The Day My Mum Uncovered a Record

[Stevecee]

Back in the late 70s we used to go to the Abingdon allnighers, I don't remember any resident big name DJs there, although I think Steve Jeffries was involved, but just like Yate it was a reasonable distance from Dorset so it was a cheaper/easier alternative to Wigan etc and it was always popular with a good atmosphere.

Anyway this was during the height of the 'Pop' Era so it won't surprise anyone that a lot was played but the biggest record one night (played at least 3 times) was covered as Florence Devore and we hadn't heard it anywhere else. Like a lot of people those days we always took a tape recorder so that we could listen at home and on the journey back to Poole we played the tape and all agreed it was a perfect dancer especially the drum breaks which were made for spinnning!

The next day I am playing the tape at home and getting the usual turn that down shouts from my parents so when my Mum appears I am expecting the final turn it down or turn it off speech, but she says I know that last song. I laugh and tell her no way Mum, its Northern Soul, she shakes her head and says, well its not a great recording maybe its similar or a different version, play it again. I rewind and play it again and almost instantly she says it's definately Helen Shapiro,
I bought it when it was in the charts, I've still got it somewhere, she was a real favourite of mine, did you know she was born in the same place as your Nan?  I'll ask your Dad where he put my old 45s so you can check, its probably in the loft.

Sure enough when I get home the next day the 45 is on the bed and its Helen Shapiro "Tell Me What He Said" and so even though I know she sings Stop And You Will Bccome Aware I play it hoping its not the same record simply because I can't handle that my Mum not only knows it, she actually bought it!
Of course it is the same record, but it sounds so different at home that I wonder how we could have thought it sounded so good, maybe the loudness and atmosphere?

Now I am really torn, I am gutted that its her, that's it a chart hit and worst of all that my parents are ribbing me on how after telling them how Northern Soul is all about rare Soul records I have been dancing to a Pop hit. But at the same time I was Djing at local Soul nights back then and know if I play it the lads that were at Abingdon would all be amazed I had it and it would likely pack the floor and it could be a game changer for me as a DJ locally.
In the end I couldn't bring myself to play it, knowing its history the magic had gone and although it seemed to disappear from playlists of that time, it's still played these days but I can't hear it without thinking about the day my Mum uncovered a Northern Soul record!

Anyone else got a similar story or maybe a cover up of their own that got busted?

[Amsterdam Russ]

That's a great story. Thanks for sharing. 

[Jkpnefc]

not the same but in the 60s my mum and dad owned a pub..........pre jukebox days and a radiogram behind the bar.They had a pile of 45's to stick on there but usually Jim Reeves etc and used to go out and buy haf adozen every fortnight or so.Forward to the early 70s and me a jukebox had been instelled.me and a mate dug out  the pile of records out of boredon one night and stuck a few on. In the pile were Bobby Freeman - the Duck and Chuck Jackson - Chains of love both on pye international. Still have them to this day and never understood how they ended up being bought.Of course ,being a teenager , I never even asked so still inquisitive now.

[Billy Jo Jim Bob]

Not as good as the first story but here's one.

Its around '75 and I've just turned 13 and been allowed into the seniors disco at the Chantry Youth Club in Chesterfield. Up until this point I've only listened to chart stuff, so when the DJ puts on Motown and Northern I go mental and think WTF is this its fantastic. It turns out the DJ used to do the warm up at Samantha's in Sheffield and was going out with a local girl and got the gig. 

Anyway the next day I proudly announce to my parents that I'm into Northern and Motown and hence forth do not disturb my ears with pop drivel. My mum says 'yes I've got some of that stuff'. Now I've seen my parents record collection and it ranged from Mario Lanza in the 50's through to the Beatles in the 60's, so I'm like 'yeh right mum'. She's taking the Michael here.

The next day I come in from a game of footy with my mates on the street and Grandad is sat there with a cardboard box on the table. 'Have a look' says mum, so I open it up and, well f*** me, inside are loads of US Gordy, Motown and Tamla 45's in their sleeves, from Martha & Vandellas, Four top's, Temps, and so on. 

So now I'm looking a top tit in front of mum and dad and wondering how on earth they came across around 100 US 45's and where had they been - I'd never seen them?

I never really got to the bottom of it except it was something to do with my Grandad's cousin's son, who had done some work for someone and had been given the 45's. He didn't want them so gave them to his dad who in turn gave them to my Grandad, who then gave them to mum, who didn't actually want them, so they were put in the loft. All clear everyone ?

Andy

[Greedy]

I've been asked about this so many times but I've never put it in writing.. I've been into Northern since I was a young lad. First niter May 1980 as a 15 year old and went every week until 1987 when I met and started dating someone who was to become my wife and mother to my sons. ( enough of that) I stopped going to niters after we bought our first house in 1988 and as we were saving for our wedding I almost stopped going anywhere soul orientated.  But we used to love going to car boot sales, I occasionally found the odd motown or soul records but nothing exciting until March 1989 when we were at a car boot in Oadby, Leicestershire and I saw a record box with a piece of card sticking out saying "soul 45's" 

I thought to myself, yeah whatever and proceeded to have a look,  there were 11 records of only which there was  only 1 that I knew, which was jimmy Norman, you know I'm in love on little star, so I asked the grey haired old gentleman how much for all 11 and he said £5 so I bought them all. 

Once I got home I played jimmy Norman and then the  rest of them one by one thinking wow these are good until I dropped the stylus on mac staten and the nomads there she goes on prelude..

now you have to remember at the time this was butch's Bobby Angele cover up.. it was just like the moment in the film when he uncovers the Salvadors I was swearing and dancing around the front room thinking f##£ing hell.  I got told off for swearing too much lol but I was lost for words. 

The next day I took it to show Rudzy in his shop in Leicester and he was as astounded as I was.. 

Among the 11 records were

Mac staten  there she goes

Jj Jackson let the show begin

Pat Clayton someone else's turn

Jimmy Norman I know I'm in love 

Sophisticates back up baby 

4 others on little star star by jimmy Norman and Dorothy Berry and one on tjx which I can't remember off top of my head.. and 1 other which is eluding me at the moment.  

Now here is the really interesting thing,  I saw the chap at another car boot about 3 weeks later and told him I loved the records and asked him if he had any other records and where did he get them.  

His reply was that during the 60s he worked at an American airbase in Cambridgeshire and the airmen used to bring all these 45's with them and left them behind when they left and as he liked soul and motown they used to give them to him.. 

I asked him if he had any more, his reply was sorry I sold loads of them and you had the last few.. 

To this day I wonder what else he had that he had sold and that someone had no idea what it was. 

Regards Mick.

 

Edited December 3, 2021 by Greedy Mick

[Frankie Crocker]

Soooo Soulful. Thanks for posting.