Tomangoes

Well One original copy is warped, one original copy has 'with love to Jock' scrawled all over it, and the they are valued at at least £20k. The 3rd copy may or may not exist, but by its own definition lowers the average price somewhat if it does. Then again if its perfect it could bring £30k or more. I have an original (ha ha) mint condition 15th re-issue signed by Frank himself (I know one or two more exist) and also a separate FW signed 'menu' from the bar at the LA 2004 gig to prove the signature is genuine. How much would these two items be worth? Maybe they will both go on ebay if the real DILYIID gets daft money thrown at it. Ed

Hi Darryl. I would estimate that your NIACI record has been heard by at least 500,000 rare soul lovers since it got re-discovered. Scepter/Wand had some absolute gems released, and even if not commercially 'big time' in most cases, they have a worldwide following. There's another thread on here about a soul event in Chicago in a few weeks time. Although I will not be going, Im sure if you could get there (come on Mr Roberts, please ensure the needful!!) and experience the warmth and dedication of those who are going, you would understand much more how artists like yourself created a 'way of life' for many people. Keep the faith, and I hope you could get up there to get the adulation you deserve. Ed

In the good old days around 1979, before all this info tec/internet/ etc, it was possible to get the soul bowl list on a Wednesday and a Manship List on a Tuesday and compare notes. It was then possible to buy for example Whisky Talkin from soul bowl for a tenner and trade it with Manship who had it on his list for Twenty five quid, for another record for twenty five quid, that was also on soul bowl list for twenty five quid and the end result was you could end up with a universaly accepted twenty five quid record that you paid a tenner for. Did you get all that or should I go over it again.? Anyway, it was good fun at the time!!!! Some of us have seen these credit crunches before, so we are ready to build a great collection at half the price. Ed

The point is though, its all the fanfare that goes with the record that makes it special. I agree in terms of greatness versus other motown records alone, its no better. For example My Weakness is You, Just a little Misunderstanding, Girl why do you wanna make me blue, and a lot more are just as good, but the rarity, and story about the Owner stopping its production, along with Frank Wilson himself being such a great talent and person, just give the record its elevated status. This scene has always craved rarity over quality, and as the two points get closer those records are cherished, Gwen Owens / Don Gardner / Billy Wood etc. Its simply one of our crown jewels and to own it makes you royalty, or at least the closest any of us lot will get to be royalty. Whoever gets the money from the sale, I hope they send Frank Wilson a thank you letter, because if he had not made the career choice to stick to songwriting and producing, it may have been put out on general release. I cant believe actually that Berry Gordy has not got a copy of every record stashed somewhere. I hope this sale makes the new owner very happy. Hail the new KING (or Queen). Ed

KGB Legend My best memory by far in terms of impact records was James Coit's Black Power and Cal Tjader's Soul Sauce. Never mind the quality, feel the width. You could not get near the dancefloor when they started getting played. Great memories. Ed

I dont know Kenny, but I do feel sorry for him if he has to sell due to financial reasons. Its not as if someone has come along and made an offer he could'nt refuse (although I would have thought the reserve will be £20k). Like a lot of soul-sources, I have sold 90% of my collection over the years, but that last 10% will never go (I hope anyway). I actually think its worth and will make £50k. As a few others have said its so famous (It was even played at Half Time at Rotherham United yesterday!!)that any self respecting soul loving millionaire will have to have it. If I was J Manship, I would have had it end at midnight on a Saturday night when the beer is flowing. Inhabitions on loosening the purse string are always easier at that scenario. A sign of these sad times indeed. Ed

The famous Northern Soul club is called Wigan ________? The girl got it right and stated Casino. Surely the flood gates will open now for other questions being asked and I may get a few right!!! Ed

In the build up to the World Cup 2006, BBC1 put out a programme about what teams had qualified, and the backing track used was 'Make me believe in you'. These soul lubbers get everywhere. Ed

Just come back from Rife on a Thomas Cook flight and whilst flicking through the radio channels come across a great soul set including Frank Wilson, Kim Weston, Issac Hayes and many more classics. It passed on a good hour. Any other Airlines putting out good soul shows? Ed

