'...Indeed I do. I believe that they finally stopped pressing tri-centres in SA at the end of the 1960s. I've got loads of 'em, on labels like Fontana, Parlophone, Philips, Atlantic, Polydor etc. etc. I also have red Decca tri's that look exactly like this London.
It's important to know that all SA London releases were being pressed on a solid-centre Decca label, which looks like the UK Decca blue-and-white demo label, by the early 70s - and, although it's not especially relevant here, so were Brunswick releases. I have a whole raft of those Deccas, from Donnie Elbert, Ann Peebles and Al Green to the Chi-Lites and Hamilton Bohannon, spread right across the first half of the 70s.
If "The Champion" had come out in SA when it came out here on 45, it would almost certainly have been on one of those solid centre Decca labels, rather than a tri-centre London.
As far as I'm concerned, the red tri-centre London is 100% original. And I'd like one very much...
TONE '
Think I messaged you about it Pete a while ago and you kindly helped me to try to find out the score with it.......I did have it on here for sale but got no takers at all, I suppose due to the fact people thought/think it's a 70's press. Certainly doesn't feel like one when you handle the vinyl. Audio quality on the SA 'Champion' is great as well.
Interesting 45!