Ian Dewhirst

Mmm. I thought it was pretty great. I was enraptured for the full hour and would have been even if I wasn't in it lol. I thought everybody came across pretty well and, for prime-time Friday night TV, I think it's one of the best representations of that era yet. And FANTASTIC to see Colin Curtis finally gracing a mainstream show with his presence, despite his natural reluctance to do stuff like this. They edited this show very well in my view and I think it's a credit to the scene. A huge relief 'cos I really had no idea how it would come out. Plus, happily, most of the soundtrack featured key tracks from the forthcoming film soundtrack, so not a bad night from my point of view. I'd recommend it to anyone. Ian D

Err, yeah, but were you future M.B.E. material back then ay? Ian D

Yeah, but they're not dancing to Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, Vickie Sue Robinson and Tavares are they Steve? Ian D

The weird thing is that whenever anything like this comes up, I generally try and spruce myself up a bit and wear some flash gear. But I completely forgot about it, woke up late that day and thus didn't pay any attention to my sartorial elegance. So that was me on a boring Wednesday at the office feeling like shit. I can't believe they found anything usable, seriously. Still, I didn't wince that much thankfully. I thought everyone came across just great! We thankfully have some very articulate and serious, passionate people from the era who can get the story across the way it actually was. I thought it was 1st class prime-time TV and a credit to the BBC and director James Laycock. And, yeah, of course they got the film in! Hottest ticket of the year in many circles! Which I think will be a good thing. Ian D

Of course they do. I think even Ian would admit that he was blessed to be able to go to the USA regularly at that time. I don't think it would ever be possible to replicate what he brought back from that particular trip. I clearly remember phoning him and him saying that he'd found enough records to keep the scene going for the next two years lol...... Ian D

Yes, he did. And we got it on TV. He's always privately admitted that he went way too far but it's nice that he's finally admitted it. Ian D

No pride at all Rob. Roughly how much liquid cash are we talking about? Ian D

And so it should. It's a wide-appeal package with a huge age-range potential market. I've long had a theory that us lot, i.e. the majority of Soul Source contributors, are the 1% of people of people who are very, very serious about the scene and take the time to write on here. My gut feeling is that if more people (i.e. the other 99%) were exposed to the music, then they'd love it and start understanding the passion that we've held for the last 46 years. If this film and soundtrack can get that across, then the very minimum result we'll get is that we'll never have to explain what Northern Soul is all about ever again. Just give 'em the CD and DVD and job done. If anyone doesn't understand what Northern Soul is all about after October 2014, then God bless 'em. All looking good out here on the frontline. Ian D

It's even more embarrassing 'cos I have a set of those at home......probably still in the box....... Ian D

Twatted! Ian D

Unfortunately I'm not allowed to release sales figures Chalky, but if the album keeps pre-selling at the same rate up to release, then it'll Harmless's biggest-ever seller on pre-sales alone. We're looking at thousands rather than hundreds! Ian D

And the PR campaign hasn't really actually started yet. We're starting to ramp that up from next week with the hope that there'll be nowhere to escape the clutches of 'Northern Soul: The Film' by September...... Ian D

And it's now No.84 in the Main Amazon rankings:- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 84 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #1 in Music > R&B and Soul > Soul #3 in Music > Pop > Pop R&B #11 in Music > Box Sets Looks like we're off and running now! Ian D

The CD's just hit No.1 and the Vinyl Box No.4 on the Amazon Soul Chart and we're not out for 7 weeks yet! Good awareness already! https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/music/761124/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_m_h__1_3_last Ian D

Salvadors? Freddie Chavez? Lou Pride? Or did I somehow miss 'em? Ian D

Well, the story so far. This was only fully listed within the last 72 hours. My boss just texted me to ask if I'd seen the Amazon rankings tonight. Surprisingly I hadn't..... Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 221 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #2 in Music > R&B and Soul > Motown #2 in Music > Vinyl > Vinyl Album #6 in Music > R&B and Soul > Soul That's pretty damn amazing for a £90.00 box set. Looks like Steve was right. We under-estimated demand. Maybe my over-optimistic prediction wasn't optimistic enough! Where are we going with this? Any predictions? Ian D

Steve, I was joking mate. Lighten up. The point I was trying to make is that the film and the associated releases have not specifically been aimed at our age group (who don't generally venture to the cinema anyway). Your comments and observations were noted and , as I said, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. No film-maker is ever going to please everybody and everybody's individual recollections and perceptions. It's impossible. But from what I've already seen of this film, no one else has come anywhere near the quality of this in my opinion. But let's wait till you see it OK? And cheer up! Ian D

Steve, that was 45 years ago and times were very very different mate. There will never be such a golden period of numerous great discoveries ever again in my view. Today's audiences find 'em in a totally different way. They're not gonna spend the next 30 years looking for Tomangoes originals like us lot did, don't worry. Today's audiences demand instant gratification that's just a click away and my job is to give it to 'em in the best way I can. And they won't get a much better introduction in 2014 than this in my view. Ian D

