Ian Dewhirst

So you like it then Steve? Ian D

Frankly, if even you can't figure out where you've put your own records, then the rest of us are plainly f*cked. C'mon Bob, man up.......... Ian D

Also, lest we forget, Johnny Fruin was immortalised in B.A. Robertson's massive UK Top 10 hit "Bang Bang" in the late 70's...... https://bar-six.blogspot.com/2009/09/life-was-in-ruin-she-loved-johnny-fruin.html Ian D

Yep. He was a traditional English playa. What brought him onto my radar was the FANTASTIC full-page Warner Music ad in Billboard which introduced the U.S. music business to their potential counterparts around the world. The one which had the most impact was John Fruin in a traditional English 3 piece pin-stripe suit with a bowler hat and a brolly doing something akin to John Cleese's 'Ministry Of Silly Walks' sketch with Big Ben in the background. Talk about nailing an easily assimillated image LOL. Brilliant. Just brilliant. I kept my eye on him after that LOL.... He was a major character. I'm gonna do a bit of research on him LOL..... He's very fondly remembered by most. Ian D

Phew! Whatta week LOL. In the constant battle for shelf space and trying to punch above our weight in the mainstream album market we did pretty good. We had a SPECTACULAR day one chart entry @ No.22 which even shocked me (I was figuring No.25) and we were the 2nd highest new entry in the Top 40 Compilation chart. That was because of great advance pre-orders and general buzz. The momentum of that and also fantastic support from retailers (a lot of stores played the album in-store throughout the week) meant we were holding @ No.25 even up to Friday. However, Fridays and Saturdays are the HUGE days for TV advertised albums and heavily campaigned Supermarket promotions so generally most 'specialist' albums get welll and truly crocked by the end of the week when Friday and Saturday's sales are tabulated. So when "Philadelphia International: The Re-Edits" went in @ No.36 on the final chart on Monday I breathed a sigh of relief. Yay! Philadelphia International was back in the main UK charts for the first time since 1998. So far it's all looking looking great. I think people are still assimilating the album and opinions are pretty divided depending on people's different viewpoints - check the Amazon reviews to see the wide swathe of thoughts. Either way, it's certainly making people re-visit the PIR catalogue if only to validate their own opinions, which was pretty much the whole point in the first place. Anyone who doesn't get off on the Re-Edits package will probably love the Tom Moulton package and if that doesn't work then Ralph Tee's 10cd Box Set will hopefully swoop up any remaining diehards. If none of those work, then maybe Bob Dylan might hit the spot? Ian D

Oh, you mean the U.S. John Fisher! Like Paul I was assuming you were talking about the UK. Actually I recently re-read the brilliant "Exploding - The Highs, Hits, Hype, Heroes & Hustlers Of The Warner Music Group" by Stan Cornyn and I don't recall the name John Fisher coming at all........ Ian D

He was quite a player as well. Didja hear about the cut-out scam he ran with the Warners overstocks in the mid 1970's? Ian D

Mmmm. A spelling mistake that also translated to a PR photo? Maybe they were called the Swans and then booted Nat Kendricks and switched the 'S' for a 'T'? Ian D

For a complete run-through of the album and the master himself talking about each track he remixed, check out Jay Negron's FANTASTIC show from Saturday.......in Jay's own words........ "TOM MOULTON was our guest and he previewed his new CD: "PHILADELPHIA CLASSICS: THE TOM MOULTON MIXES" We played almost all the tracks to this MONUMENTAL release...and as usual TOM outdid himself.....WHAT A TREAT"!!! New York's Disco 935 21/01/12 - Jay Negron Interviews Tom Moulton https://rcpt.yousendi...655aed394b682c7 Ian D

She's really not that well-known over here. I think the only thing we heard at the time was that duet she did with Paul Anka ("You're Having My Baby" I think), so she was probably perceived as a Pop act rather than a Soul act. I don't think I've heard any of her solo recordings to be honest....... Ian D

I'm not sure if this has been posted before but I just caught this on Nile Rodgers blog. He visited Drexel University in Philadelphia and took some great snaps of the University's tape archive...... https://www.nilerodgers.com/blogs/planet-c-in-english/859-singing-and-dancing-my-ass-off Ian D

Yep, for sure. I have a listing from when Sanctuary controlled the catalogue and that threw up a few surprises. I've always loved Stang/Turbo releases.All New Jersey ghetto recordings and I think many of these releases have yet to find their audience. Universal took it over when they bought Sanctuary so I'm not optimistic about seeing any future deep catalogue releases. I'm still playing that All Platinum Girls release that Sanctuary did in the late 90's which is FANTASTIC! Ian D

Blimey Ric. There's a bit of difference between Doris Troy on Stang and Doris Troy on Midsong. I can imagine this thread giving some serious Stang/Turbo specialists heart failure.......... Ian D

Haha LOL. Great stuff. Compared to the rest of the stuff in the pop charts right now we're f*ckin' SMOKIN'! Ian D

And people wonder why I don't go to Leeds so much these days. Too many young curly haired smartarses for my liking........ (Note to self: I'm back up there on the 10th Feb so don't tempt fate ) Ali, the rate you're going, you're gonna be the last person in the UK to hear the bloody thing! Just walk into an HMV 'cos every one I've gone in this week has been playing it! The best possible way to go to work Ali! I put it full blast in the office to wake people up! Ian D

