SIXTIES

My first trip to Detroit was back in 1985 with my old friend Guy Hennigan and was both enjoyable and rewarding in vinyl finds. I gained much pleasure in meeting so many Detroiters who had been involved in the music business and caught the bug seriously enough to make a return journey in 1988.

This time I travelled alone. Soon after arrival I found myself on the doorstep of the famed producer and writer Richard “Popcorn” Wylie, who had been a close friend for a number of years. On his insistence, I would be living there for the duration of my stay. “Popcorn” was always aware of my interests and knew I’d want to search out people connected with the music business. “OK Gill” said Popcorn, “who do you want to see this time?” ‘Well, if he’s still around I wouldn’t mind tracking Dave Hamilton down. Do you know him at all?’ “Sure, he’s an old friend of mine; here, we’ll call him up.” As the conversation between Popcorn and Dave went on, it emerged that Dave was in the middle of a personal tragedy but despite this and since I’d travelled so far he said I could visit the very next day.

After a brief introduction Dave said, “Look Gilly, I know you’re after those old 45s. Why don’t you have a good look around the basement (which had been a recording studio for many years) and I’ll put you a light up in the loft, I know there’s some records up there. Popcorn and I have some catching up to do, so make yourself at home.”

After several hours of searching I was well rewarded with some great soul sounds and I then joined Dave and Popcorn’s conversation. Many musical and personal matters were discussed and this confirmed that I’d just met a unique guy, especially considering the present situation he was enduring. It was then time for goodbyes, I thanked Dave very much for everything, realising I’d met a special person in my life and on returning to England I stayed in touch with him.

Two years later my close friend Andy ‘Tats’ Taylor of the Rob Wigley/La Beat record sales set-up said, “Let’s me and you go to Detroit”. Not wanting to stick my nose into Rob and Tat’s thing, I got Rob’s blessing and off we went.

For many years I had wondered what were the facts behind the long standing ‘Rose Valentine’ ‘When He’s Not Around’ cover up (the fictitious name and/or title given to a record by a DJ when its true identity is not known or is purposely hidden). One of my heroes, DJ Richard Searling, had played this song at the Wigan Casino and other Northern Soul venues since the early 80s and it was absolutely massive. Rumours and theories had abounded on the scene for years. At one stage it was deemed gospel that the song was actually sung by Ortheia Barnes and a half page article appeared in Shades Of Soul August 1988 edition speculating on its true identity. I’d got a few ideas of my own, so I asked Sedge from Stoke On Trent to copy his tape and we’d take it out with us to see if me and Tats couldn’t turn something up.

That trip we spent a lot of time with Melvin Davis. I’d said to Tats “We must go round and visit Dave Hamilton; you’ll love him. Let’s see if we can’t get him to play some of those old tapes I saw when I first met him”. Melvin drove us over; Dave and Melvin were old friends they’d kicked it around together in past years creating music in a number of capacities.

Ever obliging, Dave acceded to our request and started running some master tapes for us. I’ve never thought I hold any psychic powers, but I got a strange feeling, a feeling that was good. After hearing several tapes I said, “Go on Dave, carry on, play us another one.” Then guess what came on; at a slower, incorrect speed, but unmistakably the record we were looking for! I looked at Tats and shouted, ‘I don’t believe it!’ “What’s Up Gilly?” asked Dave. I told him to speed the tape up a bit and it immediately registered with Tats that we were listening to the original of the Rose Valentine cover-up. We just stood there looking at one another and (proudly admitting to being a couple of emotional type of guys) we just cried and hugged each other.

Heaven knows what Melvin and Dave thought of two grown up white limeys crying their eyes out, just over listening to one tune on a tape. They wouldn’t be able to relate to what it meant to Tats and myself, we had just discovered the source of one of the longest standing Northern Soul secrets. I said to Dave “I’ve got this tune on a cassette outside in the car, I’ll go and fetch it in”. We played it and Dave said it was too fast and was originally recorded slower than our copy suggested. “Who is it Dave? You see we’ve never known who it’s really by in all the years it’s been played back in England”. ‘It was sung by a lady called Ann Bridgeforth, we called her Little Ann’ he revealed. “Isn’t that the same person who had a release on Ric Tic?” asked Tats. ‘That’s the lady,’ said Dave.

That’s a day Tats and I will never forget for the rest of our lives. I’ve got it down as the third greatest day ever, the first being the birth of my daughter Lauren and the second being my wedding day to Lynn.

There was to be one more trip to Detroit with another friend from the soul scene, John Kingan, when I went back to put the wheels in motion for the eventual release of this CD.

I’d just like to finish off by saying that I feel very privileged in life to have been lucky enough to have met and been a friend of Dave Hamilton, such a soft spoken, kind, gentle man and modest beyond belief. There are unsung heroes in many musical creations but he is the best.

Sadly Dave died three years ago. I was gutted when his beautiful wife Alice gave me the news. I hope this Kent CD release will further make people aware of who and what Dave Hamilton was about. My love goes out to Dave and Alice and their family, God bless you all, and thank you.

This story came, just like the music, from the heart and soul - play on and enjoy.

Gilly, 1998

Continued