Source Team

The Exclusive / DC Blossoms - I Still Love You / This Is Your Last Chance - Soul Harmony 02 Eddie Singleton had a musical career in Los Angeles after his Shrine Records venture had bloomed then died. He cut this heart-felt soul ballad on an undocumented group called the Exclusive around 1969, but it was left on tape only until now. Some three years earlier in 1966, Eddie and his production team of Keni St Lewis and Dale Warren recorded Washington’s DC Blossoms on ‘This Is Your Last Chance’, the third track from a Shrine session that didn’t make it to the single. Since it was released on the Kent CD “Shrine, The Rarest Soul Label Vol 2” it has picked up a strong following, particularly among Latin American soul fans on the West Coast: now at last a 45. View full store item

Miss Louistine / Sam Dees - Con Me - Deep Soul 18 Miss Louistine’s version of ‘Con Me’ was one of the best Deep Soul finds of recent years. The Paragons smooth Chicago reading of Dees’ composition that came out in 1975 has long been admired, but this southern soul treatment of the now-classic is jaw-dropping. To really focus on the masterpiece of a song, we have added Dees own take as the flip. That also remained unissued until Kent accessed the tapes in 1998 and is finally a single. View full store item

Johnnie Mae Matthews - I Have No Choice / That's When It Hurts - Reissue Johnnie Mae Mathews is fondly referred to as being 'The Godmother Of Detroit Soul' as she was responsible for creating at least 8 different Detroit record labels and for discovering and nurturing many future Motown artists in their early years. In fact she was a major source of inspiration for the young Berry Gordy, founder of Motown. We are delighted to finally be releasing what many people consider to be the pinnacle of independent Detroit Soul music, the impeccable and gut-wrenching 'I Have No Choice', the defining record of Johnnie Mae Mathews many recordings with the equally impressive 'That’s When It Hurts' on the flip. 'I Have No Choice' is a record that has finally hit the heights it always deserved after being a cult record for almost 50 years and is now commanding a staggering £1200-1500 for a decent original copy for those lucky enough to be in that league. Picture sleeve featuring Johnny herself in full swing and fully remastered, heavyweight vinyl 45. View full store item

Winfield Parker - I Wanna Be With You / My Love For You - Reissue In a celebration of soul music's enduring legacy, Celestial Echo is excited to unveil the reissue of Winfield Parker's revered classic, 'I Wanna Be With You.' Originally released in Baltimore in 1979, this soulful gem has maintained its status as a sought-after treasure by soul DJs for decades. With original copies commanding prices well beyond £200, the decision to reissue this timeless piece of soul music history on vinyl is a testament to its everlasting dancefloor impact. Celestial Echo is proud to present the reissue on a limited edition 7-inch vinyl record, meticulously remastered and pressed on heavyweight vinyl for an authentic analog experience. It also features a picture sleeve and redesigned labels. Diggers, and rare soul lovers need only apply View full store item

Carolyn Crawford - It Takes A Lotta Teardrops - Kent City 098 We follow up Carolyn Crawford’s recent big selling Kent 45 ‘Get Up And Dance’ with another top class Mickey Stevenson production on ‘It Takes A Lotta Teardrops’. The Leon Ware and Vicki Basemore song was also covered by Kim Weston but neither version was released at the time. The recording is in a classic Motown style and this could have been the reason why it was shelved in 1972, being somewhat dated – though still perfect for Motown and Northern Soul devotees. The flip is from Carolyn Crawford’s collaboration with Hodges, James & Smith in 1971 when the foursome released two 45s on the M’Pingo label. ‘I’m In Love’ was a more current sound for the time and is perfect for Modern and Crossover rooms today. View full store item

Kenneth Wright / Miss Louistine - The Souls Of Black Folks / Extra-Extra - Kent City 097 Soul connoisseurs are adventurous folk and the emergence of a previously unknown singer/songwriter is big news among the cognoscenti. The only trace of Atlanta’s Kenneth Wright is a handful of unrecorded song titles on BMI represented by Aware’s publishing company Act One. At least a dozen of his recordings have recently been found in the Aware tape vaults and ‘The Souls Of Black Folks’ is the pick of them. It features Kenneth’s vocals and an equally impressive unknown female lead who adds more mystery to the project. From the same Atlanta label source comes Miss Louistine’s take on the Sam Dees’ song ‘Extra, Extra’. Originally recorded by Ben E King as an album track, Louistine’s punchier take featured on a recent 100 Club Anniversary 45 and is well in-demand. View full store item

Berna-Dean - Don’t Try To Tell Me / Laughing On The Outside - Kent City 095 Bernadine or Berna-Dean Washington recorded seven singles for producer Dave Bartholomew in New Orleans in the early 60s. A protégée of Earl King, her final single was released on Los Angeles’ GNP Crescendo label in 1964 and is stylistically similar to her previous Imperial and Post 45s. ‘Don’t Try To Tell Me’ and ‘Laughing On The Outside’ were cut for GNP but the company never followed up on her ‘This Is The City’ single. Both tracks are in a more soulful style than her released sides and are attracting much attention on the current retro R&B scene and with the rare soul crowd also. This is their first public hearing. View full store item

