Frankie Crocker

The Empress Ballroom featured big bands in the pre-record era so there would have been a piano there. Later, the stage was used by up and coming groups such as The Beatles and other artists who would have needed a backing group. Pretty tricky getting a grand piano into the Casino via the stairs or Mr M's so maybe it was inside before they put the roof on. Certainly an odd photograph when you focus on the piano - maybe it had been specially fitted with a flip-up lid and stuffed full of firelighters by the Director of Arson at Wigan Council... The piano now rests in a retired peoples' home in Burnley where the ex Chief-Inspector of Wigan Drug Squad practises his scales in readiness for the Christmas Concert...

First time I've heard this. An interesting take. The three Zuma records on Popsike look to be unplayed stock from one hoard QED. I wonder if it's a vintage pressing or a recent reissue of sorts? Evidently someone had confidence in the song hence the various labels and artist permutations. Anyway, I'm on the lookout for this version now. Thanks for posting.

Hi again Natalie. A good question and one I've asked myself. I think the maroon one on Popsike is the original. I always thought the original was on a green label - I bid on one a couple of years ago but did not win and then was given a second chance offer on a blue label version. Maybe this was the pale blue variant on Popsike by Sunny and Phyllis on the Zuma label - there are three copies of this, all sold by the same seller? My copy is like yours, and judging from the number on Popsike, has survived in some quantity but buyers have not been deterred by the price. There are other Le Cam releases on the same pink and white label and I suspect these are later re-issues of earlier releases.

Not the first issue. Think it is a legal reissue. Even this goes for three figures these days. First issue rarely turns up for sale nowadays. As for playing your copy out in public, most wouldn't complain but some might find fault. A great song that deserves to be spun but maybe best to be selective about where to play it out.

Just so scarce. Never seen a copy for sale. Well done to the buyer - this gem needed a good home. Doesn't need to be played out to be enjoyed - stick it on a turntable in the house and pretend you're a millionaire but now going hungry for three months... But wasn't it worth it.

Grim reading Nick. Thanks for posting. But when the record was cut, presumably the late 60's, George had something of a future ahead of him, an interest in a recording studio and a belief in his talent. The record evidently failed to sell. George was possibly unlucky in love at the time... Perhaps from this point onwards, George was on a slippery slope and stuck with an awful family who were of no long term support. I think it would be safe to assume that the unsold copies of 'Fascinating Girl' were disposed of decades ago when the family were sent to prison. This makes the record even better as it hints at unrequited love and a spiral of despair that unravelled in disaster.

Butch has a copy as he very kindly put it on a tape for me. Brad Hales had one a couple of years ago but I think he auctioned it but no idea who to. Great track and one overdue for a compilation.

And here I was thinking mine was the only one n existence... Just goes to show that any 'one-off' is probably not.

Anyone know how much the one on eBay sold for earlier today/yesterday... it was over £300 this morning but I missed the ending?

The tape was made six months into Wigan's Allnighters, and whilst attendance was large, there was ample space on the dancefloor. Some of the dancers were incredibly fast bobbing side to side, and the majority were pretty nimble shuffling left to right and back again with a small number doing back-drops etc. Sitting on the front of the stage was a mesmerising experience but your hearing was out of order for the next 24 hours. Even approaching the speakers, you felt the soundwaves pushing on your chest.

As it was March 31st, I've just played the tape and sent the link to my nephew as it's his birthday - might as well start corrupting him sometime. The original tape that Barry got a copy of had several other tracks on (partly or wholly) but these have been edited off the version that Pete's put up. They include: Sapphires - Slow Fizz Jodi Mathis - Don't You Even Care Casualeers - Dance Dance Dance Instigation - I Don't Want To Discuss It Hoagy Lands - Friends And Lovers Don't Go Together Junior Walker - I Ain't Going Nowhere The two unknown tracks are: 100 Proof Aged In Soul - One Mans Leftovers Sam Dees - Soul Sister Two variations to Pete's list are: Olympics did The Same Old Thing Detroit Shakers version of Help Me Find My Way In my original C120 tape, which Pete correctly says was done right next to the speakers, there were odd bits of tracks cut out at the time so the whole song would not be there. One such track was Thunder by Lord Thunder. On the remastered version that I made in 1994 using 45's and LP's, there are 38 different tracks minus the Sam Dees which continues to elude me. I regret taping the Mylestones and Dana Valery so many times now as I could have squeezed in another half dozen other tracks but just had to have these two as they were the biggest tunes that night. Great to see continued interest in the tape and thanks to Pete for putting it up.

The thread has now descended into confusion. What started as a topic on Divvies that is to say outsiders, members of the public, locals, handbaggers etc has now taken a wrong turn to criticise so-called 'plastic soulies' who are actually part of the scene, regardless of age/dress/dance style etc. Anyone who likes the music should be welcome on the scene and if they wear beer towels/wristbands/black-fist necklaces etc then surely it's a sign of commitment with a nod to the '70's.

