Ian Dewhirst

I stated that the seller wanted to remain anonymous Dave. Which part of that is so difficult for people to understand? It's actually nobody else's business if the seller wants to remain anonymous is it? Besides, I consider that anyone who has collected records for 30 + years and spends time listening to them whilst comfortably sitting down in a chair is an armchair collector. Many of us are aren't we? I guess it depends how you define 'armchair collector'. I know thousands of 'em. Sure, I was being oblique but as I explained to people who rang me pumping me for information all the time, THE SELLER WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS! How much clearer could I make it? That was his prerogative and I stuck to my end of the deal. I've just had to give the same guarantee to another guy so this is par for the course for a lot of people at the moment. People have their own reasons for remaining anonymous and this thread is the living proof. I personally don't mind either way. Anyone out there, anonymous or otherwise who fancies moving some records can contact me and if I can help I will. I'd LOVE to get back to someone and say, "Hey, I've found someone who wants to sell the record you're after". It's just happened in fact. It's a handy 'lil service with maybe a 5-10% hit rate but that's better than no hit rate at all. I'd be happy to get a record this way...... Ian D

Well, not my doing Ken. All anyone wanted to do here was try and see if we could fill people's wants in a discreet fashion at the sellers request , which has now been done with plenty of people who are pretty happy that they're now getting stuff they've been after for years. No arms have been twisted. I've sorted about 5 records for people this morning alone, so people are very appreciative. Of course, you always get some prats - something which both Tim and the other seller would prefer to avoid! None of the guys who have actually bought records or requested them are prats (apart from one ) but serious collectors who want to fill gaps in their collections. Strangely enough they're not moaning........... Ian D

In this situation when it's his own collection he didn't want the limelight Steve. He's trying to finish a book and has his hands full with other stuff as well, so this was simply a kind of experiment to sell some records without a big song and dance. Failed miserably on the limelight front but surprisingly successful on the sales front. Ian D

Depends how you look at it Dave. Tim wanted anonymity for his own reasons, not least the fact that he didn't want a zillion calls and a stampede of people bothering him for records he didn't ever intend to sell. But that's out the bag now so I guess it's a moot point. However, he did use to be around when I was a lad (I sold him Duke Browner for £12) and I'd say he's the definitive armchair collector as he likes nothing more than sitting in his armchair listening to Deep Soul. I couldn't reveal who it was because I'd been requested not to and I respected that. Besides, does it particularly matter who the seller is? A rare record is still a rare record whoever owns it surely? But the strange thing is I'm actually also brokering deals for someone else as well, so the bespoke wants list thing is kind of working out for a few people. I just fulfilled another 3 wants this morning from an entirely different collector, who, guess what:- wants to remain anonymous LOL. So now two collections to go at. People still want the records and this is helping 'em find 'em. Normally it'd take an auction to turn up some of these and have tons of people bidding against each other. This way someone offers a price and it's either a yes, no or counter-offer. Simples. Ian D

That's the spirit. What use are the records you don't play much which are sat on a shelf among 1000's of others? They may as well go to a good home and prefeably someone who can use the record more! I spent bloody years trying to prise records out of collections and it could be a frustrating process at times...... It'd be perfect for Discogs really but Disgogs doesn't really do rare Northern. Whereas S.S. is pretty much ideal . Can't think of a better audience really. Ian D

I don't mind Ken. It can go there. It is a different type of thing from a standard sales thing though - it's a kind of bespoke wants list and then possible sales typa thing so it's not an easy fit......... But I am listening to ya mate! Ian D

These are not Anglo American stock, they're his personal collection, so not for sale per se. He's not in a hurry to sell anything from his collection but would consider offers on some titles that he's not too precious about. But he doesn't come on here, so I pitched it to see if anything would come out of it. From his point of view it's not so bad if it comes through a third-party and it saves him spending all his time on the phone arguing about prices LOL. It keeps it impersonal to a degree (or at least it did LOL) and I suspect that's been an attraction. Plus it's not like I have carte-blanche on this! I have to persuade him and cajole him. The amount of stuff he's turned down because he likes the 'B' side is unbelievable! As it happens it's freed up a load of records which otherwise wouldn't have gone anywhere fast! Ian D

