Ian Dewhirst

Uh oh. I don't like the sound of that so much Ed. But here's a taste of what can happen with the right producer, song and band behind you. Just listen to this and tell me that if this had been recorded in '68 and was by Roberta 'Ms Soul' Hightower on Flying Tumbleweed records from buttf**k USA, that this wouldn't have been a monster everywhere? I'd have played it in a second! My fave 'pop' song from last year....... Ian D Amy_Winehouse___Tears_Dry_On_Their_Own.mp3

Where's ANYONE who has any info on this Top 20 Wigan smash. LOL? I think we can safely say it didn't stick around long. It's not some horrible instrumental is it? Like "Theme From Spiderman" by Ron Grainger & Orch.........? Ian D

Can't see 'em being the Alessi Brothers - earlier releases under another name would have been dug out by now I think (as with Barnaby Bye). But I CAN see 'em being Stefan and brother. That would make a bit of sense....... Ian D

Yeah right, Toad. And the check's in the mail etc, etc... How about, like, the name of the artist, label and song? You'll be telling me that the vocal of "6X6" by Tony Turner on Musicor really exists at this rate LOL..... Ian D

Cheers Tony. But "Spiderman"?????? Ian D

Doh! Thanks Dancingcollector.... Anything definitive on Spiderman yet though? Someone must know it - it was a Top 20 hit @ Wigan LOL..... Ian D

Never mind that, what's "The Notice" by the Fidels and "Spider Man" - Will Power? I don't seem to know either of 'em unless my brain's finally turned to mush LOL....... Ian D

"Manifesto" - Dexy's Midnight Runners "Hung Up On Your Love" - Rod Stewart "I Never Knew" - UB40 Ian D

Oh, GREAT call Tony. Put me down for one of them wouldja? Would be good news because hardly any of JJ's stuff is available on CD. In fact I was going to include "Sweet Inspiration" on a 70's Soul Hits type thing I'm doing with Sony-BMG but it didn't really fit with the rest of the stuff on there, so if you're doing it I'll leave it off for sure. It sounded kinda daft in between Friends Of Distinction and Main Ingredient anyway if the truth's know LOL.... And yep I caught the Artie Fullilove connection in a previous thread.... I feel a Johnny Johnson revival on the horizon...... Is he still around? Ian D

I've tried 'em all and I think the Anderson Brothers is the best production by a long chalk. Great performance too. Who were the Anderson Brothers and did they ever make another record? Ian D

Nah, certainly wasn't Wigan at it's height by that point. Too much Soussan Mirwood stuff in there, made for the scene stuff like Tommy Hunt and serious dodgies like Biddu, Flower Shoppe etc. I was always biased towards Richard in terms of what he played to be honest and I'm not sure if this really reflects too much of Richard's taste here LOL.... Probably made more for the promo dept @ Spark Records methinks........ Ian D

Dusty did a version?????? Wow, I've got to hear that - I'm looking for it now....... I LOVE this song. I vaguely remember 'em playing this on Top Of The Pops and me being a bit sniffy at the time 'cos it was a Tony Macaulay UK produced hit but, now I'm hearing it some 38 years later, it just sounds fantastic. Johnny Johnson definitely got shortchanged on the N.S. scene. To have made a record like "Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache" and 'overshot' the scene is unfortunate but to have made another killer like "Sweet Inspiration" and overshot the scene again is just plain bad luck. But at least we're agreeing on this one Tony! BTW I'm having an audit of my U.S. 45's shortly and I know there'll be some stuff you'll want in there I think so I'll let you what's going shortly... Best, Ian D

Correctomundo Blake! Could there be any other use for such a fabulous recall of such minor details in the footnotes of music history LOL? Best, Ian D

OK, I know this was a Top 10 UK hit record in July 1970 but I listened to it again recently and I simply cannot find any flaws in it at all. A fantastic song, great pounding Northern production and Johnny singing his heart out. If this was on a tiny Alabama label by an unknown act surely it would be huge wouldn't it? Fairly easy to find and a fabulous feel good record with an irresistible hook but could it ever be played or is it considered too pop/available? Ian D

It's funny how things come around. I actually 'worked' this record when it came out as I used to be a plugger for Decca at the time. I HATED it then. I think the only person who played it back then was Chris Hill. Always a bit obviously commercial for my tastes at the time 'cos it was used in the perfume ad. Also, having been such a fan of "Come Back", it just didn't appeal to me at all. Ian D

Now THAT is exactly the right attitude! More power to ya Rob. Sounds like fun - I'll try and get along one night..... Ian D

Nothing Can Compare To You" - Any Winehouse Ian D

Yeah but I'm a romanticist Tony! And you're right, it was a stretch to compare the Isleys to Duffy LOL but I honestly think that the conditions for spreading Northern Soul to a new audience are better now that almost any time in the past 20 years. The general public's affinity seems to be spreading to 60's retro big productions with songs of torture and pain and they're buying it droves via Amy and Duffy. Pastiches they may be but to me they're opening up new audiences for the possible appreciation of Northern Soul to a wider market. Also when I see the sheer size of the Northern Soul section in the Oxford St Zavvi in the centre of London, it tells me that they must be stocking it for a reason. And this is just so much better than the Wigan's Ovation period in the 70's. At least these are bonafide artists with original songs who are making 60's type productions hip again. If Amy did a cover of "Nothing Can Compare To You" that'd sure shorten the canyon LOL... Ian D

