John Reed

Can anyone tell me what the price differential is between: RCA Victor 47-8960 (1966) and RCA Victor 48-1034 (1972) Did the 72 release ever come out as a WD? I'm in the process of getting my tunes out of storage and I cant remember which one I have? Cheers, John

John Manship's "Rarest Of the Rare" is a great window on the world of "Indemand and rare records". It's probably the only time you will hear them sober. The likes of Bobby Reed, Time is Right, which in the late 80's early 90's were selling for about £25, the same can be said for Beloyd, Jimmy J Barnes and Sideshow (these always used to sell for about a fiver) with dealers having multiple copies. Rare or Indemand? The flowers repressing was readily available for £5, but I'm not sure how many were pressed (500?), so you need to compare the number of collectors vs the number of copies pressed. These records attract a premium and that is probably why they are on there. On another thread, we discussed the rarity of Geater Davis' Breath Taking Girl vs Where Ever You Are. It is acknowledged that "Where Ever You Are" is rarer, but less in demand and therefore half the price. Phil Flowers Stay a While on ICI, was probably only available as a new release from Soul Bowl for about 2 weeks, when all the copies were gone, they were gone, but as it's a ballad and probably not really indemand. On the rare records, we have a good dose of Shrine and other Northern rarities, as it should be, but only one copy on South Camp and Quinvy. IMO, these are truly rare records. Local label releases are probably justified. Angel by David Sea, was in many a collection, with most people unaware that it came out on Hy-Tide first, well I was. The Almeta Latimore issue of These Memories seems to be quite rare, records that may have has some good responses to justify an issue which then died on release for whatever reason. It's swings and roundabouts, if something is indemand and demand outways supply, I suppose it is rare, even if a dealer has a box of 1,000. It's availability in the open market that counts. That was the situation with Audio on Mote, a big ticket tune until more copies became available the price dropped and it is no longer classed as a rare tune. A thing that seems not to happen these days. Even though IMO not all of the records on the "Rarest of the Rare" are completely rare, it's still good to be able to look and here it.

I used to be heavily into Funk in my youth, it was really my first exposure to non-commercial black music (although not a big lover any more). In London there was quite a movement via the "Rare Groove" scene in the 80's, with people like Norman Jay and Jonathan Moore leading the way. They dropped in funkier soul tunes quite often during the night, which my ears honed into. The Nicky Holloway "Special Branch" nights at the Royal Oak, were essentially Jazz upstairs and Funk downstairs. When Bob Jones took over the upstairs the mood changed with it moving to a more soul bias. Northern Soul, was not given the exposure (not that I can remember) in London than it did further up the M1 and the 100 club was a mystery to me, although people like Tony Rounce will probably prove me wrong. Without Funk, I probably wouldn't have had the introduction to more niche forms of Soul. Whilst looking for Funk records on King (on the back of James Brown), I found other joys on the label, Superfly lead me to earlier Impressions recordings, Isaac Hays and the Barkays lead me to the Soul Children, David Poter and the Dramatics. Southern Soul artists tented to switch between genres too. Although not a keen fan now, I could not disrespect the genre as it was the door that opened the world of soul to me.

I'm quite surprised at the amount of responses, many thanks. I think the old HoO closed it's doors in the 70's and I think this was an attempt to bring the label back to life. I don't know of any other records on the new HoO, any help? Steve, I will PM you later tonight, if that is okay John

I am quite plesently surprised, if you can be pleasently surprised at £160. We've seen the price for dancers over the years rocket up and I'm glad this has not gone up in the way of other big tunes like the Bill Brandons, Sam Dees, Tavasco, etc (even though a different decade). Maybe it was never privy to the spotlight like the others. How many time have you asked for a tune from a dealer, who said, "No I haven't got one, it's not in demand" and give you a ball park price and then find it offered for 3 times or more when you finally see it. Oh the joy and pain of collecting. Where Ever You Are is up there in my deep, hall of fame I've always wondered when it was cut late 70's/early 80's as it is hard to tell. The House of Orange Album I think is really good too. I wonder if there are any more Jeater/Geater Davis tunes that have not seen the light of day yet?

