With fear of writing too much, here I go:

 

This is it...the rarest Japanese Northern Soul 7" there is:

Willie Hutch - The Duck / Love Runs Out - RCA Japan

 

Tough on a US Dunhill WD, very rare on a US Dunhill black stocker, a Holy Grail on French RCA...but on Japanese RCA it is the stuff of legend...in fact it was totally unknown to the Northern scene until I revealed its existence within the last few years.

 

Yes, this absolute 100% classic double-sider...one of the best full-on Northern double-siders ever...gained a release in Japan during March 1966, though I doubt it even hit shop shelves, as you can count the copies known on one hand...fingers only!

 

The labels are near mint...matt black with silver text...and it has a tri-centre so it looks like a vintage UK release!! In fact, apart from the recently found Darrell Banks stock copy this is probably the rarest Northern Soul 7" in the world to have a small-hole centre! It also boasts its original full-colour info sheet and the original factory sleeve is also near mint.

 

The sound quality is perfect and the quality vinyl press only has a few very light marks on it...plays mint both sides.

 

This disc has NEVER been up for sale on the Northern Soul scene...and may well never become available again as the only other copies are firmly glued into the top Japanese collections.

 

Open to offers...serious offers...no trades...I will sell as and when I feel the price is right.

Payment via PayPal or a UK bank deposit...it will be mailed via a courier...internet trackable to the buyers doorstep.

If you have any questions please feel free to PM me.

do you fancy putting up a couple of pics dave?

Evening gents! Yes, Ill take some pics of it and post them up tomorrow

One things for sure, it will also look great in amongst a line of UK 45's and would also freak deck-spotters out as well 

Great, genuine and serious responses already...thank you...the disc deserves respect...and here it is

Pictures of the sleeve (which has no holes, tears, creases, stickers or pen marks) will be PM'ed to those placing bids

Hi Dave, I know you showed me that scan at News Year Eve Va Va Voom, but it really is amazing to think this got some sort of release in Japan….

Give it to me for A 60 th birthday pressie Flynny.. Please x

Well impressed with that Mr Flynn       

 HI DAVE... DID THIS RARE 45 COME OUT BEFORE OR AFTER THE MAMAS & PAPAS EP?  DAVE K

 HI DAVE... DID THIS RARE 45 COME OUT BEFORE OR AFTER THE MAMAS & PAPAS EP?  DAVE K

 

Good question...before is the answer according to the original trade catalogue...the Willie Hutch 7" was scheduled for March '66 (whether it made it out of the factory I don't know), whilst the 4 track 7" EP featuring The Duck (but not LRO) was from a few months later during June. Even though the 4 track features the Mamas & The Papas, it is also rare...maybe the varied musical selection was too varied to sell in/out of shops?

Hi Dave, I know you showed me that scan at News Year Eve Va Va Voom, but it really is amazing to think this got some sort of release in Japan….

 

Totally amazing considering the size of catalogue RCA had to plunder! Obviously it was a dip into the Dunhill side of things, seeing as that label was enjoying a bit of success at that point. What is a real shame though is that there were hardly any RCA 60's Soul releases in Japan at all...no Pied Piper***, no Roy Hamiltons, no Lorraine Chandlers etc.

(***- worth a mention that The Hesitations', "Is That The Way To Treat A Girl" did make it through on Japanese GWP...rare!)

Good question...before is the answer according to the original trade catalogue...the Willie Hutch 7" was scheduled for March '66 (whether it made it out of the factory I don't know), whilst the 4 track 7" EP featuring The Duck (but not LRO) was from a few months later during June. Even though the 4 track features the Mamas & The Papas, it is also rare...maybe the varied musical selection was too varied to sell in/out of shops?

 Hi I really have not got a clue what the value of your classic Jap 45 will end up at, as it is unique at a guess the min value is £5K and that is very conservative, it certainly is an investment,

I was going to buy the EP from a mutual friend & collector of rare soul, as you say it is rare in it's own right, I can't say what price he asked on a open forum, however I considered it to be a bargain, in the end I could  not see it as a part of my collection as I collect UK & US originals from the northern scene 68 to 77 with a few exception's,  I have spent years trying to find the Gene Pitney cover of Doug Banks "keep on dancing" on a European EP, this is not me having a laugh, it's not the holy grail but very rare?

 DAVE K

 Hi I really have not got a clue what the value of your classic Jap 45 will end up at, as it is unique at a guess the min value is £5K and that is very conservative, it certainly is an investment,

 

 

Current highest bid is £1200

Aiming to run it until the 10th.

Bloody hell...thats gorgeousness.

Totally Agree!

OK, it's now Sunday morning over here in Tokyo...I will close the auction at midnight today Tokyo time = 16:00 UK time    

 

If you have any other questions feel free to email or PM me asap

 

Looks rather cool, doesn't it!