Chalky

Certainly had plays for some years in the 90s but it was the only copy at the time, or the only one with a Dj. Extremely rare. Great record.

People have it all wrong to assume it is better to bootleg an expensive record. It makes more sense to boot a cheaper not so expensive one that isn a good seller as it raises less suspicion, at first anyway. Better sellers will attract more buyers. Many Motown records were counterfeited BITD, even Gordy's ex wife spent a night in jail. Many of these counterfeits are in collections with people unaware.

It's pathetic isn't it. The music seems to be secondary too far too many these days, they want that instant rarity regardless of the quality.

I get cash flow, outlays, licences, contracts, royalties etc. But surely any business would factor these into their expenses and hope to recover at the end, not expect buyers to stump the cash up months in advance as what seems to be happening. If you can't afford the outlay then really it isn't a market you should be entering is it?

With pre orders, surely a month maximum should be the time to allow preorder, and that is only with a guaranteed shipping and release date. One up today with a release date 6 months away! It is becoming a joke. Radio stations are also getting the tracks months in advance and in many cases they are hammered, they don't feel too special when you actually get the vinyl. I understand the need to plug and plug many tracks myself, but never six months before release.

But you and other label owners are driving the market of scalpers as you call them, I can think of better names for some. the amount you and others press, generally 300, is not enough and has been a bone of contention for a long time. 500 should be the minimum for any quality release. Some who don't do limited releases are selling 4 figure quantities. Surely more sales would also benefit the licence holder as well as the labels.

Most if not all on Chess Records subsidiary Check-Mate.

Just mispressed if remember rightly or wrongly labelled, run out details will tell you more

As you say Andy delays are well documented in the pressing plants, one reason why pre orders should be held back a little more by all labels not just yours until something more definite from the plants? I wish you and all labels success but with ao many releases, and there are a lot lately, available to pre order it is becoming hard to keep track of it all. Some of the releases are getting hammered everywhere as well and they don't feel much like a new release when you actually get the 45. Anyway back to the music.

Pre order shouldn't be offered until production done and records on their way, its getting to be a bit silly now

Flowers kin ell Is Harold Melvin really a three figure record?

Chatsworth Park this morning...

Always assumed they are the same group. Jenges being the first release?

He is coming to see me at Christmas after I outed him on a couple of groups on Facebook. Told him I'd invite a few friends he has ripped off as well, we can all feast on a turkey.

But when people ask a valid question it starts a debate, argument and a voicing of opinions, you wouldn't expect anything less on a forum would you? In answer to your question, it became blurred when people started saying it is modern only, or not northern etc and then playing certain records in a separate room and then a separate event rather than everything in the same room like it was before. Northern Soul has always had music from across the decades, just enjoy it for what it is rather than keep putting records in pigeon holes. Northern Soul today, I still love the term, it is what I got into many years ago and still into but it has been hijacked by divs, day trippers and bandwagon jumpers.

It’s not a style or genre, it’s is various styles or genres that make up a scene, just like Northern. But you think different and I guess we will agree to disagree.

Plenty of long term venue goers have told you otherwise, is their opinion not valid? It has been a popular spin since 1980, as said John Anderson imported them from Henry Stone and could be got for £1.50 or so. I think 40 years of plays qualify it as a Northern Soul record don't you think? Neither am I upset? Why would I be?

Why is it confusing? The record in question was played in just about every Northern Soul venue I attended. It was played before modern soul was a thing. There is nothing blurred about it. You are blurring this yourself by saying its not one thing but the other when in fact it is both. It was played in one room venues where soul music (and other genres) right across the board was played. Wigan, Clifton Hall as already said, Stafford, Oddfellows and just about every other all-nighter going back in the 80s. Places like Wigan, Stafford and Clifton Hall, what was to become Modern Soul (70s and 80s) happily co-existed alongside 60s, Djs mixed it up. When I played it mid to late 80s it was an oldie. Of course the scene has changed, it has constantly evolved since day 1. Tastes change, different tempos find favour, different genres find favour. Others fall out of favour, it is constantly changing, not always for the better IMO. As for Rita Wright, I can't say I've heard it at a Northern SOul night, maybe at a chill out. What context was it described as Northern, as sale? If so it has to be taken with a pinch of salt as dealers use the term to get it onto search pages etc. You seem to do nothing but analyse and over think far to much, maybe you should just take some time out and enjoy the music rather than be so critical or analytic?

as I said

I played Charles Johnson in my sets mid to late 80s as did others then and before me.

No it's classed as shite...

Charles Johnson was played on the scene before there was a scene described as Modern Soul I couldn’t care less what people describe it as. The very fact it was played before Modern Soul was a thing, when all styles were played in one room makes it Northern soul doesn’t it?

All three have had plenty of turntable at “Northern Soul” events, makes them Northern Soul in my book. Charles Johnson has been played in northern rooms for 40 years, makes it a classic in my book as well.

But even back then the Rarest of the Rare, you heard those records every week, even more so now. How about a not so rarest of the rare, records under £50, I don’t mean what you paid 40 years ago or getting lucky with a wrongly catalogued ebay buy, genuine cheap records everyone can hear and then go and buy. Nothing gave me greater pleasure than playing some cheap record, someone asking what it was and an hour later they returned with a smile on their face having bought one in the record bar. That’s what it is all about for me.