By brown9165 (67.25.107.102) on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 10:03 pm:

Hey Eli, what are the chance you Bell and Babbit
might work together again. Bring it back to us. How could we let you get away!

By Caleb (63.208.116.67) on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 10:54 pm:

Now your talking-Make it happen!!

By Nancy (66.185.85.72) on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 11:15 pm:

Hey Brown I am with you come on Eli lets make that happen

By John Lester (217.40.230.26) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 03:01 am:

I am bumping this to the top.........and hoping those two guys see it!

By Eli (205.188.209.38) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 07:15 am:

Man oh man would we love that to happen.
Thom says that he is considering some projects but we will see.
At Thom's birthday bash, James Ingram practically got down on his knees asking Thom to produce him again , and this was up on stage!!!
It's about time he receives a call from me anyway.
I will keep everyone posted on any developments.

Eli

By BOBBABBITT (152.163.188.68) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 06:40 pm:

BOBBY............GO MAN GO>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I'M READY AND SO IS CHARLES COLLINS...........
BOB BABBITT

By 1wicked (66.80.176.194) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 09:16 pm:

.....and there are a number of Philly affiliated (and other) vocalists without label deals and some with deals who's careers are suffering because they haven't had a chance to record "real" music with "real" musicians in many years. (Patti Labelle's most recent "hits" were all Philly associated....and that's going back 10 years or so !)

Somebody nudge Joe & Mike Tarsia too.....it's time to get busy !!

Eli...you and Babbitt can make like Jake & Elwood & make it your mission......"put the band back together !!"

By Bassn for God (24.158.71.34) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 09:26 pm:

I love your thought 'wicked' Bob in dark glass and white socks. Get started Bob, I am saving my money.
Robert

By Eli (152.163.188.68) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 09:03 am:

I believe that Patti has signed to Def Jam/Def Soul.
Bunny has submitted some songs to her.

Mike Tarsia no longer works at Sigma and the studio is on the verge of being sold to a certain NYC rap label!!!

There goes the neighborhood.

By John Barry Sheffield (195.92.168.165) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 09:09 am:

Hello Eli

It is such a GIFT being able to chat to YOU all the way from England, I travelled to Philly just to see the outside of Sigma Studio, it was the music from that Studio that was my teens era - though I loved MOTOWN as my only brother was twleve years older than me and I grew up listening to that but THAT SWEET PHILLY SOUND! was my generation and I miss it so much, but as they say NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY THE MEMORIES that Guys like THOM and YOU brought is and gave us as a GIFT!

Would love to see YOU and THOM work with some Youngsters and USE REAL MUSIC and not just a machine sound.

Thanks ELI!

John

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 10:57 am:

Bobby:
Get the crew back together....I have a few singers up here in NYC who would love to work with you and the legends.

Let me know when you'll be back in NYC so we could do lunch.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By 1wicked (66.80.176.194) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 12:07 pm:

Say it ain't so, Eli !! Sigma possibly being sold ??? There are some things that just don't "seem" right.....rap at Sigma, Motown in Los Angeles, the pics of United Sound recently posted......They say that "time brings about a change".....but geez (as opposed to preferred expletives )!

By Friday (64.157.64.190) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 12:40 am:

Let's get this happenin' here!!

By Eli (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 06:26 am:

J.B.S.....
You could have rung the front buzzer and mentioned that you were a visitor from the UK and I am more than sure that you would have been given a tour! If I were there you sure would have.

Twicked... It is such a shame that Sigma has lost its former glory. The equipment is all up to par having an SSL 9000 J, Pro Tools etc., but the vibe is horrible as there are a bunch of thug type hip hoppers running all around who have taken over the office space(some of which was originally promised to me)
I was there last Thursday for the Modern Drummer interview and I really felt sad that the place has
turned into what it is, albeit not aestheticaly as it still looks great, but considering the type of people that I saw in there, I am sure that it will not stay that way for long.I am surprised that Joe Tarsia even would allow these thugs in there, let alone give them keys!!!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 11:22 am:

Hey Bobby:
It's a damn shame what has happened to Sigma Sound. I'm trying hard to hold my tongue about the "element" that is running amok in the place.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By brown9165 (166.107.72.3) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 12:38 pm:

KevGo can you how is your label going. What are
some of the hurdles in getting a label up and running.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 05:47 pm:

brown9165:
Libra Records is off to a slow but decent start -thanks for asking.
The hurdles are many but I see them not as hurdles but challenges that need to be met (gotta have that positive attitude!).

