Amsterdam Russ

"Sorry, an error occurred" - that's what I'm getting.

Entered the UK charts at number 9, 30th Sept 1967 and peaked at number 6. It dropped out of the Top 15 six weeks later. By then Sgt Peppers had been ousted from it's long run in the poll position by the soundtrack to The Sound of Music...

Looking through the photo galleries here creates the same sense of - ugh, they're all old! It's like being a teenager and accidentally wandering into an OAP's party. Worse, remember the elderly Teddy Boys who, years after their 50s heyday, continued to wear drape jackets and crepe shoes, and had greased back hair, which would typically be grey? People see the same thing now, except it isn't the ageing Teddy Boys, it's the Northern Soulers!

Hmm, possibly then the obit is for a different Rucker. Reading through it again, the article does state that Tyrone Rucker gained the nickname 'Big Daddy Rucker' in the 70s. If so, maybe his friends had the other one in mind when they gave him the tag. Someone must know for sure or at least have a reference book to consult...

Welcome, Elaine. What can you tell us about this CD, how you went about getting it together and what motivated you to do so?

This obituary of any use to you? https://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/?id=7963

It might seem a silly question to ask, but how is it known that the heavier vinyl press is in fact the first and therefore 'original' release? I presume there must be a few facts to substantiate this. So, what are they? There seems to be some doubt as to whether the 'second' press of lighter weight is a legitimate release (if so, when?) or a bootleg from the 70s. Is anyone actually able to clarify what it is, and isn't? Having listened to the previously mentioned Sonny Hopson radio show (which, amazingly, I found in a bargain bin at HMV Islington some 6-7 years ago), and having done some reading up on the guy, it seems obvious that he was a natural promoter. With a band and their new 45 to promote - and with his own nightclub, radio show and status as perfect vehicles to do so - it would seem entirely acceptable for him to have pressed up more copies if needed, especially if his own promotional activity gave the record a second breath of life. So, what are the actual known facts about the release of this 45?

Clicking on the images brings up the larger files you uploaded.

I was fortunate to spend some time in conversation with Wayne Bennett - Bobby Bland's legendary guitarist - when the Malaco Review came to the UK in 1989. Whilst regaling me with tales of 'the old days', he was also kind enough to sign a few 45s that I'd taken along. Whereas Wayne Bennett was happy to sign my 45s and chat for a good hour or so, Bobby Bland was surly and, I felt, rather disagreeable. He would only sign one 45 and appeared reluctant to do even that. The weak squiggle on this copy of Blue Moon is what passes for his autograph. Perhaps he was just having a bad day. Regardless, these remain treasured possessions.

What a tune! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FlE6MRiyNc

Worth a try, but I suspect the seller will only think that you're kidding around!

The real title of the track we know as The Kid is Holiday. When the two tracks got released outside of the local Belgian/Dutch markets there was a mix up. Holiday became The Kid and vice versa! This is confirmed on Andre Brasseur's own website (which used to be available in a number of languages including English, but for some reason unknown is available only in French at the moment). Your 45, which was pressed for the local market, has the correct title. Also, if you watch the clip on YouTube, you'll see a series of comments that further confirm the mix-up in titles.

When you play The Kid, do you get this track instead?

CNR is a Dutch record label with a history stretching back to 1939. They released a greatest hits album of Brasseur's work in 1977. Your 45 is a reissue put out to coincide with that album.

Hey, Calum, it might sound an odd question, but are you the same person who set up a Silhouettes website a few years ago and also used to frequent the WebmasterWorld forums?

Could be the track 'Holiday', which is paired with The Kid on most releases. If it is 'Holiday' the reason for the mix up is that 'The Kid' is in fact 'Holiday' and vice-versa. At some point very early on the titles got mixed up. This possibly accounts for later UK releases that have the tracks swapped as A & B sides. I guess that when someone advised of the error they said the songs are on the wrong side - the A side should be the B side. In reality they were only supposed to swap the titles, and not the songs!

Thanks, Bob. It's a tough crowd in here sometimes!

