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More today than yesterday - The Spiral Staircase

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45cellar
45cellar

COLUMBIA in the U.S.A.

Goldsoul
Goldsoul

Chris.....Hope you're well.  I beg to differ on the UK CBS not being rare, so much so I will buy every copy at £25 each! Seriously mate it's way more than that.  I think it's easy to assume how c

Windlesoul
Windlesoul

The Greater Experience guitarist sent me this....  

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The Yank Veteran

The Yank

Posted
Posted
31 minutes ago, soul shrews said:

Also an LP but I cant remember the title sorry.

Many other versions too of course

Stumbled accross Dee Dee Warwicks version on her Atco lp yesterday for instance

Cheers Paul

The Spiral Starecase's album was also titled More Today Than Yesterday".

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The Yank Veteran

The Yank

Posted
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24 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

I remember it being a monster record about 1976 maybe 77 at the Casino . But think it was a reactivation from sometime earlier.

If memory serves me right I had a dated and stamped demo with May 68 on it. Anyone cast any light on that or remember anything similar

Steve

The single just missed the Pop Top 10( #12)  in the U.S during the week of June 14, 1969 so I would guess May '69 would 

be more likely.

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Winsford Soul Veteran

Winsford Soul

Posted
Posted
13 minutes ago, the yank said:

The single just missed the Pop Top 10( #12)  in the U.S during the week of June 14, 1969 so I would guess May '69 would 

be more likely.

Thanks for information. I have just googled it and it was 1969 not 68. My mind is going after all this time being a creature of the night.

Steve

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Guest Kev Roberts

Guest Kev Roberts

Posted
Posted
30 minutes ago, John Benson said:

This was definitely getting plays as Wigan opened in late '73 and the Solid Rock copies were around the record bar around the same time. I'm fairly sure it got plays at The Torch too?

John- It was never played at the Torch. The Solid Rock copies were merely straight reissues due to its ongoing popularity in the US way and beyond its 1969 hit status.  

Will check in with Ian L who I'm sure played it first(stand to be corrected). 

Very scarce on UK CBS but sold millions on Columbia. 

With it being such a massive US hit you would assume it was played here almost immediately, but I can't for the life of me ever remember it before early '75. 

Happy New Year. 

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Jaco Veteran

Jaco

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9 minutes ago, Kev Roberts said:

John- It was never played at the Torch. The Solid Rock copies were merely straight reissues due to its ongoing popularity in the US way and beyond its 1969 hit status.  

Will check in with Ian L who I'm sure played it first(stand to be corrected). 

Very scarce on UK CBS but sold millions on Columbia. 

With it being such a massive US hit you would assume it was played here almost immediately, but I can't for the life of me ever remember it before early '75. 

Happy New Year. 

Doubt it was played at the Torch but I would swear blind it was played at the Mecca pre-Wigan, but this memory isn't what it was. 

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Mal C Veteran

Mal C

Posted
Posted (edited)

I picked up the 'Northern Scene' bootleg in Canada recently, looked lovely... such a great song I nearly kept it...

Remember I heard this loads on a trip across the USA some years back, and on my Birthday in Miami we went cloth shopping, Liza got loads, I got buggar all, but when we eventually stopped for a coffee at Starbucks I sat down and on it came... one of the best Birthday memories that!

here's my Aussie copy..

 

spiral-staircase.jpg

Edited by Mal C
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Goldsoul Veteran

Goldsoul

Posted
Posted
40 minutes ago, Chris L said:

The song appeared on an episode of Ali McBeal. The UK CBS is not so rare as you'd think, they go for about £20 - 25. There's a French picture sleeve worth looking for.

Chris.....Hope you're well.  I beg to differ on the UK CBS not being rare, so much so I will buy every copy at £25 each! Seriously mate it's way more than that. 

I think it's easy to assume how common it is due to the ongoing popularity of both UK-Northern and US Radio plays, but it didn't sell a carrot when released on CBS. I rarely see it for sale. 

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Chris L Veteran

Chris L

Posted
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7 hours ago, The Golden 101 said:

Chris.....Hope you're well.  I beg to differ on the UK CBS not being rare, so much so I will buy every copy at £25 each! Seriously mate it's way more than that. 

I think it's easy to assume how common it is due to the ongoing popularity of both UK-Northern and US Radio plays, but it didn't sell a carrot when released on CBS. I rarely see it for sale. 

Did a Popsike a French got £15.00 as did an Australian, last UK went for £45.00, I stand corrected. I have a US that I'll sell next month.

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45cellar Veteran

45cellar

Posted
Posted
21 hours ago, Peter Richer said:

Nice pics (as usual) Roger.  'Special Rush Reservice' is interesting.

