John Manship Records

Bobby Finch

Get A Hold Of Yourself

Slowly but surely gathering followers right across Europe.

Lively choppy-changey production with the lead vocal of Bobby Finch swerving in and out of the tricky arrangement with skilled ease - a beautifully delivered girl chorus rippling with soul, pulls the whole thing together.

A massive want in France is now spreading across the rare-soul scene - an infectious dance tune with so many top-quality moments; especially the vocal note Bobby hits towards the end of the song - he’s showing off - but with a voice like this, he has a perfect right to…

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Ronnie Gordon

Shake Some Time C/w Comin' Home

England 1963 and this 45 completely captures the embryonic MOD scene utilizing like so many bands did that year George Fame, Graham Bond etc the compelling Hammond Organ.

Shortly after the changing All-Night Club music policy shifted from Jazz to R&B records like this emerged. They sold next to nothing but did feed a blossoming scene and a hunger for black music.

This seriously rare and stunningly attractive 45 will whisk you back to London in 1963 - both sides offer strong hipshakin’ dancers.

Condition is totally flawless and the grooves offer historical magic!

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Leonard Adeair

I Dig You C/w Pussycat Baby

The very Top of The Cross-over Soul Tree sits this 45.

So delicious, words for this moment, escape me…I’m having to compose myself to correctly review Leonard’s easy strolling vocal style, supported by an uncredited vocal group as Cross-Over Northern Soul..at it’s outer-most-brilliance.

Fans of the NS Crossover-Sound will be in ecstasy, as this endangered species from Chicago plays out 2.30 minutes of pure perfection. It’s places like Great Yarmouth “Soul Essence” “The Orwell” and all those collector early doors sets, when the sheer-quality of the music is the deciding factor in turntable choice.

Ridiculously RARE and so darn-good, it hurts not to own a copy…and I know, because I don’t.

Eddie Holland

Jamie

IMHO and many others consider Eddie Holland as Motown’s most accomplished male vocalist in the late 50s / early 60s. If it wasn’t for his reluctance to appear on stage his singing career could have been meteoric! Check out his United Artists Berry Gordy recording - you’ll hear a staggeringly fine vocal!

This William Mickey Stevenson project again showcases Eddie ease of hitting the high notes without so much as a tremor. Co-written by Barrett Strong a partnership that created a pile of early Motown classics.

This example was Eddie’s biggest USA hit - but you are viewing the stupidly rare non-selling English release, that sits high on the list of all Tamla Motown Brit-collectors wish lists.

Besides all the rarity talk, the need to fill that annoying gap in your TMG collection, it’s a stand alone 1962 Motown masterpiece and a song that underlines Eddie Holland as a vocalist with few rivals.

Sheppard Bros.

Wrong Number C/w Maria From Old Mexico

How good is this !!

Riveting bass intro, pauses not, as this Atlanta, Ga. floor-destroyer leaps headlong into a relentless horn propelled Northern Soul dancer featuring the expressive vocal of Little Spudnic, riding wave after wave of horn ‘n piano, only pausing when a breath-taking sax break crashes in.

Just like the Enchanters on Faro this too is full of attitude and defiant musicians just giving it hell!

Need a rest? The flipside seems at first seems to be much-more-controlled with a smooth mature vocal (Calvin Sheppard) serving up a mid-tempo groove, but those musicians just can’t help themselves as they slowly but surely inject deranged instrumental riffs, the saxophonist again displays rogue-skills and the previously sober vocal just goes off on one.

I’m totally taken with this very hard-to-acquire disc, the last time we had this 45 it did caused an almighty scuffle between some of the world’s top collectors - not surprising though is it?

Enchanted Five

Try A Little Love C/w Have You Ever

It matters not which side you drop the stylus on - both sides will delight you with smooth as silk vocal-group passion woven into guitar and trumpet dance arrangement.

This record has slowly but surely gained a growing reputation over recent years - for exclusivity and perhaps under-valued quality.

