Mark Bicknell

New List - More To Follow - All Records In Good Playable Condition - Contact bicknellmark@aol.com - £1.50 Postage All 45's Sent By Signed For Mail - Offers considered on all 45's so if you see anything you fancy please feel free to haggle. List revised and new additions - Thursday October 18th - New titles being added all the time - Some records reduced. Mini Auction - Mini Auction - Mini Auction. Offers Invited on - The Continental Show Stoppers - I'm Not Too Young - Seventy Seven White Demo - Very Indemand version, super hard to find white demo in nice clean condition - send offers by email to bicknellmark@aol.com Auction closes Saturday 20th October - I have a reserve price in mind on this record - bid well to secure. Patrice Holloway - Stolen Hours - Capitol Issue, in nice clean condition, classic Northern - £275.00 The Idle Few - People That's Why - Blue Book White Demo, nice clean condition - £125.00 Charles Farren - You Got Everything - Limelight Demo - Nice record in clean condition - £30.00 Betty Boothe - Just A Little Bit Of True Love - Enjoy Demo - Superb R'n'B tune in nice clean condition, black felt pen 'X' on top side - £30.00 The Four Tees - Like My Baby - Vee Jay - Nice record in clean condition - £25.00 Original Cadillacs - I'll Never Let You Go - Josie - Some light marks but plays perfectly, nice group record - £30.00 Joe Simon - Just Like Yesterday - Irral - Stunning record in super clean condition - £50.00 bargain! Ernie Andrews - Where Were You (When I Needed You) - Capitol Awesome record in nice clean condition - £15.00 Ella Washington - Bye, Bye, Baby - Atlantic Demo - Nice clean condition of this hard to find demo, superb 45 - £40.00 Z.Z. Hill - You Were Wrong - M.H. Yellow copy - Nice early R'n'B/Northern in nice clean condition - £25.00 Billy Hambric - Talk To Me Baby - Fury - Great record in nice clean condition - £25.00 Azzie Danfair - You've Got Everything (I Want ) - Mellow Demo - Nice Chicago record in good clean condition - £30.00 Derek And Ray - Interpaly - RCA Demo - Classic Inst in super clean condition - £25.00 McKinley Mitchell - You Know I've Tried - One-Derful Demo - Class gritty Chicago R'n'B, nice record in superb condition - £30.00 bargain. Lorriane Rudolph - Keep Coming Back For More - Jet Stream - Still a stunning tune, super clean condition - £40.00 Tony And Tyrone - Please Operator - Atlantic USA Demo - Small 'H' in black pen on topside, some slight light marks, plays perfectly, classic Northern, seen listed for £150.00 so £100.00 should appeal. Major Lance - You Don't Want Me No More B/W Wait Till I Get You In My Arms - Canadian Epic Stock/Issue - Class double header, small black felt pen 'cross' and the words 'Good Rock' written in Red pen on topside and black pen 'tick' on flip, vinyl super condition, nice and quirky on this Canadian original 45 - £225.00 Laura Lee - To Win Your Heart - RIC-Tic Demo - Nice clean condition of this classic Ric-Tic, vinyl super clean - £80.00 Emanuel Laskey - Don't Lead Me On Baby - Sock/Issue Thelma First Mix 97700 written in dead wax, stunning clean copy, hard to find in such clean condition - £175.00 Frances Nero - Keep On Lovin' Me - Soul - Doubled Sided Demo - Nice clean condition, classic 1966 Motown - £125.00 Gwen Owens - I Lost A Good Thing - Velgo Vinyl Copy - Class Detroit hard edged gritty R'n'B/Northern, super clean condition,hard record to locate - £150.00 books at £200.00 Skip Easterling - Keep The Fire Burning - Alon - Stunning record in nice clean condition - £50.00......Bargain. Thelma Houston - Baby Mine - USA Capitol Demo - Super clean condition of this classic Northern record, black felt pen 'X' on flip side - £120.00 - Reduced. Rose St.John And The Wonderettes - Mend My Broken Heart - United Artists Demo - Class record in superb clean condition, nice record - £125.00 The Intrigues - Don't Refuse My Love - Port - Super clean copy of