Category Archives: Collectors Soul

Don Brown – USA (March 2018)

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 “The following is based upon my personal knowledge, personal research and personal experiences” 

Back in the day there were many artists whose music never made it to the mainstream but deserve to be noted. These groups produced some of the best music of the day, however, they were never able to sign with a major record label. Everyone knows about the major groups who climbed the charts from Motown, Stax, Buddha, and other major labels. There were quite a few whose music was played on “local” R&B radio stations but never reached the national scene. Many of these artists received more recognition in Europe than was afforded them here in the USA. Although a couple were signed with the major labels, they were never “marketed”. In fact, there were even a few from right here in Boston, Massachusetts…… Those I will get to later.

Continue reading Don Brown – USA (March 2018) →

Collectors Soul

Dan Greer “Masquerade” Masquerade” (Sound Of Memphis 45)

One question? Why isn’t this a massive and well respected tune on the Northern Soul Scene? After all, the so called “modern scene” is having its playlists of the last 20yrs plundered by Northern Jocks, so I wonder, what’s wrong with this gem of a dancer? Dan Greer is of course a much respected southern soul icon amongst collectors world wide on this tune his vocals are a power house of emotion over Continue reading Collectors Soul →

Why do we collect records?

Why ask me?

I don’t know. Why do women look into a full wardrobes, sigh, and say ‘I’ve nothing to wear’.

Why do people take cars only couple of years old and in perfect working order and change them for a newer model? Why do people spend millions on a canvas with paint splattered on it?

It’s their money, they do what they want with it. Me? I’m happy buying records. I buy them because I like them. 1962 to 2010 couldn’t care less, as long as the vocal’s there, no problem. Get it in the collection. Photos too, especially the 60s ones, black & white photographs – magic. And the songsheets. And dentures, yeah, false teeth as worn by Sy Hightower. Continue reading Why do we collect records? →

Perk Of The Job


Little Milton “Don’t Leave Me” /  “I’ll Never Turn My back On You” (Checker)
I don’t wheel out ‘incredible’ too often as music is a personal thing and what has me dancing around the warehouse and screaming WTF/OMG/FFS may leave others twiddling their thumbs and waiting for the next Tim Tam & the Turn Ons 45 to come alongThis then is not for all. However, for those who like to face the real roots of soul minus their under armour, come in friend, here’s a live on. “Don’t” is one of those sides that is so good, so soulful, I’ll wager it’s never had an airing at a venue. If it has, well, fair play to anyone who has championed it. Continue reading Perk Of The Job →

Collectors Soul

Bobby Banks “Read it and weep” (Gill)
Hal Tiore & The Soul Cook Books “Darling” (ALM 7”)
These two deep soul masterpieces have taken my record room by storm; Hal Tiore arrived Xmas morning, my usual vinyl offering from the wife courtesy of Voices main man Rod Dearlove.

Bobby Banks came from the net, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it and grabbed it immediately. It had to come from Austria and took bloody ages. Continue reading Collectors Soul →

Collectors Soul

Double O and his Demingos
“A thousand tears too late” (Split Records-1028)

When the record bug grabs you, one has to be reminded at the very least daily if not hourly why we’re bugger…. This 45 has done so so many times from the embryonic horn sections that filter
from the silent decks, pleading with the love scorned vocalist to hit the notes and vocalise his recent misfortune with his loved one, mild bass line gels rhythmatically with the second horn coming, inciting the somewhat custom made deep lyrics… “You’ve ruined a perfect love affair, way beyond repair” complement the funeral pace instrumentation that saturate your soul with a moving feel that leaves the likes of Ray Pollard“The Drifter” standing! (Ah a classic example of what most folk call deep soul..) Continue reading Collectors Soul →

ChiSoul’s ‘Deep Soul Delight’

Brown Sugar INC. “Sweet Love Of Mine” (IMPEL 7″)
So what do we have here then – a fairly well known label out of North Carolina, Impel, which is probably most famous for the original release of Ann Sexton’s, ‘You’ve been gone too long’. Here we have a priceless piece of Soul. Recorded at the Reflections Sound Studio’s in Charlotte, the whole project is produced by David Lee, the man responsible for the Impel label set-up, as well as for writing the Ann Sexton track. Inspired by the 50’s label, Imperial, David set things in motion by finding & recording local Carolina artists in any number of styles, from funk through pop, country & Soul. There are allegedly 10 releases on the label, although as yet, nothing really as Soulful as this 45 has been found. This ‘b’ side was written by Alan & Bill ‘Sugar Billy’ Jones, well known artists from the area. Continue reading ChiSoul’s ‘Deep Soul Delight’ →

Some time in the future…

I had give him his due; he was where he said he would be and he was on time. In fact, he’d been early. I’d staked out the meet a half-hour before and seen two other suckers approach him and make a purchase before scurrying away with that satisfied scuffle that fool who have only recently parted with their money make. He was leaning back again the old Piedmoor Bank building, his ankle length leather coat tails dancing in the cold midnight wind. Occasionally he lifted his head from within the depths of his upturned collar to see if any more prospective purchasers were braving the elements to make a hit. Then, like a praying mantis, he reteat back into his coat. Sheltering from the wind and a fine, misty rain that had given the city streets a slick, polished look, I witness proceeding from a disused shop doorway. Continue reading Some time in the future… →

A lifelong performer, Tracey Whitney’s musical roots run deep

Her mother Louise Whitney and father Ellis Ray “Ray Boone” Leary, both incredible singer/performers (and proverbial “big fish in a little pond”) in Portland, Oregon had eight children who all came out singing. When Tracey was 5, her mom packed up the kids and moved to Los Angeles. Shortly after establishing new roots, Louise toured with legends of soul Solomon Burke and Johnny Otis. Aunt Mary Lee Whitney (who became a member of Stevie Wonder’s “Wonderlove,” singing on many of his biggest hits, and was the female lead on his “Songs In The Key Of Life” classic, “As”), Uncle’s Sam Whitney and James Whitney (both singers) and Kenny Roy Whitney (a drummer), also made the trek to California, and became well-known LA-area entertainers. Continue reading A lifelong performer, Tracey Whitney’s musical roots run deep →