October 31, 20168 yr Author Hi Neil As far as I know both the Hi-Back & Hirich versions are 100% original but I'm not sure if they are both exactly the same Alan C.
October 31, 20168 yr I thought that till recently. red copy is a 70s boot from Pittsburgh. Had it confirmed by a very well respected DJ and dealer on the soul scene.
October 31, 20168 yr Author Hi Neil I bought my Hirich copy from a well known & respected dealer & he certainly didn't think it was a boot!
October 31, 20168 yr 56 minutes ago, Neil Lee said: One is an original 60 release one is a 70s boot/ reissue. mm interesting
November 1, 20168 yr Author Just had a conversation with by e-mail with Mr. Manship who concurs that the red Hirich issue is100% legit!!
November 1, 20168 yr I've been told by respected Pittsburgh record dealers and collectors who frequented the Pittsburgh Scene that this was a big spin for Mad Mike and was subsequently booted to supply demand for this 45. I guess there could be some confusion over whether it was a boot or a legit reissue, so I presume John Manship has some compelling evidence that proves it to be legit? There seems to be 11 x 45s released on the Hiback label, most of which seem to have 'Hirich Music Company' printed on one of both labels. There is no discography showing for Hirich Music Company, so seems the Aquamen was the only 45 released on that label......quite a good name for a label that would tie in with the Hiback label info and seem legit.........even moreso they printed 'Formerly Hiback 109' on the Hirich label.....wow, looks even more proper! I'm guessing that no-one can be sure if this was a legit reissue or a snide boot......maybe Fred Bohn in Pittsburgh knows more about it, and maybe John Manship has had a conversation with Fred about it.........however, many other popular records were bootlegged during Mad Mikes popularity on the Pittsburgh Scene, so that may well be why the Pittsburgh guys call it a boot.....my instinct tells me its a boot but I would be happy to see proof its legit cus I'll probably find one on my future trips Stateside and would like to know myself for sure. Best case scenario its a legit reissue/2nd press.
November 1, 20168 yr Well worth a read..... https://www.pbrtv.com/more/special-articles/bob-mack-mad-mike-and-pittsburgh-oldies/ Here's a snippet..... How did the music you found first get onto radio? In early 1963, realizing that two thirds of greater Pittsburgh’s three million residents were too old or too young to attend dance clubs and hear these rare records, I started a radio show to feature the obscure, unknown and uncharted records I called “Macs monsters”. I began hosting Mac’s Wax Museum on a small radio station WZUM, which I discovered by again turning the radio dial from the center, this time to the far right side. It quickly became Pittsburgh’s hottest radio show for teens and young adults. In the late afternoon, countless Pittsburgh record collectors turned on their tape recorders, to capture and try to figure out the names of “Mac’s monsters”. Collectors in cities across the country began hearing about these rare records; since this obscure music was unique to Pittsburgh, they began referring to it as “the Pittsburgh sound”. Since the obscure records were first exposed to the masses through my dance clubs and radio show, I became known as the “architect of the Pittsburgh sound”. In interviews, Mike and I typically gave equal credit to the other for the popularity of these obscure records. In the mid to late 50’s we frequently ran across each other while traveling the country in search of uncharted r&b records. Although we were the pioneers in chasing the progressive and obscure records, hundreds of collectors and club deejays quickly followed. Deejays on competitive radio stations tried frantically to obtain these unknown records, but when they found one, I introduced ten more; they kept coming. The competition was intense and demand for the records we played went through the roof. Soon bootleggers found a few of “Mac’s monsters” and began pressing and selling them locally. I decided to open Tri-State, a record shop in downtown Pittsburgh which would offer some of the hottest and hardest to find records to the public. There was a line outside the store for the entire day when we opened.
November 2, 20168 yr It's like Groundhog Day on these pages, this was the exact topic all the way back in 2011 and everyone had already figured out even then Hirich was a boot, that was already long common knowledge over here where this was a $50-$75 record for a long time on the East Coast, had pretty wide distribution too not just confined to Pittsburgh.
November 7, 20168 yr Hour left to go on this one if anybody wants a HiBack copy https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232130299495?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
November 23, 20168 yr Looks like another copy of the boot is gonna go for stupid money on ebay........
November 23, 20168 yr 4 minutes ago, Neil Lee said: Link? Aquamen-Line-And-Track P&P is reasonable though! Edited November 23, 20168 yr by The Zodiac Club
November 23, 20168 yr 5 minutes ago, The Zodiac Club said: Aquamen-Line-And-Track P&P is reasonable though! and started at $9.99
November 23, 20168 yr Not me this time. I can lay my hands on another mint copy though if anybody is interested, PM me.
November 23, 20168 yr Check out Les Baxter &The Balladiers version of this track. Under the radar left field dancer. Just my opinion and I love it. Dave H
November 23, 20168 yr 3 hours ago, Mace said: Looks like another copy of the boot is gonna go for stupid money on ebay........ Did you see the question asked of the seller at the bottom of the sales page, answer stating 100% original !!!
Are there any differences between the 2 versions of this?
Alan C.