phatspinner

Shame to break the cosmopolitan link but I think Warp records relocated from Sheffield to London about 10 years ago. Guess we'll have to continue to dine out on Tony Christie. For my tenpennorth, I'm not overly impressed and would point anyone looking for a little more soul in the direction of Rafael Saadiq's latest album which has a retro feel with a potential Northern Soul track in 100 yard dash. I believe he was in Tony Tone Tone at one time but not sure which one he was as he's not called Tone/y !

Covers 33. They're on line and will mail to you . Andy

Yes, what I was trying to get at, in starting this thread, was the strange feeling that whilst we all love the tons of records which populate the scene there's often one that you're in a minority of one on. In my case it looks like I'm alone on the Del Larks. I hold my hand up, it's me ! What is interesting is that I nearly said the Charades as I've always considered this a fast tuneless track which al;so did absolutely nothing for me. Knowing it was such a chronicler of the Scene as Kev Roberts' favourite track I seem to recall reading,then although I could own up to the Job Opening, I didn't have the confidence to reveal the Charades was my guilty secret also. Off out now but when the dance floor is packed to Eddie Bishop - Call Me, I might again say to myself, "is it me ?" Andy

Thanks Pete I'll try that. Doing it individually and having to keep changing pages has made bored the pants off me. Andy

Does anyone of the E Bay sellers on here know how to give feedback to buyers all in one go rather than individually, as it takes forever this way ? Am I explaining myself ? Say I want to give 20 buyers the same feedback, can this be done in one operation ? Hope this makes sense but sometimes the words just won't come out the way they're in your head! Andy

What!!! 4 of these ara amongst my favourites and I can tolerate the other and Barbara McNair I also like. That's a hefty burden you've got off your chest there ! Are you sure that it's not just that you're tired of them rather than never got them? I go through that phase with many overexposed classics but they usually come back good as ever after a rest. Andy

Just played Don Ray and Del Larks again as they were handy. Don Ray still sounds fine to me, obviously pop so would polarise opinion but has a certain charm and I love the lyric (Probably because I can associate with the "Why wasn't I born good looking bit?) Del Larks still the same though. Andy

Anyone ever felt that they just didn't get an absolute Northern Soul Classic that everyone else raved about. Kept listening to it in case it suddenly clicked but it never did ! All the time agreeing with everyone else what a great record it was rather than invite peer disdain by being honest and admitting that you just didn't see what everyone else saw in the record in question, Persevered but eventually being forced to admit that it never will. Anyway I'm outing myself, I know it's me, i can't help it it's.... The Del Larks Job Opening I know it's a classic Male Group Northern Soul super rarity but to me it just sounds a mess. ( I know ) Anyone else got a skeleton in the cupboard ? It's allright it'll go no further... Feel free to unburden yourself, I don't want to hear about the ones we all know that split opinion or just popular dance floor fillers of the moment but stone classics that for some reason you just don't get! Andy

I have fairly vivid memories of the Va Vas all nighters for some reason even though I only went about 4 times, I seem to remember it as a Friday night all nighter that we attended and then went on to Blackpool Mecca where we stayed saturday night before driving home on the Sunday afternoon and then going to work on the Monday somehow. My memories are of waiting for the Sat Night Disco crowd to clear at 2.00 am before we could go in. It was in Bolton wasn't it ? Remember Richard Searling very vividly with long hair and certain records which were new to me that he played, in particular Frankie and the Classicals, the Vel-vets and the Mylestones stand out for some reason. I think it's true to say that the records were excellent and that's prob why I recall it so well, perhaps from his Global sources! I also remember seeing him in the queue outside Wigan some time after and recognised him from VaVas. I also remember being shocked to see a Rolling stones LP in an album box behind the DJ stand , I believe that it was the one with the orig version of Under my Thumb on it, seem to think it was played as an alternative to Wayne Gibson but can't be sure. Strange the things that stick in your memory from 30 odd years ago! never went to the Pendulum but did go to an allnighter in Farnworth nearby when the Torch closed early because the allnighter couldn't take place, don't think it was Trogs though but could have been. No matter as by the time we got there it was full and i couldn't get in and spent the night on coach outside! Andy

Thanks for response everyone. I think I understand.... Andy Good tip also !

