The Most Sought After Rare Northern.
This list contains what I consider the most sought after and rare original release Northern soul 45s at this point in time.
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On 04/07/2020 at 11:49, Chalky said:

  It's the same as the Arter Set if memory serves but the two don't compare tbh.  It's far too fast for us old timers too.  

 

Your memory doth not serve sir , nothing remotely like the Arter Set monster ... 

Gary Dean. You can Say. Young Records

Barbara Long. Take it from Me/We called it Love. Jet Set

Sweet Charlie Babe. You've Got it All. Soul Fox.

Pleased to have one, must try harder.

On 03/07/2020 at 19:01, Gilly said:

About 45 and some in quantity, 25 + Toppers, 3 James Lately, 25 Cynthia on Big Hit, 2 Magnetics ill keep holding on, 5 Tomangoe's, 3 Sister Lees 

I'm a has been, i don't own hardly any of them now tough 

 

On 03/07/2020 at 21:12, neckender said:

Its not a list of the 'rarest of the rare'  Its a list of 'sought after' 45s.

Didn't see GEORGE LEMONS / ANTIQUES / GUITAR RAY / HAMILTON MOVEMENT on the list ? Also TYREE DAVIS (METROLINA SOUL, prob not well known enough)

 

Didn't see Eddie Williams ' Trade my soul ' or Ted Wilson (SIERRA) on the list ?

A very thought provoking and subjective article, which has certainly stirred up the great unwashed, different people will have different thoughts of their own (based on personal taste and preferences) as to their own admissions/omissions. But i feel a few people have not quite understood the loose criteria in the preface to Butch's list, perhaps another read through is in order ? 🤔

Dave

A mammoth and very thought provoking undertaking from my man, and a super useful additional perspective to the existing and typical ‘Top 500 / Value-based compilations. A list like this will always be subjective, always be fluid coz demand fluctuates over time, and always be open to suggested omissions and inclusions, but I think it pretty much nails it. Every time I thought of something I thought should be on there I went thru the list again and would generally find it, so for me, give or take, the list is as close as you could get. I think the thing to appreciate is that if you asked 100 key collectors to compile this list, each list would be different, but perhaps not hugely; I think this would represent the core of most collectors lists, so for me it absolutely hits the spot. So, nice one Butch, and good on ya for takin the time, and having the patience, energy and enthusiasm to do it; I take my hat off to you; rather you than me lol. This list shows you clearly didn’t have enough D.I.Y, gardening, repairing, filing, sorting to do during lockdown, lol. Can’t fault ya; Lockdown time well spent; well done.

Margaret Glover. This will never do. MAG

Sterophonics. Run on little girl. Cha-Tok.

Sterphonics. (both sides) Mas Tok

Holidays. Deep down in my heart. Master

and all 4 from the same set of labels 

 

21 minutes ago, colouredman said:

A mammoth and very thought provoking undertaking from my man, and a super useful additional perspective to the existing and typical ‘Top 500 / Value-based compilations. A list like this will always be subjective, always be fluid coz demand fluctuates over time, and always be open to suggested omissions and inclusions, but I think it pretty much nails it. Every time I thought of something I thought should be on there I went thru the list again and would generally find it, so for me, give or take, the list is as close as you could get. I think the thing to appreciate is that if you asked 100 key collectors to compile this list, each list would be different, but perhaps not hugely; I think this would represent the core of most collectors lists, so for me it absolutely hits the spot. So, nice one Butch, and good on ya for takin the time, and having the patience, energy and enthusiasm to do it; I take my hat off to you; rather you than me lol. This list shows you clearly didn’t have enough D.I.Y, gardening, repairing, filing, sorting to do during lockdown, lol. Can’t fault ya; Lockdown time well spent; well done.

Tim you failed to mention Knitting in your list of chores 

Dave

Anyone care to estimate a total value? Just curious as to what scale of lottery win would be required to get them all...🤔

1 hour ago, Steve L said:

Anyone care to estimate a total value? Just curious as to what scale of lottery win would be required to get them all...🤔

A big win 😂

A great informative read and thankyou for sharing.

This is a very comprehensive list. 

I have a few on the list but wouldn’t mind a few more!!😊

Brilliant thought a couple more could be added but you said most wanted, holly st james ,etc but differences been after that for 25 years plus !!!! 

