Steve G

which is fine just as long as the buyer doesn't need to claim for a lost parcel...... Let's hope not. This side was always rare - paid 300 for mine in 1997/8 ish I think at Victoria Record Fair. Boy there were some good records there.

No need to put any hats on m8, it's a good discussion. And your view sums up the UK northern scene from the Burnley perspective. The lack of a truly regular upfront venue pushing new sounds does have an influence on creating demand for new northern records. But that's only a very small part of the collecting scene now, as we all know. Without wishing to 'diss' the oldies brigade either (I can do that on other threads ) Ian makes a good point about many of the northern oldies on 45 not being wanted anymore - unless they are trophy 45s (or Butch has reactivated them) which is kind of where I was coming from. There is clearly a big demand for certain records (Tomangoes, Ty Karim being two examples from the last week, and you can add Eddie Parker, Del Larks, Salvadors etc to that list) but the majority of oldies - nah - you see the same records in boxes from one year to the next. But collecting has always been about far more than just northern.....and when I said the "old rules" have changed I was referring to the globalisation of soul record collecting - with perhaps increased interest in all sorts of other styles and genres, replacing traditional northern "demand".

I think Fork in the Road just squeezes in, although I've never seen a full blown issue only the test pressing - someone did say there is one about.

Thanks Ted

What did it go for in the end please ?

Paul works for JM? I didn't know that. Quinvy posts up Anglo American sales lists..... What a world eh!

Not really came across that myself Blake.....apart from one or two specific dealers, the only boxes I've ever seen for 'limited' viewing are to what some would describe as 'time wasters' which maybe should be another category / thread? Folk who pore over each record for five minutes, look at the b side, look at the a side again, turn the cogs in their brain and then move onto the next one, before going back for a second look at the first record. In the end they ask dealer how much the record is, and then baulk at the prospect of paying £10.....we've all encountered em!

That was amazing I must say......but it's not just about the JM auction.....

Not boots Dylan, although i wouldn't be surprised if there are boots made of this label somewhere.

....yeah well put it there cos hardly a week goes by without some old laggard moaning about this or that price or auction....

Surface Action Group - a kind of navy commando unit I believe that go in and 'mix it up'. SAG Warfare (one word) then would make sense? It's a group from orlando Pete.

Prompted by yet another "Manship auction" / "who are these idiots?" series of posts which always make me chuckle, I got thinking that the world of rare soul record collecting is now evolving more rapidly than ever before. The old style "northern" scene in the UK dies away to a hard core once again, but demand for records in part has been replaced by a global group of record collectors from all over the world. All this has meant that old price guides are torn up and..... ....some once reasonably findable records sell for ever larger sums - upsetting the traditionalists, Irene & Scotts etc. ....trophy records continue to attract 'megabids' from the 'name your price' merchants, ....plenty of good rare records go unwanted / unsold. ....or conversely others sell for far more than the 'book' price to collectors who fret that they might never see another copy. Then there are the swathes of "unsellable" mid price original oldies (£10-£500) where you can successfully grow ivy on the 'sales boxes' that house them cos no one seems to want them much anymore. ...And then there's the emperors new clothes from last season "funky edged northern" some great, some dreadful, some rare, some old soul pack fodder masquerading as the next super rarity. Plenty to think about I'd have thought as the old rules get replaced by a new order in collecting?

Wendell worked for Stevie Wonder at one time and Stevie played keyboards just like Mrs Mills - spooky or what?

Well if you got a Sag War Fare you did well my friend.

I've actually had more interest in it when I've played it on the radio, than when I've played it out. Still it stays in the 100 count box...and comes out for a spin sometimes - last time was "A Taste of Honey" in M/C the other week.... It's too good to give up on.

Interesting I never knew he was singing "I wrote my baby Special D." always thought it was "Specially"

There's been a few through Ebay last year though - were they moody?

Sadly, blank faces of "don't know this". Darren in Somerset had two copies in a period of 18 months I believe which was an amazing feat.

I thought you had one of the red issues of this? Why did I think that?

Guy H originally at Stafford I think. I've got one. Still not that well known amazingly. Blank faces whenever I spin it out but a great sound.

Right the labels were owned by famous radio DJ John Richborg. SS7 was his main label from the early 1960s to the early / mid 70s. 77 was another of his labels (tax reasons, and also radio DJ playlist diversification reasons for multiple labels). 77 was originally for 'new talent' but as time wore on the barriers became blurred. Sound Plus was another label - essentially and originally a reissue label for his old product too - demand was not just northern. That's the short story, I am sure some of the scientists / those with time on their hands can add plenty more.

Shock horror the price of rare and not so rare records goes up! Bet those of us with collections are all waiting for the day when our rarities are worthless and the Manship auction items end up at £2.50 with one bidder eh?

I'd call Frank WIlson a total bore of a record Bob But seriously I know what you and Pete mean and agree regarding overuse.

Probably not now he's read this thread Marc!

A lo qual recording of a bit of it from my record player through the air to my mac.....best I can do now.....enjoy Charles Berry.mp3