Yep, he does have his own list and he does have hundreds of regular buyers. But he doesn't necessarily reach everyone or other different markets. Because I have a lot of discussions with him (I've been wholesaling lots of Anglo-American stock titles for the last few years to mainstream accounts) I always argue that sometimes it's worth going different routes on things to test new avenues. If a sort of 'bespoke wants lists at top prices' option was available in the 70's I'd have leapt on it. It's another opportunity to get someone you might really desperately need and not want to wait 20 years to find. Perfectly reasonable IMO. Most records end up staying on his shelves anyway. But, hey, if someone really wants a record, is prepared to pay the right price and he's not that precious about it then he'll certainly think about it won't he? And he has! Plus don't forget he's getting collections and stuff from Martin all the time so anything could potentially pop up. It's handy if you know who wants what under those circumstances surely? I suspect you'd already know if those had surfaced anywhere Steve but there's plenty of guys who may not be as well plugged-in as your good self and those are the guys who might want a shot at some goodies. This way they have...... I'm happy when people get records they're after! Ian D

Boy he loves this doesn't he? Of course Tim knew. That was the whole point. Tim doesn't come on here precisely for many of the reasons highlighted by this very thread. He probably knows he'll come in for serial abuse so would no doubt prefer to avoid it. Don't blame him. It's not a nice place at times. And no heist, that's not my style. Plenty of people can make their own decisions based on the prices quoted and they have an option to say yes or no. If it was a heist there wouldn't be any options would there? Ian D

Well, if you've had dealings with Tim Brown for over a year now, how come you didn't nail the records in question? You could have had one of the damn records a year ago for a lot less than the record will cost now. How come you didn't snap it up then? You being the master negotiator and all that........ You're not bidding against yourself either. You're bidding against everyone LOL. If anyone else wants those records right now they're for sale to anyone who wants to pay the prices. It's NOT a negotiation. If you wanted the records you should have rung Tim anytime over the last year and BOUGHT 'em. Nothing was stopping you was it? So if anyone out there wants to the two records that James has been dicking around on for the last year, then drop me a PM. The prices are straightforward and very easy to understand. Right now James is a ways off........ And I have a pretty decent job James but I do however always require cash-flow and if I can flog a few records for someone to people who want 'em, then that's fine by me. I've been doing it for the last 40 years so it's not exactly a new thing. There's quite a few people on here that are more than happy with this scenario. They'll have their records in a day or two and then we can ask 'em! Ian D

No Steve. All for real mate, as many people on here will testify. Now I'm beginning to understand why my guy wants to remain anonymous! It's quite a bit of hassle with some people and easy as pie with others, a bit like life really. I think my guy knows this and really doesn't want the 'dicking around' factors and he's not really into negotiating as these are his personal collection and he'd obviously prefer not to sell anything if he had the option, so therefore if he does decide to sell something it'll be on his terms at his price, which is fair enough isn't it? Also there can many diverse reasons why he would want to do it this way which I can't go into. I suspect he has his reasons. And believe me, the sooner I get all this wrapped up the better really. I'm going to be tied up with a new job from September, so I'm really looking to close this off within the next week or so anyway...... So I reckon another week - 10 days and then everything will be closed off for now. He's well on the way to his target figure so hopefully another half dozen deals will do it. So let me know if there's anything you simply HAVE to have Steve and don't mind paying a premium for! Ian D

Thanks Phil. 36 hours out of the country and look what happens! I'm not surprised my seller wants to remain anonymous! Don't blame him one iota. I just spoke to him and he laughed out loud and said 'rather you than me'. There speaks a wise old soul! Ian D

Patience is a virtue young man. I sent you this PM on Monday:- "OK, James. Great offer and he's considering it. Should know tomorrow touch wood". My guy has been deliberating over ONE of the two records you wanted as he has a competing offer for it (with some other good titless) and your offer, great though it was, was still £400 less then the price he wanted. I've been singing your praises and trying to nail the two records for you, you ungrateful clod! If it's any consolation, one out of the two is virtually guaranteed but I was trying to get you both of 'em. So bear with me OK. Should know tomorrow (Friday). I went away in the early hours of Wednesday morning and just got back now (9.00 Thursday night), so will catch up with everything else by tomorrow! As I've said before, it's not easy this lark. Northern Dealers earn their weight in gold if you ask me....... Ian D

