Ian Dewhirst

If anyone singed my 45's I'd give 'em a clip round the ear! 45's are fragile enough without some bugger burning 'em....... Ian D

LOL, I might have known it was you Glen. See - I knew there was a Rushton connection somewhere! Lovely design and layout on Neil's book by the way....... Coffee table in my house at the moment! Ian D

OK, posting early today 'cos I'm Northern Souling it tonight down at the St Aloysius Social Club over in London, NW1 so thought I'd get the show together early otherwise it could all Northern LOL...... Perish the thought! The usual trawl through all the good things which Soul Music has thrown up for the last 45 years so a nice lively LIVE show coming up tomorrow afternoon folks! Get rigged up in the garden and soak up that Sun! Yippee! Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 11th April 2010 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring....... Alicia Keys * Michael Jackson * New York Rappers * Papik * Donny Hathaway * Ashford & Simpson & The John Davis Monster Orchestra * Alton McClain & Destiny * Norman Connors * L.A. Voyage * Aaron Broomfield * Camouflage * Ruby Andrews * The George Clinton Band * Barbara St Clair * The Four Tops * The Temptations * Marva Whitney * The Pacesettters * The Ohio Players * Blair * Cool Million feat Karen Groth * Luther Vandross * Marvin Gaye Hope ya can join me! Enjoy! Ian D

Well I've listened to it a few times now and it could be some studio jiggery-pokery. They may have slowed down Frankie's voice and then re-compressed it 'cos it sounds an octave lower than Frankie and thus sounds like a different singer. Very convincing though. I still can't figure out why anyone would want to dick around with the original though, which was surely good enough? Ian D

But it's not Franky is it? There's nuances in it that suggest that it's not doctored as the vocalist has a slightly different style to Franky. Let's put it this way, if it has been doctored then it's one of the most convincing ones I've ever heard. If someone can pm an e-mail addy I'll send it so someone can post it up in Refosoul (I have troubles with Refo and no time to sort it out LOL).... I'm gonna blag that album of instrumentals you just put out too! Ian D

Yeah I know but I can usually tell as there's generally a 'ghost' of the original vocal that still bleeds through - you can usually hear traces of the original vocal on most of the doctored Motown tracks as an example. But all I can hear on this is the full backing track and BV's from the original but a completely different lead vocal presumably by Chuck Jackson. I don't see how it could be doctored really. I mean Chuck would still have had to perform the song wouldn't he? Ian D

Well, I'm going the usual pile of CD's working out stuff for Sunday's radio show and it's come from one of my regular guys up North who always stumbles into stuff. I get around 6 cd's a month off him and there's always interesting stuff on there. I'll ask him and see if he can shed any light on it. Neil and I were partners around '75-'76 before we both went on to do other stuff. I think Neil did Inferno in the late 70's so we weren't working together by then. He told me about the Moulton mix on the Carstairs which I never knew about until then but I can't recall him mentioning any Chuck Jackson sessions at the time. Hence the reason why I'm curious. Have you heard it? I'd like verify if it's definitely Chuck Jackson. I'll thwack you an MP3 over...... Ian D

Well it's been doctored so well that none of Frankie Beverley's vocals are on it but the Background Vocals and full instrumental backing are all on there but with a completely different vocal on top which does sound remarkably like Chuck Jackson. So unless there's any software out there that can strip a lead vocal and leave everything else on there they must have had access to the original 2" master. And access to Chuck Jackson as well of course LOL.... That's what makes me think that this could be a session from the late 70's around the time of the Inferno re-issues of Frank Beverly. Chuck Jackson would have been in between contracts and the masters would have been accessed for the UK release? But I'm intrigued. Frankie's version edges it for me because how can you beat one of the greatest records ever made? But this version's pretty f*ckin' rockin' too......... Ian D

