Groovettes Think It Over Baby C/w Ain't A Thing You Can Do About It

This highly regarded serious rarity first came to light when I was privileged to buy from Ian Levine’s collection when he started to concentrate his time on producing new dance tunes..circa 1981?

What a find! Maybe a little too raw and primitive for the Blackpool Mecca of the day but just perfect for Stafford’s “Top Of The World” and the cutting edge DJ’s of the time, when youngsters like Keb Darge were just breaking onto the scene with harder edged attitude-driven 60s Soul.

Both sides written and produced by Billy Jackson, using his ”nom de plume” Ugene Dozier on the crediting. Billy crafts a unique backing track that just builds and builds as the lead vocalist plumbs the depths of sorrow, delivering a despairing performance throughout this quaking production.

With typical Billy Jackson add-ons - full girl backing, startling sax breaks and steadily increasing the musical intensity to fever-pitch by the end!

It sounds as good today as it did when me and Andy “Bustin’ Mindsweeper” Cox were stifling in the heat of summer, spending hours rummaging through Ian Levine’s loft of wall to wall vinyl… …what would I give to go back to that day, 25,000 obscure 45s with the likes of The Sonata’s on Hot Line also being snagged that day… for a fiver.

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 876.00

 

Phantom Come Back To Me C/w Uh Huh, Ohyeah

Northern Soul strolling at it’s finest!

The controlled snarling of Sonny Craver snuggles nicely into a blanket of strings and chirping girl-group choruses. Meaningful lyrics are convincingly arrowed at his deserting girlfriend as he desperately pleads for her return, amidst rattling kettle drums as this Los Angeles Big City production swells.

A gargantuan of a tune, and how splendid it is to hear it again after an absence of several years.

Raw street-level funk fans may like the flipside generated by the talents of Los Angeles R&B master Cliff Chambers.

Condition is an impeccable Mint - throughout.

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The winning bid was £ 177.00

 

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Going To A Go Go C/w Whole Lot Of Shaki' In My Heart + Yester Love

A pristine 1973 UK PROMO complete with sales “pitch” letter.

British Motown-holics - check out this PROMO set, with an EMI 120grm quality “buff” coloured sales letter, twice folded and exactly in the condition it was mailed out in.This is unusual, as most TMG promo’s from the office usually had a 7” x 7” letter pasted to the back sleeve.

As the letter says this 3 track attempted to catch the Soul-club demand for two of The Miracles most-wanted dance tunes.

Two perfect labels, vinyl perhaps unplayed until the sound file was lifted, close inspection just reveals sleeve contact over the 40 years, original birth sleeve intact and undamaged.

Nice item for you many Motown completeists who’s work is never complete whilst little oddities like this keep turning up.

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 85.00

 

Temptones Girl I Love You C/w Good-bye

Darryl Hall and team strutting his admiration for the Temptations with this Northern Soul stomper inspired by the Motown vocal-group dance sound.

Released on one of Northern Soul’s most-valued labels and one of Arctic’s most-elusive of 45s. Those “white boys” of Philly certainly knew how to sing SOUL every note, every vocal pitch sublimely woven into a perfect 60s dance arrangement.

what ever it’s is about Arctic Records it must surely rank in every soul collectors Top Ten favourite labels, the two quirky Penguins signal there’s class in these productions, proven by many of it’s staff going on to craft what is now known as the “The Sound Of Philadelphia” and Darryl Hall of course pairing up with “the Masters” member John Oates to form the still soulful Hall & Oates duo that took the world by storm.

With all that worldly success - still give me raw, street-level productions on independent labels every time!

You don’t need me to remind you this 45 is class, but maybe yo do because I’ve not heard it played by any club DJ in a decade ad we’re predicting this maybe the best candidate on the block for a Northern Soul revival spin.

Click the soundfile we’re positive you’ll agree a renaissance can only be just around the corner…

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 330.00

Rufus Wood Before 2001 C/w Ghettoville

Yes! The Original FIRST PRESS matt green label with BLUE TEXT.

A hugely well received spin by the Cleethorpes Pier congregation at the height of “Cut Your Motor Off” Northern Soul era. Fitting perfectly into that punchy funkier anti-Motown style which was so hip 1975 to ‘77 that’s why all us blinkered fad-following DJ’s missed the NS masterpiece “Ghettoville” on the flip.

