Charlene And The Soul Serenaders

Can You Win C/w Love Changes

Currently one of THE most wanted titles on the British Rare-Soul dance scene!

A huge tune and a dancefloor magnet for the likes of Dave Ripolles, Butch and from this weekend I hear Soul Sam has secured a copy on VOLT.

But only one of the above mentioned can boast owning this funk-infused soulful masterpiece as the FIRST local Sheffield, Alabama 45.

So what's the story? Well the soundfile will reveal a completely compelling Soul-Sister dance-tune that saw PROMO and very brief release on VOLT4052 in 1970. The "Can You Win" side is ONLY available on the stock copy.

After saying all that, you can see from the label scan and hear from the riveting sound file - to own this 45 is something very special indeed.

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 1,917.00

Supremes

You Can't Hurry Love C/w Put Yourself In My Place

A near perfect 1966 Red & White Grail!

Every Tamla Motown Red & White collector will confirm it's the "HITS" that are the most difficult to acquire. As JImmy Ruffin's "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted" confirmed early in December.

If any 45s, back in the 60s was going to go AWOL from Radio Station libraries, reviewers offices, pressing plants or Record companies files it was "The Hits".

This was of course a monster hit and considered a timeless Motown anthem - as a flawless red & white DEMO it is a rare species indeed!

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 167.00

Guitar Ray

You're Gonna Wreck My Life

Just like Bobby Wilburn there are a few, a very few, records that if your ever not feeling at your best. Drop the stylus and your whole mood changes for the better.

Is this not why the Northern Soul addict spends his life foraging for truly great performances that defy all reason as to why they never sold.

Everyone in the world today, should listen to Guitar Ray's outpourings of his love for the girl who's wrecking his life..a saturation of heartbreak!

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 468.00

Four Coins

Maybe She's Right

Does Northern Soul vocal group Crossover Northern Soul get any more smoother than this? We don't think it does..

Seamless vocals weave their way through this string propelled dancer that just when you think the production has peaked it just keeps climbing to higher.

Staggeringly superb! and incredibly RARE!

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 851.00

Degree Of Freedom

Please Tell Me Why C/w Vegtable Soup

Sweet Soul vocal-group harmony fans check this out! Small label sweet harmony does NOT get much finer than this, street -level Richmond, Virginia rarity.

FUNK fans listen to the thoroughly gorgeous harmony ballad because it is followed by the B-side which is Kick-Ass-FUNK!

Two Mario Smith compositions that underline that foraging through 45s can be so rewarding especially when something this obscure pops up.

A promo sleeve that comes with it - has a rubber stamp reading " DEARJOCK: IF YOU DON'T DIG THIS SIDE GIVE THE FLIP A LISTEN, IT'S HEAVYTOO" you're certainly right with that statement!

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 161.00

Charles Pryor

What They Doing (funkie Junkie) C/w I Just Want Top (change My Mind)

A single artist D.I.Y. project that offers a forceful FUNK experience backed with a staunch Deep Soul out-pouring of the highest order.

Charles Pryor displays talents far beyond just delivering a vocal to make you pause and absorb. He is also a highly skilled arranger as you hear hear as the moody horns nourish the FUNK offering - then in total contrast lull the ballad side into a begging piece of heartbreak.

Charles, what ever you do is skilled and emotional - check out his other work. This one is tough to acquire and gives the listening and new owner two fabulous examples of Rare-Soul.

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 67.00

Ken Boothe

Oo Wee Baby C/w Lonely Tear Drops

Oh the joy of wading through vinyl and spinning interesting looking discs. In the hope of a moment like I've just had today - what I know about 60s Jamaican music is less that my understanding of nuclear physics.

Naively I was expecting "SKA" viewing the label reading the writer credits probably "Rock steady" takes on Fred Hughes & Jackie Wilson classics respectively, but was ooooh soooo wrong!

What was to follow was a most wonderful "soul" moment, I just needed to share. As Ken Boothe flaunts his his gift for the "soul" sound as he totally deconstructs both songs, and serves up two sensational versions that will have you playing and replaying the irresistible sound file.