Oh, before I forget, please bear in mind that CD1 is the Soundtrack and CD2 is Further Inspiration from Elaine Constantine. We suggested her doing a bonus CD of other records that have influenced her and I'm glad we did! CD1: Northern Soul: The Soundtrack Right Track - Billy Butler Back Street - Edwin Starr Soul Time - Shirley Ellis I Gotta Find Me Somebody - The Velvets If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely) - The Precisions Seven Day Lover - James Fountain You Don’t Mean It - Towanda Barnes The Night - Frankie Valli I’m Com’un Home In The Morn’un - Lou Pride (Just Say) You’re Wanted And Needed - Gwen Owens They’ll Never Know Why - Freddy Chavez Tear Stained Face - Don Varner Crying Over You - Duke Browner Exus Trek - Luther Ingram Too Late - Larry Williams & Johnny Watson Your Autumn Of Tomorrow - The Crow I’m Gone - Eddie Parker I Really Love You - The Tomangoes This Love Starved Heart Of Mine (It’s Killing Me) - Marvin Gaye Stick By Me Baby - The Salvadores Time - Edwin Starr Come On Train - Don Thomas Lonely For You Baby - Sam Dees Gone With The Wind Is My Love - Rita & The Tiaras Suspicion - The Originals Turning My Heartbeat Up - The MVP’s Time Will Pass You By - Tobi Legend CD2: Northern Soul: Further Inspiration from Elaine Constantine She’ll Come Running Back - Mel Britt Little Love Affair - Patrinell Staten You Don’t Love Me - Epitome Of Sound I Just Can’t Live My Life (Without You Babe) - Linda Jones What Good Am I Without You - Darrow Fletcher I Surrender - Eddie Holman I Don’t Like To Lose - The Group feat Cecil Washington In Love - Tony Galla I Was Born To Love You - Herbert Hunter I Really Love You - Jimmy Burns Blowing My Mind To Pieces - Bob Relf Please Stay - The Ivories The Chase Is On - Johnny Howard You Left Me - The Admirations Ain’t Gonna Run No More - The Royal Esquires Love Slave - The Antellects As Long As You Love Me (I’ll Stay) - Ronnie & Robyn My Lonely Feeling - Milton James Can You Win - Charlene & The Soul Serenaders This Won’t Change - Lester Tipton Love Factory - Eloise Laws Under Your Powerful Love - Joe Tex It Really Hurts Me Girl - The Carstairs Hung Up On Your Love - The Montclairs Baby Don’t You Weep - Edward Hamilton & The Arabians The Magic Touch - Melba Moore If You Ever Walked Out Of My Life - Dena Barnes Compiled and Sequenced With Love by Elaine Constantine DVD: Actor James Lance interviews Elaine Constantine — director of ‘Northern Soul’ + an early Richard Searling interview with Elaine Constantine + Audio Extras Ian D

Anything else you want to add Steve? I'll send your recommendations to the guys @ Universal Pictures just so they know what they're getting into! Glad you're feeling better. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Ian D

Hey, if 'Northern Soul' does "Trainspotting" type numbers, I'll put in some real bombers LOL... Ian D

I would LOVE to see a whole bunch of youngsters getting off on the film and then getting into vinyl with this set. I wish someone had provided a set of records like this when I was 15 and looking for a purpose in life! The 15 year old Steve would've too lol. You have to be conservative with sales predictions these days because the physical market is very fickle. Also I have access to the sales figures for just about everything so I know what the benchmarks are for the UK and have a pretty good idea on exports too. But you're right. I think this could do incredibly well if all goes well. However, as my boss keeps telling me, "gut feeling's not enough Ian. Just the facts please"! How long is a piece of string.......? Ian D

That's probably the nicest thing that anyone's ever said about me Jocko! Thankyou. I work like a demon for a company called Demon and now I know why they got the name! These days I work around 300% harder then I ever have, for approximately 75% of what I used to earn, whilst paying out 35% more in overheads than I did in 2009. If that's not a recipe for looming disaster then I don't know what is. I'll swap you some freelance work for some sound financial advice. How does that sound? Ian D

I'd prefer it if you didn't give-away our Northern Soul toys campaign for the pre Xmas market! Ian D

We could hardly not do a vinyl collection for a film that's based on the beauty of the 7" single could we Steve? Also we're assuming that a lot of people may not have the £35,270 to buy the originals, yet may still want to listen to them on vinyl. Also there'll be plenty of people who'll want an authentic and legal set of 45s to celebrate the film to say nothing of the international audiences as these are cleared for the world. Let's put it this way - if you were a kid starting out on a journey to discover this music can you think of a better starting point? Ian D