Ian Dewhirst

Quite a few:- "This Gets To Me" - Pookie Hudson "What" - Judy Street "It Ain't Easy" - Charles Russell "I Know You're Leaving Me" - Si Hightower "I Wonder Why" - Si Hightower Plus lots of 70's Modern gear way too numerous to mention but most of 'em have gone big since. 100's of lovely originals including Terrible Tom, Willie Hutch, Lou Ragland, Morris Chestnut, Viginia Blakely, Ty Karim, James Gresham, The Servicemen, Tobi Bowe etc, etc. I used to send the majority of the stuff over to Neil Rushton who then filtered 'em out to various jocks at the time. Couple of memorable things which happened..... One time Neil rang up to ask me to get hold of a few hundred copies of the Glass Family record "Smoke Your Troubles Away" on Earhole Records. I checked the label and it had a contact number for a guy called Jim Callan who also turned out to be the engineer for Parliament! I arranged to pick up 500 copies of the record from Jim @ a studio in Hollywood.....where Parliament were recording "Flashlight"! So the first time I met George and the boys was late '76 whilst they were recording one of their most popular songs. One of my first chemical experiences too (thanks a bunch George!). Also I kinda take credit for Simon Soussan discovering Frank Wilson. I met Tom Depreiro (?) and Susanne Depasse when I was trying to get Shalamar signed to Motown with "Uptown Festival" and they were very interested. I took Simon along for the next meeting and he then got in with Tom whilst I had to come back to the UK 'cos my visa had run out. He somehow persuaded Tom to let him look in Motown's archive library which is where he found and 'appropriated' the first copy of Frank Wilson (which Kenny Burrell now owns). So I reckon if I hadn't hung around Motown all day waiting to meet Tom Depriero and Susanne Depasse, Simon would never have got into Motown's archive - he lacked the patience to wait around and would have pissed everyone off no doubt! Loads more stories but I've gotta save some for the book LOL...... PM me yer number and we'll have a natter and see if we can drag Caesar along as well..... Best, Ian D

We've all had those mate! I once went to a shop in Batley in about 1975 which was run by a biker. There were 1000's of old U.S. 45's from the Doo-Wop eras through to the mid 60's but very little obvious Northern stuff at that time. When the slower, earlier stuff started being played in the late 70's and Stafford era 80's, I realised that many of those records were in the Batley shop - I have a photographic memory for labels I've seen. Naturally I could never find the guy again........ I think there were a couple of places in Nottingham too weren't there? I know the Ila Vann's all came from Nottingham whilst the only copies of the Del-Larks all came from Jim Wilson's Records in Shoreditch..... Ian D Ian D

I read about it! Amazing score. It was Record Surplus wasn't it.....? Ian D

Good enough for me - especially post e-bay and price guides! It's a hell of a lot more difficult these days that's for sure. Thought for the day: the 2nd or 3rd copy of the Invitations "Skiing In The Snow" was bought in a U.S. Woolworths sales for 15 cents! Times have sure changed....... Ian D

I'd probably have a scan through Soul Brothers 12" catalogue which should give you some idea of most of the prices. Pull out any P&P 12"'s and any which were played up North back in the day (D.C. Larue, Esther Williams, Jobell etc) as they don't turn up that often and are now being discovered by younger DJ's. Best, Ian D

Well the way I always looked at it, was that if someone could genuinely use a record more than me, then the record would be better off in their collections rather than mine. What's the point in just having records gathering dust on the shelf when someone else could be genuinly using 'em? Si Hightower was a perfect example. At the time you were one of the few collectors in the country who was genuinely interested in Deep Soul and none-dancers, plus I could tell that you really dug the record. And really you were the best owner for that item at that time I reckon. The subsequent history of the record demontrates that I think. But only £4???? I must have been nuts. Mind you, back then, how many buyers for that type of record were there? Hardly any believe me - that's why I loved it when you came over LOL.... By the way, I've bumped into a similar collector down here - Steve Rumney, who is really into a lot of Deep stuff albeit with slow rhythms underneath, so I'd like to put him onto you and vice versa if you're up for it. He has a lot of stuff and he's always on the lookout for more...... But more to the point, how much did Rod pay for Si LOL? He never actually told me....... Best, Ian D

Darrell Banks "Open The Door To Your Heart" @ my local - The Woodman bar in Carshalton a little while back. Nothing to do with me - it just came on! Ian D

