By David Meikle (81.98.128.186) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 01:02 pm:

I love this scan that Graham sent in.

More on it from him tomorrow.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.56) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 01:53 pm:

This is'nt the same Checkerboard squares that recorded on the Villa Label is it?
MEL.

By acooolcat (210.201.192.198) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 09:21 pm:

Mel - that's exactly what I want to know. I found a few copies of this 45 in Detroit many years ago and have never found out if it's the same group. Does anyone have a copy of the Villa 45 that they can post?
And has anyone seen any other 45s on the S.I.M. label?
Thanks David.
Cheers,
Graham

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.41) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 02:33 pm:

Graham,
whats the actual disc like?
I take it that its an inst then.
mel.

By Joe Moorehouse (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 03:33 pm:

I've got a 45 by the Soul Impacts on this label--they do a decent version of Here's Some Dances--but I don't know anything about it. Always assumed it was not a Michigan record.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 10:55 am:

The Checkerboard Squares on Villa seems to be
an LA record.

The S.I.M. disc looks like a Chicago record to me
- the writer Doris I Jones has 20 or so songs credited to her on BMI one entitled "Chicago Is"
which tends to add some weight to that theory.

Her other titles don't look particularly inspiring,"Kindergarten March" anyone ?

By Mick D (217.44.215.237) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 05:57 pm:

This Checkerboard squares thread has got me scratchin' my head.

I can remember two instrumentals being played on the UK scene around twelve years ago, one called "going in circles" and the other (whose title I can't remember) had the same backing track as Brenda Holloway's "Trapped in a love affair" (A cellarfull of MOTOWN CD)

This backing track was identical except for an additonal brass section and being a good minute longer in duration.

If my memory serves me right "going in circles" was unissued and found it's way to the UK scene on an acetate.(could be wrong on that score)

I was told that BOTH tracks were the Checkerboard Squares of Double Cookin' fame and the man behind the squares was none other than Frank Wilson!

Although I had no reason to disbelieve I took the suggestions with a smidgeon of scepticism, knowing the d.j's uncanny ability to stretch the truth somewhat in order to conceal true identities.

However hearing "Trapped" has made me reconsider.
Anybody got a definitive answer on this one?

Regards

Mick D

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 10:33 pm:

Mel - this 45 is a difficult to pigeon-hole - it sounds like it was written as a TV theme - think Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Graham

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.99) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 09:06 pm:

Thanks Graham,
MickD,
I only ever saw bootlegs of the other Villa cut of 'Beyond the storm/Going in circles which was number 726 on the label.
I cant even recall how it sounds off hand,and I also heard somewhere that Frank Wilson was involved.
What price for the vocal of Double cookin'these days by The Del-Satins and 'Baby your the fire?
mel.