Joesoap

Bruce Springsteen is one of the biggest rock artists in the world tho. It'll be his fans, not northern soul collectors, buying this.

Totally get where you're coming from but 'part they played equal to Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles'? Lol -no way!

Btw - a separate thought. Second hand record record shops in the 80s would always have a small section of tatty, old singles marked 'Northern Soul'. You always looked through them and none of them ever were - just assorted rubbish. Thelma Houston 'Jumping Jack Flash' was always in there. You still see shops with these sections sometimes. Can anyone remember any other titles commonly seen lurking therein?😂

Yes - wondered about that one myself. Another one like that is Jimmy Castor 'Hey Leroy' which used to be a fairly common record on UK Philips (1966) in junk shops, markets and 2nd hand record shops, etc when I first started looking early 80s. Then there was a reissue in 1971 on UK Liberty (lesser seen). Never a 'Northern' type record afaik. Who was buying it and why was it reissued?

Some great replies - thanks all and please keep them coming. Another thought on this - Dean mentions PYE-International and Sue, etc. The link to the 1960s London mod scene is fairly well-documented in relation to those labels. But what about Jay Boy a few years later in the early 70s? Seems to have been the very first label to recognise and specifically cater to the Wheel / Torch crowd. They evidently made a deliberate and concerted effort to do so. Don't think I've ever seen much about what was going on there and how that came about and who was involved, etc. Anyone know,,?

Betty Everett 'Sweet Dan' (Fantasy) https://www.discogs.com/master/683889-Betty-Everett-Sweet-Dan-Who-Will-Your-Next-Fool-Be

Apologies if this has been done before but I was wondering what was the very first reissue done for the UK rare soul scene? Not talking about bootlegs or counterfeits, etc but official releases in response to old records being played on the early rare soul scene? Going through some records at home last night and pulled out a promo of The Artistics 'I'm Gonna Miss You' / 'Hope We Have' reissue on UK MCA. Quite surprised to see the release date on the label is 13-3-1970. I'd previously assumed the trend for record companies re-releasing things for this market kicked off with 'You're Ready Now'. But I checked and that was released right at the end of 1970 and became a UK chart hit early 71... So what was the very first? And what were the other early ones? (Once again, proper official releases, not bootlegs)....

Anyone know the story behind this one? Only ever came out on a UK Island Records b-side with a different artist on the a-side. No credits on label. Same backing track as the Love Affair rarity 'I Can't Stop Loving You' on USA United Artists. I think the Bobby McClure is by far the superior version with exquisite backing vocals, really clever lyrics and an awesome lead vocal. Can anyone shed any light on the background to this mysterious release? I believe I once even heard, or read, that Bobby McClure was asked about it and said it wasn't him? Over to you knowledgeable lot...

What records from 1979 sound like it? I'm not being argumentative for the sake of it but it just doesn't sound anything like what was being done in America in that era to me. Sounds more like a pastiche 'northern' record of the kind Ian Levine does. And then the lyrics 'cream of the crop' / 'reaching for the top' 'on the real side'.... I'm not convinced...

Neither version is my cup of tea. Has anything been revealed about the origins of this and who the artist is? I know it's supposedly an acetate from 1979. But doesn't sound like black music from 1979 to me at all. Sounds more like a US AOR rock type act or a recent recording..?

It's a demo though - not intended for sale. So in what sense could it be 'withdrawn'? It's also the b-side. So a titling error on the b-side of a demo: doubt they'd bother going to any trouble to 'withdraw' copies would they?

Mine arrived a few weeks ago. Think it sold out pre-order.

The repress is still available from the label (Izipho) £14.

...another example: Lou Johnson 'Unsatisfied' on UK London continues for about 10 -12 seconds longer before fade than the one on Big Top.

Montclairs on Contempo is about 35 seconds longer than on Paula. Both say 2.43 on label. Paula plays that length, Contempo is more like 3.20. So I assume it must have come from original tapes & the difference is more than just mastering.