Go forth into the fields of England

No more lie-ins on Sunday mornings. The car boot sale season is upon us.

My first foray of the year and I am very pleased with my haul. This little collection set me back just £3.30p:

John Handy – Carnival (LP)
Joni Mitchell – The Hissing Of Summer Lawns (LP)
Colin Blunstone – Ennismore (LP)
Soul II Soul – Club Classics Vol 1 (LP)
Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel – White Lines (Sugarhill 12)

And Joni and Soul II Soul were in nice plastic jackets too.

In truth I did lie-in this Sunday. Just imagine what I might have found if I had been an early bird?

I have always treasured John Handy’s “Hard Work” album but somehow had never got round to buying it’s follow up “Carnival” – I think the cover always put me off, it strikes me as being a bit naff. But I now realise what I’ve been missing all these years. What’s in the grooves is seduction personified. Simply beautiful and a perfect soundtrack to a day bathed in warm sunshine.

And it only cost me 30p!

John Handy – I Will Leave You (mp3) 1977

John Handy – Love’s Rejoycing (mp3) 1977

"Carnival" is not available on CD as far as I can tell. You could pick up a vinyl copy here.

The Great Outdoors

It seems I have spent almost all of the last four days outside. Gardening for the most part. The weather has been great and even Mrs Darce, who is not known for her green fingers, has been sporting gardening gloves and brandishing the secateurs. And with another day off from the daily grind tomorrow and a fishing trip to my favourite lake in deepest Somerset planned that will be five days in a row in the great outdoors. I’m drunk on fresh air!

I took a brief break from gardening on Saturday afternoon for another visit to the record shop I found the Willie Hobbs singles in recently. Picked up another four singles including this one from Junior Parker, which just happens to have the perfect title in the circumstances.

The outside man is definitely not a gardener in the context of Junior's song. Although having gardening as a profession would, I'm sure, lead to opportunities on, shall we say, other fronts.

Junior Parker – The Outside Man (mp3) 1970


(Find it on this)

Overcome by the music, I can’t think of a title

I’m struggling through another patch of writers block, or laziness – both really. That shouldn’t stop me giving you something to listen to though.

Coming across quality soul singles (or any soul singles for that matter, apart from the ubiquitous UK Tamla Motown or PIR releases) is a rare occurrence at my local digging haunts. But I came up trumps a couple of weeks ago.

Since sometime in the 70s one Willie Hobbs single has sat in my collection – “I Know I’m Going To Miss You”. A fine singer with a strong Southern soul feel – just the way I like my soul. I have always intended to acquire more of his singles but somehow, until now, that had never happened. I have no excuse really, his singles are not hard to find on ebay, or expensive, although they are often not in very good condition. The last place I expected to source some additions to my collection was in my hometown, and by doing some actual digging as opposed to the virtual variety. But that’s how it turned out and now I have three Willie Hobbs singles in my collection. In truth the latest additions are not in tip top shape – but who cares about a few pops and tics when what’s in the grooves is as good as this.

Willie Hobbs is just one more example of a massively under-appreciated Southern soul singer. Once again you can turn to Sir Shambling for more info on him.


the new additions...

Willie Hobbs – You Don’t Know What You Got (Until You Lose It) 1970 (Written by Kenny Gamble and Jerry Ross this was originally Gamble’s debut single in 1963)

Willie Hobbs – (Please) Don’t Let Me Down 1971

the old timer...

Willie Hobbs – I Know I’m Gonna Miss You 1971

Diamond Geezer

A long time ago now it seems I said this in one of my posts: “… I could hear in my head …. Alexis Korner’s voice introducing yet another fantastic piece of soul music by…well wait and see my next post”.

So five posts later here is this “next post”!

The track Alexis Korner introduced on his show way back when that stuck with me was “Don’t Do It” by Syl Johnson. It comes from Syl’s 1974 LP “Diamond In The Rough”. As the BBC Alexis Korner Blues & Show first graced the airwaves in 1977 this was evidently not a new release at the time he played it. It’s possible he spun it together with a track from Syl’s LP “Total Explosion” which would have, at a stretch, been a new release then (in the UK at least). All I know is that since sometime in the 70s I have been the proud owner of both of these albums and I’m sure I have Alexis Korner to thank for that. Which record emporium I found them in I know not, now, but I’m guessing I bought them at the same time and my only regret is that whichever shop it was most probably didn’t have his 1973 album “Back For A Taste Of Your Love” in stock (either that or I couldn’t afford all three albums at once and had to leave one in the rack).

