Ian Dewhirst

Well, if you were there, then you'll know that despite being issued on a Motown subsidiary it did jack shit in the U.S. and only became a 'pop' record AFTER it broke on the Northern scene. Would it still be a pop record if the Isleys or Four Tops had done it? Or is 'cos R. Dean Taylor was white that you're classifying it as a pop record? Is it so different from the other Holland-Dozier-Holland classics? Just curious as to why you think it's a pop record.........? Ian D

When was this tune ever rare? Are you serious? When TAGIMH was first found there was only one known U.S. V.I.P. copy in the UK and it was the biggest record on the Northern Soul that year (1973 I think)! In fact it was so popular as a direct result of being discovered on the Northern Soul scene that it eventually got released in the U.K. and made No.3 in the UK chart in May 1974. It's a tremendous record! Produced by Holland, Dozier, Holland it's still the epitome of perfect Northern Soul record. I guess you had to be there! Ian D

Yep. Established that the single came out 3 months before the album appeared, so the Contours should deffo be on the list. Ian D

I think Luther Vandross had the same zig-zag weight problem didn't he? It's an occupational habit when one likes food so much! Mind you, we've all got crosses to bear one way or another, so I wouldn't dwell on it. Have you heard the Robin Thicke record by the way? Here's a sneak preview........ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feKSDMZVH_w Ian D

Good. So it's not just me then Malc? I like that photo when he came back from the States looking like John Travolta LOL...... Ian D

No Steve, that was mainly the 'lost' years of the mid 80's flying around the world in drug-fueled frenzy looking for action! Bloody good time though. Shame I can't remember it LOL............ I was actually young and innocent throughout the Northern Soul years believe it or not which is why I can remember things from then much easier than the mid 80's.......... Ian D

Also a nice little Soul Source exclusive....... Can do the following two books for £30.00 the pair (+£5.00 P&P) The Northern Soul Top 500 - Kev Roberts (latest edition) The In Crowd - Mike Ritson & Stuart Russell This is effectively half-price as both books retail @ £29.95 each! PM me if interested! Ian D

And surely he's got to LOVE "Magic Touch" - the Robin Thicke feat Mary J. Blige record..........? Record of the year for me.......... Ian D

Yes. I suppose it's time I came out of the closet Ian. After 37 years I can't contain myself any longer.......... Ian D

Good. I like it when you occasionally rave about other records. It makes you seem humble, cuddly and somehow more human...... Just seen the label scans for Gary The Master Blaster and they're rockin'! Ian D

Yep, you did mate! Humble pie has been eaten on the other thread too! I'll tell yer what though, I don't think ANYONE'S memory is infallible after 35 years of living in the fast lane! That's the beauty of Soul Source 'cos at least we can double check this stuff...... Ian D

Yep, that Sharon Davis Motown book with all the UK releases and Comps has been worth it weight in gold over the years...... And, yes, I'm pretty sure that "Baby Hit & Run" was a punt. I wonder who was responsible for it? Anyone we know....? Ian D

What does 'cum a la be stay' mean? Marsha Hunt used to sing it on "Oh No Not The Beast Day" and I always wondered what it meant? Ian D

Well, I got my dates wrong on the Gil Scott-Heron thread so it's a common problem! Ian D

Yep, you're right by the looks of Dave. Although Amazon maintain it was '73 but I'm inclined to go along with Wikipedia..... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_in_America I think I must have lost a year in the early 70's! Ian D

No you didn't Dave. Album was issued 3 months AFTER the single came out! Ian D

OK, just checked out the release dates for "Baby Hit And Run" - The Contours and they are as follows: 7" Single TMG 886 The Contours "Baby Hit & Run"/"Can You Jerk Like Me" February 1974 MFP LP MFP 50054 The Contours "Baby Hit & Run" May 1974 Nowt up with my memory lads! All portions of humble pie can be sent to me now LOL! Ian D

