Jacki Ross

Hard Times / Hold Me

Sar: 129 DJ

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Detail

  • Artist: Jacki Ross
  • A Side: Hard Times
  • B Side: Hold Me
  • Label: Sar
  • Format: 45s

Condition

Condition

  • Vinyl Condition: E+
  • Label Condition: M-
  • Sleeve Condition: M-

Key: View

Description


Description

This iconic songbird's first 45 and by far her rarest contribution to the global rare-scene. This is her as a sweet voiced 16 year old.

"Hard Times" ticks all the boxes for the "Popcorn" DJ collector, whilst "Hold Me" has long been a New York "Island Soul" favourite transferring over to "Carib Soul" acknowledgement. With both sides suitable for any Northern Soul meeting. Not overlooking that it's this great labels hardest rare-soul 45 to acquire.

We lead with the male bass-vocal assisted R&B/Popcorn groove written by a young 16 year Jackie, featuring some truly inventive lyrics woven into a moodily haunting "Popcorn" landscape. Severe rarity again has sadly hindered the 45's long-overdue exposure into the Northern Soul arena, where it would surely flourish.

Label owner Sam Cooke's choice for the lead side is the delicious "Hold Me". (Earlier recorded by Kylo Turner, titled as "I'll Keep Thinking Of You" " a song Sam wrote and produced along with close associate gospel stalwart James Woodie Alexander. This more commercial song seriously failed to sell; with the store copies being ultra-scare. Surprising, as this side shimmers and jingles with Sam Cooke "cool", a silky vocal seamlessly laced through a xylophone embroidered arrangement, raised up by simple but genius castanet clicks and a young voice sent from heaven. Both the Jacki Ross & the Kylo Turner are regarded as "Carib / Island Soul" anthems. Truly stunning soulful crooners, glowing with "cool".

Two great sides giving up more reasons than one for DJ and collector ownership..

For the Northern Soul scene it's been a cult appreciated sleeper, for the "Carib Soul" underground it's a much wanted "classic". for the Sar collector it's a frustratingly challenging number to acquire. For me it's been a record I've loved since I first encountered this double hitter, way back in my embryonic years as a record dealer.

Condition Report

Two clean promo labels, revealing only the faintest a light storage "foxing" upon close inspection. Fabulous vinyl, strong gloss reveals only the merest soft hairline when angled in the light.

A Side

  • Title: Hard Times

    B Side

  • Title: Hold Me
  • Year: 1964
  • City: Los Angeles, California

    Tracklisting