I'm doing quite well. I have 158 off the list

 

But a few I've not heard on there

I only have 62 now...😩😩 had over 105 at one time before selling up my first collection in 1980....

a great read...how about The Mystics - Put out the fire - ORR.    or have missed it in the list ?

Brilliant read, somat on that list for all me thinks. 

Had over the years 123 of them and still got 61 of em today, the 62 I now haven't got, most I regret selling, but that's just how it is and if I'm honest the regret comes from the pennies lost in todays market rather than not now having the 45s.

Hey ho. 

Just one addition I feel is missing

Norma Jenkins.. Airplane song? 

Nice list that ! Over thirty five years of collecting managed to obtain 255 of em ' been reduced to 146 now , been fun collecting them . Not much fun these days , totally changed ( for the worse ) . 

 

 

 

 

19 minutes ago, Dazdakin said:

Brilliant read, somat on that list for all me thinks. 

Had over the years 123 of them and still got 61 of em today, the 62 I now haven't got, most I regret selling, but that's just how it is and if I'm honest the regret comes from the pennies lost in todays market rather than not now having the 45s.

Hey ho. 

Just one addition I feel is missing

Norma Jenkins.. Airplane song? 

It's in there Daz . 

Oh... Jeez... What a cock... Sorry😏

What a list, Imagine an all-niter with all them played one after another.

I sold quite a few about 5 years back but would add Devotion's and Caution's (if ether were listed then apologises but I didn't spot them) 

Mick 

1 hour ago, pumpkinseed said:

Nice list that ! Over thirty five years of collecting managed to obtain 255 of em ' been reduced to 146 now , been fun collecting them . Not much fun these days , totally changed ( for the worse ) . 

 

 

 

 

Your not much fun collecting these days comment is oh so very true young Carl.

Regards Dave

A great effort Mark ,very thought provoking ....Regards Eddie 

Got 8 of them. Wow.

The real pleasure for me is the ones I don't know. (A lot) I Just type it in this magic thing and I get to hear some fantastic sounds. The knowledge and the generosity to share it on this site is fantastic.

Brilliant article. Thank you.

Hugh

What a fantastic labour of love that is, thank you for taking the time & trouble to compile it. I feel very lucky to own 36 of these titles, hopefully more to add in the future too....

Russ

How many were found by John Anderson?

I have double checked and I have 49 so far!!  

Great work, and quite a few unknown titles I'll now have to research.  Happy to own 60 of them.  May I suggest adding Jonathan Capree & both Hayes Cottons.

Cheers.......... Pete

2 minutes ago, Pete Fowler said:

Great work, and quite a few unknown titles I'll now have to research.  Happy to own 60 of them.  May I suggest adding Jonathan Capree & both Hayes Cottons.

Cheers.......... Pete

Good call Hayes cotton

Did I miss The Vanguards and The Earle's  and Guitar Ray on there?...can't look through that lot again...or maybe not rare

 only ever had about nine or  ten of the list..........all gone to new homes , but  the suggested additions in the posts are bloody brill as well..........so keep um coming guys ............super thread x

Would love to see a Modern/Xover compilation of the 500 as an awful lot of really hard stuff does not fit the northern category and a sweet soul list would be a real eye opener as the prices are reaching amounts you would not of dreamed off 10 yeas ago ? 

I have a few from the list and would love a whole lot more but it was interesting too draw an analysis of stuff ive picked up the last 4 years or so. I think there are die hards always chasing 45s from the list but also a whole bunch of collectors that really like finding different stuff ,leftfield stuff etc. Deep down inside how many avid collectors can really afford them now I say this the same week that Lester Tipton reaches £10 K ? 

22 hours ago, Dazdakin said:

Oh... Jeez... What a cock... Sorry😏

I can highly recomend reading the list twice, probably three times - I missed some the first time....."Oh wow".....made me not register the next few, and so on 

(I found those two) 

Len 

41 minutes ago, Baz Atkinson said:

Would love to see a Modern/Xover compilation of the 500 as an awful lot of really hard stuff does not fit the northern category and a sweet soul list would be a real eye opener as the prices are reaching amounts you would not of dreamed off 10 yeas ago ? 

I have a few from the list and would love a whole lot more but it was interesting too draw an analysis of stuff ive picked up the last 4 years or so. I think there are die hards always chasing 45s from the list but also a whole bunch of collectors that really like finding different stuff ,leftfield stuff etc. Deep down inside how many avid collectors can really afford them now I say this the same week that Lester Tipton reaches £10 K ? 

