Benji

Irma Franklin is a bit like Maxine Brown - Let me give you my lovin. Countless copies floating around for ages. And then suddenly, like if there was a secret Rare Soul Committee deciding this is a rare record, all copies disappearing and prices soaring. I paid 15 or 20 each for both Tobi Lark 45s on Topper in the mid/late 90s. Back then the hardest on Topper was the Decisions. And it isn't even a Soul 45.

Ambers on New Art prime example for the recent collector's interest in downtempo/sweet soul/lowrider soul. Copies floating around at 15-20 for ages. Then suddenly price goes through the roof. Check out Discogs sales history. It illustrates it quite nicely, below 100 up to end of 2020. Then woosh up to 300 within 8 months. I once had the Topper label complete. Both takes of Priscilla Page, although not at the same time. Sold them all in the early 2k's, didn't see any point of keeping them back then. Shrewd businessman I am I sold both Tobi Lark 45s at 75 each to benefit from the rising demand.

Many years ago off-center records were available at a tiny fraction of their value. Most collectors didn't have a clue about how to fix it. I bought quite a few off-center records back then. Here's what I did: As already been said before easiest way is using cardboard and cutting it out. Once you have that piece of cardboard ready, put it in the record hole in the correct position and fix it on the flipside using the adhesive part of post-it notes. use many of them to really fix the cardboard. You can also use sellotape but using post-it notes the label on the flipside won't be damaged.

My profile says I joined in 2004. But that's when I "re-joined". Can't remember when I actually joined the first time. I know I left the site for some time after an argument, but don't know if my account got deleted or not. I was a member of one of the email lists since late 90s. Wasn't KTF. Was it Rare Soul Talk again? I remember KTF was more about the scene, Rare Soul Talk predominantly records. @Mike: Weren't you based in Paderborn when you started the email list? Anyway, you've been doing such a great job for well over 2 decades, many thanks for this!

Just to avoid any misunderstanding, it's not an UK release, it's from Singapore. I Just mentioned it just came out at the same time as the UK one for reference. Probe obviously had some faith in this song. They did issue it in a large number of countries, as exotic as Yugoslavia. Some of those releases went for over 20 Euros on Discogs so I thought there's a market for them out there. As the Singapore seems to be pretty rare I thought 20/30 might be a fair price for it?

Nobody? 😢

Picked this up a few weeks ago, Tams - Hey girl don't bother me EP - Probe Singapore. Goggle research didn't really bring up any proper results. I guess it's pretty rare but is this collectable and any idea of value? It ties in with the 1971 reissue on UK Probe so not a genuine 60s issue. Reason I'm asking I want to pass it on for a fair price.

Lifted from Discogs, sounds plausible to me: Cifer (sic) Records was originally from the Netherlands and run bij Surinam management. As records from more obscure soul artists were hard to get in the NL, they were printed in the Netherlands or Belgium by labels like Gifer Records. The Dutch have STEMRA on it, the Belgium SABAM

This thread isn't about Connie Clark. Maybe we can go back to Mr. Springsteen and his takes on Soul songs from the 60s and 70s? Has anyone heard any other tracks from the album?

His take on FW is ok to me. And I really like the idea behind his new album. To record songs he hadn't written and to pick these tunes from the American Songbook of the 60s and 70s. And imagine, as an artist to be in the position to not bother about any commercial success but to do whatever the f**k you want. Just like what Roger Daltrey did a year or two ago. Here's the tracklist: 1. "Only the Strong Survive" (Originally performed by Jerry Butler) 2. "Soul Days" (Dobie Gray) feat. Sam Moore 3. "Nightshift" (The Commodores) 4. "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" (Frank Wilson) 5. "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (Frankie Valli / The Walker Brothers) 6. "Turn Back the Hands of Time" (Tyrone Davis) 7. "When She Was My Girl" (The Four Tops) 8. "Hey, Western Union Man" (Jerry Butler) 9. "I Wish It Would Rain" (The Temptations) 10. "Don't Play That Song" (Ben E. King / Aretha Franklin) 11. "Any Other Way" (William Bell / Jackie Shane) 12. "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" (William Bell) feat. Sam Moore 13. "7 Rooms of Gloom" (The Four Tops) 14. "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" (Jimmy Ruffin) 15. "Someday We'll Be Together" (Johnny & Jackey / Diana Ross and the Supremes) I especially look forward to hearing his versions of tracks #6 and #9

Been decades since I left university but from what I remember the type of auction Anglo-American uses is called "scottish auction". Similar to "english auction" (your bid is your top bid, no increment) but with a set time-frame. Anyone knows if the increment-type scottish auction (e.g. ebay) is defined by a certain name?

Is this a typo? Either the label or the price.

@Kenb: As you wrote the article back then do you have any info about Bobbi & Michi by chance?

Just revisiting this article as Sound of Soul (Bobbi & Michi) are mentioned. their Josie 45 "Wrapped up tight" is a firm favourite of mine. Does anybody have more details about Bobbi and/or Michi? Like who they are?

ok, thanks

Would you mind explaining what you mean? Is half of the song shite? Or is it the sound quality?

Did I really sound that grumpy? Probably did. 😉

I'm not a fan of Motown or Stax. And why should I? I acknowledge their influence in 60s soul music. And that's it.

Just looking at the scan, based on the poor print definition this is a lookalike bootleg and not an original. Bootleg https://www.discogs.com/de/release/16453581-Roy-Roberts-Legend-Of-Otis-Redding-Got-To-Have-Your-Love Original w/d https://www.discogs.com/de/release/598772-Roy-Roberts-Legend-Of-Otis-Redding-Got-To-Have-Your-Love

From what I remember, it was a long time ago: The Tamla PS 45 was a giveaway to music industry reps/journalists/whatever at a convention/party sort of thing to promote the box set. The set was released in June 1994 so I guess the party was around the same time. Story goes most copies given out were thrown away or stored away due to lack of interest. But a few copies came to the market and the price rocketed. In 1995/1996 scene was mad for the tune so CK pressed it as a (licensed?) giveaway at his 40th birthday bash in 1996. So neither the Tamla or the CK 45 were commercial releases. However the Tamla 45 was the first legal release.

The pic sleeve giveaway 45s from the early 90s turned up quite some time before the CK UK reissue.

@Kelboy @Imperial C Mind if I use your pictures to create respective entries on Discogs? Both issues aren't listed there yet.

Just my grumpy two cents before I go to bed: That Big Rodger Collins 45 is boring average R&B in my opinion. Definitely no allnighter material IMO. I'd even say I would be embarrassed to play this at a do. The Clock Stoppers 45 is a dull cover version. Interesting history of the band and the recording though. But if I had a copy would I keep it? Certainly no. Good night.

I agree. Not soul. But well done. No idea why you think they should be played out at NS venues?

I'm not familiar with UK tax law. But basically it's the same as german tax law. A record collection is an asset. Period. And if the value of an asset or the total sum of all assets exceed a certain threshold inheritance tax applies.