George G

I thought that the copies with the labels off center are the originals. Those are the ones that seem to be found locally. The record was pressed at Gateway in Pittsburgh so their standard markings should be in the dead wax. - George

OK, thanks. Some of the Owl label LPs were booted in the 1990s (Raven, One St. Stephen). They were done for the rock and psych market. I have copies of unreleased Wee recordings that I got from inside sources a few years ago, I should compare them to the CD then. The material was recorded over a period of a few years. Honestly, the stuff is not really my sound, so I'm not the best authority to speak to the quality. - George

This record isn't rare at all. I've seen it go on eBay for cheap, under $20, sold from the US. It's listed as garage or 60s rock or pop for the other side more often than soul.

This person is in for a grand if someone wants to sell it. I might just dump mine at that price. I never understood the big deal around these records. I didn't know it was reissued (or booted?). Hmmmm - I definitely will sell then. https://cgi.ebay.com/...id=p3286.c0.m14

Thanks everyone for the acknowledgements There's two 'halfs' to the Saru label - Lou Ragland was hired to work on the musical side at first. After the operation was moved to the Miles Road office, Lou was no longer involved and Bobby Massey from the O'Jays came on board. As you all know Massey retired from the performance side of the O'Jays around this time (1971). The other member of the O'Jays also helped, in fact former members of their original Cleveland based band played on the Saru sessions (as did some of the Way Out studio musicians). Many of the singers in these groups were also skilled instrumentalists, but in performing they stuck to the soul style of independent singers as compared to the 'combo' style of rock-n-roll. I don't know all the details about the Astroscope label. The first record by the Ponderosa Twins + 1 was originally on Horoscope and then Astroscope, distributed by All Platinum. After this release, the Astroscope label was operated and distributed out of the AP operation in New Jersey. The two O'Jays 45s (three sides IIRC) were songs cut back in Cleveland and probably just released as part of some contractal matter. It could have been seen as an attempt by All Platinum to cash in on their success but I think the Astroscope 45s came out just before the O'Jays broke big. None of the other Astroscope artists were from Cleveland. I'm assuming that Saru got some money from the Ponderosa Twins 45s..... Many of the Saru 45s were recorded at Agency Recording in Cleveland, as Saru did not have any recording facilities. In the late 1960s Agency emerged as a cheaper alternative to Cleveland Recording which was riding high with the huge success of their clients Grand Funk Railroad and the James Gang. Agency was just a few blocks away from Saru's Payne Ave address. Motion Picture Sound was another recording studio in Cleveland in the early 70s. - George

I posted for this here about six months ago and got no replies. If you get offered two, let me know! I do have a live pic of the band from a newspaper

Hi Ady, Thanks for the scans and info That looks like it was pressed by the same place that did the All Platinum family labels. I don't remember where but it was probably in NJ or NY. Chuck Brown was the primary label owner. Frank Key I believe was an original investor but didn't have much involvement. The address on the label is Brown's bail bond business, it's across the street from the Cleveland jail. It was just a business office. Later the operation moved to Cleveland's Lee/Miles neighborhood, which was just for Saru business. I'll have to go thorugh my info about the Out Of Sights. I'm afraid that I'll confuse their story with the Elements. David Peoples who recorded for Saru was primarily a jazz singer, appearing for years with long time Cleveland bandleader Jimmy Landers. Michael Bell on Saru was a Cleveland teenager. I don't remember about Sir Stanley. In 1972 Brown deactived Saru and started Horoscope. After he hit with the Ponderosa Twins + 1, All Platinum took over the label and renamed it Astroscope, I'm sure because of some copyright issue. Contrary to what you can read on the internet, Astroscope was not a Cleveland label after it was renamed. The PT+1 45s just carried the Saru name as legacy. Brown then started a third label, Pisces. I only know of two records on this label, both by the Ba-Roz, a girl group lead by Cynthia Woodward. A quick abridged account of the Saru history (pronounced Say-Rew) - George

Hi Ady, Would you mind posting the dead wax info and/or a good label scan? The only scan I could find was on JM Rarest Of The Rare. You are correct in that all the Saru 45s were pressed at ARP except for Sir Stanley, which was done at Boddie in Cleveland. I know about as much as anyone about the Cleveland music business as it's my home town. - George

Thanks everyone for their help. I don't think I can swing $1800-$2000 right now. Hopefully someone in Cleveland will find me a copy. I'm guessing that most of them were sent overseas. This record seems to be much rarer than the other Saru 45s. Probably because it was the first record on the label. - George

What is the going rate for the Out Of Sights - For The Rest Of My Life on Saru? I can't find any info about a sale. Is it just really rare or more like no one cares about it? I'm looking for a copy but I need some education first TIA George

#6803 is by the Solitary Confinement, it's a garage 45. Brian Dombrowski also recorded records using the same numbering system, but they were issued using private labels and not Sound Impressions. For example, there's a record he did by the Lykes Of Us, on the Molt label, but the numbering is 6801 - could be 6801/2. I found that Gents record years ago, I don't even remember what I did with it.

