Gene-r

Aaah - "The Snake" by Al Wilson!! With the misheard lyric : "the pretty coloured skinhead"!! .......but I need to hear it on a Maxell!!! Gene

My first memory of the Stax label was around 1968, when my brother (who was into chart soul at the time) brought home "Shake/634-5789" by Otis Redding. I even remember "Shake" distinctly jumping on the intro (in the same place every time) on our Dansette Tempo!! But for its early childhood memory, it's "Shake" by Otis Redding that has a firm place in my heart. Gene

FROM WWW.BBC.CO.UK (27 FEB 2004) Soul label Stax co-founder dies Estelle Axton, who helped create the legendary US soul music label Stax, has died in hospital in Memphis aged 85. Axton and brother Jim Stewart began the label in a former cinema, combining the first part of their surnames to create the Stax name. Memphis-based Stax was home to artists such as Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, Isaac Hayes and Booker T & the MGs. Axton helped to create a soul music legend Estelle Axton, who helped create the legendary US soul music label Stax, has died in hospital in Memphis aged 85. Axton and brother Jim Stewart began the label in a former cinema, combining the first part of their surnames to create the Stax name. Memphis-based Stax was home to artists such as Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, Isaac Hayes and Booker T & the MGs. Axton helped give Stax its reputation for racial harmony, as black and white artists came together there to record. The Stax studio, which became known as "Soulsville USA", was second only to Motown in its production of soul hits during its 1960s heyday. The old Stax studio brought black and white artists together It was also remarkable for being an integrated business in a largely segregated city. Axton and her brother were white, while most of their hitmakers were black. "We never looked at colour - we looked at people," she once said. Axton grew up in Middleton, Tennessee, and trained as a teacher before going into business with her brother in 1959. They originally began as Satellite Records, about 30 miles outside Memphis, but struggled to attract artists to their studio and looked for a city location. The first singers to record at the studio were father and daughter Rufus and Carla Thomas. In 1969, after disagreement about the label's direction, Axton quietly left the company. It went bankrupt in 1975, and the old Stax headquarters was demolished in 1989. Last year, a new building opened on the site as the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the Stax Music Academy. Axton, who died of natural causes on Tuesday, is survived by a daughter, Doris.

Mind you Mick, better to read it here than have some spammer pester us all individually with junk Email promoting their website!! Gene

In response to Mark's comment about US record grading, firstly - Mark - hope you're well mate!! Haven't seen you for a while, so I look forward to seeing you around sometime..... Secondly, and getting back on the subject, my experience of US record dealers over the past 15 years leads me to believe that, generally, the Americans have a far stricter grading system for records. The term EX (or Excellent) doesn't exist in the standard American grading terms, so the next drop from MINT- is VG+ (or VG+++, etc). Most of the time, I've found VG+ to be anywhere between MINT- and EX, and VG is actually above average. However, their G (Good) does means shagged!!! I've only had a couple of bad experiences with US sellers on Ebay, but they both admitted to being newbie sellers. One described a record in VG+. When I received it, the record looked like the whole family had eaten breakfast, lunch and tea off of it (and the head of the household probably even wiped his bum on it!)!! I Emailed him to say I was sending it back and to please send me a refund. He sent me a refund by PayPal, but told me to hold on to the record!!! He also gave me positive feedback as an "amicable, understanding buyer"!! The other seller (also a newbie) sent me a record in flimsy cardboard packaging and guess what? NO SLEEVE!! Needless to say, it arrived broken in two. On this occasion, I scanned him the two halves, and he refunded my money by PayPal immediately!! I also put him in touch with Bags Unlimited, the best place I know in the USA to get 7" sleeves. So just a couple of bad experiences with US grading/packaging, but both had an amicable resolve. Gene

Good question Kevin - does the silver "A" affect the demo value over Oriole stock copies? At a guess, I would say only on the Motown (Oriole-American) releases, simply because of what they are. In general, I don't think there would be a difference in price since an Oriole demo is no more colourful than a normal stock copy. Valuewise, with regard to Bertha Tillman, I would guess that RC's quote of £50 would be correct. Given a few more plays, I guess that could probably push it into the three-figures!! Gene

