Ian Dewhirst

Wow. I honestly didn't think his tastes were as diverse as that. He seemed almost obsessional about collecting every early L.A. punk or Garage band record he could get his hands on. In fact it was Chris who first described to me what a punk was and this was way before the so-called punk explosion in the UK. He was definitely weird though. Mind you, I always seem to get on with weirdos for some reason........ Ian D

How is he? I haven't seen him since 1976. We used to hang out quite a bit. We'd go digging on the basis that I could get the soul and he could get the early punk/garage stuff. His house was ridiculous. Records in every room including the loo and even in the fridge LOL.. I lost my whole top end hearing when he took me to see Ted Nugent @ the Collosseum. I've never known such pain in my life as that feedback. Please give him my regards when you next see him. I had some fantastic scores with him! Also I found Willie Hutch "Love Runs Out" at his house when it was still covered up. Happy times..... Ian D

You have a point Sebastian. There's a lot of similarity though, especially around the hook. In fact I wonder what the credits are on Lee Andrews 'cos that's the same song again. It wouldn't surprise me if there's publishing splits on this somewhere along the line. If I was the original writer of the song I'd be claiming that my hook was nicked! Ian D

Here's a good one.... https://youtu.be/FxxGDL8PULw https://youtu.be/IxuYLP4BB1M Ian D

Truth is I would have totally passed this by as it was way too early for what I was looking for at the time. However, I was hanging around with a record collecting hippy called Chris Peake at the time and he'd mentioned this record to me as one that his Belgium contact would pay serious money for. I found it in an industrial street market in deep east L.A. which had thousands of 45's under a tarpaulin. I also found 50 copies of Eloise Laws "Love Factory" and 50 copies of Segments Of Time "Memories", two Terrible Toms and a Johnny Caswell. I shudder to think of what I left there! Ian D

Tell that to the 800 happy people who were dancing @ Prestatyn. Would any of those 4000 12"'s on yer shelves have had a similar effect? I think not. Ian D

Found this in an East L.A. street market in '75. At the time it was the most in-demand record on the Popcorn scene apparently but they only had the one copy over there which was cracked. Bought it for 5 cents and sold it for $2000. The guy flew over and picked it up from me in L.A. Ian D

You can say that again. Over time this has become one of my Top 5 all-time instrumentals. A work of art! Soul Improvisations Pts 1 & 2 - Van McCoy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i65fzhEGOLU Ian D

Wow, these once a month shows are coming round fast - doesn’t seem a minute since 4 weeks ago! But then again, things have been busy. A big shout out to all the peeps I saw @ Prestatyn 2 weeks ago. Hopefully I’ll be seeing a load more people again @ the Ritz reunion in Manchester next Bank Holiday Sunday. Can’t wait! Shout outs to my old muckers Paul Schofield and Ralph Tee who luckily managed to miss the end result of my garlic poisoning on Thursday. For anyone who at Lancaster Gate tube who witnessed my amazing 15 foot projectile vomit, I heartily apologise. Also big apologies to the woman I crashed into when I fell down the stairs @ the Alexander O’Neal gig on Friday. I have no idea how I managed to hit every step on the way down but I have the bruises to prove it was nasty. So I’m kinda beat up this week. Fingers crossed I avoid any more calamities on the way to the studio! Busy week next week too, with the 6 brand new Backbeats albums AND the Philadelphia International Tom Moulton Remixes Vinyl Edition out this Monday. It suddenly feels like Spring again! On the show this week, we have a whole heap of exclusives including some previews of several brand new Tom Moulton remixes from the forthcoming Philly Re-Grooved Vol 3 which is the best one yet and some brand new remixes from Opolopo, DJ Colourzone and Ashley Beedle to name a few. Plus of course the usual odyssey through the last 5 decades of glorious Soul music with some killer songs for a lazy Sunday afternoon. And it’s all LIVE! So tune in, join the chatroom and we’ll have our own ‘lil party over 2 wonderful hours. Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 24th March 2013 on everyone’s favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring…… Mario Biondi & The High Five Quintet * Elements Of Life feat Josh Milan * Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway * Teddy Pendergrass * New York City * Sons Of Robin Stone * Bettye Swann * Gladys Knight & The Pips * Marie Knight * Porgy & The Monarchs * Freddy Chavez * Johnnie Taylor * Barbara St Clair * The Electrifying Cashmeres * Ila Vann * S.O.U.L. feat Larry Hancock * Randy Jackson * Aretha Franklin * The Isley Brothers * George Benson * The Spinners * Tavares feat Freda Payne See you @ 2.00pm LIVE! Ian D

