Ian Dewhirst

I thought it may have been. I found one in '79 and then forgot who I sold it to! Ian D

That's the whole point of thread in a way Brian. Who knows why some records didn't make it first time around? People might not be aware of 'em, or have completely forgotten about them or just never thought to listen to 'em for one reason or another. Also we have to bear in mind that there could be a lot of casual browsers that maybe just want to hear some recommendations from people. If that results in a few people wanting to add to their collections that's not such a bad thing is it? And I bet those Chris Hamilton's are thinner on the ground then people may think. Cheap as chips back in the day but I've personally never found one ever. Great record! Ian D

I tend to agree with virtually all of that. A lot of big money tunes have been offloaded over the last couple of years but there seems to be a plethora of quite reasonably priced great tunes in the £10-£300 bracket. There's not much that isn't available at a top whack price if you have the money. I know several people with big ticket items that are happy to sell at the right price. Plus a recession always opens things up. The best hope for the health of the record market is if there's still growth in the international collectors/DJ market preferably with a younger audience. I'm willing to bet that there's probably more rare soul records in the UK then anywhere else in the world so, yes, there is a vinyl mountain over here because we've been collecting the stuff for 50 years and had professionals actively targeting the stuff for all that time. Also I believe there's a lot of stuff around which isn't even within the knowledge of the Soul Source bubble. There's some amazing collections still within the ownership of people who are either not connected with the scene or have long since dropped off, moved on to other things and simply not bothered to get rid of their early collections which are either in storage or gathering dust in the spare room. So I think it's inevitable that more records will become available in the UK and that prices will need to adjust in line with the receeding market over here. The key is to make sure those records get passed into the right hands so that the scene doesn't wither and die. Some of those European scenes going on in Germany, Italy and elsewhere need encouraging, as do similar scenes in the US 'cos they're generally full of young folk just wanting to hear great music without the baggage that other scenes may carry. So that looks like the future to me. It's no good these records just circulating wthin the ever-decreasing circle of collectors in the UK. Encourage young guns in other countries by selling 'em great records at affordable prices. Those smallish younger scenes in the U.S. are hungry for the same tunes we removed from the U.S. in the first place, so let's re-export some of 'em back and watch those scenes flourish The Northern Soul scene is pretty insular and doesn't encourage much cross-pollination with anyone who is outside the loop, so it can be quite intimidating to many foreigners or youngsters. If you want to maintain record prices whilst nicely filtering down that vinyl mountain then encourage new international buyers with affordable prices and decent multiple record discounts. Pete Smith's got the right idea 'cos I suspect he knows how much stuff is really out there! Ian D

I blame the bloody Torch DJ's! Shoulda been huge in '72! Ian D

And another one by a GREAT GREAT vocalist. I've only heard two records by him and they're both f*cking great. Whatever happened to him and are there any other records he made? It's beyond me how this wasn't a huge record. Maybe a little too sophisticated at the time? I dunno but this is EXACTLY what I wanna hear - great song, great lyrics, great arrangement. What's not to like? By the way the title equates the shape of a woman to a coca cola bottle. Interesting ay? "Colalined Baby" - Dave Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3CurdTJn0o Ian D

Here's the tip Blake. When the insert media box drops down, delete the https:// thing in the box and then paste in your copy of the clip otherwise you get 2 x https:// which won't work. And you're right. Another cheap as chips record back then that was ignored due to it being everywhere! "Love Control" - Greg Perry Ian D

quote name='BLAKE H' timestamp='1290328994' post='1446955'] Always suprised this never went big...... Chuck Ray Please dont let go.....Buddah BH

Good investment though Roger. There's gold in them there shelves. Ian D

And another on Atlantic from the Cliff Nobles period which also seemed to be in everyone's box but which never took off to my knowledge. I'd imagine that if this had turned up on a litlle known Philly label in the last few years it would hailed as a monster. Is it still cheap as chips? "Good Love Gone Bad" - The Ambassadors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iThCQR1cCkE Ian D

Yet another one that seemed to be in everyone's box for £2 at the time, so no one really got behind it. I wonder if there's many of these around these days? Good call Pete...... Your Love Is All I Need" - Cliff Nobles Ian D

And there's me thinking you were independently wealthy with all those wonderful scans you keep throwing up! It'll match the Aldora Britton perfectly on a white demo. Ian D

