Ian Dewhirst

So many people have tried to get access to them over the years, it's pretty much the holy grail of unreleased recordings IMO. I know of two people that have been close to getting access but got stalled at the last minute - Tony Rounce may be able to throw some light on this as he's put together most of the currently available Philly re-issues over the last 20 years. I've been told that they had a lot of contractual problems with their acts so didn't want to open a can of worms by releasing some of the previously unavailable stuff. Another theory is that Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff are so wealthy that they didn't particularly need the headaches, hassle and expense of digging into the unreleased stuff which is probably true as well. Talks are continuing and there could be some light at the end of the tunnel. One thing that concerns me is that the quality of the tapes will be deteriorating all the time - even now some of those master tapes from the 70's are virtually unplayable as the oxide is coming away from the tapes - in some cases so badly that even 'baking' them won't save them so it's a race against time really. Demon currently control the European rights to P.I. so hopefully there'll be some progress in this area soon. Fingers crossed. Ian D

Yep, a must-have purchase. He's right up there with the best of all time for me. He must be the most-covered of original Soul artists - such a shame that he never managed to get a decent hit with his own stuff considering the quality of the material. Ian D

F*ckin' typical innit. I'm trying to grill him about what incredible records passed through his hands and he was pissed at the time! The big mistake I made was getting round there too early! Trust Sam and Levine to be waiting at your door @ 10.30pm LOL...... 250 stamped addressed envelopes to mail out in the early 70's was a major operation in those days. I can't even begin to think what must have passed through your hands............ Probably just as well you were pissed Bri. If you valued those cheapies today what would they be worth I wonder? Assuming you can remember of course....... Ian D Ian D :smile:

Brill if you could Brian. I considered your lists to be right up there with the best ever. I think it was the sheer scale of unknown cheapies on small labels that made it a must-see list - it was almost more fun to go past the biggies to the cheapies at the bottom of the first page and beyond simply to imagine what they were like. Time's proved that there were tons of goodies there and I'm sure a lot of the S.S. readers would salivate if they saw some of that stuff. Also there were some major future rarities there and I wonder if any of 'em turned out to be one or two offs? It's 36-37 years since those lists were printed and I bet there's some titles that would interest people since so many of 'em went straight into some serious collections. Also would I be right in thinking that some people would get to the stuff first? I can think of at least one person that would have gone round to yours and spent loads especially on the cheapies.......... Also, if you don't mind me asking, did you have several sources? I remember buying the Malibus and Little Eddie Taylor off you and wondering if you had a Texas contact? Ian D

I don't suppose you kept any of your old lists did you Brian? Unfortunately mine all went when I moved houses sometime in the mid 80's - I had loads of yours, Soul Bowl's and Soussan's and I gave 'em all to a guy called Brian Hobson (who I haven't seen for 15 years or so). It'd be interesting to see what future gems were in your 30p section......from memory there were things like the Detroit Executives, Richard Popcorn Wylie, the Perigents and loads of Detroit and Chicago goodies but there must have been loads of others which went big over the years... Ian D

Actually it's across the road Malc. Best pizzas in the world there. Just the job after a day's serious digging........ Ian D

I'd say 1 in 3 is about right Dave. I've just had yet another Paypal dispute raised by a French Boogie buyer from Lille. This has been going on for ages now and it's getting beyond a joke. I just don't have time to keep dealing with certain French buyers claiming not to have received packages. It's getting so I can almost tell who I'm going to have a problem with before I even mail the packages out! So, yes, like you I'll have to pull the proof of postage and send off to yet another French buyer who says he hasn't received an item. These guys have been doing it for the last couple of years and some of my French contacts also know that there's a bunch of bad apples over there who are hell bent on ruining things for everyone. A real shame....... Ian D

The flea/record markets on a Sunday morning will be your best bet as you never know what can turn up there on any given Sunday. Also it's probably worth having a float around the Village Record stores as once again, you never know..... Also I'd suggest you nip across to Brooklyn and have a dig around there as well - they have a couple of indoor flea markets that can be OK and also try:- The Thing 1001 Manhattan Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11222 (718) 349-8234 Ian D

Well it's gotta be if it's stereo hasn't it? It's a moot point really 'cos it seems it's virtually impossible to tell the repress from the original unless you're holding 'em in your hands and even then it would be a challenge I reckon..... Ian D

That's the repress by the looks of it. Ian D

Yeah, I thought about that after I posted. In which case, back to square one then........namely, how on earth could you have a stereo copy from 1967! Ian D

LOL, I guess they're tucked away in a couple of thousand collections Pete. It immediately got devalued as an original when it appeared on Soulbowl for a quid (or was it 75p) in the early 70's - I'm sure someone has a copy of the Soulbowl lists from that time to confirm, but I'm pretty sure any of the oldies on here will confirm that it was a 75p record from '73-'76 at least, so yes, there are 1000's out there but like many of the records from that era they're probably in the garage, up in the loft or it's just simply one of those records that it's not worth anyone getting rid of....... Also looking at those scans that Roger put up earlier in the thread, it seems to me that the 'real' original is the lighter blue on the left and the 70's repress is the one the right. Anyone concurr? Ian D

