Anoraks Corner

Here's a US demo for reference...and yes the sound drops out in one place as with the UK copies. Shame.

I've only ever found it twice in many, many years of keeping an eye out for it. Easily his toughest release on the label. I personally rate it a lot higher than £50 for both quality (both sides) and rarity.

May I add that the Japanese 7" is also on A&M (with art sleeve), and as Ivor rightfully points out, 'Good girls' is a killer track...big production Northern Power Pop!

Tangent...did she record anything remotely Northern amongst her many MGM sides?

Does anyone know who the Ghetto Boys were? I've always had my suspicions that it could include Don &/or Juan, based on the flipside writing credit.

1000% Northern Soul...every home should have one

Not from me...was indeed from Pete. I do recall Stuart and I discussed taking it to a chap who used to cut my acetates, to see if he could clean up the sound quality...don't think we ever did it? (Maybe that is the source of the link to me?) I think it was prone to jump in one place, but wasn't in too bad a shape. Great track.

I recall going out on the road with Dave (hi mate) when I first joined Charly Records, and he took me to Max's (legendary in the music trade!) shop on my very first day...almost 25 years ago! Max was welcoming and friendly and offered words of encouragement...something I really appreciated and needed to hear! A few years earlier I had also had the pleasure of meeting Froggy (fellow Cats DJ), who spoke highly of Max...would like to think they are now arranging a double-deck session in that big nighter in the sky. I humbly add my condolences to Max's family and friends.

Here's a 'Wrong man' WD whilst we're at it TONY CLARK - (THEY CALL ME M A) WRONG MAN - M-S -

This is my fave on the label...superb double-sider LOUIS CURRY - I'LL TRY AGIN TOMORROW - M-S -

Hi Mal, here's a toughie

Hi Russ & Perry, I have fond memories (and nightmares:D) of my trip to John's place not long before emigrating to Japan. I was going there to pick up a couple of acetates (inc. an interesting Jimmy Radcliffe 10") and ended up spending the entire day playing LOTS of acetates! John just kept coming in the room with more and more boxes of acetates...incredible! Needless to say I eventually left with a big smile on my face, but listening to his record hunting exploits and thumbing through his AWESOME UK label collection was just as fascinating as the discs I purchased. A top bloke and THE man for discs...and supplier of many a fine side to Searling, Fenn and Butch across the decades. (Also want to add a nod of respect to ALL fellow collectors worldwide, seeking out something new to listen to, be it known already or not.)

In 2010...sounds reasonable to me Go on Nige, you know it makes sense...a dancefloor winner that would rocket in price if Butch got behind it

What a fabulous in yer face double-sider What are the going rates for this one nowadays

Thanks for the confirmation...no wonder I was having trouble finding one! Seems such a shame that they never did the job properly...anyone know why...was it a last minute order, a cost cutting exercise etc?

Not sure whether this is the correct forum to place this topic, so Mods please feel free to move it if you fancy?! Wanted...Wigan Casino 3rd Anniversary woven badge. No, it is not to copy or lend to an aspiring fashion designer to produce some dodgy t.shirt or jacket Am willing to trade vinyl for it, in order to avoid cash Please PM me if you think we can strike a deal

Hi Neil, I've been in touch with John Smith...he is active on RareSoulForum.com (amongst other sites) where I also hang out. I pointed him towards this thread as I thought it may well be him you were referring to. He seems to be a reasonable chap, so I offered to post a reply as he isn't a member on here...here it is: "Yes it is me. All I said was that some Brit-Soulies were 'under whelmed' with the content of the book - that was after someone else (an American) on SoulfulDetroit.com (SDF) had said it was the most wonderful of books -i.e. I didn't start the conversation, but just added a differing opinion on the book. Hardly a massive dissing of it?! With regards to the character assassination of my writing saying that I just 'stole' his sleeve notes from his Precisions CD - I got my info on the group direct from Billy Prince when I visited him in San Diego in October 2005. I also had input from Dennis Gilmore & Spyder Turner (who knows Billy & the group from way back), plus some from Lou Ragland (who played tambourine on "If This Is Love"). I had no knowledge of the UK CD of Precisions tracks until just before the group first arrived in Prestatyn (March 2006), but knew of the US (group prepared) version of Precisions cuts, as I had been in touch with Billy constantly between October 2005 & March 2006. This was all talked about on SDF around February 2006 (there was a thread on the topic) and that was when I first became aware of the UK CD. I had written my bio on the group well before that & it had gone up on the Weekender web site. All I did was inform the people on SDF that there was a US CD - that was the sum total of my involvement with the project. As to me organising/preparing the US CD or writing the sleeve notes for it - well that's news to me! When I wrote my bio on the Precisions, I (of course) sent it to the guys (Billy Prince, etc) to get their approval of its contents (I can't stand any piece I do 'going live' with errors in it, so always do this). It may well be that Billy liked what I had written & used bits of it for the US CD sleeve notes? To round off, as I like to share information with fellow Soul fans, I don't think the group got too much money from Sidra/Drew back in the day, which is one of the reasons they signed with manager Phil Walden and moved onto Atco, where they first teamed up with Jerry 'Swamp Dogg' Williams (who actually helped them with their US CD release). As a footnote, I don't mix much in mainstream NS circles, being much more of a general Soul fan (never did take to Wigan - the music at the Wheel was much more my thing) and a Modern Soul fan for the last 25+ years. However, I do love meeting / chatting with / getting the low-down on / watching performances by ALL Soul artists though! Can't say I'm too bothered by whom the top scene DJs were/are or who broke what & where, but facts on all the artists I do lap up!" That's it. Neil please note I also have a lot of respect for you and what you have done for the scene, so am happy to put you two in touch directly, if it will help...PM me. Flynny

Never fear, I am in full runaway train mode with it...this week I have also been looking into various Japanese national census stats and noting how many people owned radios and TVs in the mid-60's...great for the bit about record company promotion budget spending!! I'm sure one day in the distant future looong after I get it into print, someone will cut it up and mix it with French, Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, Australian etc, and produce an enormous 'outside the US and UK Soul release guide'...now there's an idea!?!

This is an awesome full-orchestra beat-ballad of the highest calibre...thoroughly recommended. Quite rare...and that's a steal of a price imo.

Oh! How those words echo around my head at present, after having just spent (yet) another pleasurable day going through original 1960s Japanese record company catalogues! My quest to produce a definitive book on what Soul was actually released over here during the 60's continues...5 years and counting and enjoying every single minute of it! If a job is worth doing, do it properly says I...even if the sales potential is very, very limited!

Have had that happen to me as well...after the initial shock and mild anger came pity.

Nice efforts, but not sure they actually capture the people that well at all. At a guess, it is probably the Jennifer Wells as on Genuine Records! If you like that style of painting, you may want to watch a set of YouTube clips of a rock'n'roll fan painting a picture of Danny Williams. Once again the finished product isn't like a photograph, but interesting for sure.