I couldn't afford, well I couldn't justify spending the amount of money on the type of record in question here..  My "at home" listening choice or taste has also changed a lot, more 70s and 80s rather than 60s.  But it is like Carl said, it isn't as much fun chasing the 60s now as most are now out of reach of the average collector anyway.  I prefer to dig deeper and find the cheaper stuff and leave the expensive rarities for a night out.

It is a mouth watering list though and many you could get for not too much once upon a time.  The mid 80s etc records were plentiful and relatively cheap with three figure sum records still relatively scarce.  I guess for many it was a case of being in the right place at the right time.  I certainly wish I was still on my first collection

I agree Karl particularly the lack of fun side of it , the right place right time scenario is spot on take John Powneys Collection . A good 80 per cent of the above mentioned were at Johns at one point then word gets out on prices etc and boom what was probably the best Collection in the U.K. or certainly in the Top 5 gone over months ! 
I might be wrong but the check point Charlie’s buying these now have took this to a level that normal working class people simply cannot afford ? That’s the biggest sting in the tail for a scene  that was purely working class. 

Same happened at football prawn sandwiches lol. 

52 minutes ago, Chalky said:

I prefer to dig deeper and find the cheaper stuff and leave the expensive rarities for a night out.

That's a really sensible way of looking at it - Great records still to be enjoyed, excepting not to be owned in the main.

I get great enjoyment from records on that list, I get equal enjoyment from many others which are more easily available.

No point being bitter.....is there? 

Len 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Len said:

That's a really sensible way of looking at it - Great records still to be enjoyed, excepting not to be owned in the main.

I get great enjoyment from records on that list, I get equal enjoyment from many others which are more easily available.

No point being bitter.....is there? 

Len 

 

 

It was bound to happen the more the scene was pushed the more expensive the rare became and the investors moved in, mostly slotters who rack them as an investment for the future, it's now as the CD said "For Millionaires Only" perhaps we will have to blame Kev for it 1996 onwards

 

48 minutes ago, Baz Atkinson said:

I agree Karl particularly the lack of fun side of it , the right place right time scenario is spot on take John Powneys Collection . A good 80 per cent of the above mentioned were at Johns at one point then word gets out on prices etc and boom what was probably the best Collection in the U.K. or certainly in the Top 5 gone over months ! 
I might be wrong but the check point Charlie’s buying these now have took this to a level that normal working class people simply cannot afford ? That’s the biggest sting in the tail for a scene  that was purely working class. 

Same happened at football prawn sandwiches lol. 

 

Pension money is paying for a lot of the big stuff I believe.

Personal choice obviously but not something I would do.

 

 

I think if you had the money not to care how much you spent, you would become bored with that side of it not being an issue - That may have happened over the years.

Most of us really appreciate a record on so many levels when we make a purchase.

Len 

On 04/07/2020 at 11:49, Chalky said:

Saus has the only copy that I know of (in this country), one in the states I think that I was aware of.  Not to say there are not others mind.  It's the same as the Arter Set if memory serves but the two don't compare tbh.  It's far too fast for us old timers too.  

 

Saus has my old copy which I played as the Eldees at Blackburn, that copy came from Pete Lawson, Salmon RIP also had a copy not long after that, no idea where that ended up, same writing team as Big Dons Rebellion 

The list I would love to see is what everyone's top 50 would be of things you could pick up for £50 or less, ideally all soul based, but doesn't have to be Northern.  

19 minutes ago, Soulman58 said:

The list I would love to see is what everyone's top 50 would be of things you could pick up for £50 or less, ideally all soul based, but doesn't have to be Northern.  

try the site search, been loads of topics along those lines over the years

if no joy finding any topics, then start a new topic asking (to avoid taking this one off topic) and sure people will help

cheers

32 minutes ago, Tony Smith said:

Saus has my old copy which I played as the Eldees at Blackburn, that copy came from Pete Lawson, Salmon RIP also had a copy not long after that, no idea where that ended up, same writing team as Big Dons Rebellion 

Yes remember you having it before Saus. 

