Soul Auction
Check out the Rare Soulman soul auction for all the best bargains available online. Be sure to check the closing date and time for each record to ensure to don’t miss out on the best bids. Our auction stock dramatically varies in price, with records ranging from £12-£700. Find the perfect soulful additions for your own collection.
The condition and authenticity of all the records in our soul auction section are always carefully and closely scrutinised. If you enjoyed our auction, then you may also enjoy checking out our latest soul additions.
Yvonne Vaughn
When You Gonna Tell Her About Me / Lonely Little Girl
Dot : 16751 (45s)
Billy & Gene Page warmed by the California sun in June 1965, craft an almighty cocktail of the Girl-group-sound/Northern Soul/Spector styled into the big city sound. From this scintillating amalgam, emerges a instantly inspiring NS dancer.
The rolling drum intro, collides with a deluge of brass, cut to ribbons by razor-sharp strings. The insistent lead vocal rides a wall-of-sound, aided by a shrill girl-chorus and blasting horns...killer girl Northern Soul is let loose.
The flip "Lonely little girl" is not to be overlooked. A strong dance tune riddled with uplifting high-end piano strokes, rhythmic guitar picks; all blended into the ideal background for Yvonne Vaughn to flex her vocal range. We just adore the intentional emotional "cracking" in her trembling voice. Teen flavoured Northern Soul you will find slowly but surely worming into your mind.
Two strong sides, top side is perfect All-Nighter fuel, the flipside less obvious but extremely addictive as you slowly fall for Yvonne's sultry vocal.
Rare and we think brilliant, yet to receive the full "Niter" exposure it so obviously deserves.
Condition Report
Two clean labels, vinyl inspection reveals only the merest hairline blemishes for a lifetime on the collection shelf. Still housed in it's birth-sleeve. As the soundfile and images confirm, looks flawless and plays flawless.
Cloudburst
I'm Lovin You / Never Let Me Go
Stormy Monday : 771076 (45s)
Chris found a handful of this 45 by "Cloudburst", then an unknown 45 in a garage in Ohio. Soul Sam was the lucky DJ to first buy a copy to play. It was of course an instant dancefloor hit for him.. .but that very nearly didn't happen when Soul Sam visited me in our shop on King Street, Melton Mowbray to see what we had to quench his insatiable desires of the "new" tune.
Neither me nor Soul Sam had see or heard of "Cloudburst" before. Sam could hardly contain his excitement when we did the deal and "Cloudburst" was his.
But coincidently we had another collector diggin' in the top room, the same day, checking out Punk & Indie 45's we had stored upstairs. When he came down with his small clutch of finds for me to price, he asked Sam what were the records he'd bought. Sam handed over the his small bundle, explaining they were Northern Soul and all very rare!
Flicking through the stack he stopped at Cloudburst ad said "Well, this isn't rare" "Oh?" replied Sam. "there's gotta be another 20 copies sitting up stairs in the top room!"
Sam's face dropped, saying nothing he quizzingly looked at me.. "You Don't Have To Buy It" was my reply. He pondered for a while but the power of a great unknown was overwhelming. He then asked.."Well can I have two copies then?"
I said no, one per DJ or collector.. after Sam played it that weekend it took no time at all for the other 17 or so copies to leave the building.
Cloudburst was launched and quickly became the biggest most-wanted 70's rarity of the time. To this day 33 years later, I have never found another copy in the wild, nor has Chris Modley.
All that handful have long disappeared, the few that have come to market over the decades were from that initial luvky find. All pristine all now coveted in the world's finest Soul collections or snug and treasured in the few DJ boxes who own a copy.
Check out double soundfile to see why Soul Sam just had to have it.. and be the first DJ to break it big!
It's rare and extremely sought after, not just for the dance side, the Sweet Soul side is a killer also.
NOTE: the copy has the correct labelling, this is NOT one of the reversed label presses.
Condition Report
Two clean labels, the correct way round. Neat flawless vinyl revealing only the merest hairline under direct light. MInt minus in every way and plays perfectly on both sides.
