Ian Dewhirst

Didja get any dosh out of him or was it a 'contra' deal.....? That has to go down as one of the most interesting deals of all time. How the f*ck did a UK produced cover of a Spanish record that was released on Salsoul in the US end up coming out on P&P? People will think we've colluded LOL but I don't think we've ever spoken about a Destiny Orchestra/P&P tie-up have we? I mean, even I would remember something like that surely.....? Ian D

I just found Keb Darge's sleeve notes to the P&P Funk album which make interesting reading. I'm sure he'll be OK with me re-printing 'em here....... "To further bolster Suss'd Records definitive P&P reissue campaign, we now cast our eyes over P&P's funk legacy. Whilst the P&P group of labels are perhaps best-known for the underground Disco and Boogie gems they released in the 70's and 80's, their contribution to the Funk cannot be under-estimated. And now, with the Rare-Funk scene spawning a huge underground following, it gives me great pleasure to be involved with one of the rawest and rare independent Black-owned labels of all time - welcome to the wonderful world of P&P Funk ladies and gentlemen - hold on to your coat tails.............. The new wave of funk was hitting hard in the mid 1970's with a new sound that was setting dance-floors alight and seriously crowding up the ghetto record shops. The progression into Jazz-Funk and the extended 8-10 minute 12" format was seriously underway with DJ's anxiously awaiting each week's bunch of new releases. An exciting time for a new kind of dance music that was going places. My first memories of a Patrick Adams tune is of the very futuristic and synth-laden 'Atmosphere Strut' by Cloud One on the independent P & P label from Harlem - a bold record and pioneering release at the time. This was a massive record at the UK's leading Funk & Disco venues set in the exotic locations of the Blackpool Mecca and Manchester Ritz - the two venues which played new releases at the same time they were released in the U.S. If my memory serves me well I'm sure I heard this played at the Wigan Casino more than a couple of times when the Northern Soul scene and the Contemporary Dance scene uneasily merged for a while. Of course, there's every possibility that I'm a senile old fart now and could be muddled up with the ravages of time, but for a brief period of time in the mid 1970's such things were possible (other records at the time included such underground independent names like East Coast Connection, Boby Franklin, Snoopy Dean and Frankie Beverly's Raw Soul). Plus ANY record with Patrick Adams on the label credits was virtually guaranteed plays! For instance, another record packing the floor on the Northern scene was Peter Warner's impeccable 'I Just Wanna Spend My Life With You' on Polydor, a superbly written and arranged Patrick Adams masterpiece. Plus let's not forget another Patrick Adams Northern dance-floor arrangement with Four Below Zero's superlative Roulette release 'My Babys' Got ESP' which has since become one of the biggest Modern Soul records of all time on the Northern Scene. Wind the clock forward 15 years and you'll find me along with dozens of others digging into the mountain of neglected obscure Funk from the early 70's. One record that made it into every Funk collector's beginners box was the Flame & The Sons of Darkness - 'Solid Funk' who are also represented here with both "Funky Thing" and "What It Looks Like". Also, it wasn't until relatively recently that most of the tunes at the beginning of this collection started turning up in Rare Funk collectors' boxes - the young Kenny Dope first played me the Soul Severes' I Got It" Pts 1 & 2 only a few years ago! To be honest quite a few of the tunes on here I had never heard until Chris at Suss'd asked me to do this compilation - testament to the incredible rarity of many P&P items. Along with the funk on the first CD here you get a couple of beautiful soulful tunes. I would have to say that Henry Brooks - 'Greatest Debt to My Mother' is now my favourite tune on the compilation. This may come as a surprise to some, but it's a great slice of Northern Soul and is currently in the category of being a semi-known rarity and a relatively new find! The record was available a year ago for around £100 but those in the know tell me that the price has almost doubled just recently. This track, along with several others on the album, was provided courtesy of revered funk collector Ian Wright - good work lad! 'Greatest Debt to My Mother' is also the flipside to one of my other favourites on the album, 'Mini-Skirt' which is a tight slice of break-laden deep funk and another tune that really get my testicles tingling. Trying to put a year on it, it sounds circa '69, but like a lot of P&P releases, it's very difficult to glean any information from anywhere - part of the mystique of this low-budget Harlem independent. The same can be said about the majority of these tracks on this album, for which I imagine back in the day, little more than a couple of thousand of these tracks were ever pressed and probably didn't make it much out of New York, let alone as far away as Chicago, Detroit and L.A. Earlier in the year when Bill Brewster spoke to Peter Brown & Patrick Adams about P&P, for Kenny's P&P album, their memories of any of these specific recordings were vague to say the least and so it would appear that we may have lost the more precise details to the vagaries of time, chemical imbalance or maybe just a hazy lack of recollection! Remember this was the 'Harlem Hustle' where there were new records every couple of days fighting for space on the shelves. And P&P fought harder than most.......... What we do know is that The Soul Severes, who's track 'I Got It' which is featured here with the A & B sides edited together, is one of the few artists we have been able to find much out about - mainly due to Kenny Dope's earlier research. The nine-piece group hailed from the St Nicholas Housing projects in Harlem, New York and featured a young Patrick Adams as a member. Along the line they bumped into Peter Brown who was never slow in finding talent on his own doorstep and got the band in for virtually a one-session take and as a result, managed to get the ONLY recording of the Soul Severes committed to plastic. The group then mutated into the more contemporary early 70's sounding Black Ivory and spawned significant success as a result. However, this was one of the few success stories For the main part, P&P did what it said on the tin and perhaps, more appropriately, took it's strap-line on the labels of it's earlier releases seriously - "P.P. Means Poor People with Potential". The A&R side of the label was relatively straightforward, namely, Peter Brown would hustle his way around Harlem and unearth locally talented 'unknowns' who would seldom go below 110th street. Or he would enlist the services of local musicians like Patrick Adams to tip him on any newly emerging talents who want to get a record pressed. Names like Henry Brooks, the Sentimental Souls, Otis Turner & The Might Kingpins, Ella Hamilton, Eddie Owen, Smoky Brooks, King David & Little Scotty are unlikely to turn up in any "Who's Who In Soul' anytime soon! However, in many ways, this has made the P&P label one of the most sought-after in the collectors market. Other names on this album have since been discovered and created their own mini-cults where their records are more collectible than many of the more commercially successful acts from the era. In this category we place the aforementioned Soul Severes and Sons Of Darkness plus a number of the recently bootlegged RARE P&P gems like Peter Brown's own "Hooker Pts 1 & 2", Dennis Mobley & Fresh Taste's brilliant version of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" and numerous others including the Foster Jackson Group, Scott Davis, Caress and Tony Aiken & Future 2000. And finally there's a plethora of both total and semi-unknowns with names like L.J. Waiters, Rudy Stuart, Mary Clarke, Eddy Cheba, Bobby Mann, the Dream Lovers and Kim Taylor. Some made it to record other independent releases (Rudy Stuart and L.J. Waiters spring to mind) whilst others faded into obscurity within weeks of releasing their debuts. This is all part of the rich tapestry of P&P Records. Listen and learn. On the second CD we move on to some of the lesser-known examples of the Soulful Disco, Disco-Funk and out and out 'Spacy Disco' for which Messrs Adams & Brown became famous. Once again, quite a few of the tracks on here were unknown to me until a few months ago when via Disco collector extraordinaire and P&P fanatic, Zaf Chowdry aka Discopak, passed some of these unknown gems my way and made my day. However, wind the clock back 15 years again to the glory days of Wigan Casino and Caress's "Brand New Love" becomes Ronnie Loves - 'Lets Make Love' on the Almeria label - one of the biggest tunes ever played by Richard Searling and one which would eventually become reissued on the UK Grapevine label. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard the version on here - it shows that even I am never too old to learn. So, even in this internet-driven world in 2007, I find I'm still amazed at the releases that the serious P&P collectors are still turning up. Don't try finding any originals - they'll leave a large hole in your pocket as the P&P releases are turning into the holy grail of collectors worldwide! Don't say I didn't warn ya! Keb Darge 2007" Ian D

