Thought I'd share a few photos. The first is Craig Woolard a member of the Embers beach music group for 27 years (now out on his own with the Craig Woolard Band) and then Little Steven Van Zandt backstage at a recent Bruce Springsteen concert (I'm on the far left). You will also recognize Mic Gillette from the Tower of Power horn section (third photo) and in the photo next to him Charles Pope one of the original founding members of the Tams. Those two pictures and the one of Craig Woolard are from a series of Beach Music Party's I emceed in the summer of 2006.

Now let's talk Northern Soul!!

First and formost it is important to understand that Northern Soul is primarily popular and thus collected in England. * Sellers if you don't sell overseas then listing Northern Soul 45's will not benefit you very much. *

I thought it would be helpful for both buyers and sellers if you think you'd like to begin your search for these elusive 45's to offer a few tips.

Most valuable Northern Soul 45's did not sell well on the initial release. In reality some of the most valuable ones were printed in very small numbers. I sold a copy of Robert Tanner's Sweet Memories and  a second single by Robert called Tell Me Your Name and in researching them found out that only 500 copies were ever printed. Very few ever left Virginia and so there are likely only a few copies floating around and most of those are probably going to be found in and around Virgina, North Carolina and Tennessee. The most sought after Northern Soul 45's are on the Shrine Record label which was based in Washington, D.C. in the 1960's. A number of high dollar Northern Soul 45's came out around the Detroit area. You get the idea that you should try to find out where the high dollar 45's were released and to focus on those areas. A big find of the singles that I heard about came at a flea market in the Detroit area within the last year or so.

Here are a few titles you should be looking for and prices realized on eBay.

Antiques~Go For Yourself on La Salle Records (sold for $1,635.00)

Dena Barnes~If You Ever Walk Out of My Life on Inferno Records (sold for $1,025.00)

Jackie Beavers~ I Need My Baby on Revilot (sold for $2,237.00)

Ward Burton~Sweet Temptation on Panther Records (sold for $1,447.00) 

Tommy Bush~Ain't No Guessing Game on Rika Records (sold for $1,125.00)

Combinations~I'm Gonna Make U Love Me on Kimtone Records (sold for $4,070.00)

Larry Clinton~She's Wanted on Dynamo Records (sold for $6,000)

Constellations~ I Don't Know About You on Gemini/Star Records  (sold for $760.00)

Lenny Curtis~ Nothing Can Help You Now on End Records (sold for $1,225.00)

Jesse Davis~Gonna Hang on in there Girl on Era Records (sold for $1,232.00)

Jackie Day~ I Want Your Love and Naughty Boy on Phelectron Records (sold for $2,600)

Demures~ Raining Teardrops on Brunswick Records (sold for $1,250.99)

Districts~One Lover on Nile Records (sold for $2,139.00)

Troy Dodds~Try My Love on El Camino Records (sold for $1,540.00)

Betty Fikes & the Passions~ Prove it To Me on Southbound Records (sold for $1,102.77)

Forstson & Scott~Sweet Lover on Pzazz Records (sold for $2,225.00)

Four Tracks~Like My Love For You on Mandingo Records (sold for $1,179.00)

Kenny Gamble~The Jokes on You on Arctic Records (sold for $1.247.89)

Groovettes~Think It Over Baby on Reness Records (sold for $1,975.00)

Guitar Ray~You're Gonna Wreck My Life on Shagg Records (sold for $940.00)

Ivorys~Please Stay on Despenza Records (sold for $1,525.00)

Joe Jama~My Life on Optimum Records (Texas record label) (sold for $3,030.30)

Jokers~Soul Sound on Sko-Field (sold for $1,850.00)

Ty Karim~You Just Don't Know on Romark Records (sold for $4,300.00)

Otis Lee~Hard Row to Hoe on Quaint Records (sold for $2,081.57)

Sammy Lee~What Goes Around on Promco Records (sold for $1,425.00)

Limelights~Don't Leave Me Baby on Uncle Records (sold for $6,889.10)

Locations~Mister Diamond Man on Ron Paul Records (sold for $2,120.00)

Tony Matthews~My Wish on Convoy Records (sold for $785.00)

New Yorkers~Don't Wanna Be Your Fool on Tac-Ful Records (sold for $770.00)

Prince Paul & the Imperials~In the Beginning on Parker Records (sold for $1,642.00) 

Professionals~That's Why I Love You on Groove City Records (sold for $3,150.00)

Ravins~No One can Take the Place of You on Demo Ristic Records (sold for $4,550.00)

Servicemen~Sweet Magic on Chartmaker Records (sold for $1,424.09)

Soul Incorporated~My Proposal on Coconut Groove Records (sold for $2,325.00)

Soul Shakers~You're Turnin' on Teri De Records (sold for $1,625.00)

Patrinell Staten~ Little Love Affair on Sepia Records (sold for $4,550.00)

Elsie Strong~Go Away Gray Clouds on Empire Records (sold for $2,358.00)

Robert Tanner~Tell Me Your Name on Megatone Records (sold for $1,030)

Thee Midnighters~You're Gonna Make Me Cry on Whittier Records (sold for $810.00)

Turbines~We Got To Start Over on Cenco Records (sold for $2,075.00)

Al Williams~I am Nothing on Palmer Records (sold for $3,383.33)

Bernie Williams~Ever Again on Bell Records (sold for $2,225.00)

Juan Williams~My Girl Has Gone on Blue Soul Records (sold for $813.00)

Lots of money for a little 45 so search those stacks of 45's  carefully. 

When you're searching through a stack of 45's remember most big dollar 45's weren't  released by major labels so look for oddball record labels (most of the above are on minor labels).  Remember that these records didn't sell well when released and so the chances that your neighbor owns one or two is not that strong. It will be very helpful to get a price guide like the Manship guide. You can pick up a used one on eBay at a pretty reasonable price. You may have to wait a week or two for one to be offered. This will really help you in knowing what to look for.

Your best source for these rare 45's is a record dealer, auctioneer or collector locally who has bought out a big collection of 45's from a local radio station, collector (especially a soul music lover) or someone who picked up a large jukebox collection. Chances are that when they were selling them that people headed straight for Elvis, the Beatles, Motown, Aretha, etc and completely ignored these unknown 45's. Wherever you see a big collection of old 45's spend a few minutes looking for offbeat labels and artist. Usually you can buy 45's at 3 for a dollar so it's no great risk on your part.

One additional note: Putting Northern Soul in front of your record will not help you sell a record that really isn't. Collectors for this music know which singles are Northern Soul just as well as serious Doo-Wop, Jazz or Rockabilly collectors do. I saw a recent lot described as Northern Soul that had a Serendipity Singers 45 in the lot.

We'll try to post more high dollar 45's in the future so check back from time to time.

Happy hunting!

Bob & Kathy