Otis Lee Hard Row To Hoe

Gary Spencer’s former Lee Blackmore and the Soul Searchers cover-up that rose from the sleepy hollows of East Anglia to shake the dancefloors of Britain throughout the early 90s right up to today’s Niter’s..

The Earth-moving rhythm makes for a compelling dance-draw.. as moody Blues, is sweetly infused into a cocktail of honkin’-horns, whirling-keyboard nonchalantly driving the rhythm - the seasoned Otis Lee vocal fits snugly into this laid back style of arrangement… enriching the session with each and every word… I particularly love the ending with the “rapping” close..

Sounds as good today as it ever did; dare we say this tune is more popular now than it’s ever been and this copy is a shocking MINT still in its plain birth-sleeve.

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 832.00

 

Jimmy Burns Can't Get Over / Where Does That Leave Me

So very much rarer than “I Really Love You” and way more soulful too..does Rare-Soul collecting get anymore satisfying than this?

This is Top-Drawer Northern Soul Crossover at its majestic-best. This beauty screams “Soul Essence” Saturday afternoon, “Simply Soul” “The Orwell” “Just Soul” or any Rare & Under-played room anywhere in the world..

Underplayed because hardly anybody owns a copy - underplayed because this is Real-Deal Chicago Soul for the decidedly-discerning-dancers only.

Pure distilled SOUL - it don’t get no better than this..

Flip it and weep - impossible to acquire Deep Soul at it’s most moving as Jimmy asks “Where Does That Leave Me” aided by subtle male vocal-group support, delivered at exactly the right time..bliss!

TWO SIDES TO DIE FOR!!

… and unfortunately most all of us will die, without owning a copy….

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 798.00

 

Enchantments I'm In Love With Your Daughter Part 1 & 2

When first unleashed on the unsuspecting British Northern Soul dancefloor, this rasping-romp as aptly covered up as “The Detroit Shakers”. Because from the first note to the last, this baby shakes the house…

But perhaps from a collectors viewpoint there are two more important factors to consider; condition of both vinyls and both labels is flawless; plus as you have already recognized this is the rarely encountered ORANGE label variation as opposed to the “light blue” label press…

So strap yourself in, click and hold on tight.. the Enchanters are about to whisk you off on a bumpy Northern Soul journey..

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 462.00

 

Symphonies That's What Love Will Do / Need Someone To Love

We have no doubt you are viewing, at long last, this 60’s quintessential independent Soul label’s RAREST 45,

But this vinyl “Big Foot” is so much more than just a previously seemingly nonexistent number in this highly collectable series - it is also a superior slab a Sister-Harmony-Soul that will awaken every one of your senses, as the girls convincingly portray their despair ,so sweetly on BOTH sides.

Topside is a Rose Marie McCoy “warning” of what love can do to a young girls heart & mind… excruciating Deep Soul.

Flip it over to be stopped in your tracks by the lead vocal’s grief-stricken search for “someone To Love” cradled by a her girlfriends rich harmony choruses.

Two sides of premier “Sweet Soul” that both pull you into an abyss of emotion..

So acutely rare we have no qualms about shouting from the rooftops; this is our FIRST COPY in memory and how pleased are we to be able to present it to you today..

Listen & weep… 

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 151.00

 

Embraceables Let My Baby Go / Here I Go

Pearl Jones and the girls with a double helping of real-deal Detroit Northern Soul on an iconic Motor City label..

Seldom seen for sale…and begging the question why this driving-female-force is not on everybody’s lips asking why this tune is not one of Northern Soul’s most-wanted with the Rarest Of The Rare genre…

After-all it does surge with every fundamental characteristic required to moooovve the Northern Soul dance-floor. Pearl’s lead vocal is just perfectly pitched for those pleading lyrics..

.. then we check out the label credits, revealing two Detroit studio virtuosos in the form of Dale Warren & Johnny Powers were directing proceedings; all is now clear why this is such a distinctive tune..

The same pairing constructed the flipside - I cannot wait to drop the needle on it for the first time in memory… WOW it’s every note as impressive - brilliantly sulking mid-tempo blending strings with horns, the ideal cradle for haunting girls and that leading voice to spring from.

How long can this killer lay neglected on the flipside… not long… as it has totally blown me away… wait for the instrumental break and Pearl’s eerie rap at the end… resist ownership if you can..

