NS551 Charles Johnson [1980] - Never Had A Love So Good [Alston ALSX 3751]

NOTE Bootleg white promo - the cat no (3743) is for 

Lew Kirton - Heaven In The Afternoon!

which is on the flipside.

551 Charles Johnson [1980] - Never Had A Love So Good [Alston ALSX 3751 B]

b/w:	Baby I Cried, Cried, Cried (official A side)
Format:	45
Label:	Alston
Cat No:	ALSX 3751-B / Reissue 3743
Year:	1980
Value:	£500+

Our first foray into some 'modern' soul, leaping from the mid 60s to 1980 for this track by Charles Johnson on Alston.  This is a tremendous piece of soul music with a great deep soul flip (which is the official A side).  Very hard to find now as the 'wanted' track is the official B side which is only available on issues and not on promos.  As the official top side deep soul ballad didn't receive radio airplay once Alston 's initial press was exhausted no more were pressed.

Both tracks were written and produced by Horace Straws and Nathaniel Dean who turn up on a number of other interesting records e.g. Snoopy Dean - Lady, Lady, Lady; David Hudson / Paulette Reeves - Let Me Wrap You In My Love.

I can't find any further information on Charles Johnson.  The only 3 records I've managed to find all come from the Miami area on TK based labels between 1975 and 1980.

Charles Johnson [1980] - Baby I Cried, Cried, Cried [Alston ALSX 3751-A]

Other tracks include:

Charles Johnson [1975] - I Betcha Don't Know / Instr. [Mighty Mo 902]

Is a very rare sweet soul ballad produced by J.R. Bailey and Ken Williams which is much rarer than the Alston 45.  The flip side is an instrumental version of the A side.

Charles Johnson [1980] - Good Good Lovin' [Dash 5065]

A nice modern soul 'stepper' from 1980 released on the Dash label.

Charles Johnson [1980] - Don't Lose The Groove [Dash 5065]

Charles Johnson & The Tornado Orchestra [1965] - You Made A Mistake [Rainbow R-153-A]

I've included this here as it is a terrific track (which annoyingly reminds me of something else which I can't place) but I'm pretty sure it is NOT the same Charles Johnson as it was released around 1965.  A very hard to find (rare?) 45 released on Texas label Rainbow written by James Lynn Marsh and not listed on either Discogs or 45Cat.  A few are listed on Popsike between £1,500-£2,600.

It is believed that it is actually James Lynn Marsh singing lead on this track.  It was released on limited edition compilation LP (500 copies) in 2016 'Texas Soul '65'  credited as James Lynn Marsh.

NS552 The Construction [1967] - Hey Little Way Out Girl [Synch 6 S-924]

552 The Construction [1967] - Hey Little Way Out Girl [Synch 6 S-924 / Grapevine GRP 112]

b/w:	My Heart Would Sing (official A side)
Format:	45
Label:	SYNC6 / Grapevine
Cat No:	S-924-B / GRP 112
Year:	1967 / 1979
Value:	£770

Confused? Let me explain. Released in the UK in 1979 on Grapevine as Del Capris owing to huge demand.  This was in fact a Richard Searling (Wigan Casino) cover up of The Construction (a white band) on the tiny New York label Sync6.  The original on Syncg 6 is extremely rare.  I have only found 6 sales listed on Popsike in the last 15 years.  The Del Capris had already had a Northern ’hit’ with ‘Hey Little Girl” on Ronjerdon and then Kama Sutra, hence the cover up name was born.

There's a great article on Grapevine done by Pete Smith (Planet Records)

NS553 Jay D Martin [1968] - By Yourself [Tower 403]

553 Jay D Martin [1968] - By Yourself [Tower 403]

b/w:	Hold On To Your Heart
Format:	45
Label:	Tower
Cat No:	403
Year:	1968
Value:	£115-£375

Very little is known about Jay. D Martin and it appears that this is his only 45 release (under this name at least which could well be a pseudonym).  I believe that this is a white demo only as I've never seen an issue.  It sells for between £115-£375 so it's not 'that' rare.  It was reissued (legitimately or otherwise) to satisfy demand in the mid 70s when this record was huge all over the UK.

