New York Rarity

[Soulfulsolutions]

Another fine example of Northern heritage

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Rita Dacosta – Don’t bring me down – Pandora 7050 Ex+ £800

 

This pounding New York dancer demonstrates the quality and rarity that inspires collectors and DJ’s to still seek these 45s out. In terms of quality, with the prolific Bert Keyes at the helm, fronted by Rita’s stunning vocal, backing girls, horns and that driving beat that's always "flying high", this still causes emotions to run and run. In terms of rarity, I can’t find any historical reference to the Pandora Record Label other than physical evidence of the 45 itself, and them there are only occasional examples that surface.

 

The audition of this track at the Casino circa 74-75 is interesting because the Pandora release was registered for copyright on 11 Sep 68, so it’s rise to fame was only 6 or 7 years after its first US release, and a year before Mohawk in 69. It must have been a truly small and local run in this format to have remained so rare after being so new way back then. Incidentally, I’ve no idea whether the copy spun at Wigan was on Pandora or Mohawk, but somebody will?

 

Irving Spice was part owner of Mohawk Records, which hosted the likes of Dion & The Belmonts, The Demensions, Bobby Comstock and Buddy Lucas. He and his partners Monte Freed and Jack Waltzer were put out of business after being named by the Federal Trade Commission in their payola enquiries in late 59, early 60. Irv surfaced again though, reactivating the Mohawk record label and launching Spice Productions, credited on Rita’s Mohawk label, whereas Pandora credits Weybridge Productions. More investigation needed!

 

The lovely Rita Dacosta leaves no firm trail behind her, only one other single release “You and nothing more” on Tower Records and an LP collusion with the somewhat off putting “Cedar Walton Trio” on the NY Finite Label in 76, so, remarkably she was still around and performing at the time she was being heralded at the height of the Northern scene.

 

Surely, musically its out of keeping and so far advanced with virtually everything else in the Mohawk catalogue? A fabulously rare local release that shows only light signs of its age, with superb playback.

 

 

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Postage:

£8.50 - Special Delivery

Overseas on Request

 

Cheers, Lee