Frankie Crocker

Legitimate and available on a stock copy also. Not sure but Bunky may have been a Chicago radio station DJ who endorsed records for airplay. Good track, fairly easy to get hold of and an acceptable alternative to Jimmy Delph's version. Seems to sell for $40-80.

Someone in the Bop Shop record store in Rochester, New York might be able to help you. Not sure if is Tom Kohn the owner or one of the senior staff in the store, but they told me the Soul Brothers Six were local and mates with one of the guys there.

With vinyl 45's still being pressed in the USA, Europe and other places, the technology is still out there. If someone turned up the masters for a rare record, could it still be repressed after all these years? One would guess yes, but any serious collector would be highly suspicious. The batch of Oxford Knights on Delphi that turned up over ten years ago looked like they had been pressed recently QED and doubts still linger about the provenance of this record. The good news is, recently pressed records just look too new so collectors aren't easily duped whilst the older production processes can't be replicated perfectly. It is therefore unlikely that fraudsters would be able to clone the rarest records successfully.

Was a top tune at the Mecca and Wigan. Copies were not really available at the time. Oddly enough, not released on English Atlantic even though demand was there. Never come across this in the USA in over 50 trips. Still rates as one of the very best tracks on the label and one that sounds better and better as the years slip by. Never considered it a Girl Group sound, just pure Northern all the way.

So, is the yellow vinyl version an original, second issue or some special product done as part of a package? I thought both my Pointer Sisters issues were boots, one of which was yellow vinyl: one has been replaced by a demo, not sure if it was the regular or yellow version though so will check in the weeks ahead. Still need an original stock copy but proving difficult to locate on eBay. Is the yellow vinyl version worth keeping (that's if I've actually still got it)?

Could have been worse...might have been Frank Wilson singing how much he loves you...or even Marvin telling you about his love starved heart... And you thought a nice quiet pub would be a great escape from a noisy Boxing Day.

White cardboard 200 boxes are as good as anything. They can be stacked three high without problems. Ultimately, they are a convenient size and weight to handle when full, reasonably inexpensive, compact so easily shelved and fairly durable.

I went twice in March 1974 and have a live tape with many of the sounds that Pete and Kev have listed namely Gwen and Ray, Lee Andrews, Tony and Tyrone, Casualeers, Tomangoes, Shawn Robinson, Mike Post, Furys Band, Velvets, Gloria Jones and Al Wilson. Add to this The Fuzz, Saxie Russell, Olympics, Robert Knight, Terrible Tom, Ventures, Lord Thunder and Junior Walker, Biggest tunes were Dana Valery and Butch Baker, both played about six times in the main room. Sheer quality all the way (if you ignore the Ventures) without the more commercial chart sounds that soon followed.

Hi Louise. I think most of us are pro-American releases as the music is American, rather than anti-British soul releases. I would imagine that loads of UK based US record collectors have a sprinkling of good tunes on British vinyl, I know I have a few. Trouble is, it is very difficult to collect both British and American in a big way given the costs and of course, the scarcity of the records hence the preference for one or the other. I will say that British vinyl is of a superb quality, and wish that plenty of US records I own were on this superior vinyl rather than styrene or low grade vinyl.

Despenza any day. US format. Local label. Vinyl. Who needs rare releases on common labels, possibly on styrene. Revilot would suffice for virtually anyone serious about the music. London release in a picture frame or a bank vault just doesn't impress.

He's probably got a copy anyway, maybe a demo as well as an issue...

Our Love Is In The Pocket is the top side for me with of course a decent flip. Over the next few weeks anticipate a rash of wannabe DJ's spinning pink or grey Revilot copies with dancers scrambling onto the stage to see if they have just witnessed THE ONE being spun.. I hope it goes to Mick Smith for services to the British vinyl industry, arise Sir Mick...

It was a good record when covered up as Eddie Foster. Now it's used as background music by the BBC, on every other CD compilation, film and documentary, it's become overexposed, dull and uninspiring.

Brilliant Ian. I would like the lot for Christmas but I guess I can hang on for a couple of months.

Nice one but you had a real bargain there, especially given the condition. Competition for this title and another by the Adventurers has intensified in recent years pushing sales prices beyond the Manship #6 valuation.

A return to sanity here with some Okeh prices such as Adventurers and Sherlock Holmes but the Adorables doubled in price compared to recent values.

Crackers... Anyone who wants this that badly might as well wait a bit longer and pay top whack for an intact copy. Hardly ever turns up for sale though...

The fact that this title has been ignored for the last 34 years at Val's speaks volumes for its quality. I've had the record for 20 years and listed the other side 'I've Tried' as the better track. Perhaps Fred had put it back in the sleeve the wrong way round, took it out, spun the B side and the rest is history...

She must have been a girl in a million for him to do that. Frankly, the notion is highly implausible as I can not think of any bloke that would stump up that sort of money for a record with writing on the label AND just give it away... I can see a girl in Hull being head over heels with a guy called Kenny and surprising him with a rare record paid for with money from a joint bank account. The mystery deepens...

Hi Rob. I see the record staying in Britain where it will hopefully grace a top collection of British soul releases. That said, I also feel that we in Britain should continue to gather as many American soul releases as humanly possible, ideally for as little as possible, as the appreciation level over here greatly exceeds that in the USA.

Really good article too. Much better reading it in an original newspaper as well. Don't mind the online take but prefer to get my hands on the hard copy. Can't see anyone in Hull stumping up for Frank Wilson and pretty sure John would not disclose any details of any winning bidder.

I heard this place was closed as he'd retired to Florida. Can anyone confirm whether it is still there or closed?

Val's is in Philadelphia. Outside Pittsburgh there's George's Songshop in Johnstown.

Cool, cool and more cool...

It's the Christmas post season so expect everything to be delivered on December 27th or January 2nd. Make sure you stay in the house for the next three weeks otherwise someone will leave a card saying no one was in and your parcel will be returned to sender in the next two hours... Don't give up hope as packets can take a month or more to arrive.