Just had an e mail from GEMM which talks about a 13% surcharge and a change in payment methods accepted from 31.3.09. Now I always have a problem understanding GEMM's communications and you guys on here are pretty clued up so can anyone explain what's happening ? Will the 13 % simply replace the 10% or 5% surcharge if you to have it at present. Are basically GEMM putting up their surcharge to 13% Message is as follows: "Due to continuous complaints from customers, we can no longer support any payment method where the customer pays part of GEMM's commission as part of the transaction. Starting on March 31, 2009, GEMM will switch all Sellers over to what is informally known as the '13%' method. Here is how it is described on the GEMM back-end website, in the Seller Setup, Payment Processing section: 'GEMM to process payments (cash, checks, money orders, credit cards, Paypal and all other acceptable forms of payments) on behalf of the customer for orders received through the GEMM ordering system. My pricing will be reduced by 13% to offset GEMM's surcharge, so the customer will be paying no more than my regular pricing when ordering through GEMM even though the he/she is actually paying the GEMM commission.' In other words, GEMM will process payments for amounts you indicate, take out 13% from what we collect from the customer, and send you the rest. We understand that this may have an impact on the way that you have structured your pricing, and so we are offering to work with you on changing your prices, if necessary, to accomodate this change. We can, if you like, make a wholesale change to your catalog pricing for every item on a one-time basis, to support this change in policy. To take advantage of this, please reply to this email with several pieces of information: Your GMV Number Your Seller Name The Percentage (%) of the price change. For instance, if you have an item in your catalog that is listed at $100.00, and you would like to increase the price by 13%, then please send us the percentage of either '113%'. You can also say, 'Raise my prices by 13%'. Either format will work for us, and we will act accordingly on the same day that we make the policy change." It's probably very simple and me being thick but I've had a hard day at work! Andy

Thanks for all replies everyone on this somewhat South Yorks -centric thread. I hate mysteries and to tell the truth I'm still somewhat perturbed by the Marie Celeste so I'll be back with more in the near future ! Andy

"Yes mate, the labels are on the wrong side on mine. So.... what we have here is a 'Two known copy' - modern day Frank Wilson! Sean" And Martin hasn't seen a third copy in someone's collection either !!

Thanks everyone for the info so far, particularly Sean for info.re Jimmy James track, no wonder I couldn't track one down in any guide. Mine hasn't the pic sleeve, does Sean's copy also have the label on wrong side ? Still waiting for any info on the Johnny Johnson track and has anyone else got the Jackie Wilson in the Spanish pic sleeve who could confirm it's the same sleeve even though it qotes a different track on cover ?

Hiya Martin Did the Jackie Wilson get a US release ?

Yes no mystery there though, A side played at Torch I recall. Must have been a new release at the time though I doubt I knew it at the time!

Can anyone give me any info on the following modern tracks. 1. Jimmy James and the Vagabonds Missing You. IMO this is a great modern track but I've never seen it mentioned or listed. It's on the mojem label, it's a 4 track ep and just to add to the mystery the label is on the wrong side so you have to play Loving you is easy. I guess it's a UK production, there's no date, number is BECK 857 which seemd odd in itself! 2. Jackie Wilson It only happens when I look at you. Appears to have been written by Golde and Denne who I seem to recall were UK writers for Real Thing etc. How did they come to write this for Jackie? Also to add to the mystery again, the copy I have is a Spanish Picture cover which lists Nobody but You as the title but the disc is It only Happens plus Where is Love. Initially I thought wrong sleeve but the number 00B521 is same on sleeve and disc. Also has sticker with date 10.3.66. on label but this can't be right can it ? 3. Finally, bit easier I think! Johnny Johnson and Bandwagon Strong Love Proud Love from 1974. It's a Biddu production anyone know it or rate it ? Was it issued in US ? So come on experts solve my mysteries ! Andy