More records have gone out today and the next burst will be sent out on Friday. I'm away for a couple of days, so anyone still waiting for me to come back to them on some of their offers it'll most likely be Friday. Sold some absolute killers! Please keep the lists coming and remember it doesn't just have to be Northern - there's plenty of other goodies in there as well - tons of Modern, Rare Funk and General Rare Oddball stuff so keep those wants coming folks. The hit rate is not bad at all...... Ian D

Well, the 2nd to last solo show for me before Alan and I split the show from September onwards. Next week's ORIGINAL MASTERCUTS show will be me playing all my faves from the last 12 months and then Al & I will be presenting the show LIVE from the Swansong All-Dayer in Chertsey on the 30th August. This week's show is a belter and we've managed to get the download thing back on track again, so for those of you who missed it by wanting to watch Man U trounce the opposition, then here it is! Something for everyone with the usual odyssey through the different eras........ Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show with Ian Dewhirst Sunday 16th August 2009 on everyone's favourite Soul station https://www.sixmillio...6-Starpoint.mp3 Try and join me for next week's best of the last 12 months. Pure self indulgence but it should round things off nicely! See you @ 2.00pm LIVE next Sunday Afternoon! Ian D

Also, whilst we're on the subject of names, how does one pronounce Paul S's surname? Sadot. Is it the French way with a silent 't' I wonder...............? Ian D

I'm not sure anymore mate...... I'll have to go back to the beginning..... Methinks James is a sheep in wolf's clothing anyway............ Ian D

Mmmm. Obviously it takes one to know one! I mean what parents would baptize their offspring with a name like In-Town anyway? Ian D

Can you stop with the humerous posts please Steve? This is meant to be a serious conversation about Soul Music........ Ian D

Because that's what In Town Mikey just told me. But I've just had two people tell me what James's real name is, so I take it back again. I thought it was too good to be true LOL.... Ian D

I take that back. James didn't christen himself "Trouble". That's actually his christened name. It's genetic then........ Ian D

I agree too but if someone has a pop at @ a load of associates and friends and says they have never contributed to the scene, then should there not be a right of reply? I didn't even get involved until Paul Sadot levelled his accusations @ Manifesto and I thought someone should respond. I was just about to shoot a few things back too from the calls and PM's I've had about other situations that concern Paul but I'm happy enough to get back to the music mate. I don't like negativity anyway. Ian D

Yeah but come on guys. What did you expect from a guy who christens himself "Trouble"........? Did that not give you a clue? At least he does what it says on the tin. Unlike that nefarious b*stard 'Mr Nice Guy' Ritson............ Ian D

Thanks for the warning Stuart. The beard is a dead giveaway and I should have seen that from the off. It's only after reading the above and re-watching a DVD of "The Devil's Advocate" that the truth has suddenly clicked that Mike Ritson is in fact evil incarnate and the living embodiment of the role which Al Pacino played with such aplomb. The guy lulled me into a false sense of security by appearing on the scene in the early 70's and bugging me to play records - an early indication of the kind of sublimal mind games the guy was up to back then. Little did I know I know this was part of his long-term game-plan. I then managed to keep out of his way for the next 25 years before I realised he'd cropped up with with a Northern Soul magazine called 'Manifesto'. Little did we know back then how prophetic the title would be! In the meantime I next bumped into him when the two of you wrote "The In Crowd" and Mike first located me by nefarious methods (he rang Neil Rushton and got my number) and then proceeded to interogate me mercilessly under the guise of interviewing me for his so-called book, henceforth to be known as 'Project Orange'. He plied me with alcohol throughout the 'interviews' and then accused ME of trying to encourage HIM to drink - a typical ploy from a criminal mastermind. 'Project Orange' was a perfect cover for this undercover svengali to interrogate key members of the Northern Soul movement in order to understand the mindset of Northern Soul devotees so he could take over the scene for his own pernacious desires. I'm not surprised you got suckered into it mate - he had us all fooled didn't he? I've since done some more research and found out that 'The Master' is currently running his evil empire from a caravan in the South Of France - presumably to try and fool people into thinking that he's actually not that well-off and actually chooses to live in a hot-box for several weeks every year! Thanks again for the warning Stuart. I'd better alert Soul Sam and Fish before they carry out any more attrocities in the name of The Master....... Ian D