Not sure what this goes for....but I want a VG+ or better with clean labels. Thanks George

I have two copies of the BBLTD 45. Both are in rough shape. One is too beat to play out, not sure about the other, I have to find them. I also have a pretty clean copy of the Royal Jacks that I might consider trading for something I want more. email mookie300@verizon.net - George

A Young Mods sold on eBay two weeks ago for $670-ish in VG. Too high for you? That price seemed a little high to me considering the sound clip had audible but not horrible noise.

As a 'Yank' active in collecting records since the late 1970s, I've been asked for 'northern' soul records since the early 1980s. The first one that sticks in my mind was the Bell Boys "I don't want to lose you", probably as I lived in Akron and the record was recorded there (the band was from PA, relocated to Youngstown, Ohio). Sometime around 1990 I was given two different priced want lists, all handwritten. There was also an 'addendum' sheet that included recent finds. I also acquired a typed bound price list, two different editions. I used all of them for reference and for pricing. I remember when I junked Tina Roberts "one way...." and looked it up - that night was dinner at my favorite expensive restaurant (sold it for $600 in VG shape). There was also several major 'wanted to buy' ads in Goldmine and Discoveries magazine starting in the mid 1980s. I won't name names.....you all know who was making the lists. Soul records are still findable at non-book prices here. Not everyone is bothered about looking up records in price guides, especially if they are dealing with loads of promos or records too beat (but playable) to list. I hear of good records, and even the occasional new/unknown record, finds all the time. Some of which are never offered on the open market and go right into US collections - George

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Stateside, everyone knows the New Colony 6.......None of their records are rare except the 1st LP which is fantastic teenbeat/moody garage. Great band! They had many hits, but their later Mercury 45s were the biggest, even though they are in the orchestrated pop style.

Thanks Bob, I was posting that someone would have a quick answer....if not, I'll ask him (he lives in Florida BTW) and the Cleveland soul royalty. I'm guessing that they were from out of town, none of the other names match Maduri's MO of the time. I'm not crazy about the record anyways, more of a loose end than a priority. - George

Hello all, I'm looking for info on the Alcon Shades on Blue Rock - mainly where they were from and info on the recording session. I dunno if there is anything on the Blue Rock CD set, I don't have that collection. Anyways, the songs were published by a Cleveland publisher (Carlman), in fact "Midnight Light" was also recorded by Akron soul singer Charles Davenport, but on that record the writer credits are different. TIA George

I know many people who recorded for K&K in the 1960s and 1970s, including one or two who played on the Singing Orchestral Circus records. They were pop/rock producers, basically guys looking for a hit making formula and then riding it as hard and fast as they can, and relying on a grind 'em out assembly line approach to making the recordings. A lot of their successes fall under the style of Bubblegum but they also did some harder rock records. I don't know anything about the Feathers 45. Their big hits were scored by the Music Explosion, the 1910 Fruitgum Company, and the Ohio Express. Later, they scored with Ram Jam's "Black Betty", which of itself is an interesting story. - George

She is from Cleveland, and Marvelous Ray is her real name! She cut several 45s for the Cleveland Abner label (not related to any other Abner labels), backed by Billy Wells' band (the guitar playing Billy Wells who had the 45s on Shaker, Sweet Soul, etc). This record turns up from time to time. A slightly different (don't remember how) version was issued on CD. - George

There's three 45s by Double O's Demingos (might be one more) - do you know which one you want? The green label one - "Storm Warning" is around at the moment, that's the one that's getting played on the scene I think. The white label one - "Crawl" was a big funk item at one time. Don't pay $999 for any of them! The multicolored one "Color One Tear Black" is more like $125-$150 - George

Here's the accurate discography, label co-owner Paul Trefzger was directly involved with this. The 1001 - 1013 records are the only 60s issues. There were some reissues, and some pressings of previously unissued recordings. The only thing missing is the info on the Teardrops records that were issused on Musicor. https://saxonyrecordcompany.com/discography.html - George

There was over a hundred (and more) unplayed copies bought from the groups manager, so someone ought to have it. Also, there are used copies that appear from time to time, should be able to get a good player for 150 quid. The group is band on the Four Corners/Korners "Mad About The Girl" on Jewel, a rarer 45. - George

I found Lester Tipton in Portland, OR. Found three Maurci label 45s (including a gold "If You Love Me") in Eugene, OR. Gambrells "You Gotta Move" in Seattle. Tina Roberts "One Way Or Another" in Portland. Gwen Owens on Encore somewhere around here. Texas funk records by Tickled Pink and Six Degrees South in Seattle. I found a very rare and sought after garage 45 by the Cavemen from Key West, FL in Oregon - I don't think a 45 can travel farther in the continental US! - George