Hi Darryl Im sure if you search around the clips near your record on youtube will will hear many records that have a similar beat etc to NIACI. Obviously it has been put in the RARE SOUL/NORTHERN SOUL category. This genre of music is slowly gathering pace back in the USA and for sure you have at least a few thousand fans there from NewYork to Florida to LA where established groups of fans exist. At a well attended soul event, usually 250 to 1000 people (maybe 20 or more going off around Europe on most weekends) if your record got played, it would fill the dancefloor and the vast majority of people at the event and especially those dancing would be singing the song word by word. Several stars like yourself have had the pleasure of being present at some of these events and obviously could not believe it without seeing it themselves. I sure hope you get a chance to see this for yourself in the near future. Kind Regards Ed

I first heard it a Wigan at the same time I bought the UK demo copy on release. I met Frank at the LA 04 gig and found him to be very polite. Ive heard the record almost everywhere you can imagine such as tv ads, soccer matches, tk maxx, played it myself going down Rodeo Drive/windows open, played it to my work mates in Delhi 1995, weddings, birthday bashes, etc etc etc. Mary Fox asked me and some others to name the most famous record in NS history and of course I chose this one. As far as I am concerned it ticks all the boxes that can be ticked for making it option A in this poll. Anybody not voting for option A is probably not a Northern Soul fan. Maybe they are Soul fans even Rare Soul fans, but not Northern Soul fans in the most accepted definition. Ed

They reckon Obama cant put his blackberry down. Is that like making the perfect accepted and cherished Northern Soul record to you Ian? For the record, Reaching for the best, was inspirational to us 14 year old baileys nappy night attendees circa 1975. Today, as I stated in a recent thread, that Venecia Williams tune is Very Good. I suppose whatever you do will never be good enough for some, but I have to admire your motivation as it cant be for commercial success. Whats your 'proudest' moment as a record producer/song writer in terms of Northern Soul? Ed

Steve Marshall - Maintain Ed

Well I never knew this record was manufactured in this way. Just goes to show you spend 20 years away from the scene, and hey presto some folks are still trying to find the formula for Northern Soul. Not a bad job though aside from the aftershock. It must be one of the better attempts by Mr Levine to 'create' a worthy record however it came to be. Ed

Obviously there will be many, for example Cal Brandons 24 hour love man, Richard Starr's Love is not a game, etc etc. BUT, I look at Manships record listing book and there must be 5000 + records Ive never heard, let alone seen or or owned, and that stops at about 1978. Its a lifetime thing this Rare/Northern soul Scene just knowing 50% of whats what. Good fun though. Ed

Stop posting your girlfreinds on here unless they are at least scantily clad. This is a serious site, so unless they can cause a 'titter' keep them away. Ed

Was it any better at the faster speed? Actually, I can remember there was an LP track, a bit disco, that was played at Cleethorpes Pier at 45rpm. Cant remember the title though. I have had a few records over the years that either had the labels back to front or in some cases not even the same track to the label. If they were £5 notes with the same problem they would be worth a fortune. Ed

I think 1975 XMAS I got the 2 pye compilations as presents and played them over and over and over. The Fuzz, Candy & the kisses, Al Wilson, Jack Montgomery, Ila Vann, etc. Must admit that it was years later that I actually heard any of them played at a venue. Now before you say all, most , or some of those tracks are garbage, I can tell you at the time I liked them all and still think they were influential in broadening the Northern Soul spectrum. Considering at the same time Reaching for the best, Cant live this way, Falbala, and the Flasher were the big records at the time, hearing Sandy Waddy for the first time was a great experience. Ed

Yes I agree. Its amazing to think the New Yak crowd get down to these type of records. Wonders never cease. I hope he is releasing disc 2 soooon. Ed

stop sign = 0.1 seconds, must be the easiest name that tune ever!! Clapping is compulsory, just do it!! Ed

So he says he remembers Marie Knight singing Thats no way to treat a girl (musicor). Please explain what in any way shape or form is wrong with this tune? In fact has there ever been a time when a percentage of records played on this scene have not been lets say substandard. Some folks shoot from the hip!!!! As I recall, mizz Knight was played about 1977/8 and for sure there was some pretty good stuff getting played at the same time. Ed

Good luck in the future. Ed

I think interplay is special because in its day it was not just another tune, but a massive tune and absoultely crammed the dancefloors. It was an Anthem. Over the years many tunes reached this level and usually lasted 6 months or so before being put to rest. Much better records got less attention and have since got a second chance like Little Eddie Taylors I had a good time etc. So justice prevailed. For those who did not enjoy Interplay as a new tune, you really did miss out on a special if naive time. Ed