Peter Brown by the looks of it! I suspect we're still only scratching the surface of the full P&P story Roburt....... Ian D

I just noticed "Spring Rain" - The Destiny Orchestra on my own discography LOL. Wasn't that something to do with you Kev? Ian D

OK, here are the 7"'s that I logged in 2006: DAYBREAK EVERYTHING MAN P&P DAYBREAK I NEED LOVE P&P FLAME & THE SONS OF DARKNESS SOLID FUNK/SOMETHING P&P 222 FOUR BELOW ZERO MY BABY'S GOT ESP PTS 1 & 2 P&P 1050 FOUR BELOW ZERO TELL ME WHY WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS PTS 1 & 2 P&P 742001 OTIS TURNER & THE MIGHTY KINGPINS DO THE FUNKY DONKEY GILYARD 1979 1313 SMOKEY BROOKS LONG TIME AGO VOC & INST P&P 1212 SONS OF DARKNESS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE/BLACK ICE P&P 444 SONS OF DARKNESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU/FUNKY THING P&P 445 SOUL SEVERES I GOT IT PTS 1 & 2 SPECTRUM 115 WILD HONEY I'VE BEEN WORKING GEORGIA PEACH And here's the 12"'s:- ABRA CADABRA HUSTLE BUSTLE PICSER 1979 8080 ABRA CADABRA SEE WHO PLAYS JODY 70 AHZZ NEW YORK'S MOVIN' LAND OF HITS 1981 903 ANITA MALDONADO WHAT CAN I DO MAKE YOU DANCE QUEEN CONSTANCE 412 BABY FRESH & BABY K SPOLID ROTTEN CHOCOLATE STAR 1987 CS 1557 BERNARD RAPPER DAPPER THOMAS GOT TO BE IN GOT TO BE OUT LAND OF HITS 1981 611 BEST FRIEND AROUND IT'S SO GOOD TO KNOW LONNIE RECORDS 433 BIG DRUMMER BREAK VOL.1 WE ARE MAKING MUSIC LAND OF HITS 316 BILLY NICHOLS LET'S DO IT SOUND OF THE UNIVERSE 2222 BOBBY MAN SPANK ME LAND OF HITS 1980 607 BRISKO THE KIDD BIG FOOT BOOGIE GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1980 70 CATHERINE MILLER TURN MY KEY A-LOOSE TYSON 428 CC CREW CC CREW RAP GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1980 30 CHAIN REACTION DANCE FREAK SOUND OF NEW YORK 1980 707 CLOUD ONE DISCO JUICE P&P 1977 777 CLOUD ONE CHARLESTON HOPSCOTCH P&P 1977 777 CLOUD ONE DISCO JUICE RE-EDIT P&P 1977 777 CLOUD ONE JUMP,JUMP, JUMP QUEEN CONSTANCE 1977 4040 CLOUD ONE FUNKY DISCO TRACKS OF CLOUD ONE (EP) QUEEN CONSTANCE 1978 4040 CLOUD ONE DUST TO DUST QUEEN CONSTANCE 1978 4545 CLOUD ONE DOIN' IT ALL NIGHT QUEEN CONSTANCE 1978 4545 CLOUD ONE ATMOSPHERE STRUTT-REMIX 1 QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 4646 CLOUD ONE HAPPY MUSIC QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 LP 6 CLOUD ONE FUNKY TRACK QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 CLOUD ONE CLOUD ONE SOUND OF NEW YORK 1979 703 CLOUD ONE DON'T LET THIS RAINBOW PASS ME BY GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1981 2525 CLOUD ONE FLYING HIGH HEAVENLY STAR 1982 1010 CLOUD ONE ATMOSPHERE STRUTT-REMIX 2 ? ? ? CLOUD ONE STOMP YOUR FEET AND DANCE ? ? ? CLOUD ONE MUSIC FUNK ? ? ? CLOUD ONE PATTI DUKE SOUND OF NEW YORK 703 CLOUD ONE FEATURING ANGEL WAITING FOR THE SUNSHINE TO COME TODAY AND TOMORROW TD 2 CLOUD ONE / JOHNNY COPELAND ATMOSPHERE STRUTT P&P 1976 111 CLOUD ONE GILYARD & PAP SPACED OUT P&P 1977 1818 CLYDE ALEXANDER & SANCTION GOT TO GET YOUR LOVE HEAVENLY STAR 612 CLYDE ALEXANDER & SANCTION GOT TO GET YOUR LOVE - KENNY DOPE RE-EDIT HEAVENLY STAR 612 COUNT D OJ DON'T WORRY DARROW & STEREO STEREO FUNK LAND OF HITS 1980 605 DAVID KING TRINIDAD ROCK QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 4141 DAVIS & DAVIS THE PROFESSOR ON CENTERSTAGE/SPACE WALKING/SLOW WALKING CHOCOLATE STAR 1987 CS 1556 DENNIS MOBLEY & FRESH TASTE I'LL DO ANYTHING FOR YOUR LOVE P&P 1977 0 DENNIS MOBLEY & FRESH TASTE SUPERSTITION P&P 1977 0 DESTINY ORCHESTRA SPRING RAIN DESTINY 906 DESTINY ORCHESTRA GREEN ONIONS DESTINY 907 DR.LOVE & SISTER LOVE LOVE RAP HEAVENLY STAR 1980 724 EDDIE CHEBA LOOKING GOOD (SHAKE YOUR BODY) TREE LINE 1979 3711 EDDIE OWEN SHAKE OF THAT DREAM SOUND OF GOLD 1978 8383 EDDIE OWEN DETERMINATION QUEEN CONSTANCE EDDIE OWEN SHAKE OFF (EP 4 TRACKS) SG FAMILY FAMILY RAP (PATTY DUKE GROOVE) SOUND OF NEW YORK 1979 702 FAMILY FOUR RAP ATTACK TYSON 1 FLORENCE MILLER THE GROOVE I'M IN FLY GUY FLY GUY RAP GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1980 FLY GUY DISCO HOP FOSTER JACKSON FEEL THE SPIRIT LONNIE FOSTER JACKSON FEEL THE SPIRIT QUEEN CONSTANCE FOSTER JACKSON FEEL THE SPIRIT - RE-EDIT QUEEN CONSTANCE FOUR MAN CREW WE'RE IN A FURY FRESH G ROLLER ROOSTER 1982 FRESH TO ROCK JB SKI& PRINCE