Everything posted by Ian Dewhirst
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Ebay " Customer "
There's several levels of twats in this world:- 1) The OCD Condition Freak This is the type of buyer who will ALWAYS find a problem with a record no matter how mint and unblemished it is. They usually preface their order with phrases like, "I am a serious collector", "I've been collecting records for 20 years" etc, etc. Several times I've sent records out which have never been played ever only to have to have them contact me complaining about condition probably in order to get an extra discount. These people probably never actually play the records but probably just like moaning. Avoid at all costs as they'll tie you up in long-winded arguments which are always a pain in the ass. The SECOND they start I always offer them a 100% refund if they send the record back which is when they generally back down. 2) The Hot-Headed Foreign Buyer With Bad Etiquette These guys are looking for a fight from the word go. Even though everything I offer on Discogs is fixed-price only with no offers they'll still offer 50% of the price and when that hasn't worked they'll then 'forget' to add postage which will then add more stress in terms of spending time having to deal with 'em. Once the right money has finally been sorted out, they'll then start bombarding you with messages saying, "Hey Mister. Where's my record? I want refund!" even though the postal systems of the countries in question leave a lot to be desired. 3) General Congenital F*ckwits These are the ones who can't figure out that I need paying in £ sterling rather than pesos and which will often take half a dozen messages with precise instructions to sort out. These same guys generally always moan about the postage costs to their country and accuse me of over-charging when I actually make a slight loss on most long-range destinations. They are also the type of guys who will raise a dispute if they haven't received their package within a week even though I've known it to take 6-8 weeks to reach some places. All the above accounts for 0.8% of the hassle. The other 99.2% of customers are fine. Ian D
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Big Arctic Records Package Coming
Tut tut......just not good enough Bob. We expect olympian-level accuracy every time from your good self........... Ian D
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Big Arctic Records Package Coming
Yep. It didn't make much sense to me either. I was cross-checking the track-listing info for the box set with the Arctic discography on Soulful Kinda Music (see - I can be kinda sad too) and nothing about the Derek Martin record looked right to me, so Dave probably needs to remove it from the main listing. I take it that it's a messy early to mid 60's New York dirge then? Ian D
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Tainted Love Instrumental! Where Did This Come From?
I have the Carstairs instrumental. I'll do an MP3 for Pete....... Ian D
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Tainted Love Instrumental! Where Did This Come From?
I've got a Gloria Jones autographed copy for sale if anyone wants a 'lil piece of history......... https://www.discogs.com/buy/Vinyl/Gloria-Jones-Tainted-Love/48359470?ev=bp_titl Ian D
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Big Arctic Records Package Coming
Actually I've got the track listing and sleeve notes to this package and it's pretty comprehensive - people are going to love Bill Dahl's sleeve notes! Frank Lipsius is actually a major anglophile and I generally hook up with him and his wife whenever they hit these shores. I think Frank wanted to hold on releasing the info until he's 100% happy for it to go out so as soon as I get the OK I'll post the full track listing. Needless to say, it contains every Arctic and Frantic release except that weird Derek Martin release that was on some kind of reactivated Arctic which doesn't even look like it's from the same stable...... More news when I speak to Frank...... Ian D
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Over Rated Records
When I first heard "Determination", Dean Parrish became my favourite Soul singer virtually overnight! I always assumed he was black until an older collector from Dewsbury informed me he was white! Didn't stop me loving his voice. Still brilliant some 40+ years later. In fact, I just used it on my latest comp..... Ian D
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Over Rated Records
I'm exactly the same. I can forgive a white voice if the production is incredible -"I'm Gonna Change", "I Can't Help Loving You", "I'm On My Way" etc, etc, so the gap between great 60's and 70's Pop productions and traditional Northern Soul is not that wide to many from that era. In some cases, the UK production is vastly superior to the U.S. production, for example, the Love Affair's version of "Everlasting Love" kills the insipid limp original version by Robert Knight and I prefer Steve Ellis's vocals to Robert Knight's as well. Heresy ay? Ian D
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When An Oldie Is Fresh To Your Ears
Not known to me Kev.......so deffo not from the 70's..... Ian D
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Roger Eagle Book
Interesting watch. He was a massive influence on Elliot Rashman (who managed Simply Red throughout the 80's) who is on the clip. Apparently Roger left the Wheel because of the all-pervading influence of Northern Soul and the demand for ever-faster tunes. I can understand that since he had a really wide music appreciation which went way beyond just Soul and I know many people who either knew him personally or interviewed him. Should be a great read! Incidentaly, this was a news piece in Mojo last month so hopefully they'll get a wide audience for this book. I'll certainly read it! Ian D
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What Are The Top 10 Most Expensive Uk Releases From T' 70's-80's?
