Joesoap

Did US record shops generally have 45s out on display to browse through, then? In most UK shops selling records, they'd have the LP sleeves out in the shop to browse through but if you wanted a single you had to go up to the counter to ask for it. They'd have them all filed behind the counter and go and look for it. I think this is an overlooked reason, in UK at least, why so many releases slipped through the net. Unless you'd heard it on the radio or read about it, you didn't know what was available.

Yes it was.

I don't remember it even being that much at that time. Shared a flat back then with two mates. One or the other of us picked up a copy of Celeste Hardy and then within a few weeks the three of us had one each just out of boxes at niters. Would have thought about 15-20 quid back then..

I do love it and it's a great northern soul record but its a bit thin / sparse/ muffled-sounding production-wise, without much of a hook and the vocal's a bit mumbly in parts. Can't imagine it would have stood out enough to get played on the radio (or would have sounded much cop over a transistor radio).

Don't store them in a leaky shed as I did for a few weeks while the new gaff was being refurbed.....

Really shocked and sad to hear this as Lee was a very old and at one time close friend. Anyone got any more details? Not going to do the 'RIP' thing on social media as I think he'd have hated all that kind of bobbins.

The Gil Scott Heron / Black and Blues song, 'Chains' on this comp. is a killer.If this surfaced on an obscure old piece of plastic, it would be massive, wouldn't it? I think this LP is the first time its been released on vinyl tho:

Is that an Iranian label then? I've seen other releases on it over the years and always thought it was East Asian for some reason (in fact, I saw a small collection of them up for sale in a record shop a couple of months back). They are normally 4 track compilations of material from different original labels. I don't think they were legally licensed. Are the other tracks all from the film?

Am I allowed to ask about this here? Apols if not... Got one or two CD only tracks where I've bought the legitimate release on CD but I'd like to get a one off 7" done just for my own amusement. I see quite a few places advertise this service on line. Any recommends or ones to avoid? Again apols if this isn't allowed.

the hardest uk demos were the polydor and Philips group, Polydor: I've had one or two demos where its just a little paper label thinly glued onto the issue that falls off very easily. Philips: seen demos that are again, same as issues and also with a little sticker that falls off and others with the word 'SAMPLE' crudely stencilled on (literally looks like they have held a stencil over it and got a monkey to wipe a paint brush over the stencil). Not sure either necessarily always bothered with different labels for demos.

This:

Excellent record. Got the LP somewhere. From sleevenotes on back he was an actor in a US daytime soap, or something and the record was a spin off from that.

Got no problem with Soft Cell really. They simply covered a song but did it in a completely different way. You can't really accuse them of ripping off black music or trying to copy Gloria Jones. Then there is Joy Division who in their early days briefly had some managerial involvement from Richard Searling. Richard tried to get them to record a cover of NF Porter 'Keep On Keeping On' but they weren't up to it musicianship-wise. Nevertheless, one of the tracks on their first LP (which is considered one of the greatest LPs ever made by many rock fans) is clearly based on it. Did they 'rip off black music'? Did they fuck. Records always used to copy and modify slightly and directly nick bits from other records. Where would Northern Soul itself be without this? Loads of the classics are derivative of other, better-known records (eg compare intro of Mello Souls to 'You Keep Me Hanging On'...) Finally, to get back on topic (at last) in Andrew Loog Oldham's autobiography (which is a brilliant read) he claims that on the Rolling Stones early records, where they were doing covers, he simply got them to play along to the original record in the studio. He even claims of their released recording of 'Time Is On My Side' that it was done on two or four track and that one of the channels, turned down to zero for the released record, is the Irma Thomas version!

It was quite a big hit in the US. Couldn't this be a case of a local label (Revilot) with not much capital and apparently without a national distribution deal getting them pressed up in batches, left, right and centre to keep up with demand? The UK release on Stateside wasn't a hit but there was a steady demand for it which led to it being kept on catalogue and available to order from high street retailers for ages, which explains why that is so common. Can't see why anyone would have risked their stake money bootlegging such an easily and cheaply obtainable record.