E/STUPID GIRLIE CHOCOLATE STAR 1987 CS 1558 FRESH TO ROCK WE'RE FRESH TO ROCK/I CAN'T STAND IT/GET ON DOWN BASS FORCE/CHOCOLATE STAR 1988 CS 1570 FUNKY DISCO MUSIC ME,YOU & HIM P&P 1414 FUNN SCHOOL DAZE MAGIC 1981 93500 GAYLORD WALKIN 42 STREET GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1980 20 GOLDEN FLAMINGO ORCH. FEAT. MARGO WILLIAMS THE GUARDIAN ANGEL IS WATCHING OVER US GOLDEN FLAMINGO 2929 GUY FORTUNE TELL ME WHAT TO DO FOR YOU P&P 1983 104 HARRY BROWN IT'S JUST AS HARD FOR A MAN AS IT IS FOR A WOMAN GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1980 14000 HENRY BROOKS GREATEST DEBT TO MY MOTHER (7") P&P 1977 333 HIGH FIDELITY LIFETIME/DEDICATED/LOVE CHAMP QUEEN CONSTANCE 98 HIGH FIDELITY MAGIC CARPET HIGH VOLTAGE ROCK SPANK FREAK QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 8787 HONEY DIP MC I'LL KEEP YOU WARM (BED WARMER) HOOKER (PETER BROWN) HOOKER P&P 1977 999 IKIM AND BACARDI FUNK RAP LAND OF HITS 1980 802 IMPERIAL THREE IT'S ROUGH HIT MAKER 1986 6 IOU CHILL OUT GEORGIA PEACH 9999 JESSE GOULD OUT OF WORK P&P 1977 2222 JESSE HENDERSON I DID IT AGAIN LAND OF HITS JOE MILO YOU'LL NEVER GET AWAY FROM ME LAND OF HITS 1981 902 JOHNSON PRODUCTS JOHNSON JUMPIN SOUND OF NEW YORK 1979 704 JOYCE JONES REMEMBER ME QUEEN CONSTANCE 402 JOYCE JONES & VELMA JONES QUEEN CONSTANCE THEME QUEEN CONSTANCE 401 KARISMA FEAT.JOCELYN BROWN GOT YOU DANCIN SOUND OF THE UNIVERSE 1976 2424 KATHY MILLER TELL'EM I LOVE YOU TYSON 1982 429 KESSLER TURN UP YOUR RADIO GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1980 80 KIM TAYLOR STOMP YOUR FEET AND DANCE QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 6062 KING DAVID HITCH HIKE ONE MORE TIME P&P 1977 666 KING DAVID STOOP DOWN BABY P&P 1977 666 KING DAVID SINGS THE BLUESB (LP) P&P 1977 888 LA SHE BA YOU'VE BEEN HUNCHIN' HEAVENLY STAR 1979 719 LAND OF HITS ORCH. GANGSTER ROCK GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1980 10000 LANIER BLINDED (BY THE QUALITY OF YOU) CLARANCE 2020 LANIER 25 HOURS CLARANCE 2020 LAVABA & E.MALLISON A GAME OF LIFE HEAVENLY STAR 1983 3333 LAVABA & E.MALLISON A GAME OF LIFE - RE-EDIT HEAVENLY STAR 1983 3333 LE'O ROY POUND FOR POUND GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1980 60 LICKY AFRICAN ROCK QUEEN CONSTANCE 9292 LICKY DREAM LOVER QUEEN CONSTANCE 9292 LIL' MICHAEL SHE SWEPT ME OFF MY FEET HEAVENLY STAR 610 LITLE TEX T FLY GUY MASTERPIECE GOLDEN FLAMINGO LITTLE SCOTTY GOING TO A DISCO TONIGHT QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 8686 LITTLE SCOTTY I WANT TO DANCE SOUND OF NEW YORK 1979 504 LITTLE SCOTTY SHOUT AT THE DISCO SOUND OF NEW YORK 1979 504 LITTLE STARSKY GANGSTER ROCK GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1979 11000 LITTLE STARSKY DANCIN' PARTY PEOPLE GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1981 19000 LJ WAITERS HOOKED ON YOUR LINE QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 LP 4 LJ WAITERS COME ON AND ROCK QUEEN CONSTANCE LOUIE DELIGHT THEY PUT SEX IN EVERYTHING STIL RISING REC 1004 LOUISE MURRAY DID YOU NOTICE LAND OF HITS 1983 608 LOZINE WRIGHT YOU'RE SO GOOD TYSON 4444 LOZINE WRIGHT STOP THE TAXI TYSON 127 LOZINE WRIGHT WAIT WAIT TYSON 382 MAGNETIC TOUCH AIN'T GONNA BE A NEXT TIME P&P 1976 1515 MANCEFIELD HITCHMAN GOING TO A P&P DISCO PARTY P&P 1978 1919 MARGIE LOMAX GOD'S GREATEST GIFT TO MAN IS A WOMAN GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1978 2727 MARGO WILLIAMS GOD SAVE AND PROTECT THE CHILDREN GOLDEN FLAMINGO 2828 MARGO'S COOL OUT CREW DEATH RAP HEAVENLY STAR 1979 721 MARTA ACUNA DANCE DANCE DANCE P&P 1977 555 MARVIN WRIGHT/SCOTT DAVIS ROBOT DANCE/FUNKY PHANTOM QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 LP 3 MARY CLARK TAKE ME I'M YOURS LA SHAW 310 MASTER JAY WE ARE PEOPLE TOO GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1980 90 MC CHOCOLATE STAR THE POP/SPACE WALKING CHOCOLATE STAR 1982 CS 1555 MC ROMEO GIVE A LITTLE BIT TO ETHIOPIA SOUND OF THE UNIVERSE SU-1 MICHAEL CAMPBEL & HIGH VOLTAGE WE ARE MAKING MUSIC HITMAKERS 1983 715 MILTON FLOYD ANYWAY I CAN SOUND OF THE UNIVERSE 2121 MINK'S PHILLY ELECTRIC FLASH DANCE GEORGIA PEACH 7777 MIRACLE BAPTIST CHOIRS ALBUM QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 502 MISTAFIDE EQUIDITY FUNK LAND