Richard Temple / Jimmy Conwell - That Beatin’ Rhythm / Cigarette Ashes - Kent Repro 21 ‘Little needs to be said about these two Mirwood Monsters, but to have both tracks on the same 45 is a righteous luxury. ‘That Beatin’ Rhythm’ is the epitome of the Northern Soul dance scene and has been a call to the floor for fifty years now. The instrumental flip (credited to the actual singer of the A side) was equally massive at the time, but has been somewhat neglected in recent years - the vocal version gaining most DJ spins. View full store item

Sam Nesbit – Black Mother Goose / Chase Those Clouds Away - Kent Repro 20 This killer double-sider was one of the first US imports to go “big” on the rare soul scene at the Twisted Wheel and Blackpool Mecca in the early 70s. Soul guru Dave Godin championed the record and had planned to release it on his fledgling 444 label, but it only got as far as the test pressing stage. The catchy dancer A-side was the one that got played, but much later the Modern Soul scene picked up on the beautiful mid-tempo soul of ‘Chase Those Clouds Away’ and demand for the disc virtually doubled. View full store item

Rare Pleasure - Let Me Down Easy - South Street - Red Vinyl The instantly recognisable, Northern / Modern Soul crossover, Rare Pleasure – Let Me Down Easy, featuring the entrancing Sandy Barber on lead vocals, gets a much-welcomed official reissue on 7 Inch. A classic in it’s own right, alongside being expertly sampled by David Morales for the house anthem ‘Needin’ U’, original’s trade hands for £100+ so an official reissue is long overdue. Limited Red Vinyl version in a tasty South Street Disco Sleeve. View full store item

Florence Miller - The Groove I'm In / I'm Just A Lonely Girl - P&P Reissue A fresh reissue of 'The Groove I'm In', a solid modern northern dancefloor gem! Two hidden gems from the P&P vaults courtesy of a scarcely known talent from Georgia, Florence Miller get an official reissue 'I'm Just A Lonely Girl' and 'The Groove I'm In'. With only two releases to her name, both of which came on Peter Brown’s P&P Records, ‘The Groove I'm In’ released around 1975 got the attention of the Northern and Modern Soul scenes in the mid ‘90s becoming a real star of the show. Since then, it’s maintained consistent demand on the second-hand market with originals selling for over £200. As with most of Peter Brown's artists, they briefly emerged on the sparsely distributed P&P label, for a brief stab at stardom only to disappear when Peter's attentions moved on to the next releases. Consequently, very little is known about the multi-talented and sadly ignored Florence Miller following her two releases on the Harlem label. Clearly though, the music speaks for itself with the quality of the P&P catalogue and this Florence Miller slice of magic shining through to this day. View full store item

Carolyn Crawford - Get Up And Move / Sugar Boy - Kent City 094 This Kent single has been eagerly awaited for some time. Plays at the 100 Club and other venues of ill-repute, has made it a must-play, dancefloor-filling track. Carolyn Crawford had a brief sojourn at Mickey Stevenson’s Mpingo label, in the early 70s, as a temporary member of Hodges, James & Smith when they were billed as The Firm Of Hodges, James, Smith & Crawford. Stevenson International’s tapes revealed that Mickey had also cut some solo tracks with Carolyn. ‘Ready Or Not Here Comes Love’ has already wowed the Northern Soul world; this fabulous self-written song will cross over to all scenes. Its slow, steady, groove start builds up to an infectious rhythm that few can resist. Congas abound and a subtle brass section layers the music to perfection. The jazz element will see this 45 accepted on all rare black music scenes. The flip ‘Sugar Boy’ is more typical of Carolyn and Mickey’s time at Motown with a bouncy beat and appropriately cute lyrics. Both sides debut here. View full store item

Jesse Davis / Gus Jenkins - Night Bloomin' Jasmin / Tricky Too - Kent City 093 Best known for ‘Gonna Hang On In There’, its storming Northern Soul flip side, the more subtle ‘Night Bloomin’ Jasmin’’ also has admirers on the rare soul scene. Modernists, in particular, will go for the suave jazz-elegance of this recording which is even scarcer than its original A side - due to being one of two different flips. The unrelated, bar the L A source of origin, ‘Tricky Too’ by pianist Gus Jenkins is a laidback instrumental groove, written as a sequel to his 1956 smash hit ‘Tricky’. Completed with a hip brass section, it failed to get a release until Ace bought the catalogue, unearthed the tape and slotted it into the 2012 “Mod Jazz Forever” CD. View full store item