Frankie Crocker

Most of the records mentioned in this thread were pressed in large quantities in the 1970's. Many sold in hundreds via Keith Minshall in his balcony stall at the Casino. No way of telling how many have survived but the number for sale at any given time reflects commonality rather than rarity. Lennie Curtis doesn't crop up often but that could reflect the original is pretty hard to come by. The Dennis Edwards reissue from a 1990's Detroit source probably turned up in fewer numbers like it's contemporaries as potential demand had shrunk. Any reissues selling for juicy prices eg Magicians on Chartmaker probably reflect the scarcity of the real thing rather than rarity of the reissue.

So, the question is... Say, you are DJing at a well respected night/nighter, you are playing set of underplayed gems and rarities. But, in the middle of your set you bang on song like The Tams and pack the floor. Would this be an inspired choice or lazy... Doubt it would pack the floor. It's not as good as Hey Girl Don't Bother Me, a tune I've seen dropped into a 100 Club set to limited response, likewise The Drifters Saturday Night At The Movies - excellent tunes but not comparable to the masses of top tunes out there that discerning travellers pay to hear. Not lazy DJing but somewhat unimaginative at a rare soul venue - best saved for office parties, neighbours around on Boxing Day, Wigan home games etc

Awesome tune. One of the very best Northern tracks. Certainly in my top ten. Compare it to his Hard Working Man RnB track and there's a world of difference.

Should be institutionalised. Serious record gathering is hard enough anyway - who needs twerps like this making it harder for honest collectors? Merry Christmas to all genuine record collectors out there...

This makes sense for records in a sales box but not convinced it is necessary for DJ playbox records or collectors' records. Using old sleeves is sometimes more trouble than they are worth. I do like the idea of keeping a record with its original sleeve but double sleeving everything bulks up the volume reducing the number of records per box. Surely access to records is a more important consideration than having to fumble them out of one sleeve and then another?

Even stupider question here but why put records in paper sleeves before putting them into cardboard sleeves?

Ditto.

Maybe we'll see his mug shot on Crime Watch, you know the section they put up the faces of the stupidest thieves so they can be grassed up...

Dave - on reflection, you need to grab any of the cheapest compilations still available in the shops, usually priced at £5- £10; these are generally compilations of the best of compilations if that makes sense ie good, old established tunes that could be accessible to someone not on the scene. The Torch, Wigan Casino, Blackpool Mecca series of CD's are still available and are well worth a close look. The troops have done a fine job of identifying the very best CD's released over the last 10-15 years but these will probably only be available second hand on Amazon or eBay. I visited the new HMV store on Oxford Street yesterday and there were virtually no Northern Soul CD's there; there were a few more in the larger HMV store but really only the remnants of what has been a 20 year production line of decent releases. It looks as though the CD business has almost run it's course so I would urge anyone seeking decent music, to sweep the shelves clear of the last few...

Ditto

Ditto.

He was a liar. Why didn't you get another box, continue the joint collection, take it away for the weekend and have it' 'stolen'?

Well said Pete. Drugs get too much coverage in the book. The scene was mainly about the music to most of us back then, and still is now.

May Santa bring you loadsa records Roger.

Kimbo - real sickener. Hope the culprit returns the records pronto. Too much record thieving going on. General consensus seems to be ostracise the scumbag or batter the b#####d - either option's too good for him. Real mates don't steal from mates so kick this kleptomaniac off your guest list.

Tommy - awesome tune. Ignore low-ball offers from Ady...

Some cracked records play perfectly. Some cracked records can be sold on at a profit. No one would choose to have a broken record in preference to an intact one but sometimes you have to settle for less than the best. I sold a cracked Five Chances on Finch for a £100 making a nice margin - the dealer who took it sold it on making his cut. We all have cracked records I suspect, particularly the owners of larger collections, but how many of us actually scrutinise every disc meticulously before parting with the cash - not me for one. Every trip to the US results in at least one cracked record per 100-200 bought but they can be sold on if they play OK.

What a storming set - wish I'd been there. With such great sounds, not to mention rarities, how could anyone be less than satisfied?

Store stock itself these days is a bit disappointing, decent bits 'back room' or online sales. He did used to move some pretty good items at one point in the past but quieter of late from what I hear.

All these records sound like oldies ie 1966-1969 vintage. If they were Crossover sounds then they would be less accepted by the oldies crowd but they're not... Do oldies lovers really resent the discovery of new oldies? I would hope not given that it's all good music. To answer the question, the oldies brigade would embrace these sounds as they're good dance tunes and timeless in their appeal.

Chris Beachley of the Wax Museum record store in Charlotte put the record out, presumably a genuinely leased reissue. The record is excellent and deserves occasional outings in public. The OVO connoiseurs would expect to hear it on Back Beat or Dynamic but if you were playing it to a wedding reception disco in the local sports club, nobody would fault you but someone might say hasn't the DJ got good taste... Chris used to run a really neat store with loads of good tunes, many in quantity, but I'm not sure if he's still in business. Any dealer who provides a comfy armchair for the Mrs is welcome to a slice of my pay cheque...

Leave Berbatov out of it...

Not too many bargains this week. Passed over the Bobby Paris in Beanos of Croydon a few years ago - mistake. Passed over a white Demo of Buster and Eddie more recently as I have the issue - really stupid mistake. Old codger in Las Vegas owes me $7 change from the Lou Ragland I bought about 15 years ago but the price fetched today may help me reach closure in another 15 years... I think Manny should put together a book of auction sales pitches to give us something to read on Christmas Day...

Mambouk should be named and shamed. Evidently untrustworthy and one to shun...