With my record buying boots firmly back on (been 15 years) I have another request. Does any have valuation/availability (sadly, I don't have one) of Geater - Breath Taking Girl - House of Orange (1982). Supposedly not as hard as Where Ever You Are on Sun Belt, but I have never seen one and hopefully I won't be in for a shock. John

YEP HE IS RIGHT UP THERE ,LOVE THE CAT OUTING ALSO,IN TERMS OF GREATEST SOUL SINGER HES CERTAINLEY PUSHING BUT IT WOULD TAKE A LOT IN MY EYES TO DISMANTLE A CERTAIN BOBBY WOMACK OR DAVID RUFFIN OR A LATIMORE AND THEN YOU HAVE A CERTAIN MR JUNIOR WHO PUTS WINDOWS OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN HE HITS THAT HIGH NOTE! It's one of the toughest questions to answer, who is the greatest? It is very hard to compare someone with so little output compared to a Womack or Ruffin. Even when you take all of his records collectively it comes to about 7, which were really only on local labels and compare them to womack's output/volume, you can probably roll off at least 10 monster records without even thinking. We can only hypothersise what may have happened if he had been picked up by a bigger label such as Atlantic, would it have watered him down, we will never know. Something that has just poped into my mind, is he still alive, does anyone know? John

Willie Johnson, what a man indeed. His Cat outing "It's Got To Be Tonight" (ever grateful for the boys, you know who you are, for bringing back some from the states) which in my opinion is his best, near to that has go to be "It's Me" on Savannah International, these used to go for a song until "What I'm Going To Do" kicked off (still not really convinced on it though - I think it's a bit twee, please don't take a hit out on me, as I'm, not trying to be controversial).

Apart from the ones I mentioned IMO they are all cracking tunes (not too keen on the King Tutt, though - Too funk), suppose doing a bit of gap filling in my collection. If you are looking for discographies checkout the following link. https://www.georgiasoul.com/gasoul/0-f.html#Future%20Stars and if you want to hear one side of the Willie Johnson try https://www.sirshambling.com/artists/W/willie_johnson.htm BTW Matilda Jones stuff on Justice in the late 80's are worth looking out for (I think there are three), with a couple of reworkings and covers. I still think they are cheap and worth a purchase. There was an article on Pat Cooley in voices about 90/91 on her, but didn't mention the Future Stars stuff implicitly.

Can anyone help me with a value for Wille Johnson - Left-Over Love/I Can't See Myself on Future Stars? I'm also interested if anyone knows what the two Pat Cooley tunes are like (soul or funk - like King Tutt) as I have never heard them? Cheers

Oh that big font hurt.

I've been playing both constantly, Carl Sims is more earthly and raw, whereas Barbara Brown is more polished John

Well I am gob-smacked at the amount of records I know or have, but didn't realize were country songs. Willie Hobbs on Bandit IMO was one of the best records of 89. Once thing which is disappointing is James Carr's unreleased version of Ring of Fire on a CD not long ago and I must admit I do prefer Johnny Cash. I think it's time I got my tunes out of storage, but on my Stetson hat and "go a huntin". John

High prices for boots is something that I have never understood. Surely a boot is a boot and nothing more than that? But I suppose there may be sentimental value, but I don't really understand why. Would anyone pay £7 for a forged fiver? If you want the tune, why not buy a CD, it seems that the majority of the booted tunes of the past are on one CD or another and you may get another tune that you may want/like. I personally have problems buying boots/reissues in record form, but don't worry if it's on CD or a download from ITunes etc.. Maybe it's my way of getting the tune, still thinking that one day the record will be mine. John

I don't know if a thread like this has gone before. I've recently re-read the Reggae Got Soul article in an old copy of Voices, conincidently around the same time Candi Statton's "Stand by Your Man" and a couple of tracks from the Womack album "BW goes CW" came up on my pod and it got me thinking. What about turning the Voices article on its head and changing it from reggae to country music. Surely theres are a few good discs with soul artists recording country records? Country music has similar roots to soul and there have been some prolific writers, Willie Nelson being one of them, not that I know much about country music. When I was younger I'm sure I ignored tunes with writers like Dolly Parton (real left field example) and we have all seen Don Covay and Wee Gee in cowboy hats. So give it a go... John

Hi, I'm looking to see if anyone has a couple of good quality mp3's of EJ Rice -Will You be Coming Back and Ujima - I'm not ready As I am going on holiday and would greatly appreciate them for my flight. John

