Tlscapital

Don't want to kill the hopes here (as I would evidently be happy to have one from such a stash if ever) but if like the Aspirations/Admirations on Peaches with 3 label variants most probably indicating 3 runs of prints but only in tiny numbers each time likely due to short deejay/radio air-play time and will to supply local stores in hope of greater things. Projects on a very tight budget and short-handed on promotion...

Trying to watch my first episode of that 'funny Woman' now and am going to 'zap' to something else. Never will try to watch any other episode of that again. 'Poker face' is much more entertaining IMO.

How dare they trying to fool the Loma man like that ? No-no-no. I feel ya. Likely better entertainment if ever on 'Poker Face' episode 5 'time of the monkey' kicking in with Jackie Shane 'any other way' playing then all along during the episode my favorite of him/er 'coming' down'. American comedy show of 'modern' type likely with hipsters involvement accessing the Numero Group catalog but in this episode echoing the 'love power' era they're placing in the seventies (?) so even more serious decades overall mismatch for contemporary 'decor' setting than yours.

Looking for a tidy looking and playing promo Monarch copy.

As for the 'crisp' factor when in good enough condition on good quality styrene and when well mastered they can have some of that. Styrene can indeed show a broader frequency spectrum response through playback than vinyl. Depending I prefer some styrene to vinyl for that playback rendition regard. But styrene is also more prone to stylus wear and then subject to distortions in the high frequency range. Hence why many prefer "stronger" vinyl (no BACK 'cue burn'). Cheap styrene on uncalibrated mastering will make playback rather difficult to put it in a nice way. More so than on cheap vinyl for example.

Promo variant of the 'local' or self distributed navy blue styrene Monarch press that I own. Also much rarer promo variant than the Amy-Bell-Mala vinyl press for national distribution. Worth a bit more. First had my light green label vinyl copy but since I prefer the looks of the local navy blue press I got me one and as for playback I can also attest that it has indeed more depth and 'oomph' bass factor.

On first listen it sounded instinctively to me like a basic 'imprint' to 'this old heart of mine' (the piano too) FWIW although maybe only coincidental if ever...

Just by the look of the label the 'sharp' dip toward the spindle hole is not right indicating a bootleg.

Tintin the great investigative reporter has nailed it !

Here I present what is a Mint- (I rarely use the cautious grade) copy. Played it only once for 'quality control' ; A-OK. So unless one wants a full on sound clip of it (that I can do upon request) you get what you see. Guarantee 100% that. It may be a stocker copy originally but it was clearly used for promotional purpose featuring the previously seen stampers on few other copies of 'knick knack' implying to play 'this side please'. Making these 'cute' stampers part of this record's history. Attesting that someone ran out of promotional copies but was still eager to push it with the stockers under the hand. Likely the recipient of this copy had to add an 'X' in red marker to make sure... Anyway hence no drill hole on the other hand. Comes in its birth company sleeve and will be sent from Belgium registered anywhere in the world to no extra costs. With low value declared and as 'gift' in needed on the Custom Form. Offers considered or trades eventually. PM me for inquiries.

The original stockers styrene seem to be much rarer than their promo counterparts indeed as opposed to the original vinyl issue where the stockers are more common than the promo like 3 or 4 to 1. As for the "playback" difference mind you there are two vinyl variants. One is machined stamp and the other one is scratched in. Could that be an indicator for the difference in playback definition ? My current machined stamp vinyl stocker plays perfectly and I am sensitive to quality playback from my beloved 45's on my proper MONO phono set-up. Am certain that the vinyl promos sounds the same.

Depending in regard of playback rendition I prefer some of my 45's on styrene and some on vinyl when both variations do co-exists. Then when multiple pressings plants are also involved I get to pick again the one I prefer when and if I can. Here with this record my preference has always been for the vinyl pressing. The whole mastering well balanced tone here gives the tune the class it's aiming for. Where the styrene mastering there emphasis too much on the 'highs' IMO. Although Hoagy's sultry vocal 'jumps out' upfront on the styrene pressing. Styrene pressings can be amazing. But with the music in the back and the 'tom' kick upfront it's the whole tune that suffers from being less balanced I find.

On my behalf I like to think that I am not 'stuck or stubborn' as such with my approach of the world in general. Being only 50 years old, from and living in Belgium I'm not in and from the UK northern soul scene for example. Meaning I evolved in the music and records realm always trying to figure it out regardless of my 'taste' or else. For my defense my main "school" always went my ways and by ways (began with the Jamaican stuffs when it was still cheap). Yet the fact that northern soul odd collecting ways (outside of other type of "classical" collectors back then) with the deejays setting the prices (pushing tunes to become in demand) on some records that was only by coincidence co-existing as such on the Pop-Corn scene in Belgium (of which I am not part of) made it all exiting when it was still "underground" back then for crate diggers, collectors and punters. Prior but mostly post Y2K the 'worldwide' influenza' officially commercializing northern soul (and other 6T'S and 7T's musical genres) for and with fortunate returnees and new, young and fresh deep pockets abroad 'distributed' all over the game of cards for old and new 'broken' records bringing it's share of "misery" with it. The 'world' of tastes FWIW has always been there. Just as most of those guys from the Pop-Corn scene and Northern Soul couldn't figure what it is all about with the other scene still all those years after. And both these scenes have they're "laughed at" dreaded sounds. But that's true and typical for any 'in deep' musical scenes. When known top sounds (stood the test of time if you will) that are rare enough to shoot up in price it brings a lot of comments naturally. But maybe for others like I it's an anxiety factor indicating another inflation factor on record's prices to come. When a known, not rare "collector's" sound reaches such inflating prices even more.