Blast! See what I mean? Ian D

Not to my knowledge and I never heard ANYONE play it before the 7" release. If it did, then I stand corrected but I'd love someone to confirm with the release information. There would have been no reason to issue a Contours album on MFP as there was no public knowledge of the Contours in the UK market back then, as there isn't nowdays either. Also I remember the buzz that went around the scene when the 7" was issued and could be bought in any record shop. It would have been known if it had been previously released on an MFP album I'm sure. The only MFP album which had a rare Northern track on it was the R.Dean Taylor album with "There's A Ghost In My House" which has been written about before on here. So come on Dave, let's have the release info on this Contours MFP album mate, otherwise I'll be accused of being a drug-addled forgetfull zombie again by certain people! Ian D

LOL, I did exactly the same thing in 1993 when I was struggling with a TV advertised Al Green album which I put out and needed to sell around 30K copies to make it worthwhile. I went down to Camden and saw a stall selling a bootleg CD of the same album using MY artwork etc. So I went up and asked the guy how much for the Al Green CD, he said, "a fiver mate" so I just took it. As I was about to leave he asked me if I was going to pay for it and I said "it's my album and I'm taking this to trading standards 'cos you're selling bootlegs". He then started coming around the stall, so I upended the whole stall and spilt his entire stock all over the main road. We then got into a major fight which I only lost because he had two other stall-holders help him! The cops turned up and very nearly arrested ME even though this guy was plainly selling bootlegs! That was when I realised that bootlegs just aren't taken seriously by the authorities. I guess they have other priorities. This filters through to the present day, when I can walk into virtually any high street music chain and confidentally pick up bootlegs from their own shelves and this is 2008 I'm talking about! Hence the reason I've kinda given up on the whole bootleg thing........ Ian D

Late '73 I guess, although you could argue that the likes of First Choice "This Is The House Where Love Died", Millie Jackson's "My Man Is A Sweet Man" and N.F. Porter's "Keep On Keeping On" were all played as new releases at the time long before this. However, I reckon September 1973 would be a good starting point for the more obvious 70's sounding contemporary Modern tunes on the basis that that was when Gil Scott-Heron's "Winter In America" was released. Since we played "The Bottle" off this as an import album, I guess this would be as good a place as any to start...... Blimey! That's 35 years ago and we call it Modern! Ian D

Spent another morning trawling through a mates storage unit and found a couple of boxes with most of the early issues of Manifesto in them. It turns out that they were all the early issues which had been kept and then forgotten about until now. Less than half a dozen each of most of them so the fairest thing to do is whack 'em on here and let people order what they want on a first come first served basis. These are the last of the issues from the original stock, so once these are gone that's it! Well worth getting IMO as these early issues are a brilliant snapshot of the scene from '94-'99 and contain some priceless photos, scans and articles. Perfect for archive purposes! So £4 each inc P&P or any 6 for £20 inc P&P! Issue 1: Sept '94 - Stafford, Dave Thorley, The Ritz, Pep On The Catacombs Issue 3: Spring '95 - Edwin Starr, Dave Evison, Va-Va's Issue 4: Summer '95 - Wigan Casino, The Kev Roberts Story Issue 5: Autumn '95 - Lou Johnson, Issue 7: Spring '96 - Chris King, Blackpool Mecca Issue 8: Summer '96 - The Isley Brothers, Bob Hinsley Issue 10: Winter '96 - Esther Phillips, Ginger Taylor Issue 11: Spring '97 - Baby Washington, Ady Croasdell Issue 13: August '97 - Chuck Jackson, Richard Searling Issue 15: Jan '98 - Brenda Holloway, Kim Weston Issue 16; March '98 - Ronnie McNeir, Chris Burton Issue 17: May '98 - Al Wilson, Ian Levine Issue 18: August '98 - Terry Callier, Togetherness Weekender Issue 19: October '98 - Ian Levine Issue 20: January '99 - Pat Lewis, Sam Dees, The Flirtations PM me if interested and I'll reserve 'em for each buyer. Best, Ian D

They've always come from everywhere as far as I know. The first boots I ever saw were the Soul Sounds ones which were UK based, then came the Selectadisc years via Simon Soussan which were via the U.S., Jimmy Thomas on TB Super Soul (Tony Banks) then Out Of The Past via Chris Burton etc, etc, etc.... It's always gone on and looks like it always will to be honest. Ian D

Just shows you! Even artists bootleg other artists songs and then release them 'legimately'! Ian D

We almost did I seem to remember. Levine's thingy in Ealing wasn't it? Next time say hello! Ian D