Yep. Copy that. I can remember popping into Polygrams regional office in Leeds and going through 1000's of "Alsatian" promos and probably a pile of Pioneers and suchlike. However I did still pick up anything that was halfway OK. I just hated those injection mould labels and pressings though, so I was a bit sniffy about 'em back then. Still am really...... Ian D
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Inspired! Blood, Soul, Sweat & Cheers - Harmless Album For The Olympics
Yep, but watch the way he does it! He's an inspiration to us all! Plus he'd love the album of course! Ian D
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Inspired! Blood, Soul, Sweat & Cheers - Harmless Album For The Olympics
'Must- Have Reissue' in the Culture section of the Sunday Times today! Fame at last LOL..... So along with Simon Rimmer plugging the M.V.P.s "Turning My Heartbeat Up" on Channel 4's "Sunday Brunch" this morning and Gordon Ramsey using "How You Like Me Now" on his new trailer, the mainstream is waking up nicely. Now if only my favourite Mod, Bradley Wiggins can win the Tour-De-France today then we'll be really rockin'! Ian D
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What Are The Top 10 Most Expensive Uk Releases From T' 70's-80's?
Yep, probably is, although, along with Clydie King , it's not even on Discogs. Also, it's from his Laurie period (not Spectrum) and the 'B' side was never issued anywhere else, so it's a curious release. I bought my copy from a 10p clearout box in Jumbo Records in Leeds circa mid 70's because it was an unusual release and I couldn't see what possible market they could be aiming for. Dean Parrish and Brenda Lee Jones made sense but an old Hoagy Lands and a Clydie King? Weird. For that reason I don't see how they could have shipped many, which is why it went in the 10p box @ Jumbos. No one wanted it. Probably still don't. Ian D
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What Are The Top 10 Most Expensive Uk Releases From T' 70's-80's?
Another one of my part-time summer jobs this year is to settle down one evening with a huge pile of white label 7" test-pressings and try and identify them. I did the same excercise with a bunch of 12" inch white labels that I'd accumulated over the years and found some very valuable records in there - many of which became 'secret weapons' on the rare Disco scene several years ago. Many of these I got in the mail because I was a working DJ between 1972-1975 and then again from 1977-1982 and I pretty got everything because I was on most of the mailing lists. On top of that between 1977-1980 I was also Decca's Northern Promotion guy, so I spent most of my time going around radio stations and shops and doing swaps with the reps etc, so I got TONS of stuff. Some of which I'm only just getting around to listening to again. I had Ted Ford and I'm pretty sure that got prised out relatively recently. I'll let you know what I find. The weird thing is, back in the 70's, I'd occasionally asign a sexier name on the sleeves of some white label promos because I'd lost the release sheet that came with it and there was so much stuff coming in that I'd never get around to actually tracing the record! So some of these tunes I only know because of the cover-up title that I gave 'em 35 years ago. Plus that Love Committee test pressing 7" I found, I always thought was merely a white label of "Law And Order" until I actually played the bugger! There's some pretty interesting stuff out there. I'm still bumping into weird labels from the 70's and 80's which I've never seen before...... Ian D
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10 Nice U.s. Promos
Correctomundo Steve. Ian D
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Dee Dee Sharp - (Artist Of The Week)
Dee Dee Sharp Gamble - Just As Long As I Know You're Mine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcf54fjm4xg Ian D
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10 Nice U.s. Promos
The summer clearout continues, so this time I've selected 10 interesting U.S. promos which need to be re-housed:- The Intruders - "I'll Always Love My Mama" U.S. Gamble White Promo VG £15.00 Dionne Warwicke - "(I'm) Just Being Myself" U.S. Warner Brothers White Promo VG £20.00 The Shirelles featuring Shirley Alston - "Do What You've A Mind To" U.S. RCA Promo NM £15.00 The Four Tops - "I Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind" U.S. Dunhill White Promo VG £20.00 High Inergy "Make Me Yours" U.S. Gordy White Promo NM £10.00 Nat Turner - "Ruby Lee" U.S. Philly Groove White Promo NM £10.00 Aldora Britton - "No Cookies In My Bag" U.S. Decca Promo G £15.00 Lorraine Ellison - "Many Rivers To Cross" U.S. Warner Brothers White Promo G £15.00 John & Michael Hill - "You're My Saving Grace" U.S. Salsoul White Promo NM £15.00 L.A. Genesis "Hands" U.S. Ame White Promo M £5.00 PM me if interested. All buyers on a first come first served basis. Free 1st class postage on everything. Ian D
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Photogrpahy At Northern Soul Events
But surely he was doing 'hard traction' physiotherapy in a desperate bid to get his back working again........? Ian D
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Photogrpahy At Northern Soul Events
Paranoia Del. It's not paranoia if they're REALLY after ya! Ian D
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Photogrpahy At Northern Soul Events
