phatspinner

I once started walking up a street in Washington looking for Waxi Maxies I think it was F street or something. Easy to find the street of course as they're all alphabetical grids, what I didn't take into account was how long the streets were. What started out as a quite nice street began to deteriorate as we walked along until all the windows appeared to be boarded up and the street lights smashed. I kept thinking that it would get better but it didn't! As I had my wife with me and we started to draw a crowd, after a couple of miles I decided to call it a day and jumped into the nearest taxi who said we were lucky to find one in that area!

On this shop ? Sorry must have missed it. Should have known !

I always love reading the Record Digging Stories from the USA and I think that the danger/risk involved is often underplayed in retrospect. Many of us Anglos were quiet naive in the 1970s and 80s and probably put ourselves at risk unknowingly,happily often the english accent was a major help as in the poor black areas there was often an understandable resentment against white americans, the reasons for which I now understand but certainly didn't at the time. Recent events have shown that it can be still quite dangerous to roam into the wrong area although there are of course many cities in UK and other countries where you wouldn't stray into some areas at 3.00 a.m. on foot. Anyway a recent video clip caught my eye and I wondered if any of SS's intrepid record diggers had visited this store? https://landing.newsinc.com/shared/video.html?freewheel=69016&sitesection=chicagosun&VID=23580593 I'm not looking for digging stories generally as there is a thread ongoing for that.

I have absolutely no problem with anyone promoting Northern Soul, whoever they are, providing their facts are accurate. Just listened to PW on Radio 6 where he played Tainted Love, Unsatisfied and If you Ask Me. Unfortunately the Unsatisfied sounded like the 90s Ian Levine remake where unfortunately Lou can't hit the notes at the end. He also stated that when he "found" Robert Knight, it was on a country label, "Wand." He also inferred that NS fans live in a time-warp and it's more about the people than the music if I remember it correctly. Hope the doc is more factually accurate!

And what a drag when he found out it wasn't!

Maybe he'd made a mistake and meant to buy "Tinted Love."

Hi Ian Fascinating story I presume that it was an import copy of Lada Edmund Jr !!! Andy

Another great track is "Get out your handkerchiefs" Andy

A great loss of a major songwriting talent who along with his "old lady" Valerie Simpson, wrote some fantastic tunes. It would be interesting if we could compile a list of their compositions. I'll start with "Aint no Mountain High enough" and the brilliant "Top of the Stairs" By the way, did A&S ever record Top of the Stairs? (I'm presuming that they weren't Collins and Collins, something I've always wondered about !) Andy

Would have to agree with the JJ Barnes pick and maybe Barbara Mercer "Hey" would also qualify. I wasn't familiar with the 2 versions of "It's the magic of you" which are both excellent 60s pop records in my opinion. Is there a black or soul version of this song as I feel that it would lend itself to a more soulful interpretation and would this make another decent thread maybe, 60s pop tunes that are crying out for a more soulful version in that they have the tempo arrangement and lyrics but just fall short on the "soulfulness" quotient ? Andy

Hi everybody just bought a copy of the incredibles on audio arts I have checked my book but I am not sure if its a real one it's light green in colour the paper seems smooth and there is the ridged ring towards the center but is does not seem to have the four turn run-out it seems to be a three turn run out which may indicate a boot but run out does not measure 13.88mm it's slightly less. Could anybody share some light on this please. Hey Al What was the conclusion, was the seller right or wrong when he told you it was an original ? You didn't mention the drill hole either !!! Andy

So someone collecting Demos therefore would have to be satisfied with several issues that do not have a "demo label" and only a Factory Sample sticker. I ask because I do not want to misinform someone. Andy

The last 2 posts sum the issue up. You either take a chance, accepting that a proportion will be lost and build the costs in or simply refuse to sell the records witout all the safeguards ( eg registered, confirmed address etc being in place. ) I deal in cheaper end records and accept that if I insist on recorded delivery then I will lose the sale. Was very unhappy with paypal recently who have no regard whatsoever to your unblemished trading record and will rule against you in favour of any one who simply says they never received the parcel. What you have to say to yourself is "Is taking paypal and the extra business it brings worth the odd claim against and the subsequent loss ?" If the answer is yes then you have to take it on the chin. Galling I know but you get over it. I am currently sweating over a package that I have ordered which is overdue and I agreed to pay as a gift which, of course, gives me the opposite problem,- no comeback if it's never been sent. Andy VINYL DEMAND RECORDS

