Frankie Crocker

Very hard to say. I would put the number of record-collecting, travelling and dancing at events at roundabout a few thousand. A lot more interested in the music and attending local events. Add to this the off-the-scene but still like the music CD buying numbers, there's plenty of interest. Between five and ten thousand followers of different levels of devotion probably sums it up fairly accurately.

Maybe Wigan received this many membership applications as you had to be a member to get in, but many of these were one-time visitors just checking the place out. I had three membership cards and the missus two. Loads of cards were ripped in half to help get mates in with another application filled in later that morning so a new card would be posted before the next Allnighter.

Hi Ian. Joe public put The Tams and Archie Bell towards the top of the charts. R. Dean Taylor was played at Wigan in 1974 but most of the sales were probably on a novelty basis to ordinary record collectors. Wayne Gibson and The Javelles were big Wigan sounds that crossed over to the general public during a commercial period when Wigan was seen to be plumbing the depths for cash sales. All in all, it was still an underground scene for a tiny minority until Footsee was on Top of the Pops and even then, the number of tourists didn't actually double the numbers at events.

Bill Bush and Montclairs - surely a recent pressing?

Clearly not a VG copy or even a G copy but perhaps a PP copy. Looks like Torvill & Dean's old copy that fell onto the ice and they skidded over it a few times. The sound bite suggests it might be a filler copy at best. Sadly, it would not even look good in a picture frame.

Several absurd prices here that give a totally distorted view of some records' values. Mind you, not even the hype for a couple of more obscure records could convince the punters to speculate heavily on rarity confirming quality usually trumps scarcity. More and more British records popping up so is the USA well running dry?

PM'd you.

Bend it. If it snaps, it's styrene. If it doesn't snap, it's vinyl. Simples... Alternatively, hold the record with thumb and index finger by the centre hole and rim, lightly flick the record with a finger nail and listen to the sound. Styrene sounds tinny, vinyl sounds dull. Play the record - if it starts with a short hiss, chances are it's styrene. Styrene is easily discoloured by solvent so be careful when cleaning records with lighter fluid in case you accidentally discover it's not vinyl. Err, that's all I can think of...

I have a spare copy. PM'd you.

Slight snag as quite a few have no discs to jockey with. Being a downloader, bubble bath switch flicker or CD inserter counts for diddly-squat unless you have some decent vinyl in a flight case.

Thanks for introducing us to the song in that basement on Jermyn Street. Got my copy from Lou S early on in the frenzy. Would like to learn more of the dodgy records that came from the USA at that time.

The price has fallen considerably with one going for not much more than £200 yesterday. Brad Hales turned up a sizeable quantity a couple of years ago with the first auctioning for about $750. A PG copy sold for a goodly sum a few months ago suggesting this might be an alternative issue. Until the Gloreco hoard came to light, this was the scarcer version: now the PG is relatively scarcer but the doubts surrounding it are justified until someone can verify its origin. I would like to hear John's view of the PG release as there is a story behind it.

Ted's based in the south not far from Mobile where the current one is up for sale. The seller has a lot of nice stuff in company sleeves that looks like unsold store stock. Great to see these items surfacing after all these years.

Well, certainly worth having, just like Eddie Parker, quality tune on a genuine release that's easy on the wallet.

Three copies of Al Gardner up for auction in the last week or so. Has a box turned up? Not seen this around for a long time, but one put up for sale soon brings others onto the market.

Hi Tommy. Very nice. Maybe Blue Eyed, Chicano, possibly L.A. or San Antonio at a guess, too scarce to be on Shazam, Hope you'll let us know when you nail it...

Sad news. A great artist with several top tracks on the world's largest independent label. Gone, but not forgotten...

More than wiling to make a comment on that side of things. He is being open rather than honest. Some would call it bare-faced cheek. This is a mercenary enterprise that can only undermine the record buying market in times ahead. To pay serious money for a photocopied label Pritt Sticked onto a bootleg in a counterfeit operation beggars belief. Surely, sensible vinyl buyers can by-pass these fakes?

PM'd you. Nice copy awaiting.

PM'd you. Nice white demo awaiting.

PM'd you...mint copies awaiting.

PM'd you re Excellent copy but has some WOL.

PM'd you if the previous offer doesn't work out.

Some fairly modest prices here, possibly following Christmas when everyone's broke. Jimmy Beaumont did well but it was the harder issue as opposed to the more readily available white demo. Expect the action to hot up next month when Christmas is forgotten and normal rash spending patterns resume.

Hi Shaun. I've PM'd you as I have a VG copy for sale.