this stunning record, has two small blue ink crosses on both sides of the label, otherwise perfect - £75.00 The Showmen - The Wrong Girl - Minit Audition Copy - Some light marks on vinyl plays perfectly, class record - £100.00 The Velvelettes - Lonely Lonely Girl Am I - V.I.P. Demo - 1965 classic Motown, nice clean condition, some light marks plays perfectly, has the name 'Huff' wtitten in blue ink on label - £100.00 Sissie Houston - Bring Him Back - Congress Demo - Some light marks plays perfectly, nice condition copy, classic Northern - £100.00 Tyrone 'Wonder' Boy - Good Company - Four Brothers - Awesome tuneage, nice clean condition - £25.00 The Magicians - Is It All Gone? - Villa - Great group record, superb clean condition - £100.00 Maxine Womack - When You're Through - Magnum - Superb R'n'B/Northern, nice clean condtion - £30.00 Lee Harvey - Prove It - JGems - Fantastic record in super clean condition, biro pen 'x' on top side - £30.00 Jeanette (Baby) Washington - Move On - Neptune - Stunning R'n'B, nice clean condition - £30.00 Ray Pettis - Don't Use Me - Exodus - Stunning record, superb clean condition - £30.00 Minnie Epperson - Nothing But The Facts - Peacock Demo - Classy R'n'B/Northern, nice clean condition - £30.00 Ruth McFadden - Do It Up Right - Sure-Shot Demo - Classy R'n'B/Northern, nice clean condition - £30.00 Norma Rudd - He's Mine - Sure-Shot Demo - Great R'n'B/Northern, very clean condition, stunning record - £40.00 The Barons - Since You're Gone - RCA Demo - Nice condition Northern oldie - £30.00 Jimmy Hughes - Neighbor,Neighbor - Fame - Class record in super clean condition - £20.00 Al Reed - Sorry About That - Axe - Good R'n'B/Northern, nice clean condition - £40.00 Donald Jenkins And The Delighters - Somebody Help Me - Cortland Demo - Top record from Stafford period, super clean condition - £100.00 Dean Courtney - I'll Always Need You - RCA Demo - Classic Northern Soul, nice clean condition copy, signed on label by Dean Courtney - nice item - £125.00 The Mamselles - Open Up Your Heart (Let Love Out) - ABC Demo - Stunning girl group Northern, nice clean condition - £150.00 Patty Livingston - I've Got My Baby - Dimension Demo - Beautiful record in nice clean condition - £40.00 The Ambassadors - Too Much Of A Good Thing - Pee Vee - Stunning classic Northern in near mint clean condition - £350.00 Cody Black - Too Many Irons In The Fire - D-Town White Demo - Awesome Detroit record in nice clean condition - £100.00 Otis leavill - Gotta Right To Cry - Lucky - The name 'Pat' written twice in biro both sides but otherwise nice clean condtion - £175.00 Delicates - Stop Shoving Me Around - Soultown - Great record in nice clean condition - £40.00 bargain. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Tuff one to call Dave, as we are mates you sent me that Symbol Demo the other week before I sent the money, trust and understanding I guess, I got the tune and you finally lol got the payment which was never in question, if you have done the same to someone you don't know that well and you are still waiting for payment then there is no excuse, perhaps give the person one more chance to send payment with a polite IM then I feel you will have no choice but to name and shame, or at the very least ask them to return the 45 if they are having problems meeting the payment. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Thank you Steve for all your support in recent times, you have been a true friend to the 'Soul Shack'. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Russ IM me mate, I still have Canadian copy dog rare on Regency or might be able to work something out on my USA demo...what's it's Money? Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Thanks again to everyone for your kind comments and support, feeling much better now, onwards and upwards and all that now. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

