Martyn Pitt

Thanks for the clearing that up John, it was something that had stuck in my mind mainly because I could not believe what the record sold for, and at the time did appear to be a bit strange. As your up to answering questions do you find that when a record does go for a good price on auction you get a surge of people wanting you to sell their copy for them? Martyn

Willie J - Boogie With Your Baby - went through auction a few months ago, and achieves a price in excess of £250, may have been £283. Within a couple of weeks one appears on the set sale list for £250, and has been there ever since, surely the bidder who came second would have snapped up this bargain, so why is it still there? Martyn

Having been through the auction process to conclusion once, I would never buy off it again, I would certainly advise any one considering buying off it to avoid the proxy bid / maximum bid system this is clearly where the flaw lies, and where the ability to manipulate is possible. I had been after a particular record for a long time, not expensive or particularly rare, just elusive, one appeared on the auction site, I decided to go for it. I entered the process, gradually increasing my 'maximum bid' figure as the auction progressed, the final day arrived and it was clear that there were two of us interested in the record, we vied for position outbidding each other by small amounts, we were up around the £200 mark, (about the most it was worth, however it was mint, it had proved elusive and I wanted it so was prepared to go over this to say £250). Getting close to the finish time it was obvious it was only the two of us, we had nudged each other up to close to £250, having suffered a minor hiccup in placing my latest bid in time I decided to put a maximum bid of £300, I was hoping to pay less, but it was there should I get the computer hiccup again. I took the lead at £256, the clock ticked down, (we had extended the finish time by 15 minutes), the other guy had given up, the pattern on the bid history was me, him, me, him all the way down the list, then with seconds to go came a totally new bidder £299, this pushed me to my maximum £300. Strange amount £299, anyone willing to pay that would have gone £300, if it was genuine and the bidder was willing to pay that, why no follow up bid when the £299 failed, where was this bidder earlier in the auction? I am suspicious by nature, £299 is a precise amount and only bid once, I see two possibilities, either a prankster or manipulation by someone who can see my maximum bid amount. Martyn

Worst floor filler ever without question - Frank Wilson - Do I Love You Out and out pop record. Antellects pure class, and not difficult to dance to, even at my advanced years. Martyn

Happy Christmas Joe, It looks like I was right on the other thread, (it was like holding back a lynch mob baying for blood). Which is reassuring as I am never wrong, now dont get breaking my 10 for 0 record by proving me wrong. Martyn

Ted, I could not agree more. Martyn

Ted, if it is who I think she told me that she had smashed them all, I have not seen him out to confirm or deny this claim. She was indeed a woman scorned.... Martyn

Dave, There is a 50 / 50 chance, but by explaining politely the point is probably better taken, which had not been the case. If we catch him doing it again the issue is proved beyond doubt. If something looks to good to be true, it probably is. Is a gold Rolex for £25 going to be real, not a chance. In all honesty we should be targeting the manufacturers of these fakes, thats what they are fakes, lets not dress it up re-issues, boots whatever, at the end of the day they are fakes. Take your £25 fake Rolex into an authorised dealer for a new battery and he has every right to smash it to bits, it is after all a fake. I think the best plan of action is to stop the things being made in the first place, after all it is on our shores where they originate. Martyn

Joe, They make the boots to look like the originals - look alikes. Anyone selling Northern Soul in the UK will know the true value of an original, so if they are selling a $500 plus record for $20 something probably aint right. If they are coming out of the UK in absolute brand new mint condition, something probably aint right. There are some boots about from a few years ago that you need a real one alongside it to spot the difference, it is not always easy. Martyn

I will agree with that Jo, on Junior I think, with a great version of I cant change on the other side for good measure, and probably cheap as chips still. Martyn

Look again Gasher, below the bands name 'The Phonetics' on the blue one there are two lines of print, on the red one there is only one line of print. Martyn

On a serious note look out for Yvonne Baker - Eyes - Argo nice record which really shows off her voice well. Martyn

Jo, I should get your keyboard checked, when you type S then H the letter W comes up. Martyn

That would be a different Steve Smith, Steve. Only I know about your little secret Martyn

Del, Just reading your first post again, why did you assume / think that no one else here would know the tune? Any others that you want to throw in that we may not know. Martyn

Jo if you want to hear it there is a sound bite on John Manships site https://www.raresoulman.co.uk/searchartist....Artist=BARRABAS Martyn

Memory failure, right label colour, wrong name Barrabas - Checkmate c/w Mellow Blow - ATCO records (yellow and white) 1975 Both sides are pretty good Jazz Funk from that period used to play them both. Pete Smiths your man for this stuff Del when was this released on your planet? Martyn

Barabas - Check Mate - Black Cat records 1976 / 1977? I think from memory. I have a copy deep in my vaults, came across from the USA on the Jazz Funk wave in the mid seventies. Martyn

There were some coloured look alike ones done about 5 years ago chaps, remember seeing them about. Martyn

Willie J £288 k'ing hell x3

Could it have been ' I've got to have your love', should be one of Pete Smiffs all time favourites. Golden Wheel records, which strangely is a silver colour label, issued in 1975 Martyn

How much does it go for on Vault? Martyn

Originally issued in 68 as Contemplations with instrumental B side. Renamed as Rock Candy came out as a B side in about 72 I think. It is the same track. Martyn

Yes it is Kev Roberts. I post under my real name, although some of you will know me as Dave Evison's son Martyn

Dazz, is it the same vocal track as Johnny Dixon? Pat Brady has a Johnny Dixon £60, and did have a Four Sonics £40 Martyn