Soulstu

One thing about Soul Source, which by the way is THE site for us soul fans, is that the number of records that I have that I thought were originals are bloody boots! Including my white demo of IDWTDI. These were all bought from record stores in the 70s as imports, so like an idiot I thought they were legit. My heart sinks every time I see a post that asks if a record is a boot or not - cos what inevitably happens is...... yep there goes another one from £150 to a fiver! I think my northern collection is worth about a tenth of what I thought it was once I joined. Hang on to that lovely purple label even if it is second issue - I wish I had one, at least it's real.

Yep I have a tendency to generalise! Initially I did mean the black TMG series. I remember reading a Record collector article on rare UK motown in the 90s and the Oriole release of Mike & The Modifiers and the Valadiers were massively rare.

Would have liked that mint one that JM auctioned t'other week! Pic sleeve n all. That'd be a good one to kick off the collection all right.

I reckon the appeal of UK issues may be because it's all on one label? Imagine if every US release was on Gordy instead of five or six (more if you include Weed, MoWest etc) different labels. I reckon the urge to build up a massive collection of those lovely purple labels would be too hard to resist.

Well put Carts, I see what you mean. The black label with that '45' and the little bit of text near the hole is great - and I imagine a full set of them would be something pretty wonderful.

I totally agree - it's a mess.

Peter, I know you see a record as more than just a tune that comes out of your speakers? An actual piece of US culture? That's why I buy US and i reckon that's why you buy it. Don't get me wrong I'm not an Americanophile (??!!!) but soul is American through to the bone.

It's probably me Martyn, I've got a bee in my bonnet at the moment about buying 'original' issues. Way back when my box was full of boot, repros, 70s reissues Casino Classics, Destiny, all that stuff - I've had a bellyful of it, so to me a UK issue is not an original (unless it's a UK artist - Julian Covey etc.). See More Love (superb record) for me would have to be Tamla or Tamla demo. end of.

Just two (of many!) - Brian Hyland's "The Joker Went Wild" and Charley Gracie's 'He'll Never Love You Like I Do'. Anybody asks me what northern soul sounds like I do not point them in the direction of these two so called 'records'.

MMM I like that Pete, not one for slower ones usually but that hits the spot.

US it is then, thanks for the info guys. I take Dave's point about the vinyl quality I guess they were all pressed by EMI? However, I want my records to really be evocative and have a real connection to where and when they were made. Sorry Pete, whaddo I know...didn't mean to insult UK collectors with such a sweeping and patronising statement.

Why tho? I may be a bit simple but (unless you are a UK issues collector) why on earth would you not buy the US original, like you say if they are cheaper. US singles are exotic, slightly other worldly, wonderful! UK singles remind me of black n white telly and tins of corned beef and Magpie.

Ok, so after many, many years in the CD and mp3 wilderness I'm buying northern and motown vinyl again. I've set myself a simple rule - 1st issues only and only records I really really like. Not planning to buy any UK issues. However I notice that people get quite hot under the collar and passionate about the UK black TMGs, particularly 500-599, and less so about original US Tamla, Gordy etc... See, I'm more excited about a Tamla, Soul, Gordy, Motown original, as I imagine that is the piece of vinyl you would walk out of a store with in Detroit in '65. So I see it as an original historical artefact as well as a cracking record. Is it a UK collector thing or as a general rule are the UK TMGs better - I've heard that the sound is clearer? Must admit the TMGs I've got are all pretty crisp - Stevie Wonder's I Was Made To Love Her is massively loud and powerful. So before I spend a lot of wedge on US Motown and not TMG, any of you knowledgable motown junkies think I'm making a big mistake? Your views'll be much appreciated and may help me decide which way to go. Cheers in advance, Stu ps Mike, I can't add any tags to this - are they disabled?

Brill! set to record! I love these BBC4 music docs.

OOh do you know something, that might be close!

Spooky...He was born in Mansfield (Ohio), I was born in....you know the rest!

Compared To What? Mr Flood's Party? Heard worse

Prefer the flip tho, don't you?

80s and 90s were low points for me - all my fickle mates drifted away from NS, leaving me high and dry. Goldmine CDs in the late 90s woke me back up and finally, FINALLY I'm buying vinyl again and off to my first NS do in April for 34 years.

Fair point Pete, I think after the Sharonettes, Paula Roussell etc I have a little bit of a downer on Black Magic - probably colours my judgement, all though I'm still not bothered about it - is this going off topic?!!

Don't get me wrong, I love J.J. Barnes to bits, but I'd have preferred it if he'd re-recorded the entire song rather than singing over a three year old backing track. Knowing that spoils it a bit for me Not much different from the 'Lorraine Chandler' version of Love You Baby, other than that was crap.... and not Lorraine Chandler. Actually that's not fair, JJB will always be a great record, just not quite a classic. See also the Inspirations re-issue with new vocals. Is it the rarity value that gets us more excited about the JJB version than we should be?

...and the astonishing thing is you can still pick up the 1st issue US original for £15-ish. It's got to be the ultimate cheapie. Imagine if only a few copies had been pressed - it would be the holy grail.

Hey Jim, Depends how much you'd love to own it. People think nowt of spending 5 and a half grand on a little second hand car ... or a kitchen. I think I'd prefer the Del Larks! (no I'm not putting a bid in!).

Darrell Banks for me too every time, although don't want to diss JJ too much as he had a great voice. Just prefer the timbre and phrasing of DB.