Column

Back in the day: JUNE 1988 (Issue 510)

Ah, I remember this edition because, believe it or not, Jackie Collins (yes, the author) was pictured on the back cover reading a copy of the magazine. Or at least, holding an open copy.

Roger St Pierre’s interview was a real gem for us, and under the heading Jackie Collins Bares Her Soul she spoke about her latest tome Rock Star and sang the praises of Blues & Soul, saying she purchased it in Tower Records in Los Angeles – “It’s amazing but there is nothing like B&S in the States and, if you want to keep abreast of what’s happening Stateside then you have to rely on a British magazine to give you the low down.” …….Hah, but I got the middle pages with an another exclusive interview with Motown’s Magic Lady, which, according to the text, took a lot of doing. The duo’s first single Betcha Can’t Lose (With My Love) had just hit the national charts and everyone suddenly wanted a piece of the action. We managed to corner Linda Stokes, one half of the act for a quick chinwag….

Tyka Nelson graced the front cover and she was interviewed across two pages by Malu Halasa..… ..news of the month included Anita Baker’s plans for a British autumn tour with dates in London during October. Ticket prices were £15 and £12.50 (I kid you not!), while her new US single was “No One In The World”…… Brass Construction’s classic club hit from their debut eponymous album of 1975, Movin’, was given a new lease of life with a brand new mix and 12” release on the Syncopate label….

Beatbox Recordings, a new Stevenage-based independent label was formed as a specific vehicle for new, young British talent, by two members of the group Touchdown. The first release was Jaktrapp’s Sample This House…..Top Manchester soul band 52nd Street returned to the singles market with a double-sided 45 featuring I Will Wait and Say You Will…..

Michael Jackson was due in July for dates in London, Cardiff, Cork and Leeds…...New Orleans born blues guitarist Kenny Neal arrived in the UK to promote his debut album Bio On The Bayou ,released on Bedrock Records….Whitney’s (as in Houston) track Love Will Save The Day was being considered as a remixed single…..Carolyn Franklin, sister of Aretha and Erma, died from cancer on 25 April. She was 43 and was survived by her two sisters, two brothers and a grandmother…. Shanice Wilson followed her I’ll Bet She’s Got A Boyfriend single with The Way You Love Me coupled with her US single No Half Steppin’. Both tracks were from the 14 year old’s debut album titled Discovery……

The legendary Bo Diddley teamed up with the notorious Ronnie Wood for a concert in London…...Best selling UK soul singles: Prince – Alphabet Street at one, followed by Narada - Divine Emotions and S-Express – Theme From S-Express, while the top three albums were: Various Artists – House Hits, Sade – Stronger Than Pride and Prince - Lovesexy……Roberta Flack was in the studio recording a long overdue album…..

My Motown Trackin’ column kicked off with details of the Marvin Gaye album A Musical Testament 1964 – 1984. Unfortunately the gremlins bit the printer and the album was re-titled Musical Treatment. Naturally, a very special album but even more so because it contained Marvin’s heart-wrenching version of The Star Spangled Banner which he sang at the NBA All-Star Game during 1984. Mention was also made of, among other things, Stevie Wonder’s hour long tv special titled after his album Characters, the news that my book Motown:The History was finally finished, and once again, I took up the challenge of ‘fake’ Supremes performing over here. It didn’t stop it happening but it did make fans stop and think before buying tickets for these shows…. David Nathan spoke to Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, while Will Downing, wearing a B&S t-shirt, printed his personal top ten titles. Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway’s Don’t Make Me Wait Too Long was in the pole position, followed by Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On and Stevie Wonder’s Inner Visions ….

And finally, there’s two bare arsed pictures this time. One of Prince, sitting in his altogether with one hand covering one breast, and the other is a picture of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers walking across the Abbey Road zebra crossing. Nothing strange there I hear you say. But, hey, they’ve each got a sock dangling from ‘you know where’! It’s all too much for me…..

Til next time..
SHARON DAVIS