After a loose conversation with a mate recently about this subject my mind started involuntary list making again - what are the top ten most expensive UK releases from the 1970's & '80's?

Excluding Frank Wilson, the 100 Club Anniversary singles and stuff on Grapevine....

Before I go to bed and without giving it alot of thought here's what immediately came to my mind:

Jones Brothers (UK Pye)

Basic Black & Pearl

Jimmy James (UK Pye) "Hey Girl"

Otis Clay (UK Red Atlantic)

Willie Fisher (UK Jama)

Gladys Knight (UK TMG)

I know there's tons I can't think of at the moment - go on help a tired mind out.

derek x

Edited June 9, 201212 yr by Derek Pearson

Is First Choice a test pressing?

I won a few crates of old James Hamilton's 45s in an auction some years ago after he died, there is some weird 70s/80s stuff in there you don't see at all. I'll find some time to sort through em. Basically nearly everyone sent him their records.

Pye acetate - I wouldn't rate this as being too collectable to be honest, if it was a vinyl test pressing then yes but as everyone knows, it's so easy to fake an acetate.

I think it was probably just a Pye studios acetate, if anything it would have come out on Bell, it came out in the UK on the Bell LP.

Yes it was Ian and it may have even got a Pye number too (sorry my books are not with me but I have a niggling thought it did). Pete Widd was the first one I know to get onto it, and that maybe the copy Mick has. I'll ask him if I see him at Cleethorpes.

Number allocated by Pye - 25613

I think it was probably just a Pye studios acetate, if anything it would have come out on Bell, it came out in the UK on the Bell LP.

Yes, I guess it would Pete. The U.S. Sceptre release is a bit of a red herring really as it was a Philly Groove recording which would have come out on Bell in the UK. I don't why they switched to Sceptre for that one off but that preceded them signing to Warners and then Salsoul so they were obviously on their way out from Philly Groove.......

Ian D

Number allocated by Pye - 25613

Pye ay? Interesting. It was probably aligned with Ultra High Frequency which was also a Philly Groove production which came out on Sceptre in the U.S. as well.

Ian D

Sorry Ian this is not correct.

The group (First Choice) came in via Georgie Woods. "This is the house" was their first record, and Norman Harris and Stan Watson worked on it. It was a Norman and Stan production and they would have leased it to Scepter as a one record deal. Stan then "weedled" the group away to his Philly Groove label and then they had their hits.

Wand / Scepter stuff was licensed through Pye at the time (1972) not Bell.

Edited June 10, 201212 yr by Steve G

Ray Merrell - Tears of Joy - Jayboy 22 must be up there ??? cracking northern

Sorry Ian this is not correct.

The group (First Choice) came in via Georgie Woods. "This is the house" was their first record, and Norman Harris and Stan Watson worked on it. It was a Norman and Stan production and they would have leased it to Scepter as a one record deal. Stan then "weedled" the group away to his Philly Groove label and then they had their hits.

Wand / Scepter stuff was licensed through Pye at the time (1972) not Bell.

But that number you quote would have been a 1973 release.

Ray Merrell - Tears of Joy - Jayboy 22 must be up there ??? cracking northern

Yeah someone did mention that earlier.

Fantastic record. £250 - £300. Which puts it in the expensive range.

Don't think anyone mentioned Skullsnaps - My Hang Up Is You £75 for a demo on GSF.

Pye ay? Interesting. It was probably aligned with Ultra High Frequency which was also a Philly Groove production which came out on Sceptre in the U.S. as well.

Ian D

Arrrggghhh!!

No,

That was Alan Felder and Stan Watson, some 6-8 months later, and btw although licensed through Scepter it came out on Wand. These guys were freelancing producers who were just getting songs done and then seeing who'd put them out, although Stan also had his label.

Any more guesswork or is that it for today?

Edited June 10, 201212 yr by Steve G

But that number you quote would have been a 1973 release.

Yes and my theory (guesswork ) is that "Armed and Extremely dangerous" hit the charts and Pye thought "Oh we've got one by 1st Choice via our tie up with Scepter / Wand let's put it out"...makes some sense I think. Manship has a demo listed

I'm not convinced about this and I never have been, ever since I first heard about it 25 odd years ago, I'd like to see some proof that that was the single allocated that catalogue number, it does come in a run of Scepter licensed releases but it could have been anything...bit like a "Volumes on Pama" scenario. If someone comes up with a finished demo copy, I will eat my wig.