Be prepared, as these two songs are so, so good!

Light surface marks - but who cares? This 45 is utter brilliance, both sides!

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 100.00

Karl Evans

Oo Wee Let It Be Me Babe C/w Honey On My Shoulder

I'm shocked!! Time to pause for thought....

This is a pristine original1966 first version of the Louise Lewis Northern Soul classic.

It is only when I'm able to draw from a 14 year old data base of 100,000's of sales, listings and research that the true rarity of a disc is revealed. I did know I'd not met this old Northern Soul friend for many years - but only 1 copy previously recorded since our database started was quite frankly startling.

So we re-checked with "Popsike" and to see only 1 copy the YELLOW label 2nd. press with the instrumental flip recorded. It made me realize not for the first time, that some records we took for granted in our Northern Soul infancy are now seriously RARE discs.

NOTE: The 1975 re-issue did not carry the fine piano led Deep Soul ballad on the flip.

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 124.00

Maxine Brown

Am I Falling In Love

Without question one of THE most difficult of all the British release Northern Soul 45s to acquire.

This copy is not only in vinyl-dreamland condition it also carries on the flipside label a red and white sticker reading:

"DELETED - "This Record Is "Very Valuable" because it is not longer obtainable. Therefore return it to library immediately finished with"LIBRARIAN.

The sticker alone, is so quirky in fact a conversation piece - as we feel the Library may have had a better chance of it being returned if it had read:

"New York's Soul Diva's 2nd. British release, we doubt you'd like it, as you're probably infatuated with the Beatles! Please return for filing"

50 years on, it's now broke surface in more or less the same condition the mysterious library received it in.

One hell of a NS tune from a Queen of Northern Soul.

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 162.00

Irma Thomas

Don't Mess With My Man C/w Set Me Free

A Brit collectors "perfectionists" delight..

Looking at this 45 is the nearest the owner will ever get to traveling back in time. If you were a young "hip" MOD aspiring to impress you friends with your mushrooming collection of SUE's. It was after all the most-eclectic Brit Label of the Golden mid-60s and something of a MOD medal to wear if you owned some SUE's, especially the obscure ones. THIS ONE IS MINT!

But this 45s is so much more than peep through the "Soul Scene" keyhole of 1965 - it is a hugely powerful performance from the "Queen Of New Orleans" that Northern Sol R&B jocks are currently seeking out on it's elusiveUSA "RON" release. It is a after-all very usable DJ platter.

But honestly speaking, this 45 should be filed for prosperity. It's perfect and very few (if any) perfect copies in 2012 actually still exist.

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 157.00

Gene Chandler

Mr. Big Shot C/w I Hate To Be The One To Say

A Northern Soul PROMO prize!

Explosion Chicago NS BOTH sides! Top side is of course a Wigan Casino Mr. M's anthem - the flip has been until recently somewhat overlooked but is every note as powerful.

Two Keni Lewis compositions, skilfully arranged by Sonny Sanders, produced by the uncompromising Carl Davis. A partnership that crafted a plethora of proper Northern Soul 45s usually seamless, smooth and soulful, not too many carry this bulldozer style floor-destroying power!

Click the soundfile for two experiences to knock you off ya feet!

This is the rarely seen WHITE DEMO with two perfect labels and lovey clean vinyl!

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 158.00

Edited January 11, 201213 yr by JOE TORQUAY

Various Artists

We Sing The Blues

Don'tcha just adore UK 60s Soul EPs. They ALL seem to be very rare. This example is the so very seldom-seen 1960 UK 4 track EP from New Orleans premier label of the period - MINIT Records and four of their most-prolific artists.

• Ernie K. Doe - A Certain Girl 2. Benny Spellman - Fortune Teller 3. Jessie Hill - Ooo Pooh Pah Doo 4. Aaron Neville - Let's Live
  

Cover is clean and flaw free (see scan) both labels are perfect. Vinyl has some fine, light surface marks but plays just clean and true. Check out he impressive 4 track sound file lifted directly off this actual offering.

