Ropeman!

Insight - Marvin Gaye

A brillant 2 - One hour interviews with the great Marvin Gaye with US dj Paul Gambaccini.

Part 1 - The early years, duetting partnerships and writers and producers he has worked with.
(Available until Wednesday 28th July 2010)

Part 2 - On becoming his own writer and producer.
(Available until Thursday 29th July 2010)

It`s my life!

(It's my life and I'll do what I want) Don't push me!
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) It's my life!
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) And I can do what I want!
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) You can't tell me!
(It's my life and I'll do what I want)

R.I.P

Malcolm McLaren 1946-2010

The former Sex Pistols manager died in New York this morning after a long battle with cancer.

Duke Vin & The Birth of Ska

A Gus Berger-directed documentary is the story of ska in the UK, focusing on the arrival in the UK of Jamaican soundmen Duke Vin and Count Suckle in 1954, their first sound system (in 1956) and their role in popularising ska in Britain, along with reggae and dub in later years.

Don`t Worry `Bout Us

'The kids are alright'

Here by the sea and sand
Nothing ever goes as planned,
I just couldn't face going home
It was just a drag on my own.
They finally threw me out
My mother got drunk on stout,
My dad couldn't stand on two feet,
As he lectured about morality.
Now I guess the families complete,
With me hanging round on the street
Or here on the beach.

Oh So Rare!!

About the rarest record and most sought after soul record of all time is about to go on sale!!...Yes.. you can actually buy it if you have very deep pockets.

Frank Wilson wrote and recorded "Do I Love You" (Indeed I Do) in 1965 and 6 demo copies were pressed up on Soul, the Motown subsidiary label, ahead of its scheduled release in November of that year. However Motown boss Berry Gordy wasn’t that impressed with the perfomrance of the song, and suggested Wilson stick to songwriting and producing. Copies were, as usual, ordered to be destroyed, but some (if not all six of them) survived. Only two copies were known to exist for certain in collecting circles, with Gordy himself claiming to also own one. However more copies have always rumoured to exist, and many stories and myths exist about them....

The song became very popular when it made its way onto the northern soul scene of England in the 7T`s. Record Collector Kenny Burrel famously paid £15,000 for his copy in 1996, but this new third copy should go for a much higher price than that. The record is to be sold via the John Manship auction site between March 14th and April 8th

Interview with Alton!

Roger Steffens of Reggae Scrapbook interviews rocksteady legend and now sadly departed singer ALTON ELLIS.