The "challenges" list:
- money (this is coming out of my pocket for now)
- keeping the artists motivated (they have their ups & downs like we do)
- quality control on a budget (sounding great without being bled dry financially)

As you can tell, the challenges are few. I spend my time after work hours getting things done - from graphic design to burning CDs to send to reviewers and radio. As for distribution, I'm fortunate to have a colleague who will help me get my music into stores. Regarding radio, I'm going toward the community/public/college radio route first and foremost to help "break" the music. Marketing will range from CD single "bag-stuffers" for record stores to live performances by the artist.

Right now, I'm sending the CDs to colleagues in the industry as well as the media and colleagues. If you or anyone on Soulful Detroit would like a CD single sampler just email me directly with name & address (kevingoins@juno.com).

Thanks for asking & I'll keep you posted on the developments.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By brown9165 (67.24.199.236) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 02:18 am:

Thanks for the info KevGo I will be e-mailing
you in the morning with my address. Please keep
us informed so we can support the label. It's
exciting to hear. Best Wishes and my support.
Thanks.

By stephanie (64.63.221.103) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 05:18 pm:

Man the Funk Brothers and Eli and Russ and Ralph have a mission. If mainstream radio allowed them to compete with these knuckleheads out here they would blow them away. Give me a Clive Davis bankroll and a Ralph and a Russ Terrana mix and Babbitt and Eli and all of the other guys and a Deke Richards production Oh and Dennis Coffey too and Uriel and all of the other ones. I say we get Levi and Diana Ross and Mary Wilson and Martha and her Vandellas and even some younger singers like Jill Scott and Christine Aguilera (with clothes on ) NO Jennifer Lopez. We have Harry Weinger and David Nathan liner notes and of course John Lester does all of the research and you have a winning combination. I know this is just a dream but hey I can dream cant I?
Stephanie

By Eli (151.197.37.150) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 05:26 pm:

Steph..
My sentiments exactly!!
HALLELUJAH.... AMEN

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 05:47 pm:

Steph,
You dream sweet dreams.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 05:51 pm:

'Nuff said, Stephanie!
Keep the faith!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By drums (216.178.68.50) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 06:41 pm:

Hey Bobby!!!

You said that I could play drums if you guys put it together!!! I am there if you guys really are gonna play!!!

Somebody bring a video camera!!!

Daren

By Eli (151.197.37.150) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 06:59 pm:

U Bet Daren!!!!

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.40.155) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 06:32 am:

I have a video camera! I'll be in Philly in May. What can I record other than the Liberty Bell??

By Grapevine, England (80.1.20.217) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 06:49 am:

All this talk of current Philly possibilities......gives me chance to plug our brand new UK released CD on Bunny Sigler....a 14 track contemporary set prod by Bunny with Raymond Earl...Bunny sounding better than ever....check our site at www.grapevine-soul.com for full details.

You can buy it direct from Grapevine or in the USA from Dusty Groove.

Thanks
Garry J Cape
Grapevine, England

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 12:15 pm:

Thanks Garry. I'll check it out in the next couple of days. Dusty Groove is on my way home from work which is good for the ears & bad for the pocketbook.

-Steve

By Caleb (63.208.119.85) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 06:52 pm:

Eli,how'd you make out on your call?

By Eli (151.197.41.242) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 07:20 pm:

Caleb, et al, I will keep you posted on further developments.

By Sly fan (67.119.53.141) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 11:50 pm:

Mr. Eli I am very sorry to here about the current state of Sigma Studios, seems as if they wouldve have turned it into a musuem or a monument of some sort. I feel really heartbroken. The only rappers that are worthy of setting foot in that studio are Will Smith and The Roots being that they are from Philly but have also presented Hip-Hop music in a creative and positive light.