It sounds distinctly blue-eyed (almost country on flip) to these ears but was a very popular stomper in its day.  I wonder if this is the same artist? JD Martin

Written by Bob McRee, Cliff Thomas & Ed Thomas who wrote many other NS favourites such as Barbara Lynn (Take Your Love And Run), Johnny Copeland/Johnny & Lilly (Suffering City), Major Lance (Investigate), The Poppies (There's A Pain In Your Heart) and many others.  It was published by The Crazy Cajun Music.

NS554 The Magnificents [1965] - My Heart Is Calling [Dee Gee 3008 A]

554 The Magnificents [1965] - My Heart Is Calling [Dee Gee 3008 A]

b/w:	On Main Street
Format:	45
Label:	Dee Gee
Cat No:	3008 A
Year:	1965
Value:	£200+

The Magnificents were formed in 1965 by Thurman 'Ray' Ramsey and included Richard Dixon and Clarence Jasper (both formerly of the Dukays), and James Pleasant. They made TV appearances, and recorded a 2 sides for the Dee Gee label.

A full biography for The Magnificents by Marv Goldberg here.

It would appear that The Four Tops recorded but never released the song.  It is now available on Fourever Box Set

Four Tops [2001] - My Heart Is Calling [Hip-O 314 556 225-2] (Prev Unreleased)

NS555 Lynn Varnado [1973] - Wash & Wear Love [Gatur 1202 B]

555 Lynn Varnado [1973] - Wash & Wear Love [Gatur 1202 B]

b/w:	Tell Me What's Worng With The Men (official A side)
Format:	45
Label:	Label
Cat No:	Cat No
Year:	1966
Value:	£2,000 Original £25 Reissue

First heard this at St. Ives in 1976 played by Tony Dellar and have loved it ever since.  It has just got so much 'crossover' appeal.  Northern, Modern, crossover, southern soul.  It's a classic to my ears and still sounds as fresh today as when I first heard it and bought it nearly 35 years ago!

Lynn Vernado's real name is Allean Vernado.

This was taken from 'Wanted Records' in Aug 2010 where a copy sold for approx. $2,500:

Wash And Wear Love by Lynn Varnado. Mega Rare Northern Soul 45 on Gator #1202. A Miles Grayson production. Not only one of the rarest Los Angeles records but one of the rarest Northern Soul records out there. According to Miles Grayson he said that he handed out a few copies and ended up throwing the rest in the garbage. Even the ones he handed out he remembers some kids tossing them like frisbees. In other words, good luck finding an original copy of this LA rarity.

Lynn Varnado [1973] - Tell Me What's Wrong With Men [Gatur 1202 A]

Lynn Vernado [1971] - Second Hand Love (Is Not For Me) [Yumie #1000-B]

Lynn Vernado [1971] - Goodbye And God Speed [Yumie #1000-A]

Lyn Varnado [2005] - Ain't That Something [Hayley HR010]

Stunning previously unreleased dancer produced by Clay McMurray. Written by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson and released on Hayley.

Lynn Varnado [2016] - Staying Home Like A Woman {BGP #BGPS 052]

Allean Vernado [1979] - What Is Life [ICA #ICA-025]

Lynn Varnado [] - Don't Want To Lose You (SAMPLE)

Someone has posted this on YouTube but I personally don't think it is by Lynn Varnado ... (the label scan is a mock-up copied from Wash & Wear love) if anyone knows who it really is then please post a comment.

NS556 Yvonne Vernee [1964] - Just Like You Did Me [SonBert 5842]

556 Yvonne Vernee [1964] - Just Like You Did Me [SonBert 5842]

b/w:	I'm In Love
Format:	45
Label:	SonBert
Cat No:	5842
Year:	1966
Value:	$3,200

Written by none other than Tony Clark(e) well know on the scene for the classics 'The Entertainer,' 'Landslide', 'They Call Me The Wrong Man' amongst others.  This is great early Detroit from Yvonne Vernee who would later take over from Saundra Edwards as lead singer with The Elgins in 1968.