Yeah, but surely that's only if they realise they've been photographed? What are your rights if you're in a photo that gets widely distributed and you didn't even know about it? Let's say that for personal reasons or security reasons or privacy reasons you'd rather that people didn't have a record of where you've been? If an unexpected photo of you gets distributed on the internet, then isn't that an invasion of your personal privacy? I know many people disable 'tracking' apps on mobiles for similar reasons. Or, if I came across a brilliant photo and bought it from the agency or photographer for commercial use would I still need sign-offs from the people in the picture? Which would mean tracing each and every prominent person in the photo which would be a pain in the ass. I'm obviously playing devil's advocate here but I really don't know what the law is and most lawyers I know don't either......... Ian D
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Another 10 Uk Oddballs & Rarities
Continuing the summer clearout, so are another 10 oddball UK bits and pieces which are nice to own:- R.B. Greaves - "Let's Try It Again"/R.B. Greaves Orchestra "Your Place Or Mine" UK Pye Acetate BTC 2203 VG+ £50.00 Not sure if this was ever issued in the U.K. as I've never seen one. Instrumental on flip. Nina Simone - "My Baby Just Cares For Me" UK Charly Double-Sided Test Pressing With Custom Label M £50.00 A real weird one. This is a 7" promo for the 10" that Charly issued that eventually produced a No.1 UK hit. It looks as though a very limited run of promo-only 7"'s were rushed to radio in late '87. It's an iconic record and should probably be framed! I mean who wouldn't want this? Joyce Cobb - "How Glad I Am"/"That's What Love Will Do" UK Cream VG+ £15.00 Weird. The short lived UK Cream label. Rare! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75UM9uJLPo4 The Esquires - "My Sweet Baby" UK Action Double-Sided Promo M £50.00 Rare and a double-sided promo on one of the ultimate iconic UK Soul labels. Anyone collecting Action surely needs this. Should be framed! Bobby Bowens & Shades Of Magic - "Gonna Love Somebody" UK Move Single-Sided Test Pressing NM £50.00 Never issued but a handful of single-sided UK 7" test-pressings slipped out. Rare! Stephanie Mills "I Knew It Was Love" UK Paramount Promo £10.00 M The Showstoppers - "Don't Leave Me Standing In The Pouring Rain" UK Beacon VG+ £25.00 Rare. The group came to the UK and recorded 2 tracks with Biddu which are surprisingly great! The record hardly saw the light of day. Not even on You Tube! Hoagy Lands - "Friends And Lovers Don't Go Together" UK UK American USA 13 M £20.00 Slipped out in the early 70's, and I mean slipped! Much rarer than it looks. Tyrone Davis - "Turning Point" UK Brunswick Promo M £20 Might as well have the original and best version on a classic UK label promo! Charles Drain - Is This Really Love UK RCA Promo NM £20.00 PM me if interested. All buyers on a first come first served basis. Free 1st class postage on everything. Ian D
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Photogrpahy At Northern Soul Events
I agree but it's no fun to be sued or lose your job over it either. That's why I'm saying the law needs some clarification. Ian D
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Photogrpahy At Northern Soul Events
This is an area that seems to be becoming quite contentious though. I have to license every CD cover by the book, which means not only the photographer or agency signing off but also the subject of the photo, so I can only have 'model released' pics on my albums. There have been several occasions over the last few years when albums have had to be pulled even though they've had an an agency sign off because an individual in the picture has objected to the use of their image. I recently wanted to use a still from the film "Metropolis" which involved a sign-off from the agency, sign-offs from the entity which controlled the film still and various factions of Fritz Lang's family, who all wanted payments. It would have cost over £5000 to use that photo and probably taken months to get all the agreements in place. So too expensive and too time-consuming by far for a black and white still from a 1927 film, as good as it is. I had exactly the same thing with the original photo for "Inspired!" which would have been a Jesse Owens pic from the 1936 Olympics. This would have meant paying the agency, the Olympics, Locog and the Jesse Owens trust. Same thing again - too time consuming and too expensive for a CD which will sell a few thousand copies. Just recently a colleague of mine had to destroy his artwork for an entire production run on an agency-cleared photo because one of the individuals in the photo threatened to sue for the unauthorized use of his image. If we're not careful, then the photo business may well go the same way as the music business. Too many grey areas and the law needs clarification in my opinion. It's a shame because many iconic pics are getting mired with tedious clearance procedures and normal pics need model releases which means that many albums in the future will end up using easy-to-clear model released pics which are bland and have no character. Even individual artwork which I commissioned and paid for is not necessarily exempt from some nutter trying it on. I had one guy attempt to sue me because he took my artwork, photoshopped it really badly, put it on a forum and then tried to sue me because he claimed 'his' artwork was being used to promote my album! I look forward to that going to court. Ian D
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10 Uk Rarities & Oddballs
Sold to that man! Good choice Pete! Ian D Love Committee and Infernal Blues Machine now sold. Ian D Jackie Wilson sold! Ian D site note "sold" posts merged link below has the score on best practices