Ray Alexander Techniques 'Let's Talk' Query

[Tlscapital]

My gut feeling always has been that the dark blue label was first but is it ? Rarer although not necessary commanding a higher price tag yet it still puzzles me as I love this 45 and group for their sole two singles and one LP releases and wonder if anyone would have a story to tell behind those 2 different releases.

Both pressings used the same vinyl stampers (matrix) and only have another label lay-out BUT the darker blue label pressing also doesn't bare the 'Mactoriana Publishing Co.' rights. Could this indicate that the band didn't bother with such registration at first until the buzz caught them with more and more air-play ?

With the then growing public's demand they would have to repress the record and so went on to register in for safety their composition under their newly ready made publishing right company (likely owned by producer Lucy & Albert Williams) and the 'paler' blue pressing came out of the press to hit the market stalls.

Anyone maybe knows better what is the full story about these two pressing variants ? Plus what year were these effectively released ? I see dates like 1974 given rather randomly here and there. To me this could have been earlier actually. At least it is to my guessing ability as I would have thought more like 1972 or about. Anyone ?

To add water to the mill going by Chris Bartley's discography this would suit his timing in followed acts with his superb 'tomorrow keeps shining on me' (way overlooked IMHO) released on Musicor in May 1971 where his career went on almost uninterrupted from 1967 onward. Making 1972 plausible for him to join in the Ray Alexander Technique project...

I now see that the 'Now Again Reserve Edition' USA vinyl and digital edition "re-issue" like of their original LP but with bonuses of different mixes (?) features a comprehensive and illustrated 'booklet' with seemingly quiet a lot of factual 'blurb' about it all. That might be of interest. Would anyone on here have purchased that 're-release' with that booklet ? 

 

Edited April 16, 2023 by Tlscapital

[The Yank]

3 hours ago, Tlscapital said:

Anyone maybe knows better what is the full story about these two pressing variants ? Plus what year were these effectively released ? I see dates like 1974 given rather randomly here and there. To me this could have been earlier actually. At least it is to my guessing ability as I would have thought more like 1972 or about. Anyone?

     It looks like early "73 would be a good guess for a release date. This survey shows "Let's Talk" (in the instrumental section at #5).

 

 

Edited April 16, 2023 by The Yank

[Tlscapital]

6 minutes ago, The Yank said:

 

Wunderbar ! Radio add from February 1973 with their LP in the albums 'section' and the instrumental of 'Let's Talk' in the instrumentas 'section. Indicating that the 'Let's Talk' single release is definitely 1972 as I first believed it to be. Even if late 1972. Leaving now only the two releases query that could likely only be foretold by people from 'then'.