Frankie Crocker

It's Northern Jim but not as we know it... The scene has evolved to the point there's a scene for anyone who likes soul. Some scene goers kept the faith, others lost it but plenty never had it in the first place. Courses for horses really, Cheltenham for the purists, Ascot for day-trippers and Lingfield for the die-hards. However you look at it, the fragmented scene is what the punters want.

Phil, you're right, the Premiership sounds are not popping up for sale but that's because they're extremely rare and discerning collectors are keeping hold of them. Championship sounds continue to appear, Delites last week, George Blackwell this week, two Ward Burtons in the last couple of months etc but these are increasingly difficult to find yet the money is evidently there for them. It pays therefore to consider the lower Divisions where there's availability at the right price plus lesser known tunes to sample. John Manship continues to provide the Big Ones, as do other top dealers such as Pete Smith and John Teftteller on both sides of the Atlantic. Soon collectors will have to settle for bargain basement originals for quality sounds as the rarest, rare and scarce records will have all been collected and stowed away.

A very moving justification but this underground scene of ours belongs underground - if we are a truly soulful clan, then we keep the faith out of the public glare: soulies' weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries etc count as underground, but a BBC studio is the court of public embarrassment.

Promises to be a hoot. Watching 'good' dancers jump through a few hoops to titillate the masses is so cringeworthy, it beggars belief that genuine soulies would open themselves to inevitable ridicule. Dancing takes place in dance halls, clubs and function rooms not kebab shops, street corners and TV studios. Hope that Salford's Modest Few have got their outfits ready (no trainers or handbags please) and plenty of talc to really impress the viewers with those cunning stunts. As for the sound track, stand by for Frank Wilson, Al Wilson, Bob Wilson and Marvin Gaye...

Paul - you have sorted out my Christmas Wants List, thanks. I can't be bothered with records these days but would travel the length and breadth of the country to add to my badge collection...

Not too many bargains this week...

Hope they turn the lights up and get lots of spinners falling over so it will remind us all of the BBC visit to the Casino in 1977.

Was there a stall selling barf bags? Top Tip for soulies of a nauseous disposition, always travel to Weekenders with extra-strength British Airways sick bags. As the economy picks up, will the scene reach a point when event attenders receive a Goodie Bag on arrival? Would the scene be divided on whether to fill the Goodie Bags with Oldies Tat or Modern Trash? Can I propose we set up a Northern Soul Governing Body to regulate tat sales, check the vinyl is original and ensure Goodie Bag contents are sub-Christmas Cracker standard and in the worst possible taste...

Not his finest set perhaps and one that should have been better given it was the first hour and punters would have expected the unveiling of the next big sound...

It's all relative really. These tunes were deemed OK at the time. They were better than some of the 70's Newies played around then. Compared to today's wealth of excellent sounds, sure most of these are insignificant, but the Ad Libs were big then and still a Classic Oldie now, likewise, Stemmons Express. I have no complaints about the Wigan playlists - they were simply what was being turned up as the Tomangoes, Shaun Robinson, Velvet Satins etc were sidelined. Is the tape a selection of tunes recorded stop-start or a solid 30 or 45 minutes; if the former then obviously someone liked them, if the latter then it is weaker, commercially oriented set? For me, Russ was the main man and he made the Casino the number one all-time allnighter.

Hi Rod. Incidents like this should not occur within a well run business. I can understand why you would refrain from bidding in subsequent auctions. If it helps you to reach closure on this matter, I'd be pleased to take Sam Ward off you for £400...

Hi Pete. The comment simply implied there were other auctions open to criticism. There was no allegation that every auctioneer was untrustworthy. Even apparently trustworthy auctions can be called into question or open to debate as this thread and another one earlier in the week testifies.

I reckon John's auctions are the best on the planet. They are totally transparent and fail safe by offering an extended bidding phase that averts last minute problems. The supporting blurb might be a tad overhyped but is a joy to read and discuss - I've already said on SS, the sales' summaries should be put into a book. John has an unrivalled knowledge of the soul market as he is the first dealer to receive calls for in-demanders, sleepers, unknowns and rarities. Some of the prices his auction items fetch might appear ridiculously high to us voyeurs, but someone is evidently pleased to part with the funds so let them spend. There are also bargains to be had from John's offerings so it's always worth a long shot bidding on an unfashionable record. Gone are the days of sealed bids when you end up paying more than you should. eBay has its virtues but deductions make sellers and buyers feel fleeced. John sets the standard in a business in which other auctions such as those of Tim and Pat, are called into question. My only complaint is that he doesn't offer a free pie for every £100 spent...

Never had any problems visiting the old store on Cherokee. Never found much in the shop or the basement. When the store relocated to the library on Hampton I did OK as there were plenty of fresh records on the racks. East St Louis can be dodgy but St Louis on the west bank is fine. St Louis is not much cop for records so drove straight through in 2011 and 2012. On reflection, when I came across the gold label re-issues in used condition, I would ignore them believing them to be Oldies Series to focus on the yellow demos or black issues; nowadays I would pick them up, especially in pristine condition.

I always assumed they were legitimate re-releases as they appear top-quality. Have found them amongst distributor stock in Brunswick sleeves, but oddly enough, not come across them too often in used record stores. Kept every one I found as they look the business and good tunes are worth having in every format.

The worth of the record is in the grooves. The original US release was on the Charger label in 1965. It is CLASSIC Northern Soul and worth owning in any format.

Smoke and mirrors...the 'bids' are firewall-figures to prevent the records being undersold. Would be much better ie transparent if they were put on set sale or eBayed.

One on eBay ending in 50 minutes. Listed in SS a Popular listing. Good luck...

Evidently a buy if you're desperate situation but sit tight if you're not. If these have dripped out via Second Chance Offers, then maybe 25-30 copies have earned the finder a princely sum and rightly so as he has cornered the market for a very good record. He's not saying how many copies he has got. I would imagine he will say 'Last Copy' when the time comes. As the records are pressed into 25 count boxes placed into 100 count cartons, the seller may have between 20-70 remaining, assuming he started with boxes intact. We're getting into Four Tracks territory here but not quite a Danny Moore scenario yet... I would recommend backing off buying this record as the price is too high and may well drop in future auctions.

Excellent viewing - well recommended.

And the blurb says 'pressing bubbles on both sides'...could be why the record wasn't widely circulated...

Slick work. Way to sell them. Well spotted fellow record hounds. Never twigged myself. Can I put my name down for a copy, preferably the last one?

This is a common, cheap record and not really an auction item as it is readily available at set sale.

What about Modern RnB to apply to all black music currently produced and Rhythm 'n Blues for any sounds predating 60's Northern? What about calling Rhythm 'n Blues events Hoe Downs so Northern fans don't end up at the wrong venues.? What about advancing the frontiers of Northern Soul by uncovering late 60's soul sounds rather than falling back on soul-less late 50's and early 60's Blues with rhythm?

Compared to what?