I found this in L.A. in 1976 and managed to keep it until the late 80's when Sam prised it out of my hands. It was a little too messy for tastes in the 70's and I don't know if it ever took off anywhere but it should have 'cos it's just such an atmospheric record by one of the all-time greats. Lovely record! "I'm Having So Much Fun" - Willie Tee Ian D

You'd need plenty of energy to be able to dance to this these days! In fact the only person who could dance to it back then was Rob Ward from Huddersfield (R.I.P.). It missed it's window. If it had been programmed next to "Night Owl" or a couple of the ultra-fast biggies it could have made it. Surprisingly difficult to turn up though so both it's speed and it's rarity hindered it's chances. "Pitfall" - Ronnie Savoy Ian D PS I wonder if that's Edward Hamilton on the songwriting credits?

That happened to all of us Roger. In fact the Aldora Britton record probably suffered because it was perceived as too common at the time, so being on Soul Bowl's list for a couple of quid at the time probably killed it stone dead if the truth's known. Wasn't rare enough for us egotistical DJ's. We were dickheads. It's one of my favourites now. I don't why it took me 35 years to get the full impact of it. Ian D

Stomping proppa 100 mph West Coast Northern Soul. Always in everyone's boxes but never really took off. Still sounds good to these ears..... "Nobody But You" - The Wooden Nickels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbm9W22E8aE Ian D

Well, it was too slow when first found but it's one of those records which is so feel good and almost anthemic with a great singalong chorus that someday, somewhere, on some scene this will be huge....... "The Grooviest Thing This Side Of Heaven" - Wendell Watts Ian D

Was it Al Johnson "It's Not Too Late" on Marina by any chance? "It's Not Too Late" - Al Johnson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e26cbvErKxM I found a box of 'em in Telford around that time............ Ian D

Another 100mph absolute corker which has been around since the year dot. I'd have thought that this might have broken through in the same way that Bunny Sigler's "Girl Don't Make Me Wait" which was around at the same time but no cigar. Another one which never realised it's full potential but which has never lost it's appeal for me..... "I Only Get This Feeling" - Dee Irwin Ian D

OK, I can understand the slow intro putting people off but boy when it kicks off what a great record! Would have worked nicely in the same way that "Get Out" worked for Harold Melvin. Either way a fantastic vocal performance and great production! I carried it in my box for years and only ever played it a couple of times @ Samanthas I think. Never heard it anywhere since....... "Only Love Can Save Me Now" - Al Jones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZDpZgkNv1g Ian D

The only time I ever heard this out was when either Sam or Pep played it in the Midlands sometime in the early 70's. Perfect West Coast Northern Soul with all the ingredients. Shoulda been huge...... "Is It All Gone" - The Magicians Ian D

Much talked about but never really made it beyond a few plays here and there but what a fantastic record....... "Shy Guy" - The Uptights Ian D

Always gives me goosebumps and deffo his best ever performance IMO but I hardly ever heard it out. Was it ever huge anywhere? "Look At Me Now" - Terry Callier Ian D

Yep, that makes sense. Plus the instrumental is on the 'b' side of the Contemplations which makes it a dead cert for me! That's what I call a killer double-sider! Ian D

You never stop learning do ya.....? I suddenly remembered one of my favourite arrangements of all time - Rock Candy's "Alone With No Love" and when I pumped it into You Tube, lo and behold, another slightly sexier version suddenly came up. It's exactly the same recording as Rock Candy but this group's name sounds so much better. If you're studying for a music degree in the greatest arrangements of all time, then congratulations 'cos here is the the holy grail........ Joe Tate's one of my heroes along with the rest of 'em............ "Alone With No Love" - The Contemplations Ian D

Mammoth mammoth mammoth feel good anthem. Shoulda been No.1 by a country mile. What happened? I think it's the greatest male duet performance I've ever heard in my life and I saw Sam & Dave live........ I could hear this for the rest of my life and never ever get fed up of it. A truly brilliant record by any standard possible. How come some stuff sells for £5K plus and a record like this can be snagged relatively cheap? No contest for me! If God ever granted me a wish, it would be for me to be at this recording session to witness the sheer vibe and interplay between two KILLER vocalists at the top of their form. I don't think it gets much better really...... "We Got To Keep On" - The Casanova Two This is EXACTLY what I envisaged this thread being about. Records you've always loved which somehow never made it as big as they should have. Bring 'em on. Share the knowledge. Ian D