OF HITS 1981 901 MR B RAPPER DAPPER B HITMAKERS 1980 718 MR MAGIC RAPPIN' WITH MR MAGIC MAGIC 1980 904 MR.FOX SMOOTH TALK GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1980 16000 MR.FOX PARTY TRACK GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1980 16000 MUSIC MAKERS JUMP JUMP JUMP (VOCAL) QUEEN CONSTANCE NAOMI PETERSON SWEET NAOMI RAP HEAVENLY STAR 1980 723 PAPER DOLL GET DOWN BOY HEAVENLY STAR 1979 720 PAPER DOLL IT'S GIHIN TO BE CORNBREAD TIME TYSON 2 PERSONAL TOUCH IT AIN'T NO BIG THING - RE-EDIT PETER BROWN & PATRICIA GYLIARD BLINDED SOUND OF THE UNIVERSE PHILIP ROGERS CHARLIES ANGELS DISCO P&P 1977 444 QUEEN CONSTANCE BAND UNIVERSITY OF DANCES 1978 (ALBUM) QUEEN CONSTANCE 5252 QUEEN YAHNA AIN'T IT TIME P&P 1976 1010 RAPPER DAPPER B COM ON Y'ALL 1981 REASON TO LIVE LOVE FANTASY / YOU GAVE ME LOVE P&P 1111 RUDY STEWART GET DOWN/ONE AND ONLY LOVER SOUND OF NEW YORK 417 SAMMY MOORE JR. & BAND DISCO JOGGIN POOKY RECORDS 4949 SCOOPY SCOOPY RAP (PATTY DUKE GROOVE) SOUND OF NEW YORK 1979 701 SCOTT DAVIS FREAKTIME HEAVENLY STAR 1977 509 SCOTT DAVIS FREAKTIME P&D 1977 523 SCOTT DAVIS & THE MOVEMENTS N.Y. APPLEJACK QUEEN CONSTANCE 207 SHEROD SCHOOLING (PUT YOUR MIND TO THE MESSAGE) FUNK GROOVE 1980 3232 SHIFT ROLLER RINK FUNK LAND OF HITS 1979 801 SICLE CELL & RHAPAZOOTY RAPAZOOTY BLUE SOLID GOLD CREW (DO THE ) DOUBLE DUTCH SONGS AND SOUL OF ELLA HAMILTON HERE'S TO YOU, I'M GONNA FOOL YOU QUEEN CONSTANCE 4242 SPOONIE G SPOONIE RAP (REMIX ) HEAVENLY STAR 1981 0 SPOONIN' G (SPOONIE G) SPOONIN RAP (PATTY DUKE GROOVE) SOUND OF NEW YORK 1979 708 STACK WIN JESSE WIN HEAVENLY STAR 1984 5555 STAX NEW YORK COMPUTER BREAK DANCE GEORGIA PEACH 888 STEWART, RUDY GET DOWN / ONE AND ONLY LOVER SOUND OF NEW YORK 1980 417 SUPER COOPER & CLARANCE BREAKERS THIS IS THE WAY YOU DO THE BREAK DANCE CLARANCE 1984 SUPER COOPER & CLARANCE BREAKERS THIS IS THE WAY YOU DO THE BREAK DANCE GEORGIA PEACH 1984 1616 SUPER JAY SUPER JAY LOVE THEME HITMAKERS 1980 714 SUPER JAY SANTA'S RAP PARTY SOUND OF NEW YORK 1980 712 SWEET G BOOGIE FEELIN RAP QUEEN CONSTANCE 1980 3131 TEEN MACHINE TEEN MACHINE RAP LAND OF HITS 1980 606 TERRY LEWIS WITH REASON TO LIVE DISCO CITY TERRY TUNES 1977 526 THE MUSICMAKERS JUMP JUMP JUMP (VOCAL) QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 6060 THE SHARONETTES SUGAR DUMPLING DESTINY 908 TONY GRAY & BEVERLY LEE & THE SHIFT BAND MOAN FOR LOVE HEAVENLY STAR 609 TROY RAINEY TRICKY TEE RAP HEAVENLY STAR 1979 722 UNIVERSAL TWO DANCING HEART GOLDEN FLAMINGO 1981 3030 VA. -ANITA MALDONADO/MUSIC MASTERS WHAT CAN I DO MAKE YOU DANCE/FEEL LIKE LOVE/JUST HANGING AROUND QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 415 VARIOUS ARTISTS E.P. GEE DEE/LAST NIGHT/STAY WITH ME/THE TIME FOR LOVE IS NOW/GOT TO GET YOUR LOVE/SUPER JAKE/THE PROFESSOR HERE/THE POP CHOCOLATE STAR CS 1554 VELMA JONES SEARCHING FOR MY LOVER QUEEN CONSTANCE 403 WAYNE FORD BEST THING IN LIFE P&P 1977 WAYNE FORD DANCE TO THE BEAT/FREAK OUT QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 99 WILLIE WOOD WILLIE RAP (JOHNSON JUMPIN GROOVE) SOUND OF NEW YORK 1979 709 WOODY WOOD & WOOD CREW WOODY RAP (JOHNSON JUMPIN GROOVE) QUEEN CONSTANCE 1979 WORLD MC'S CRACK ADDICT ZOOT 2 DR. ICE RAP LAND OF HITS 1980 803 He had so many subsidiary labels, it was a real bitch trying to pin it down. I went pretty far and wide in just getting the above info. I had to compile all the Disco collectors info with all other sources but, at the time I was concentrating on rare Disco not potential Northern obscurities 'cos I thought I already knew 'em all. However, when I got to hear a couple of early P&P releases like Florence Miller's "The Groove I'm In" and the Queen Yahna record I realised that P&P had hitherto unrealised potential. NOBODY ever badmouths Peter Brown. His releases may have looked very amateur, under-designed, very basically recorded and sporadically distributed but he offered opportunities to artists and musicians that weren't available elsewhere. Patrick Adams and Peter Brown are still tight and that's a real rarity in today's music business. We should try and get him on here. Peter would just LOVE all this. You can bet your ass within days he'd be finding all manner of interesting recordings to throw at us. Ian D