Syl Johnson joined the Hi party in 1971 but he was no new kid on the block having started his musical career in the fifties playing and singing on the Blues circuit with the likes of Howling Wolf and Magic Sam. In the sixties he enjoyed a number of hits on the Twinight label. Indeed he was very much the dominant artist on that label. As I said, Johnson joined Hi around 1971. This coincided with the new hit phenomenon at the label that was Al Green. Johnson must have found it a bit strange to no longer be the ‘star’ artist. It seems all the artists at Hi were destined to perform in the shadow of Al Green. (Even now I often see Ann Peebles referred to the as the female Al Green. Ann was having sizeable R&B hits at Hi a couple of years prior to Al Green’s first success, and continued to have main chart action through the seventies parallel to that of Green’s. Perhaps Al Green should be known as the male Ann Peebles.)

Of the two Syl Johnson albums I have “Diamond In The Rough” is my favourite. It’s full of really strong songs, many of which were written by one D Carter – that’s Darryl Carter (see my previous post. I have realised recently that Darryl Carter = quality). The trademark 70s Willie Mitchell sound is prevalent but it’s far from production line fodder. There are nuances aplenty in the arrangements be they from strings, horns, organ, or the background singers. Most songs clock in at under three minutes (on the short side for 1974), but each feels perfectly formed. Syl’s voice may not caress you like Al Green’s but the whole package works a treat. “Total Explosion” takes on a bluesier edge with Syl adding his harmonica skills to a number of the tracks. The album includes “Take Me To The River” an album track only for Al Green which Syl Johnson subsequently took into the top 10 singles chart. During this recent interview Syl remembers being in a London hotel when Willie Mitchell called him to tell him he had a song for him (“River”) that was going to be a monster hit. This album never grabbed me in quite the same way as “Diamond” but having said that listening to it again for the first time in a long while I’m thinking I need to give it another chance.

At 72 Syl Johnson is still out there performing and is very much a soul survivor.


From Diamond In The Rough:

Syl Johnson – Don’t Do It 1974

Syl Johnson – Stuck In Chicago 1974

Syl Johnson – I Hear The Love Chimes 1974


From Total Explosion:

Syl Johnson – Bustin’ Up Or Bustin’ Out 1976


All three of Syl Johnson's Hi Albums are available on this CD. That is fantastic value for 7.98GBP !!

My kind of junk

I’ve been preoccupied again this week and I thought I had better show you what has been keeping me busy.

As I said in my previous post, Mrs Darce is sunning herself in Turkey this week – and while the cat’s away….

I will quickly set the scene: filled with enthusiasm after a successful bit of digging at the weekend I decided to take a longer than usual lunch break on Monday and take a trip to another digging haunt. This place is basically a large shed full of second hand stuff sold by Joe Public with the ‘shed’ owners taking a commission. There aren’t many records there but you never know what you might find – for example this was where I found the George Freeman, Rufus, and Michael Franks albums I featured here earlier this year.

Anyway on this occasion I was initially disappointed because there ware hardly any records there – the smallest selection I have ever seen in fact. But next to where the records are stacked the shelves are taken up with radios, TVs, video recorders, and sometimes hi-fi equipment too. Well, on Monday there was some hi-fi equipment. Quite a lot of it, it was all together in one job lot, and I bought it!

I present, by way of a starter, Exhibit A (sorry flash didn't work too well on this one):


That’s a:
Denon TU-400L Tuner
Denon DCD-890 CD Player
Technics M17 Cassette Deck
Aiwa F770 Cassette Deck

There has been an FM aerial on our roof for years but somehow I never ever got round to buying a tuner. Of course now we have an excellent portable Pure DAB radio in the house so why would I want a tuner?

I have a perfectly good CD player so I don’t really need another one. Denon did have a good reputation back in the 80s though so maybe this one is better, but am I bothered?

I already have a cassette deck. Unfortunately it is too big to fit into the hi-fi cabinet (the cabinet was made to measure around my hi-fi kit of the time which included a smaller cassette deck – but that went bang and I couldn’t find a replacement that would fit). The Aiwa deck in the picture must predate my deck by about 10 years but it will fit in the hi-fi cabinet so that’s good. Then again I don’t know that I would ever play a cassette now (well maybe I can dig out some of old John Peel tapes).

Time for Exhibit B.