David - I believe it was an Ian Levine Mecca outing, but if I'm wrong others will confirm.

 

Thanks Peter.

Not sure how soon after the Initial release the "Special Rush Reservice" was done or why.

Have seen others throughout the catalogue where this happens rather than reprint / press the same DEMO format.

SINGAPORE :

 

CBS_CES-4096-A_.gifCBS_CES-4096-B_.gif

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dthedrug Veteran

dthedrug

Posted
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:hatsoff2:Hi All "More to-day than yesterday" made it to #1 on the BILLBOARD POP CHART in 1969, yet when it got a UK release it did zilch,  As far as I can remember it gained no radio play at all & did not enter the UK TOP 50,  Like so mamy records that made it big at WIGAN if they got a UK release it is a safe bet that it was played at the TWISTED WHEEL or the PENDERLUM Club,  It was a big play a

t the MECCA by Tony Jebb & also Ian Levine,  from then on it become a popular oldie played by Dave Everson at the Casino,

The record was played at the DIVE BAR in Hitchin by Mick Smith in 72 & it was also one of my early buys from Mick, it was also available at CONTEMPOS for 75np & SOUL BOWL well into the 7ts,

"baby what I mean" is a good version of the DRIFTER non hit, & has never had much play on the rare soul scene, maybe one day?

568aff9916440_2spiralstaircaseukdemos.th

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Benji Veteran

Benji

Posted
Posted

There's a german CBS release from 1969 as well. I have a demo so I don't know what the issue picture sleeve looks like.

BTW, there's another version by Babs Acklin on her Someone else's Arms album. Nice take, not dancefloor material. But much more soulful than Spiral Staircase, which I think is just a mediocre pop tune.

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Dave Harrison Long Time

Dave Harrison

Posted
Posted
16 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Dave. It was written by Pat Upton from the group Spiral Staircase so I,m assuming that it was the first release. Hope that helps

Steve

Thanks Steve,

I checked my copy of the Sam Fletcher, and I have written 1971 on the cover. I must have found it somewhere at some time! Cheers.

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Chris L Veteran

Chris L

Posted
Posted
16 hours ago, dthedrug said:

:hatsoff2:Hi All "More to-day than yesterday" made it to #1 on the BILLBOARD POP CHART in 1969, yet when it got a UK release it did zilch,  As far as I can remember it gained no radio play at all & did not enter the UK TOP 50,  Like so mamy records that made it big at WIGAN if they got a UK release it is a safe bet that it was played at the TWISTED WHEEL or the PENDERLUM Club,  It was a big play a

t the MECCA by Tony Jebb & also Ian Levine,  from then on it become a popular oldie played by Dave Everson at the Casino,

 

"baby what I mean" is a good version of the DRIFTER non hit, & has never had much play on the rare soul scene, maybe one day?

 

The Drifters version of "Baby what I mean" is far, far better than Staircase otherwise would have got the airplay.

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Garethx Veteran

Garethx

Posted
Posted (edited)

This record is something of a standard on the other side of the Atlantic: it was a huge hit for a completely unknown band who are now considered a textbook example of the one-hit-wonder phenomenon. Youtube is littered with clips of Middle of the Road entertainers doing versions, most notably Andy Williams. Contemporary covers (like the Joe Arnold and Sam Fletcher mentioned) which might also be of interest from a UK club perspective include great versions by Carmen McRae on Atlantic LP, Charlie Earland on Prestige and a really great version on Philips by Bobby Hutton produced by Gene Chandler. I think the Bobby Hutton is by far his hardest 45 on that label. Maybe his best too.

The Spiral Starecase is another example of a record which sold truckloads in the US but was by some fluke uncommon enough to play on the UK Northern scene, like Robert John etc. Funny when you consider things like Move On Up were considered 'too common' to play because of their chart status in the UK, while a US Curtom single of that particular title is anything but commonplace in its mother country. The strange world of Northern Soul...

Edited by garethx
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Dave Pinch Veteran

Dave Pinch

Posted
Posted
On Sunday, January 03, 2016 at 20:29, Winsford Soul said:

I remember it being a monster record about 1976 maybe 77 at the Casino . But think it was a reactivation from sometime earlier.

If memory serves me right I had a dated and stamped demo with May 68 on it. Anyone cast any light on that or remember anything similar

Steve

May 69 most probably

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Vern Participant

Vern

Posted
Posted (edited)
On ‎04‎/‎01‎/‎2016 at 16:25, Pete S said:

I remember that as well, was on X Factor USA I think, he'd never heard of the song

 

 

3 hours ago, Dayo said:

Definitely played at Mecca 1973 - wasn't it always one of the last hour spins?  A great pop record.

 

Edited by Vern
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