Gene-r

Mick, Not your idea of a joke/wind-up about the Volumes on UK Sue, is it mate?? I know that it was originally scheduled to be released as Pama (PM 755), but no one's ever seen one.......are you sure you didn't mean a Pama test pressing or something Mick? I remember when I reviewed both sides of this in Pete Smith's "Beatin' Rhythm" fanzine in 1989, and put the proverbial spanner in the works by stating "has been thought to have been released on Pama, but no one's ever seen one". For the next year, Pete had endless amounts of mail regarding this and the subject became a standing joke in the early '90s. Example: Dear Pete, Do you know the Volumes also came out on UK Pama? (name witheld). Dear (name witheld) F*** OFF!! Pete. A copy of Shades of Soul in 1985 featured a letter, which turned out to be a hoax. Someome called T. Weal (geddit?) claimed to have a copy and sent a photocopy of the label for publication. It didn't take long to suss that it was two labels (top half of Pama with a centre, and the bottom half American Arts) stuck together!! Been chatting to Dave Greenhill on this by phone tonight, and he referred to his copy of Shades of Soul to check a few details for me. Whilst the number on the label details PM 755 (could be a Letraset jobbie), the date given on the label is 1970. The position of PM 755 in the Pama label listing positively dates it to 1968, and the publisher is stated as "Wilderness", as opposed to "Vicki Music" which it should be!!! Put us out of our misery please mate!!!! Tell me I still need to search out the boot fairs for odd-looking Sue test pressings!! Next up, a feature on the newly discovered UK London 78 of "Third Window From The Right" by Dean Barlow!!! Gene.

I wish I had been old and wise enough to have gone to Wigan Casino!! Gene

I think there is still a decent Billboard listing book available H. One that I've seen is like the Guinness Book, but starts at the end of the 1890s to about the late 1990s!!! Probably only available via the States, or maybe branches of Foyles or Waterstones. Gene

"If I Could Only Be Sure" by Nolan Porter was a Billboard Top 100 hit (90 something) in 1972. Gene

Isn't the Jimmy Castor 45 going for big money as well? I think Martin Thomson is playing it at Soul In The City and These Old Shoes.

Hello Limu, Welcome to the forum!! Look forward to exchanging views and chat about soul with you. Sorry I couldn't help on the sound byte you've sent in another post - but the best of luck. I'm sure someone out there will recognise it. As for Argie & The Arkettes "You're The Guy" - absolutely brilliant! Gene

I can recall only ever seeing one stock copy of any single on Jet Set; "Fabulous New York/Charge!" by Strings n'Things. Everything else I've ever seen on the label seems to only turn up as a demo. Gene

I think the two Shrine releases that would have hit big in Wigan's heyday are "Mystery" by Jimmy Armstrong and "No Other Way" by the Cautions. Both, IMO, are out and out stompers!! Gene

Hippo, does that mean that if I answer my next question correctly, Knickerless Parsons will let me have a copy for £30, not the recommended price of £300? Gene

Careful Dave!!! I hear on BBC Scotland that two youths have just been found guilty of breaking into a tomb in Edinburgh!! But it gets worse: QUOTE FROM WWW.BBC.CO.UK "The court had previously heard that the boys had beheaded one of the bodies which had been interred in a tomb. However, they were acquitted of allegations that they forced open the coffin and simulated oral sex with the severed head. " Thank God it's just the record you'll be after!!! Gene

I cast my mind back to the early '80s, and distinctly remember Keb Darge used to sometimes dance with a fag in his hand - spins and all!!! Gene

Mikey, I preferred the B-side, "Which One Should I Choose". OK, it was mediocre, but much better than "Court of Love"! Still, you could have made a worse mistake with Kapp if you bought "I'm A Nut" by Leroy Pullins on spec!! The record I can't live without (ie, which I want to be buried with) is "(I Love Her So Much) It Hurts Me" by The Majestics. My all-time fave!! Gene

Would dancing be known as burning the washboards then? Actually I took it upon myself to go to a skiffle nite at the 100 Club in 1997. Really good night; reminded me of a niter, with Greg Butler selling 78s from his stall near the bar!! Chas Hodges (from Chas and Dave) did a jam session with the resident group, but there was no dancing. Everyone was just happy to sit round at tables put up on the dancefloor, but the atmosphere was hyper!!! Gene

Good luck with the play!! Gene

What's the school play Jimmy?

I remember Keb bringing his dog to nites and niters in 1986!! Cute little thing he was too. I remember the tag Keb made him wear; "No. 1 Dog"!!! Gene

Strange - can't pin-point any racial undertones in the lyrics, apart from one of the members being a racist themselves, but still can't see how that would have influenced the radio jocks. Guess it could have been worse - the word "people" could have been replaced with "n*****s" or "negros" if they really wanted to make a point. I've heard much worse in terms of US racial propaganda records, so it's interesting to see what made them tick at this one. Excellent history behind the track though - It's always been a big record on the Northern scene (deservedly), but no idea it had so much controversy in 1966 when first released!!! Gene

No probs Grant - good to see you back. Seems like a long time since you last posted!!! Gene

I think the lyrics really do inspire self-esteem and well-being!!! Bill Tuthill wrote some really positive vibe lyrics about refusing to be trodden on, and to excel at all one does. I love the record, not just for its positive outlook lyrics, but also for the tuneful record it is. The arrangements are outstanding, even the basic piano break in the middle seems lavish!!! Definitely in my all-time Top 100 fave Soul records!!! Gene

Also watch out for similar fake PayPal Emails. Funny......I got two scam Emails from Lloyds Bank over the past two months, asking for my bank account details. Had to laugh, as I've never banked with Lloyds!!! Gene

erm..........Condition Red?? Gene

Sorry - that was me not logged in! Gene

Yep Steve - have to agree with you about "Mr Heartache" by Freddie Scott. Certainly one of the best mid-tempo records to hit the scene! Probably won't get any change out of £50 for it now - am I right? Gene

It was!!! The last copy before this went for about £650. Dawn Brown has my old copy, which was a trade for the Arcades on Triad!! Gene

I tend to think that the R&B played today is vital to the scene - good, danceable music! There are various facets to R&B; most people tend to think of the likes of Chuck Berry or Bo Diddley when it's first mentioned to them. But that's out and out Rhythm n'Blues!! There's also the mod-R&B, by artists like Tommy Tucker etc. There's also the early '60s type tracks played on the Northern scene, which I think have a slightly different dance beat to them. The tracks I think tend to make good R&B dancers (please correct me if I'm at all wrong!), and also personal faves of mine, are: MERLE SPEARS & THE TREATS: I Want To Know PEPPERMINT HARRIS: Wait Until It Happens To You GLADYS TYLER: A Little Bitty Girl SAM CHATMON & GWINNY WITHERSPOON: Nobody But Me THE MARTINELS: I Don't Care CHARLES SHEFFIELD: It's Your Voodoo Working LITTLE NICKY SOUL: I Wanted To Tell You There are more, but they don't immediately spring to mind. But I feel this is a fair representation of the R&B tracks that fit in nicely. Gene