Mark Bicknell

Mate you are welcome to come round my house anytime for some Soul and a few cold ones, let me know if you are ever in Manchester and that's a date! Mark Bicknell.

Mark it was my intention when starting this thread to share and learn and that's exactly what we are doing and it's fantastic proving that the common ground most of us have is the desire and passion for the music. Mark Bicknell.

I was getting there with Carlena Weaver mate....oh and Monroe Taylor was in one of the piles still Ritchie beat me too it, a man with superb taste in music even though he is Welsh.....nice one Ritchie! More to follow throughout the day, you can tell i'm bored at homw with this dodgy getting better foot thingy. Mark Bicknell

Breakfast with Bicknell, another four gems to start the day with, i better ease up as i'm running out of records, well the not so well known ones at least...lol, and yes 'Mark' the Brandy bottle is empty....lol Seems like this thread is gonna run and run, so nice to share our nusic and rap about tunes, pretty much what this scene is all about. George Wydell - From Out Of Nowhere B/W I'm Gonna Cut You Loose - Tangerine 964 - A stunning double header with the top side being just out of this world down tempo soul, a perfect record to start the day, the flip is more in tune with the now popular R'n'B groove and is up there with the best records in that syle. Hard to value this record as i've seen it for as little as £50.00 up to around £100.00 no matter really as it's well worth the spend. whatever the price. Tommy Butler - Right On Up To The Weekend - Chattahoochee 688 - I've had this record for many years and only paid about £25.00 for it, i would suspect it not much more these days, oh what a joy of a record, mid paced quality through and through, good solid vocals and a pleasure to listen to, would i'm sure hit the spot at the gigs as it never really got that much turntable action way back so plenty to offer from this one i think. The Paramont Four - You Don't Know (Till It Happens To You) - Southern City 1115 This is another top record which hails from Gallatin, Tennesse, a very busy record performed well by 'The Paramont Four' with instrumental background from 'The Fantastic Dukes', again as with the Tommy Butler 45 this record has been in my collection for many years, been reviewed several times in the various magazines and fanzines but has never really gone that big which i don't really understand, again hard to value records such as this but worth every penny of £50.00 if you can find one. The Visitors - Never The Less B/W Anytime Is The Right Time - Tangerine 1010 Another fantastic double sider two brilliant Len Jewell productions in a kind of 'Impressions' style ' Never The Less' is group perfection and has that special something that you can't quite define but you know it's there when you hear it, i picked this up cheap due to the condition for about £15.00 plays ok but could use a clean copy type of thing, but this copy will sufice until i can find another which may prove difficult as i bet this one sits very well in many collections out there, price wise has to be a £30.00 plus 45, the harmonies on this are outstanding. Everyone i've played this record loves it so even if you don't know it you can buy blind with confidence. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Here! Here! Mr Rimmer Sir...lol Mark Bicknell.

Oh dear...gonna be a cracking night me thinks...lol Mark Bicknell.

Line a dozen bottles of that Russian lager up on the bar Jamie and we can all fall over, can't wait mate and i'll bring a few of these 45's and then some mate...even your fav 'Skiing In De' Snow'...lol to see you dance to it out on the floor or on the bar after the Russian stuff will be most entertaining.........see you soon. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Jamie one word mate.......Monticellos - Red Cap still all the versions are good of 'I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face' but for me the Monticellos have i...IMHO! Looks like the next Soulsville is goona be a huge night...well Daddy's in town no doubt to be drunk under the table by his little Brothers. Respect - Mark Bicknell.

Was it the copy with the reverse lable????? how much did i sell it to you for..lol Nice one - Mark Bicknell.

Now it's a little desert or afters for your enjoyment and i'm still only half way through the bottom shelf...lol Just another five records to go with the jelly and ice cream. Richard Brown - Sweet And Kind B/W Don't Listen To The Grapevine - Steeltown Inc 686. This little gem of a double header out of Gary, Indiana both sides written and produced by 'Look Ahead' main man Gordon Keith was first brought to my attention by Kim Cook aka Cookie and Bitch DJ on here, infact Kim even got me a copy so full credit to her for this one, two superb sides and at £20.00 you really can't go wrong on this 45. Lois Blaine - Stop It Baby - A&b 100 - A stunning down to mid tempo proper R'n'B record produced by Bill Siegel out of Indianapolis, slow and moody with a voice to die for, not sure of this ones value but £30.00 seems about right. Joe Murphy - So Blue (Without You) B/W It's A Weakness - Vivid 106 Distributed by Vee - Jay records so a strong Chicago connection here with this one, again been around years, 'So Blue' is a classy mid tempo almost lazy production on this track with the more upbeat flip 'Weakness' another two for the price of one gem and very much an class oldie which should be played more (both sides) i was suprised to see a red stock/issue copy which i have on a sales list a few months ago for £100.00 again i had no idea this record held such a price tag, could be wrong but perhaps another hard to find quality record, i've seen far more demo's over the years so perhaps the issue does warrent a ton. Chuck Bridges - Don't You Make Me Cry - Scoop 03 - This is West Coast manic madness, far too uptempo for todays dance floors but a record in another dimension to listen to and enjoy, having a real R'n'B flava to it's production, i paid £75.00 for this years ago and would suspect it's about the same price today, i love this type of record to bits. Bobby Powell - Do Something For Yourself - Whit 715 - In a word 'STUNNIG' a beautiful mid paced record which you should be able to pick up for around £20/30.00, did get a few spins by the likes of Roger Banks and myself a little bit back but still has plenty of life left in it at the venues. Time for a nice Brandy and get onto the second shelf....lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Sorry Ken i did say that i'm not the best person to put values to records, on reflection my price guide on The Fantastic Four is more in line with 1985 rather than 2005 so i take your point. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