Check the double-sound-file we’ll be amazed if you don’t immediately crave ownership as you too will recognize the value both sides display.

PS. I may be slightly biased as “Male-Group-Harmony-Northern-Soul” is what, does it for me..

Tony And The Kayos

The Kangaroo C/w Where Are You Going?

For our growing band of collectors who think “outside the box” and just adore some of the weird and wonderful obscurities we sometimes dig out from the bowels of our stock - how about this crazy Alabama obscurity!

A mad Huntsville, Alabama R&B shaker backed with a totally tortured Deep Soul wailer. R&B side will please those who appreciate local club acts going off on 60s dance-craze journey just hoping “the Kangaroo” could be the next “Duck” or “Dog” wild sax break, raucous horns and Tony’s enthusiasm explode.

The real-value with this disc is in the truly astonishing Deep Soul ballad on the flip - (apparently a Muscle Shoals recording) that hits heights that few discs ever have - actually reminds me of James Brown’s - I Cried - there can’t be a finer Deep Soul compliment than that. This is street corner, local bar Deep Soul in it’s purest form.

I sure would’ve like to have had a beer, local lady on my knee, when Tony and his Boys wailed this tune across the smoke-filled room. 

Various Artists

Free Angela

In support for the bail release of Angela Davis; in 1971 the soul artists of Richmond, Virginia released this album which includes Larry Saunders - recording and plea “Free Angela” and ironically it also features Richmond’s two most wanted Northern Soul recordings.

Little Tommy - baby can’t you see Dickie Wonder - nobody knows

and Larry Saunders - Free Angela plus 6 other cuts.

A rarely seen album and this copy still retains the origInal shrink-wrap, labels and vinyl are flawless. Click the sound-file and experience Richmond’s finest Northern Soul contribution.

Point of interest: Is the internet seems to have plenty of references to John Lennon’s & Yoko Ono album track in support of “Angela” but no mention of this outstanding fund-raising album, another case of the media failing to scratch below the surface to uncover highly valued “cult” material?

Four Tops

Four Tops

LIfe does take the most-unexpected turns.

Motown originally signed Adbul Fakir, Levi Stubbs, Renaldo Benson & Lawrence Payton to sing jazz - they even recorded a LP in late 1963 intended for Motown’s Jazz Workshop label. But a quirk in recording schedule with Holland - Dozier - Holland gave birth to “Baby I Need Your Loving” which emerged as an overnight Smash-Hit!

Jazz Workshop album was shelved - Holland - Dozier - Holland went on to chalk up 3 consecutive 4 Tops hits in just over a year.

Before you today is the “Tops” first released album which includes those hits and their flipsides. But much more importantly is this album boasts TWO non-45 masterpieces of Northern Soul. 1. Don’t Turn Away 2. Tea House In Chinatown Click the soundfile to unleashed totally noncommercial Four Tops recordings doing absolutely killer Northern ! If that’s not enough for you to dig deep.

How about this immaculate 1965 UK MONO press TML 11010 - LP ownership does not get much more satisfying than this - does it?

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Soul Music

Soul Music 1966

One of the most-important of all 60s Soul mags.The 2/6d forerunner to Blues & Soul and an extension to the “SOUL” and “SOUL MUSIC MONTHLY” A seriousy rare 1966 fanzine on Soul. Editorial by Tony Cummings, Mick Brown, Jonathan Philibert & Dave McAleer.

contains: contents: Cover pic. Gladys Knight & the Pips, Sam & Bill Live - review. & Sam and Bill bio & discography. Ad Libs - bio. Hunk Of Funk - review. Bill Pinkney of the Drifters - talks. Dustie Musties - oldies review. Garnet Mimms - LIVE! Report. Garnett Mimms - bio. The Piney Woods Sound. “Out Of Sight” lp reviews. Drifters - discographty. Gladys Kinght - bio. review of USA New Release 45s - inc:2 x Frank Dell. The Glories - review. Cardinales - review full page pic of Aaron Neville, James Carr & so much much more.