OK, how about this: One pissing down miserable Tuesday I was in Bradford still coming down from the weekend and feeling generally pissed off, so went to Bostocks in Bradford Market 'cos they always used to have tons of imports (they bought out the MGM/Verve Warehouse in the States so this is where the Tymes, Dottie Cambridge, The Shalamars, April Stevens, The Righteous Brothers Band, The Charades and many others were discovered along with lots of other stuff like Alice Clark etc). One of the big records at the time was "Sidra's Theme" on the Sidra label. Lo and behold I found a record for 25p called "As Long As You Love Me (I'll Stay)" by Ronnie & Robyn on Sidra. Turned out to be the vocal version before anyone knew there was one! Same market, two years later I found the first copy of Lenny Curtis "Nothing Can Help You Now" on End. Over the years there were literally hundreds of Northern Soul discoveries from this one outlet. Every so often Levine would come back from the States with fresh discoveries and some of us would know that the records were @ Bradford Market - the Righteous Brothers Band and Spiral Staircase are two good examples, so sometimes there'd be a queue of people waiting for the market to open on a Monday morning after the weekend LOL...... I think Bradford Market was one of the key places for Northern Soul discoveries in the early 70's along with Global in Manchester. Also, the travelling fairs would sometimes have U.S. imports as prizes for shooting galleries or hook the duck stalls etc, etc. I found a copy of Don Gardner's "I Can't Help Myself" at one, although I have a feeling that the fairs used to get their stock from Bostocks themselves. It might be a good idea for a thread as to where many of the best places to find Northern Soul in the UK were back in the day. On the other hand it could be horrible as well, looking at the prices now LOL! More to come....... Ian D

Hi Stu, Airbrush from history??? No way Jose. I had to leave quite a few venues out - Bradford Polish Club was my first ever Northern gig, followed eventually by Taurus @ Venn Street (my mate Al Horseford's Dad used to own the venue, so that's how we got it) and numerous others spring to mind - Halifax Tiffanies, the Cat's Whiskers in Leeds, Normanton Working Mens Club etc, etc - I kinda listed the more regular venues so as not to bore everyone to death...... Also, you're too shy - I would've thought your time @ NME & Channel 4 would have certainly conflicted your ability to travel to too many Northern gigs - especially in the 80's, 90's and 00's! Anyway how are ya? Are you still in touch with Steve Caesar (who I haven't seen for a while)? I presume you're working @ Victoria these days, so if you're up for a drink then PM me and we'll fix a time - it's on my way home when I'm working in town so I'm pretty free most of the time. Did you go to the Forum last week? Now THAT was a gig..... Best, Ian D

Haha LOL. Touche. Are we ever gonna have that local drink? I missed you @ The Forum t'other week but you were kinda busy..... Best, Ian D

Great thread! I'm doing OK on most things but there's at least a few which I need to check out again. I've still got my Clyde McPhatter original UK MCA album with the immortal "Please Give Me One More Chance" which I first heard on the way back from Sale Mecca on a Thursday night courtesy of a tape Andy Simpson from Bradford had at the time. The same journey was where I also heard "I'm So Glad I'm Me" by the Ebony's also from an album - "Determination" I think...... I was also quite partial to the Exciter's "Caviar And Chitlins" and Thelma Houstons album on Mowest I seem to remember. Spoilt for choice at the time 'cos that's when "What's Going On", "All Directions" and "Music Of My Mind" came out as well, so a Northern/Contemporary split was going on. And Millie Jackson too. "Caught Up"!!!!! Like I said, GREAT thread! Ian D

Typical that the group on tour doesn't feature Russell Thompkins Jnr - to many the real voice of the Stylistics - could anyone else sing "Betcha By Golly Wow" with the clarity and perfection that he did? Hope the gigs are priced accordingly! Still be fun though.......... Ian D

PJ Proby? Bobby Vee? Maybe there should be a defintive 60's Pop stomper thread........? Ian D

I've got a few like that. I LEFT a 100 count box of Lew Kirton "Heaven In The Afternoon" @ a warehouse in Stafford @ 25p each 'cos I hated the damn record! A couple of years later it took off and started fetching nutcase money....... I did find 50 copies of Eloise Laws "Love Factory" and 50 copies of Segments Of Time "Memories" and also the rarest record in Belgium at the time ("Heartless Lover" - The Dick Baker Combo on another Kool Kat label) plus 2 Terrible Tom's and a Johnny Caswell for 25 cents each @ an L.A. junk shop in the middle of industrial east L.A. And of course, I did find the ONLY ever copy of the Si Hightower Monarch Test Pressing which I later sold to the good Colin Dilnot for £15 in 1978 on the basis that it was 'too deep' for me LOL....... Ian D

Yep! When I bought the 2nd copy of the Carstairs for £15 off Dave Rivers @ the Heavy Steam Machine in Hanley circa 1974. When I found the 1st real copy (outside of Simon Soussan's) of Willie Hutch's "The Duck"/"Love Runs Out" at an L.A. record dealers house in 1976. When I swapped the Exception's "You Always Hurt Me" on Capitol for the ONLY UK copy of the Four Perfections "I'm Not Strong Enough" on Partytime off Arthur Fenn circa 1975. When I went in a shop called 1940 Jukebox Company in Denver, Colorado and found everything for 25 cents each in 1987. Now THAT was a "geddin there you beauty" day I can tell ya............ However, I also turned down a Billy Woods off John Anderson for £3 in 1973, so not all roses LOL........... Ian D

