Category Archives: Collectors Soul

Crystal Motion

“Crystal Motion” was a singing group from “New Bedford” Massachusetts. The group was formed in 1974 and the original members were “Kevin Gomes”(lead vocals),” Rodney (Skeeta)Santos”(and cousin to Kevin), Daniel(Buddy)Monterio” (A lifelong friend),and “John Paris”. The group was managed by”Carter Management”(Eddie Carter) Of Onset, Mass., who now resides in Orlando, Fl.. They had a brush with stardom in 1975 with a recording called” You’re My Main Squeeze”, which was on the “Sound Gems” record label, and was a small hit in the Boston, Mass. and Providence, R.I. area. It also was played on radio stations in Philly, Atlanta and Houston, Texas.

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Transport


‘Disco Fantasy Land’

Label: Albina Music Trust
Catalog: AMT-004
Release Date: 23rd April 2021
Format: LP

“It’s a place where people go, again and again. The name of the place is Disco Fantasy Land.”

These lyrics introduce the title track of this previously unreleased Transport album from 1978. Featuring members of The Gangsters, Ural Thomas’ 1960s band, and Nu Shooz, this group has been under the radar since its inception, only recently rediscovered by Albina Music Trust.

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 →

Slickaphonic LP

Label: Albina Music Trust
Release Date: January 22nd, 2020
Catalog: AMT-003
Genre: Soul/Jazz/Funk from 1975 (previously unreleased)
Format: Vinyl Only

Next up from Albina Music Trust is a previously unreleased reel-to-reel session by Slickaphonic, a nine-piece powerhouse in Portland’s lost funk scene. Recorded in 1975 at Recording Associates by engineer Bob Stoutenberg (The Wipers, Baba Yaga, Mel Brown), this carefully restored collection places the listener in the thick of a watertight disco-funk session done the Albina way.

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The Legendary Beyons LP

Label: Albina Music Trust
Release Date: October 16th, 2020
Catalog: AMT-002
Genre: Soul/Jazz/Funk from 1977 (previously unreleased)
Format: Vinyl Only

For over fifty years, The Legendary Beyons have delighted Portlanders with their music. And now, for the first time, their work has been documented in this high fidelity LP accompanied by a detailed oral history of the group. The album’s well-designed booklet features a range of archival photography, serving as a period piece for the uninitiated.

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Scoot Groove feat: Al Hudson & One Way

“So glad”/ “Oceans of thoughts and dreams”  (Scoot Grooves) 7′

Many Young artists today are copying the funk soul of yesteryear quite successfully,
it’s not necessary to name names or bash their sonic efforts.
But just know Al Hudson & One Way are the real deal.
There’s no need to educate them on this era of music, they were THERE in the thick of it and more importantly still kicking today.

Continue reading Scoot Groove feat: Al Hudson & One Way →

A Marvel in Manchester

ASBrownOk ok … Let’s do the Melissa Morgan, Whispers and Patti  Labelle gig we agreed over dinner one midweek evening, I will order the tickets now , after all Melissa and Patti were still on our ‘to see ‘ list.We arrived at a very tired Manchester Apollo, attendance was surprisingly light for these  world class artists.

Melissa was first up and gave us a great set of the old favourites . This included a walk out into the audience performing Fools Paradise.It was great to meet her too in the lobby area after the performance, she was fab and very friendly and eager to chat about old times.

Next up were the Whispers…They performed a very polished ‘Vagas’ type set lasting 30 minutes with many of the uptempo favesThe Whispers Orchestra truly awesum, they oozed quality and composure Warm , rich , professional harmonies the hallmark of the group rattled around Continue reading A Marvel in Manchester →

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 →

Joshie Jo Armstead in Brooklyn

CB & PT in NYC for NYE . . . 2015 ! 64

As I’ve got older, the thought of another night spent listening to time warped oldies on New Year’s Eve drives me crazy, so imagine how my pulse jumped when I saw that Chicago Soulstress, Joshie Jo Armstead was going to perform in Brooklyn at the rather fine Dig Deeper.  From then there was only one course of action – get the flights & hotel booked, check the credit card has a few $$$’s still left, promise Clare that New York at this time of year is very special & go . . . !

I had missed Joshie when she ‘joined the caravan’ & visited the UK back around 1990, performing to backing tapes at Southport & The Kilt in Scotland. It probably wasn’t her finest hour, but having the opportunity to sing in front of a real band, supported by a brass section & top drawer backing singers must have turned the lady, as it was her first live show in the US since 1981.

Dig Deeper has been keeping Brooklyn Soulful for the last 6 years constantly bringing wonderful acts to the stage at Littlefield. Run by Richard Lewis & Michael Robinson, this is a pretty up-front venue & when you factor in it was New Year’s Eve then it was only ever going to be electric. Continue reading Joshie Jo Armstead in Brooklyn →

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 →

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 Double O and his Demingos →

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… →