A grand at least Mark......pure quality, lets talk soon need to platy catch up. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Fantastic, awesome, quality, brilliant, outstanding, timeless NORTHERN SOUL, i've sold many records over the years, traded, wheeling and dealing but you never tend to let the real classics go i've still got my Pink Demo of this, this is up there with George Blackwell, Billy Prophet, Jimmie Raye, Sam Williams, Dena Barnes etc. etc. all quality records which have that something just a little bit special. Like the Tony Middleton - Paris Blues stock/issue this one has to be very rare indeed, Regards - Mark Bicknell

Ok it's tea time or is it dinner time well it is up North...lol here's the last batch of ten for now anyway, so relax kick off your shoes get a chilled glass of white wine and let's hit the lights and turn the volume up real loud.................. The Trends - Gonna Have To Show You - ABC 10817- I pulled this out of a junk box at my parents house about ten years ago which i left in their shed for some strange reason, this is by far one of their best records certainly up there with 'Thanks For A Little Lovin' and ' Not Too Old Too Cry', this record storms along at a perfect pace which will set any dancer racing for the dance floor, again if you are a sucker for the male group thing then this is a must have tune, not sure of the current value but £100.00 would be a fair very reasonable price to pay. Ernie Marbray - Ain't Nobody's Buisiness - Wee 101136 - Ok so this is a real oldie in the true sense of the word, almost Northern Soul perfection, always used to be a five pound record but you try finding a copy for that now almost impossible, however on saying it's an oldie it does not fall into the top 500 group and when did you last hear this record at a venue? there are dozens of so called forgotten oldies such as this out there which no longer get the turntable action that deserve, classic and quality Northern Soul of the highest order hiwever you might have to times your fiver by twenty or thirty to seciure this beauty today. Tina Britt - You're Absolutely Right B/W "Look" - Eastern 605 - This superb double header out of the Sue Records group of companies from New York Sue, Eastern, Broadway, Symbol ( Two superb Symbol records to follow from Jimmy Helms and The Entertainers down the page), Crackerjack have given the scene some pretty awesome records over the years, the top side here on my demo 'Absolutely Right' was also recorded by The Apollas of course on Loma, but for me Tina Britt's version blows the Apollas away....sorry girls, oh and the Flip is great Northern too, two outstanding Juggy productions here and all for around ten quid for an issue and perhaps £25.00 for a demo.......simply the dogs big bits! Lou Bond - You Shake Me Up - Brainstorm 124- Around £10.00 always has been a cheap record and always will be but this record is 100% proof that they don't all need to be three and four figure sums to be special and that's what this record is real special, put it this way if again it was a limited copies around situation this recor would be so indemand it would be scary, so take advantage of it being pretty common, now i've said that you won't be able to find a copy, uptempowith a superb backbeat, strong girl backing it has it all the full package. The Ikettes - What'cha Gonna Do (When I Leave) - Phi-Dan 5009 USA and i think British London i'm sure the likes of Gene R. will confirm this - written and produced by Ike Turner who else! Phi - Dan was a division of Phil Spector productions so this is a very well put together record, frantic heavy beat with The Ikettes going for it big time here, only about £30.00/40.00 perhaps less but another gem of a tune that needs playing again at the venues. The Fantastic Four - (I'm Gonna) Live Up To What She Thinks - Ric - Tic 119 - What a combination here written and produced by George Clinton, arranged by Mike Terry, it's on Ric - Tic the mother of all Detroit labels and performed by Sweet James Epps and the boys, more like the 'fantastic six' if you ask me, what pedigree this record has, down tempo emotion which gets those tears rolling down your face, £5.00 for an issue/stock copy perhaps £20.00 for a demo, what little price to pay for perfection. The Entertainers - Love In My Heart - Symbol 212 - As mentioned in the Tina Britt review here the second selection via the mighty Sue set up, basically another banging forgotten Northern Soul oldie that thumps along, i've always loved this record which you don't see too many demos of it around so this might be a thirty quider these days. Jimmy Helms - You're Mine You - Symbol 923- Arranged by Bert Keyes this Juggy Production simply takes me to another place, a superb down to mid tempo end of a set type of stuff, fantastic voice, awesome emotion and possibly one of the hardest Symbol demos to find, issue/stock copies are around the place anything from £30.00 to £50.00, the standard symbol issues as The Poets etc. seem to be more common that the straight Black design but either way you are buying a quality tune. Tommy Tate - I'm Taking On Pain B/W Are You From Heaven - Okeh 7242 Ok Mark White will be in trouble here as this is one of the best if not the best double headers in my collection, two huge awesome sides it's hard to pick the best side so i conclude a draw here it's so hard to pick a winner, both big productions, Tommy Tate has a powerhouse voice and does the buisiness here with two outstanding sides, price wise got to be £150.00 at least if not a little more, play it loud and even the neighbours will cry. The Intrigues - Don't Refuse My Love - Port 3018 - A beautiful label is Port I've pretty much got all the key records on the logo, Robert Neal, Johnny Newbag, Soothers, Carol Fran's, Chris Towns Unit, The Jets, The Gee's, Cathty And The Calenders etc. etc. but this tune is one of the Port highlights, Another down tempo 45 that really floats my boat so far out to sea you can't see me anymore! i've seen this at various prices as little as £25.00 up to £75.00 so split the difference at £50.00 and you have a good record for a fair price. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