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 56.00

Sandi Sheldon

You're Gonna Make Me Love You

Stop, look and listen - you won't need any BS from me...

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 688.00

Soul Music Monthly #3

Soul Music Monthly March 1967

Perhaps the least seen of all the 60s Brit-Soul Music magazines. Edited by Tony Cummings a forerunner to Blues & Soul and a running partner of the highly coveted "Home Of The blues"

within this pioneering March 1967 24 page "Soul Report" Tony Cummings and team dive deep below the surface of Black Music Scene creating some startling editorial.

SPELLBINDERS with the front cover pic and bio. CHUCK JACKSON an in depth report on his career so far OTIS REDDING Discography MAD LADSreport of their live Brit performance at the "Tiles" 03.10.66 LITTLE RICHARDreport on his live Brit performance Saville Theatre 11.12.66 FLAMINGOS - "Artist Of The month" bio & discography ALVIN CASH & the CRAWLERS - live at Streatham, "Lacarno" A brief "Gospel" and separate "Blues" focusFRANKIE LYMON and the TEENAGERS article by Bill Millar JAN BRADLEY - bio and discography

• a thought provoking review of "new" soul singles which includes: Lillian Dupree - Hide & Seek - D.Town 1051 Ruth McFadden - Do It Right Up - Sure Shot 5011 Steve Mancha -Did My Baby Call - Wheelsville 102 which Tony Cummings describes as "a goodish song" "Marvin Gaye styled vocal" "Good for dancing to"
  

Back cover pic is the mysterious New Orleans based EVA LARSE.

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 11.00

Edited January 11, 201213 yr by JOE TORQUAY

Charlene And The Soul Serenaders

Can You Win C/w Love Changes

Sorry, this item has already been won!

The winning bid was £ 1,917.00

Gulp!

Gulp!

is it worth anything ? i dont know the record

Both sides bloody brilliant!!! imho

is it worth anything ? i dont know the record

Gulp!

My thoughts too, was interested early on, when i looked near the end tonight for an extra bid, it was too rich for me. Saying that It is a trophy item and has been on a lot of deep collectors want lists for many years, probably as long as I've been collecting and way before Can You Win was picked up on for the dance floor. Lucky the (cheap) Volt demo has Love Changes.

Can You Win was also one of the missing sides when they released the Complete Stax box sets a few years ago.

Edited January 12, 201213 yr by John Reed

No seriously i looked it up in the essential guide it books at £25 and

there's only one on popsyke that went for $25 both on Volt

i take it this one is rarer ?

https://www.popsike.com/CHARLENE-SOUL-SERENADERS-on-PARADOX-funk-soul-45/250599702943.html

there was this one in march 2010

No seriously i looked it up in the essential guide it books at £25 and

there's only one on popsyke that went for $25 both on Volt

i take it this one is rarer ?

There's about 6 on Volt on Popsike of 'You Can Win' going in the $hundreds and about 20 of Demos with only 'Love Changes' on it; the $25 one would be a demo.

Well not on mine !

https://www.popsike.c...naders&x=15&y=7

Edited January 12, 201213 yr by allnightandy

That degree of freedom was cheap, if more sweet soul people participated in the auction it probably would have gone for double.

Hi Bob, are there many of us sweet collectors left out there? Sometimes it feels like a lonely existance

Well not on mine !

https://www.popsike.c...naders&x=15&y=7

Not yours what ?

Russ

Not yours what ?

Russ

it's a reply to post 12

Hi Bob, are there many of us sweet collectors left out there? Sometimes it feels like a lonely existance

actually it's sort of exploding right now. There is a whole new generation of younger collectors in California who are getting into the current rare sweet soul scene (created by the collectors of my generation)... some of the california people on here could provide more details. Even funk 45 collectors are also getting into sweet sounds... although there are still people who call any sweet soul "deep soul" which I find incredibly annoying because in my opinion they are two very different sounds.

one thing that's kind of annoying to me is that a lot of the new collectors want to own the rarest and most expensive records. there are tons of awesome $15 sweet soul records they could buy first.