3 days to release and we're rockin' it on Amazon. Also I notice that the price has now dipped to an awe inspiring £4.13 each including delivery! Beat that for a bargain! 4 Amazon Soul/RnB Top 10’s, 1 Amazon Soul/RnB Top 20, 1 Amazon Pop/RnB Top 30 with 3 days to go! BACKB031 “Dance Floor Revolution — 70’s Modern Soul Stunners” Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 244 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #4 in Music > R&B and Soul > Soul #14 in Music > Pop > Pop R&B BACKB033 “Metropolis Stomp Time — Northern Soul From The Big City” Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 673 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #12 in Music > R&B and Soul > Soul #32 in Music > Pop > Pop R&B BACKB035 “Lay Back & Chill — More Superior Sensuous Soul” Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 340 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #6 in Music > R&B and Soul > Soul #18 in Music > Pop > Pop R&B BACKB036 “Unexploited & Under-Rated - Contemporary Soul Gems” Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 394 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #9 in Music > R&B and Soul > Soul #21 in Music > Pop > Pop R&B BACKB039 “Crossover To Soul - More Crossover Soul From The 60’s & 70’s” Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 330 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #5 in Music > R&B and Soul > Soul #17 in Music > Pop > Pop R&B BACKB041 “Detroit Gold — 70’s Soul Grooves From The Motor City” Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 602 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #28 in Music > Pop > Pop R&B #41 in Music > R&B and Soul Ian D

One of their best records IMO. Would have been unbelievable as a late 60's Detroit recording but can't win 'em all ay? Ian D

Interesting label really. Tons of Van McCoy productions and original versions of future hits for Gladys Knight and David Ruffin with Faith, Hope & Charity, some really great signings with Sharon Ridley, Zulema and Ralph Graham, some funk with Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers and Creative Source, some throwback stuff with the Lee 'Shot' Williams, the Presidents and the Decisions, some majorly oddball white and C&W stuff and Bill Withers. I think the Buddah promotion and distribution was kind of patchy over some periods. I'd routinely find multiple counts of Buddah, Invictus/Hot Wax and Sussex 45's all over the place. They probably used indie promotion and just concentrated on working the actual hits and pretty much dumped the other stuff. Should be more Billy Woods out there somewhere though..... Ian D

Good point. I was gonna ask the same thing. All promos I bet. This doesn't look like a record which made it to issue....... Ian D

I'll be a bit more conservative and say 12. It's an incredibly rare record. No one who was connected with Sussex at the time that I've managed to speak even knew of it. Clarence Avant, who owned Sussex didn't know it. Harry Weinger who runs the Universal catalogue which now owns Sussex didn't know it. Effectively this is a none record. I've been to lengths to try and find a box of these somewhere. They must have pressed at least 500. So where the hell did the other 488 ( ) go? This was a successful independent label with great promotion and distribution and Bill Withers selling millions of records. Billy Woods was a Van McCoy song and production so it's almost inconceivable that they would go the trouble of printing a handful of copies. My guess is that this record may have come on the cusp of Clarence switching distribution or something and got lost in the shuffle. I'll try and do a bit of research but I'm betting this was the last release before some kind of switch. And then everyone conveniently forgot about it, until some annoying Scotsman turned up in the early 70's........ Ian D

Believe it or not, that was a legitimate Soussan pressing. Kenny Smith must have added the additional information when he supplied the label copy. I know this was legit 'cos I heard several conversations between Soussan and Kenny at the time..... Ian D

Not to my knowledge. You can pick it up on here for a fiver though..... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Whats-Word-Socially-Conscious-Music/dp/B0062Y9CD4 Ian D

So at least we know the box can withstand the UK postal service then! Wouldn't like to be the guy delivering too many of these on Monday. I had trouble even holding one aloft LOL.... Ian D

Good article and well-written. Shows that there's some real passion and thought about what the local scene is offering up there. I guess the challenge would be to start something yourself that will fulfil your own expectations and then see how it manages to maintain? Ian D

