Derek Pearson

And to make it easier for everybody here's a YouTube link: derek x

Superb explanation George and I'm sure many soul fans can think of various "garage" sounding records which were reportedly ''500 only' presses which got massive airplay on the northern scene. When you talk about the soul market being much more concentrated within the black community I recall being told a story many, many years ago that The Magnetics super rarity on Bonnie was only ever sold for a limited time, out of one record store across the whole of the Greater Detroit area. So even in the unlikely chance that (a) you'd actually heard the record in the first place and then (b) actually wanted to buy a copy - if you didn't know which specific shop was actually selling it you'd never be able to locate a copy. All these circumstances contributed together to make it the super rarity it has become. However I must add - stories is all we ever hear - the record industry just like the whole of the entertainment business has more than its fair share of people that massage both the figures and the truth. Fascinating thread this. Better stop tho' I've got a wall to point before the rain starts again.... derek

I forget the history timeline now but didn't wholesale recycling of unsold vinyl and non hits start with the Suez oil crisis in the early 1970's? Seem to recall being told a story about the head man at Scepter at the time being to blame for starting this process. derek

Derek Pearson playing some of them old northern 45s Saturday 8th October 2011 Bradford BCB Radio106.6FM 21:00-22:00pm + playlists I left my windswept house on the hill carrying a box full of singles, that I’d been playing to myself in the house over the last few weeks or so, in an effort to refresh my memory of them. They were mainly up tempo obscure sixties things that I hadn’t played on the radio for ages and I must admit it was a joy to put together a set of them for radio airplay. If you would like to hear the show live there’s 2 ways to go about it – if you live within say 10 miles of the BD1 based studio tune your radio to the 106.6 frequency on your FM dial and you should be able to get it. Failing that go through the wonders of the world wide web on www.bcbradio.co.uk and hear it streamed live out of your PC. Dee Pee’s wonderful selection of them old northern 45s: More details to follow asap

My nominee for a key defining moment was when this man decided buying soul records to resell was gonna be his career. John Anderson, Record Dealer Extraordinaire - come out of the shadows, step forward, take a bow and accept deserved massive applause and respect. That man alone must've been responsible for importing tons and tons and tons (literally) of soul records onto these shores. Now I imagine some people were probably bringing soul records into the UK before him but once he got into his stride he elevated it up to an industrial scale. He helped fuel the rapidly expanding northern soul scene in the 1970's by his discovery of previously unheard off soul 45s which DJ's eagerly consumed to keep their playlists fresh and exclusive. Can you ever get enough vinyl? derek x

Hey up Louis how's it going? great to read about your memories. You should post more - got any old photos you care to share? onwards, derek x

I remember being in Chicago early 1990's and got invited to a bar where some older record collectors were meeting up for a few beers and a chat. Seem to think I knew of or had heard of many of their names; think I'd even bought a few records off one or two of 'em through the post in the years before. Anyway in amongst all of these great stories they were telling of hunting and tracking vinyl up, down and across chicago land one of the blokes tells this jaw dropping story about him going to work at the Capitol Records warehouse/distribution centre as a young 16 year old kid. Within a week or so he was left in charge of the guiloteen and responsible for cutting up and disposing of old unwanted record covers and sleeves. I think you know where this story is going don't you..... Yep - when the Beatles Butcher cover was withdrawn he was given the task of cutting up all the offending sleeves that were returned to his factory. He didn't realise the magnitude of it at the time but he did have enough savvy, even as a 16 year old, to spirit away a couple of intact sleeves which he sold for top dollar many years later. There are far too many names and places to remember - I just wish I could recall some more. Oh well. derek

Anybody know if Vox Pop in Manchester is still on the go? I know it moved out of the city centre a few years ago and went up Prestwich way as I visited them a few times. Tried the number I've got (which I'd phoned them on many times previously) but whilst it rang nobody picked up. Tried the email I've got (which I'd contacted them on many times previously) but get no reply. Is there anybody from Manchester on here that's in contact with them or can fill me in with an update? Ta very muchly, derek x

Hey up Ashley - I've got a really nice copy on UK Doctor Bird that I'd be willing to let go at £350 if you're interested. Grade wise it's got a lovely deep shine and gloss, couple of light surface marks overall I'd rate it as Excellent minus. PM to discuss. Ta. onwards, Derek P&P extra.