Now I have to watch episode 1 all over again to spot it... was at episode 4. Thanks for that though 😉

With music, lyrics and vocals as such surely he will have his place back in heaven by now. R.I.P. Jr +

There are many forms of 'clubs' deviating from it's 'original' formal sense mind you. 'Get together' events are a form of 'club' if you will where these sounds are more and more tolerated at least if not cherished. Much more so than ever before hopefully. The 'Tarantino' effect 😉 But I doubt influential deejays if any are pushing it-up prices there. My ironical question was is there a 'Butch' or such out there now pushing that Jobettes 'low rider' side out there explaining the sudden deejay 'guru' effect on that particular tune/record at the moment ? I believe not. And those 'real' American low riders collect and price their records differently than on the "northern soul" front. They don't have a John Manship 😋

Another major soul act loss. Many great and beloved 45's of that fantastic group. Deep, sweet, stomper or finger snappers here's what I believe to be an overlooked of their 'floater' dancer sides ; RIP George +

Tricky. Searching for hints and hidden cryptic signs... If any. Misleading that can be too. Surr Amol !

Striking ! Russ Amsterdam versus Russ Aachen 😁

A most cherished (in this home) Tamla "oddball" release somehow with such an encounter of talents that too often when together dwell into "porridge" IMO. But that here thanks to Thom Bell's dainty arrangement giving it all the "air", "crystal clear" and 'gloss' it needs to allow all to shine through is only for the better on this most humble Billy Stewart hommage.

Remember as a kid hearing 'gangsters' on the radio in 1979. But it was Madness that got me in 3 years later as I was more attracted to the skinhead side of things. But the Specials got a longer lasting hook on me. The first album period mostly. Especially while venturing deeper and deeper into the Jamaican music more and more the Specials had that "rough-er" right edge. More so than any other band then or even after FWIW. 5 stars band they were. R.I.P. Terry

Have been loving my soul slow and moody ever since just like my dancer's ones. By now the difference is that when I play one people think that I've fallen into that 'low rider' 5 minutes fashion while I have such records for 35 years for example. As a long time crate digger I was always picking up gear to pass on too to get my wants. So am I new to those sounds or records ? New to loving them ? No far from it. What is new is that it has taken anew interest in a general way rather than that of the smaller typical 'niche' market of the then "classic" deep-soul collectors, the harder to get around Japanese soul scene or the Jamaican's in Miami one of the then days. What is new is with the rise of interest for that Chicanos 'low rider' hype, craze or trend (call it what you want) is that these the prices suddenly followed the "work-out" of the northern soul one. That which is not right, good nor healthy. Why ? Because northern soul prices initially were made by dee-jays and then collectors ! Prior to the internet days these values were still rather "underground" and the northern soul market "protected" from other markets speculative approach. With articles on them records appearing on the public books stalls or with the dreaded northern soul prices guides began to appear it became less self regulated. Now open to all sorts of speculations from the "antiques" market northern soul became very reactive to inflation for example. That which is a really unhealthy sign. Never that scene should have become so "liberal". But with the "revival" of the late 9T's it all became evident that many came back with deep pockets and spirit. Other split scenes coming from that seventies British realm followed like modern soul or deep-funk with that used same price/value systems given by both by dee-jays and collectors from the scene. But for those "deep-souls" suddenly breaking through the roof prices that are not related to a club scene of enthusiasts it is odd. Or is it not ? Could anyone name me the famous dee-jays pushing it at this very moment explaining the suddenly boom in price. Or is it another example of young hipster comers on the collectors scene that need to give artificially these records high tag prices à la northern soul to give those a credential capitalistic boost ?

OK sure I can believe it was Chalky. Thanks for correcting that then. But for value what back then ? Not worth much either as the few copies I remember seeing pre or just past 2000 were nowhere like "big" even for then. As for the "better" flip-side 'what you gonna ado' if it has indeed a better potential. Yet quickly the song dwell into repetition to a bore and nothing else exciting follows up past the second verse after the intro. What a pity. Typical of a project where only few good ideas were put together with plenty of nothing copycats gimmick stuffs added to fill in the gaps. A record that I kept on trying to love but never really could for both sides.