Amsterdam Russ

Really? When and where?

Mine is absolutely fine. Sounds like there was a pressing fault on some, but what percentage of all of them? Anything unique on label or run-out grooves to distinguish those that play Ok and those that don't, and which might indicate corrective or faulty runs at the pressing plant (or plants)?

I think one of the big factors driving up prices has been the explosion over the last few years of local soul events. Once upon a time promoters would be competing at a national level. Nowadays you can have any number of events taking place on the same weekend in the same town - and they're all fighting for the same punters in the main. The huge rise in the number of local events means there are more DJs than at any time in the history of the scene. The pressure to have the latest tune, the revived oldie or whatever, has to be immense. If DJ Tom, Dick and Harry are playing the latest "in tunes" at their local nights and you don't have them, then you might be inclined to make sure you've got a copy in your box at any price if you don't want to lose face and you think having such tunes will improve your credibility and status as a DJ. Competition ain't nothing? I don't think so. Instead I think competition is definitely a major factor in prices soaring into the higher echelons of stupidity. <Was typing this at the same time Soulboyrecords was posting the above>

Not a soulful neighbour as such, but I presently live about 100 meters away from Dutch singer Bonnie St Claire.

Pow City organise monthly nights in Dublin. They don't have a website (to the best of my knowledge), but do have a Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/POW-CITY-234751676694445/ There's also the D8 Soul Club, which organises the "Last Friday Soul Club" nights. They're also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/D8SoulClub/

Offered for sale at 300 quid on Facebook yesterday or today, so price appears to be drifting down nicely. It could be yours very soon.

We were in Rome last weekend, in part as tourists and also to attend the Roma Soul City 10th anniversary niter. The weather was miserable right across the four days we were there with Monday seeing the city blanketed in snow for the first time in something like 30 years. It didn't help that I was recovering from a bad dose of the flu and my better half, Bev, had a stinking cold. Typically, snow brought everything to a standstill, which is exactly what we didn't need as we tried to make our way back to the airport. The only way we could get there was by sharing a taxi with another couple. Cost: 160 euros for a journey that ordinarily might have been 50 euros! Still, we made it home, which was the most important thing. Being so wet and miserable, it wasn't exactly the best time to try and catch Rome in all its glory, but here's a couple of panoramas - one inside the Pantheon, and the other of the instantly recognisable Colosseum. The final pic is of me - cold and wet after walking around the city in the pouring rain for a few hours - as we took some much needed shelter (and some refreshments) in one of those very basic-looking cafes that actually offers good quality food (and wine) at pretty reasonable prices. Well, our bill was about half what we'd typically pay over here in the Netherlands, so it felt like a right bargain!

The "most liked" photos for the month of February are.. @Winsford Soul's lapwing. Great shot, Steve! And @martyn pitt's female sparrowhawk. Superb as always, Martyn! Well done for the fantastic submissions, Steve and Martyn. And thanks to everyone else for all your great pics. Keep 'em coming!

Ooh, nice!

As long as copies will be available to buy from somewhere in Europe, all is good as far as I'm concerned. Two good sides on the 45. I hope it goes well for you and that it's the first in a long line of successes for your new label.

Was about order a couple of presales, but shipping is a problem. Cheapest option - surface mail - could take three months to arrive! Will you be selling via Juno or any of the other European online stores? I hope so...

A list of Lovelace Watkin's TV show appearances in the UK... 1974 Lovelace Watkins at the Wookey Hollow 1974 The David Nixon Show 1974 International Cabaret 1973 Let There Be Love (presenter) 1973 The David Nixon Show 1972 Miss Tv Times The National Final 1972 The David Nixon Show 1972 Saturday Variety 1972 Stars on Sunday 1972 The David Nixon Show 1971 The Royal Variety Performance Source: BFI

Blimey, yes. I remember that one at the art college. I was living in north London then and vaguely recall it being bit of a pain to get to, and as you say, bit of an odd night.

The Rosemary Branch is another one I remember. Mr E’s as well. Thinking back, it really was a case of there being at least one night on a week.

Combat trousers - from the days when the scooter crowd lost all sense of style and went all Army surplus.

The one behind Oxford Street was the Phoenix. The Scala - I was at a couple of those. And @soul shrews DJd there, if I'm not mistaken.

And some more...

Some flyers for you...

Which one do you mean? I take it you're talking about the French release rather than the Dutch one...

Great. Thought it might be an issue caused by browser settings at this end.