Ian Levine

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by gunbuck

I'd love to know what Ian Levine is up to as well. The last thing I can think of off the top of my head that he's done was that Hi-NRG remix of Petula Clark's "Downtown" that came out around 1999/2000.

Is there any more recent stuff he's done? I wasn't even aware of the Donna Summer megamix totoman mentions.

During the 90s Ian was very busy producing for bands like TAKE THAT, BAD BOYS INC, THE PASADENAS... He recently produced the steve brookstein album that went to number 1 in the UK album charts...

[gunbuck]

Originally Posted by Energyguy

During the 90s Ian was very busy producing for bands like TAKE THAT, BAD BOYS INC, THE PASADENAS... He recently produced the steve brookstein album that went to number 1 in the UK album charts...

I have a fair amount of the 90s boyband stuff Levine did but I didn't know he'd produced the Steve Brookstein album. Do you know if there are there any Hi-NRG or Northern Soul tracks on the album? I've heard one Northern Soul-style track called "Wrong Side Of Town" by The Four Vandals with Brookstein on lead vocal that I really liked

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by gunbuck

I have a fair amount of the 90s boyband stuff Levine did but I didn't know he'd produced the Steve Brookstein album. Do you know if there are there any Hi-NRG or Northern Soul tracks on the album? I've heard one Northern Soul-style track called "Wrong Side Of Town" by The Four Vandals with Brookstein on lead vocal that I really liked

I don`t know much about the Brookstein album but if you have a look on HMV or Amazon I am sure you will find track listings..

[straight acting]

Originally Posted by Energyguy

I don`t know much about the Brookstein album but if you have a look on HMV or Amazon I am sure you will find track listings..

I loved the Four vandals, and the furore and outrage in caused on the northern soul scene. :lol:

[gunbuck]

Originally Posted by straight acting

I loved the Four vandals, and the furore and outrage in caused on the northern soul scene. :lol:

what's the story on that? was there some kind of scandal involving the song?

strangely neither amazon.com or amazon.co.uk had sound samples of the Steve Brookstein album. HMV did though unfortunately their site kept making my browser freeze up but from the tracks I was able to sample it sounded like the album is pretty much all ballads.

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by gunbuck

what's the story on that? was there some kind of scandal involving the song?

strangely neither amazon.com or amazon.co.uk had sound samples of the Steve Brookstein album. HMV did though unfortunately their site kept making my browser freeze up but from the tracks I was able to sample it sounded like the album is pretty much all ballads.

The album is mostly ballads/covers but has had some positive reviews and seemed to sell quite well

[straight acting]

[quote="Energyguy"][quote="gunbuck"]

Originally Posted by straight acting

I loved the Four vandals, and the furore and outrage in caused on the northern soul scene. :lol:

what's the story on that? was there some kind of scandal involving the song?

Scandal Where have you been??

[gunbuck]

[quote="straight acting"][quote="Energyguy"]

Originally Posted by gunbuck

what's the story on that? was there some kind of scandal involving the song?

Scandal Where have you been??

I like a lot of the Northern Soul tracks I've heard but I don't really follow the Norther Soul scene that closely to be honest. I only know "Wrong Side Of Town" because of Steve Brookstein actually. Why did it cause an outrage? Because he went on to win X-Factor?

[Soulpreacher]

Hi folks, first post on this forum so here goes nothing.
Four Vandals, a great track, but the uproar around this track was based on a handfull of 7'' records being sold to several top northern soul dj's, as being original/new discovery, and paying the northern soul type over the top price for them. But after a short while another top northern dj/collector discoverd that the font on the record label was modern, and not posssible for 60's printing. Also added to this Ian had played the track on a soul radio show, saying nothing about his invovment. So when it was disscoverd that he had made the track, most northern fans/collectors/djs felt that a deception had happend :cry: . It is still a hot topic for disscution on northern forums.
Hope that short history of the Four Vandals helps.

Ben S.

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by Soulpreacher

Hi folks, first post on this forum so here goes nothing.
Four Vandals, a great track, but the uproar around this track was based on a handfull of 7'' records being sold to several top northern soul dj's, as being original/new discovery, and paying the northern soul type over the top price for them. But after a short while another top northern dj/collector discoverd that the font on the record label was modern, and not posssible for 60's printing. Also added to this Ian had played the track on a soul radio show, saying nothing about his invovment. So when it was disscoverd that he had made the track, most northern fans/collectors/djs felt that a deception had happend :cry: . It is still a hot topic for disscution on northern forums.
Hope that short history of the Four Vandals helps.