Can anyone confirm whether there are any Demos between 500 and 1000 (where issues were on the black label) that do not have a custom demo label and maybe just had a "Factory Sample" sticker on them ? Hope I've made this clear but my brain is frazzled after trying to understand the e bay incremental bidding thread! Andy

"A couple of years after closing my old shop in Sheffield (Spin City) I have decided to open another called Vinyl Demand on Saturday 12th March. Like Spin City it will stock lots of Northern Soul and other types of black music. It is situated at the bottom of Rockingham Street in the City Centre opposite where the fire station used to be before it was demolished like most of Sheffield City Centre. I hope to see all my old customers and new ones of course. Having recently retired from my 9 to 5 drudgery I am looking forward to being in the shop although I will not be opening every day, though I will be open every Saturday. Opening times will be relaxed although I am prepared to open specially for any visitors should they contact me in advance. It's a relatively short-term venture as the shop is also on Sheffield Council's hit- list, no doubt to be replaced by a car park! If you come in a car there's no problem parking as the shop is surrounded by car parks where buildings used to be.!! It 's only half the size of Spin City and won't be as well -organised without Pauline but there should be plenty to browse through.. The phone number for any enquiries is 07597629901. " Please note that following advice I have decided to postpone the official opening until Monday. This is because of the anticipated problems in Sheffield City Centre with the Lib Dem Conference and an anticipated demonstration. I will be at the shop on Saturday sorting records if anyone wants to still come but suggest they contact me on the above number or e mail me at spincitysheffield@hotmail.com. Meter bay parking has been suspended although I have space available behind the shop and I believe the Car Park opposite will still be open. Andy

Rob's shop is legendary and I would be aspiring to the same levels of organised chaos with my new shop in Sheffield if I didn't have a wife who insists on alphabetical order!! Andy

I also forgot to say that there is an opening offer of 25% off all vinyl apart from new items for the first month. This would apply to 95% of the stock. Andy

I think it's great that someone has been honest enough to admit their deception (albeit belatedly) and I think this must be fairly unique. I have recently had to refund several US customers who tell me that their parcels have not been received. I'm pretty certain that they're just held up by the increased security measures but no refunds to me have been forthcoming. When I enquired of one customer he told me that he'd since been lucky enough to pick another copy up locally!

Yes I forgot to mention that it is equi-distant from Devonshire Cat / Washington and Frog and Parrott! Just got back from moving stock in and now realise that Spin City being twice as big means somethings just won't fit. It won't be the Nortern soul though. I shall be sorting it out this weekend so if you want anything in particular send me a text and I'll bring it down. One thing to note: the door in is cleverly concealed! I'll leave you all to work it out when you get there. Just need to find out where I stored my shop record deck now! Andy

Cheers guys. It's only small so don''t all come at once ! Trying to remember where I stored everything - now where did I put that till? Andy

thanks John Yes That's it (When I say unissued I mean at time of recording ). Is it available ?

Isn't that the B side of A little lovin' ? The track I heard is definitely unIssued. I wrote the title down but have lost it!! DOH!

Does anyone have any information on the excellent unissued track by Alexander Patten which I've heard on the Steve White show a couple of times? It's similar to A little Lovin' and I guess was recorded at the same session.

A couple of years after closing my old shop in Sheffield (Spin City) I have decided to open another called Vinyl Demand on Saturday 12th March. Like Spin City it will stock lots of Northern Soul and other types of black music. It is situated at the bottom of Rockingham Street in the City Centre opposite where the fire station used to be before it was demolished like most of Sheffield City Centre. I hope to see all my old customers and new ones of course. Having recently retired from my 9 to 5 drudgery I am looking forward to being in the shop although I will not be opening every day, though I will be open every Saturday. Opening times will be relaxed although I am prepared to open specially for any visitors should they contact me in advance. It's a relatively short-term venture as the shop is also on Sheffield Council's hit- list, no doubt to be replaced by a car park! If you come in a car there's no problem parking as the shop is surrounded by car parks where buildings used to be.!! It 's only half the size of Spin City and won't be as well -organised without Pauline but there should be plenty to browse through.. The phone number for any enquiries is 07597629901. Andy

I'm not too sure about it being the first. I think that Radio 2 beat them too it a few years ago although that may have been an outside broadcast. Memory does play tricks but didn't Stuart Maconie cock up his CD cue-in and play wrong 4 Seasons track?