Mark Bicknell

Another three before lunch...i really must get a hobby or a life...lol The Exceptionals - Unlucky Girl - GRT 48 also came out on Way Out 101 as The Exceptional Three Featuring Ruby Carter - This is out and out mellow crossover one for Mr Brett Franklin without a doubt very early 70's i would think 71-73 that era, awesome song, awesome lead vocal from Ruby Carter, i picked my GRT copy up about three years ago for £15.00 about half it's book price, exspect to pay around £50.00 for the Way Out release same record so really not a problem, a real floater of a tune that has so much potential and very possibly one that has already featured in the tent....lol. The Stratoliners - What Do You Want With My Love - Federal 12568 There has been a bit of a buzz on this record recently and rightly so, recorded around 1971 this is another stonking tent type record, issue/stock copies which i have paid only £25.00 for this off Mick Smith only a few yeaars back, going for a lot more money now and must be around £75.00 if not more, a bit of hunting you may find it at a more reasonable price, again this will shoot up in price with a few more spins and is sure to have it's day as a big record, very upbeat with a sublime production. The Festivals - Hey Girl B/W Checkin' Out - Blue Rock 4076 - Two yummy sides here, both oh so good, i was reminded how good this record was again from Kim Cook aka Cookie when she played 'Checkin' Out on my radio show a couple of years back, it then took me a while to find a nice white demo for around £60.00 i think, worth a bit more than that i would think now, The Festivals did another nice record 'Music' on Smash which is a good cheap group record. The two Blue Rock sides here are just stunning and work well in the tent and Northern rooms. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Still got a couple of slices of toast left so heres possibly the record of the day and it's still only early. The Intentions - Don't Forget That I Love You - Philips 40428 - This Harthon production out of Philadelphia is one of the best down tempo group redords i hold in my collection, not sure of their ethnic background as this group could be blue eyed but this matters very little, the harmonies on this create instant tear jerking emotions, leaves me in a complete mess everytime i play it. as the lead singer pleas 'I wear this uniform for the sake of the land', so he's off to war and he's busted up inside as he's leaving his love behind.....i'm crying just thinking about it. This was once another £10.00 tune way back but now possibly around the £50.00 mark perhaps a little more, you don't see too many copies of this for sale so snap it up if you see it, it won't set too many dance floors on fire but for a gut renching soulful moment this is a top tune. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Here we go again it's breakfast time with Bicknell, great selections coming in here now from everyone thick and fast, starting off today with a couple of Detroit winners...enjoy. The Rivieras - You Counter Feit Girl - Riley's 369 - This one has been sitting on the shelf on and off for about 15 years perhaps longer, i picked this one up for peanuts via Soulbowl i think for about £8.00 if my memory serves me correctly. Like so many records out there this has yet to have it's day on the scene, this Joey Kingfish production is powerhouse Detroit up tempo soul of the highest order, Riley's Records was owned by Diamond 'Jim' Riley who also had Diamond Jim Records both logos produced some superb recordings from the likes of The Tempos, E.J And The Echoes and others. I was suprised to see that this one now books at around £150.00 should be double that in terms of quality but again the price has really nothing to do with it when records are as good as this. Bee Gee Stans Of Detroit - Front Page Love - Tal-Vert 1802 - A corker of a record which has always been talked about and often included on collectors tapes, a nice early sounding production with a delightful backbeat and vocal performance, sounds fantastic nice and loud through a sound system but has not been played that much at the venues over the years, again not an exspensive record at maybe £30.00 give or take a few quid, i might give this some turntable action at Soulsville in Leeds in a couple of weeks time just to see what the boys think???? A worthy record to fit in the Detroit section of all collections. Regards - Mark Bicknell.........More to follow!

Would it be ok if i just sit back in the tent enjoy and learn a little or maybe i'll dip me toe in with one or two...lol Is it a big tent????? Mark Bicknell.

