The Most Sought After Rare Northern 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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Miles ahead of me. Owned a dozen from the list in the past, but my paltry contribution is just five from the list at the moment. Serious insurance policy needed if you've got 100+ from the list!

Happy to have just two from the list ... 

Had five off the list but two where on major labels not local issues . Some list though . Thanks Mark 

well done, great article , you worked hard during the lockdown! 🙂 but you  Mainly made lots of these records "sought"  

My recent playlist...

...then I woke up and had a bowl of Shreddies!

 

 

i,m up to 182 that i,ve had at some time or another ,not bad i suppose and still got a good fair few ..great post mark

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 

 

 

 

73 left now but had another 80+ over the years . 

Excellent article, very good brief history of collecting and the appeal.  Some list too and hard to argue with any of those on the list.

It would make some nighter hearing that lot over 8 hours

A few off top that could be considered for inclusion, mainly on the rare side of the scene...

Defenders - Sermon (When I’m Down) (Possibly too obscure and not had any exposure really for some years?)

Helen Smith - The Pot Can’t Talk About The Kettle

Helen Smith - You Got To Do Your Share

Royal (Texas Slim) Bell - Sweet Little Girl

Sir Joe - Everyday

Sir Joe  - Nobody Beats My Love

Ravins - Your Love Is What I Want

Johnny Praye  - Can't Get Too Much 

King Cobras - Thank You Baby

 

Can I offer a few to that list Mark? 

The Extremes - How I need Your Love / 4J

June Jackson - your Welcome  / Musette  

D.C Magnatones - Does She Love Me / D.C Magnatones (think the group is the label name?) 

the Shaddows - Together Again / United Audio 

the Fabulous Impacts - my baby / Bomb 💣 

Terrifics - I’ll get him back / Diamond Jim ( saw tempos but don’t think this one  was in) 

cheers

Mal 

A great list a few others I love

 

richard marks various tracks Speak now being the best ?

barbara hall 2 on tuska

fred knight on maxine

jimmy church peachtree

charles burns and jimmy Braswell on gene

Just five I have, and the rarest of the five would be Stanley Mitchell on the Dynamo issue.

 Excellent list though, thank you so much for posting. 

Am I the only one that thought the list is too long to be the rarest of the rare!

 

 

 

 

I've had 3 of those only. I lost Joe Matthews to an ex girlfriend. What happened to Tomangoes and Richie Adams I have absolutely no idea. Wtf.

Thanks Mark for posting a really interesting perspective ...  the context you provided for its compilation was thought provoking indeed ...  enjoyed reading through the list and probably like many others went " had that .. had that" .. but no longer

Andy

43 minutes ago, Andy Rix said:

Thanks Mark for posting a really interesting perspective ...  the context you provided for its compilation was thought provoking indeed ...  enjoyed reading through the list and probably like many others went " had that .. had that" .. but no longer

Andy

Hi Andy ,

If it's any small consolation the minty Carol Anderson on Whip that I prised from your grasp at the Embankment Club around '96 is still tucked away safe here (and still minty) ... 

Over the year had 116 of the titles through 5 collections  only have 7 now, moral of story never sell 🤣🤣 great to see loads of your early plays in their Mark 

1 hour ago, Soulman58 said:

Am I the only one that thought the list is too long to be the rarest of the rare!

 

 

 

 

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

3 minutes ago, neckender said:

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

Hi Mark ,

Good to see you not mentioning that little thing on D+W , I guess one punter continually pestering you about it doesn't qualify it for "sought after" status ..       

Great list, but would the record that fetches the most money on the rare occasions  it comes up for sale not be classed as the most sought after by definition?

Excellent article Mark! and furthermore with yourself having been very influential on the vinyl habits of many over the years, myself included, it's great to see the overall continual enthusiasm that still exists from a collecting perspective in general! The extensive list whilst certainly not endless contains many records that are still aspirational "quarry" to many enthusiasts, and whilst I'm personally pleased to have acquired several of the aforementioned,  will forever drool  over the many, I can only dream about .....alas.

                                                                                  

Great article and mouthwatering list! 

My only challenge is this bit:

..because the majority on the list seem to be records that were known / played / big in the 80s / 90s on the side of the scene I was involved in. That was 30+ years ago. So from my perspective, these are oldies, just a different generation's oldies.

 

 

Mark - I’m now sitting crying into my hands, cracking article 

Great list.

If I win a multi rollover lottery, I must get them all....and more.

Had a few in the past like Gloria & T-Airas Im satisfied Betty £8 from soul bowl, and bird walking for £1 when a few flooded the market after it stopped getting spins.

Ronnie Mcnier probably rarest I had, by my ten quid limit was restrictive...

No Ringleaders? Probably right, as there were hundreds about for a quid at one point, even though it is a superb sound.

You could almost do a rare soul weekender with just this list, and have a full dance floor throughout.

Ed

12 hours ago, 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 

 

10 hours ago, 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)

 

That's an impressive list. Hope you find the time to do this for modern soul as well.

What a great piece of work!

