Marc Forrest

Heres a funny bit of trivia with that record: When I had Gary Spencer over here to deejay at our allnighters in Berlin late eighties, this alongside Jr. McCants, Deon Jackson, Idols etc was one of his main spins. I fell in love with it upon first hearing. So Gary knowing how much I loved it offered it to me first refusal when he was selling up a couple of years later, maybe 94 ? Still remember paying 300 GBP for it, a VG+ copy, telling myself "thats crazy, you cant tell that anyone" ...how times and PRICES have changed ! However, a few years later I had to move it on (to Timmy Boy Brown) and thought I would never ever get it back. Fast forward a couple of years, maybe ten, and a US contact of mine phones me "you wouldnt believe what I just found on top of a pile of records on the basement stairways of a LA second hand shop!" ...that baby was (and still is) mint- ... did cost me a wee bit more than my first copy though LOL ! So there I was a few months or maybe even years later with that record in my box sitting next Carl Willingham (RIP) in a Leipzig coffee shop one morning after the two of us had deejayed there together, and guess what: He had bought my old copy back then from Tim Brown and there we were, the two of us with the same ultra rare record sitting next to each other in a Leipzig coffee shop thousand miles away from where that record was published some 40 odd years later ! I mean, what were the chances... ? For the record: I am that crazy that I also successfully hunted down her other Phelectron 45 "The Victory Song"..and I even love that one

terrible news - rest in peace great lady

Well, lets just agree it was late in the night.. Late in that very night when this got uncovered which of course would have given you all the rights in the world to look a bit surprised. Greg got his copy years before from pestering the former owner for years at a drive in so he told me laters. Fun fact: Someone took a picture of that very moment when Greg played it that night - its somewhere on fb

Not all correct but to name just two: The late Boba was the first to had unearthed Emeralds on Vick, United Sounds by Greg Belson (fun fact I had Mark alongside Greg as guest DJ`s at one of my anniversaries when Greg not knowing Mark was playing the US as a C/UP dropped the needle on it with all DJ`s in the room rushing to the decks to see what it is. Mark was sitting next to me...the look on his face was priceless LOL

I bought mine (still have it) for 20 GBP in 1989 which worked out at 60 DM, a hell lot of money back then (for me) a full tank for my ride did cost south of 10,00 DM...

Wonder who that "well known record entrepreneur" was, who stole the records of Tom Depierro - was it ever revealed ?

Please pm , thanks in advance.

Already done in 2011, the Donna King is the flipside of the Sonatas. Donna King was already booted in the 80s too

surely it is Steve, just like the Jet Set Recordings by JC and JA and others

Seconded mate, the tune had sth like a cult status amongst the first German Soul generation, the KENT educated one. First time I heard it "live" was then in 1989 @Leighton Buzzard allnighters, sounded awesome in that huge hall. Demo here since decades and one that will stay with me till the end..

Nice one, so Sam`s old copy now resides with me as I bought Tims copy back then. I too only gave it the occasional spin here and there.

I have one, only knew of Mick H who also had one back then (he sold his some time ago now).

Hi Joel, sure and yes, Fortune Tellers and Showstoppers same group. The Sheryl 45 and the acetate are one and the same song and recording. Credited to the Fortune Tellers (45) and Showstoppers (Jerry Ross acetate). These links might be helpful https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=The Show Stoppers This article informs us that Solomon Burke put the four brothers as early as 1957 on the show business map https://wiki.edu.vn/wiki32/2021/10/18/die-showstopper-wikipedia/ And finally the 1969 UK release -eight years after the of the Fortune Tellers Sheryl 45- is credited to "The Showstoppers" https://www.discogs.com/master/1211732-Showstoppers-Just-A-Little-Bit-Of-Lovin John Fitch wrote the "ANBAHP" flipside "What Can A Man Do" and was a guitar player (apparently also for Frankie Beverly & The Butlers) Later he went on to write some 130+ songs for different artists incl. the hit "Shame" (Evelyn Champagne King) https://www.discogs.com/artist/152012-John-H-Fitch-Jr?type=Credits&subtype=Writing-Arrangement&filter_anv=0

Interesting article and heres some add. showing their first incarnation (same line up) as the Fortune Tellers. They cut two 45s between 61 and 63 - what always puzzled me was that their 61 release has them as Fortune Tellers (on Sheryl Rec.) where on the og studio acetate they are already billed as "Showstoppers"... six years before they actually released as the "Showstoppers" ! However, the acetate clearly shows a strong and much earlier connection between the band and Jerry Ross, predating the Heritage release by seven years ! John Fitch not only wrote "Houseparty" but as their backing band guitar player also did a lot of touring with the Showstoppers incl. their UK tour. This tour not only generated the Showstoppers Beacon 45 release but also a release of a very nice John Fitch 45 which got some interest from the few upfront venues & DJ`s in the recent past.