Technically speaking this record I'm on about doesn't fit properly into this thread - it's more of a "danger beware" warning. Went to look at some records last week with a view to buying some to sell on. In amongst piles of 1970's Elvis albums and Country & Western singers I'd never heard of was this solitary import hiding amongst some Gary Glitter 45s. On first glance I must admit my heart did beat a little bit faster then after a little bit o' thinking I calmed down and filed it in the box marked "bet that looks like it could be brilliant but probably sounds like an elephant farting". Curiosity got the better of me and I took it along with some other Jerry Lee Lewis 45s. Daredn't play it when I got home just in case. But then I did....oh! Let's just say - if you ever see a copy on Ebay just move away from that 'Buy It Now' button. Move away now. Please don't press 'Send' or you'll be sorry. derek What was that animal called Nelly in that kids nursery rhyme?

One of my few claims to fame.... years and years ago I posted a question in a fanzine summat along the lines of - two releases, same singer, same label but one letter difference in the title completely alters it's value from the other. Boy was I feeling tip top when I thought of that one. derek

First asked this back end of July but got no response. Thought I'd try again... Any body got an original Rex Garvin "You Don't Need No Help" on WSJ they want to get rid of? Must be minimum Excellent minus condition To be honest my prefered first option would be to trade for it; but quite willing to pay cash depending on what you're asking for it. On the 7th Day the Lord made vinyl. derek x

Derek Pearson and special guest Chalky on t’ radio Saturday 10 September Shades Of Soul 21.00-22.00pm. Bradford Community Based Radio BCB106.6FM In tonight’s show we welcome back into the studios for only his third appearance on BCB Radio, the man known as Chalky all the way from downtown Goole. Expect the weird. Expect the wonderful. And that’s just the guests... And as usual if you’re interested in hearing the show live there’s 2 ways to go about it – first try the good old 106.6FM frequency on your radio if you live within say 10 miles of the studio and secondly through t’ wonders of the world wide web www.bcbradio.co.uk Onwards, Derek All Era’s. All styles. All over the place. Chalky’s 13 plays: Tommy Tate - I Remember - Koko Nightingales (Tommy Tate on Lead Vocal) - You're Moving Too Fast - Stax La Jay Alexander - Say So - Black Gold Final Seconds - Society - Boo Kou Robert Winters - Soul Motivation - Ron's Variations - I Wanna Take You Uptown - Right On Contours - Cannot Do WIthout Your Love Leo McArthy - Bringing It Home Oscar Wright - Fell In Love - Hemisphere Ron Alston - Something Aint Right - Philips Benny C Oliver - Make It Now - Ojobco Barons - I Got A Feeling - Etah Billy Prophet - Puppet On A String Dee Pee’s mixture of all sorts: Details to be added asap

Whilst trawling a well known Auction site a few hours ago I gasped out loud when I spotted a copy of the CENtral 1179 book starting at £200. Pardon? Excuse Me? Having read this thread I can sorta/possibly/maybe see where she got that figure from....... derek Rarer than Frank Wilson and it took her 2 years to find a copy of the book...

At the time it was a missing number in the Shrine catalogue, off hand I seem to think it was either The Counts or The Prophets 45. Ain't got time to tell the full story now suffice to say "they meant well"..... Had to laugh at this - my guilty secret number 9 is over the years I've become a bit of a conniseur of cardboard and all its foibles. Just by looking at waste cardboard boxes outside shops I can sorta tell whether it would be good for mailers. Just like a cobbler with shoes and a joiner with wood I do like the feel of a good bit of cardboard. I've even had several conversations with different people about it at various soul nites here and there. Even when they yawned I didn't let it put me off.... derek x

Blimey in all my years of buying 45s I don't think I've ever been sent a 7" record through the post in a mailer without cardboard stiffeners. I'm pretty shocked that anybody would do that but in reality I'm not that suprised. I'd go bonkers if that happened to me. And if you think that's bad - years ago Andy Rix once told me a jaw dropping story about being sent a previously unknown Shrine 45 from America wrapped in just a paper bag. Think you can guess what happened........... derek

