando Johnson * Jamiroquai * Sister Sledge * Frankie Knuckles feat Jaimie Principle See you @ 2.00pm LIVE! Ian D X

Oi! Stop that young lady! Even I drew the line @ Boney M LOL...... Some seriously great Philly International comps are coming up too, including a brand new Ralph Tee compiled definitive 8CD box set and a couple of other surprises. Plus a film soundtrack, 10 new Backbeats and 4 more Disco Discharges on the way, so should be a good year! By the way I have some Disco Blogs to send you which will be total up your street. I'll PM 'em over......... Ian D

Agreed. Simples. Ian D

No probs Bazza. I whiled away an hour earlier re-reading it myself LOL. Bloody good thread that! Ian D

I was talking production-wise smartass! Ian D

I can't easily recall the tune but I seem to remember it sounding way too messy for my purposes back then. It probably sounds OK for today's audiences as I think slightly messier/looser/funkier productions are in vogue, which is reflected in the popularity of the Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings/Dap-Tone stuff........ Less is more these days it would seem. Ian D

Blimey, I just went through this whole thread again trying to piece together a 'lil mystery and it's occurred to me that no one's mentioned "Overture" - The Miracles yet. That was a HUGE track............ Ian D

Mmm. Interesting that no one spotted the Major Lance/Servicemen connection before then? Typical that it came as a result of a Yardbirds record! Ian D

You beat me to it Trev. I wonder if there's any other examples of poor white Englishmen being ripped-off by avaricious U.S. soul groups? Ian D

No probs. And that's my fave Eddie Kendricks of all time by the way! Ian D

38 is young Benji, believe me! Nolan Chance was a monster before you were even born so it'll have a lot more resonance for older collectors I'd guess. But, like you, there's many other sounds I prefer anyway. The Bunky thing has always had a certain mystique about it so it'll fetch a great price I reckon..... Ian D

OK, these were back in the days of the notorious Fred Dove - WEA's Club Promotion man from the mid 70's to mid 80's. Fred was pretty stingy and very selective about his mailing list so there weren't so many of these pressed. I haven't seen that one but I would have definitely grabbed it for sure, since it's got several key tracks on it (Lamont Dozier, both CJ & Co's, George Benson and the Trammps). I started getting 'em towards the end of the 70's (when I finally got on Fred's list) and there's a few that have U.S. only tracks on them, so it's always worth checking the track listings. I see you like "Date With The Rain" too. You've obviously got great taste! Ian D

Err, I actually think he's in the process of moving to sunny Corfu Kev. Via Melton Mowbray possibly.......... Ian D

Hang on. This is getting more like Cluedo or Sleuth or one of those similarly horrible games that went on forever LOL........ Ian D

You're either too young or too cynical LOL...... It's an iconic record for many and was probably one of the biggest records on the scene when they were getting into it. And on Bunky! What's not to like? Ian D