Yeah, I thought you'd bumped into him at some point Kev. I'm pretty sure he came into the conversation one time when I was in Nottingham in the late 70's and you had that office up the stairs with racks full of records. I remember picking up a ton of those "Hollywood" mix 12"'s at the time LOL (and I wish I'd kept 'em all). You met him waaay before I did. He was some character ay....? Ian D

When I get home I'll do some digging around in my files. I actually did a P&P label listing about 5 years ago when I put out the P&P story. However, details will always be sketchy with Peter Brown - P&P's owner. P&P really is the ultimate ghetto label and the label operated in a suitably indeciferable way which, I suspect is exactly the way Peter wanted it LOL. I BOUGHT the label in 2006 when Peter needed some quick cash and then found out he'd sold it to two other people before! Cue 2 years of legal hassles and some quick footwork to get my cash back and not get shot or sued. The only upside is that I remastered everything I could get my hands on undoubtably to a lot higher standard then the original releases. I've dealt with Peter over 30 years and he is what he is. What I do find unbelievable is that whenever a P&P track comes into demand it's never long before almost exact duplicates of the originals using the original stampers suddenly appear. I've got to hand it to him to be honest. He can never produce a written catalogue but he always seems to find the masters when he needs 'em! He's like the Jet Star of New York or Harlem to be precise. Ian D

