Nickinstoke

I've looked for ABC 10869 for decades, and never seen it listed for sale, heard of anyone claiming to own it, or seen an online image of it, so I'm as sure as I can be that it doesn't exist (but I haven't given up hope!). "Wade in the water" did appear on the double CD "Complete A & B sides 1961-1968", issued in 2009. This was a live recording, so presumable from the concert on 2nd September 1996 (my 14th birthday - I can't believe my parents didn't offer to take me). Also on this pair of CDs was a live version of "Can't satisfy", again presumably from that concert - perhaps this offers some hope that the rest of the tapes of the concert are still out there somewhere. Whether the live version of "Can't satisfy" was included deliberately, or by mistake, is another question. As for "This is my country", I don't believe there is a UK single, though why not? It was a hit in the US and Buddah were releasing most Impressions 45s. Mick Smith has a copy that looks like a UK 45, but it's almost certainly a Singapore release.

Great to hear from you, Mel. We’re still here, after a lot of years! Thanks for your help with this and for all the info. I’d love to hear the unreleased Curtom and Cotillion material - do you know if there’s any way of getting hold of them?

Many thanks for your reply, Robert. I think you’re right about the date of the tracks I listed - the backings and vocals sound very much like those on “Something said love”. If memory still works, I got the tape from Mel Nichols of Ludlow. Mel had struck up a friendship with Fred Cash of the Impressions, so perhaps he was the source

Some years ago I was given a tape of Unissued tracks by the Impressions. of the 20 tracks, 12 were re-makes of their 60s hits, one was "Something said love" (released as a 45 on Ripete) but the other 7 I can find no trace of online. The titles are: Draw the line In the middle I found you Tired of being alone (The Al Green song) What a feeling Winning combination Whatever it is They sound as though they were recorded in the 90's or 2000's, with Reggie Torian on lead. Does anyone know anything about them? Ever released anywhere? Any info much appreciated

Yes, it was

The Torch used to hold a rock night called “Gollum’s Cave”

I recently picked up a copy of “Getting the corners/What good am I” on German Atlantic - labels and pic sleeve all spell their name as “Tornadoes”, so not just me getting it wrong.

Any thoughts on this? Discogs lists it as a jukebox record, but it sure looks like a bootleg to me.

https://www.claybodytheatre.com/productions/audio/platform-no-1-a-claybody-original-podcast/ A new podcast from Stoke-on-Trent based theatre company Claybody, about Stoke’s role in the development of Northern Soul

On the question of who was pressing RCA late 60s/early 70s, I worked in the Decca factory in Bridgnorth in 1970/71, making cassettes. We regularly produced cassettes for RCA (usually Elvis & Jim Reeves), and in the staff shop you could order vinyl records, including current RCA releases, so it looks as though Decca were still pressing for RCA at least until 1971

I’m also surprised that Jackie Day is classed as rare. I remember it getting plays when it was still on catalogue. I ordered copies and sold them at school for 15bob - I can’t be the only one doing that