Frankie Crocker

Article very well written, and most selections justifiable. I would have included Nosmo King instead of Wayne Gibson, but honestly, there would be another hundred worthier selections. Enjoyed the read as a heck of a lot of research had gone into it. The Guardian as a newspaper has really improved in recent years.

A copy on Pandora sold on eBay couple of days ago. Went for £800+ but does not showup on Popsike. Agreed though, does not come up for sale often wheras the Mohawk version does pop up occasionally.

Would the massive company be EvilBay or the next to be even more evil corporation, Amazon? Too many boots, reissues etc clogging up all record data bases and ruining things for all OVO buyers. There needs to be a market place for these wares but not sure who is best placed to sell them - perhaps bona fide Northern dealers or High Street record shops are the long term solution if the internet is going to exclude them.

Sorry, no but it went for something like £184.

The copy that prompted this thread has now been sold. I think someone picked up a real bargain. Thanks to all for contributing to the thread and enlightening me.

Wise move Hammie. If this does go for big money, Manny should top that should you decide to sell. At the end of the day though, you're better off holding the record than having the cash...

Ruby Sherry sold for less than it's worth. Two good sides AND on vinyl AND in nice condition. Gold Token chasers need to wake up and smell the coffee as THIS is the version to own despite the plain label design.

Never seen the stars design until this auction - must be very rare. Another tune that's finally getting the recognition it deserves. Pure Northern and then some.

Thanks for that Hammie. Appears the item in question is genuine. It was put up for sale again when it failed to meet the initial reserve price. I would be inclined to hold on to the record myself...

Yep, I noticed this too. Puzzled why the Bashie is circled on the original demos featured on Popsike, but not this version? Given the demand fir this recird and latest sales prices, I could understand why someone might want to press more up.

More like £1,500 if mint and not off centre. Most recent sources of multiple copies sold out a while back.

White demo of this just failed to sell on eBay and has been relisted. Reserve price of £182 evidently not enough for the seller... The copy for sale does not look like any of the white DJ copies on Popsike, the text hints at it being remastered and a lot of matrix numbers have been quoted in the sales blurb. Anyone out there with further info on this?

Dave, you're right as Sad Thing is pure class. Fact is though, on a UK label, it does not appeal too much to collectors of US imports. I know the vinyl is 22 carat but it's hard to juggle UK and US collections so I guess we come down on one side of the fence or the other in the main. Millionaires is flavour of the month on the circuit, an overlooked record that now has it's five minutes of fame - there'll be another one like this along shortly...

Another fine selection Pete. Pretty much as it was around the country, Wigan particularly, but also Blackpool, Manchester, Cleethorpes and elsewhere. There are probably a few others such as Topics 'Women's Liberation', William Bell 'Happy' etc but your listing does justice to the sheer quality of sounds that were rising to classic status.

As mentioned above, Marvin's storming number is a first release BUT has become one of the biggest floor-fillers in recent years AND one for the hot-box carrying Wannabe Sheep DJ who has little else to prompt a rush to the dancefloor...

Suspect the sale was cancelled. Item resurfaced shortly afterwards but described more accurately.

Agreed. Not worthy to sit alongside the other wares on his shelf.

Some set-sale prices here rather than auction bonanzas. Bit of a reality check given recent price rises.

£1,000 in mint condition. Demo a bit scarcer than the issue valued at £900. That said, if unplayed copies surfaced on eBay, they would fetch more given current trends.

I like them. Something interesting to read. A window on what's happening in another part of the country. Obscure tracks given a mention. Helps DJ's get noticed by promoters. Good to look over them when browsing events attended long ago. Settles arguments about who played what first, when and where. What's not to like about playlists? Would like to see more playlists please...

Yet this cover version was acclaimed by the unwashed masses as a fantastic, chart-topping tune... Just goes to show how utterly brilliant, yet underappreciated the original version was. Nothing like the Soft Cell version to pack the floor with closet-soulies - request it at your next wedding do, and see what happens.

Sad news. Sorry to hear it. Only been to Philadelphia the one time, but got loads of nice tunes from John, enough to fill two C90 tapes.

All good tunes too. And you could probably throw in a couple of dozen Northern classics before pondering over the Mecca biggies at the time.

A brilliant summary Pete reflecting how it was at the time. I can think of a few others you could add, but if you haven't got them, you haven't got them.

Dead rare Billy. Almost never up for sale. One of the best tracks played out over the last couple of decades but only in the hands of the chosen few. Hope you're well and picking up some of the tunes on the wants list.