I don't often listen to my own shows but had a peek tonight, used to sometimes check things were ok over the years, correct tapes playing, sound quality etc. etc. but had to listen tonight and buggered myself, I'm in total bits now can't stop crying but things had to finish for the very reasons I've mentioned here on SS and on the show, funding issues etc. thank you all for your support and kind comments, now perhaps I can get out there a little more and continue to contribute at the gigs, the show has been such an important part of my life and I'm gutted that it's all over...thanks again. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

7.10pm Sunday September 2nd 2007, just under 50 mins to go before the final 'Soul Shack', again many many thanks to everyone for your loyal and dedicated support over the past almost seven years. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Sounds like fun, tell me what you need John and I'll set the keyboard on fire, not written anything in ages but have done a bit in the past....lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

If we are talking 'Blue Eyed' records here then I have to say Jay Traynor - Up And Over - ABC, both 'Ten To One' and 'You Fooled Me' by Lou Roberts - MGM, The Buck Rogers Movement - 'Take It From Me Girl' - 21st Century............still have these records and adore them. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Bugger me I've had three of these over the years, think I sold the first one for forty quid and a bit more perhaps for the later two copies, found two together in Beverley Records in Chicago for five bucks each, think Pat Brady had my final copy about 14 years ago...lol oh well if you knew then what we know now we would all be as rich as JM...lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Rod does the odd spot here and there but not as often as he should. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

When I first got into the DJ thing way back around 1981/82 you had to earn your stripes basically, there was no easy route, you got the bookings based on merrit, reputation, records you had in your collection, authentic ones that is, no short cuts, no brown nosing, no you DJ at my gig and I'll DJ at yours, it was far harder to break into DJ'ing back then, yes it was about starting off at local events and moving up the ladder to the bigger gigs but it took time, dedication and hard work. It seems to me that some standards and DJ ethics have slipped a little on today's scene, yes it's about nice original records as anything else is second or third division sorry but it's true, the very nature of this scene as I have said before is the collecting, playing and dancing to obscure, rare, hard to find American Soul records, bootlegs are an off shoot of X,Y,Z DJ's making the original record popular in the first place, originally bootlegs were to supply a demand wrongly or rightly to the masses again made popular by the DJ's who discovered them or were supplied them in the first place, I don't give a flying fig if some people say it's ok to play anything less than original records, perhaps if some of the people who run these gigs don't have the records then they should firstly perhaps consider not DJ'ing or employ the DJ's who do have the records then perhaps we will start to get back to being a rare soul scene rather than this current highbread or almost split two or three scenes going on at the present time, I don't envy nor am I jealous of any DJ's who have a shit hot collection and ability to DJ and DJ well I simply respect them. Are some people suggesting the likes of Mick H, Des Parker, Andy Dyson, Ged Parker, Paul Sadot, Jumping Joan, Steve Thomas, Karl Heard, James Trouble, Soul Sam, Butch, Dave Rimmer, Roger Banks, John Parker, John Poole, Rob Wigley, The Pincher Twins, Ian Cunliffe, Cliff Camfield, Mace, Rod Shard, Cliff Steel, Ady Pountain, Flanny, Steve Plumb, Barry Maleedy, Ady Potts, Mick Smith, Rob Thomas, Ted Massey, Rich Buckley, Mark Speakman, Brett Franklin, Steve Manion, Tim Brown, Kev Murphy, Dave Greet, Len Dopson, John Weston, Hammy, Molly, Ginger Taylor, Steve C, Jo Wallace, George Hunt, Steve G, Tony Parker, Dave Thorley, Carl Willingham, Joe Dutton, Trevski, Phil Richards, Cookie, Paul Donnelly, Carl Fortnum, myself etc. etc. (sorry if I've missed anyone off this list but I'm simply trying to make a point here) and numerous others who strive to collect and play authentic records are somehow in the wrong here? respect to us all I say, no easy route, no short cuts just a passion and dedication to do it the best way we know how. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Yes thanks Kev...lol good luck with the hunting mate, should find some kind soul out there but me i'm not kind....lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

So sad that Andy feels he has to take a back seat from the scene because of this, still this is enough to push anyone over the edge, just another negative aspect which spoils the very foundation of what the scene should be about, a very sorry state of affairs indeed. Regards and chin up Andy - Mark Bicknell.

