Amsterdam Russ

Found myself staying up all through Saturday night revisting Treme, the excellent post-Katrina New Orleans drama. Bleary eyed and ready for bed, the marathon watching session ending with this absolutely fantastic sunrise! If this is the view, I must try and be awake at this time of the morning more often!

Cecil Washington popped in for a while, as did producer/writer, etc, Paul Kyser, and didn't Lou Baretto stop by to have a natter about "Gone with the wind is my love"? That's all I can recall at the moment. Others will have far superior memories to mine...

Yes, the acetate's been identified as Art Posey. Based on the info received and the similarities in vocal style, I think there's little reason to doubt that unless someone comes along and knows better.

Two vids of the Casper Peters song on YouTube have comments from family/friends. Both make it clear that Peters lived and worked in South Florida. One comment states that Peters gigged at the Marco Polo Hotel. There are even email addresses from people connected to Peters if you wanted to get serious or stalker-like about finding out more! Here's one of the Casper Peter's clips with comments underneath it. Reading through this thread again, I see that the clip to the Art Posey track is no longer live. That's because I accidentally deleted my YouTube channel about a year ago. However, I did upload it again here...

Never had a problem in buying from Japan.

A fairly random selection of vinyl goodies put together to make a soulful lucky bag of styles and eras. Track list: SETTLE DOWN - ALAN BOWN SET DOWN IN EAST LA - THE ANGELENOS A THOUSAND WONDERS - ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS I'M THROUGH WITH YOU - BARRY 'BAREFOOT' BEEFUS (ACETATE) NUMBER ONE - BILL MOSS SOUL JERK PT 2 - BOBBY BENNETT & THE DYNAMICS HAPPY FEELING - THE BRETHREN THEY SAY - CAM CAMERON THE PROPHET - CHUCK JACKSON KEEP THE FAITH - THE CITATIONS TWO TIME LOSER - THE DARLINGS CARELESS WITH MY LOVE - DEE EDWARDS DON'T LET ME GO - EARL CONNELLY THE GALLOP - THE CHEVELLES NON SPORTS - DIAZPORA SOMETHING IN YOUR SMILE - FESTIVAL LITTLE GOLDEN BAND - DONNY MANN HANG LOOSE PT 2 - ACETATE HAVE YOU EVER - ENCHANTED FIVE YOU CAN'T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN - FOUR PROS MAKING TRACKS BABY - FOUR INVADERS Dip in. Press play. Enjoy! https://www.mixcloud.com/LomaRuss/northern-soul-lucky-bag-ii/

The Toy & Loma releases are the same recordings to these ears.

New cafe just opened up in sight of us in Aalsmeer's Historische Tuin (historical garden). Thought we'd give it a try this afternoon as the sun's out… A couple of glasses of rose to wash down a fresh salad and to provide refreshment in the afternoon sun. Being self-employed has its advantages.

French Loma? That's a new one on me. None of the US Loma label tracks released in France came out on a French Loma. They were on WB. And Cajun Hart? Got a scan?

He's not bootlegging - or did I miss something? The article states...

View from the balcony just before we called it a day and came indoors after a gloriously sunny day. Steve - there's one of those parakeets for you albeit in silhouette.

It's not right to mock little people!

Today marks the 70th anniversary of liberation from the German occupying forces in the Netherlands. Coincidentally, the German war machine had its Dutch HQ in Aalsmeer, which is where I live. In celebration of Liberation day, we had a convoy of WWII military vehicles start off on a mission, possibly a trip to the nearby town of Amstelveen. I shot a few video clips and strung them together. You can see the result here...

Still amazed by the sighting of the osprey. Funnily enough, my older brother is a postie in Scotland and spends as much time up the mountains as he can. He told me a couple of years back that when first seeing an osprey he thought it was a heron in both flight and shape. That description always stuck with me and he's right. After expecting a buzzard (because we see them frequently here) my first thought on actually seeing the bird was that it was just a heron - except that the wings, which are just as long, are considerably narrower at the ends. And of course, the markings gave it away as soon as I could see the bird's underside properly. As for the swifts, they were screaming brilliantly as they shot close passed the house at the speed of sound or whatever it is they fly at. With their arrival summer is here as far as I'm concerned.

Sincere condolences to you, her family, and all her friends.

Typing this while sitting on the back balcony where we've had the most amazing sighting just a few minutes ago. Heard the warning cries of a gull overhead. Presuming it to be harrying something, I looked skyward expecting to see a buzzard. No, unbelieveably it was a flippin' osprey. Iread a couple of years back that they were occasionally seen in this region, but aren't common visitors. Never seen one before (Dad took us to Loch Garten once when we lived in Scotland about 40 years ago, but the birds had quite literally flown), so I'm absolutely amazed to see one from the comfort of our own home. And I can also report a first sighting of swifts, although that was somewhat tame by comparison!

Excellent article I read about a year or so ago about Mr Tefteller. It's entitled "Why I paid $37,100 for one record." As the story explains, there was only one other known copy of this particular blues 78 and it was already in his collection! https://www.fuse.tv/2013/10/why-i-paid-37100-for-one-record

Could be good timing. I keep hearing 'boogie' the next big thing.

Took a cycle ride onto the Amsterdam woods today on what was a very grey afternoon. I made a special point of going to Bloesempark to see the display of cherry trees. Most of the blossom had gone, unfortunately. Lots of wild flowers to be seen elsewhere, though. On this pic I desaturated the greens and left only the pink of the blossom and the colours of the bark. It makes for a nice effect, I thought. These were taken in a tiny nature reserve called Vogeleiland (Bird Island). The woodland authorities haven't put any signs up to the reserve, so you either know of its existence or you don't, which I think is a great idea in a place that receives something like four million visitors a year. This heron came swooping in very close to me and was slow enough for me to fire off a few shots as it came in to land.

Obviously a dab hand with the puns. Trying to think of some only makes me flounder. Best get me skates on then...

Jeez, that's terrible. On the up side though, how the hell do you safely move 700,000 fish? Anyone who says "carefully" will get a slap with a wet haddock!

I did ask if Monsieur Uptite, who's knowledgable about the French language, if he might fill us in with some more information since he's clearly in the know…

Approaching the windmills at Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands. Taken in July 2007 on a month-long holiday after I'd quit my job in London after nearly 16 years. Three and a half months after this was taken I moved to the Netherlands permanently and have never looked back.

Considering all the records I've seen branded as 'Northern Soul' on eBay, I reckon at least seven million, possibly more.

My 2nd set of the night as guest DJ at the Amsterdam Soul Club is now - thanks to the wonders of modern technology - available to listen online. Classics all the way. Here's the playlist... 2nd set: Mack Rice - Baby I'm coming home Larry Hall - Rebel heart Ronnie Forte - That was whiskey talkin' Tony Middleton - Spanish maiden Jerry Williams - If you ask me Rhonda Davis - Can you remember The Dells - It's all up to you Bobby Sheen - Something new to do Jimmy Ruffin - Gonna give her all the love I've got Cajun Heart - Got to find a way Larry Laster - Go for yourself The Royal Five - Say it to my face Larry Williams - You ask for one good reason Sam & Kitty - I've got something good The Limitations - I'm lonely, I'm troubled Johnny D - Strange love Edwin Starr - I have faith in you By the way, if any of you are looking to come over to the Amsterdam and want to take in the soul club, do give me a shout and I'll point you towards all the useful info. https://www.mixcloud.com/LomaRuss/amsterdam-soul-club-mix-april-pt2/