Dynamite record! Played this on a Paris radio show a couple of years and blew everyone's mind as they hadn't ever heard it before. I remember the exact time Levine played this upon his return from the U.S. Surely this would have been huge at the Wheel if it had been discovered then wouldn't it? Ian D

Cheers Chalky! Ian D

Actually I agree with Mr Smith as well Tony. The P.J. Proby version is a little slow for these ears compared with the Idle Few's storming version innit? Best, Ian D

Does anyone have any info on Henry Brooks - The Greatest Debt To My Mother on P&P please? How long has it been around? Year? Any value? Etc, etc Many thanks, Ian D

Does Herbert Hunter's "I Was Born To Love You" on Spar qualify? In fact there were a few on the label weren't there - Jenny & The Jewells and a cover of "Selfish One" I seem to remember........ Best, Ian D

Actually my 'holiday' started in '76 when I went to the U.S. to look for undiscovered Northern stuff. When I came back 6 months later I went to quite a few Northern venues and even ran Leeds Central Northern Night on Saturday nights but I guess I'd kinda moved on in many ways - it would have difficult for me to have continued my passion at the same intensity that I had from 1970-76 - which I truly believe was what people keep referring to as 'the Golden Age of Northern Soul'. However I never stopped dropping in on venues from '76 - present and enjoyed 'em for the most part - in fact I was @ The Forum for Kent's Anniversary on Friday night and that was one of the greatest events I've ever been to in the last 40 years! Plus I still kept in contact and sold records to lots of DJ's and collectors throughout the period from '76 - '90, so I never completely lost touch. So maybe I just got older and developed some other interests which absorbed me as much as the Northern scene had in earlier years? But it's really hard to convey to people exactly how huge the Northern scene was back then. We really were spoilt for choice. I personally had several gigs every week - Burnley Cricket Club (Tuesday), Leeds Central, Huddersfield Starlight, Sheffield Samanthas (Friday), Wigan Casino/Cleethorpes Pier (Saturday)and numerous Sunday All-Dayers. My weekend started quite often on Thursday night and would continue until Sunday night/Monday morning. Plus the quality of the records was overwhelming in my opinion - I don't think there can be any doubt that the period from the Wheel to Wigan Casino really was an incredible period of dicovery for Northern Soul records. Also I think I read somewhere that at one point in the mid 1970's there were circa 100,000 Northern Soul fans over those years. Certainly records like "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" (No.1), "There's A Ghost In My House" (No.3) and "You Sexy Sugar Plum" (No.22) were capable of becoming UK Pop hits back then selling tens of thousands in the process. It was a vibrant exciting time to be a Northern Soul fan if you were into both the music and the buzz as I certainly was. Also, with many people, one of the key periods in their lives is between 15-25 - 'the carefree years' (in my case 15-Present LOL) and I think that has a bearing on why people 'dropped-off'. I could never understand at the time why so many of the local Wheel and Torch veterans dropped off the radar in the Mecca/Wigan years. It was generally 'cos of wives, kids, work, mortgages etc, etc. You know - growing up and being responsible.... In conclusion I think it's really impossible to run a comparison between different eras. Times change. I personally preferred many of the 60's and 70's Northern records 'cos I was there at the time! In retrospect I've ended up liking a lot of the later discoveries from the 80's to present and enjoying pretty much all of the gigs, albeit with not the same level of intensity that I did in my younger years. Although last Friday @ The Forum gave me a good run for my money! Best, Ian D

Ron & Candy - Lovely Weekend Dooley Silverspoon & Jeanie Burton - Am I Losing You Ian D

Actually selecting just one person from the last 40 years is a daunting task Malc. What I think could work, would be to put together a list of key contributors in the various decades over the entire period. For instance, the 60's would almost definitely have to include: Roger Eagle Trevor Churchill Dave Godin Brian '45' Phillips Etc, etc And the 70's John Anderson Ian Levine Colin Curtis Soul Sam Mary Chapman Etc, etc - you get the drift. In fact it would make a really nice project for someone who runs a magazine to do an 'icon a month' article and then turn it into a book sometime in the future. There's not enough documentation or first-hand accounts of the 60's era and even some of the info from the early 70's can be sketchy. Plus, as we know too well, none of us are getting any younger, so it would be great to do a definitive project which covered the whole era methinks.... Best, Ian D

Looks like they were playing my Blackpool Mecca CD - Vol 3 from the Northern Soul Story! That's the spirit! Ian D

Still in the UK Mel - owns a couple of houses in Wembley........ Best, Ian D