That's OK; no need to acknowledge that someone has gone to the trouble of digging up and posting some information to help you with your question. I can only presume that you knew everything I'd posted already and so it wasn't worthwhile responding. Do forgive my amateurish efforts to help someone on this forum. You know, when I read your post I knew nothing about Som-Maior whatsoever and so, with a sense of curiosity and the happy desire to share information (and a bit of free time), I made a conscious decision to trawl online to see what background to the label might be gleaned. Three quarters of an hour later and what little facts I'd learned were collated into the post above. The Soul Source fora are exceptional places to share knowledge and I'm undoubtedly guilty of picking up way more that I have the ability to share. So, when the opportunity arises to perhaps offer something back (and do a bit of self-learning at the same time) I generally jump at the chance. Obviously, not all members appreciate such knowledge sharing or the efforts made to so. No problem, I'm not bothered...

It comes up as subscriber only content for me, too. However, there are ways round these things and here is the story in full as it appears on that site: The fashion photographer and commercials director has attached Christian Mckay and Lisa Stansfield to her first feature which is being backed by post production house LipSync. Christian Mckay and British soul singer Lisa Stansfield are attached to star in Elaine Constantine’s debut feature, Northern Soul, set against the backdrop of the UK’s Northern Soul Movement in the 1960s. The story follows two young men whose lives were changed forever by the Northern Soul Movement which developed in the industrial landscape of the North of England. Constanine is currently casting the film’s two leads and plans to use original Northern Soul records from the ’60s and ’70s. A regular photographer for Vogue and The Face,Constantine has also directed commercials, pop videos and short documentary projects. She wrote and directed her first short film Cold Water in 2005 and has directed three shorts about the Northern Soul movement in the last decade. Post Production house LipSync has come on board as an equity partner. Debbie Gray is producing for Constantine’s production company Stubborn Heart Productions. Henry Normal, executive producing forBaby Cow Films. The film will be financed via an EIS scheme, which is being set up by London accountants Nyman Libson Paul. “When Northern Soul exploded out of the North of England it touched young lives in a way that nothing had done before. As a young teenager, dancing to this music gave me an overwhelming feeling of belonging and euphoria. It’s this same feeling of excitement and belonging to something different and special that I want to give to the audience of the film,” said Constantine, who grew up in Bury, Lancashire. Northern Soul also provided the backdrop for Ipso Facto’s 2010 Soulboy, starring Martin Compston.

Website: https://www.northernsoulthefilm.com/

Discos Som-Maior was set up by Sebastiao Bastos in the early part of 1965. It concerned itself initially with local music and musicians. An early signing was young musician and future political activist, Gilberto Gil. One groups on the label were Trio Salambanco. Playing a fusion of jazz and samba rhythms, the group, which was formed in 1964, comprised of Cesar Camargo Mariano, Humberto Clayber and Airto Moriera. Although they split up after just two albums, they would later be considered as highly influential in bringing world attention to Brazilian fusion music. Soon after the trio split, Moriera, who was married to vocalist Flora Purim, founded Quarteto Novo with Hermeto Pascoal and headed to the States. Mariano joined another influential group, Som Tres. Not long after founding the label, owner Bastos went to the States to set up licensing deals and returned having clinched a mutual contract with Audio Fidelity. In the summer of 1966, Som Maior hit the top of the Brazilian charts with the novelty song Juanita Banana by The Peels, which had seen action in the States on the Audio Fidelity subsidiary, Karate. As well as the Brenton Wood 45, his LP was also released on the Som Maior label. ***Added: just spotted an EP as well - on eBay, complete with picture sleeve and which features the tracks Gimme little sign, Oogum boogum song, Baby you got it, and Me and you.*** At the end of the decade the label was still going and had appointed Fermata International Melodies, Inc, of Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood as it's official licensing agent for the USA and Canadian markets. That's all I can tell you, I'm afraid, apart from the fact that Som Maior means bigger or higher sound.

Kung fu slippers maybe? They were quite popular among some dancers in the south for a while around that time.

Thanks, Marc. All is good here. Yes, got a link to the Fabulous Playboys 45 during our emails about the group/acetate. As I said to him - I WANT IT!!

Gave it a listen and was impressed by the heavy rain you can hear all the way through the sound file