Frankie Crocker

True but it is a rough indicator and one of the best out there. Yes, Discogs and other databases exist but they’re no better, clunkier to access, and even less comprehensive. In an ideal world, Tim Brown’s results alongside John’s would give a current valuation for auctionable items; Soul-Source sales can give a pretty good idea of current values but many of these are eBay ie Popsike based. Popsike infact informs us of how un-rare a record is eg John Bowie.

Agreed - no logic to this finishing price. Manny bigged up the rare red-issue thing but it’s not that rare with c50 copies listed on Popsike. Rather interestingly, there’s only c20 white demos on Popsike making this the harder to own variety!

Supposedly rare red issue when compared to the white demo of John Bowie - finishing value really off the scale of bewilderment BUT if someone has the money and it is their favourite record, anything can happen.

A much better lot of records this week, some at very nice prices. John Standberry Jr went for a higher value than shown.

Siding with Chalky here at £1,500. Not a rare record by any means but certainly a four-figure always in-demander. Usually found in well-worn condition so a minter would possibly pass £1,500.

Wishing you a rapid recovery Mark. Keep on Keepin’ On…

Nowt wrong using talc to help dancers shuffler. The complainants usually can’t dance as they’re glued to the floor. Church’s brogues are fine but they cost a lot. There are lesser known brands available in good shoe shops but again they cost a lot - if just used for dancing, they’ll last years.

A few more but the memory is a bit hazy. Possibly not exclusives but definitely rare tunes that Butch championed. Antellects- Love Slave Johnny Praye -Can’t Get Too Much Love Gallahads - I’ve Got To Find A Way Stormie Wynters - Life Saver Les Watson & Panthers - Occasionally I Cry Pee Wee, Shuck & Huey - Beside Myself Butch’s playbox has always been packed full of goodies eg Professionals, Ray Agee, Tranells etc…He also gave Walter And The Admirations -Man O Man the push it deserved after I think Pat Brady had spun the other side. Butch’s salesbox would put many DJ’s in the shade.

Jean Wells - With My Love And What You Got Nurons -All Of My Life Probably a story behind these two?

Big at The 100 Club and Cleethorpes Weekender.

A few more from the Nineties and Noughties… Joseph Webster - My Love Is So Strong Saints - I’ll Let You Slide Camaro’s We’re Not Too Young Milton James - My Lonely Feeling

Mr Big Shot, his best by far in my humble opinion - one of the records that hooked me on the music back in 1973. Gene Chandler has got to be one of the most prolific ‘Northern’ artists going with so many decent tunes to his name.

One of the weakest auctions in a long time with most records going for very modest sums. Wade Flemons the highlight fetching the auction going rate. Plenty of tonight’s records are evidently Set Sale items if they are valued at below £200.

Water, regardless of temperature, could damage paper labels on styrene records. I would have thought paper towels would be rather scratchy - a special record cleaning cloth might be better for cleaning those Shrine issues.

Not if the residue is removed by a soft cloth! Never read anything on the topic - information came from discussions with record collectors. I’ve heard that Mr Sheen residue on rough records deadens the snap, crackle and pop. Any residue in the grooves is soon removed by the stylus in a spin or two - this eliminates the very fine dust that accumulates on mint store-stock. I’ve cleaned over 10,000 records with Mr Sheen without any problems.

Mr Sheen spray is good for cleaning styrene records - use a soft record cleaning cloth. Whatever you do, never put lighter fluid on styrene as removes the gloss and discolours it

I think you’re correct on this Julian as it was unknown at the time. The mention of 6 copies merely confirms it was well and truly under the radar at the time. That said, I’ve seen it reported as a Casino spin. I picked up my copy in the early 90’s never having heard it before. Dave Skeen of Nottingham put me onto this juke-box supplier in Columbus, Ohio - when I got there, Coach Bob wouldn’t let me behind the counter but there was a copy of IDKAY sitting there. I sampled it and took it away without asking about other stock. I spun the record in public in 1996 when it was still relatively unknown but I recall having read there was a bit of discussion about it at the time. Someone who attended the 100 Club got hold of the Columbus stock and dripped them out stoking further demand. Since then, every copy at auction regardless of condition, has sold for decent money. This is a seriously good record but the demand for it will never be fulfilled so the price will only go up and up.

I was late grabbing these shots so missed a few…

Don’t recall it being spun when there in the early years. Got to doubt the assertion. Now ‘Stronger Than Her Love’ was absolutely massive - could this be song that should have been referred to? ‘Nothing But A Heartache’ is more of a Stafford era tune being mid tempo. You’re absolutely right to flag this up as so much twaddle is peddled in the media by wannabe journo’s…

Most definitely. Never seen one before. Pressed in Canada no doubt with the full backing of Jack Ashford. Would be good to know the timeline on this but surely follows the Archer pressing job.

She made a memorable contribution to the late 70’s scene. A great performance at the Ritz in Manchester along with Levine’s other acts.

Definitely a thread worth starting… The Daily Telegraph review was generally positive but The Sunday Times Culture review less so as evidenced below. I will pick the book up and thumb through the pages but I doubt there’ll be any Northern Soul. Looks like an author cashing in on the name without doing proper research…we’ll see.

Maybe Neil could add to the thread… Given the record was pressed on superior British vinyl, it would be good to know where and how - having now heard the female version, it has certainly been tinkered with by a sound engineer. Only Jack can enlighten us on the licensing of the Selectadisc release and how his Ashford so g came to be repackaged.

Thanks. I knew Lorraine was surprised to learn of this and denied involvement. I’m curious to know where Soussan sourced the backing track from - was it dubbed from an original or did he have access to a masterplate? With Soussan linked to the Selectadisc release, it’s not a wild guess to connect him to the small uneven Archer bootleg QED.