boba Posted February 3, 2012 Posted February 3, 2012 So at least once on ebay and once somewhere else I saw the Benny Sigler record that came out on Phil La of Soul on some other flowery looking (maybe even hand drawn) label called "Red Star". Last Sunday I was talking to Howard Ravitsky, who owned the Lash label and who produced the Benny Sigler record and Alfreda Brockington record for Phil La of Soul. I mentioned that the benny record came out first on some other label and he said that was not possible as he produced it directly from Phil La of Soul. Looking at the scan of the red star label: you can see that Ravitsky's name isn't on it anywhere. Some random producer is listed and even though Ravitsky was one of the writers, he's not listed. I sent him an image of the label via email and this was his response: "I'm just about 100 percent that record is a bootleg." Does anyone have any idea what the deal is with this pressing? it's also not mentioned at all in the manship 5th edition guide which includes bootleg information. I don't think it's a one-off because I think I've seen it at least twice (unless it was the same copy changing hands). Are the recordings identical to the Phil La of Soul release (the song titles are)? Was this pressed for the northern scene (in which case, it would be more common and not sell for a lot and be in Manship's book). Was this some sort of bootleg contemporaneous with the original release? I can't figure out who would bootleg this and what audience it would be for, except for the northern scene, as this record isn't really "known" on any other scene and is even obscure for a northern record. But it doesn't appear to be a northern bootleg. Totally weird, I would appreciate any info. Thanks.
boba Posted February 3, 2012 Author Posted February 3, 2012 (edited) oh yeah, one more clue which I just noticed is that it's probably not from the 60s because it has the recording copyright symbol (P) on it, which became widely used after the US government changed copyright laws in the 70s. So it probably wasn't pressed in the 60s? Maybe someone was trying to steal the record somehow? Its just totally bizarre. Edited February 3, 2012 by boba
boba Posted February 4, 2012 Author Posted February 4, 2012 is the type vaguely jamaican-looking? I don't know but at least that's a good suggestion of a market that might value this specific title that I didn't think about. Anyone have more info?
TOAD Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 why do you think its jamaican why not made for the popcorn scene ? Where was the seller from on the ebay copy.
boba Posted February 4, 2012 Author Posted February 4, 2012 why do you think its jamaican why not made for the popcorn scene ? Where was the seller from on the ebay copy. Is this a popcorn sound? One of the sellers was Barrie (a45heaven) so I don't know where he got it. I don't remember where else I've seen it but I have seen it another time. I don't know what both sides sound like, there may be a side that has a jamaican sound also.
Steve G Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 Benny Sigler was "reissued" if that's the word on Phil La on styrene (orig is vinyl) in the late 70s after Wigan plays. This one probably done for the NY Jamaican market I'd think? Is the B side the same as the Phil La one? My Phil La original copy has "A.Fenn" scratched in the deadwax. (hello Arthur!)
boba Posted February 4, 2012 Author Posted February 4, 2012 Benny Sigler was "reissued" if that's the word on Phil La on styrene (orig is vinyl) in the late 70s after Wigan plays. This one probably done for the NY Jamaican market I'd think? Is the B side the same as the Phil La one? My Phil La original copy has "A.Fenn" scratched in the deadwax. (hello Arthur!) Yeah, I was talking about Jamaican soul collectors (e.g. the NY jamaican collectors). I believe you but I've never seen the styrene version of the benny sigler, does it look like all the arctic and phila reissues of the 80s? The handmade looking label is crazy
Steve G Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 No, it looks the same as the last releases on the label Bob.
Guest franky m Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 Looks like an early Russian bootleg , probabaly from the mid 70,s , pressed to meet demand from the Kremlin Casino crowd
boba Posted February 4, 2012 Author Posted February 4, 2012 Looks like an early Russian bootleg , probabaly from the mid 70,s , pressed to meet demand from the Kremlin Casino crowd That must be it. Thanks so much.
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