Point taken Wilxy mate totally understand your original points now. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Sums it up really Paul, small venue applied correctly. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Regarding spending £2k on a bootleg and playing it that's more down to not knowing your subject I feel, researching the authenticity of a record by checking and asking questions before you buy it is paramount or just plain common sense, sometimes people don't like to admit lack of knowledge, bugger that if you are prepared to shell out that kind of money every avenue of making sure the record is right should be followed, moaning about it after the mistake is made well you only have yourself to blame basically. As for photocopied labels over bootlegs again cutting corners and is a sad reflection of the whole point of this thread, as there is no easy route or short cuts here as you simply get found out. Regards - Mark Bicknell

As is stated on many topics and threads on this forum it's about personal taste, preference and opinion and as I stated in my original post here we all do what we do in different ways, I simply do it the best and only way I know how which works for me. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Nice reply there Wilxy but how can following if you like an unwritten rule within some DJ circles be an outdated one when the ethics are the same? be it then, now or in the future, do you mean that collecting original records for the purpose of DJ'ing has changed or stopped? perhaps not outdated more the case that some people move the goalposts to justify short cuts maybe? using the excuse that they can't afford certain records, well being totally honest and upfront the saying 'If You Can't Stand The Heat Then Get Out Of The Kitchen' springs to mind or don't enter it in the first place if you can't cook yet? again just my opinion. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Don't forget it also came out on USA Vault. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Sorry can't sleep had a crazy Sunday night and it's buggered my sleep pattern....lol this old chestnut again! firstly I would like to think from my own personal perspective that when I'm kindly asked to DJ the booking is based on merrit, entertainment value, reputation, depth of collection being authentic first generation USA originals whatever the style of tuneage and not because I'm buddies with the promoter although I know most of them, well I would like to think that I'm booked for the above reasons rather than simply knowing them, some venues I will not get asked due to music policy etc. rather than anything personal and I respect that. How other DJ's conduct themselves and how they apply themselves to the job in hand is up to them, personally I do the best I can within my means and always do it by going down the original only route, I think it's a bit of a kop - out to use the excuse of being a local event so it's ok to play non original records as I've said before the very foundation of this scene and it's music is based on rare records, rare by defernition means hard to find and not often seen, I'm not just talking about the super rare big ticket items here I'm talking right across the bat, be it a five pound or five thousand pound original, for many DJ's the original only format is paramount and yes if it brings a solid reputation, status etc. then so be it, Why? is it some how elitist to apply the original record only rule, over the years I've noticed a whole hotch potch of different DJ record boxes up on various stages both at local and national bigger events again it's up to them how they apply their craft but please don't make excuses or try to deflect or pretend to be totally authentic if some record boxes ain't what they seem.There is also the view that the dance floor don't care what format a tune is played off which may well be the case but would it not be fair to sugget that if a DJ goes down the original only route if nothing else he or she is being true to themselves and the authenticity of the records they play? often it seems to me that the pro non original or part original mix type DJ's are the ones that say it's ok to do what they do and somehow have a real problem with anyone who questions their methods? again it's a personal thing and I guess we have to live with and respect all camps on this debate, but think about it and the only argument or plus here is a good spot is a good spot and is based on quality of music supplied, sure you can play a turkey with a full box of originals as you can with a mixed box but again I feel it's about authenticity here. All DJ's have the best intentions at heart I'm sure, they play records because they enjoy it and give pleasure to many, I'm sorry but the old saying 'It's What's In The Groove That Counts' does not wash with me but again I do not have the right to tell someone else who chooses the non original or part original record route that they are wrong and should not be DJ'ing, it's up to them but let me tell you in some circles this is not held in very high regard and that's just the way it is, ok we don't all have all of the records, top tunes or otherwise but there are a large number of current DJ's and collector DJ's that take a great deal of time, effort, pride, commitment and money to put a true and authentic box together which for many is an on going practice so this has to be respected too in the same way as others do it. To suggest because you collect and play authentic records is somehow elitist is a complete nonsense it should be embraced and as I say it is basically the very foundation of the RARE soul scene. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Words fail me with stuff like this, I've had several records go over the years and it hurts still to this day to think someone on the scene could do such a thing, it stinks....I really hope you get this gem of an album back but please if you do really make a fuss and name and shame the scum bag, this is the lowest of the low no question. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

You better believe I want to DJ on a more regular basis Keith at as many venues as I can, got a little lazy with the proper stuff mate so yes will be out there once again, so all bookings most welcome bicknellmark@aol.com lol, thank you Keith for being a true friend to the 'Soul Shack' in recent times, your support and friendship has been wonderful. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

I thought you would all like to know that Eddy Edmondson will be taking over with a Northern based show on Solar starting on September 8th, just like to wish him well and I trust you will show him all your support. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

There's 'Determination' for you.......lol sorry could not resist that one. Regards - Mark Bicknell.