Latest Additions
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The condition and authenticity of all the records in our latest additions section are always carefully and closely scrutinised. If you enjoyed our latest additions, then you may also enjoy checking out soul auctions ending Wednesday.
Majjestees
Take Back All Those Things / Let Her Go
Mutt : 18382 (45s)
Top side is classic style upbeat stompin' real-deal Northern Soul - flip it over for a sublime mid-paced masterpiece!
Condition Report
Two totally clean rich green labels, full gloss unblemished near mint vinyl - as good as it gets!
Jeanette Williams
Something's Got a Hold On Me / Looking For Your Love
Back Beat: 587 DJ (45s)
After teasing us Northern Soul schoolboys through 1969 being one of the finest dance tracks on British release "Various Artists - Action Packed Soul - Action – ACLP 6005 Jeanette was in the company of 1. Carl Carlton– Competition Ain't Nothing 2. Bud Harper -Mr. Soul on the a-side with the b-side track 3, being a total standout dancer - **Jeanette Williams - Something's Got A Hold On Me** for me the best track on the whole album with 4. Bobby Williams - Baby I Need Your Love and 5. Minnie Epperson - Grab Your Clothes bringing up the rear to complete this standout purist album.
All the afore mentioned recordings achieved British 7" single release, as much as I wished, "Something's Got a Hold On Me" never ever got a UK release. It was the mid-seventies before my wish came true and I acquire my first copy on Back Beat 587.
"Something's Got a Hold On Me" has long been timeless Northern Soul dancefloor anthem, that needs no introduction. But did you know the flipside is outstanding Sister NS also.
This elusive 58 year old presents itself here in fabulous Excellent+ condition...
an imperative disc for those who are seeking the finest possible condition whilst amassing those now elusive Northern Soul anthems not issued in the UK as 45s.
We reiterate, do not ignore the mostly unknown, wine-glass shattering flipside "Looking For Your Love" not as frantic but every note as compelling with Jeanette's vocal penetrating every part of your being. A Sunday surprise drop for sure. An overlooked Robert Staunton Detroit influenced Sister winner.
Condition Report
Two totally clean promo labels, full gloss vinyl reveals only the merest soft sleeve storage blemishes visible when angled in the light.
Frank James
Sea Of Faces / The Story Of My Life
Tru-Sound: 424 (45s)
This session was guided by the now iconic, but then 29 year old David Axlerod, a producing magician who has provided so many inventive beats, breaks within his huge volume of work, he has become an oasis for "Hip-Hop" producers to draw from. In short, this is a gorgeous, utterly flawless copy of a snarling, musclebound mid-tempo thumper, propelled by a determined piano, hammering out the beat, for Frank's gravely vocal to tailgate.
Axlerod brilliantly ignites this session from the very first note, as dynamic fortissimo piano pulses, the perfect steppingstones for a brutal snarling vocal to stroll upon, the full throated search for his girl is decorated by a melancholy mouthorgan accompaniment. With Axelrod adding layer after layer of atmospheric inventiveness, a full vocal group harmonized chorus enriching his journey as his love-search unfolds in "A Sea Of Faces". A fanfare of trumpets take to the air at all the crucial moments. The mouthorgan still timing its wailings tom perfection in the background, this moody Popcorn stroller slowly but surely grabs you by the throat.
Throughout it all, are Axerod's thumping piano pulses, peppering the background, ensuring not for a moment are ever thinking of leaving the dancefloor, as this Popcorn-persuader stranglehold tightens its grip...
Narcotic Big City Big Beat Popcorn! in just fabulous condition.
Condition Report
Clean a-side label, b-side label is absent, but the vinyl is immaculate, very unusual for this title to be witnessed with full gloss unblemished playing surface.
Wrecking Crew
Crusin With-The Crew / I Can't Stop Loving You
Plexus : P- 2607-89010 (45s)
Two sides of pure quality
Condition Report
Two clean silver labels, fine clean vinyl reveals some mild surface marks, soft crackle on flipside playback, hear both sides.
