Ian Dewhirst

So, I'll answer my own question........ "However, there's a good chance you would not be holding this CD right now if it weren't for one song in particular: "Lord, What's Happening To Your People?". Issued in 1971 as the first and only release on Kenny's own Goldspot label, (originally titled "Lord, What's Happened?"), the record was written to cash in on a particular trend that Kenny describes as the "Jesus-rock era." "It was just a market or a trend that was going on at the time, so I thought it would fit," Kenny explains. Some label owners from Chicago thought that it would fit as well. They picked up "Lord..." to re-release on their General American Records imprint. However, General American had bigger things in mind for Kenny than the Billboard charts. They made him the Publishing Director of the company and the host of their new television show: Soul Street. Soul Street, for which Kenny also wrote the opening and closing themes, was broadcast in 36 markets around the country and featured a range of guests from local artist Tommy Wills, to more well known acts such as Lynn Collins, the Ohio Players, Little Royal, the Detroit Emeralds, Gladys Knight and James Brown. Soul Street ran for ten episodes, the first nine of which were hosted by Kenny. Behind the scenes, things were falling apart for GAR. A new host was brought in for the tenth episode, and that was it as the studio pulled the plug on the show due to unpaid bills. Kenny was out of his element in the television studio. By the early seventies Kenny was a seasoned performer and a regular on the regional club scene. Used to the gritty and aggressive atmosphere of the nightclub, the cold, sterile television set was an environment with which Kenny was unfamiliar. Besides being a fish out of water, Kenny was face to face with people who he previously considered to be his idols. ""I got intimidated a little bit, by these people ...I used to worship 'em. James Brown, you know, I did all his stuff, danced like him, everything else. And all of a sudden, here I am in control of this guy, askin' him questions." However, "Lord, What's Happened" would provide Kenny with recognition yet again in a strange and unexpected way. The song failed to ride the gospel-rock wave that Kenny had tried to latch onto in the U.S., but it got a second shot at success across the Atlantic in the dance clubs of Northern England. A couple of years after its release in the States, the British Northern Soul scene discovered the record and it became an anthem at the legendary Blackpool Mecca. Demand for the single from British dj's and collectors was high enough that in 1976 that Kenny was tracked down by the infamous French rare soul dealer and producer Simon Soussan. The original contract between Kenny and Soussan's Soul Galore Disco-Sound Productions details how Smith was paid $300 in advance for the right to reissue "Lord What's Happened" for the Northern Soul market and a promise of royalties to come for any copies pressed up and sold. Look more closely, however, and one notices that it is doubtful that any "commercial" copies were ever pressed up, because Soussan had 1000 to 1500 "promotional" copies made beforehand, after which there'd be no need for any commercial copies". https://www.shakeitrecords.com/cincinnatiso...mith/index.html But I still think some of those Goldspot ones are dodgy........ Ian D

Mmmm. Interesting. Are there any other releases on Goldspot then or was Kenny Smith a one-off? I'm pretty sure they didn't emerge until Soussan was doing his limited boots. When he was trying to counterfeit originals and pass them off he told me that he used to put them into a washing machine wrapped in a sheet and put bits of wood and coins in to try and replicate the wear and tear....... But the Goldspot thing has got me wondering now. I know Soussan was in touch with Kenny, so is it possible that he got the different mix from Kenny Smith and booted it on another label so that Kenny wouldn't have any problems with the GAR people......? This would have been exactly the same time as the Lee Mitchell's emerged...... Ian D

Have there ever been any other records on Goldspot then? I remember ordering Kenny Smith, George Blackwell and Prince George from Soussan and being bitterly disappointed when Kenny Smith arrived on Goldspot, George Blackwell was a convincing re-press and only Prince George appeared to be real......... I thought Soussan did the Goldspot version as he was actually in touch with Kenny Smith 'cos I was there when he spoke to him a couple of times a few months later..... Ian D

Actually I think Tommy Chong was one of the Vancouvers and Cheech Marin came along later. Either way, I guess you could say political correctness wasn't at the forefront of either Four Niggers & A Chink or Cheech & Chong....... Ian D

Wow! F*ck the record, just gimme the sword! Ian D

What about Kenny Smith "Lord What's Happening To Your People" on Goldspot? Ian D

Both a l'il bit manic for me George LOL although I'm sure they'd work OK at the Frontier in Batley where the kids seem to love the million-mile an hour ravey stuff....... Ian D

