Ian Dewhirst

I know it's a 70's item, but I've always thought that Larry Saunders "On The Real Side" on a red London promo is difficult...... Ian D

GAVE you Alan? I'm from Mirfield - we don't give anything away mate! I'm terribly sorry that you misconstrued the contract we had re the billboard book old bean. My recollection of the deal was that it was strictly available for hire at the (then) bargain price of a mere £2 per week. Since that was, errr, 1978, that equates to £104 per year x 30 years = £3,120.00 which is payable immediately. I would be most grateful if you get that off today please. A pleasure doing business with you sir. Yours Sincerely, Ian D

Mmmm. Food for thought there Alan. Lemme get on a plane and start visiting those Music Bizzy retirement type complexes in Santa Anna and California! Ian D

Blimey. The prices of things never fail to amaze me. Well my mint promo's available on here for £150 then LOL...... Ian D

Oh God, that means you and Brian '45' Phillips are both in the same neck of the woods! Thank god I'm not collecting so much these days LOL....... Ian D

I think it'd be twice as hard to boot UK rarities. There were both less promos and issues made for the UK than the US in most cases and I think it would be easier to check the actual pressings as the rarities would only usually come from a single UK pressing plant in those days, rather then several different plants like in the US. Also, can you imagine the suspicion if a few copies of Alexander Patton or Darrell Banks demos turned up on the same night? Whereas with the US gear, anything is potentially possible. Ian D

Well you are 10 minutes from Ravensthorpe aren'tcha Julian? Actually was this ever booted on the original label? Ian D

Wow. I stand corrected Gentlemen. Obviously a lot more around then I ever realised! All of which has made me wonder if multiples of any other ultra-raries have turned up since back in the day. Any Inspirations, Twans, Don Varners or Robbie Lawsons turned up in more quantity for instance? Actually in my astonishment at the two Jimmy Macks in one night in Ravensthorpe turning up, I remembered a guy called Jim who WAS 10 minutes away (in Mirfield) who had an amazing collection of rare originals in '76. Myself and others sold him our rare originals for years when they got bootlegged and he'd built up a very tasty collection, but he dropped off the scene for some reason. I always wondered whether he's still around and whether they're still in his loft........? Ian D

I think they were talking about 'Hey Hey Bunny' rather then 'Judy' Bri. Can't see it ever been played at the Wheel as you say.... Ian D

Haha LOL. I've just realised who modernsoulsucks is now. How are ya Rod? I'll take yer word on the Jimmy Mack then I guess. Difficult to understand how a record which was almost impossible to find in the 70's should be relatively common these days. Out of curiosity what does it go for these days? Coupla hundred? I'm almost tempted to zip down to Ravensthorpe and snag one myself whilst they're out there LOL...... Ian D Ian D

WHOLE OUTFIT & DANCE MOVES!!!!! Ian D

OK, that explains a lot then. An exceptional record IMO, sounds perfect for these days I think...... Ian D

It wouldn't surprise me. I was there about 15 months back and one of the guys there (I think he's called Ray) actually collects Northern. They've been at it for years I think........ Incidentally, yet another place where there are simply too many records! Mountains of the stuff, although mostly 12" and Albums plus they make you give the records to 'em to value AFTER you've spent 3 days pulling everything out!! Ian D

Difficult to beat Judy methinks - so good I bought two of 'em........ But whatever you do, DO NOT look at this otherwise it'll put you off for life. John Fred IS the young John Cleese....... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtUng2PxaAY...feature=related Ian D

Yeah, you're not wrong there Dave! Some of 'em are so obscure I questioned why anyone would want to boot 'em until I saw 'em everywhere from Baltimore to Buffalo LOL..... Ian D

Will you give me ze formula for za secret chemical........? Ian D

It'd be a pleasure Bogue and gives me an excuse to ring the cantankerous old sod LOL! He's still the top guy for mastering the 70's gear to me, even though his apartment stinks of cat pee and master tapes - a perfect smell for us vinyl hounds in many ways..... Ian D

I disagree Rod. As long as I've known, the Jimmy Mack's been an incredibly difficult record to find. To have 2 mint copies turn up @ Sheridans doesn't make sense. Unless someone can tell me different, or a load turned up, I'd be very dubious about the odds of several of 'em turning up on the same night.... Presumably it's still massively difficult? Ian D

True. Peter's the king at bootlegging his own records LOL Last time I was over in the U.S. I was staggered at the amount of P&P 12" rarities which were turning up sealed and virtually indistinguishable from the originals. Until I found out it was Peter that was wholesaling 'em, generally in person and to order. I know all this too well since my partner at the time and I bought the rights to the P&P catalogue from Peter, only to find out that he'd sold the catalogue to Unidisc some 10 years earlier! Also, there's just too many weird boots emerging, mainly from the U.S. - the New Yorkers 12" is another one which was turning up at all the usual shops, identical to the original and priced at anywhere from $50-$200. Some supposedly reputable sellers who were trying to sell them as originals too! Also, another thing I noticed was some real oddball 7" 45's that, to me, were obviously brand new but still being sold behind the counter as bona-fides. Also what about all these recent boots of quite a few major label rarities - the Amnesia connection or something? Anyone got any of the titles.....? Ian D

I think it is! It looks like Tom's writing. I'll check with him next time I speak to him and see if he remembers - I know Tom quite well following the Salsoul reissues in '02-'05 'cos he's still on the Salsoul payroll...... Ian D

That's what I thought Tony. I think it was when Barry said "anyway is the bootlegged version I have a boot of the original independant release prior to Capitol picking it up"? that made me question it LOL.... Interesting band Babe Ruth - I think they had a breakbeat collectible as well with "The Mexican" I seem to recall......... Ian D

Here's a proper one - demo too...... Ian D

Both versions in stereo - 3.20 and 5.02 - it's "Elusive" on both sides and that's probably why I kept it! Ian D

I'm still trying to get my head around what constitutes 'crossover' 'cos a lot of things seem to fit into that catergory going by some of the lists I've seen LOL..... So any of these any good? I think the Shirrelles feat Shirley Alston and the Dionne Warwicke are exceptional. The Dionne Warwicke writing credits are 2 x Hollands, 2 x Doziers and a R. Wylie for good measure LOL.... The CC & Co is a real weird one being a Theo-Coff production and a GREAT version of the David Cassidy song which may put off some people but it's just such a great soulful mid-tempo sing-a-longer......... Ian D