Oxnard Jubilees
Didn't It Rain / Jerricho Road
Gospel Corner Records: 145 (45s)
a traditional Gospel Hymns and anthem, supercharged to another level on the back of driving piano notes, jangling guitars, partitioned by a fat bass guitar bridges, snarling determined voices seamlessly amalgamate into an explosive tsunami of black energy. An unstoppable floor-shaker that leaves you breathless.
We are sure other Jocks would be joining them in their appreciation of such a dancefloor rouser, if only they could find a copy of this mini-press from South Central, Los Angeles California 11.
I think we can safely say that the neighborhood Gospel choir of the "Oxnard Jubilees" would never have dreamt of international recognition but with Greg Belson raving and currently playing their obscure recording "O I've Been Saved And Sanctified" on Two Dot, this potent exciting Gospel gathering are now well and truly on the rare-soul DJ's horizon.
Condition Report
two clean labels, free of writing, stickers or stains. Vinyl carries strong gloss, with multiple microscopic surface hairline that reveal themselves in the quiet pauses with some soft occasional background crackle.
Major Lance
You Don't Want Me No More / Wait Til I Get You In My Arm
Epic : 4-7284 Canada M- (45s)
Gorgeous!!
A tune always held up as one of the most influential, momentous and most memorable, all all Northern Soul anthems that decorated those embryonic days circa 1971, an all-time classic "we" always present in remembrance of "Major Bob Crocker", the first DJ to play this discovery, that blew the condensation off that fabled low slung Catacombs ceiling! Refreshing the dancers, with a welcoming sprays of cooling h2o as they danced on the one small step stage, arms reaching up to run their fingers through the heavy droplets of condensation that hung above their sweat drenched heads. A welcome invigorating cascade of distillation of the few hundred obsessive students of Northern Soul drawn to Temple Street, Wolverampton every Saturday night
Here is a NORTHERN SOUL ANTHEM with few equals, to the affect it had on the Catacombs crowd.
Machine stamped matrix ZSP118541-1D with the flipside matrix ZSP118542 2E.
The Van McCoy created flipside is a killer also, do not pass by "Wait Til I Get You In My Arms" another spine-tingling Northern Soul
Two awesome sides triggering a flood of memories, visions of those iconic clubs of the early 70s and respect to those NS pioneers who laid the foundation for the largest underground music movement in the world - Bob Crocker R.I.P. you will never be forgotten.. especially by the now aging disciples of "The Cats".
Yes a legendary 45 in its rarest, most desirable form... but you knew that already.
Condition Report
Unbeatable condition, listen, and absorb a piece of essential homegrown Northern Soul history that illuminated and altered the lives of so many youngsters in the early 70s, the true halcyon years of Northern Soul.
James Weeks and the Fabulous Inspirations
Maybe Tomorrow / Shotgun
Goodtime: 286 (45s)
We know so very little about the artist, the label, its origins or the year of release. The ultimate test of a truly rare 45. We presume the disc was pressed in Nashville, Tennessee circa 1970 when the prolific Precision Record pressing plant was utilizing their rich "gold" labels. But recorded in North Carolina where producer Clark Tutt stayed true to that Carolina sound, that us Northern Soul Brits so adore.
Written by the James Week himself, crafts a lilting Crossover stroller saturated with D.I.Y. authenticity and charm. James reaching vocal is cradled by an haunting distant girl-group coos hanging in the air enriching the beseeching lone voice. Simplistic but classy, as it rides an understated pulses of a bass guitar and a sympathetic Hammond organ. The intended evocative approach pulls you in as the ingredients fuse in a rippling wave of desire be home, telling his girl not to "give up" maybe tomorrow you'll see, our love is destined to be. James's own words, leave you with a sense they have come from personal experience.
Silky, simplistic North Carolina NS Crossover that has been a "ghost" on the rare-soul scene all its life - a hyper-rare recording you'll discover creeping under your skin from the first note.
Do not pass , this 45's reputation and rarity is growing by the day.
The flipside is a version of Junior Walker "Shotgun" classic, that sadly suffers from unnecessary "canned live" sound effects.. shame I bet this guy and his team would have whipped up a storm on this Jr. Walker anthem, readjustment.