My wife was never a keen soul fan and still says "I still can't understand why grown men would sing to each other" My children queue up to listen to my Ipod when I come in from work Larry Allen - Can We talk it over - Green dolphin seems to be their favourite track. I suppose it's the piano, that would appeal to the under sevens John

I also think that, it depends on what you heard first. Whatever people reply with, it will generate a lot of controversy. IMO Bobby Cutchins - I Did It Again, preferred to Jessie Henderson Rove - Go by What you tell Me, preferred to Ron Keith General Johnson - Don't Walk Away - Surfside to Arista Mel & Tim - It May not be what you want, preferred to Bobby Sheen Mel & Tim - Those Little things that count, preferred to John Edwards (I seem to be a bigger Mel & Tim fan than I thought) Howard Gyton - I watched you slowly slip away, Lou Coutney Natural 4 - I thought You Were Mine, My preference is for the Boola Boola version rather than the ABC, but I don't know which one is the more expensive Bettye Swan - Make Me Yours against any other version recorded John

Here you go.. Side_Show___Sexy_Lady.mp3

Does anyone have a good MP3 of Smoke - So Glad from their J Bridge LP Risin' ? Cheers, John

This is a really hard thing to complete and I have cheated a bit, so here goes. Bettye Swan - Make Me Yours - Money In my opinion, this is the greatest soul record ever, and one that I have never got tired of and cheap too. Northern/60's Luther Ingram - It's all the Same to you Babe - HIB If this record has never got you up on the floor or your foot tapping, you're dead. Frank Beverley and the Butlers - If That's What You Wanted - Gamble This is more than just an over played classic. When the horns come in, they grab you and lead you on a Northern soul roller coaster ride. Natural 4 - I thought you were mine - ABC/Boola Boola I can't split them up. Every time I think, one just comes out on top, I play the other and my mind changes once again. Tony Middleton - To the Ends of the Earth - MGM This seems to be a love it or don't rate it record. The drums and organ just hook me and reel me in. Walter Jackson - My Ship is coming in - Okeh This still sends chills down my spine. Modern Four Below Zero - My Baby's Got ESP - Roulette I used to hope Ian Clark would play this, and it always brought out a great big smile. The best disco/soul dancer ever. Carol Anderson - I'll Get Off At the Next Stop - Fee This is the other side of Sad Girl. Bob Jones used to play this on his show on Horizon Radio. I First heard it in a three in a row including Phil Flowers - Stay a Awhile - ICI (If any one has a spare, please give me a mail). Boy was I excited, when SoulBowl said "Yep £3.50". It was a couple of years later that I actually flipped it over. One of the most anticipated records I have ever bought. If you haven't flipped it over yet, please do and turn the lights down low. Mathilda Jones - Part of the Game - Future Stars I don't think this label released a bad record? Clarence hits the spot once again. Garland Green - Don't Let Love Walk out on us - RCA It could have been any of his records from any era; this one just holds so many memories of the London Soul scene in the late 80's (Maybe through rose tinted glasses?). Sam Dees - Can you be a one man woman - Chess A complete monster ballad which sadly seems to always be overlooked compared to his other work.

Yes, I was at the Norfolk, with Pat, Dick, Brad and the others. It's been about 10 years since I last collected and I am quite shocked at the price increase of "in demanders". I have only just dusted off my tunes and I am going digital. Dick looked after them for over a year, as I didn't have anywhere to store them due to my increasing family. It's not that often that my old pals meet up and when we did we were discussing finding a good soul night in London (can't travel any more, as my children are always up by about 6am).

I have collected for a few years, but have never been able to find someone to help me with this query. I have an issue copy of Chuck Ray - Reconsider/I'll Be There on Gemigo, but the tune on the "Reconsider" side is not what the title suggests. I think it's Chuck Ray, but the song has a chorus of "Wishing well". I think it's a cracking up-tempo southern dancer. A tape of this track did the rounds a few years ago to try and confirm what it is, but to no avail. I was amazed to see it on the SoulGirl site before it closed. I would love for someone to shed some light on this for me. I have attached an mp3 of this to see if it jogs anybodys memory Regards, John ChuckRay_WishingWell.mp3