Timemarcheson

Been buying for about 60 years and in the early years didn’t have a lot to spend. I learned to trust my own judgement/ear and also to be patient. This came about because initially it was easy to get swept away, as you say (I was young and daft). However it wasn’t the internet in the 60’s it was friends and music mags along with youth clubs that influenced me. I made many poor decisions initially but gradually got to a point where I was comfortable with what I was buying/paying. There is no excuse in today’s hi-tech world but I understand that the rush of owning “that tune” just overtakes any common sense judgement. I‘m sure we’ve all done it.

Cheers Mike

Hi Mike, any Natasha Watts left, if yes definitely take one. Regards and Thanks Frank

About 6 years old, been used sparingly by two very careful owners and well looked after. Excellent sound quality for low cost. Good start up option. We used it very successfully at Soul in the Suburbs in Newcastle. AMP KXR 1500/KXR 2000 Stereo power amplifier. 2 x Stanton T.92 USB Turntables and travel cases. Technics head-shells with 2 x Stanton N 400 and 2 x Audio Technica cartridges. 2 x Peavey Speakers PRO 15 40 OHM 600 Watts. 2 x Speaker Stands (Extendable). 2 x Mixers. 1 x Gemini PS 424 + 1 x Numark M101. Headphones, Microphone, Mini Angle Lamps, Speaker Covers and Spare Cables. £500.00 If interested please PM me. Equipment is located near Edinburgh. Open to discuss how it can be relocated. Regards Frank

Hi, I have a uk copy which I am prepared to sell for £60 plus postage. There is some slight label discolouration but the record plays M-, no problem. Please see photo. Full money back if not happy etc. Regards Frank

Sent email.

Sent you a PM Des re L V Johnson Regards Frank

Hi Phil, PM sent Frank

Looking for a M- or near copy of Fever Fever Fever/We gonna do our own thing for a Christmas present. Please PM with price and condition. Many Thanks Frank

The original eBay entry for the Hopkins Brothers was for 2 copies of the record which have been in storage for 45 years (as I understand it).

Hi Derek, Has this been sold? If not I would like to buy it. Regards. Frank

Mainly 70's from me. Robert Ruffin - Cruise Sharon McMahan - Maybe you'll be back Maze/Frankie Beverly - While I'm alone Lorraine Johnson - If you want me to be more of a woman Ronn Matlock - You got the best of me Gloria Scott - Too much love making Denise Lasalle - Here I am again Anthony White - Hey baby California Malibus - Love in my life Oscar Perry - I got what you need Randy Brown - I'm always in the mood Z.Z. & Company - Gettin' ready for the get down Nolan Porter - If I could only be sure Eddie Parker - Body Chains Billy Sha-Rae - Do it Mongo Santamaria - We got Latin soul Wilson Pickett -Let me be your boy Cascades -Pains in my heart (The last 2 dedications as a thanks for the invite) A really enjoyable night with a great cross section of music. Great to meet Acky and Andy, catch up with Brian and have a beer with them. Frank

Dave was a great human being, championing equality and diversity on all fronts as well as being a great writer and top soul gentleman.

In more recent times, October 2014 in Lisbon, 25 mint 45's including Sharon McMahan - Maybe you'll be back (Columbia). Paid €1 (80p) each. Thought these days were long gone. Only managed to look through about a quarter of the stock, flight to catch.

Hi Joey, Along with my mate Brian I put on an event, Soul in the Suburbs, in Newcastle 3 times a year. The next one is 18 April and you can find a flyer on the EVENTS page. John Parker and Tony Hatfield from York will be appearing along with Davy Mason from the North East. Brian and myself do the early part of the night. Come along and introduce yourself and hopefully you will enjoy yourself. Just to assure you, we are not nutters. Regards Frank

I made an insurance claim in 1998 following a serious flood which submerged about 1500 records of varying value (they were destroyed because of the sewage/health risk). They were not catalogued or priced in any way although I did have some paperwork for some purchases. Fortunately I had the internet and I managed to trace about 10% of them and used this to submit an insurance claim. The grossing up of the 10% that I valued came to £15k, I had to settle for about half that. My advice is do the work as others have suggested. I believe that the records were worth over £20k but had no way of proving it. I have never replaced the vast majority of them. Frank