Hi Ben !
Welcome to the "gang"

Ben S.

[gunbuck]

wow, cool story. very interesting. I hadn't heard of this hoax behind "Wrong Side Of Town." thanks for the info Ben/Soulpreacher! :D

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by gunbuck

wow, cool story. very interesting. I hadn't heard of this hoax behind "Wrong Side Of Town." thanks for the info Ben/Soulpreacher! :D

Speaking of Ian Levine.. I may have the opportunity to interview Ian about his long career. I will be contacting Ian next week to see if he will be available to answer some questions. If any of you would like to put some questions to Ian about his DJ years at Heaven & disco/hi-nrg recordings please drop me a line by Wednesday next week. My e-mail address is -:

Sharkman012003@yahoo.co.uk

cheers
Neil
ENERGUY

[DISCODISK]

Originally Posted by Soulpreacher

Hi folks, first post on this forum so here goes nothing.
Four Vandals, a great track, but the uproar around this track was based on a handfull of 7'' records being sold to several top northern soul dj's, as being original/new discovery, and paying the northern soul type over the top price for them. But after a short while another top northern dj/collector discoverd that the font on the record label was modern, and not posssible for 60's printing. Also added to this Ian had played the track on a soul radio show, saying nothing about his invovment. So when it was disscoverd that he had made the track, most northern fans/collectors/djs felt that a deception had happend :cry: . It is still a hot topic for disscution on northern forums.
Hope that short history of the Four Vandals helps.

ben s.

i think those hot topics are not just about that record theres more to it than that, i actually think its quite funny especially the fool that paid a grand for that,that track never fooled me for a second all the clues were there, id actually have more sympathy with the callers who vote in pop idol/x factor

STRAIGHT ACTING
check out an hour of levine, curtis and ian pieira recorded a halesowen birmingham nov 74 over at milliondollardisco when they update site in oct, lots of those little obscurities like oscar perry,brothers and sisters,quadraphonics,perception strings orchestra and streaking the crown heights affair of course the sound is not perfect,you know the way they were recorded but as far as they go this is a good one, the d.js are quite clear, there will be more mecca ones to follow when i get round to it.

[straight acting]

Originally Posted by Soulpreacher

Hi folks, first post on this forum so here goes nothing.
Four Vandals, a great track, but the uproar around this track was based on a handfull of 7'' records being sold to several top northern soul dj's, as being original/new discovery, and paying the northern soul type over the top price for them. But after a short while another top northern dj/collector discoverd that the font on the record label was modern, and not posssible for 60's printing. Also added to this Ian had played the track on a soul radio show, saying nothing about his invovment. So when it was disscoverd that he had made the track, most northern fans/collectors/djs felt that a deception had happend :cry: . It is still a hot topic for disscution on northern forums.
Hope that short history of the Four Vandals helps.

Ben S.

Sadly only a half the story and even then it's about 70% wrong. Why does todays Northern scene attract so many thicko's??

[Soulpreacher]

Thicko am I? Then tell us your version of events around this record. My version is based on facts that have been on various web sites, & forums since this all happend. I am in no way saying that Ian was responsible for the scandal, but his actions, saying the record was not a new recording for over a year, are responsible for the backlash against his then return to the northern soul scene, when he was a part of the Rocket All-Nighters in London, Heck, I went to every one of them.
I personaly think that he is o.k., some of his earlier productions do suck, but that was probably to do more with budgets & available studio equipment. But some of his later stuff does make its way into my record box!

The DJ/Collector who discoverd the 'font' being wrong, is known the world over by serious Northern Collectors, as the guru of Label info, knowing what plant pressed which record, what printer printed what label, what the run-out groove markings mean etc. etc.. So are you arguing with a known northern soul expert?
Ian did play the tune on a north england station, on Richard Searling show, Richard being one of the top 3 northern DJs ever, and when asked about the tune he said it was an OLD play of his from the mecca. So you arguing with Ians own comment?

Don't be so quick to call someone thick, as an educated person I tke note of available & known facts before I make a statement, and you for one or another reason did not like my statement, but instead of giving your version of events, with any facts, you attack personaly. That ain't very cool.

Easy now peeps.