An unissued Chuck Jackson cover of Frankie Beverly and The Butlers "If That's What You Wanted"? I'm listening to it now and it uses the same backing track as F.B. However, as far as I know, there was never an instrumental available which leads me to think that someone got hold of the instrumental track and cut a session with Chuck. Could this have been when Neil Rushton licensed it maybe? He never mentioned that he had a Chuck Jackson version knocking around though........ Anyone know the story here? Ian D

Well, that was part of the problem 'cos on some scenes the Jackson Sisters is an overplayed golden oldie that we've all heard too much over the years anyway. Hence when Mark Capanni sprung up it sounded like a breath of fresh air and a good excuse to play a great song again and the original at that. But the lines can be very blurred on the Northern/Crossover/Modern scenes IMO. I maintain that if Mark Capanni had been discovered in the mid 70's instead of 30 years later it would have been right up there with the 70's biggies of the time like the Moments, Anderson Brothers, Benny Troy, Voices Of East Harlem etc, etc. It would have fitted like a dream. Let's not forget that when records like "My Baby's Got E.S.P." - Four Below Zero, "Don't Send Me Away" - Garfield Fleming, "Party Time Man" - The Futures and 100's of others were first released they were written off as being too Disco, too Funky etc, etc yet found acceptance 10 or 20 years down the line on the same scene that originally wouldn't have accepted them. You see exactly the same thing happen with early 90's Soulful House tunes in another few years. That's the nature of the scene and has been for the last 45 years really. It's a constantly mutating beast which re-invents itself all the time. Good on Gerald for nailing the re-issue. I'm hearing this record all over the place now but it should have been an anthem in 1974! Mind you, what's 36 years between friends...... https://www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk/shop/asp/prodtype.asp?prodtype=45 Oh, welcome to Soul Source by the way! If you wanna know anything about records you'll generally find it on here........... Ian D

I was talking on the Northern side of things Steve - so good to hear Northern Soulers buzzing about a relatively recent record! Anyone who likes Ron Hall will also love the upcoming Dimitri From Paris Philly album too....... https://www.residenta...s.aspx?id=11864 Ian D

Yep, everyone! One of the GREAT records of the last couple of years. The anthem of last Summer for me...... Ian D

See. It's not all sturm and drang on here Isabel. Every so often we get a positive thread! Ian D

Yikes! Repeat is on RIGHT NOW! www.starpointradio.com Northern/Modern/Crossover/Whatever section coming up @ 6.00PM! Ian D

Wow, a lovely show this week made extra special by having such a great bunch of listeners for which I'm eternally grateful! Download link directly below playlist...... Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 28th March 2010 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. 1st Hour The Jacksons - Real Good Time (Living Together) - Julian Love Re-Edit Dionne Warwick & The Spinners - I Don't Need Another Love - Joey Musaphia Mix B.A.D. Connection - Be Thankful Fred Everything feat Lisa Shaw - Here I Am 52nd Street - Tell Me (How It Feels) The System - This Is For You Stephanie Mills - My Love's Been Good To You Dolette McDonald - (X-tra) Special New York City Band feat Luther Vandross - Got To Have Your Body 2nd Hour Chairmen Of The Board - Everything's Tuesday Barbara Acklin - Love Makes A Woman Mel & Tim - Backfield In Motion Lyn Roman - Stop, I Don't Need No Sympathy Mark Capanni - I Believe In Miracles Bob Relf - Girl, You're My Kind Of Wonderful Diana Ross - One Love In My Lifetime Phillip & Lloyd (The Bluesbusters) - Baby I'm Sorry Tower Of Power - So Very Hard To Go Loleatta Holloway -Cry To Me Mark Johnson - Daydream Patti Labelle - New Day - Neil Thompson Mix Mavis feat Candi Staton - Revolution - Darkstarr Single Mix Al Green - Everything Is OK - Ashley Beedle Re-Edit https://www.sixmillionsteps.com/6MS-2010-03-28-Starpoint.mp3 Enjoy! Al is back behind the decks next week, so I'll catch you all on the 11th April! God bless. Ian D

One here by the looks of it John...... https://vinylcountdown.com/node/30992 Ian D