Felix Harris
Walkin' (In The Night) / Blueberry Hill
Counterpart : 3766 (45s)
Rarely if ever surfaces for sale and this copy is a beauty, hardly a blemish. Born in Cincinnati under the guidance of one of the city's great producing talents, Howard Norman Lovdal seem to have a gift for creating the unobvious. On this session he excelled himself. The attention crabbing piano intro, collides head-on with reaching male vocal attractively coating with a rasp of desperation.
His girl has him "Walkin' In The Night" you can feel his hopelessness as he accompanies wah-wah guitar dance rhythms, with the lyrics becoming more and more sullen, his voice decidedly pained. Written by Felix Harris himself, leaving you with the feeling this was a personal experience for him.
If you DJ or collect the upfront Soulful dance sound or indeed DJ in Europe, where this tune is so highly regarded. A 45 that's an essential weapon to combat dancefloor boredom.
So cool so off-the-wall !!!
Condition Report
Two clean labels, vinyl carries full gloss, revealing just a few fine hairlines under light.
Tomangoe's
I Really Love You / You've Been Gone Too Long
Washpan : WM 3125 (45s)
The combination of that most-memorable bassline intro ever and the richly endowed vocal of Claude "Dusty" Williams makes for arguably the GREATEST Northern Soul anthem of them all...A record woven into the very fabric of the Northern Soul scene for almost 5 decades, a recording that has influenced every dancer, collector, DJ, dealer across the globe; ever since their very first encounter with this Gino Washington conducted master-class in Detroit Soul. Even after 50 years of being a top-tune; that pounding introduction still sends shivers of delight through anyone meeting its muscular charms.
Its reputation, its unparalleled street kudos and the need for ownership could not be stronger than it is today, even decades after it was first discovered.
You will not need reminding that the opportunity to acquire this legendary disc is a rare event indeed... A Detroit legacy that will live in the hearts of the Northern Soul collective for an eternity....
Condition Report
Writing on both labels, former property of a young Michigan girl Sharon Swain who used that alluring yellow label to learn her alphabet. Actually in a strange kind of way, adds neighbourhood authenticity to the record. View label images. A-side vinyl has good gloss, visible surface marks some long ticks along the way, but wholly devoured by that mighty, mighty vocal. Listen to soundfile. The flipside has slightly heavier surface marks and crackles are noticeable because it's a softly delivered ballad. <br />
Tams / Jason Knight
Hey Girl Don't Bother Me / Our Love Is Gettng Stronger / Wigan Casino 1973 - 1980 - Seven Golden Years / Anniversary Booklet - Northern Noise
Cassino Classics / Northern Noise : CC 17 (45s)
Validated by a recent quote from legendary Wigan Casino DJ and head sales representative for the Casino Classics label Dave Evison, made during an on line thread about the rarity of this disc. Dave Evison wrote on 15th. January 2020.
"Well John...you've really shocked me with this mate...as you may recall I was the sales rep for Casino Classics and I can say hand on heart I never knew it existed. I attended all the sales meetings with Russ, Mike Walker, Vanessa and a few others in our office in Hindley nr Wigan and I can't recall it at all!!"
I have know of this 45's "ghost-like" existence for many years and can confirm it just hardly ever comes to market, so infrequently that some deny it exists at all, and thought my Facebook thread was probably a "wind-up" So we thought in the interests of Wigan Casino history and collectors interest this coupling along with the equally "Seven Golden Years" official booklet from the same year 1980 a unique offering.
Although I have no definitive reason why the 45 is so rare, the disc speaks for itself. Two solid Northern Soul anthems back to back, released to coincide with the new 14 track Casino Classics Chapter THree akbum which also bombed at the shops.
THE WIGAN ANNIVERSARY BOOK 1973 - 1980 there has been many writing on Northern Soul's most famous Club, but this is the only publication that was there at the beginning of the end and for me a glaring example of the chasm between the viewpoints the two main DJs as Wigan Casino lives under the threat demolition. Coinciding with Wigan Casino at the peak of commercial identity perfectly highlighted by the Casino Classics labels.
Although on the top 30 Wigan Casino plays chart only FIVE were not cover-ups dominated by Richard Searling new spins.
An tribute to the recently deceased Mike Walker from Russ Winstanley quoting lines from Mike's favourite record "Tobi Legend - Time Will Pass You By". Whilst Russ reviews six of the best of British 45 from Gene Latter, Mari Wilson, Busta Jones, Tailgate, The Seeds sadly paling in comparison to the Richard Searling play list of records that today still stands as the birth-place of some of the most wanted Northern Soul 45's in history. With Russ Winstanley's All-Time Top 20 decorated with obvious now stable not so rare Northern Soul classics.
