Peter Richer

Being single I'm always open to invitations from attractive young soulettes to take a look at their collections!!

I guess we're also assuming that the records should be high quality, danceable, Northern Soul - and for my taste it should certainly be soulful. Not sure how many copies there are of: Ernestine Eady - Phil LA Soul Four Dynamics - Peachtree Combinations - What You Gonna Do - Kellmac Pat Lewis - No One To Love - Solid Hit Various Magnetics items - any fewer than 10 copies? Anyone got reliable information / suggestions?

Good question Rich, I was wondering the same thing. There are some records where it would be interesting to confirm their rarity, and some myths which need dispelling. I know there was a thread a while back showing that there were well over a dozen copies of the Eddie Parker on Awake, and I believe there are about a dozen of Billy Woods. While these are still pretty rare it would be good to narrow it to fewer than 10 say, or perhaps 5. Of the established tunes, how about: Inspirations - Breakthrough Don Gardner - Sedgrick Jimmy Burns - Erica Various Shrines - Cavaliers, Prophets, Counts Of the more unusual, maybe: Nat T. Jones - Goliath Walter Wilson - Wand I assume also that we're talking about records with proper labels, not acetates/test presses?

It definitely grows on you. I've often found that great records sound much better after the third or fourth time of listening, probably because they are a bit more subtle or complex in the harmonies or musical arrangements. For example, I've found much of the Shrine output to be quite superb, after first thinking the tracks were just moderately good - Cautions (x2), Epsilons, Sidney Hall, Eddie Daye, Cairos all fall into this category for me. Anyway, I digress. The Kings of Soul is excellent, and the trick I've found is to not worry about the almost pathetic guitar solo but to concentrate on the underlying bass work which is fantastic!

As I understand it, the 'Trans' copies are legitimate re-issues, as opposed to the 'Trans American' originals. The interesing point is that they were pressed from the original plates, and therefore have identical matrix markings. Value ought to be in the £10 to £20 (absolute max) range.

Fantastic guitar work on Don't Want To Be Your Fool by the New Yorkers. Anyone know who the genius is who should take a bow for this particular gem?

Make it £700 and I'm sure I can find a girl who will call herself 'Dena Barnes' for the night and prepare you a candlelit dinner (etc. . . !!). Can't guarantee she'll be able to sing though?!

Dena Barnes - If You Ever Walk Out Of My Life - Inferno Red stock copy for sale. Mint minus condition. £650 Please send PM if interested. Thanks, Peter

Fantaisions - Unnecessary Tears - Satellite Soulful, great melody and harmonies, and stomps!

In answer to Pete's original question - 'why is it up for sale at £500?' - the sales thread that it was on had quite a few in demand records which people seemed to be gushing about, but the sample I checked (Martha Star, Ellusions, Ringleaders, Don Varner, Andrea Henry, Betty Lloyd etc.) all had prices directly taken from Manships Price Guide volume 3. The interesting thing was that not one person on that thread suggested any of the prices were too expensive! Presumably everyone's following the suggestion that sales prices should not be questioned on their originating thread, which is why Pete started a separate topic here to comment on the Ringleaders price. Either that or everyone now accepts that the Manship vol. 3 prices are just about right?!?

I can add a bit more on the description of the 1975 original, as I have one in front of me (bought from Mr. Manship approx 1977/8 ... I think it cost a fiver!): It is made of quite thin and flexible vinyl, with an off-white moulded over label. The run out is 1.5cm width from the playing grooves to the label, and it has the hand-drawn letters 'BA' in a circle scratched in, as well as the EC 5709 A (or EC 5709 B on the b-side). On mine, you can also see a faint additional print of the artist credits. I don't know whether these details are the same on the re-issue though, as I don't have one to compare. Any takers??

In John Manship's price guide he lists Ty Karim's You Just Don't Know on Romark 113 as more expensive than Romark 103 (although both are pretty wallet busting!). Anyone know why this should be? Presumably Romark 113 is rarer, but wouldn't, or shouldn't, the first issue be more in demand? Also, why doesn't this apply to the People's Choice on Palmer 5031? Can't remember seeing this one for sale. On the Frankie Beverly point though, surely it would satisfy both rarity and 1st issue devotees to get the Sassy demo!

I am looking for original copies of: Carlettes - I'm Getting Tired - Capitol or Bobby Robinson Mary Love - You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet - Modern Epsilons - Mind In A Bind - Hem Good prices offered for any of these in good condition. You can e-mail me at (pjricher@waitrose.com) if you prefer. Thanks, Peter