Funnily enough, I stumbled across this quote from Jagger today about his band's early days and their switch from doing r'n'b covers.. “You could say that we did blues to turn people on, but why they would be turned on by us is unbelievably stupid. I mean what's the point in listening to us doing ‘I’m a King Bee’ when you can hear Slim Harpo do it?” https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/why-slim-harpo-remains-king-bee-of-the-blues-10184525.html They weren't exactly Pat Boone. They started out as enthusiasts playing the music they loved then they started writing their own stuff which at its best had the feeling but took it in their own direction. So I think the idea that they simply 'ripped off' black music is simplistic and inaccurate. Bobby Womack said he hated their cover until the royalties (which helped sustain him for life) started rolling in. They also paid their dues in terms of support acts etc. So you could say that they did a bit more to tangibly support and help the artists they admired than a retailer cum journalist who championed obscure, hard to find, deleted records...

I know quite a few people who knew Roger Eagle. I can't remember if I was told or have read that this story about him playing the original records is true but that it was actually intended as a salute / welcoming gesture to the Stones, not as a diss or to make a point about the original artists being better (which I'm sure they would agree with anyway).

I think we can discount this theory on the basis that in order to join / attend the school blues club (if this even existed) then Mick must have already been interested in black music. He can't therefore have been 'introduced' to black music by Dave after joining.... Thanks for all the replies by the way. Very interesting and amusing thread.

According to Dave Godin: "..It was at Dartford Grammar School that I met Mick Jagger and introduced him to black music, I'm ashamed to say. It's ironic that as a result of meeting me he's where he is today." (see Wikipedia) Godin date of birth: 21/ 6/ 36 Jagger date of birth: 26 /7/43 Secondary shool age in those days 11 -15 years old. So Godin would have been at grammar school: 1947 -51 .. Jagger at grammar school:1954 - 58... Can any anyone explain how Godin would have met Jagger at grammar school? As far as I know Jagger has never spoken about knowing Godin...

This sounds like an urban myth and even if true, not evidence that he was into NS. Just a sicko who hung around anywhere he thought he might find vulnerable women.

I don't know. There is a collector I know from the Liverpool / Chester / North Wales area who has been deep into both Jamaican music and Soul and aware of the crossover between the two since the late 60s / early 70s and has had this record since then. Can't name names cause the guy is totally under the radar and as far as I know wants to stay that way but the records he's got.. man alive ! He definitely has connections with people named above, though...

Does anyone know the names of the members of the group, The Exits of 'Under the Street Lamp' and 'Another Sundown in Watts' fame? (I just got one of their records and there's a signature confidently and flamboyantly written on the label but not at all dechiperable. So I want to see if it could be possibly be one of them. Looks like 'Guitar' or Julian' or 'Lucifer' or 'Lucian'...Lol! Different every time I look at it!)

Wouldn't be too sure about this. When I first started collecting rare soul in the early 80s, I used to part fund it by finding like, Bill Haley records and rock n roll records on London American in junk shops and selling them on. Believe it or not those were the most generally collectable and sellable records going in those days. You'd find northern records cheap in second hand record shops all the time but never easily-available 1950s records which ageing rockers would pay top dollar for. You can't give those records away now, of course! Nowadays, I see loads and loads of records on sale for £100 or more that used to be a tenner in every single box at every single allnighter. Or you look on Discogs and there's like 10-15 copies available at stupid prices...I can't see how this is sustainable.. If we're talking about 'rare' , I'd say UK psych / freakbeat records are the rarest, I am 53 now and have been going through old records constantly since I was 17, buying everything that looked odd or different. I've picked up loads of Northern that way but never had a single one that is now sought after by collectors of that sound..

Bought a record off Discogs a couple of months ago. When it arrived I convinced myself it was 'wrong' based on the label copy being slightly different to others posted on line and the fact that the condition was stone mint. So I fired off a somewhat ill-considered late night email to the seller questioning it. First thing next morning I received a reply offering me a no quibble refund but unlikely to be a boot as came from a US warehouse buyout by the seller 30 years ago. Signed Steve Davis. I've only just stopped cringing about that! Sorry Steve if you're reading!

Anyone know when the Argentinian (?) release of the Vel-Vets came out? 1960s? Or could it have been somehow prompted by the 70s uk release on Pye Disco Demand?

Just picked up this: Spanish only release, I think. Good version. I think Tony Bruno is slightly over the top.