I've just taken delivery of the finished package and it looks beautiful! In the shops in 10 days time on the 26th March! One of the few days that I actually feel happy with my life! Package of the year so far (talking as a fan of course)! Ian D

Yep, I worked extensively with Tom in the early 00's when I re-released the Salsoul catalogue:- https://www.discogs.com/label/Suss%27d+Records Tom actually was really Salsoul's in-house engineer and tape custodian which was handy but, boy, did he protect those bloody tapes. Getting stuff out of Tom was a military excercise in itself at times but it was always inspirational to see someone that took his work so seriously. He really is the genuine article. Ian D

Just sold the Chess/Janus comp, these still left before they go to Discogs........... Leon Haywood "Come And Get Yourself Some" UK 20th Century BT 476 His best! (inc "Consider The Source", "I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You", "This Feeling's Rated Extra" etc) £25.00 Roy C "Sex And Soul" UK Mercury 9100 017 A classic of it's type and not that common. £15 Frankie Valli "Gold" UK Private Stock PVLP 1006 Irresistible compilation of his Private Stock output which sounds surprisingly great again (including "You're Ready Now", "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" and "My Eyes Adored You") £10 The Imperials "Who's Gonna Love Me" UK Power Exchange PXL 029 Classic mid 70's Philly Soul on cool label £5 Or £40 the lot and post free! PM me if interested. Ian D

Hey Andy. Last time I bumped into you was at a record shop in Camden in the 80's. Hope you're well mate. Have you still got that black leather coat LOL....? Ian D