Apart from the fact that I absolutely loved living with you & Jacqui (to which I owe you so much) these are some of the reasons why I miss our little sessions in the loft link

Just counted back on this thread and i've mentioned 53 records, a few more to go at yet but over to you guys as i don't want to come across as a smart arse...lol Good thread though certainly been well looked at with over 2000 hits and it's only been up a couple of days. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Missed the main course tonight fell asleep on the sofa....hard life this being off on the sick lark...lol only one before bedtime and what a little beauty it is too. More tracks to follow over the next few days, we have plenty to go at here don't we? Jock simply outstanding selections mate, think of the stuff we missed, passed up, sold or don't know yet lol...this music is wonderful...bring it on. The Royal Jokers - Love Game (From A To Z) Wingate 020 - This record is so cool, so good and still oh so cheap i think, has it all, class Detroit from Golden World subsidiary Wingate, this outfit are far from jokers as they proceed to go through all the letters of the alphabet with a slant on love related comments to each letter fantastic stuff, mid paced tempo with a typical bouncing Motor City groove that blows me away, another very easy record to find and i bet it's under £20.00, not heard this played out too much over the years so still has plenty to offer at the venues being very much an underplayed very underated tune again this one is up there with some of the Detroit big ticket items in terms of it's quality sod the price. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Fantastic selections and you have included possibly one of my all time records certainly in my top five ever being 'Scientists Of Soul', what a wonderful tune, if it was a one off it would be four figures instead of it's cheap price status. Mark Bicknell.

Three before teatime gang....oh and Shane that's two bags of nut's you owe me now mate...lol Gody Colbert - Baby I Like It - Revue 11037 - Produced by Leonard Jewell Smith which is no suprise as this track holds the same backing as 'All My Good, Good Loving' which Mark White has already mentioned here, so we have the same backing but a different song and it's simply devine, arranged by Gene Page this is a classy record make no mistake with a half decent flip too 'I Wanna Thank You' not sure of the value on this but seen it for sale at £40.00 a bit back perhaps £60.00 now with todays prices being what they are. The Incredibles - I Can't Get Over Losing Your Love - Audio Arts 701 More of a forgotten oldie this one but what a record Northern Soul with huge testicals and another tasty flip as well 'Crying Heart', the top side has pure dance floor appeal and would go down well at the more forward thinking oldies based events today. No idea of the value at all maybe £25.00 for the nice looking promo and a little less for the issue????? The Exsaveyons - I Don't Love You No More - Smoke 600 - This oh so cheap record £8.00 perhaps less has always been a monster tune waiting to happen in my book, produced by company owner George Blackwell famed for his Northern Monster 'Can't Lose My Head' also on Smoke out of Newark, New Jersey, you see this record everywhere or used to at least, if you do not know this under no circumstances pass it by if you see one for sale, a proper group record and as good as it gets really. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Sorry gang a little late with this luchtime's offerings two from the ladies and two from the gents......... More Collection Selections coming from all of us i hope....lol Charlotta Tillman - Baby I'm Serious - Josie 953 - Oh what a belter this female pouder is, shameless in your face uptempo Rhythm and Soul very much in the same style as Jeanette Williams - 'All Of A Sudden' on Backbeat, Jumping Joan put me onto this one years ago so full credit to Joan on this one, never really been played out that much but it should be, quite a hard Josie number to find so exspect to part with upwards of £60.00 plus for this jewel of a record, the voice is sublime over a busy backbeat produced by James Shaw. Nina Simone - It Be's That Way Sometime - RCA Victor 9286 - £20.00 is a small price to pay for this superb example of Nina Simone at her very best, so far from her Jazz influenced material it beggers belief, just simply a must have collection filler of a tune, powerful vocal, well produced by Danny Davis, arranged and conducted by Sammy Lowe, if you don't know this then again you will be delighted if you buy blind. Tim - I Need Your Love - Celtex 102 - A tasty little tune this one out of Chicago, a really delightful 45 that should be far more exspensive than it's £8/10.00 for an issue/stock perhaps double that for a promo, a semi known hidden gem of a tune that's just waiting to go massive. Wales Wallace - I Gotta Have You - Renee 111 - Another Chicago based production from the outstanding talents of Wales Wallace, great hard edged gritty backing and a golden vocal performance from Mr Wallace, seen this for various prices but really should only be £20/30.00 at the most, as with the 'Tim' track this needs to have it's day yet at the venues. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Funny this great minds think alike and all that, i pulled out Spencer - 'My Baby's Comin Home' to ident when reviewing his other slighty more obscure Midtown release 'Serachin' For Love' Midtown 3503 a storming slice of prime Northern Soul Soul served medium rare, this record belts along at a furious pace and would have been well suited for the acrobats on the dance floors of the 70's, slighty harder to find than the other record mentioned here perhaps £30.00 for a stock/issue and a little more for the white promo which i hold in the collection. 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.