Yes folks, He may have been something of a recluse just lately..... ........and he may have a vocabulary which is limited to just 2 words, namely 'Soul' and 'Bowl'...... ........and he may have issues of a highly embarassing personal nature...... ........but Simon M does have an immense amount of knowledge and a record collection to die for! So come join us this Sunday afternoon on the ORIGINAL MASTERCUTS Show between 2.00-4.00pm on www.starpointradio.com and you'll be hearing some astoundingly good music and some in-depth nattering to find out exactly how Simon M ticks. Hopefully we'll get behind the mind of how this highly complex character thinks and what motivates and moves him besides Soul Bowl. Can't wait LOL! See ya Sunday @ 2.00pm sharp! Ian D

Yes dear. I seem to remember ringing you from the studio saying that I'd taken a few calls on it! Ian D

As if to prove the point, quite simply this is the greatest remix I've ever heard in my life. An absolute work of art which totally vaidates what can be done when someone puts their heart and soul into it and totally understands the record........ "Down To Love Town" - The Originals Dimitri From Paris Disco Citay Remix https://www.zshare.net/audio/574790283d411ba8/ Ian D

That's the general plan Mark....... Ian D

Well, if you put it like that what's the point of the thread then LOL? Good point though Cunnie. Is there any Northern or Modern 'DJ' who started off as a DJ and then started collecting......? The only one I can think of is John Vincent..... Ian D

No, it's Ron Murphy's old copy which Kenny had which was apparently originally purchased from the owner of the pressing plant. Tim Brown's copy is the one which was 'liberated' from the Motown library. However, I believe the statute of limitations has run out (6 years I believe) and it would difficult to launch any kind of action I believe since that copy has gone through so many owners over the years...... Ian D

Most deejays on this scene started off as collectors anyway didn't they? There's a massive difference between 'serious' DJ's who nurture and break music and people who want to get behind the decks at any cost. If I I'm in a club, then gimme a DJ anyday - most serious DJ's I know are there for a good reason, namely, they know about tempos, working a crowd, building atmosphere and peaking the night at the right time. Collectors are often of a different mentality which doesn't always translate to a club full of people who want an electric atmosphere. I've spent many a pleasant night at collector's houses listening to tunes which they may be passionate about but which probably won't electrify a club full of people and that's the main difference. Maybe venues, should have a 'Collectors Room' whereby numerous collectors can try their tunes and do 30 minute sets before the next guy takes over - this would give collectors an opportunity to spread their tastes to a wider audience and maybe make the jump to the bigger rooms eventually? Ian D

Mmm. A one-off? That's rarer then the damn record.......... Ian D

Looked like BJ's for the boys by the looks of it Benji.........or do you require further explanation? Ian D

Yep, that's right! I knew someone on here would know her. She certainly knows her stuff. I usually bump into her at Rare Disco type events but haven't seen her for a year or two........... Ian D

You see - another perk of the job. You'll tell me they actually paid you wages as well I suppose! Ian D

Yep, that sounds familiar. I even contacted G & H just recently to clarify something with a couple of early P.I. track through Sony and it was the usual brick wall....... I guess they made too much money LOL...... Ian D

The Sun today - Bizarre column Page 18..... "Singles may be 59p on t'internet but you'll need a bit more to bag the rarest seven-inch. One of just two copies of Sixties Northern Soul anthem "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" by Frank Wilson could hit £100,000 at auction this week". The hype builds...... Off and running now..... https://www.raresoulman.co.uk/auction/all-auction Ian D

Cheers Girth! I was beginning to think I imagined it or it was another one of my sick fantasies LOL.... I think plenty of dealers will know her - she kinda stands out doesn't she? Ian D

Great track! Had a ton of calls when I played it on the radio show a little while back! Ian D

I feel a 'Cheapo Cheapo Finds' thread coming on Tone........ Also I loved it because you could generally bolster a nice collection of UK promos and oddball releases for 25p a pop as well because I presume plenty of Promotion guys used to drop stuff off there. It's certainly where I picked up things like Marva Hicks, Paul Kendrick, Skull Snaps, Johnny Williams, Darlene Love etc, etc. The biggest fun was getting back 'em back to Leeds and playing through 'em at home 'cos a lot of that stuff was promoted in London and seldom made their way out of the capital. I used to think you guys had the greatest job in the world back then 'cos I usually came down in the Summer and my memories are of you or Ady sat at the stall in the sunshine surrounded by 1000's of obscure records and 100's of random strippers and hookers.......naturally it'd be a different kettle of fish on a freezing, pissing down day in November but all in all not a bad gig to do your apprenticeships ay......? Ian D

Very good if implausable. Ian D

If only Ady. The lady in question is an affirmed lesbian by all accounts and not exactly to my preferred taste although she'd win hands down if I measured these things by record collections LOL...... Ian D