Some background from Ian Levine:

Yvonne Vernee Allen was the second lead singer of The Elgins, after Saundra Edwards left in 1968, and she has remained with the group for thirty nine years, right up to the present day. But before joining the Elgins, she recorded this song, "Just Like You Did Me", for tiny local Detroit label, Sonbert Records, and we re-recorded it with her many years later, for "The Strange World Of Northern Soul". When I managed to track down the Elgins to record for Motorcity, and get them to reunite again after so many years, the project I most wanted to do was to get them to re-record "Heaven Must Have Sent You", but in the style of Bonnie Pointer's wonderful disco classic of 1979. So that was the first project we did together. I always loved The Elgins. Along with The Velvelettes they were one of my favourite Motown groups. They were originally The Downbeats in 1962, with the three guys, Johnny Dawson, Norman McLean, and Duke Miller. They added a girl lead singer in 1965, Saundra Edwards, and recorded such classics as "Heaven Must Have Sent You" and "Put Yourself In My Place". In 1968 Saundra left and Yvonne Allen joined Motown and took over as lead singer. She recorded tons of stuff at Motown but they never released any more Elgins records. In 1972, "Heaven Must Have Sent You" was reissued in England and became a huge hit, and the group appeared at The Torch allnighter in Stoke On Trent, where I was DJing. I met all four of them, Yvonne, Johnny, Norman, and Duke. So then, seventeen years later, in 1989, I persuaded them to reform for my Motorcity project. Duke had died, so Johnny brought in Jimmy Charles, and together with Norman and Yvonne, The Elgins had a whole new lease of life. And now, in 2007, they're about to return to England for the first time in sixteen years, to appear at a big Northern Soul Weekender in Northampton. And long may they continue, always smart, sharp, and timeless.

~ Ian Levine

Levine Re-recording

Special Treat ... LIVE! ... A Great performance on the English Riviera 1991/92

Yvonne Vernee [1965] - Does He Love Me Anymore [Correc-Tone 3178]

This is a storming piece of Northern Soul, her first release on Correc-Tone.

Yvonne Vernee [1965] - It's Been A Long Time [SonBert SB 3475]

Yvonne Vernee [1965] - Your Touch [SonBert SB 3475]

Yvonne Vernee (The Elgins) [1968] - My Love For Your Love [Unreleased Motown]

Yvonne Vernee [2018] - My First Love [Brute BR 003]

Yvonne Vernee [2018] - You Can DO It [Brute BR 003]

This sound very much like a reworking of Just Like You Did Me!

NS557 Mickey Moonshine [1974] - Name It You Got It [UK Decca F 13555]

557 Mickey Moonshine [1974] - Name It You Got It [UK Decca F 13555]

b/w:	Baby Blue
Format:	45
Label:	Decca
Cat No:	F 13555
Year:	1974
Value:	£10 (2nd Issue) £20 (1st Issue)

Now this artist is bit of a mystery.  Claims are that it could be Alvin Stardust, Paul Nicholas (Just Good Friends actor), Chris Rainbow, Paul Micheal Curtis (claimed by Black Echoes magazine), Mickey Most etc. etc.

However after some research I have discovered that it may be Ben Cross who appeared as Harold Abrahams in the 1981 film Chariots Of Fire along with Nigel Havers.  Check the 'Other Professions' section at Wikipedia although it is not clear whether he wrote the song or sang it but I would guess both as the writer credits are Moonshine!

This is obviously white, British pop music.  To be fair you could say blue-eyed pop soul, but regardless of that it has very little to do with real soul music and is akin to the early 70s pop/soul put out by The Pearls and Polly Brown et al.  However it did shake the dance floors for a while at the time and seems to still be popular if DJ is brave enough to drop the needle on it .. but it is still white British pop music NOT soul.

UPDATE: Following an anonymous comment claiming this to be Paul Michael Curtis (eluded to above by Black Echoes), it appears that Curtis has confirmed that it is in fact him. 

So that then casts doubt on the accuracy of the Wiki article, but having re-read it it may be that Ben Cross was a backing singer on the recording as it states he was a session musician for Decca and recorded Name It You've Got It.

Perhaps the confusion/misunderstanding is caused by Ben Cross being a co-writer of a track for Wavemaker+ in 1977 on Polydor called Mickey Moonshine? here

Further investigation indicates that the majority of Wiki text is 'copied' from here with a bit of 'poet licence' I suspect the Wiki article has been embellished somewhat by making assumptions about Mick(e)y Moonshine.