Sorry Ian this is not correct.

The group (First Choice) came in via Georgie Woods. "This is the house" was their first record, and Norman Harris and Stan Watson worked on it. It was a Norman and Stan production and they would have leased it to Scepter as a one record deal. Stan then "weedled" the group away to his Philly Groove label and then they had their hits.

Wand / Scepter stuff was licensed through Pye at the time (1972) not Bell.

Yep. My mistake. Got the Sceptre thing the wrong way round. Of course "This Is The House" was their first record! Doh......

I wonder if the reason why First Choice never came out on PYE was because they switched to Philly Groove then? That would explain why it was on their UK Bell LP presumably....?

Ian D

Yes fair call Pete, until we see it or get clarification, it remains something of a mystery......

Arrrggghhh!!

No,

That was Alan Felder and Stan Watson, some 6-8 months later, and btw although licensed through Scepter it came out on Wand. These guys were freelancing producers who were just getting songs done and then seeing who'd put them out, although Stan also had his label.

Any more guesswork or is that it for today?

LOL, that's what I get for spending the weekend trawling though banking stuff! So much for multi-tasking ay...?

Shit. I used to be good at this stuff LOL....

Ian D

Edited June 10, 201212 yr by Ian Dewhirst

Yep. My mistake. Got the Sceptre thing the wrong way round. Of course "This Is The House" was their first record! Doh......

I wonder if the reason why First Choice never came out on PYE was because they switched to Philly Groove then? That would explain why it was on their UK Bell LP presumably....?

Ian D

I think it didn't come out on Pye in 72 when it was issued in the US was because it wasn't a hit in the USA. The group didn't really become worthy in UK record label eyes until "Armed & Extremely dangerous" broke into the charts in 73.

As for the LP well it was co-Nickel Shoe music production, so nothing to stop Stan putting it out on his PG label or re-leasing it, indeed the B side "One step away" came out on the B side of "Smarty pants" (PG in US / Bell in the UK of course).

tbh i dunno weather is an acetate or test press but when you see Mick ask him about it the story that goes with the find is amusing as well

I've actually seen and help a Pye test press of "This is the house were love died". This one belonged to Dave Alcock R.I.P.

It was a Pye Recording Acetate

Edited June 10, 201212 yr by shute

that could be where mick got it from he hasn't had it that long in the grand scheme of things

I'm not convinced about this and I never have been, ever since I first heard about it 25 odd years ago, I'd like to see some proof that that was the single allocated that catalogue number, it does come in a run of Scepter licensed releases but it could have been anything...bit like a "Volumes on Pama" scenario. If someone comes up with a finished demo copy, I will eat my wig.

I think your wig's safe for the moment Pete. I've never seen one.

Ian D

This doesn't really have any significance but thought I'd mention it, on the acetate This Is The House is in stereo and One Step Away is in mono..

that could be where mick got it from he hasn't had it that long in the grand scheme of things

It was. Dave got it off Pete Wid, as mentioned, Mick got it when he bought Dave's collection after he died.

What about the Patti & the Lovelites - Love Bandit - Atlantic ?

There is a major clue in the name of the site and the forum this topic is in.

Hell of an echo in here

as we had discussions by members on here who left the scene and went to punk and then came back

and we had sex pistols God save the Queen on record of the day 2012

and it does not state "Soul " is the reason i posted it

Probably cause you dont seem to listen It shouldn't have to state "Soul" you are on a "Soul" forum. I'm sure there is a forum to discuss the sex pistols somewhere if you so wish.

Pye acetate - I wouldn't rate this as being too collectable to be honest, if it was a vinyl test pressing then yes but as everyone knows, it's so easy to fake an acetate.

Which brings us nicely onto David Rhodes "hung up in mid air" a Pye acetate I had to pay a fair bit for. Think there's 3 of them.

Edited June 10, 201212 yr by Steve G

Moon Williams "All for you " DJM fairly pricey !

James Walsh Gypsy Band - funny how thats actually got cheaper last couple of years

Mickey Moonshine demo is rare, £75

the foundations on psycho used to make good money ,and Mick Smiths first choice must be worth a bob or two

I got about £150 for the foundations about 10 years ago, not seen it for sale since.