Just picked up a bunch of tasty UK albums in beautiful condition.......all vinyl and sleeves VG+-Mint- and free postage! Leon Haywood "Come And Get Yourself Some" UK 20th Century BT 476 His best! (inc "Consider The Source", "I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You", "This Feeling's Rated Extra" etc) £25.00 The Chess/Janus Mobile Discotheque Volume 1 UK Chess 6310 128 An unbelievable compilation choc full of belters (inc The Kolettes, Denise LaSalle, The Intrigues, Fontella Bass, Image, The Whispers, The Soulful Strings, Cissy Houston, Joy Lovejoy, Na Allen, The Radiants, The Kinight Bros, Tony Clarke, Bobby Moore) £15 Roy C "Sex And Soul" UK Mercury 9100 017 A classic of it's type and not that common. £15 Frankie Valli "Gold" UK Private Stock PVLP 1006 Irresistible compilation of his Private Stock output which sounds surprisingly great again (including "You're Ready Now", "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" and "My Eyes Adored You") £10 The Imperials "Who's Gonna Love Me" UK Power Exchange PXL 029 Classic mid 70's Philly Soul on cool label £5 Or £50 the lot and post free! PM me if interested. Ian D

I only visited New York in really quick bursts in the 70's, so I was never there long enough to explore different clubs. Of course, that all changed from the early 80's but in the mid 70's I was living in Los Angeles and visiting San Franciso occasionally. I pretty much visited most of the clubs on the West Coast however, as a relatively young-looking 21 year old back then, you had to make sure you were visiting the right KIND of clubs otherwise it could be a pain in the arse - I had a nerve wracking couple of hours @ San Francisco's "Dance Your Ass Off" and still feel I was lucky to get out in one piece LOL..... I usually went to the Music Biz hangouts in L.A. in '76 - Chez Nous and the Candy Box and another one which I think was called Sergios. All pretty good at the time I must say............ I know Ian Levine used to go to some of the more notorious clubs downtown and I'm pretty sure Kev went to a couple of uptown clubs at that time so maybe they'd be better to answer this...... Ian D

Damn, damn, damn. My favourite group vocalist of all time from my favourite group of all time. Jimmy Ellis really was a huge part of the soundtrack of my whole life. I was lucky enough to play a couple of gigs with 'em - Cleethorpes Pier in the mid 70's and Baltic Soul last year plus I've been re-listening to their entire catalogue again just lately with several of Jimmy's vocals on the recent Philadelphia International releases, so this is a real shock. EVERYONE knew Jimmy's voice. Who hasn't heard 'Disco Inferno' in their lives? Now there's a f*ckin' vocal! RIP Jimmy. Ian D

There's some great stuff coming up on this album which I'll post up when I get the details through..... In the meantime coming up on Saturday I highly recommend any mix freaks out there to tune into JJ and Coopsy's Six Million Steps show:- Two hours of Tom Moulton's Philly classics remixed all in the mix on the 6MS Sessions this Saturday LIVE at 11am on www.stompradio.com. Ian D

It was nuts. I tried to sell 'em Shalamar so I saw it first hand. If I'd have ever worked there I'd be dead without a shadow of a doubt LOL.... Neil Bogart was a born promotion man though. Got his start @ Cameo and then Buddah ..... Ian D

Me too. Casablanca predominently released many of the huge U.S. Gay hits - Village People, Donna Summer, Patrick Juvet, Dennis Parker, Love & Kisses etc, etc which is why I suspect it kept coming up in the programme........ Strange combination for a label really - Pumping High Energy Gay Disco and Slinky, Dirty, Nasty P-Funk. Musta been fun in those offices when Parliament/Cameo brushed past Patrick Juvet and Dennis Parker in the corridor LOL..... Ian D

LOL, I should dig that Larry Sherman footage out for the Trax 30th..... Actually I want to add a bit more but I'm on an I-phone and I can't see the bloody keypad...... Ian D

I'm not really sure if it can be successfully condensed to one hour anyway. But it's quite a hard process to get a documentary made for TV these days plus the budgets aren't great and licensing the music is always a major headache, so there's lot of obstacles in the way of anyone who tries to be definitive. Plus what size of audience would the documentary command (because it's ALWAYS about audiences whichever channel sponsors it)? I've recently watched the definitive docementary about the birth of House music in the UK. I want to release the soundtrack and the DVD and see if I can get it on TV and selected film screenings too. But the music clearance budget is just nuts so the project is currently stalled. So it's not that easy even with a completed great documentary. We're probably lucky we even got this. I don't know if other countries have as much choice or diversity as we do over here. It could be worse believe me! Ian D

Absolutely. He was also the inventor of using two record decks instead of one, thus inadvertently starting the mixing phenomenon in the early 60's. Ian D

Jesus. You guys are actually serious about all this............ Ian D

Oh, I almost forgot, for those who like the kind of Disco largely featured in the show, we have 4 new Disco Discharge albums out in March, April and May to compliment the 12 which are already out there...... https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=disco+discharge# Not a bad week for Disco LOL..... Ian D