I don't really feel threatened by them (in terms of competition) because at this point I'm mostly looking for unknown weird records.

also, I think there was an article about some of the california sweet soul collecting crews in the last issue of Wax Poetics.

a younger French collector told me that younger collectors in France are into sweet soul, but I don't have firsthand experience. I have been contacted by a bunch of people in Germany too, not sure if that means anything.

it's a reply to post 12

Are you saying your demo isnt double sided & includes You Can Win ?

Best Russ

Are you saying your demo isnt double sided & includes You Can Win ?

Best Russ

Russ,

Think he means he couldn't find a Paradox copy on popsike whereas someone else did.

Regards,

Dave

https://www.popsike.c...0599702943.html

there was this one in march 2010

I won a Paradox copy of this on ebay about 5 years ago for around $50.

Well not on mine !

https://www.popsike.c...naders&x=15&y=7

Try this:

https://tinyurl.com/6nrcwxx

Edited January 12, 201213 yr by Sebastian

I won a Paradox copy of this on ebay about 5 years ago for around $50.

I'm surprised it went that high 5 years ago. I thought the record (at least the volt record) was worth nothing until people just picked up on it and it shot up. The current Manship guide has a listing for the volt record for 20 pounds which usually translates to like $10 on ebay. Was it just that expensive because of the local release?

I'm surprised it went that high 5 years ago. I thought the record (at least the volt record) was worth nothing until people just picked up on it and it shot up. The current Manship guide has a listing for the volt record for 20 pounds which usually translates to like $10 on ebay. Was it just that expensive because of the local release?

Yes, at least that was the reason I placed a relatively high bid at the time.

That degree of freedom was cheap, if more sweet soul people participated in the auction it probably would have gone for double.

That degree of freedom was cheap, if more sweet soul people participated in the auction it probably would have gone for double.

Maybe if it hadn't have had those clicks at the start Bob!

Maybe if it hadn't have had those clicks at the start Bob!

sorry, I didn't listen to the clips, I guess I thought it was mint.

Gulp!

Double gulp!!!

Russ,

Think he means he couldn't find a Paradox copy on popsike whereas someone else did.

Regards,

Dave

Thanks mate

Russ

Hi Bob, are there many of us sweet collectors left out there? Sometimes it feels like a lonely existance

Add deep soul collectors to that statement as well.

There soon won't be any left.

actually it's sort of exploding right now. There is a whole new generation of younger collectors in California who are getting into the current rare sweet soul scene (created by the collectors of my generation)... some of the california people on here could provide more details. Even funk 45 collectors are also getting into sweet sounds... although there are still people who call any sweet soul "deep soul" which I find incredibly annoying because in my opinion they are two very different sounds.

one thing that's kind of annoying to me is that a lot of the new collectors want to own the rarest and most expensive records. there are tons of awesome $15 sweet soul records they could buy first.

I don't really feel threatened by them (in terms of competition) because at this point I'm mostly looking for unknown weird records.

deep and sweet soul are 2 very different things to me. Deep obviosuly being far better

Is the scene in california the one know as low rider ?

Are you saying your demo isnt double sided & includes You Can Win ?

Best Russ

NO ! i'm saying that only one copy of the record appears on popsyke

on my puter (see link)

Edited January 12, 201213 yr by allnightandy

Well not on mine !

https://www.popsike.c...naders&x=15&y=7

NO ! i'm saying that only one copy of the record appears on popsyke

on my puter (see link)

Change your Popsike search of "Charlene and the Soul..."- replace 'and' with '&' and you'll get loads more

Change your Popsike search of "Charlene and the Soul..."- replace 'and' with '&' and you'll get loads more

cheers

deep and sweet soul are 2 very different things to me. Deep obviosuly being far better

Is the scene in california the one know as low rider ?