The killer stand out track for me on The Metro's Album is 'I'm With You All The Way' LP only track i think but just awesome, why oh why this has never been played out much is a sin.......fantastic selections coming here now, keep them coming....wait for tonights main course, the perfect ten you might say! Mark Bicknell

Well it's lunch time and time for a soulful snack main meal to follow later, seems this thread is proving popular with well over 500 hits at this stage, keep em' coming......... Just five records for lunch...enjoy! The Companions "Be Yourself" - General American 711 Out of Philadelphia this time out also recorded by Honey And The Bees however that version is a big ticket item, The Companions hold their own with their version, dynamic vocals, mid paced and you fall in love with this record instantly, always been twenty quid and well worth a punt if you don't know it. Harold Burrage - More Power To You B/W A Long Way Together - M-Pac 7229 This is cruching hard edged soul of the highest order from Chicago from one of George Leaner's legendary logos, there have been many outstanding records played on the scene via M-Pac, Mar-V-Lus, One-derful, Toddlin Town and Midas all part of the same group, Admirations, Ringleadrs,Accents, Blenders, Inspirations, Ivories/Ivory's, Big Daddy Rogers, Joseph Moore, Sharpees, Otis Clay and so on, Harold Burrage was one of the man men behind the scenes and infront of the microphone at the company and this offering is simply as good as it gets as he's a true master and a true R'n'B great. £50.00 i reckon perhaps more for this one. Jimmy Norman - I'm Leaving (This Old Town) Mercury 72727 written by Jimmy Norman, arranged by Richard Tee this is stunning, as good as his other Mercury side 'Family Tree' but a bit more down tempo, pay the £100.00 or so on this one and have a real Soul moment with this fantastic singer. The Four Voices - We Live In The Ghetto - Voice 1113 - Far more common than there monster on the same logo 'My Love Is Getting Stronger' but very much of the same high quality, fantastic group record again this one has it all, possibly over looked and over shadowed by the other record but i reckon could prove hard to find, again hard to value this one but must be around £50/75.00 bracket but this is just a guess. Whatever the price it's a must have record if you like the male vocal group groove as i do. The Venturas - Baby Be Mine - Daniels 501 - From 1968 this one out of Chicago, has a fantastic backbeat on this track with a slightly light vocal but it works oh so well, seen this listed recently for £200.00 but used to sell for around £50/60.00 so you might be lucky and get it at the more realistic price, this is my second copy in twenty odd years so might be harder to get than you think but again well worth the time, the chase and the investment, a super record. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Those were the days Ted, do you remember the Detroit list like a little booklet John Andrson at Soul Bowl did very early 80's i still have Tempos - Diamond Jim, Masqueraders - How La Beat, Volumes Impact, Billy Hambric - Drum £8.00 lol oh and again what we must have missed and left...and Rob Smith still needs shooting...go luck at the hospital. Mark Bicknell

Bag of nuts Shane..lol i'll rip yours off mate if you ain't careful, see you soon mate. Mark Bicknell.