By Sly fan (67.119.53.141) on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 11:54 pm:

correction: "hear about"

By John Lester (213.123.157.44) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 01:47 am:

Bobby - I think you have to spare a thought for the future. How are the new generation going to discover new music if you dont provide anything for them to COPY! LOL

I was at the gym yesterday and heard the following songs, ALL copied, err...I mean updated

Covers of
Candy - the old Cameo song
Black Is Black
Let No Man Put Asunder
25 Miles
How Deep Is Your Love - the old Bee Gees song
That Atomic Kitten version of the Blondie song.

It seems to me that all you need to do these days is get an old song, add a disco beat and some young girls with bland voices and hey presto. A TV programme was talking about redundancies at record companies and mentioned that records do not sell in the same quantities these days........comparing number one sales in the UK today of 7,000 against 70,000 some 30 years ago. It doesn't need a clever man to understand why

By Eli (151.197.39.204) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 09:27 am:

John,
My sentiments exactly.
One of the major reasons that record companies are in such a state of flux is partly due to the inept people who work at these companies and their lack of recognizing pitch and have no clue that these "artists" cant sing in tune.
I myself have tested certain people on this very thing and you would not believe the results that I got!! Truly frightening.

There are no true stars today as they are, for the most part disposable and interchangeable.

These record "mavens" are all standing there with their d***S in their hands and wondering where they went wrong.
I hope for their sake that there are job openings at the local Mc Donalds.

Remember.."If you don't see sharp you will be flat!"

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.101) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 10:21 am:

Eli - They are not standing with anything in their hands. They are using their hands to point at the Internet and decry it as the Great Satan. They are shocked that people (other than themselves) are treating their music as a faceless valueless disposable lifestyle accessory which sounds hardly any worse data-compressed up the ying-yang over crappy little speakers than it does on quality gear sourced from the CDs they are releasing.

Regards,
Ken

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 11:16 am:

Hey Bobby!
Where are you today! Call me at my office!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By John Lester (62.49.61.57) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 02:19 pm:

KevGo

U know we are relying on the likes of people like yourself to get things back to the way that it used to be. I know this is a heavy load to carry but you gotta succeed!

I see you are getting hold of Bobby. I reckon you made a good move there pal!! ;-)

By Sly fan (64.169.107.128) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 03:01 pm:

Truthfully speaking, its really sad because a lot of folks think I am crazy (especially girls) when I pop in a Delfonics or a Leroy Hutson CD they think I have lost my mind when I look at them and they have a Ja Rule or a J Lo cd and I think they have lost their mind. For instance, this Monday nite I was playing a party and I kept getting all these request for a lot of Timberlake, Ja Rule,J Lo etc and I HATE that stuff cuz it like junk food not a home cooked meal and I kinda just got fed up (plus somebody has to break up the status quo and take chances), I threw on "Use To Be My Girl" and the crowd went wild and the party really got to swingin' from there. Its about quality not quanity..Lables keep screaming that the Napster, etc. are making them lose money when truth of the matter is that they are signing what I call "quick fix" acts instead of looking at artists who have long term potential and a solid track record. You really think J Lo is gonna survive 10 albums (c'mon really)? Jill Scott, Cody Chesnutt or The Roots? Yes! Keep in mind, Disco (as much as I love it!!) and Video planted the seeds for a lot of whats happening today, the corporate "quick fix" mentality.

I wanna see my heroes back on the charts in a major way. I believe it will happen and anything that I can do to further the cause, you got a friend in me to help make it happen.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 05:50 pm:

Sly Fan:
It's funny that you mention the reactions you receive from others when you play one of your classic soul CDs (kinda like making a child eat their veggies!).

Next time one of the honies (or honeys or however it's spelled today) give you a funny look when you play the Delfonics "La-La Means I Love You" , you tell them "hey,it worked for your momma & your daddy!"

Keep the faith, amigo!

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 05:51 pm:

John Lester:
Thanks for the vote of confidence. Tonight I start burning the CD samplers.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Sly fan (67.119.52.232) on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 06:17 pm:

KevGo: Thanx a mil, I will try that.
Honies or Honeys aint nothing changed but the names. Thanx a mil!!

Long live the music!!!