Richard Searling debates the merits of playing new release, 70's against the resistance of the 60's Soul dance records the die-hards were demanding. A debate that still rages on today..
A window into 1980 on the cusp of Northern Soul's doldrums, an essential research referencing point.
Condition Report
45 is flawless, just a few storage hairlines revealed under direct light, housed in birth sleeve. <br /> Anniversary book. Has been well thumbed through, as you can imagine, as it's an essential reread. Free of flaws, no writing, tears, stains just light storage were (see image)
Anniversary book. Has been well thumbed through, as you can imagine, as it's an essential reread. Free of flaws, no writing, tears, stains just light storage were (see image)
Natural Four
Hanging On To A Lie / Twelve Months Of The Year
Boola-Boola : W.H. 1002 (45s)
We know from conversations with a top NS DJ (Soul Sam) has this wonderful tune laying dormant in his box.Refuses to sell, as he likes it so much, believing it will certainly receive plays pretty soon. I'm in full agreement with him and still own my treasured copy, too. Not only because of my obvious bias towards male vocal-group Northern Soul but also my love of the subtle horns and rhythmic guitar picks that run the length of this song, as "the four" skip their way through the story. Then there is the amazing Trombone solo break, lifting this already wonderful tune to yet another level.
Brilliant Northern that has snoozed for too long, inspiring dancer that ticks all the boxes, exquisitely constructed and sung by gifted hopefuls. who sadly got left out when the group signed to Curtom with Curtis Mayfield, for me the original boys were the "Bollocks" earthy grounded authentic Oakland Soul with no frills attached. Authentic neighbourhood harmonizes through a flawless early 70s dance arrangement..
Proper Northern Soul with legs and character to go so very much further, as it's true rarity has never been in doubt.
Low Rider fans will already be aware of the awesome Sweet Soul flipside..
Condition Report
two clean labels, vinyl reveals light surface marks but plays superbly clean (listen)
Faces Of Truth with Unhooked Generation
I Need Ya / Black Is
Jay-Sum : 475-25 (45s)
In the burgeoning world of collecting rare-soul, street-level vocal-group harmony is hottest-property on the block. As the religion of collecting and DJing Low Rider rarities hits an all-time high.
This fluid harmony stroller just ripples with exacting class; The rap intro gently seeps into a Dells-esque undercoating of harmony. As the togetherness meanders through a convincing love-pitch from a besotted guy with a most wonderfully engaging vocal. He bravely reveals his feelings, over a blanket rich choruses laid down by his homeys. Then the baton changes hands, a icy-cold falsetto takes the reigns nurturing the song to yet another level. Gentle bespoke raps precisely inserted with perfect timing. By the finale all voices meld into a warming pool of male desire and wanting.
THIS IS D.I.Y. SWEET SOUL AT ITS FINEST!!
Funk collectors will by now be screaming WHAT ABOUT THE FLIP... this time the exemplary vocals ride a "Unhooked Generation" barrage of jazzy brass and bongo's pulses. Creating a tight-rhythmic dancer brilliantly punctuated with brass-breaks from the horn section, the percussion boys and an accomplish keyboard that make up the backing band ""Unhooked Generation". A quality tune of its genre, hard to believe it was born on the streets of Louisville and not some corporate big-city major-label studio. So full, diverse and classy is the production.
In short, two top-tunes on one disc, that rarely comes to market on the rare occasions it has done, condition is invariably horrid.
Here's a nice clean copy, with readable labels and crisp clear sounding vinyl.
Condition Report
two clean labels, vinyl reveals multiple light surface hairlines, but plays superbly clean. .
Joe Houston
Hully / Ko Ko Mo
Combo : 157 (45s)
Saxophone master Joe Houston serve up a severely stirring R&B instrumental. Frantic guitar pulses lay down the road for some insanely aggressive saxophone blows, demanding your attention. Few, if any R&B instrumentals serve up such pugnacious rhythms as this dancefloor battering-ram does; no wonder over the decades this has become a "tittyshaker" anthem, R&B at it's most hostile. A cult item never surfacing at this level is perfectness, just waiting for that R&B DJ with a sense of timing, to drop this bomb on his audience. BOOM!! mayhem would surely ensue..