It's gonna take a bit longer to get together as we have a filmed interview between Richard Searling and Kenny Gamble which will be included as a bonus DVD and we've been so busy we haven't had time to get it edited yet. I've actually altered it to 'tbc' datewise for the moment because when it does eventually come out it will be something special. If the gods are smiling upon us, there may even be some previously unheard of goodies on there. Also, at present there are quite a few tracks which would need to be licensed in, plus some others where there will be potential legal issues. So, all in all, it's a bit more problematic than usual, which itself is unusual because every project I do is problematic these days LOL. Plus my work's cut out at the moment trying to keep a specialist album like "Philadelphia International: The Re-Edits" in the UK Top 30 (Compilation chart) for at least the first week against an onslaught of TV advertised albums and mainstream Supermarket releases (No.23 today so fingers crossed that we can hold through to the weekend) plus the Moulton album coming up plus the 10CD Box Set with 60 page booklet and the 10 Backbeats from 3 weeks ago. It's like spinning plates right now. But good. So, yes, Richard's album is definitely happening, but will probably be in April or May or even later if some plans happen which could throw up some old tapes. ETA for that will be early April, so watch this space. All go innit? Ian D

Y'know Ali, I've been hearing women telling me that they're "allowed to be late" for the last 40 years and it always brings me out in a bit of a sweat and makes me nervously twitch.......... Ian D X

Oi! Ian D

Success for Harmless doesn't immediately translate into champagne, unlimited expenses and a none-stop party for me these days Mart. I'll probably get a discreet 'well done' swiftly followed by 'and how's March shaping up'? Oh hang on. We're talking Morcambe prices aren't we? Yep, OK then, I'll get you a pint! Ian D

Haha. If you're happy then we've really struck gold this time Jocko! What I'm happiest about today, is that I've just sent the charts over the Mssrs Gamble & Huff showing PIR back in the main UK Top 30 Album chart again for the first time since the mid 70's which is a bit of a gas. As I've said elsewhere today, every so often the stars align and everything works like a dream. I'm just really pleased that this one worked out, especially since Kenny was so gracious with his time and goodwill. Bodes well for the Moulton package and the 10CD Box Set coming up! Will post you on PIR's response when I get it! Best, Ian D

Yep, I agree. I'm hoping that we'll start getting access from early April if all goes to plan. Ian D

Wow. No.22 nationally after 2 days out there. Praise be to the lord! Ian D

Excellent site Dave. My first port of call whenever I'm researching these areas. Please keep up the brilliant work! Ian D

OK, here's a sneak preview of just some of the new Moulton mixes which I played on the show this week..... Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 15th January 2012 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring...... 1st Hour Cee-Lo Green - Bight Lights, Bigger City Archie Bell & The Drells - Let's Groove - New Tom Moulton Remix Hardsoul feat Ron Carroll - Back Together - Francois K Remix M&S feat Sean Escoffrey - So Sweetly - Kenny Carpenter Big Apple Mix Billy Paul - The Whole Town's Talking - New Tom Moulton Remix Lou Rawls - See You When I Git There - New Tom Moulton Remix The O'Jays - This Time Baby - New Tom Moulton Remix 2nd Hour The Intruders - (Win, Place Or Show) She's A Winner - New Tom Moulton Remix Love Committee - I Made A Mistake - Rahaan Re-Edit The Trammps - Where Do We Go From Here - New Tom Moulton Remix Jerry Butler & Brenda Lee Eager - Ever Since I Can Remember Syreeta Wright feat Stevie Wonder - To Know You Is To Love You Jean Carn - My Love Don't Come Easy - New Tom Moulton Remix Robert Upchurch - The Devil Made Me Do It - New Tom Moulton Remix The Three Degrees - When Will I See You Again - New Tom Moulton Remix Download Link https://www.sixmillionsteps.com/6MS-2012-01-15-Starpoint.mp3 Enjoy! Ian D

Well, that was a great way to kick off the first show of the New Year! The biggest crowd in the chat room EVER and a monster overall audience so thanks to all for tuning in! Naturally much of the show was given over to highlighting just a few of the brilliant new Tom Moulton remixes from the upcoming "Philadelphia International Classics: The Tom Moulton Remixes" due at the end of next month. And what a brilliant reaction they got too! Download link below... Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 15th January 2012 on everyone's favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com. Featuring...... 1st Hour Cee-Lo Green - Bright Lights, Bigger City Archie Bell & The Drells - Let's Groove - New Tom Moulton Remix Hardsoul feat Ron Carroll - Back Together - Francois K Remix M&S feat Sean Escoffrey - So Sweetly - Kenny Carpenter Big Apple Mix Billy Paul - The Whole Town's Talking - New Tom Moulton Remix Lou Rawls - See You When I Git There - New Tom Moulton Remix The O'Jays - This Time Baby - New Tom Moulton Remix 2nd Hour The Intruders - (Win, Place Or Show) She's A Winner - New Tom Moulton Remix Love Committee - I Made A Mistake - Rahaan Re-Edit The Trammps - Where Do We Go From Here - New Tom Moulton Remix Jerry Butler & Brenda Lee Eager - Ever Since I Can Remember Syreeta Wright feat Stevie Wonder - To Know You Is To Love You Jean Carn - My Love Don't Come Easy - New Tom Moulton Remix Robert Upchurch - The Devil Made Me Do It - New Tom Moulton Remix The Three Degrees - When Will I See You Again - New Tom Moulton Remix Download Link https://www.sixmillionsteps.com/6MS-2012-01-15-Starpoint.mp3 Hopefully I'll catch some of you at the forthcoming Club Soul at the Heathrow Holiday Inn, Sipson Road, Heathrow on Saturday 28th January where I'll be spinning with Barry Stone and giving away some 'Philadelphia International: The Re-Edits' packages to some lucky people. Also I'll be up in Leeds for Heritage @ Distrikt on Friday 10th February for a brand new city centre night with Paul Schofield just mere yards from the old Central club where we started some 35 years ago! Al will be back next week and I'll be back on the 29th Jan so see ya then! Ian D