Yep, good read. Bought in on Saturday night and read it over the rest of the weekend whilst dodging between different rooms, 90mph gales and my chalet crashpad @ Prestatyn..... I actually thought it was about searching for rare records in the U.S. - probably the boxful of rare 45's as the pic cover and "Searching For Soul" as a title had something to do with it, so an effective title and jacket design LOL.... So more power to Reg for getting a book done at all in this day and age. A lifetime of passion for soul is always an inspiring read! Ian D

I wouldn't go that far Tony. The Isley Brothers had a hit with "This Old Heart Of Mine" before they found another musical wagon to hitch their stars to, but it got me and my mates into Motown and then Northern. Plus the fact that Amy Winehouse has had the biggest selling album of the last 15 months with a real 60's sensibility and Duffy's been No1 for the last 2 weeks with the UK's biggest-selling single with a real 60's sensibility, I think is pointing out that people like the sound. So, I don't think it's a quantum leap but a very logical assumption that people may well eventually delve into the deeper stuff. That's generally what happens in my experience. We should be encouraging it and broadening their listening experiences and if that means encouraging Zavvi to stock up on their Northern Soul back-cat then surely that's a good thing innit? I just went to the old megastore yesterday and shock horror, the Northern Soul section was MASSIVE plus they took the back cover of Q to advertise it! Plenty of your stuff in there too. However, unfortunately, I do in fact go to Specsavers these days, so you could be right LOL..... Ian D

Haha LOL. Yes, as a matter of fact they were. Very enthusiastic young hoorays they were too. Very up for just about anything and refreshing to play to. They loved Willie Tee and insisted I play it again to round off the set. The innocence of youth....... Ian D

And let's not forget the ultimate vibe instrumental "California Montage" - Young Holt Unlimited! Ian D

Ha. Serves you right LOL..... I think the difference between when many of us got into Northern, was that the age gap wasn't so huge. The people who went to the Wheel were only a few years older so it was still very much a cool youth thing back then. Whereas, now the age differential is 20-30+ years. I go to some gigs where the kids really dress-up and dance to lots of R'n'B and Rock N' Roll and the energy is great - the last one I went to was Gaz's Rocking Blues in Wardour Street and it was GREAT, GREAT, GREAT! So much energy and enthusiam. The first all-nighter at the Rocket in London was a good example of plenty of new kids (around 1500 I think) coming along but the atmosphere dropped appreciably because of the music policy IMO. That was an opportunity missed. I've played a couple of Motown/60's nights to a none Northern crowd which were great. It's a question of getting the balance right as always..... Ian D

Do you work for a publisher Paul? It's difficult to keep up with people these days Lol..... I agree with your take on the 'retro' thing which was more Amy vocal stylings and Mark Ronson's production which took in a number of disparate 50's and 60's influences. I dunno about Duffy though. It seems to me that they were always going the Northern Soul route. I think Bernard Butler must have listened to a lot of Northern throughout the years, as he seems to go for 'big' arrangements with orchestras plus they did recruit the dancers from here (Soul Source Forum) for the video last year, so someone, somewhere, had a game-plan I reckon..... It's fantastic that it's No.1. I think this whole thing is like a breath of fresh air and can only be good for the scene if the kids aren't put off by the oldsters and maybe some entrenched attitudes. I think it would be nice for a wider age range to discover the beauty of Northern Soul for themselves. Could have done with a few more youngsters at Prestatyn for sure, not that I'm complaining or anything but it's always nice to see kids getting a taste for it....... Who didja get the covers of !If I Could Only Be Sure" with? Best, Ian D

Do you work for a publisher Paul? It's difficult to keep up with people these days Lol..... I agree with your take on the 'retro' thing which was more Amy vocal stylings and Mark Ronson's production which took in a number of disparate 50's and 60's influences. I dunno about Duffy though. It seems to me that they were always going the Northern Soul route. I think Bernard Butler must have listened to a lot of Northern throughout the years, as he seems to go for 'big' arrangements with orchestras plus they did recruit the dancers from here (Soul Source Forum) for the video last year, so someone, somewhere, had a game-plan I reckon..... It's fantastic that it's No.1. I think this whole thing is like a breath of fresh air and can only be good for the scene if the kids aren't put off by the oldsters and maybe some entrenched attitudes. I think it would be nice for a wider age range to discover the beauty of Northern Soul for themselves. Could have done with a few more youngsters at Prestatyn for sure, not that I'm complaining or anything but it's always nice to see kids getting a taste for it....... Who didja get the covers of !If I Could Only Be Sure" with? Best, Ian D