A killer tune, uncompromising, relentless, unforgiving rarity for the DJ to take his crowd by the scruff the neck. Mr. Houston wields his instrument like a mad Viking warrior on a rape and pillage raid in Northumbria, No prisoners taken with this time... R&B instrumentalism at it's most fearsome.
The flipside has it's followers also. "Ko Ko Mo" a vocal-group R&B rocker also features Joe swinging his saxcophone like a blood-drenched axe.
Two cool sides, one very elusive disc.. in eye-popping condition!
Condition Report
Impossible previously unplayed condition still housed in birth-sleeve
Alexander Patten
A Lil Lovin' Sometimes / No More Dreams
Capitol : 5677 (45s)
In short, for me the most exhilarating Northern Soul sessions ever committed to vinyl.. for coming up to nearly 50 years this mighty tune has sat in my all time favourite top 10 with no sign of it ever being ousted.
Get ready for growling bombardment of dance-soul, the beast-like vocal rides a booming brass powered arrangement of burping horns, full on stabbing brass beautifully prompting the vocal responses, bludgeoning bass guitar rhythms, with the song taken to the highest level when adorned with chirping girl group, drilling home their support.
Today, I still relive my first club hearing of this giant of a tune. Vivid recall of The "Brit", Nottingham experience, every time I hear this timeless classic dropped... drums, bass guitar then that triumphant guttural "True Love" takes to the air. Insistent girls, brazen brass and a rumbling intrusive male vocal that swept the clubbers up onto their feet, every time!
An all time GREAT!!
Not forgetting the almost as imposing flipside another snarling slab of Northern Soul ... two killer tunes in fabulous condition.
Condition Report
Two crisp clean labels, vinyl has full gloss, revealing only mild sleeve storage hairlines under direct light. still housed in birth sleeve
Little Esther
Wild Child / Gee Baby
Warwick : M 610 (45s)
So I'm really happy to be able to purr over, not one but two of my guilty pleasures. First pleasure is the blurred lines of R&B / Popcorn, easily the most inventive and investigative vinyl scene on the planet. Everything I've ever encountered from these rare-vinyl circuit DJ's, leaves me gagging for more. Down and dirty vocals, woven into mean & moody arrangements.. is a lost-art!
So my 2nd. guilty pleasure "Esthers" highly suggestive sultriness, served by a unique vocal style just does it for me. So when she is mixed into a filthy saxophone saturated R&B dance groove, twangy Blues guitar, an insistent chanting girl-chorus. Catapults you into an era of dimly-lit smoky neighbourhood clubs, narcotic musicians plying skills to drive the atmosphere up surrounding the diva in stage.
Esther Phillips was certainly a fully fledged validated Diva, even in her early teens she was wowing the crowds with her singular delivery.
Long live the collectors and DJ's who keep on serving up this sexy vinyl, to pleasure us dirty old-men's vivid imaginations.
Condition Report
Two clean labels, fine clean full gloss vinyl revealing only a few fine hairlines, now of which affect play.
Betty Everett
You're No Good / Chained To Your Love
Stateside : SS 259 DJ (45s)
This classic (now iconic) Clint Ballard composition was recorded by two Soul songbirds in 1963 Dee Dee Warwick in New York and Betty Everett in Chicago. Both ladies give real substance to this Soul Sister moment of realization. Captured so brilliantly by crystal clear vocal of Betty Everett then redefined by EMI's world class mastering and EMI's unbeatable quality of vinyl.
Listening to this Sister anthem as the alluring red & White Demo spins round, the fidelity is quite astonishing, the power quite staggering, the effect utterly lasting.
What a truly timeless song, sung by a Soul Diva of the highest order, her voice reproduced to it's infinite best.
A listing for those of you who would never consider a British release record purchase with damaged labels, missing centres or marked vinyl. The sight of red & white perfection sends goose-pimples of delight all over me and many other old-school collectors who consider condition means everything!
You will not encounter a finer copy.
Condition Report
Stunning condition, full gloss unblemished vinyl, two bright clean Promo labels, all housed in birth-sleeve.
