Soul16

Ringtone I use is: Rita & The Tiaras (inst) Message tones I use are: Tobi Lark - Challenge My Love and Harvey - Any Way Ya Wanta (Short samples of the intro's) I add them as WAV files to my phone just by 'dragging and dropping' after the phone has been connected via USB - Simples

The blue vinyl bootleg of Hang On by Wall of Sound - it seems to have been pressed in a rush - the run-out groove starts before the music has faded out. The Marketts - Bela Delana/Balboa Blue on the Magic label - Terrible sound and pressed very off-centre.

Thanks for the responses so far, very interesting stuff. Gayle Harris is new to me, as is The Impacts - Just because.

I'm a big fan of Teddy Randazzo productions - they generally have the same DNA - A slow build, dramatic stop/start arrangements, full-on instrumental breaks and great orchestral stabs. An Ace/Kent compilation would be more than welcome... If I had to pick three favourite recordings (at the time of writing), it would be these: Howard Guyton - I watched you slowly slip away Annabelle Fox - Lonely girl Little Anthony and The Imperials - Better use your head Do you like or dislike Teddy Randazzo productions? Do you have any favourites?

You should really have sent it back more quickly, but for a seller to grade a record so wrongly in the first place is careless at best and downright dishonest at worst. The offer of a refund upon return of the record seems fair though. Fortunately, I've only had one bad experience with poor grading on this site - the seller said that the record was 'practically mint', but when I received it, I found it to be VG- at best. I kept the record, but was not at all happy, in fact I felt dismay that someone could be so careless/dishonest. (this was before there was a feedback system available.) The next time I wanted a 45 from this guy, as a goodwill gesture, he sent me the record 'on approval' first, so that I could satisfy myself as to the true condition of the record. This time, he was spot-on with the condition grade. Having said that, I would never buy any more records from him - there are plenty of other genuine and honest people selling records on this website that I have full faith in.

Agree with the above post 100% Buying second-hand styrene records is a lottery if you can't get to listen to them first. In the past, for example, I've bought 'Ex and Near Mint' copies of Gino, Fay Simmons and Tommy Frontera - only to find that they have that spitty distortion and hiss from previous play on inferior or poorly set-up equipment. On the other hand, I have a copy of What You Gonna Do by The Tempests that looks completely knackered on the surface, but plays without any noise or distortion whatsoever and sounds great. Unfortunately, due to its physical condition, it's probably almost worthless.

Bella Mia is a nice track - It's also available on 'Soul Train', an early 1970's compilation double LP. (UK Philips?)

You generally see more stereo copies around, It took me longer to get hold of the mono version. Not sure, but I think the rarest version is the European issue on Phillips, 'Well Tempered Soul'. The American mono white demo is next in the pecking order I think. Mine are both USA standard issues, with the promo stamps on the rear cover. I've compared them side by side and the mono one sounds thicker, but has more of a 'ballsy' quality. The stereo one reveals more detail on the vocals and musical arrangement, but has less of a punch sonically - a bit of a 'Hole in the middle' effect. I Told SWMBO that I'd keep the one I preferred and then sell the other one on - Two years later I still find I'm unable to part with either one of them.

I sincerely hope they're not planning to DJ with it and no, IMHO it's not acceptable at an OVO night. Home use only. The LP sounds better, has other great tracks on it and is far cheaper. It's a no-brainer, much like the buyer of the Stardust 45 I guess.

The term 're-issue' was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, because that is how some Ebay sellers refer to bootlegs - maybe I should have been clearer and written bootleg/pressing/fake/counterfeit in my original post - I hope that clears up any misunderstandings

This is getting beyond a joke... take a deep breath everyone: https://www.ebay.co.u...984.m1423.l2649 I'm going for another lie down..

Outta Sight has its roots in the Joe Boy label as far as I'm aware.

That could be considered acceptable by some DJs I guess. The examples I'm really referring to are these sort of things: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-NORTHERN-MOTOWN-MARTHA-REEVES-NO-ONE-THERE-press-/160744121877?pt=UK_Records&hash=item256d18a615 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NORTHERN-PAUL-ANKA-I-CANT-HELP-LOVING-YOU-OOTP-Pressing-/160740600079?pt=UK_Records&hash=item256ce2e90f They must be knocking these things out 24 hours a day, there's loads of the things - it's cashing-in big time, that's for sure. As for this - words fail me: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120862971167?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 I'm going for a lie down before I blow a gasket...