Kevin, Yep - sure is a demo. In fact, the silver "A" on the centre is the only distinguishing mark between an Oriole demo and a stock copy. Interesting - all these Oriole rarities that crop up with no centre; makes you wonder whether they were issues or demos to begin with!! Gene

And speaking of Oriole, check out "Give Me More Time" by Errol Dixon and the Blue Beats from 1964. Was played in the late '80s I believe. Certainly NOT the ska track some people think it is, in view of the artist!! Gene

Hmmm, On your recommendation I've just ordered a copy on Brent from the States for $15. I'm sure I'll like it, also from what I've heard a few friends saying about it. I do believe this was a Billboard Top 100 hit in 1962. Mind you, so was "If I Could Only Be Sure" by Nolan Porter some 10 years later, but, hey, soul doesn't necessarily have to be rare to be good, does it?? Gene

You'll be pleased to know that the Voice Masters 45 was NEVER booted!! However, the single was released at least twice on Bamboo with two different B-sides; "You've Hurt Me Baby" (which in itself is a sweet mid-tempo track), and "Dance Right Into My Heart". Both were released in 1969. I do believe there is a third issue with yet another different B-side. Anyone help? Gene

Here's a small fave listing of double-headers from my box: RONNIE & JOYCE: On The Stage Of Love/Yes I'm Falling In Love (Alpha) VOLUMES: I Just Can't Help Myself/One Way Lover (American Arts) DOROTHY BEERY (sic): Don't Give Me Love/Soul Power (Big 3) CONTEMPLATIONS: Alone With No Love/DONTEE STUDIO BAND: Alone With No Love (Instrumental) (Dontee) PRECISIONS: Why Girl/What I Want (Drew) EXITS: Under The Street Lamp/You Got To Have Money (Gemini) VOLUMES: My Kind Of Girl/My Road Is The Right Road (Inferno) GINO WASHINGTON: Like My Baby/I'll Be Around (When You Want Me) (Mala) CAROL & GERRI: How Can I Ever Find The Way/On You Heartache Looks Good (MGM) VINCE APOLLO: I Bear Witness/I Can't Turn My Back (Pentagon) ROSE BATISTE: Hit & Run/I Miss My Baby (Revilot) SWEET: Got To Have More Love/You Can't Win At Love (Smash) SHALIMARS: Stop & Take A Look At Yourself/Baby (Verve) FOUR VOICES: We Live In The Ghetto/Summer Kind Of Love (Voice) Check 'em out!! Gene

Hi H, The track you mention is "So In Luv" by Othello Robertson. It was released on 2 labels in 1967; Era and Baby Luv. The going rate on either copy is about £150 - £200. It was never pressed, so I guess you may be able to find it on one of those CD comps if you look around. If you're into vinyl LPs, it was featured on Destiny's 1980 compilation "The Record Collector Vol.1". I know this was re-issued as a CD with some extra tracks, so good luck! Hope this helps. Gene

Just how much can you cram in a 12-minute film? Not much, and I'm sorry to say that it wasn't long enough. Had it been expanded to, say, an hour, then the film could have turned into something a bit more interesting. Yes, I have to say I thought Paul Kaye played an excellent part as a nobhead of a DJ - definitely Dennis Pennis!! Peter Kay would also have done an equally good job. Now, I wasn't old enough to attend Soul nites in 1975 (I was just starting secondary school), so can't vouch for the film having authentic settings, but were the bouncers really that pushy?? I think not........... To sum up, it's a mediocre film which wasn't given time to evolve into a decent storyline. Excellent oldies played, except for "The Jocker" by Butch Baker........what do you mean I've made a mistake? Look mate, my ORIGINAL PRESSING on Cherub credits it as THE JOCKER, so it must be right!!! Sounds exactly like the Mylestones though.......... Gene.

Incidentally, the winning bid for "Investigate" by Major Lance on Columbia was £41, and was supposedely in nice nick!