Actually I think the answer's fairly simple. It's a legitimate re-press by Chess from the early 70's ('73 ish) and it was re-mastered in stereo along with the normal practises of the time. Chess were still a going concern at this point and would have probably happily taken an order for a few thousand from the UK. This also makes sense since it was on Soulbowl's list for £1 at the time and stocked around the country at most places for 75p-£1 on a brand new 'old' Chess label. I remember us talking about it at the time and saying how could such a great record lay undiscovered until the 70's and then thousands turn up! The re-presses were good enough to fool anybody which makes sense 'cos they'd have used old label stock on the re-press. Chess was one of the more 'connected' labels with the U.K. - don't forget that they had a million-selling No.1 record at the end of 1972 with Chuck Berry's "My Ding-A-Ling" which was actually recorded in England, in Coventry no less, so this was a company that knew what was going on in the UK. The UK issue followed the U.S. repress the following year in '74, so they effectively creamed it twice! Ian D

And a Valentine's Day Soulfest is what we had! Thanks to all for another wonderful afternoon of jam-packed Soul with the friendliest crowd on t'internet! Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 14th February 2010 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. 1st Hour James Ingram - Lean On Me - Masters @ Work Mix Dennis Ferrer feat K.T. Brooks - How Do I Let Go Donna Allen - He Is The Joy DJ Kulbir feat Daniel Thomas - Once I've Been There Kinsman Dazz - Love Design Roberta Flack - Lovin' You (Is Such An Easy Thing To Do) Sister Sledge - You Fooled Me Manhattan Transfer - Spice Of Life Gene Chandler - All About The Paper 2nd Hour The Dells - (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher Street People - Never Get Enough Of Your Love The Dramatics - I Can't Stand It The Temprees - At Last Betty Wright - Brick Grits Walter Heath - You Know You're Wrong Don't You Brother Clay Hammond - They Don't Makeum No More Lenny Williams - Cause I Love You Rose Royce - I Wanna Get Next To You Rick James - Make Love To Me Ann Nesby - I Can't Explain It Dooley Silverspoon & Jeanne Burton - Am I Losing You https://www.sixmillio...4-Starpoint.mp3 Al back behind the decks next week, so see you on the 28th! Ian D

Wow. Genius idea. You can get your music, drugs and porn in one fell swoop. There should be a national chain....... Ian D

Coming up LIVE @ 2.00pm! On www.starpointradio.com. Ian D

Fascinating stuff. F.L. Moore was onto the Northern Soul in-demanders earlier than most and he was MILES away from the North - down South in fact. So who was F.L. Moore and how was he getting his knowledge? He had quite a few of the rare Motown at the time - the Elgins, the Contours, Gladys Knight, Kim Weston and the Velvelettes but he also had Dean Parrish on Boom, the Incredibles on Audio Arts and Bunny Sigler on Parkway so he was getting hold of some great stuff from all over the States. So where was he getting it from? Plus he's In Leighton Buzzard for God's sake.....? Questions, questions....... Plus those prices were actually expensive at the time. In 1970 I was still at school but had a Saturday job which paid 2 pounds and ten shillings, so some of those records would have been almost 2/3 of one day's wages at the time. Pretty expensive believe or not. Plus, if my memory serves me correctly, 3 shillings and 6 pence (approximately 32p today) would have bought you Chicory Tip so you made out like a bandit on the Mitch Ryder Ric Tic....... Ian D

A Valentine's Day Soulfest is what we have coming up! A half hour of only the most Soulful House Rhythms followed by 30 minutes of Soulful late 70's and 80's Soulful Grooves followed by 30 minutes of Northern, Modern, Crossover and Pure Soul gems and finishing off with 30 minutes of killer Soul ballads and some glorious mid-tempo Soul infused rhythms. Yes folks, it's another Soulful Sunday afternoon with the Original Mastercuts crew - this week with Ian D. Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 14th February 2010 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring..... James Ingram * Dennis Ferrer feat K.T. Brooks * Donna Allen * DJ Kulbir feat Daniel Thomas * Kinsman Dazz * Roberta Flack * Sister Sledge * Manhattan Transfer * Gene Chandler * The Dells * Street People * The Dramatics * The Temprees * Betty Wright * Walter Heath * Clay Hammond * The Pacesetters * Lenny Williams * Rose Royce * Rick James * Ann Nesby * Dooley Silverspoon & Jeanne Burton See ya @ 2.00pm sharp! Ian D

That's the instant gratification generation for ya Mark......... C'mon pull yer finger out lad....... Ian D

And to think I was singing your praises to the good folk @ H-D-H this week! Incidentally, they'll be reading up on your sleeve notes on the 11 Edsel Invictus/Hot Wax reissues this weekend 'cos I sent 'em 4 sets 'cos when I checked with 'em they said they hadn't received any yet! Ian D

Believe me I could sell 10 of 'em right now Ken. One of the guys in the office is desperate for it on a Bluebird 12"....... Ian D

Some interesting stiff emerging from the H-D-H vaults Sean! There'll be a list on the way shortly touch wood! Ian D

"I Choose You" - Paris originally released on Kelli-Arts Records in 1984. Produced by the great Carl Davis and written by Carl Davis, Paris Holley and Otis Leavill. One of the all-time greats ballad wise....... Ian D

My experience is that the price of the originals usually go up after wider exposure! Ian D

Ego booster! Ian D