By david, glasgow, scotland (62.6.70.166 - 62.6.70.166) on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 09:05 am:

It was announced at the Stoke All Nighter (by Dave Evison I think) that George passed some time last week.

I'm afraid I know little about George except that he recorded one of the Scene's most vibrant and atmospheric 45's on his own Smoke label which was based in New Jersey.

It's called "Can't lose my head" and is out of this world.

The only other 45 I know of is "Mister Loser" on the same label.

George RIP

By Flynny (213.1.129.138 - 213.1.129.138) on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 12:52 pm:

Great voice and dynamite producer, for sure.
Can anyone confirm this news as I thought he'd passed on in the early 90's!

Also want to take this opportunity to ask if anyone knows the whereabouts of Bert DeCoteaux, who arranged and conducted both of George's Smoke label tracks....along with loadsa fantastic NS tunes!

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.111 - 195.219.7.111) on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 01:01 pm:

THE VERY FIRST RECORD I EVER HEARD AT THE BLACKPOOL MECCA EARLY 70S,WAS CANT LOSE MY HEAD. AND WHAT A TRACK MR.LOSER IS.TOO MANY PEOLE ARE SADLY LEAVING US,BUT THERE NAMES WILL TRULY LIVE ON THRU,THE GREAT MUSIC WE HAVE BEEN PRIVELIGED TO HEAR.MR.GEORGE BLACKWELL(R.I.P.).MEL(ANDTHENSOME)

By biggray1 (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 01:35 pm:

You can read all about George Blackwell in Greg Tormo's website,just click on the Sammy Campbell link and read on!! Biggray.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.35 - 195.219.7.35) on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 02:26 pm:

SAMMY CAMPBELL AS OF DEL-LARKS-JOB OPENING-QUEEN CITY FAME.MEL(ANDTHENSOME)

By biggray1 (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 04:18 pm:

you got it Mel. Graham

By Mark Speck (65.56.5.87 - 65.56.5.87) on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 10:40 pm:

I'd have to dig the record out to check, but I believe he produced the excellent "I Don't Love You No More" by the Exsaveyons on Smoke.

I agree, "Can't Lose My Head" is one amazing record. Rest in peace, George.

Best,

Mark

By MEL&THENSOME (195.219.7.72 - 195.219.7.72) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 10:53 am:

MARK,MY (SADLY DEPARTED)GOOD OLD BUDDY,PETE LAWSON DID AN ARTICLE ABOUT SMOKE RECORDS,STATING THAT GEORGE BLACKWELL OWNED THE LABEL.I WONT HARP ON,AS IM SURE ITS ALL THERE IN GREG TORMOS WEBSITE ,MENTIONED ABOVE BY Biggray1.MEL(ANDTHENSOME).

By biggray1 (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 04:23 pm:

The Greg Tormo site i mentioned early on in these pages can be found here,www.geocities.com/solidhit/ a lot of great info on all the good soul stars and their music!! enjoy. Biggray.

By Greg (192.147.58.6 - 192.147.58.6) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 05:43 pm:

I feel kinda guilty now that I haven't bothered updating my website in over 2 years! But thanks very much for mentioning my site. As far as I know, George Blackwell died over 10 years ago (if he died recently, I wish I had known he was still alive when I was trying to find him!). He owned Smoke Records, based in Newark, NJ, and according to people I've spoken with, it was basically set up as a you-must-pay-me-to-release-you-record kind of business. The real power behind the label was Mrs Blackwell, who was described to me as someone who was not the nicest person you'd want to meet.

By biggray1 (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 06:09 pm:

Hi Greg,I mentioned your site because the info on GB was the only snippit of info i had ever seen via the internet,the Sammy Campbell story is great,i have a few of the Smoke 45s and my fav is by the Exsaveyons,Running Wild,Georges Can't lose my head has alluded me for years only to find a copy recently on a sales list for over $500!!hope you update the site with some new articles on records-artist-etc,Tell me Greg are you still gathering info on Records and the artists that make them!! any to tell to the forum!! I wait in anticipation. Regards Biggray

By Mark Speck (65.56.222.198 - 65.56.222.198) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 12:07 am:

Anyone know anything about Smoke's subsidiary label, Pat?

There's a record on Pat that's supposed to be killer, "Treat Me Right" by Barbara Jones.

Best,

Mark

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.18 - 195.219.7.18) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 04:11 pm:

MARK,BARBARA JONES-TREAT ME RIGHT-PAT RECORDS-P-606/G.K.P.606A/.WRITTEN BY EDDIE MORRIS,SORRY,BUT I DONT REMEMBER THE FLIP.PRODUCED BY GEORGE BLACKWELL.(WELLSOUND MUSIC).PAT RECORDS/DIV.OF SMOKE RECORDS/310 CHADWICK AVE,NEWARK,NEW JERSEY.MEL(ANDTHENSOME).

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.18 - 195.219.7.18) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 04:17 pm:

DAVID,AS IM HERE,JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT I PASSED ON YOUR KIND REGARDS TO PETE LAWSONS MA.SHE WAS MADE UP TO KNOW THAT PETE IS STILL THOUGHT OFF,AND THANKS YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY.MEL(ANDTHENSOME).

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.18 - 195.219.7.18) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 04:17 pm:

DAVID,AS IM HERE,JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT I PASSED ON YOUR KIND REGARDS TO PETE LAWSONS MA.SHE WAS MADE UP TO KNOW THAT PETE IS STILL THOUGHT OFF,AND THANKS YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY.MEL(ANDTHENSOME).

By MEL&THENSOME (195.219.7.40 - 195.219.7.40) on Friday, August 09, 2002 - 03:13 pm:

MARK SPECK,ALSO ON PAT RECORDS-G.K.P.-607A-GERI SHIVERS-LETS TRY IT AGAIN/DONT KNOW B SIDE./G.K.P.-608-A&FLIP,DONT KNOW,/G.K.P.-609A-EXSAVEYONS-RUNNING WILD/609-B-WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE,G.K.P.-610-A-THE HERBS-PUT A HURTIN ON MY HEART,DONT KNOW FLIPSIDE./G.K.P.611-A-THE HERBS-THERE MUST BE AN ANSWER,B SIDE,DONT KNOW.OTHER CONTRIBUTORS TO SMOKE/PAT RECORDS INCLUDED,ROBERT BANKS,THE LEGENDARY BERT DE CORTEAUX,SAMMIE(DEL-LARKS)CAMPBELL AND ALSO,KAY THOMAS,CLARENCE LAWTON,GINO MORESE AND GEORGE BLACKWELL JNR.MEL(ANDTHENSOME).

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Friday, August 09, 2002 - 08:02 pm:

Thanks Mel.

David