purist

Well done Chalky, thanks for digging out both the sound file and the suicide story. Perhaps my grey matter isn't as defunct as I thought it was getting -) I think do The Pig is now my favourite version

Didn't we do a thread on here or the old soul talk where five or six different songs were known all of which used this one backing track. from memory there's one that's on an album? also one with the word ' Pig ' in the title. I think his son contacted Dave Flynn after seeing the Stafford Story Goldmine CD which included 'Lord Said '. Wasn't it the case that Rod Keith committed suicide? possibly jumping from a bridge into traffic? or is that just me reliving a nightmare I had last week ?

Ady C. digging deep into the Pied Piper vaults brought something back into my mind from donkeys years ago. I vaguely remember amongst a bunch of records I was buying there was a pressing that was either 3 or 4 tracks. (it may still be around here somewhere?) I think it had a black label with white writing, and the label was something like On Demand, In Demand? I remember one of the tracks was The Jaywalkers Can't Live Without You, with maybe ZZ & Co? but that's not what this post is about. My query surrounds this Pied Piper track. It was listed as Soul Superman. I can't remember if it said Soul Superman No 3 or just Soul Superman. I think I tried it for comparison against both the versions we all know on the album and it was different to both the 45 version and the track called Soul Superman part 2. What was the story? was it from when Guy & Chris King had that haul of unreleased Detroit stuff in the Stafford era? It's been years since I heard it, but my memory says it was the "best" version (but maybe that was because we all knew the other two, and so because this was an alternate take it automatically had to be "better". If it was a legit thing, will it appear any time soon via Kent? any info/theories/gossip greatly appreciated

I always work it backwards. I start with what I think the 45 is worth in £'s based more on condition that book values, then convert to dollars at todays tourist exchange rate, round it down by a couple of percent because you never get the actual percentage when you exchange, then deduct the postage charges, then that's what I'll bid. This means I don't win some, but so what, most are like buses, another will come along sooner or later. Because I only ever bid as the auction is in its final moments I don't get caught out like early bidders do when the currency exchange fluctuates, but you gotta feel sorry for those who bid several days ago and now they will have to pay more than expected. btw I'd already had a conversation with several USA sellers, and they think the in-demand and top money items will still continue to fetch massive money, growing month on month, making me an anachronism I suppose, but then I've always trawled the bargain buys for best part of 50 years, ain't gonna change now

Really pleased for you, and those who go to venues you play at !

Great tune, long forgotten Stafford TOTW cover up, where it was known as " The Lady G " c/u. Took me a few years after Stafford had closed to find it's true identity, and then only by chance playing through a bunch of oddball sales things. Other than me I've not heard anybody play it out at a Niter since TOTW, but the Popcorn guys and gals play it on their scene. Probably your best chance to get one is from Belgium? best of luck, you have great taste !

originally covered up as Christine Cooper - Sorry, I know this doesn't help with your want, just for info purposes ;-)

Always wondered about the actor Morris Chestnut Jnr. Searches on the net have failed to confirm his father is the Morris Chestnut of Too Darn Soulful fame, but stands a chance as it's gotta be an unusual name Morris (Lamont) Chestnut. He was born in California in 1969, so kinda lines up as the right age for a child of a 60's singer. btw I'm thoroughly enjoying the series Rosewood starring Morris Chestnut Jnr, it's kinda like a re-imagining of Quincy

I think you should file it how you say it, that way when you are looking for it you know how to find it. For instance if describing a particular 45 which way would you say it - "I'm gonna play Ton Of Dynamite" (then file this under T, and do likewise with every other record) or "I'm gonna play Frankie (Loveman) Crocker" (then file this under F, or C depending on how anal you are) or "I'm gonna play Turbo #0001" (then come round my house and do my gardening, you've obviously got waaaay too much time on your hands ;-) I use the same system at home as my DJ boxes. For me there's nothing worse than being on stage when a light bulb goes on above your head, and you suddenly think " Oh I know what would be perfect to play next to keep the floor going - Seven Day Lover ", and then not being able to remember James Fountain's name to find it in the box ....

Not sure but if you have one for sale that's a decent player I'd be interested in buying it. The ones on Popsike didn't achieve a great amount, 100 to 180, although the ones that say "Jokey" on the label seem to fetch slightly more for some reason I can't figure out. let me know please

Yes Alan https://www.discogs.com/Magnetics-Count-The-Days-When-Im-With-My-Baby/release/6219672

Thanks for the confirmation RobbK

Off on a tangent slightly - does the gap in Blue Rock's output correspond with the two different label designs, the pink and the blue?