Great piece of work Mark, and no doubt some deliberation needed on what should be included. It just reminded me how bang average my northern collection was that got sold in the late eighties. But I have about 25 of them even now, no doubt due to the number of crossover/ early seventies records you decided to include. Many of which were infact addopted by the northern sceen many years after first being spun at the very early crossover venues, nothing wrong with that, but as Mark eluded to it has just helped to swell the prices.  Wish I still had the Sam Williams though as I really like the deep ballad flip. Alice Clark 'You hit me has a great deep flip, Maybe that should be considered for inclusion, but perhaps out of favor and too obvious for 2020?

I still have 5 off the list and will be disosing of them, and the rest, over the next 12 months

10 hours ago, Baz Atkinson said:

I agree Karl particularly the lack of fun side of it , the right place right time scenario is spot on take John Powneys Collection . A good 80 per cent of the above mentioned were at Johns at one point then word gets out on prices etc and boom what was probably the best Collection in the U.K. or certainly in the Top 5 gone over months ! 
I might be wrong but the check point Charlie’s buying these now have took this to a level that normal working class people simply cannot afford ? That’s the biggest sting in the tail for a scene  that was purely working class. 

Same happened at football prawn sandwiches lol. 

Quite agree with your comment regards the records being taken out of the realms of working class peoples budget Baz

9 hours ago, Tricky said:

Pension money is paying for a lot of the big stuff I believe.

Personal choice obviously but not something I would do.

 

 

A slippery slope many have chosen to tread i'm afraid ,Amigo 👍

 

11 hours ago, Chalky said:

I couldn't afford, well I couldn't justify spending the amount of money on the type of record in question here..  My "at home" listening choice or taste has also changed a lot, more 70s and 80s rather than 60s.  But it is like Carl said, it isn't as much fun chasing the 60s now as most are now out of reach of the average collector anyway.  I prefer to dig deeper and find the cheaper stuff and leave the expensive rarities for a night out.

It is a mouth watering list though and many you could get for not too much once upon a time.  The mid 80s etc records were plentiful and relatively cheap with three figure sum records still relatively scarce.  I guess for many it was a case of being in the right place at the right time.  I certainly wish I was still on my first collection

totally agree..this game isnt for lorry drivers, painters and decorators and warehouse workers these days and it doesnt help either as in my case as well when your listening and buying tastes have broadened so much to include 70s/80s modern, crossover,beat ballads ,deep and sweet also..i still find it fun tho to try and snag the odd big ticket item on the cheap and my life still evolves around records and music after 40 years.. i`m fortunate tho to never  have had to sell up and must still have 100 or so from the list and have only sold maybe 10 without checking... its a very thought provoking list tho the only glaring misses i can spot after a couple of glances are the teri de 45s unless i just missed em.. jimmy gresham, len jewell and even the soul shakers are worthy of a mention

Very interesting read - thank you Mark!  with your vast experience would love to know your best guess at how many copies of each exist (along the lines of JM's less than10, less than 25 etc.. in his 'million $ of soul).

p.s. you have passionetts in the list twice.

14 hours ago, Tricky said:

Pension money is paying for a lot of the big stuff I believe.

Personal choice obviously but not something I would do.

 

 

I m not so old!! 😂😂🤣😂🤣

3 hours ago, Dave Pinch said:

totally agree..this game isnt for lorry drivers, painters and decorators and warehouse workers these days and it doesnt help either as in my case as well when your listening and buying tastes have broadened so much to include 70s/80s modern, crossover,beat ballads ,deep and sweet also..i still find it fun tho to try and snag the odd big ticket item on the cheap and my life still evolves around records and music after 40 years.. i`m fortunate tho to never  have had to sell up and must still have 100 or so from the list and have only sold maybe 10 without checking... its a very thought provoking list tho the only glaring misses i can spot after a couple of glances are the teri de 45s unless i just missed em.. jimmy gresham, len jewell and even the soul shakers are worthy of a mention

Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely happy buying what I buy and what I listen to.  i’m buying more now than I have for a long time. I still love to hear people like Mark playing the rare soul 45s when I am out. 
 

This is a fantastic insight Mark into your personal appreciation of records that constitute "Rare Soul".

Unfortunately such lists will attract the "paint by numbers" collector and fuel inevitable price hikes whenever these sought after 45s become available. Nevertheless there will always be some fun had for those knowledgeable collectors with good ears to remain ahead of the price curve identifying future in-demanders in whatever direction soul music decides to travel.