Well, here it is on the U.S. Amazon site but price does include delivery! https://www.amazon.com/Moulton-Remixes-Special-Vinyl-Philadelphia-International/dp/B00B9RP0D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1363704816&sr=1-1&keywords=moulton an D

I take it she has a record deck to go with 'em? Ian D

It gets chilly up on the roof garden when I have my afternoon tea! Blimey. I really have turned into a Southern puff haven't I......? Ian D

I thought I'd post this up as most Soul Sourcers will appreciate the thrill of unwrapping various packages full of records. Well this is me unwrapping the first delivery of Philadelphia International: The Tom Moulton Remixes: Special Vinyl Edition. Exactly the same thrill as you have when opening a much anticipated package from the U.S. except this time it's unwrapping the vinyl edition of Harmless's biggest-selling release of the last 12 months. So good it should be a time-capsule! Ian D Opens The First Box Of "Philadelphia International: The Tom Moulton Remixes: Special Vinyl Edition" https://youtu.be/LjlqKmKJdB8 Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philadelphia-International-Moulton-Remixes-Special/dp/B00B9RP0D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1363698444&sr=1-1 Ian D

I keep my penthouse office very tidy thankyou very much! Ian D

I thought I'd post this up as most Soul Sourcers will appreciate the thrill of unwrapping various packages full of records. Well this is me unwrapping the first delivery of Philadelphia International: The Tom Moulton Remixes: Special Vinyl Edition. Exactly the same thrill as you have when opening a much anticipated package from the U.S. except this time it's unwrapping the vinyl edition of Harmless's biggest-selling release of the last 12 months. So good it should be a time-capsule! Ian D Opens The First Box Of "Philadelphia International: The Tom Moulton Remixes: Special Vinyl Edition" https://youtu.be/LjlqKmKJdB8 Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philadelphia-International-Moulton-Remixes-Special/dp/B00B9RP0D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1363698444&sr=1-1 Ian D

OK, with just under a week to go, let's have look and see how we're doing in the Amazon rankings...... BACKB031 “Dance Floor Revolution — 70’s Modern Soul Stunners” Compiled by Ian Dewhirst Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 443 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #6 in Music > R&B and Soul > Soul #25 in Music > Pop > Pop R&B https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Dance-Floor-Revolution-Modern-Stunners/dp/B00B1MBHFS/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1363685935&sr=1-1 BACKB033 “Metropolis Stomp Time — Northern Soul From The Big City” Compiled By Kev Roberts Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 953 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #16 in Music > R&B and Soul > Soul #49 in Music > Pop > Pop R&B https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Metropolis-Stomp-Time-Northern/dp/B00B1MBHBW/ref=pd_sim_m_h__5 BACKB035 “Lay Back & Chill — More Superior Sensuous Soul” Compiled by Ralph Tee Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 883 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #14 in Music > R&B and Soul > Soul #44 in Music > Pop > Pop R&B https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Back-Chill-Superior-Sensuous/dp/B00B1MBI2K/ref=pd_sim_m_h__5 BACKB036 “Unexploited & Under-Rated - Contemporary Soul Gems” Compiled by Simon White Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 464 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #7 in Music > R&B and Soul > Soul #27 in Music > Pop > Pop R&B https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Unexploited-Under-Rated-Contemporary-Soul/dp/B00B1MBI16/ref=pd_sim_m_h__3 BACKB039 “Crossover To Soul - More Crossover Soul From The 60’s & 70’s” Compiled By Sean Hampsey Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 466 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #8 in Music > R&B and Soul > Soul #28 in Music > Pop > Pop R&B https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Crossover-Soul-More-From/dp/B00B1MBI2U/ref=pd_sim_m_h__2 BACKB041 “Detroit Gold — 70’s Soul Grooves From The Motor City” Compiled by Jaffa Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,012 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #54 in Music > Pop > Pop R&B #64 in Music > R&B and Soul https://www.amazon.co.uk/Backbeats-Detroit-Gold-Grooves-Motor/dp/B00BIPYHBO/ref=pd_sim_m_h__3 I don't quite know why "Detroit Gold" is featured in the Pop R&B and RnB and Soul rankings rather than Soul like the rest of 'em but hey ho..... But we have nos 6,7,8, 14 and 16 in Top 20 Soul Chart with less than a week to go, so we're in good shape! Hopefully you'll hear 'em on the radio over the next week or two as well. Ian D