A brilliantly sublime tune. Clever backing track. Vocal, whilst flawed, is still good - a reminder that not all tunes sound the same, but if you listen hard and with an open mind, you might hear something a bit different. Like a fine wine, it's there to be savoured. Now, when you own a copy, you start to appreciate it a bit more, or even a lot more. My copy has been stamped DJ Copy so that clears up the non-existence of white demos. My copy sits in a hand-customised birth sleeve, 'companified' in an amateurish way with a DIY rubber stamp: there is a Detroit phone number amongst the details to phone for free copies but my feelings have been hurt so badly, a scan will not be featuring in the near future...

A lot of illuminating comments appearing in this thread. Seems to me like the underground Soul Scene as we once knew it has now become much more mainstream with Joe Public descending in larger numbers. This is hardly surprising of course given the great music being played. Recent events also have contributed to this namely the demise of popular chart music and the closure of many nightclubs. So, the proliferation of Soul Nights will obviously appeal to ordinary folk out for a drink, particularly if some wannabe promoter/DJ has taken over the pub/village hall whatever... If there were more Allnighters, this could reduce the apparent non-soulie element but I think this is where some of the next converts will come from so it is good to have a few new faces on the sidelines.

Confusion occurs when folk go looking for a club on a Friday then end up at a Soul Night - three more beers later, Saturday Night Fever takes over and it's hit the dancefloor... Usually takes six Soul Nights, five of which were followed by swaying in front of the bedroom mirror or shuffling on the kitchen floor... On the sixth, emboldened by several pints, a familiar tune by Wilson brothers, Frank or Al, draws twinkletoes onto the floor to begin an unforgettable journey... Happened to us all.

I wonder how many, shall we call them 'voyeurs', (to raise the tone a bit), are so smitten by the music, they see the light and readily convert to real soulie status? Without the occasional tourist/handbagger/idle local unsure of day of week/divvie, where would the next generation of soulies come from?

When Soulies dressed similarly, leather trenchcoat or bomber jacket, brogues or loafers, pleated cords or Oxford bags, bowling shirt or badge covered vest, tartan bag or adidas holdall: it was easy to spot the 'Divvies', locals out for the beer and something to stare at, standing in a circle on the dancefloor thumbs hooked in belt-loops*... How do you spot a 'Div' nowadays? What do they wear and how do they stand out? Should real Soulies wear similar clothes so they don't look like Divs of yesteryear? Am I right in assuming that 'Handbagger' means the same as 'Div'? *Apologies to the lasses for gender bias - could someone fill in the finer details from a female perspective).

Probably seemed a good idea at the time... One can understand someone wanting a singer's autograph but it's the personal dedication that tarnishes the artifact, in this case 'Kenny'. After a short while, the record was sold despite the graffiti that rendered it scarred for life. Now, the autogaph and dedication are part of the record's history - shame really as it was the best surviving copy and known to be iconic. This contrasts to the other records mentioned in this thread that were pressed-up in the low hundreds, signed by artists at the time and scattered around freely.

You must have a heart of stone to do that Billy. ATB

One sold on eBay a couple of hours ago for over £200. Surprised me, but it was mint unplayed.

You are looking at an outlay of well over £1,000. A nice NM copy would fetch £1,500 at auction whilst an EX copy might cost £1,250 in a cash deal. A great record, hugely in demand and very difficult to get hold of. Was pressed up with labels reversed so some copies are OK whilst others are flawed, the latter may be discounted by £100-200 depending on the seller.

Not sure this is the case. Old age changed the Northern Soul scene. As folk grew up, married, committed to family life, dropped out the scene etc, major Allnighter venues withered. The internet has allowed the Northern scene to flourish but in a different guise, with record collectors able to access vinyl without flying to the States. This has enabled younger record collectors, potential DJ's, venue attenders and dancers to join the old timers at a multitude of small venues. To be part of a scene where there is no age prejudice is a marvellous thing. The Northern scene is as progressive as ever catering to a wide range of music tastes and without any one 'figurehead' determining what is played/booted/compiled/marketed - now every individual can be part of the scene and in a way that suits them. Go where you want, wear what you want, listen to what you want - not a bad lifestyle and a scene that still remains more underground than mainstream.

Looks like a slip of the finger... Even with today's prices, £7,555.00 looks a bit steep... Tim will realise there's an error sooner or later.

Tell that to Kenny Burrell and Frank Wilson...

Adopted by the scene so therefore had some merit at the time. Had the requisite elements back in the day so qualified for a spin. Not too bad for a UK label and would have been a nice find 40 years ago. Might not please everyone today but remember, there's no such thing as a bad soul record, some are just better than others.