It's hard to put things exactly to date, especially that long ago, but here's some I used to go in while still at school ( i kinda think I left school around the same time as the torch ended?) I had a regular route which I walked around, going from shop to shop, often selling what I'd bought in one shop to another shop I visited later ! Max Millward's (Blue Max's shop in Wednesfield) it drew soul hunting folk from all parts of the UK Don't remember what it was called, but two Catacombs DJ's (Alan S & Bob Crocker) had a shop in Stafford Street in Wolves Town Centre. They also sold white goods, washing machines and the odd boiler. I used to go there on my lunch time from school as it wasn't too far, just up Molineux alley at the side of the Wolves ground Graduate Records at the top of Broad St, just around the corner from Alan & Bob's. Opened with just the front part and with boxes of Motown Imports, but soon afterwards they opened the back room that was all import Soul stuff (years later it moved across the road and became Sundown Records, although I think they changed the name first, then moved?) to date this I remember Bill Baker who worked in there and taught me a lot about rare soul, had a new import that he told me had got everybody dancing at the Torch. I'm not exactly sure which record it was but I think it was "Mother of Shame" on a wdj, an early '73 release I believe, so maybe the wdj's could have appeared late 72 possibly? The Shack, Cannock Rd in Wolves. (I found a Sue Lynn amongst the unsold stock when it closed down years later ) Proper grumpy bugger who worked in there. There was another record shop in the next row of shops just down from The Shack. Mostly 2nd hand although some new stock, and mostly black music Soul & Reggae. Job Lots, ex jukebox. I bought my first ever brand new Motown 45 from there ("Ben" which dates that to 1972 I think ?) One that later had a sign naming it Rookery Trading in Wednesfield, was a great source of Soul & Motown, but it was a 2nd hand shop selling all sorts. You had to ask to see the records which he'd fetch out a handful at a time. I came to discover that numerous mobile DJ's would go in here to offload for cash the things they'd bought months previously from Max's. Then they'd take the cash up the road to Max's to buy this weeks "must have's". I left this shop til last because by closing time on a saturday he hadn't had time to look through what he'd bought and would let me have most of them at ten pence each as long as you bought at least ten. There were umpteen other 2nd hands shops that sold records dotted around the town, and both Bilston & wolverhampton markets had stalls which were worth visiting. Not sure date wise when Ruby Red records opened in Wolves Town centre, or when Pep opened his first shop in Walsall, but both could be a little later 74/75 maybe. Neil Rushton had a shop in Walsall which I remember going to, perhaps Neil can tell us the year? hth

Kylie needs to get a vinyl press of this Kungs remix version of This Girl. I've looked all over the net and can't find either a twelve inch or a seven inch 45. Oddly, I love both the remix and the original of that song.

I'm fairly sure I recognise some of the people in this photo?

Have sent you an email for the Bobbie Smith record. Gotta go out, will be back in a couple of hours and will sort payment then. If you still have my card details on file use them, cheers john

I saw it written by Pep (I think) that it was played at the Catacombs before Wigan opened. I think the album was released in 1972, the Cats closed in 74, so highly likely, although that was the era of 100 mph stompers. I think it truly became the Monster it is now at the original Bretby Country Club, when was that, earlier 90's ? about 25 years ago maybe?

what sort of money does this go for? I might be tempted

pm'ed you

As this tune seems to be having yet another resurgence I thought it was worth mentioning for those who don't know, that it got a legitimate UK 45 release in 2002 on BGP, a label that runs under the Ace umbrella I think. Don't know if you can still buy it through Ace, but it's on Discogs for a paltry sum, less than £8 + post. Look under the Linda Lyndell "What a man" flipside if you have trouble locating it HTH

btw is there any relevance to the different yellow labels, personally I prefer the more mustard one to the more lemon one. Does anybody know, does it relate to different pressing plants or ????

I bought all my Loma's back in the 70's when like minded others did also, as I tried to find anything vaguely Northern (and/or Danceable), so maybe this has since been found, but back then I think the only WDJ's of Loma 2086 had the same track on both sides (You Don't Know Nothing About Love) so if you wanted the brilliant " Mean It Baby " you had to buy the issue. I remember thinking what a pain in the a*se it was because I'd got all the others on WDJ's (after that I gave up and bought some more issues) I cannot think off the top of my head of any other 45 on the label where this happened?

Ive never heard of any boot having a legit Bestway stamp. Is it Italic=ish writing the word Bestway? if so can't believe its not correct. Bob Brady= Baltimore. Bestway was only in New Jersey, couple of hours away, think all the BB stuff was mastered at Bestway. https://www.discogs.com/Bob-Brady-The-Con-Chords-Everybodys-Goin-To-The-Love-In/master/441248

isn't this a case of having to own it on both labels, so you can admire the ric-tic styrene wdj, but play the gordy wdj because the vinyl will stand up to more abusive dj decks?