Pete S

What I mean is - not everyone who has bought a copy is a dj - I bought it - although I'm now a podcast dj!

I'd say a VG- record is one thats never been kept in a sleeve and looks battered but plays well in comparison with it's appearance - and of course all someone has to do is post a sound clip, like you say

They all sound the same.

Has anyone ever seen an issue?

n.b. am a bit stuck there as this website is designed using wordpress and I haven't got a clue about it, am totally dependent on the lady who built the site, and even she doesn't know why the shopping cart doesn't work properly so I'm just thankful that I sell most records via my mailing list.

See what you're saying but the background on mine is all white not black, does it show up differently depending on what browser people use? Can everyone see white with black edging here? https://www.raresoul.co.uk/wordpress/

Reopened as Dave says he hasn't had a chance to reply. If this gets personal again I'll close it again.

F*ck it, another half decent topic gone down the swanee, am closing this, reason - not going to continue this argument in public

Are you going to let Manship and Brady know that they've got it all wrong and in fact they are mistreating their customers, no of course you're not, cos you think you can say it to me but you won't repeat the same thing to other people, so excuse me if I don't give your posts a 'like'. Not only that the but the topic says 'soul source gradings not working for ME', it was my opinion and whatever anyone else says, it's still my opinion.

Yeah and I'm being a lot more helpful than you by giving them more sensible and accurate grades, so I'd leave it there if I were you and keep your nose out of my business which runs along just fine as it is with UK standard grades, thanks, if I need your advice I'll ask for it

Yes but the UK version of Ebay does mainly use it! You keep referencing worldwide - not interested in it - same as we use pounds stirling over here and not dollars

No it doesn't, it's just about things making sense, not buying a VG record in the hope that it's going to be better than VG just because an American has graded it. Biggest Northern Soul site in the world uses EX

Not everyone is a DJ Bearsy.

Dave read back through the thread, you're missing my point, I am saying that when people SEE anything which begins with VG, whether it's VG+ or VG++ or whatever, they will automatically assume that it is a well used record and not in EXCELLENT condition. People are not going to read through all that comprehensive grading stuff every time they want to buy a record, they'll see the title, see VG+ and say 'no thanks'. Still not sure why I, being born in and lived in Britain all my life, and selling to 90% British people, should adopt the American style of grading...

Once again though, I don't see how there can be no 'bridge' grade between VG and it's variants, and Mint. Surely the purpose is to give the customer more information - by not using EX, I'd just be clouding things over and making life difficult for both me and them.

Same as the one you mention above. The American system of grading. Record Collector started up in 1979, using EX as a grade, but I'm pretty sure they didn't invent it. You only have to look in the small ads in Black Music to see records graded EXCELLENT and those are from 73-74-75.

Well they still owe me a copy for the one I sent back!

I found this wiki but it's not great Lovelace Watkins (1938—1995) was a Las Vegas-based singer and performer who achieved prominence in America as well as in Europe and Australia. Watkins was born in New Jersey when his mother was only fourteen years old and was raised by his grandmother in New Brunswick. He studied microbiology at Rutgers University and also trained as a boxer. His operatically trained and signature booming voice took him to Europe where he became so popular that he was invited to entertain at the Royal Command Performance for the Queen of the United Kingdom. The Times called him “the best entertainer on earth.” In South Africa he received two gold albums and was so celebrated that a public parade was held in his honor — an unprecedented reception for a black entertainer at the height of Apartheid. He appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1961 while promoting his album "The Big, Big Voice of Lovelace Watkins", music arranged and conducted by Ray Ellis. In addition to appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, Lovelace also appeared on the Johnny Carson and Mike Douglas shows. Nicknamed "The Black Sinatra", his stage personality was earthy and electric. However this charisma and the power and quality of his voice never quite came over on his record releases. As a result of this, plus poor management decisions and a Hollywood screen test that never transpired, Lovelace never reached his full potential in the United States. The discerning Liverpool public made his debut at their Wookey Hollow's night club an overnight sensation and he was recalled for a second show one week later. His third Wookey Hollow caberet appearance was recorded and televised on BBC1 at 11.35pm on 8 May 1974. Following this, Lovelace Watkins at one time held the attendance record at the "Talk Of The Town" in London, England at the height of its prominence as an entertainment venue and did a "Command Performance" for Queen Elizabeth II. He appeared on the British religious variety series "Stars on Sunday", and after his last reappearance at the Wookey Hollow when he introduced his blonde wife, Lovelace sadly disappeared into obscurity as far as his UK fan base was concerned. Nearing the end of his music career Lovelace started a successful company that preped apartments and commercial buildings for rental companies in the Las Vegas area, and continued singing at various functions in Las Vegas. Lovelace died of leukemia in 1995.[1]

I think you can have an EX+ - the reason I use it is because I stopped using Mint, seeing as I play every record. You can't have EX++ though, thats just daft.