Thank You

x

Brilliant article.  Thanks for spending the time compiling it. Made a brilliant read 

 

14 hours ago, Chalky said:

Excellent article, very good brief history of collecting and the appeal.  Some list too and hard to argue with any of those on the list.

It would make some nighter hearing that lot over 8 hours

A few off top that could be considered for inclusion, mainly on the rare side of the scene...

Defenders - Sermon (When I’m Down) (Possibly too obscure and not had any exposure really for some years?)

Helen Smith - The Pot Can’t Talk About The Kettle

Helen Smith - You Got To Do Your Share

Royal (Texas Slim) Bell - Sweet Little Girl

Sir Joe - Everyday

Sir Joe  - Nobody Beats My Love

Ravins - Your Love Is What I Want

Johnny Praye  - Can't Get Too Much 

King Cobras - Thank You Baby

 

What is this defenders tune chalky? Sound file anywhere?

Also I notice the “emeralds-beware” is on the list,would it not be the other side “catch me I’m falling” be the desired side?

Brilliant list Mark and very interesting.

 

15 hours ago, Chalky said:

Excellent article, very good brief history of collecting and the appeal.  Some list too and hard to argue with any of those on the list.

It would make some nighter hearing that lot over 8 hours

A few off top that could be considered for inclusion, mainly on the rare side of the scene...

Defenders - Sermon (When I’m Down) (Possibly too obscure and not had any exposure really for some years?)

Helen Smith - The Pot Can’t Talk About The Kettle

Helen Smith - You Got To Do Your Share

Royal (Texas Slim) Bell - Sweet Little Girl

Sir Joe - Everyday

Sir Joe  - Nobody Beats My Love

Ravins - Your Love Is What I Want

Johnny Praye  - Can't Get Too Much 

King Cobras - Thank You Baby

 

Love the mention of The Defenders (out of the Big Don's Rebelion stable, Don Bennett) Brilliant Chalky

Could I add. Hank Hodge. Eye for a eye . Eye records.  to this list 

Great list interesting read I’m astounded by rarity on the items discussed but not surprised. 
Be interesting to see if other genres catch up as sweet soul , modern  / boogie records reach new heights ? 

21 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Could I add. Hank Hodge. Eye for a eye . Eye records.  to this list 

It’s on the list already, and rightly so selling for big bucks last month.

2 minutes ago, Frankie Crocker said:

It’s on the list already, and rightly so selling for big bucks last month.

Thanks mate. I must have missed it in all my excitement seeing such a list 😁🤔

On 04/07/2020 at 09:55, Dobber said:

What is this defenders tune chalky? Sound file anywhere?

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.  

 

1 hour ago, Dobber said:

Also I notice the “emeralds-beware” is on the list,would it not be the other side “catch me I’m falling” be the desired side?

Both have been "desired" after in recent years, great record.

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.  

 

Cheers for the soundfile,not a bad tune that! 

12 minutes ago, Chalky said:

Both have been "desired" after in recent years, great record.

I remember beware being more mid tempo? Falling is on YouTube but not beware?

Thanks for posting Mark. Must have taken hours to compile it and type it up. I wouldn’t dispute any of records included - I would like to own them all but so far have only 60. I also enjoyed the write-up...are you thinking of doing a book on the subject?

Tim Brown’s  Record Collector article over 20 years ago and John Manship’s ‘Rarest Of The Rare’ book have addressed the the theme of rarity/value but your list is more comprehensive.

I would add a few more names on the basis of being sought after such as Little Joe Roman, Bill Bush, Johnny Maestro, James Fountain, Tommy Bush, Sherrys, Devotions, Gwen and Ray, Senator Jones etc possibly a few more on Okeh and Shrine.

Thanks for taking the time and using your extensive knowledge, to compile what's clearly a definitive list in summer '20.

I hope you're well and am looking forward to catching up with you on the other side of this. 

Fascinating read Mark,happy to have a dozen or more in the collection.I'm sure as you said over time more titles can be added to an already extensive list!!

3 hours ago, Docfish said:

That's an impressive list. Hope you find the time to do this for modern soul as well.

Ive left that task to you Lars !!

Very interesting Read.. think Dave Flynn compiled a list of current rare tracks, many years ago on an old forum, would like to compare.. Thanks Mark enjoyed the read..

Has anyone got a sound file for Don Hart Turn back on Mary Jane .Cheers g

Great article.  I will always welcome any alternate view to the usual Top 500 oldies list, because I'm interested in how things have changed.  I'll certainly be delving into Excel spreadsheet territory, to get a feel of how many I know/ I've heard played out over the past 10 years, and in comparison to other material already mentioned.  Anyone who currently owns 20+, I think they are doing exceptionally well under the circumstances!

Hi Chalky and Dobber, re the Defenders - Sermon FYI 2 of us here in NYC each own a copy, faster sounds like this are more popular here and this one is pretty perfect.

1 hour ago, Pomonkey said:

Hi Chalky and Dobber, re the Defenders - Sermon FYI 2 of us here in NYC each own a copy, faster sounds like this are more popular here and this one is pretty perfect.

Thought one of you might have it. Was popular here but never played now 

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 ...