Woodbutcher

John now believes it to be the real thing , details to follow ....

The QC demo and this TP with the RCA/Nashville matrix , other TP's from ARP .

All we need now is a fingerprint expert on the two thumbprints ...

From Andy Rix's article here on Soul Source " Despite the fact that the ‘Eddie Foster’ bootleg had sold thousands of copies, UK Tamla Motown decided to issue the record. The original tapes for both sides of Soul 35019 were requested to be sent to London from America. However, when the tapes were received, they were stereo masters and not the original mono masters. UK Tamla Motown label manager, Gordon Frewin, instantly spotted the technical differences and corrected them at Abbey Road Studios, with the help of his engineer Chris Blair, and the benefit of a copy of the ‘Eddie Foster’ 45 taken to the studio by Motown collector John Lester. TMG 1170 was thus taken from stereo masters but folded into mono for its eventual release on 9th November 1979. "

Same as this TP.

But if the demos were ARP presses why the RCA matrix ? Confused now ...

Thanks Pete ...

A quick look at my copy of "Tune Up" (Soul 35012) reveals no sign of an ARP stamp , just the Nashville stamp and numbering as per this test press.

So I understand , no sign of an 'ARP' stamp in the runout of this one as far as I can see though. Anyone got a decent scan of one of the two demos that doesn't obscure the runouts ... ? Doubtful I know ...

And just to add that the numbers on the runout read '4914' and '4915' , (not as stated in the OP as 4916-4915) ...

Especially the date , absolutely the same hand ... Can't make out the word above "pressing" though ... ? Could it be "american" ... ?

Would be nice , here's a pic of it's label for the handwriting comparison.

The Q.C. stamp and the handwriting is a match for those on the Quality Control copy of the demo .

.

Runout details i the original post ...

Jumpin' the gun a bit there , gonna be a while 'til we get to the letter "P" ....