Ficklefingers

That's just plain greedy !! lol

Don't know if he still has it Steve, but @Man From Soul did have a copy for sale a while back (can't remember when..) Other than that, the only other copy I have EVER seen (and pretty sure it wasn't for sale..) was Jeff Leimlich's copy around 15 years ago !! Some really fascinating stories involved in the Deep City and associated stable of labels

My hearing isn't the best, but no way do they sound even remotely familiar IMO

I have 4 or 5 I'm currently waiting on.. 5 weeks is the longest outstanding thus far - but reading through these posts I'm not unduly concerned at this time, and certain they will all arrive in good time

That man can certainly sing.. will be watching his future output with interest.. Thanks for posting Mike

I am fascinated by the stories involved in the birth of her career.. The people, the labels.. her period at Deep City in particular being what got me hooked !! Superb stuff, and can't wait for your next transcript.. Thank You !!

My copy arrived yesterday, but it's only today I've had spare time to get it on the turntable and remind myself of it's brilliance.. And it is TRULY BRILLIANT !! and currently on permanent loop.. hope I don't wear it out lol The 45 serves another purpose too, during this weird period of lockdown we're all having to endure, and lives up to it's title 'Set Your Mind Free' in more ways than one.. I know I'm not alone with how the current situation can get inside your mind, and create struggles with one's own mentality - being prone to depression anyway I don't mind admitting I've lived a yo yo existence these past couple of months and literally wanted to bang my head against a wall !! On playing the newly arrived Roland Johnson 45 my spirits are immediately lifted, and my demons (at least for now) are once again consigned to depths where they belong So, thank you MD guys - not just for one of the best 45's to ever be placed on vinyl, but also for providing a catalyst to raise my spirits.. much needed and VERY much appreciated..👍

My copy arrived yesterday, but it's only today I've had spare time to get it on the turntable and remind myself of it's brilliance.. And it is TRULY BRILLIANT !! and currently on permanent loop.. hope I don't wear it out lol The 45 serves another purpose too, during this weird period of lockdown we're all having to endure, and lives up to it's title 'Set Your Mind Free' in more ways than one.. I know I'm not alone with how the current situation can get inside your mind, and create struggles with one's own mentality - being prone to depression anyway I don't mind admitting I've lived a yo yo existence these past couple of months and literally wanted to bang my head against a wall !! On playing the newly arrived Roland Johnson 45 my spirits are immediately lifted, and my demons (at least for now) are once again consigned to depths where they belong So, thank you MD guys - not just for one of the best 45's to ever be placed on vinyl, but also for providing a catalyst to raise my spirits.. much needed and VERY much appreciated..👍

Whoever it is that paid that much for Barbara Cooper.. I NEED TO MEET YOUR DRUG DEALER !! 🤣

I was just typing the same link Steve.. Great Minds, and all that..

Thing is though, Len.. I can't remember giving you a lift back home !! Come to think of it, I don't even remember how I got home lol Oh.. such Happy Days !!

I've felt really bad ever since, Len !! lol.. My head was POUNDING by the time we got there, so god knows how I made you feel.. It's one of them stories we quite often remind ourselves of, and relate to others as a warning never to get a lift with me !! lol

Early 80's.. decide I wanna buy a few new records so begin my drive to Wigan.. Somewhere along the way I picked up two lads (non-soulies).. With the illegal substance I took earlier having kicked in I was non-stop verballing for each & every mile of tarmac we traversed.. Stopped at Corley Services near Coventry to refuel - to be informed by my passengers 'thanks for the lift mate, but we'e gonna hang around here for a while before continuing' !?! They obviously didn't like the topics of discussion.. or maybe it was the fact they couldn't get a word in and both had headaches !! lol (Len.. does that bring back memories of the one and only time Sue and I gave you a lift.. to Leeds ?? lol). No problem, I thought, and continued on my merry way as a sole traveller again.. As I neared Keele services I get red lights appear on the dash, and smoke begins to pour from the bonnet.. It was quite late at this stage but I managed to make it to the services and sought the assistance of site based mechanics - only to be told that the head gasket had blown, oil all over the place, and I wouldn't be driving it anywhere soon !! They kindly arranged for a dealer in Hanley to collect the car the next day for repair.. Ah well, all in a day's work, I thought (the gear was good..) What next ?? Ah.. I know.. 'Taxi..' all the way to Wigan, and at a cost of £25 !! Hah, I thought.. It's only money !! Anyway.. gets to the Casino early hours only to find IT AIN'T ON !! Ah well.. all in a day's work, I thought yet again.. Now what !?! A quick stroll to the train station.. next train back home, and would see the end to a complete waste of a night.. Err.. No.. No trains until around 7am !! Bearing in mind the purpose of the trip in the first place was to buy records, I had quite a lot of cash on me,so didn't fancy hanging around and the prospect of being relieved of my possessions before the first train.. 'Taxi.. !!' All the way back to Huntingdon, and ANOTHER £50 !! That wasn't the end of it though.. The car.. new engine.. piston through the head.. over £600 !! I think wages were around £30-£40 a week at the time.. A VERY expensive outing.. and NOT ONE 45 !!