Condition Report
Two bright gold labels, with crisp clean black text, vinyl is a strong gleaming mint minus. <br /> <br />
Sheila Ferguson
Heartbroken Memories / Signs Of Love
Swan: S-4234 (45s)
One of the most puzzling enigmas of the classic Northern Soul era 1973 thru 1975 that this much-loved Philly dancer never got bootlegged like all of the rest, popular dancefloor tunes of the time.
Girl group Svengali Richie Barrett teams up with the up and coming pianist, wordsmith the 23 year old Leon "Fingers" Huff taking Three Degrees lead singer being credited alone as performing this magical slice of the Philly sound. Her searing voice sailing aloft on a blanket of the other two "Degrees" choruses with additional subtle male vocal input, embracing her mood. Richie Barrett & Leon Huff subtly enriching the session.
Even with Huff''s rhythmic keyboard pulses, the soaring girl-group choruses, the celestial male harmonizing welded by considerate percussion. The only thing you really hear is Sheila's spectacular towering vocal that becomes indelible even after just one hearing.
It was that memorable, now legendary Simon Soussan C90 cassette that I became first acquainted with it's scorching qualities that withered a young Soul boy's heart. To this day, my love for this song & Sheila's heavenly voice has never left me. Today it is a tune that stands tall among all those over-played NS classics, as a DJ travesty that the dancefloor is being starved of such brilliance. More than ripe for a huge revival and still nobody has bootlegged it...other than an abhorrent "carver" or two.
Do not pass by the almost as thrilling flipside, again giving up all the uplifting qualities as the a-side that Barrett & Huff seem to able to, effortlessly conjure up...
BRILIANT!!! twice over!
Condition Report
two clean labels, crisp sharp silver text (see images), bright clean archive quality vinyl, absolutely no signs of it even being caressed by a stylus
Jack Montgomery
Don't Turn Your Back On Me / Never In a Million Years
Barracuda : WO 2-8030 (45s)
Having said that Don Mancha's prodigy released far too few 45's considering his undeniable vocal-prowess. Only 3 three times in the 60's his first in 1966 through 1969 he was captured on 45. Frustration against this bewildering isolation, triggered him to finance, produce, arrange, write and sing his own D.I.Y. disc on Auston's in the early 70's, the poignant "Beauty Isn't Born" was to be his final contribution to his sadly meager 45 catalog.
This man is heralded as a Northern Soul icon, every 45's a treasure and a benchmark for other Motor City Soul vocalists to be measured by, very few come even close to comparing to his ability to convey beseeching despair in such a rich flow of need. Listen and weep as "Don't Turn Your Back On Me" paints a picture of a guy in urgent need of reconciliation.
Witness this rich, now matured 25 year old vocal, conjuring up vision of a broken man on his knees, imploring forgiveness. Who could not forgive that voice? Pouring out the most beseeching message imaginable, when the brief male vocal group response, comes in right at the end, we hear a stroke of studio genius from Don Mancha, Richard Beasley, Mike Terry, Mike Theodore & Dennis Coffey, a Detroit 5-a-side team of consummate ability.
This is the very pinnacle of Detroit Northern Soul but not as we usually know it... not overlooking the slick archetypal Motor City instrumental underlining the musicianship Mike Terry, Mike Theodore & Dennis Coffey talent sitting on the flipside. With The Honey Bees performing a Grail girl group vocal version on Garrison the same year.
A fabulous Detroit double delight, that never fades with time...
Condition Report
Two bright, crisp yellow labels, full gloss near perfect vinyl, revealing just few ultra soft surface blemishes, none affecting play - gaze and listen to its mesmeric purity.<br />
Blue Magic
Can I Say I Love you / One, Two, Three
Liberty : 56146 DJ (45s)
"Can I Say I Love you" has yet to completely breakthrough on Northern Soul or the Sunday Chill-out circuit but it will do, it's too darn fabulous not to. Sparse plays by smart DJs who regularly push the boundaries "Tony Smith" "Kevin Oxbury" "Kev Collins" Although, real elusiveness is hampering its progress up the NS ladder.