Now here is a fanzine that does not skimp on content. $0 riveting pages!

Barbara St. Clair

Teacherman

Potent guitar intro, bumps into some classy brass work, all soothed by girl-group ooohs and arrgfhs. BANG! the surface is broken a demanding girl-vocal. Who basks to be taught a thing or two.

The stuff dreams are made of - delightfully delivered by a pasionate vocal and some highly arranging.

It’s a proper-dance-tune spilling over with tasty bits…

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Chanters

Every Nigfht (i Sit And Cry)

Soul gals of the 60s who went of to carve a reputation as The Chanter Sisters working with such R&B influenced Brits like Long John Baldry, Sam Mitchell, Archie Leggett, John ´Rabbit´Bundrick (The Who stand-in) etc.

Doreen & Irene Chanter did their “soul” with great consistency, this example of their work is incredibly rare and has remained completely of the Brit-collectors radar for decades. Recently this 45 is stirring both DJ and collectors interest, one click of the sound-file will reveal a mighty piece of Brit-Northern Soul with a rarity pedigree few UK 45s can rival, and turntable potential that just jumps out the computer at’cha.

This 1966 DEMO copy is immaculate!

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O. C. Smith

On Easy Street

Northern Soul crossover paradise!

Freddie Anisfield & Larry Weiss write a declaration of free-spirit and give it to one of the smoothest Soul vocalists ever to hold a mike.

Tthe simplistic piano arrangement by Mort Garson, is nothing short of genius as the silk n’growl voice purrs along like an open-top Rolls Royce on a motorway, with the breeze through your hair - this record carries stand-out get-away qualities. So when producer Allen Stanton adds subtle horns and a sexy sax…well tell me another record that makes you feel this good!

Than a rarely is ever witnessed as this RED STOCK copy - in perfect condition.

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Billy Miranda

You Could've Had A Good Thing Going C/w Count Your Teardrops

A Robert & John E. Gray collaboration, this is independent New York Northern Soul at it’s most compelling. The pair must have been inspired by Roy Hamilton whilst crafting this booming Queens, N.Y. trophy.

Click the sound file you’ll instantly recognize the traits Roy displayed on his most valued RCA 45s. Totally “You Shook Me Up” meets “Crackin’ Up” but with it’s own special identity.

But in recent times even though the a-side is a top-drawer rarity, it is the flip that has been in the spotlight in rare-soul-discussions and early doors spins. Check that out, some tune this is suffering only from an a-side of such quality, it was easy to never think of flipping it over.

TWO not one, killer tunes on one hell of a rare label - rarely seen for sale - for obvious reasons.

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Home Of The Blues # 10

June 1967 Issue # 10

32 page June 1967 Home Of the Blues - arguably considered the most collectable and sought after series of all the last century’s magazine dedicated to Soul. This is of course the forerunner to BLUES & SOUL and edited by the same team..

HOME OF THE BLUES - issue 10 from June 1967

includes: review on Bob Diddley & Ben E. King live @ Saville Theatre, London 16 April 1967. An iconic advert for the FLAMINGO CLUB, 33 - 37 Wardour Street, London. the 8 page STAX REVUE + Memphis Musician Men, Atlantic & Stax full page record advert + 7 differ live artist pics.

Arthur Conley - Prince of Sweet Soul Music, Bluesway Label Album reviews, SKA column by J. McCullough, Otis Redding award photo of HOTB Poll 1966, Bluesway LP advert, SOUL CITY SHOP top 45 & lp sakes chart, FALCONS interview with John Abbey, EMBER label album full page advert.

plus: INVITATIONS with John Abbey & Peter Trickey + review of their latest MGM 45. spotlight on McKinley “Soul” Mitchell, plus new 45 and LP release for 1967 reviews, plus article of Fats Domino & his band members.

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