It wasn’t really until Keb Darge (again) started to expose the flip within frantic uptempo “wreck the house” London sets, we all realized what we had missed. Rampant horn steered stomper of the highest calibre, a blend of Mirwood, James Brown, Memphis Horns dissected by a Texas nicotine worn vocal.

AWESOME! how did we miss it? Well “Before 2001” was a MONSTER not too many records in those days offered up two MONSTERS on one disc..

Condition is blinding - you will not find a finer copy, filed and cherished since it was netted off a Soul Bowl list in 1976 - stated the non-DJing collector who reluctantly parted with it…

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 813.00

 

Elaine Armstrong Sad But True C/w Precious Minutes (i Can Really Call Mine)

WHAT A VOICE this lady has!

The last time I had this record FUNK was not in vogue, but I think flares, stack sole two coloured shoes and Kipper Ties probably were..

I always loved this 1968 rarity as another outstandingly rare “Robert S. Riley” Deep Soul creation, which this “one record only” 21 year old turned into a masterclass of devotion as her guttural style is lifted by perfectly pitched horns; it’s a very impressive marriage of the human voice and brass, as both boom through my headphones in equal amounts.

Flip it over and the funk recording I so carelessly dismissed decades ago, nearly bursts my eardrums! This lady is right up there with the King great Sister-voices as Ms Armstrong rides Charlie Spurling’s production like a veteran recording artist! Hitting notes Anderson, Whitney, Collins would have been proud of!

So why only one record release~? It’s a mystery but whilst doing a little investigation I discovered as an 18 year old Elaine Armstrong made history by being one of just two African Americans to integrate into the previously “all white” University of Southern Mississippi.

What a voice, what a loss to Soul Music this history-making girl’s singing career didn’t take off.

Really tough tune to find - both sides are spectacular examples of their respective genres.

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 261.00

 

Gloria Jones Come Go With Me

Immaculate STEREO press.

We think the soundfile will say it ALL!

View the cover and label scans, they are just beautiful, Front cover show no sign of wear, the two labels are perfect. The back cover has a minuscule flake bottom left (see scan)

Vinyl is utterly perfect..

So we’ll let this legendary Soul Diva / Northern Soul Queen let her singing do the rest…resist if you can.

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 65.00

 

Darrell Banks Here To Stay

RARE 1969 British STEREO press!

A Northern Soul icon in the true sense of the word, Blues & Soul # 32 from April 1970 dedicated a full page to the sad passing through a shooting incident with a policeman, who was allegedly dating his girlfriend Marjorie Bozeman; February 24, 1970 witnessed a great loss to Soul Music.

After just 4 years of recording, Darrell had risen to cult-status amongst the Soul fans of Britain. Before you today is his last of only two albums he recorded, this one steered by the skills of Detroiters Don Davis, Rudy Robinson and New Yorker Bert Keyes there to bolster the studio presence.

The result is a lasting legacy to all involved, an 11 track testament to an artist who surely would have gone forward to even greater things with years of treating us to his masterly vocal style.

Before you today is a Soul Collector’s essential - an immaculate 1969 UK press of his last recordings, Groovesville @ it’s best!

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Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 71.00

Jimmy James A Man Like Me - Autographed!

Instead of mags or flyers and the like for our memorabilia slot this week. We thought we could pay homage to two of these Isles great contributors to Soul.

Before you is Jimmy James’s 1972 Northern Soul classic, fully autographed by Mr. James himself.

So take time to listen the other soul great on this record, namely the writer/producer BIDDU; the Indian born producer who has delivered an avalanche of great songs careering towards the Northern Soul scene - little wonder BIDDU sits comfortably in the New Musical Express’s top 50 list of “Greatest Producers Ever”

A classic NS tune in it’s rarest form, autographed and showcasing the talents of two greats that chose to make England their home.

A unique and tempting diversion from 60s rare paper - which will return with a vengeance next week.

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 43.00

 

Spellbinders Chain Reaction C/w For You

The Spellbinders a legendary Northern Soul vocal-group produced by Van McCoy for sadly only 3 years. A gathering with a talent for both dance & sweet soul ballads.

