sostenuto

Certainly not a record that would have been played at Wigan; it doesn't contain the elements of an archetypal Northern record of the 7ts, whereas it does sound right for todays play list. Why if these collectors had it for years didn't they play it in their sets before a certain dj un-leashed it on the Northern scene about 18 months ago?

yes, very well known by the collectors. Ive had it for 30+ years.

Many collectors refer to a demo and a dj copy in the same capacity, so when you mentioned demo (instead of song demo) I thought you were talking about a different version of the song on a merben dj copy. At the outset you should have just said that you were reviewing a cd with some un-released tracks on it.

Butch played this version a few times at the 100 club. Sounded rather good in the niter. He has the 8" acetate, with the flip side being "help me pretty baby" Apparently some 15 years ago, he was at John Bowie's family home, where the acetate probably came from. This isn't the dj copy version (which is exactly the same same version as the issued copy)

yes, it's been around for many years. You just need to be going to the right venues and speaking to the right people. In fact I have a spare copy if anyone is really interested.

Yes, i remember it getting some action around that time. Was a populer tune around 74. Neil Allen from Stoke put me onto it. Great record!

very rare record on promo. Bought mine in 76 and only remember one other person with a promo copy in their collection at the time; that was rob marriott.

Although can be catagorised as Northern; a namby-pamby, wishy-washy effort that's lacking in Soul and therefore always will be, ranked by many, as a third rate tune.

I used to get 100 for this in the late 8ts, when you could occasionally find it on trips to the west coast. I don't see it at all these days. Im glad i kept a copy for myself.

Certainly got no spins in the 7ts as it didnt have the right sound for then. I remember buying it in around 1976 and thinking that it was way below average; stuck it in the collection as it would have been impossible to resell it and a few years later sounded marginally better. A Keb spin for a few weeks in the mid 8ts and then when he found out it was easily available dropped it from his playlist. As Dave says, it was a soul pack 45; the usual story; either you could get it from Soul Bowls £1 special page on the weekly list, or from their famous soul packs of a 100 different soul records. John A. would have had 500 plus, mint copies if it went into the soul packs, so not a rare record and even today a relatively easy 45 to find here in Britain.

Perfections....white label ? What's that supposed to be and why is it worth £75 (assuming it's a re-press) I know the original acetate of this song sold on Ebay about 8 months ago.

Your original quote was: "reminds me a little of Thelma Lindsey...prepared to love you..in parts" That's what I was commenting upon, your comparison of this Popcorn record and Thelma Lindsey, which is a archetypal Northern record. Your most recent comments suggest that NOW you're commenting on her vocal style.

The genre 'Popcorn' describes a certain type of music, such as the record in question. Thelma Lindsey is so obviously Northern, so I couldn't see your connection between the two.

mrswood, I was making the point that there is a lot of misinformation on Soul Source, especially about records.

I've had that 45 for at least 20 years; RnB style dancer that's hard to find. Im not surprised that it's unknown to the regular Soul Source fraternity, as they seem to flounder on most subjects about the Northern Scene/obscure 45s.

Now that did make me laugh; 'reminds me a little of Thelma Lindsey...prepared to love you..in parts' .......can't hear that at all. Seriously, you should ask the Belgians, who like that Popcorn sound and have done for years, if they know it. Most folk here in Britain are soul-laden and would bypass that sort of 45.

meditations-checker-it's wrong to fight; if you bought a soul pack in the 7ts then you would probably have come across this 45. Gospel laden and noisy; probably the reason that it never got reviewed over the years or mentioned in any of the price guides.

I have another version of this song (im not sure if it's better or worse)

First plays at the Yate niter, via Ian Clark. The guy who discovered it was Bob Morris, from Stoke; he was on the coach going to Yate, with the said record and intended flogging it to Ian. Unforgettable intro !!!!

yes !!

Not a Stafford record. I recollect it turning up in the early 1990s, when the Cross-over period was in vogue. There was a few copies at Tim Brown's place, via Martin Koppell's stock. Tim was selling it for £8 each (probably £4 at the warehouse) I think most people back then would have got their copy from that source eg. Pat Brady, who bought many 45s from Anglo American. All the main collectors would have bought a copy during that period, so you should assume Tim had at least 50 copies. Soul Bowl also had some copies, as did a few other record-hounds that scoured America at that time. It was not a real rarity, but these records don't last forever on sales lists and in sales boxes. As new waves of collectors turn up, looking for something interesting to buy, they usually discover that what was once a easy record to find, is now hard to find, with the added irritation of an older collector urging caution......"it's an £8 record/there are loads of those around" Another point to consider is that during the 9ts, in amongst the thousands of great records turning up, this was just another record that maybe some would buy and others would not. Back then it wasn't really what djs would look for in a record, but now, with the changing components of what consitutes a good record for the dance floor and the lack of new discoveries, it's a different story. Hence a price hike !

Charisma-E Rod Jones; there is hardly any difference in the vinyl pressing between the Tuff and the Charisma imo. In fact, many US records have vinyl differences, depending upon which pressing plant was used. Having a difference doesn't mean that the Charisma is a later press; it could be construed conversely as an earlier press, or more likely pressed at the same time. Btw Tim Brown has never had the pleasure of having the Charisma 45, so Im not sure if his comments are applicable (unless he has some info. from the artist, producer etc.)

Stagemasters-Hit Kingdom flip is 'the feeling' (which is an instrumental) dated 1968; the Slide issue has 1966. Slightly different intros, as I remember, on the 'baby im here just to love you' Something that always gives me a chuckle; the Hit Kingdom states on the label 'popcorn soul' on the 'Baby Im here just to love you' and 'this is atomic soul' on the 'The Feeling' side. Shouldn't that be the other way round !!? Great record !! On the subject of E Rodney Jones-R&B time, the Charisma release is identical to the Tuff release (other than the label) Pressed on the same vinyl and has the same matrix numbers in the deawax; tm 2060 and tu 6037 Just wondered why you thought it was a later release Dave? Btw, I first saw the Charisma 45 on a Soul Bowl list in 1975 at £5 which was a lot of money then. I think I agree with Tim that it's a real deal rarity.