Paraboliccurve

If anyone wants a VG+ Arabians demo which plays ex for £225 let me know...

That's a fair price Tez - slight catch is I can't find the bloody thing. I've got a lot of records, stored somewhat haphazardly, but it may be that I've already sold it... I've had a few copies over the years but thought I had one left. Sorry. I'll keep looking and let you know if I find it. Sorry for late reply btw - I've been abroad for a couple of days.

I've got an ex issue I'd let go Tez. PM me with an idea of what you want to pay if you still need one.

? I didn't 'make a big deal out of it', I just pointed out that I knew it wasn't a real record. You came back with more so I responded, that's all. I'm quite happy to leave it at that

I mean, depending on what level of semantics you want to descend to, *you* asked 'Isn't The Detroit Prophets etc etc', which presupposes the existence of 'The Detroit Prophets'. Anyway, sure, I suppose you're technically correct, but it was released on a 45 (so it did exist) and, as I say, I said it was fake. I know there was no such group, it was known at the time even by spotty Lambretta riders, and I didn't (and don't) think there was any need to amplify that obvious fact beyond what I said. Not sure that this is adding anything to the original point either way? Unless I'm missing something?

Yep, that's why I said it's fake

That's not really a different perspective, I don't think? All I was saying was a lot of the sounds I am still fond of - though have no desire to own, and wouldn't want to hear if I ever went out, which I don't! - resonate because of the time and place. Obviously I can't say whether I'd have been into Hey Little Way Out Girl when played by Searling - maybe, depending on how much gear I'd necked. But it never formed any real part of my youth (though I did actually buy the Grapevine release - I would argue that was because I didn't really know what soul was at that point). There's loads of records like it, of course. Fontella Bass. College disco heaven. Muriel Day. Under My Thumb by Wayne Gibson FFS! Even the 'Detroit Prophets' version of Suspicion - obviously an entirely fake record (though also not white), but I still love it because it instantly takes me back to Great Yarmouth in 1983ish, with my tongue down a teenage modette's throat, hoping I'll get her bra off. I should say that my story is obviously that of a second or maybe third generation soulie, I didn't start listening to northern till the early 80s. Within a year of that I was going to Stafford and the 100 Club, and my 'education' had begun, and I left all that old stuff behind like the terrible snob I was. But it's still there somewhere in my black little heart.

Maybe it's different for British soulies. We grew up listening to northern from older brothers or at youth clubs and school discos and then scooter rallies; often it wasn't that soulful (because youth clubs and school discos and scooter rallies didn't have DJs with amazing records), but the music often still has a place in our hearts. TMH wouldn't be in my serious top 5,000 northern records, but it reminds me of being thirteen or fourteen so it has something extra. Similar records from that time for me would be Like One (Jean Carter), You Are (Bobby Reed), Raining Teardrops (The Demures) - they're obviously not blue eyed and are objectively 'better' than TMH, but they have the sane emotional pull because they date to the same time for me (school discos, DJs playing off the early Kent albums). (I have all of those but not TMH, oddly.) Few mainland European sound fans have that experience to look back on I guess.

Takes all sorts. To be fair, I have a few guilty pleasures of my own. I'm an absolute sucker for Ten Miles High

I know it's all subjective, but I can't understand why anyone would pay a grand for Construction - or at least, anyone into soul. Yes, historic, yes, Searling and Wigan, yes I have danced my head off to it, admittedly chemically-assisted when I'd probably dance to The Birdy Song, and it has a great backing track but the vocal is horrendous. Then again, Sharon McMahan is undoubtedly soulful but it sounds like mid 70s MOR shite to me and I can't understand why anyone would pay £600 for that. I need a lie down, or a drink.

Unfortunately that ship has sailed. To be fair, it cast off when eBay arrived, really.

This one is currently out there (won't name the bloke as not fair, we've all done it): "VG+ (would be EX but for label damage)" see also: "Aunty (would be uncle if she had bollocks and a handlebar moustache)"

Aka tape swappers fave

To be fair I have a Tony Clarke Wrong Man I've got for sale which fits that description (bit of cue burn at the start, not the background noise)

Some good ones here I also like variations of, 'Someone told me it might be a second issue but I don't think it is' = It's a stone-cold boot