Good thought. I've never gone about collecting that way though, I just keep saving and dreaming!

As we all know, there is an abundance of newly pressed bootleg/re-issue/counterfeit 45s for sale on eBay. Although I'm only a small-time collector and not a DJ, I fully subscribe to the eleventh commandment: 'Thou shalt not play bootleg or reissue recordings for financial gain or public adoration' (Amongst a few others, exceptions to this rule would be KENT 45s, Frank Wilson TMG1170 and possibly Grapevine 45s) I'm sure that every self-respecting DJ feels much the same way about only playing original 45s. So, on the assumption that these records they aren't being 'played out', (they usually sound poor anyway) What is their purpose? Home Jukebox Fillers? Are people simply unaware of what they're buying? Being able to show off your 'Northern' vinyl collection? A (doubtful) financial investment? You only have to look on eBay to see that these new bootlegs sell very well indeed and there is a good profit to be made from them. But who on earth is buying them and why is there a demand for them? Most of them are available on CD compilations and probably - God forbid - available for illegal internet download too. In the mid 1970's, there were no CDs and no Internet, so the only way most of us mere mortals could obtain these records (other than on muffled-sounding cassette tape compilations) were on bootlegged records - It made much more sense then, but we're well into the 21st Century now. Surely it would be simpler, more convenient and cost-effective to buy yourself a nice quality CD that you can transfer to your iPod and also listen to in the car. These days I only buy original 45s (when I can afford it) and own hundreds of legal CD compilations - I just can't see the point in buying vinyl boots anymore, it just doesn't seem necessary in the digital age. Is it just me??

Bought both a mono and stereo copy of the Tempests LP in 2009, so I immediately sold my Stardust copy of Someday on Ebay - I got £8 for it There's some silly money being paid for bootlegs at the moment. One thing I have noticed, the Gwen Owens 'Just say you're wanted' 70's boot used to sell for £40 or more on Ebay, but the new Outta Sight lookalike re-issue has knocked it back to around £15 - maybe that's a good thing, but I had been planning to cash-in and sell my 70's Gwen Owens bootleg. Seems I can't win!

He's even selling his dancing shoes, which is a bit worrying...I do hope the guy is OK.

It does seem a bit dodgy and yes, it is against Ebay rules. - I sell stuff on Ebay regularly and I expect to be paid by PayPal - Nobody likes the fees they charge, but you just have to take it on the chin. The same seller had a 'shield design' Yvonne Baker 45 on auction last week - his very short description didn't state that it was an original, but the photograph showed the record in a cardboard sleeve, with some very gaudy artwork (much like the LJB 45) clearly stating in great big letters 'ORIGINAL'. The record reached £74+ and it was then pulled from sale - I would guess that he was informed that it was most likely a boot. Having said that, he does have some really nice original stuff for sale.

What about these two? They both have a 'rap' in the middle section. Not exactly obscure records though.

Billy Arnell : Tough Girl and some of those Goldmine/Soul Supply LPs and CDs....

More of my favourite Northern Soul lyrics, this time the guy is trying to persuade his girl not to leave him by suggesting she may face financial problems... Now girl, stop one morning Before you go now girl What you gonna do when your lights go out? And your groceries run low And then a rent man comes knockin' on your door...

I've always wanted to believe that those words were written 'tongue in cheek' to demonstrate how much some men take their woman for granted. Those days are over now of course Either way, it's pure poetry. I'm pleased that you've now learned what the lyrics actually are.

I've been clearing out the loft today and I found an issue of Blues and Soul Magazine from October 1979 I guess a lot of you will have seen this feature before, but for those that haven't, I hope that you find it interesting! I've just realised how much I miss my Spencers Navy Blue Corduroys

Oh here I sit in this lonesome room With nothing but the smell of sweet perfume One silk stocking lying on the chair A yellow ribbon that your wore in your hair and A sink full of dishes, you used to do Dust lying on a table top or two One single hairpin lying on the floor A lonely little doggy crying at the door Brilliant Stuff, it paints a great picture of a lazy man missing his woman for all the wrong reasons. John and The Wierdest: Can't get over these memories

Frankie and The Classicals - What Shall I Do (Played from the Great Disco Demands LP on PYE) In the summer of 1976, I was 13 years old and a friends older sister seemed to play the above LP all day long during the school holidays.