On Friday night (19th July) me and my good lady went to see Bettye Lavette at Perth Concert Hall and as Roburt said above she was "sumut special". She is truly a talented and classy lady. Her set comprised of a mixture of newer material (last 10 years - representing her rise from the crypt, her own description), covers and some early material, which included My Man, her first release in 1962 when she was 16. No matter what she sang the voice was superb. Her encore was sung acapella and the audience gave her a rapturous standing ovation. She made various references to her recent "revival" but the most interesting comment (imo) related to her early material. She said she had never performed this material as she was ashamed of it because no one bought it when it was released so she felt that no one wanted to hear it. She then said that, on reflection, she was always proud of it on a personal level and now wants to perform more of it. Perhaps an indication of a new found confidence that comes with wider recognition. Fabulous, fabulous night. The support act was the James Hunter Six who I had not heard of until now. Music strongly influenced by late 50's/early 60's R&B , mostly their own material. They included their own take on Fortune Teller and a Five Royals number. I would definitely go and see them again. You can find a video of One Way Love on Rolling Stone website. A good while since we were last at a live soul event and then in one weekend we go to two. Last night had the good fortune to see the McCrary Sisters in Edinburgh. Another brilliant performance, the highlight being Alfreda's lead on Broken Pieces, a tortured piece of Gospel/ Soul, supported by her sisters. Simply stunning. Great to see these live acts performing to such a high standard, especially in Scotland. Frank

Not been to Chicago since 2005 but it is a truly great city (we broke our journey for 4 nights on our way back from California). We stayed at Hotel 71, right on the river opposite the Wrigley Building. Great hotel in ideal location. The Art Institute of Chicago (www.artic.edu) is well worth a visit and offers a unique opportunity to see the American Modernism section which includes Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks" as well as many other great exhibits, including furniture, the decorative arts and design. Also did the Sears Building, great views and went to the beach, strange finding it at the top end of the Magnificent Mile We had breakfast at The Ralph Lauren store (has a restaurant) on North Michigan Avenue (Magnificent Mile) on the recommendation of a friend who used to work in Chicago, food was very good and service excellent. Not an obvious place to eat but it was so good we went back for lunch. Can't remember the club we went to but live act was a band with a female lead singer by the name of Patricia Scott, super voice and great choice of material. Hope this helps. Regards Frank

I have known Bill for 40 years and when his daughter Victoria phoned me on Thursday to say he was very ill my heart sank. The news earlier today was a blow. As Manus said a big influence on many of us, particularly in the early days when it wasn't trendy, just a passion that never waned, only grew. Sad, sad loss of a true soul fan. Frankie McCue

I was a regular buyer of 45's from the US but have stopped buying since the postal charges went up. In the 2 months up to the increase I purchased about 40 records ranging from $5 to $150. Often these would be single items as I felt the postal charges were fair and reasonable. On all occasions the dealer declared the prices at a low level. I was never charged anything in terms of customs/duty etc. In an ideal world I would prefer to buy more than one item from a dealer to make the postage better value for money but the vagaries of the auction system make this difficult. Also there are not always other records that I want to buy. I am watching with interest to see what dealers are going to come up with, how are they going to entice buyers to part with their money, what incentives can they offer? Is bundling records, say in 2's, 3's or 4's for lower priced records an option? One US dealer regularly encloses a "freebie", at least you feel as if you are getting something for nothing and you can keep it or sell it on and maybe recoup the postal costs. At the end of the day I want to buy but there is a limit. Some imaginative marketing and incentivising may be required before I will be tempted to part with my money. Good Luck Frank

Carla Thomas - Every Ounce of Strength Love the Emotions recommended by Seano. Frank

Agreed, access to the music first even though vinyl is my main preference. Now have YouTube through a Sony television, looking for a soundbar to enhance the quality. Anyone done this? Any recommendations? Grateful for input. Frank

Agree minidisc makes a great base source for recording CDs. Still use it on a regular basis.

I have a Pioneer minidisc recorder/player which I have had since the late 90's. The main reason I bought it is because it has a reasonably effective digital noise reduction system which can be used with analog recordings. I had a couple of thousand records damaged in a flood in 1998 and although a good proportion were condemned to the bin (sewage/soil etc), some were saved (still haven't got over the loss though).The water damage impaired the sound quality (and ruined labels) on many but with careful cleaning some are playable and have been enhanced somewhat when recorded on to minidisc (effectiveness dependant on extent of damage). I also bought a portable player which I used for a while but has been in a cupboard for the last few years. Recording quality overall is very good and it has served it's purpose well. Ah well, Timemarcheson. Regards Frank