I reckon he owes you at the very least a huge drink Ted, still they were only worth a fiver each then so ask him for twenty quid...lol oh hows the leg mate? i had my plaster off last thursday only to be told another 4 - 6 weeks off work so good luck Ted....now wheres that gun for Rob Smith...lol Mark Bicknell.

Not charm just the truth Rachel....lol Mark Bicknell.

Not Cheeky Shane just good buisness....don't forget my 10%......now thats cheeky...lol Mark Bicknell.

Quality tunes like this are drawn to people like you with such good taste in music, thanks Rachel...ain't this fun sharing the music instead of bitching about it, not you i mean in general. Mark Bicknell.

You can tell we have the builders in doing the new bathroom as i'm up nice and early, still off work for another few weeks with the busted foot so plenty of time on my hands to develop and continue this thread, here's another batch of ten a little soul with your breakfast you might say............................ Bessie Jones - No More Tears - A-Bet 9424 - A remarkable short sweet in your face uptempo stormer, pounds along at a frantic 100mph pace, perfect dance floor material, been around for years yet never really took off as big as it should, seen this listed at anything from £50.00 to £75.00...a bargain being an oldie with imagination. Barbara Carr - My Mamma Told Me - Chess 1955 - Written by the legendary Oliver Sain, and co produced by him and Billy Davis this is another tune that has not really had that much attention on the scene perhaps due to not being one of the more common Chess releases, another uptempo gritty dancer out of the Windy City, unsure of it's current value but £50.00 should help to tempt a record dealer......pure class. The Webs - Tomorrow - Pop Side 4593 - This is the Impressions meet the O'Jays kind of stuff, certainly one for the male vocal group fans out there, produced by Robert Bateman and Lou Courtney this is a killer record and only a tenner, Tim Brown i'm sure has copies of this at Anglo American so pretty easy to find. Taurus And Leo - I Ain't Playing Baby B/W Goin' Out The World Backwards - Velvet Sound 367 - Two for the price of one here but 'World Backwards' is the side for me, again another oldie that still has so much to offer, always reminds me of Dave Evision being a spin for him on and off over the years, a gem of a record for £25.00. Detroit perfection both sides. Syl Johnson - I've Got To Get Over - TMP-ting 115 - As good as it gets in my book and far eaiser to find than his Special Agent 45 'Do You Know What Love Is' in terms of quality it's up there with that and the superb 'Try Me' another good cheap record, i seem to remember Guy Hennigan getting behind this Chicago mover one many years ago and rightyly so...what a record! seen this for as little as £10.00 so well worth a listen at that money. Mike Watson - I Dig Your Kind - Etah100 - This great semi known out of New Orleans really will have it's day as a big record, needs some turntable action if a few copies can be found, i paid $250.00 for this one a couple of years ago and have championed it a little on my radio show and one or two of the specialist rooms at the venues and it alway creates interest, a light production which grows on, not an instantly 'oh yes' but creeps up on you as a quality tune. pretty rare i would think. Little Jewel - I Want To - Tay-Ster 6011- I love this record to bits, storms along, gritty up tempo New York based soul which again needs a few more spins which will result in a pretty big record, been around for ages, hard to value such records but i would gladly pay £50.00 for it if i did'nt own one............This record is on fire trust me. The Artistics - You Make Me Happy - Bruniswick 55353 - I have a yellow promo of this little known Artistics record, to the best of my knowledge this record does not feature on any of their Albums, this group has already been mentioned here and is one of my favorite male groups up there with The Dells, O'Jays, Volumes, Falcons etc. written by Van McCoy, produced by Carl Davis, arranged by Sonny Sanders and directed by Gerald Sims need i say more? the pedigree behind this record says it all really and is a prime example of The Artistics at their very best, floats along to a perfect tempo just simply a must have record. Value wise i've never seen it listed to be honest the odd promo here and there over the years in sales boxes but never seen an issue/stock copy of this one, quality wise would suggest a £100.00 record but £25.00 would be the more realistic market value if you can find one. Felice Taylor - I Can Feel Your Love - Kent 483 - £25.00 just go out and buy this, nothing more to add really, a belting record that needs playing more, has it all the real deal...Northern!!!!!!! Joe - L - (I'm Not Gonna Be) Worried - Clissac 3001 - Detroit! Detroit! Detroit! cheap £20.00, quality wise would be a £1.000. if it was limited in quantity, another record that has yet to have it's day on the dance floors at rare soul venues, another record that i'm sure is already in many collections, perfect pace, great vocal just out and out quality. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Ain't got 'The Headlines' anymore....great record, best you bring some of these into the soul shack when you guest soon, yes Joan's selecting all the tunes for two hours with little old me on Solar Radio, show will broadcast in about three or four weeks, can't wait...yummy and all that...now i'm going to bed. Later Joan really looking forward to it and don't forget the cream cakes...lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.