As obsessive record collectors I'm sure many of us love to hear those jaw dropping stories about mates telling us how they discovered an old forgotten about shop somewhere in smalltown england years ago that had tons of old vinyl stacked up to the ceiling. Words like plundered and stripped immediately spring to mind. Oh yes come to papa..... Was only recently talking to a mate who was recalling a story about a place he'd discovered, in a town I used to live in, years and years ago. ** Over quite a long period of time he quietly and steadily proceeded to empty the shop of all its desirable 45s without once making a fuss or telling anybody. B*stard! I wasn't jealous or impressed. Yes I was and told him so. To fight back with my own stories I was trying to recount tales I'd been told by seveal different people I think over the years of an old shop somewhere in the hills above Oldham that had lain forgotten about since the late 1960's right up untill the early/mid 1970's. Only the odd person knew about it and they virtually helped themselves to all the old stock that was just gathering dust and cluttering up the place. But I failed miserably to impress my old buddy as I couldn't recall any fine details about the shop's name, where it was exactly, who were the chosen few that got in and what sort of time period are we talking about. Laughs. I'm pretty sure this quite legendary store and tale has been discussed on here before, albeit very briefly, so to clear up all the loose ends in my mind once and for all - lets put this story down into print. Come on chaps tell all. I thank you, derek x ** names and places witheld to protect the guilty obviously.

Great thread Mister ChorleyBloke. Of all the superclubs littered throughout the history of this scene I've always thought it was the Blackpool Mecca that was the least documented. Apart from the well known Cartstairs crowd what about all those fascinating Mecca One Spin wonders and legend inspiring Colin Curtis's last or first (can't remember now) hour plays. I suspect because of the sheer volume and warp speed turnover of tunes available who'd have the inclination, time and notepads to hand to scribble it all down? Must admit though I can immediately think of 2 well known suspects who probably did just that at the time........ And if you want another observation to back up my opening statement have a quick trawl through the folders in the Gallery and see just how little evidence there is in there. derek x Hey up Misters Ferguson & Taylor. And finally I vividly recall a woman I used to work with from the Keighley area, telling me once (quite nonchalantly) that she'd been to The Blackpool Mecca on a girls night out/hen night whatever and seen The Chi-lites there. I was green with envy but being a bloke I didn't show it. The group would have been touring on the strength of their big UK chart hit "Have You Seen Her" which first hit the money in early 1972 and then later in the summer of 1975. I suspect it was in the later time period she attended.....

Derek Pearson playing some of his favourites Sat 20th August 2011. Dee Pee saying it for soul. Shades Of Soul 21.00-22.00pm. Bradford Community Based Radio BCB106.6FM People that know me will confirm that I’m not very good at blowing my own trumpet (ooh er) but on this occasion I just couldn’t help myself. This afternoon I briefly viewed my playlist and nodded quietly “yeah tonight’s show is a solid mix of simply great records”. Many of them you won’t be surprised to hear are some of my own personal favourites. Yeah I’d be proud to nail this playlist on my headstone. As CD’s of the recording get passed around by mates I’m pretty sure in 10 years time if I looked back over tonight’s selection of tunes I’d argue with anybody that these 20 plus records still stand up tall. But the story of how it came about just confirms how weird and wonderful life is, or should I say my life is... I’d been trying to book the studio for a slot on Thursday but for various reasons it never came off. An arrangement to view some records out of town on Friday had already been confirmed and - as it happens sometime - of all the available studio time on that day, try as I could, none of it would marry up with my limited time schedule. So Friday dinnertime I stuck 2 x 100 count boxes of records in the boot of my car and set off on my travels with a notion to ring the studio up later in the day to double check if any last minute windows had opened up. As I trundled back home over the moors above Huddersfield just after six I rang the studio and yep you guessed it - Walt Disney is set to make a motion picture film about it. Studio Manager said his plans had changed which very conveniently opened up an 8-9pm vacancy in studio 2. So I had at my disposal roughly 200 singles with their labels covering the letters G to L. If you would like to hear the show live there’s 2 ways to go about it – if you live within say 10 miles of the BD1 based studio tune your radio to the 106.6 frequency on your FM dial and you should be able to get it. Failing that go through the wonders of the world wide web on www.bcbradio.co.uk and hear it streamed live out of your PC. Dee Pee’s wonderful selection of them old 45s: More details to follow after I’ve walked Ruby in the rain. But here’s a quick list of the artists featured. Singing Sam Joshie Armstead Harry & Keyavas The Channels Valerie & Nick James Fry Sonny Allen Tom Emmanuel Jackey Beavers Jo Armstead T99 Quiet Elegance Gwen Owens Jacqueline Jones Esquires Mill Evans Tommy Soul Skyliners Ray Gant Four Gents James Wayne Melvin Davis

