Superb Malc,
One of my absolute favourites!
True story this...
About 30 years ago I was desperate for a copy on UK Tamla Motown (TMG 503) and had spied a minter, up for bids, at an Auction at the Piccadily Hotel in Manchester.
I was sure I'd be the only serious bidder in the place for this particular 45, but when the lot came up, soon found I had a very serious rival.
The bidding started at less than a fiver... but me and the other guy, across the room, soon drove the price up to over 20 quid... in 50p increments!
In the end, when it became clear that it was out of my reach I finally conceded and threw the Towel in.
It made about 22 pounds (From memory) a lot of money back then for something worth less than half that at the time.
After the Auction, I sought out the rival, succesful, Bidder.
"TMG 503 then... well done" I said to him and held out my hand to congratulate him on his win.
He stared back with a blank expression "Huh... what's that?"
"The Miracles 45... you must ba a British Motown collector... that's a pretty hard number..."
No he says......... "I'm an 'Ooh Baby Baby' collector" "I've got over 40 different versions.... (............and here's the punchline)...
... but until today I never knew the Miracles had done it!" "and I Always wonderd who the William Robinson who wrote it was!"
You coulda knocked me down with a durex!