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 413.00

 

Jimmy Ruffn I've Passed This Way Before / Tomorrow's Tears

Jimmy’s follow up to his biggest hit “What Becomes Of The Broken-Hearted”. Saw Motown again enlisting the services lyricist James Dean & William Weatherspoon to see if the pair could match his previously Top 10 chart position each side of the Atlantic, with another “Sad-Song”

Although this wistful-stroller “hit” it was not as big and Jimmy’s chart positions never again hit the heights of “Broken-Hearted”

But still considered a top Motown classic that in this form as a TMG DEMO it is considered a premier collectors piece… So listen again to Jimmy’s vocal perfectly interpret the “Sad Song” like only Jimmy Ruffin’s vocal could, whilst benefiting from a Motown full orchestra back up - most likely the vocal of The Originals & The Andantes augmenting proceedings..

To own this great song in this format is of course the ultimate…

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 110.00

 

Eloise Laws Baby Doll

Unissued 1972 Invictus recording with the delectable Ms Laws, who never disappoints..

If, like me you adored her “Love Factory” NS classic; this mid-tempo delight, that never left those Detroit vaults will certainly flip your stomach over… as it carries that familiar atmosphere that became Holland - Dozier - Holland trademark after their liberation from Motown…

It’s all there, the convincingly beseeching Eloise Laws vocal crouching in desperation between lush strings, piano, bongos, cymbals and guitar. The imploring lyrics so perfectly served up, whilst riding fabulous strolling Northern Soul dance rhythm…

VERY SPECIAL!!

but what would you expect from Invictus…”special” was their norm

This 10” studio acetate offers up the 45rpm 3.14 edit and the lengthen 33rpm 3.49 minute takes, the later take is low volume but the3.14 take belts it out loud & clean - awaiting for the DJ to wow the crowd with…

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 455.00

 

Round Robin Kick That Little Foot Sally Ann

Northern Soul dance styles of music may have changed many times over the years but the “Old-School” Niter Boys will need no reminding that “Round Robin” was a MONSTER Twisted Wheel spin..

Such a “Monster” it received the nod from Leicester’s “King” of the rare soul reissue when in 1968 it was the 8th. record in the series of 28, on the now highly-sought-afger Soul Sounds label.

At the time it was 4 years old and a near “impossible” to find 45. That’s why it was honored with a “Soul Sounds” limited press.

now nearly 50 years later, before you is the gorgeous head-turning WHITE DEMO with darn-close MINT vinyl and two near flawless labels labels…just a very light grease mark from a previous file # sticker.

Dog-Rare and dripping in history and glittering in sublime condition…

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

O. V. Wright Can't Find True Love Uk Ep

When the word RARE is totally inadequate..

1965 British 4 track EP of mythical rarity; I’ve ridden more Unicorns at Aintree , than encountered this fabulous testament to Texas Soul. Now I encounter this vision of beauty in 2015 in just shimmering condition.

Hardly a blemish on the vinyl, both labels are perfect; front and back covers as you can see are flawless too.

After your eyes adjust to normal, after the glow of such brilliance; check out the impressive seizure of one of the last century greatest Soul vocalist on British vinyl…

PS I just adore the 60s “Art Sleeve” framing O.V. in confident pose..

This is British Soul Vinyl collecting at it’s most satisfying…oh I did feel good when this dropped into my hands..

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

 

Blues & Soul June 1968 Editon # 9

Summer of ‘68 at the very height of the MOD Movement.. as this edition of Blues & Soul illustrates by highlighting three of the most popular MOD tunes of the time.

Showstoppers (front cover pic) - Ain’t Nothing But A House Party’s energy epitomized the vibrant movement and its love of Soul-Dance music. It had everything to become a top favourite; as Roger St. Pierre points out, the previously unknown group’s first record was also the first release for the launch of UK Beacon label..

Robert Knight - “Everlasting Love” - although the plagiarist group the “Love Affair” - were having chart success with it at the time, and those guys even dressed like MODS. But the movement ideology for the “authentic”, proved strong asthe “Love Affair” were shunned by taking Robert Knight into their hearts..so much so it actually charted in the UK @ # 40 totally on the back of MOD support for the original.

J. J. Jackson article prompted by the club popularity of his “Sho’ Nuff Got A Good Thing Goin’” another MOD Club choice.

Showstoppers was played in every club & Youth Club in every town from 1968 onwards…

Robert Knight I can remember playing on the “Double 5” coffee bar jukebox, a continuous spin, as I hid myself away in the corner hoping I could join the In-Crowd at some point… but my Mum wouldn’t let me out later than 10 o’clock - so not a good springboard to leap from, be part of the all-niter scene…

then there was J. J. Jackson’s “Sho’ Nuff..” Which I first heard when my best-mate Eddie Paszynski (later a Casino regular) borrowed his elder sisters record collector for an illicit night of cheap cider, No. 10 ciggies & the stacking of the Youth Club Dansette.