I agree too. There's a little too much focus on the Gay angle because I think most of the books concentrate on New York because that was the most well documented area with plenty of media around. Let's not forget the French word 'Discotheque' was penned in the mid 60's:- dis·co·theque also dis·co·th¨que (dsk-tk, dsk-tk) n. A nightclub that features dancing to recorded or sometimes live music and often has showy decor and elaborate lighting. [French, record library, discoth¨que, from Italian discoteca, record library : disco, disk, record (from Latin discus, quoit; see discus) + biblioteca, library (from Latin bibliothca; see bibliotheca).] I can remember going to School Discos in 1968 LOL. Also I'm pretty sure that Gamble & Huff and the rest of the Philly contingent weren't writing exclusively for gays by any means..... ......shameless plug time, since Gamble & Huff and Moulton featured in the programme! Out on the 26th of this month and pretty much the best example of Soulful Disco you'll ever find:- Philadelphia International Classics: The Tom Moulton Remixes - Track Listing (All songs in chronological order from when they originally charted on the Billboard RnB Single or Album Chart) CD 1 1. Back Stabbers 9.36 - The O'Jays Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 08/07/72 2. (Win, Place Or Show) She's A Winner 7.28 - The Intruders Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 19/08/72 3. Slow Motion 7.47 - Johnny Williams Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 09/09/72 4. Love Train 6.14 - The O'Jays Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 20/01/73 5. I'll Always Love My Mama 9.41 - The Intruders Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 12/05/73 6. The Love I Lost 12.28 - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 22/09/73 7. Dirty Ol' Man 8.17 - The Three Degrees Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 06/10/73 Total Playing Time: 61.31 CD 2 1. The Whole Town's Talking 8.39 - Billy Paul Original U.S. Album Chart Debut 24/11/73 2. Love Epidemic 7.32 - The Trammps Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 29/12/73 3. T.S.O.P The Sound Of Philadelphia 5.42 - MFSB Featuring The Three Degrees Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 02/03/74 4. Year Of Decision 6.44 - Three Degrees Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 09/03/74 5. Where Do We Go From Here 5.30 - The Trammps Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 18/05/74 6. Love Is The Message 11.30 - MFSB Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 13/07/74 7. The Devil Made Me Do It 10.35 - Robert Upchurch Original U.S. Single Release (Didn't Chart) 8. When Will I See You Again 5.52 - Three Degrees Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 28/09/74 Total Playing Time: 62.04 CD 3 1. Trusting Heart 5.58 - The Trammps Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 23/11/74 2. Bad Luck 8.00 - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Original U.S. Album Chart Debut 01/03/75 3. Trammps Disco Theme/Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart 6.41 - The Trammps Original U.S. Album Chart Debut 10/05/75 4. Do It Any Way You Wanna 5.30 - People's Choice Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 19/07/75 5. I Love Music 9.43 - The O'Jays Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 01/11/75 6. Don't Leave Me This Way 11.03 - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Original U.S. Album Chart Debut 06/12/75 7. Let's Groove 10.20 - Archie Bell & The Drells Original U.S. Album Chart Debut 27/12/75 8. You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine 9.57 - Lou Rawls Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 15/05/76 Total Playing Time: 67.12 CD 4 1. Where Will You Go When The Party's Over 9.05 - Archie Bell & The Drells Original U.S. Album Chart Debut 22/01/77 2. Jam Jam Jam (All Night Long) 7.42 - People's Choice Original U.S. Album Chart Debut 26/06/76 3. I Don't Love You Anymore 8.41 - Teddy Pendergrass Original U.S. Album Chart Debut 19/03/77 4. See You When I Git There 9.36 - Lou Rawls Original U.S. Album Chart Debut 16/04/77 5. This Time Baby 9.50 - The O'Jays Original U.S. Album Chart Debut 29/04/78 6. Party Time Man 9.09 - The Futures Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 13/01/79 7. My Love Don't Come Easy 10.46 - Jean Carn Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 22/12/79 8. Nights Over Egypt 9.12 - The Jones Girls Original U.S. Single Chart Debut 13/02/82 Total Playing Time: 67.12 Amazon Link:- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philadelphia-International-Classics-Moulton-Remixes/dp/B006W33UC4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1326472760&sr=1-1 Ian D

OK, I've just about recovered from 6 weeks of licensing hell in trying to get the Tom Moulton project out and suddenly it's my birthday again. Somehow I've made it to another year and the big day happens to coincide with this week's show, so I guess I'll be celebrating in the studio with the usual Original Mastercuts Sunday afternoon crowd! It's a bit thin on the new release front for me at the moment but there's plenty of decent re-edits around plus plenty of old favourites, some classic and lesser played Northern, some beautiful 70's goodies and a mesmerizing last half-hour, so hope you tune in and if you're up for some banter then join me in the Starpoint chatroom on the Starpoint homepage with the regular crew. Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 4th March 2012 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring...... The Nick Straker Band * War * The Trammps * Crown Heights Affair * Yasuko Agawa * Two Tons Of Fun * The Undisputed Truth * The Ideals * The Detroit Executives * The Dynamics * Turn Of The Century * Jodi Mathis * Otis Williams * Bill Brandon * The Johnny Otis Show feat Barbara Morrison * Bessie Banks * George Benson * Jermaine Jackson * Collins & Collins * Bobby Caldwell * Spank * Dionne Warwick & The Detroit Spinners Also, for anyone who's around Leeds this coming Friday myself and Paul Schofield will be looking at another ROCKIN' night @ Distrikt in Leeds, so please come down and join us if you're in town! See you @ 2.00-4.00pm! Ian D

Mmm. Never really connected the two. Both records on Capitol and only a few years apart............. Ian D