Frankie Crocker

Depends if you like karaoke. I suppose if you were a six year old and woke up on Christmas day with a Junior DJ deck-kit in your pillow case, this tune might make gran smile after a few sherries...

For sure, there are plenty of excellent British made decks. Since going down the separates hi-if route, I've had two Garrard decks and they were fine. The current Thorens is a brilliant piece of equipment and I chose it because the cartridge and stylus unit was detachable. Not only is it easy to set up, but most importantly, the stylus can be cleaned and checked as so much grunge comes off records that have been cleaned. I keep track of every record played so the stylus can be replaced ahead of the recommended number of hours played. I would prefer to stick with Thorens in the future if I have to upgrade as the other features are brilliant ie automatic cut out, independent suspension, low maintenance, easy to operate and superb sound reproduction.

Frying Tonight... With a photocopied label, this could sell for double, indicating the lengths desperate sellers and gullible buyers will go to.

Yep, lots of sense here. My turntable is a Thorens, once a German company but now Swiss owned. That said, there are lots of new turntables popping up, one of the hi-fi mags this week featuring four in the £200-300 range. With Technics making a comeback, the future of vinyl seems assured.

Take 6 is on vinyl whereas Gold Token is on styrene if I'm not mistaken. B sides of both records are good tracks. Gold Token label is snazzier and it's harder to come by. Best to own both and DJ with the Take 6 version which must be worth £400 as it seldom turns up in great shape and Feminine Ingenuity is a top class sound. Found two copies on Take 6 in Boston and part-exchanged one for 'the last copy' of Danny Moore dohhhhh....

Many congratulations to you Mike and the whole team. Soul Source leads the field in offering the best information around on the subject. Also great to pick up on the wisdom of so many members, have a few laughs and access so much good vinyl for sale.

Hi Dave. Looking forward to the book. It's at the top of my Christmas List right now as I've given up asking for records...

Hi Damian. The book you might find useful is called The Blackwell Guide To Soul Recordings edited by Robert Pruter first published in 1994. The book takes a regional look at the USA looking at genres, labels artists and recommended LP's and CD's. Another reference book is called The Music Book Guide To Soul published by Backbeat books as one of the AMG series ie All Media Guide. Then there are the regional books on Chicago (Robert Pruter), Philadelphia (John A Jackson), Detroit (Keith Rylatt) and others amongst those mentioned above on New Orleans, Texas, Memphis, Motown etc. Hope this helps.

A really valid point. Most USA dealers and store owners do not have a decent deck to sample records. Styrene records suffer terribly when played on an old deck without a variable tracking weight installed. The big problem though is any records played on typical 60's portables would have suffered from stylus wear and tear plus stacking of the records on the spindle. Even some M- unplayed 45's were pressed on poor quality vinyl so there is no guarantee you will be buying a perfect recording. And just to trap the unwary, some of the discs we chase exist in small numbers because the press run was trashed when it was found to be off-centre, mislabelled, wrong B side etc. It's a minefield but there are plenty of unharmed records out there and enough dealers providing sound-bites to help buyers make their choice.

I think it's OK to express cause for concern, but overall, the scene is going through a new lease of life, a resurrection as it were. Record collecting continues to thrive in its various guises but sadly prices have spiralled beyond the pockets of many. The proliferation of venues reflects keen entrepreneurship saving many from travelling huge distances but small-scale events run by local DJ's inevitably need to cater for all sorts of music lovers if they are to survive, and maybe morph into the next 'big venue'. There are enough good tunes out there for some great discoveries and bringing back forgotten oldies so don't give up hope yet.

For sure, side by side they are different. Hold the boot on it's own and it has a really genuine feel to it.

Another travesty. After reading this thread on Soul Source, I too spotted the repress for sale a week or two ago and thought there's another record that can't be taken at face value.

Two top class tracks on the record. One of the best double headers around. The bootleg looks just as original as the real thing so no wonder it sells form silly money.

Seconded...great tune, floor-filler, a little piece of history...

I need to get out more often as I have never seen a Rita Lee. I used to have a Men From Macon 'Salvation' on Le Cam, pink-on-white label but sold this in the late 70's: I see John has this marked at a tenner in Price Guide #6. So, which is THE version then as I don't recall seeing a Men From Macon's 'Salvation' on yellow Charay either?

Some mind blowing sums laid out here but not across the board. Gloria Jones virtually doubling in price but Andy Fisher commanding 25% below book price. Gobsmacked by the Rita Lee price - always thought the pink-on-white issues of the label releases were reissues or a subsequent afterthought press, so is this format the first and only issue of this Salvation track?

Hope so. Ashley Madison can only offer us 60 year olds so much... Not sure how the hooking-up protocol would work as tapping on the shoulder is so passé and texting 'my mate fancies your mate' sounds so lame.

Hammie is right in what he says as whatever sort of arm you use, the stylus tip will not be parallel to the groove for the duration of the track. There is a type of record player that tracks linearly across the disc and this would avert the issue that concerns you but this sort of device is not for DJ use in public. I do not think you have anything to worry about providing the tracking weight is set as low as possible. Perhaps consider vinyl only, as opposed to styrene, when DJing, as the records generally have greater fidelity. Finally, check the stylus after each play to see if grunge deposits from cleaning fluids need removing.

Very sad news. RIP Joe.

Seller did well on this item given it's defects. I got my copy from Les Moss many years ago, tempted by the 'only known copy' sales pitch. The record came from a member of the group when Les was based in the DC area. Les said he had also seen one very battered copy at some point in time. I heard someone spin this at the 100 Club over a decade ago and it went down well enough. I've seen it pictured in Manship's Million Dollars book and an American book of rare records. The two recent copies sold probably keep the quantity known to below ten copies but there are likely to be some hidden away in obscure collections remote from DJ styluses. Maybe not a sound from the very top drawer but still a worthy collectors item that very few will ever get to hold.

I think your observations are right. The prices are rocketing exponentially for the rarer, classic, top-drawer sounds but also the recently unearthed obscurities and minor plays from the past. Just look at what's happened to the Salvadors, Lonnie Lester, Alpacas and Southside Movement to name but a few. There is clearly a resurgence in record buying by both young and old collectors. Spinning vinyl has become fashionable again and the turntable market has undergone something of a rebirth. Not only is demand on the rise but supply has virtually dried up with the primary source of second hand USA imported records being somewhat thin on the ground despite the contributions of a few key dealers. The secondary sources of USA records are also proving to be more expensive with collectors hanging on to their treasures and only parting with them reluctantly to finance long-term wants and dealers waiting for major collections to come up for sale. The internet makes it easier for the well off to bid (or overbid) but there are plenty of bargains to be had as no-one can track every record for sale 24/7.

Lots on Popsike at varying amounts up to £200 so it does pop up at a bargain price from time to time.

Interesting article. Thanks for posting. Evidently they were doo-wop influenced and perceived themselves as a soul group. The Sultans recording also sounds pretty good also.

Broadways...bonkers. Melvyn Davis a bargain. Some record breaking prices here though if you pardon the pun.

I share your pain. This is absolutely awful. Fortunately, I am on holiday otherwise I would phone in sick... It looks like it was folded in two. I always ask the sender to use multiple cardboard stiffeners taped together in a 7 inch record mailer to improve the chances of safe arrival.