That’s a:
Dual 505-2 turntable
Denon PMA-300V amplifier

I already have a Dual 505 turntable, but this one is a Mark 2 and a slightly better model – nice solid wood plinth as opposed to the plastic one on my existing one. I think the Denon amp also offers a bit more than my existing Rotel amp specification wise, besides which the Rotel’s tone controls are becoming a bit temperamental. No startling improvements really but as you can see significant enough for these items to be already installed in the hi-fi cabinet.

So it seems I didn't really need any of this stuff. So why did I buy it all?

Exhibit C:


No, the Labi Siffre record was not included in the job lot, and is not the reason I bought all this stuff. It’s included in the picture primarily to give you an idea of the size of these speakers – they weigh 50lbs each! Also. Labi Siffre’s first LP was released in 1970, which I estimate is when these speakers were manufactured (possibly earlier). You are looking at a pair of B&W DM3s (here is some DM3 literature – I love this: “modest sized enclosure…. The elegant solid cabinet takes only a modest 2cu. ft. of room space”! How times have changed). And they are the reason I was drawn to this hi-fi job lot. As soon as I saw them I thought they were something special. I wanted to know how they sounded, and I thought I could maybe sell them on for a profit as I knew B&W (Bowers & Wilkins) are a well respected speaker manufacturer. Now I’ve done a bit more research I realise that these speakers were/are well revered in hi-fi circles, having a place in the pantheon of great British speaker design, so I am sure I could sell them on. But I have fallen in love with them and I want to keep them. They look great (in a retro way) – and, yes, they sound great!

In these days of Ipods and super miniaturisation all of this equipment has a distinctly vintage look – especially the speakers! – but it is all in perfect working order, testament to the build quality and to the previous owner who clearly looked after all of it very well. I felt a strong attraction to it as soon as I saw it and in buying it all (the whole lot cost £65) I’ve realised that I have a crossed a line and turned into a full blown nostalgia freak. I think there is no hope for me.

The problem is Mrs Darce will be back on Sunday and I know the first two things she will say when she claps eyes on this lot:
1 – “What have you bought all this junk for?”
2 – “Those speakers are horrible, you are not keeping them in this room!”
And so until Sunday at least I must listen to as much music as I can through my “job lot”, and think carefully about how to placate the Mrs!

I can’t leave you without some music so here is one of my finds from my successful digging trip last weekend. This is something Darryl Carter put out in 1972 in a brief sojourn away from Willie Mitchell’s Hi fold. Darryl was known more as a writer and producer than a singer. The year after this TTC release this song would also feature on O.V Wright's Memphis Unlimited album. It’s great, even though it’s a bit scratchy.


Darryl Carter – The Only Thing That Saved Me (Was The Love She Gave Me) (mp3) 1972

Just checking in

I haven’t gone away, honest. It’s just I’m a bit busy – away with work again last week - then there have been all these fantastic football games to look forward to, watch, and then recover from - and of course the weather has encouraged me to get my gardening gloves on - and then there is always some crate digging to do (even though it is mostly of the virtual variety).

I should be back in the groove soon. STW (that’s Short Time Working) has given me Fridays off for a while so by rights I should have more time on my hands. But if the sun keeps shining… and then of course it is the business end of the football season so there are more crucial football matches to look forward to… and I might have tidied the garden up but I haven’t actually planted anything yet…. and Mrs Darce is off to Turkey with her bestest friend next week which means I will have to do household chores!….

I know, it’s all me me me.

Ronnie Jones – Me & Myself (mp3) 1978

A quick Google on Ronnie Jones turned up this. Previously knowing nothing about Ronnie, this record, nestling in my 12" collection, had always been shrouded in mystery. Isn't the Internet wonderful? (And this is not the Alexis Korner connection I keep promising you - just a coincidence).

Tapping My Feet #10

I haven’t gone away, it’s just all work AND all play at the moment and that’s leaving no time for bloggery. In my previous post I hinted that my next post would in some way follow on the Alexis Korner link. Well, I need more time to work on that so this is definitely not that post, as you can probably guess.

In times like these (i.e hectic) I slip you a 12” (so to speak!).

It’s that time of year again in the UK – the glut of Bank Holidays is upon us (I wonder will we want to continue to call our national holidays that now we have all fallen out of love with the banks?)

Here is a long Weekend for a long weekend.

Phreek – Weekend (mp3) 1978

It clocks in at 8:12 – those were the days.
A Patrick Adams production - Christine Wiltshire (also credited as Christie Shire) on vocals. Issy Sanchez is the uncredited mixer. Christine did another take on this track as Class Action in 1981 this time with Larry Levan in charge at the mixing desk.


Right, time to take off my disco shoes - now where are my walking boots?…