Wow, that was what I call a KING HELL BASTARD of a weekend last week @ Prestatyn! But of course you'll already know that due to the DOUBLE STREAMING we did LIVE from both the Northern and Modern rooms last Friday and Saturday. Starpoint Radio was well and truly in the house and it's a gas to know that we could broadcast such a fantastic event around the world on t'internet. Many thanks to everyone involved for making it such a memorable weekend. Big up to Carl for dedication and apparently unlimited stamina in keeping things running so smoothly whilst everyone around him turned to mush LOL.... Great to meet so many old and new friends up and so many people who catch the show - it makes it all worthwhile when you bump into listeners we never knew were there! So this show's for all of ya and everyone else I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time. So this week we have the usual smorgasbord of Soul from across the eras. Kicking off this week with some scintillating up-tempo rhythms to get the blood flowing, then into half and hour of delicious 80's grooves before we gracefully slide into some glorious gems from the 60's and 70's before we ease into some mind-blowing mellow grooves and some Soulful killers to the close. Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 28th March 2010 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring..... The Jacksons * Dionne Warwick & The Spinners * B.A.D. Connection * Fred Everything feat Lisa Shaw * 52nd Street * The System * Stephanie Mills * Dolette McDonald * The New York City Band feat Luther Vandross * Chairmen Of The Board * Barbara Acklin * Mel & Tim * Lyn Roman * Mark Capanni * Bob Relf * Diana Ross * Phillip & Lloyd (The Bluesbusters) * Tower Of Power * Loleatta Holloway * Mark Johnson * Patti Labelle * Mavis feat Candi Staton * Al Green Hope ya can join me! Ian D

Really refreshing to have such honest self-evaluation here Pete. Well done mate! Ian D

Too rocky!!! Ian D

I don't like it either if the truth's known. Care to suggest an alternative that'll give some people a clearer understanding of 'funk' then? Or maybe a fanzine if there's only 17 of you........... Ian D

Funk is a constantly mutating creature and took many different forms throughout the 60's, 70's and 80's predominently so I don't think you can realistically isolate Parliament/Funkadelic from your definition of funk Fryer. I think you'll find that the majority of people will accept that Funk falls into the kind of catergories that Rickey Vincent covers in his book "Funk". https://www.rickeyvincent.com/circles2.htm Wouldn't Rare Funk be a better term for the more obscure stuff? Ian D

All solid Cleethorpes tracks Paul but long before people felt compelled to catergorise 'em into neat little boxes. Mind you I can plainly remember getting harangued for playing Prince George, Frankie Crocker, Boby Franklin, Eddie Horan, East Coast Connection, Danny Reed and 'any more of that Funky shite' in the mid 70's so maybe things haven't changed that much ay.......? Also, for once I agree with Pete. Even though I had one at the time, I'm damned if I could ever play "Wash & Wear Love". Just waaay too slow and it always emptied the floor on the odd occasion I aired it. And to me, nice as it is, that Sharon Jones track is too slow as well - OK for an armchair but not my idea of a peak time record...... Ian D

LOL, always the charmer Jocko. I was actually in the studio with Parliament the day they recorded "Flashlight" which is tough to beat for a fly on the wall dose of pure funk. I went to the studio to pick up 500 copies of a record by the Glass Family from the engineer Jim Callon and ended up staying all night being entertained by George & co. Wouldn't have changed that experience for anything. No surprise that my looks are LA ravaged then....... Ian D

Please give her my best Rob. She was an absolute one-off and the East Coast would have been a lot less lively without Mary and Colin! Ian D

Wow. Is he still at it? I hope he perseveres. He interviewed me extensively for several hours a few years back. It'd be great to get it all documented 'cos Cleethorpes Pier was a magical nighter and obviously a brilliant setting. Health and Safety would probably prevent it ever happening on a pier again I guess..........we got away with murder back then didn't we? By the way, how's Mary these days? Is anyone in touch with her? Ian D