Just how rare is Don Gardner 45?

On the Modern Soul list was a bit of discussion about a famous rairty. Thought the below may be of interest to others not on the list, so asked John Smith (Oxford way one) if ok to pass on, thanks go out to John as he said ok!

http://www.topica.com/lists/ModernSoul

Someone asked ... "Don Gardner Cheatin Kind ....... I was just interested to know how rare it is >" Johns reply: I talked at length with Don at this years Prestatyn Weekender. He was either on the road or in the studio throughout the 60s (in the 70s he got fed up, quit performing himself & became Curtis Mayfields road manager -- doin all the management / bookin tasks !!!!) He (to this day) had no idea that he had anything released on the Sedgrick / Cedric label. HE was never based in Chicago & never recorded there. He would however give / send his FRIEND Jimmy Vanleer copies of new tracks he had cut to listen to (Jimmy ran this label !!!). So I guess Jimmy just pressed up limited copies of Dons cuts & send em around to the local radio DJs. Then if any took off, he could have negotiated a good licensing deal & split the money with Don. None were picked up for major local radio play & so no licensing action occured. The Tru-Glo-Town situation was similar. Don cut lots for them but was told the studio / warehouse burnt down & so the company was bust & couldnt pay him anything. Yet they continued to lease his stuff out (to the likes of Verve Records AND maybe Sack / Cedric ????). I guess someone knew the fire was gonna happen & took the master tapes home with them beforehand !!!!!!! The Sack releases are even stranger. In the 60s Monk Higgins used Sack to release stuff (limited press to supply Chicago radio stn DJs only) he was tryin to win a licensing deal on (thus getting a decent advance payment from a major label - he could then keep all this for himself I guess, rather than pass some along to the artist & producer who would probably be happy enough to learn that they now had a deal to record for a major). Again Sack was Chicago based BUT Don never even knew Monk & never sent tapes thru to him in the Windy city. I guess Jimmy Vanleer was once again involved as the middleman. Needless to say, Don now things a lot less of his old friend Jimmy. None of the above really helps in identifying just how many of each 45 were pressed up, but suffice to say is was a limited number.

 JRS