Balls. It's £599 sorry Gene couldn't resist it

Not at all

Flash b*stard

Yeah he must have relocated, he had a record out on the York label if I remember and he was on shows like The Golden Shot. Got to be the same guy.

That's not a recommendation

PETE.SMITH@FREEUK.COM 01902 326306 Some more original 45's for sale THE DEB TONES - GROOVY GENERATION - ANGEL TOWN VG++ 20 Not the Billy Kennedy tune, this one's a really fast girl group dancer, backed with possibly the lamest version of Knock On Wood ever. THE DYNELS - COME ON LITTLE DARLIN' - NATURAL VG++ 30 Two for the girl group collectors I think, everything but the kitchen sink productions, especially on the Spectorish B side Just A Face In The Crowd. 75 quid elsewhere. JACKIE EDWARDS - COME BACK GIRL - VEEP DEMO EX- 15 Nice dancer from Jackie with a good beat ballad on the flip EDDIE & ERNIE - I CAN'T DO IT (I JUST CAN'T LEAVE YOU) - EASTERN EX 30 A real classic, massive spin in '75 THE ELITES - SIR GALLAHAD - ERA DEMO EX 20 Girl vocal with nice male backing, nice lesser known MILL EDWARDS - I FOUND MYSELF - CUTLASS EX+ 15 Nice Chicago crossover dancer E.J. & THE ECHOES - TREAT ME RIGHT - DIAMOND JIM EX 50 Frantic uptempo Detroit dancer, they were a white group with a black lead singer from what I can gather CAROL FRAN - IT'S MY TURN NOW - PORT EX+ 15 Good dancer from 65 THE FUZZ - I'M SO GLAD - CALLA EX 10 One of those records that was huge for a few months then just dropped - forever SHELLEY FISHER - BIG CITY LIGHTS - ARIES EX 15 Good NYC dancer WADE FLEMONS - I CAME RUNNING - VEEJAY EX 15 Underrated dancer very much in the style of Kurt Harris - Emperor MARTY HILL - MR. ORACLE OF LOVE - COLUMBIA DEMO EX+ 75 A year ago this was on loads of wants lists, now I can't give it away LOL. This one has the rare promo pic sleeve as well. Popcorn classic. JACKIE TAYLOR - WALKIN' BACK - JUBILEE DEMO EX 50 This is a superb midtempo Big City Soul monster of a tune, very classy male vocal dancer. FIVE STAIRSTEPS & CUBIE - STAY CLOSE TO ME - UK BUDDAH EX 20 This is the first UK issue and it's pretty tough with a centre like this one has - most are jukebox centre copies. Brilliant early Northern classic dancer too. THE INDEPENDENTS - I FOUND LOVE ON A RAINY DAY - SCEPTER (GERMANY) EX 20 Fab 70's dancer on a rare German issue with picture sleeve SANDIE SHAW - STOP - UK PYE EX 20 What we used to call a 'pop stomper', really fast dancer this one, and a non-hit in the UK JOHNNY PEARSON ORCHESTRA - THE RAT CATCHERS - UK COLUMBIA EX+ 15 Classic old TV series theme which also turns out to be a cracking Northern instrumental. Double this price elsewhere. As are most of the records on this list LOL paypal to pete.smith@freeuk.com 1ST CLASS RECORDED IS NOW £2.40 FOR ONE RECORD WITH NO EXTRA CHARGE FOR 2 ADDITIONAL ITEMS. SPECIAL DELIVERY IS £7.00 OVERSEAS: EUROPE IS £3.50 AIRMAIL, £9.00 REGISTERED POST. ITEMS OVER £40 NEED TO GO BY REGISTERED POST. REST OF THE WORLD IS £4.50 AIRMAIL, £10.00 REGISTERED POST. ITEMS OVER £40 NEED TO GO BY REGISTERED POST.