For me this no. 9 edition captures the very essence of my youth ..for others it will illustrate their “Golden MOD years” so very perfectly..

Note of interest. our data reveals we have only had this elusive edition once before in 2008… 

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 61.00

 

Inez & Charlie Foxx Inez & Charlie Foxx

The Darlings of the Twisted Wheel on a SUE produced album that Decca first presented to the UK public in 1965, with truly trifling sales.

It was not until “Mockingbird” & “La De Da I Love You” rose to become Twisted Wheel, Flamingo, Mojo, etc classics that Decca/London reissued this compilation of the duos “Sue/Symbol” recordings, incorporating the black label with the silver-boxed logo circa 1967/68… when this Sister/Brother pairing became recurrent Twisted Wheel stage guests.

No “boxed” logo here - this is the rare 1965 press with the “Plum” label and silver text. Extremey hard to find - and the condition is blazing near perfect.

Front & back covers are as you can see flawless; You can’t see it but it also has the factory-crafted “tapered spine” Two impeccable labels, the vinyl sitting snugly inside the original inner sleeve only revealing a few, lightest of hairline wisps under strong light. None of which effect play.

This is THE FIRST PRESS and so very hard to find..

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 134.00

 

R. Dean Taylor There's A Ghost In My House / Let's Go Somewhere

AUSTRALIAN DEMO!

We do have a passion for offering the weird & wonderful. The Rare and the distinctively peculiar releases of Northern Soul ANTHEMS. So what about this circa 1974 Australian stickered DEMO of one of Northern Soul evergreen floor-rammers. R. Dean Taylor’s 1966 USA only non-hit that sprouted from a cheap 1972 EMI British album to become an early 70s Northern Soul Giant.

I’m not sure why 1974 in Australia EMI thought it may hit, because back then OZ had an almost non-existent Northern Soul following…. well of course it didn’t sell but what it did provide is an opportunity in 2015 giving those of you who hunt down these rare NS deviations something to chase.

Doesn’t it look stunning today, in it’s utterly unique clothing. Bet you can’t wait for the turntable-voyeurs to cop a peek of this spinning round at the club…..

No this is not a photoshop April Fools Day trick..

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 88.00

 

Gladys Knight & The Pips Feelin' Bluesy

Gladys and The Boys are feeling far from Bluesy on this 12 track album; They are actually feeling upbeat and thoroughly feisty as she delivers some of her finest stand-out Northern Soul dance tracks that were never issued as 45s.

She tinkers with the huge Marvelettes unissued Northern Soul favourite “The Boy From Crosstown” they also deconstructed the Marvelettes Album track only “I Know Better” doing a fine catchy reworking.

But by far the star of the album and yet to receive a prolonged Northern Soul airing worthy of its brilliance is the compelling LP only

“AIN’T YOU GLAD YOU CHOSE LOVE”

…Motown Northern Soul at it’s very finest, saturated in real Detroit Soul with hardly a commercial note in it…

Remembering this is the much RARER 1968 UK MONO press in immaculate condition retaining the original birth-inner-sleeve. You do occasionally bump into a STEREO press but seldom in this flawless condition - with the MONO pumping out a much-richer uncomplicated sound - ideal for the challenges of the club atmosphere..

Our tip is “AIN’T YOU GLAD YOU CHOSE LOVE” will be a monster before the year is out.. exposure is all it needs… oh and a DJ with great taste..of course.

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 110.00

 

Barbara English & The Fashions Fever

Fancy some Popcorn?

This girl gathering butters-up Little Willie John’s 1956 classic stroll adding some smooth class to Otis Blackwell’s much recorded song.

No matter who tackles this enduring classic it darn good, Peggy Lee, Willie John, Helen Shapiro etc. But nobody “Popcorn’s it” like these gals..

A New York production from the desk of the consistent Henry Glover always a man to inject a little extra something into his productions. “Fever” by these ladies just slots so easily into that “I’m Comin’ Home” groove that is so very popular with the dancers..

LOVE IT! and this Promo copy is flawless still sitting in it’s birth-sleeve.