I totally agree with sweet and deep being two very different things. There's some overlap but not much. That's why it's annoying for people to just say "deep soul" on sweet records. You have the reverse problem of having to confirm that it's actually deep soul.

Yes, I guess I mean the "low rider" scene but it's also annoying when people advertise sweet soul as "low rider" because there are so many other collectors not in cali and even in cali I'm not sure how much the new soul collectors are associated with car shows. I never use the phrase to describe the music I listen to.

I totally agree with sweet and deep being two very different things. There's some overlap but not much. That's why it's annoying for people to just say "deep soul" on sweet records. You have the reverse problem of having to confirm that it's actually deep soul.

Yes, I guess I mean the "low rider" scene but it's also annoying when people advertise sweet soul as "low rider" because there are so many other collectors not in cali and even in cali I'm not sure how much the new soul collectors are associated with car shows. I never use the phrase to describe the music I listen to.

When I think of low rider I think of those gangster harmony CDs and all the graffiti on the covers. They must have played a part in kick starting all the current popularity as they have been aroud a long time now.

I guess its a good thing if it gets younger people listening to soul music.

When I think of low rider I think of those gangster harmony CDs and all the graffiti on the covers. They must have played a part in kick starting all the current popularity as they have been aroud a long time now.

I guess its a good thing if it gets younger people listening to soul music.

Some cali dude can correct me on the history of this. DJ Art Laboe coined the term "oldies" and put out the first oldies comps on his original sound label. These were pretty common, standard songs that became a part of the culture.

I think the original series of slightly rarer soul was the series "East Side Story", which actually came out on LPs. Here is a box set of all the albums:

https://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/3492840/a/East+Side+Story,+Vol.+1+-+12.htm

As you can see, the tracks aren't very rare. Then there was also a series (which I know wasn't totally licensed but supposedly semi-legit) that came out maybe 15 years ago (?) on a label called ITP called "Underground oldies". It did have some rarer 45s (I remember hearing the royal chessmen "begging you" the first time off these CDs, at the time I never understood how I managed to collect everything else so quickly but not the royal chessmen -- I do have a mint copy now though ). The company also licensed dore and renfro titles and put out out comps of these labels as well as including tracks from these labels on some of their CDs. They also put out material (which was mostly cover songs) by the LA Hispanic group "Sly, Slick, and Wicked" (the group that had 45s on Bad Boys).

The first set of rare, collector oriented comps (which were straight bootlegs) was called Lost Soul Oldies. These comps had lots of truly rare 45s and contributed a lot to collector oriented culture. It really got people into digging for records. They got distributed and even inspired collectors in other cities (I knew a bunch of chicago dudes that bought the whole series off the guys who put it out)... I have at least 5 titles in the series. They released a lot of titles.

Now there are a bazillion bootleg CD series that are out and it is part of the culture. There are clearly more fans than collectors so I'm guessing any of these CDs sells a lot of copies in California. Collectors are looking for rarer and rarer records trying to get stuff no one else has or knows about. Now a lot of stuff that's on the lost soul oldies seems basic and common because people are digging deeper and deeper. I guess at that point it's similar to the northern scene. It's a very collector oriented culture as people try to outdo each other with records and play their tracks on youtube, etc.

I think to get more of a history on the association with car shows, etc. you could look at Ruben Molina's book about lowrider music. But my point is that there is a collector culture independent of car shows, I think people are starting to do rare soul shows and obviously there are collectors in other cities. I think there's also some association with the same played out oldies and the car shows whereas younger collectors are looking for "rare" records.

It would be good if someone posted correcting any of this if it's not accurate.

https://www.popsike.c...0599702943.html

there was this one in march 2010

probably the same copy

Loads of money paid for an AVERAGE record.Seems familiar these days.

Rare doesn,t mean great

Loads of money paid for an AVERAGE record.Seems familiar these days.

Rare doesn,t mean great

If the is Average, then i own some very, very crap records!!

Loads of money paid for an AVERAGE record.Seems familiar these days.