Ray Barretto
Pastime Paradise / La Cuna
CTI: OJ 53 DJ (45s)
Ray reworks the Stevie Wonder 1976 composition released on his acclaimed album "Song To The Key Of Life". Mr. Barretto, as he does so often does, creates a spectacularly vibrant dance session.
Electro keyboard pulses intro is showered with Latin goodness, as he enthusiastically rips into Stevie's work elevating it bongo's, explosive piano, wicked percussion and ringing vibes. The inventive addition of the brief electric guitar is the single for vocals to flood back in assisted by ear-piercing flutes. The genius of Barretto never ail but t lift the spirits. A crowd stirring tune, indeed.
But there's more to come on the flipside as "La Cuna" gives up killer Latin Jazz. Listen a be invigorated by this man's genius.
Very hard to acquire especially in this stunning condition.
Condition Report
Two clean promo labels, vinyl a strong mint minus.
Robbie Ellington
Don't Cry / Angel
TMT : MATIC 013 (12" Single)
Robbie's Soulful voice glides through not one, but two fine mid-paced electronic steppers, that so rarely if ever surface to sale. Check out this man's seamless vocal delivery and range of expression. A British talent that too few collectors have heard of or own anything by.
Ideal for Modern Soul DJ's across Europe who want to bring their audience the "something different" that this limited press 12" gives up. Personally I wasn't completely sure which side to lead with as I like both recordings, but in the end "Don't Cry" would have been the dance DJ's choice, so we lead with that. But do not dismiss "Angel" a gorgeous stepper saturated with the same qualities Robbie brings to a song.
Acquiring rare indie British late 80's early 90's Soul dance doesn't get any more difficult than this debut listing.
Condition Report
Two perfect labels, fine clean vinyl only revealing a few storage blemishes plays clean. Housed in original inner sleeve tucked away in the "arty" lime green birth-sleeve.
Gil Scott-Heron with Pretty Purdie & The Playboys
Lady Day And John Coltrane / Save The Children
Flying Dutchman : FD 26015 (45s)
High demand in recent decades has made 1972 USA press hard to fond, especially in this standout condition, near perfect condition still housed in birth sleeve..
The musical genius of Gil Scott-Heron rises up during this collaboration with Pretty Bernard Purdie's team. Singing about the genius that seeps from Billie Holiday & John Coltrane's music. The man washing your troubles away in typical Scott-Heron style; turning this unlikely subject into a bangin' cocktail of Jazz, Soul & Funk. Gil again underlines, he is a poet in possession of an imposing vocal range, that he again puts to good use, as Pretty Purdie & his Playboys feed the arrangement with convincing dance rhythms and squealing saxophone moments. .
In recent times the availability of this "Flying Dutchman" 45 import has truly evaporated, causing demand and the price to swell considerably. Especially now the flipside "Save The Children " is receiving DJ and dancefloor attention also.
DJ's and collectors need to act now, as this 45 is still rising in demand, as new vinyl-junkies of a younger generation hitch a ride into the finer expanses of quality Soul and all it's offshoots..
The value is only going one way..
Condition Report
A near perfect copy, MInt - Mint - Mint - plays and looks irresistible.
Dorie Williams
Tell Me Everything You Know / Your Turn To Cry
635 Records : 636 (45s)
Jack Taylor and Reggie Obrecht of Rojac fame, summon up a fanfare of brass, thwacking drums driving the steady pace, twangy Bluesy guitar breaks.. all of which are parted like the red sea when Dorie starts to sing. Snarling her way through with uncompromising ease. Serving up vocally immense foundation-shaking R&B, gliding through a filthy down and dirty horn-powered arrangement. Little wonder this is one of the most wanted Sister R&B plays of the moment.
The flipside is a fabulous "Can I Get A Witness" influenced Northern Soul dancer written by Joshie Jo Armstead & Chuck Flamingo but pales in comparison to almighty R&B offering on the lead side. "Your Turn To Cry" although has also picked up some NS plays along the way, and is a cool tune in it's own right... "Tell Me Everything You Know " devours it whole, and is the one to get the crowd jumping.. for those few R&B DJ's lucky enough to own a copy.
Two great tune, one cool disc...
Condition Report
X X on flipside label