Jon Ford - You got me where you want me - Philips

issue £125

demo £250 - £300

not a lot of people know this but the demo is a different mix to the issue

Now here is one you may not know, probably a one off

JAYBOY BOY 72 hand written test press

side 1 Bobby Garrett - I Can't Get Away

side 2 Bob & Earl Band - My little girl

Bob & Earl Band was BOY 73 so this obviously is a cock up when they were pressing 72 & 73, but it does exist (Mick Smith)

Frankie and Johnny on Decca??

Free on Fontana or Philips I think its called Taking it all from you ?? Or something similar?

Sorry wrong decades? I,ll get me coat.

The Free isn't worth much...its a failed Richard Searling spin...he's holding it up on the pic with Russ and Kev.There's a rare version of Give Me Just a Little More Timeby Wayne Fontana demo only I'm led to believe.

The Free isn't worth much...its a failed Richard Searling spin...he's holding it up on the pic with Russ and Kev.There's a rare version of Give Me Just a Little More Timeby Wayne Fontana demo only I'm led to believe.

No it's on an issue as well mate, I"ve had one, it got pulled after a week or something like that

Frankie and Johnny on Decca??

Free on Fontana or Philips I think its called Taking it all from you ?? Or something similar?

Taking It Away (would be breaking my heart) - UK Philips

Dutch group (not the heavy rock band)

I knew you would know. Also there is a Wayne Fontana for sale on someones site. Cant remember who!!

I've got the Jackie Payne somewhere - what's it worth?

Dx

No it's on an issue as well mate, I"ve had one, it got pulled after a week or something like that

Yes I have an issue of this too so can confirm.

Edited June 11, 201212 yr by Steve G

Aren't there also a couple of rare TMG's - withdrawn ones.

Masai "Across the tracks" and a few other weird ones on Mojo too I think.

Edited June 11, 201212 yr by Steve G

There was a Willie Hutch (TMG 885) & an Originals (TMG 1066) that were pulled.

Did demo's of either of these 45's actually escape here ??

I knew you would know. Also there is a Wayne Fontana for sale on someones site. Cant remember who!!

Rob Smith had one.I thought it was an issue.

So now that dozens of rare expensive UK 45's & numerous more less pricey items have been 'mentioned in dispatches'....

anyone who has their finger on current prices tempted to try to list an actual Top 10 ???

Is the Noel McCalla 45 on Direction ("One More Heartache / Beggin") from 1980 worth owt on a demo ?

....... and did CBS release anything else on Direction during that time period ?

Edited June 12, 201212 yr by Roburt

Is the Noel McCalla 45 on Direction ("One More Heartache / Beggin") from 1980 worth owt on a demo ?

....... and did CBS release anything else on Direction during that time period ?

Don't think it's worth anything but they appeared to have reactivated the label just for him.

Has Herb Reed & Sweet River's "Hung Up Over You" got a mention yet ??

May not be up there with the rarest of the rare UK 70s / 80s singles, but what price on a Nolan Porter demo on Probe?

In terms of rarity I remember when UA put out the Bobby Goldsboro maxi single c 1978, Jo Wallace was pretty close to the guy responsible for it. She told me they only did 35 demo copies, so for that reason I made sure I got one . So for a 70s pressing the demos must be quite rare, but as I say, Bobby Goldsboro

May not be up there with the rarest of the rare UK 70s / 80s singles, but what price on a Nolan Porter demo on Probe?

I sold one about 4 months back think it was £75?

In terms of rarity I remember when UA put out the Bobby Goldsboro maxi single c 1978, Jo Wallace was pretty close to the guy responsible for it. She told me they only did 35 demo copies, so for that reason I made sure I got one . So for a 70s pressing the demos must be quite rare, but as I say, Bobby Goldsboro

Maybe she should have made sure he put the right version of Too Many People on instead of that tame second version that did come out

p.s. she is talking b*llocks

Maybe she should have made sure he put the right version of Too Many People on instead of that tame second version that did come out

p.s. she is talking b*llocks

Indeed you'll never get me to find a version of it I actually like

Incidentally she told me that in 78, not now.....we were part of the Kent northern gang at the time