Sorry Mick (and everyone else), but I think you'll find that these auctions ended a couple of days ago!! I was eyeing up the Bunny Sigler on my watch list (from the same seller), so I imagine they all ended at the same time! Gene

PLEASE NOTE: Soul In The City has now moved from Bar Nylon to Vivo's in Watling Street (just a stonesthrow away). Nearest tubes are either Mansion House or St. Pauls. The next night will be on Weds 3rd March and, indeed, every first Wednesday of the month. A thoroughly enjoyable night; I guarantee you will not be disappointed!! And no, there is NO dress code, so leave the bowtie and dinner jacket at home! Gene

That's nothing - last year, someone was trying to auction off what he thought was the best Northern Soul record yet - "Just One More Night" by Yellow Dog!! Double "yeah right"!!!! Gene

Yep, the London issue is indeed legit. The following releases were issued by London between 1975 and 1978, mainly aimed at the Northern Soul market: HLU 10469: LARRY SAUNDERS: On The Real Side/Let Me Be The Special One HLE 10491: BARBARA MILLS: Queen Of Fools/Make It Last HLU 10515: CHUBBY CHECKER: (At The) Discotheque/Slow Twistin' HLU 10518: BUNNY SIGLER: Let The Good Times Roll/Girl Don't Make Me Wait HLU 10545: WILLIE MITCHELL: The Champion Pts 1 & 2 HLU 10553: YVONNE BAKER: You Didn't Say A Word/BOBBY PARIS: Night Owl HLU 10557: CHUBBY CHECKER: You Just Don't Know/Two Hearts Make One Love I can remember going into the local soul import record shop in the late '70s, where these were all in stock at 90p each!! Worth noting that "You Just Don't Know" also came out in France and Italy (I think), also on London, with picture sleeves. BTW, all the releases above also have red label demo counterparts which look really neat! Best, Gene

Hi, 1. Most, if not all, demos on Soul have the label design you describe. The delta matrix number beginning with 6 further proves its authenticity, indicating that it was pressed around 1965 - 1966 (making the MR stamp immaterial). Valuewise, I'd guess at about £100 - £125. 2. The Tommy Frontera on Quality sounds to me like a Canadian release. No idea on value for this one, but would guess at probably the same for a US copy on Hi-Lite (about £80 - £100?). Hope this helps. Best, Gene

Is he sending the record in an armed car with a police escort or something?? Seriously though, if this is the P&P cost on its own, he's taking the piss. You should report him to Ebay for what they call "Fee Avoidance" and inform him of your course of action. Also ask him to justify the postal costs, and to give you a cost breakdown.....I bet he can't! Anyone buying on Ebay should beware of postal rip-offs, as there are a few around. The best thing to do if bidding on an item, and there is no P&P stated, is to Email the seller FIRST to ask them of their costs. Then you can either accept, challenge, or refuse. However, if you have bid wihtout doing so then, legally, you have entered into a contract. But $67 P&P, whatever the circumstances, is no excuse. I'd be keen to know how you get on, and the best of luck! Don't let him get away with it...... PS - worth checking his feedback to see if he has tried it on elsewhere. Best, Gene

Blimey!! What would you offer for a copy of Don Gardner on Sedgrick then!!!!

Sorry.............after reading the reply from Martin, it seems I've got in too late!!! Glad you found one tho'!! Gene

Martin, Check Rob Messer's Hip City list in the list of yesterday's posts - he has one for £300. Good luck....!!! Cookie Scott had another single on Orr; "You Love, It Won Me Over", which is a neat stomper produced by Greg Perry. Can be picked up for less than £15. Best, Gene

Bozaboy, I'm 99% certain that the Billy Arnell on Ebay was a bootleg, as it had the vocal on both sides (as did my copy of the boot in the early '80s). However, John Manship has a VG+ original in his auction at the mo, and the highest bid is about £515!! Gene

Probably about the right price now. Bloody hell - wish I hadn't sold mine for £8 in 1996!! Gene