A stupid 15 year old.. decides he's gonna thumb it to Cleethorpes for a Pier 'niter.. heard a tenth-hand rumour about a coach that leaves from a pub in Nottingham, after a Soul Night.. Off I plod, walkman in hand, and about a tenner in me pocket.. Thumb out on the A1 and get a lift as far as Grantham.. all good so far.. Not long before another lift took me to the A52 just outside Nottingham and by this time it's beginning to get dark.. I then commenced to walk to every pub I could find - fully expecting to very quickly find the one with the aforementioned coach.. About a hour later, and it suddenly dawned on me that Nottingham is actually quite a large place, and the chances of finding the right pub was an impossible task - especially as I didn't know either it's name OR which part of Nottingham !! Eventually made my way to the train station and, after checking how far east I could afford to travel while keeping enough for entry at the other end, hopped on a train that took me to somewhere in the general direction - haven't a clue where it was !! Back on the road again, hoping I'm going the right way.. It's silly o'clock in the morning and, after treading country roads for what seemed like an eternity, and with very little traffic on the roads, I decided that the next car that comes along I will wave my arms and flag them down.. Which was successful, as an old Morris transit stopped, with just the driver and one passenger.. after explaining my dilemma I was invited aboard and told they would get me within around 15 miles of Cleggy.. and did I smoke ?? Being a smoker but unable to afford to buy my own I quickly replied in the affirmative in the hope I would be offered a very welcome ciggy.. Not quite.. Instead the driver lit a single fag.. had a few drags then passed it to his passenger, who did the exact same thing before passing it to me.. At that age you're not averse to lugging on a fag that had already been passed around, although i did think they were being tight with the cigs as it was a roll up - and thought they could have rolled one just for me, but puffed eagerly away on it anyway... The remainder of the journey seemed to pass quickly and was full of mirth and laughter - it was like we had known each other for ever !! Turns out that was my first encounter of cannabis lol.. I ended up happily walking the remaining 15 miles to Cleggy - dawn fast breaking, in time to get there for the last hour !! At least Kev Draper was able to organise a lift back for me !!

Wow.. Both shocked and saddened by this news.. From her break into the recording business via Johnny Pearsal's record shop in Miami as a pre-teen, all the way through the decades, she has been such an important influence in other artists careers.. releasing oodles of soulful ditties herself over the past 50 odd years, and will be dearly, missed.. RIP Betty.. and thank you for the memories..

Have to agree with your comment Andy, I can't see a tune of such quality being left on the shelves Bet it will sound even better over a decent PA..

Have to agree with your comment Andy, I can't see a tune of such quality being left on the shelves Bet it will sound even better over a decent PA..

These really are an interesting read each month Mike.. Thanks for that.. Can't believe I didn't see the Joseph Moore, and would have been a very happy bunny at the price sold.. So.. Those of you looking to unload a copy.. I'm just a PM away !! I can't see where this current situation is being detrimental to market prices of the rarer stuff.. as I for one thought it would have an impact on peoples willingness to part with such sums in these uncertain times, but perhaps I got that wrong !!

These really are an interesting read each month Mike.. Thanks for that.. Can't believe I didn't see the Joseph Moore, and would have been a very happy bunny at the price sold.. So.. Those of you looking to unload a copy.. I'm just a PM away !! I can't see where this current situation is being detrimental to market prices of the rarer stuff.. as I for one thought it would have an impact on peoples willingness to part with such sums in these uncertain times, but perhaps I got that wrong !!

Great track.. order placed !!

Great track.. order placed !!

I used to play this out as a cover up.. when I had to sell up I donated this 45 to someone.. but can't for the life of me remember who I gave it to, and curiosity keeps getting the better of me so I thought I would put a post up on here.. Was it you ?? I'm not looking to take it back.. just wanted to satisfy this tiny mind of mine.. Thank You !!

The 45 was ONLY available as a 'give away' with the above mentioned LP

Thanks for posting Spencer.. Are you in contact with him ?? I'm certain people on here would be pleased to learn about his music career.. regardless of how short it may have been Has he access to this forum ?? Thanks for your time..