The Stony Island Band killer ballad flip

[Derek Pearson]

You know collecting obscure soul records is certainly weird and wonderful but I’m sure you know that already.

Over the years I’ve spent countless hours wandering up and down the high roads and back roads of America hunting for all things vinyl. And I’ve absolutely no idea just how much money I’ve spent throughout all of these decades.

The length and breadth of the UK has had the same treatment as well and if I was 10 years younger Europe would be the next stop on the map

So to cut a long story short imagine my complete surprise the first time I played this 45 after buying it blind for 50p in a charity shop less than 15 miles from my house. I admit I was also guided by the comments very nice slow written in red on the label by a previous owner or radio programmer.

I’d never heard of the group before and it turns out this was the only 45 they ever released. The official A side “Stony Island Band” appears to be quite a well rated Disco Funk item but the flip “Peace Of Mind” doesn’t seem to have got the same applause at all. As is the case with many seventies records the white demo’s are double sided and the killer ballad flip is only found on the far less common stock copy.

Shipped out at the back end of 1978 sadly this iconic Florida label struggled to stay afloat for barely another year.

Dx