This 1966 British DEMO offers both styles. One of two CBS 45s release that unleashed this 4 man single lady group onto the 60s all-night club scene.

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The winning bid was £ 70.00

 

Broomfield Corporate Jam Doin' It Our Way C/w Stop

Ron Broomfield’s D.I.Y. Miami dance adventure may have disappointed the group with sales, but has since delighted the dancers of Rare Soul scene with it’s instant rush of sax, strings and sheering vocals.

High energy Northern Soul that demands ya to get up! With so much going on it could easily out-punch a rich full-on CBS “Earth Wind and Fire” session. But this is street level rare soul with with a seemingly no expense spared approach that delivers potent late 70s dance soul at it’s most compelling.

Flip it over and you get another equally convincing experience.

Two great sides, one very elusive disc!

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The winning bid was £ 265.00

 

Thee Midniters It'll Never Be Over For Me C/w Thee Midnite Feeling

Not everyone will see the extreme attraction of this Los Angeles Garage band version of the Baby Washington / Timi Yuro Northern Soul classic but some will.

Grungy, street-level take, riddled with attitude and defiance, Personally I love this controversial variation on lyrics that demand a “you not get the better of me” delivery. Different, compelling and utterly infectious, white-stuff that I found totally refreshing to hear again

Garage fans will get off on the insane Fuzz guitar instrumental flipside that screams 60s young California on every gouge of the plectrum!

Two great sides and arguably their rarest 45, I’ve certainly seen less of this title than the highly coveted “You’re Gonna Make Me Cry” 

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 111.00

Cindy Scott I Love You Baby C/w In Your Spare Time

Cindy Scott’s long association with Leon Huff went right back to the Priscilla Thomas 45 on Winner 7 11, a Philadelphia session that strangely surfaced on a Norfolk, Virginia independent label in 1965.

Two years later Cindy came under the wing of one of greatest writing & producing teams to ever assemble on the East Coast. John Madara, David White, Leon Huff & Len Barry - were joined by Joe Renzetti and often Jimmy “The Wiz” Wisner for brainstorming sessions, that provided the Northern Soul scene with so many staggeringly great tunes.

.. and this is one of the very greatest - proper full-on classic style girl Northern Soul that has never been trumped. Not only the anthem status A-side but also the flip - which is a nano-note behind it.

A drop of the PROPER stuff offered here in astonishing near perfect condition..check out the label scans and drool - check out the soundfile - and move the chairs back - ‘cause you’re about to dance!

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 314.00

 

Sammy Ambrose Welcome To Dreamsville C/w Monkey See - Monkey Do

Life after Wigan Casino - Stafford “Top Of The World” was a essential stepping stone into the 80s - but what force took it beyond and into near immortal status?

Not enough has been said about the 100 Club Pioneers and the southern contribution to, not only Northern Soul but also for championing from it’s inception Latin, Big City beat ballads that their revered predecessors had unwittingly passed by.

Before you is one such tune, from the Musicor catalog that provided so many great tunes that became 100 Clubs favourites. We think this one is the hardest to secure of that ilk; having said that this is not the damn rare USA Musicor release… This is the insanely RARE British 1965 release in eye-popping flawless condition.

A UK trophy piece, an 100 Club anthem, in a form you would normally only dream of encountering.

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 358.00

 

Nolan Chance Just Like The Weather C/w Don't Use Me

Golden Torch classics for the over 60s, there is nothing to touch them!

How lucky the 50s British-Born were to have their teenage live influenced by dance records of this quality! A Chicago born Northern soul masterpiece that has stood the test of time by being an ear-warming joy every time you hear and dance to it.

Timeless, perfect Northern Soul in near perfect condition.

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 272.00

What is thee moonlighter version of it'll never be over for me really worth?

Thee Midniters (not Moonlighters).

When I looked earlier at the bidding it was on £100 and the bidder was 'U Wish'.........maybe that's telling us something?

I got a mint copy for about £10 several years back straight from the States. I'd say £30.

Don't know why I put moonlighters duh!

That's what I thought got mine a few years ago for about a fiver

Well, mainly high prices paid, except for the Tempos, which someone has got at a bargain price.