This "Blue Magic" are not the five man mega sweet soul "Sideshow" gathering of Keith Beaton, Richard Pratt, Ted Mills, Vernon Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer formed by Ted Mills, from remnants of "The Toppiks" of Philadelphia. This "Blue Magic" are more-likely to be a one-off single only, by a group called "Selah" from New Knoxville, Ohio (yet to be validated) .
But this beauty is getting validated by DJs unafraid to unveil the inconspicuous soulful Crossover grooves, in favour of the same-old, same-old "Yawn"
You have been warned Blue Magic - Can I Say I Love You - is on the up!
Listen and prepare to be hooked...
Condition Report
Date stamped JAN 27 1970 otherwise two perfect promo labels, full gloss Mint minus vinyl. A real beauty...
Constellations
I Don't Know About You / Easy To Be Hard
Gemini Star : 30008 (45s)
Yes, that easy going hovering Soul group harmonizing was honed in their earlier formation on the streets of Chicago with "Artistics" sometime member joining their ranks; before seeking fame in New York; fortunately coming under the stewardship of Gemini Star executives producer Pat Jaques, assisted by renowned Jazz/Soul arranger the gifted Richard Tee. Resulting in two worthy 45's. "I Don't Know About You" being by far the rarest and most wanted. Those tight, slick harmonies and stage prowess and their sleek dance routines, soon caught the eye of Dionne Warwick's management, they were soon on stage with Dionne as her eye-catching backing group. Releasing two more worthy singles for Dionne Warwick's label "Sonday"
This is the "Four's" greatest recording, Frankie Floyd, Zach Sanders, Bernard Reed & Bobby Earl Williams seamlessly fusing on this sublime Northern Soul dancer, benefitting from the stealthy build up of power, as it changes through the gears on a raft of strings and glorious harmonies. Decorated with a blend of differing soulful vocal including a fabulous contrast of a baritone rap and a soaring falsetto, a dazzling collaboration by Tee & Jaques.
Utterly brilliant every step of the way, a dance experience guaranteed to lift your evening.
A record made all the more challenging to acquire as "Gemini Star" concentrated on promoting the a-side, a song from the Broadway hit show "Hair". L:eaving "I Don't Know About You" never ever pressed as a promo copy. The double sided "Easy To Be Hard" promo the only format to be sent to radio stations and DJs. Sadly the blinding vocal-group genius of "I Don't Know About You" was never heard over the USA airwaves..
Another masterpiece deprived the American public of a masterpiece - thank heaven for those investigation Northern Soul pioneers.
Condition Report
Two bright clean labels, full gloss mint minus vinyl, still housed in its birth-sleeve.
Eula Cooper
I Can't Help If I Love You / Since I Fell For You part 1 & 2
Tragar: TR 6816 (45s)
Very classy Atlanta mid-paced delight that's so much more than just this great lady's rarest 45, it's also an unprecedented 3 track EP.
Collaborating with talented arranger/producer Tommy Stewart, Eula composes her own lyrics, complimenting her towering crescendos she delivers with consummate ease... in this song her vocal again takes flight in true Eula skyward style.
Haunting horns open the door for jangling guitar rhythms, then Eula's beseeching begins...she hooked, she hurts, she can't break away.. emotions she conveys so vividly with those sliced-to-the-bone lyrics .. hitting keys that pierce the heart, as the horns drive home her despair BRILLIANT!!
Deep Soul fans may not have heard the overshadowed flipside before.. but those of you prone to wrist-slashing we advise you to avoid... this deliciously tortured performance supported by the Tragar singers, between them conjure up a cocktail of regret as two lovers spill their pain; the man begging forgiveness, Eula vowing her deep love, whilst subtle horns play out the scene of despair, whilst turning to hope.. just before the finale, soulful backing sisters glide in to enrich proceedings
TRULY AWESOME DEEP SOUL BALLAD.
Apparently, so good was the vibe at Tragar that day, they felt the need to do a part 2, which left Eula drained of emotion... pouring her heart into one of the greatest Soul ballads ever made!!
Condition Report
Immaculate condition, near perfect