Sorry to hijack the thread but I never had any responses to this previous posting which you will see contains the Realistics track mentioned.I I've always had a soft spot for the old UK productions, imo if they're any good they should be worth a lot more in view of the fact that there are no US imports available to buy. Of course unfortunately many verge on the pop / soul borderline if produced in the UK and I sometimes wonder just how soulful they are: perhaps I could ask 2 things of the following records I've just pulled out of my box... 1. opinions, do others think they are any good ? 2 And keeping with the thread, are they UK only, or more particularly were they issued in US ? I guess many would have European releases. Viola Wills Run to the nearest exit Goodear 1974 Raisins Dont leave me like this Major Minor 1969 Root and jenny jackson so Far Away (Instrumental) Beacon 1970 Pasadenas Love thing CBS 1990 Ritchie Pitts One step away Magnet 1978 The Realistics The Magic that you do Epic 1977 Cissy Stone Gone but not forgotten Decca 1976 The Stylistics I feel Lucky tonight BW 1979 The Blossoms there's no greater love MAM 1977 Flirtations One night of love RCA 1975 The Jesters Cant live without you jam 1973 Kokomo Anytime CBS 1975 Clyde McPhatter thank you love Deram 1968 Danny Williams whose little girl are you Deram 1967 The Pearls I'm gonna steal your heart away Private stock 1975 The Platters dancin to the music of love philips 1975 Delegation baby youre my mystery state 1977 The Expressions round and round in circles EMI 1978 The Fantastics is there a doctor in the house Bell 1974 The IGs Hang on to me baby RCA 1974 Jimmy James and vagabonds Marble and iron EMI 1974 No soundfiles but I guess that most will be known. Cheers Andy

Just finished reading a great book which was bought me as a Christmas Present. It was Jack Asford's Motown, A view from the Bottom." Now there's a couple of things which intrigued / puzzled me. Firstly Eddie Parker gets only a paragraph, no mention of any records and in particular no mention of "Love You Baby" Now given that said record was on the "Ashford" label I would have expected at least a mention, given that he does namecheck several other of his independent Detroit productions after he left Motown. I guess there weren't many on the label, was it the only release ? Jack understandably is proud of many of these productions (and rightly so) yet he declines to mention this record. He does describe Eddie as a "screamer" rather than a soul singer and I wouldn't argue with that. In fact said record although massive in the early 70s is to my ears almost devoid of melody, not that it mattered back in the day. Secondly, here's a quote from the book. ""The production on her, (Miki Farrow) like the other releases, were popular in Europe, but it was extremely hard to get a record played in Detroit." So was Eddie Parker issued in France in 60s or was it 70s? If it was 60s then I am puzzled as to whether he was aware that this and other great tracks were popular in Europe actually in 60s or would it be more likely to be 70s when the Northern Soul scene discovered them? And why would he find it hard to get a record played in Detroit ? I have a theory but don't want to spoil the (50th) party!! Andy Any ideas/ comments from the experts on here ?

I think that you have to realise in these "Credit Crunch" times more people are likely to make you an offer. You only have to watch consumer programmes on tv or read " money saving" websites to realise that this is part of the advice given to the general public in buying items. 95% of my set sale items invite a best offer, and of course some that are made to me are insulting, however they're unlikely to be successful. However, providing offers are made politely and without an attitude I have no problem. It's half the fun and you can always say no.

Steve When I kitted out my shop I got all the shelving from IKEA. Now have it in my house with storage boxes placed on the shelves. Very economical way of doing it imo Andy

Thanks I'd have to say that when I played it at home it didn't do much for me but when I played it out it sounded so much better. I have a gig in a pub where's there's very little interest but it's an ideal opportunity to see what the records sound like fully amplified. It never ceases to amaze me how much better some discs sound in these circumstances. I try mod and funk as well as soul r&b. I quite like where styles cross over. I've got tired of hearing the well exposed stuff I guess.

Can anyone give me an idea of the value of these 2 discs I rescued from a pile of country and western? jimmy steward Jr Convince me Coral 62530 The Doo rights Youre my girl Double Shot DS 119 Both are on Canadian pressing if this makes any difference. Thanks Andy