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 56.00

 

Four Below Zero Tell Me Why (can't We Be Friends) Part 1 & 2

OOPS we attatched the WRONG soundfile CORRECT one now attached and Auction extended for TWO WEEKS so you can absorb it’s brilliance. instead of listening to a unique girl-group tune - sorry ‘bout that.

This week’s “Sweet Soul” offering comes from the desk of one of the most-important soul/dance producers of the last century.

Patrick Adams pre-Disco-era work gave up some killer Soul tunes; this session with Lonnie Johnson gives up tormented-harmony-Soul with an icy-cold falsetto piercing the air.. “Tell Me Why We Can’t Be Friends”

A vocal suffering badly from rejection, delivers a despairing rap intro. Then in comes an arrowed-falsetto, soaring high, cradled by 3 other vocals. A rich but tortured atmosphere unfolds, as the leads inter-change and the session becomes even more beseeching..

This is Sweet Soul at its most-convincing..rarely seen for sale and totally essential 45 to own - if vocal-group-harmony is your thing … Top drawer example of this highly collectable genre..

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 61.00

 

Janie Grant My Heart, Your Heart

A listings to satisfy the lust of the rare STOCK copy stalker.

This seldom seen colourful STOCK copy is in “Perfect” condition still residing in its birth-sleeve. This interesting aspect of this release, is that the “White” Promo copy was “Counterfeited” using the promo label design as the template. A very convincing piece of forgery work, that has led to the promo “fake” being sold as the original on several occasions.

By owning the infinitely rarer and more attractive stock release, all doubt of authenticity evaporates and when it’s a flawless example like this one… you can see why those rare STOCK copy addicts got hooked in the first place.

Click the soundfile to be hurled back in time to the vintage-years of Wigan Casino and Cleethorpes Pier..

…happy days, indeed!

Sorry, this item has already been won!
The winning bid was £ 156.00

Blimey £413 for the Embraceables, I know it's a quality choon but I would have thought maybe £200-250 tops, used to be around £75-100 but most copies turned up always seem to be vg or trashed

Thanks as ever Joe for posting. The one thing that DOES bug me is the Auction at Tim Browns place. I always forget when closing time is so miss the prices that are obtained. Just being nosey I guess but I wish there was more flexibility there. He takes them down very quickly.

G. Knight's LP only track "Ain't You Glad You Chose Love" was a floor fuller locally back in 74.

£88 ;For a foreign issue ,unique Richard Dean Taylor! Ghosts  also appeared in france,Holland,Germany and South Africa in 74,in similarly beguiling and alluring Rare earth label clothes,with DJ friendly grande hole and birthday suite picture sleeves;about a tenner[iwas robbed as a Soul Source chum valued all foreign motowners at £3 to £5 !]     Motown Marvel numero dos Gladys ; "Feeling not so ,Bluesey" at £110 ,if you really want it for Jms end of year monster "aint you glad" its on " HelpMe  Make it Through the Night Lp plus various Pickwick lp cheapies slightly different tracklisting but still "crosstown" and "I know better" £15 approx, JM continues to buck the trend with strong Motown lp prices ,the consummate salesman.

Blimey £413 for the Embraceables, I know it's a quality choon but I would have thought maybe £200-250 tops, used to be around £75-100 but most copies turned up always seem to be vg or trashed

 

My thoughts as well.Sold an Ex copy on here,someone's happy.

Blimey £413 for the Embraceables, I know it's a quality choon but I would have thought maybe £200-250 tops, used to be around £75-100 but most copies turned up always seem to be vg or trashed

What isn't mentioned in John's blurb and a possible reason for the track not being as big as it should be, is the fact that the sound quality of the issues is crap and the rarer demos as sold here, is good

What isn't mentioned in John's blurb and a possible reason for the track not being as big as it should be, is the fact that the sound quality of the issues is crap and the rarer demos as sold here, is good

 

Wasn't aware of that Baz, thank goodness I have a nice minty white demo and not the blue issue then

Thought that Eloise Laws was absolutely superb

 

look forward to hearing that out hopefully

Never ever seen a Janie Grant issue. WOW. I'm impressed

Steve

Never ever seen a Janie Grant issue. WOW. I'm impressed

Steve

Sold my issues of Janie Grant and Christine Cooper to Dave Ferguson, late 70's.

Sold my issues of Janie Grant and Christine Cooper to Dave Ferguson, late 70's.

Nice one Dave. Had a lovely Janie Grant west coast demo till I sold up a few years ago

Steve