Hey up Salmon how's it going? Ain't got a copy for sale sorry - but here's one of those record bar stories collectors always tell. Had one a few years ago and flogged it - was telling Mick Howard about it and he said that's my old copy. From what I remember the same record passed through several well known people's hands, within a couple o' years or so, all within the Manchester area. Wonder where it is now? Can't recall who I sold it to erm? Calling Mick Howard to the rescue......... derek x

Oh please don't set me off again rambling on about Tami Lynn "I'm gonna run away from you" on Irish Polydor which I'm sure I've seen and handled many years ago. Late 1970's at least. Would love to see a label scan if anyone's got one..... Right that's it Derek - move away from the keyboard. Do not attempt to type anymor

Just 2 original 45s up for grabs this time. Reduced and re-priced to sell quickly this time. All the vinyl is in Excellent condition, there is some slight brown spot ageing on the labels check the scans. As Refosoul is still under construction I've included YouTube clips just to remind you how damn good these 2 records are. BESSIE BANKS “Don’t You Worry Baby The Best Is Yet To Come” mono/stereo (US Quality) WDJ Excellent £150. Always been brilliant. Always been chased by collectors. Competition between DJs has helped push the price upwards steadily over the last decade or so. JOHN EDWARDS "The Look On Your Face / It's Those Little Things That Count" (Bell) styrene WDJ Excellent £150 PM or email me on pearson544@btinternet.com to reserve/discuss blah blah blah..... Payment by cheque (UK) or Paypal on pearson544@btinternet.com Same deal as before - if you do me the favour by sending the ££ through Paypal as a gift, I will cover the P&P costs and mail you the record by Special Delivery (UK only). Ta. derek x

Hi Mark I've also got a copy for sale. PM'd you. cheers, derek

Any body got an original Rex Garvin "You Don't Need No Help" on WSJ they want to get rid of? Must be minimum Excellent minus condition To be honest my prefered first option would be to trade for it; but quite willing to pay cash depending on what you're asking for it. Keep it 45. derek x

Derek Pearson and special guest Paul Harris on t’ radio Saturday 23 July 2011 Shades Of Soul 21.00-22.00pm. Bradford Community Based Radio BCB106.6FM In tonight’s show we welcome back into the studios for only his second appearance on BCB Radio, Mister EBU himself Paul Harris all the way from the other side of Bradford. Paul is well known as the organiser and promoter of the Bradford Rarer & Underplayed Soul Events at East Bowling Unity Club. His playlist tonight will almost certainly reflect the ethos of the club he promotes. Expect the weird. Expect the wonderful. And that’s just the guests... And as usual if you’re interested in hearing the show live there’s 2 ways to go about it – first try the good old 106.6FM frequency on your radio if you live within say 10 miles of the studio and secondly through t’ wonders of the world wide web www.bcbradio.co.uk Onwards, Derek All Era’s. All styles. All over the place. Paul Harris’s selection of thirteen: Boston Hitesmen - Can't let it ride - MTA Superbs - I was blind - Dore Roy Smith - Very strong on you - Liberty Zena Foster - Baby, let me teach you - Veep Acquinetts & Sandy Lyn - When you get some money - Billion Laura Green - Don Deopo (female bandit of love) - Way Out Cynthia & Imaginations - Love is real - Blue Rock Gloria Jones & Tiaras - Gone with the wind - Kingdom Come Forever promo CD Jimmy McFarland & Tiaras - Blowing my mind to pieces – Kingdom Come Forever promo CD Gladys Knight & Pips - Lovin' feeling - Tamla Motown Pauline Chivers - Tough stuff - O-Pex Crystals - I got a man - United Artists Johnny Williams - My baby's good - Chess Dee Pee’s mixture of all sorts: Details to be added asap