Amsterdam Russ

Wow - wish I had a screen big enough to see these at full resolution! I think an explanation's in order, Steve, if you don't mind. My mum always told me not to stare straight into the sun and there you are pointing a camera at it that's attached to a telescope! What's your interest here - the sun specifically or (and I presume) astronomy generally, and is this hobby or work? Yours, Mr Nosey

Well, we're certainly off to a good start!

Thanks for playing, Martyn. Two cracking photos there! It's a good game, isn't it?

Always a good starting point!

Following on from the huge success of the "Show us your bird and wildlife photos" thread (some 31 pages and a staggering +1500 posts), I thought it time to start a "part 2". As we don't always have the opportunities to take bird or wildlife photos, but nonetheless might be taking great photos of other things, I thought a broader approach might encourage even more people to share their top photos. They can be anything to do with nature, landscapes, outdoors, indoors, superb holiday snaps - basically, whatever. If you think it's a good photo and you want to share it, this is the place. Here's three from me... Goose - seen showing off in the woods of Amsterdam. Sunset - as seen from our balcony last summer. Filey, N Yorks - what a beautiful place. We were here for my younger brother's wedding.

Happy New Year to one and all. As we're in a new year, and because this thread is a whopping 31 pages long, I'm going to close this and open part two. I intend to broaden the theme of that one to include more "general photography" as well as our feathered friends in the hope that more people might want to get involved. I'll start that one shortly and hope that you'll be just as happy to share your great photos there as the year unfolds and opportunities arise. Thanks to everyone for contributing to what's been a rather amazing photographic thread - part 1!

Does she have to be OVO or will you make do with a boot?

Some posted here earlier...

Soul packs… Bundle 10, 25, 50, 100, together and sell them off one pack at a time. With postage a consideration, smaller packs would probably be better although it would depend on how you priced them. I'm sure quite a few would buy them in the hope of turning around a profit on the 45s individually.

While a legitimate first UK release, so many like this were issued solely to cater for a specialist niche market. In the spirit of collecting, I'd say that these shouldn't be played at strict OVO nights. In the spirit of listening and dancing to good tunes at a night out, why be so snobbish? There are arguments in favour and arguments against. That said, playing these easily found UK issues very much defeats the purpose of having a "rare soul" night!

The thread starter raises the subject of bootlegs in the opening post…

In a discussion about bootlegs of course the distinction can only be about legality. That's pretty much the whole point - is something a legal release or not? If a track is released on 45, that doesn't mean the subsequent LP release of it is not "original" or whatever. The reverse is also true. It's actually quite simple at the end of the day.

Original in this context can only be applied to a legitimate release. It might be the first release, but it falls first and foremost into the category of bootleg 45 - albeit the original bootleg...

1/ a bootleg is an unofficial or illegal issue of a recording that's never been released. 2/ a pirated song is one that's shared illegally (think pirate radio). 3/ a pressing is, quite literally, something that's been pressed or has been issued! It should be preceded by words such as "1st", "2nd", "illegal", "legitimate" or any appropriate adjective. More modern day usage (as in this context) omits the words "illegal", "dodgy", "suspect", which is why many people find its use confusing.

Weird - if you use the zoom on the main image, you can make out the label underneath - which says "Rufus Lumley - I'm Standing"... What Pete said!

Two brilliant sides - and growing in plays and popularity in downtown Amsterdam! Just one thing though - are the labels on the 45 reversed?

Quite a find as a Dutch release, especially with the rare picture sleeve.

It was only two years ago that he sold Jack Ashford's copy of it.

Added to Mixcloud - my 2nd set at December's Amsterdam Soul Club https://www.mixcloud.com/LomaRuss/amsterdam-soul-club-dec-2014/ For anyone thinking about paying a visit in the New year, the Amsterdam Soul Club is held on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Happy listening!

Says won at £14,543...

Damn North Korea!

And therein lies the secret as to why the scene has lasted 40-plus years…

Agreed. Thing is though, our building serves as jackdaw central. They're always about in number and also roost in the eves. If it were just a couple of pairs, I wouldn't mind so much, but when it comes to putting out feed for other birds, it's always going to be a battle!

I certainly need to look at options that go beyond just tying a ball of seed to the railings. The jackdaws did come back (of course) and actually hacked the remaining bag of seed from the railing rather than just simply split the mesh open with beak or claw. Naturally I expected the bag and its contents to have dropped down onto the pavement below and spilled everywhere, but no, the whole thing had disappeared. Clever, clever buggers!

According to eBay I've bought 75 items this year, and I've not paid these additional charges at point of purchase once. And I've had only one or two items in the last 12 months where the seller has given the full cost of the item on the packet thus requiring me to pay duty on the doorstep. Long may that last!