Rare doesn,t mean great

sounds pretty damn great to my ears.

any records which are cheap and not played very often ' seem to shoot up in price once BUTCH OR SAM picks up on it .

CHARLENE and THE SOUL SERENADERS great tune though .

Edited January 14, 201213 yr by giant

Double gulp!!!

treble gulp :lol:

If the is Average, then i own some very, very crap records!!

Agreed Dave, me too!

This is a classic double sider to my ears.

I had the audacity to play the 'Can You win' side twice at the 100 Club when I DJ'd there a couple of months ago - and the floor was packed on both occasions.

The other side 'Love Changes' is another level again, not so much as a dancer (although it is a pretty hot 'Just Soul' spin) but as a Pure Soul record that has the lot, great lyrics, vocals, band, the works... and its cheap as chips on the Volt Promo (so every home should have one IMO).

A great 45 (on either label)... and I'm not surprised to see it escalating in price these days, TBH.

Sean

Some cali dude can correct me on the history of this. DJ Art Laboe coined the term "oldies" and put out the first oldies comps on his original sound label. These were pretty common, standard songs that became a part of the culture.

I think the original series of slightly rarer soul was the series "East Side Story", which actually came out on LPs. Here is a box set of all the albums:

https://www.cdunivers...Vol.+1+-+12.htm

As you can see, the tracks aren't very rare. Then there was also a series (which I know wasn't totally licensed but supposedly semi-legit) that came out maybe 15 years ago (?) on a label called ITP called "Underground oldies". It did have some rarer 45s (I remember hearing the royal chessmen "begging you" the first time off these CDs, at the time I never understood how I managed to collect everything else so quickly but not the royal chessmen -- I do have a mint copy now though ). The company also licensed dore and renfro titles and put out out comps of these labels as well as including tracks from these labels on some of their CDs. They also put out material (which was mostly cover songs) by the LA Hispanic group "Sly, Slick, and Wicked" (the group that had 45s on Bad Boys).

The first set of rare, collector oriented comps (which were straight bootlegs) was called Lost Soul Oldies. These comps had lots of truly rare 45s and contributed a lot to collector oriented culture. It really got people into digging for records. They got distributed and even inspired collectors in other cities (I knew a bunch of chicago dudes that bought the whole series off the guys who put it out)... I have at least 5 titles in the series. They released a lot of titles.

Now there are a bazillion bootleg CD series that are out and it is part of the culture. There are clearly more fans than collectors so I'm guessing any of these CDs sells a lot of copies in California. Collectors are looking for rarer and rarer records trying to get stuff no one else has or knows about. Now a lot of stuff that's on the lost soul oldies seems basic and common because people are digging deeper and deeper. I guess at that point it's similar to the northern scene. It's a very collector oriented culture as people try to outdo each other with records and play their tracks on youtube, etc.

I think to get more of a history on the association with car shows, etc. you could look at Ruben Molina's book about lowrider music. But my point is that there is a collector culture independent of car shows, I think people are starting to do rare soul shows and obviously there are collectors in other cities. I think there's also some association with the same played out oldies and the car shows whereas younger collectors are looking for "rare" records.

It would be good if someone posted correcting any of this if it's not accurate.

I'd have said that was a really good summary and pretty much the way I understand developments over there Bob.

:0)

Sean

Agreed Dave, me too!

This is a classic double sider to my ears.

I had the audacity to play the 'Can You win' side twice at the 100 Club when I DJ'd there a couple of months ago - and the floor was packed on both occasions.

The other side 'Love Changes' is another level again, not so much as a dancer (although it is a pretty hot 'Just Soul' spin) but as a Pure Soul record that has the lot, great lyrics, vocals, band, the works... and its cheap as chips on the Volt Promo (so every home should have one IMO).

A great 45 (on either label)... and I'm not surprised to see it escalating in price these days, TBH.

Sean

If anyone's interested, here's the delicious other side to 'Can You Win'.

Pure Muscle Shoals Magic!

Edited January 14, 201213 yr by Sean Hampsey