Advance Warning: Purepop Set Sale - Sunday 28th July 2024 at 10pm BST (UK)

 

Hi all

Head over here on Sunday 28th  (10pm BST)

https://purepopsetsale.blogspot.com/

Here is the advance warning for the Purepop set sale going live Sunday July 28th 2024 at 10pm BST (UK time)

An advance warning via email has been sent to those already on my list. If you are not on the list or haven’t received this email please let me know

This time there are no records in an auction, purely set sale on a first come, first served basis

This is how the list is made up:

Part 1: 60s Freakbeat, Garage, Beat and Psych 

Part  2: 70s Junkshop Glam, Proto Punk, Heavy Rock and Bonehead 

Again, it's first come, first served with the lists emailed Sunday 28th July  at 10pm (BST) 11pm (CET), 5pm (EST), 2pm (PST), and 9am (Monday) Sydney NSW

The list goes out as an email with a PDF attachment, the body of the email will have the list without pictures

At 10pm BST on Sunday, I will publish the full list with pics sound clips and prices on the Blog https://purepopsetsale.blogspot.com/

Publishing the full list with sound clips, prices and details on this blog will ensure that everyone has access at the same time as there can be delays in emails being received

Important: Only communicate/claim via email.  I will not accept requests via Facebook messenger, What's app etc…This is to make it a level playing field as much as possible

Until Sunday then...

Best

Robin

Den Bosch Record Fair April 2024 - Day 3

So I am back home now with 130 singles. I was a bit downbeat in my review yesterday, but today I had a good ride. Altogether across the 3 days, I bought more, but spent less...

I had been noticing and was slightly confused by this Norwegian Who single over the years in Utrecht and Den Bosch - why was it priced so high and why was the Norwegian issue cheaper? OK the Norwegian version is called The Beatles cover (as Keith is wearing a Beatles T shirt), but the Danish wind terms of aesthetics, Still a strange Scandinavian idea to issue Bucket T as an A side. Note I only bought it as the seller halved its price for me

Also got a nice deal on the Dynamites EP along with some nice US and other singles

Now things are definitely changing. Some of the more interesting dealers are going to go more mainstream with the singles they bring. Major artists cater to the Saturday crowd and the more "niche" collectables are no longer selling as they once were.

It looks like the market will veer more to smaller more specialist fairs, which is a shame, but hey we'll see. 

In a couple of months I will be heading to a special fair I have not visited before and I will report back on that one when it happens

Den Bosch Record Fair April 2024 - Day 2

 

Quantity and good deals were the order of the day. Nothing really mind-blowing, but the UK Kinks David Watts EP is probably the pick of the bunch.

There was less trading in top 60s singles as with fairs elsewhere big ticket LPs are now ruling the roost. 

Not sure how things will progress, but the signs are not good for my favourite format. It doesn't help that some dealers are opportunistic gougers. I mean €450 for an Excelsior Spring, €600 for a 32nd Turn Off? I don't think so...

Still got a healthy dose of Kinks singles/EPs in top condition. The French EPs seem unplayed and still have the tab (languette)

60s singles were still well represented

And more 70s Junkshop and NederGlam for a future list

Not sure what to expect tomorrow. For the first time I have only spent half of budget by the end of Saturday , but I didn't spot anything I was really gagging for

Den Bosch Record Fair April 2024 - Day 1

 

So here we go again...

I arrived yesterday (Thursday) and made a quick visit to the outdoor fair at Utrecht (highlight The French Screaming Lord Sutch EP and lunch at Five Guys)

Then took a 2nd train to Brabant.

I picked up quite a bit today, mainly good deals, o I spent less than usual for a Friday and also walked less. (16.000 steps instead of over 20.000)

The biggest surprise was a whole bunch of South African Beat

The expected Glam/Junkshop/Proto Punk

The Bill Case is NUTS (The Trems)

US Sixties

60s Mix

Oh and a few sleeves. Worryingly the stall had boxes of singles and 2 boxes of sleeves - I went straight to the sleeve boxes while having a hot flush...

I think today had a certain subdued consistency. Let's see if things go ape-shit-bonkers -crazy tomorrow...

Roger Noel Cook (Stud Leather) 18 June 1946 – 10 March 2024

 

Very sad to hear about the passing of Roger Cook. For readers of this blog he will forever be associated with the wild high energy slab of madness which is Cut Loose

He was so much more than this though. He made a fortune with Paul Raymond along with his career in comics - read the fine obituary here

https://downthetubes.net/in-memoriam-doctor-who-comic-writer-editor-and-musician-roger-noel-cook/

More than anything he was a lovely and approachable guy. 

He was happy and helpful when it came to featuring Cut Loose on Bonehead Crunchers 3 and having the single reissued in on a small label back in 2016.

It was so cool of him to pick me up in his green Bentley and to spend an afternoon at his his plush residence in Spain. He had a recording studio set up and was still actively involved in music with the Spanish version of X Factor.

Sometimes good guys make it...

God bless you Roger

Chorish (Cherish?) – Big Daddy – Unknown UK Glam Acetate (1974)

 

Chorish  (Sherish?)– Big Daddy – Emidisc Acetate – 27/06/1974 (UK)

Total mystery time, there’s absolutely nothing found about this anywhere. I thought at first that this would be an ode to the 70s wrestling star, but no, it's just some eager young ladies waiting for a big daddy to shake ‘em and take ‘em...

Production-wise it bears some similarities with the Angels Of Islington, but on a more adult theme

The production is actually spot on (3rd mix!). So who is this and who is behind it? Sounds like another hit that wasn’t even given the chance to be heard

Hear a full version of Big Daddy

Khristian Young/Barry Rolfe – Boadicea/Sayonara -Obscure UK Junkshop Glam/Proto-Punk (1973

 

Khristian Young – Boadicea/Sayonora – Surrey Road Records -PSR115 (1973 UK)

Khristian Young’s Boadecia is a hitherto unknown entry in the Junkshop Glam/Proto Punk cannon. The points of reference are that Barry Rolfe released a different version of Boadicea on the B side of his Beam Me Up Aboard Mr. Spock single. 

The producer is one Bob Bloomfield who officiated across both releases.

I believe that Khristian is in fact Barry Rolfe. The Khristian Young version is much more cutting, but somebody forgot about the bottom end. It probably has the tinniest sound you will ever find, so it’s up to you to play with the equaliser! 

Khristian’s version also has an extra snotty, sneering Punk delivery compared to the Barry version. I have added the Barry version to the video for comparison. The B side Sayonara is an earlier version of Molly Molly (B side of Look The Business). It has a wider sound  with proper EQ, it’s a real driving slab chugging Glam. The backing  is provided by Britania (here spelt as Brittannia) who released the Glamster Right Down The Line on EMI. All releases have the same publisher (Golden City Music) involved.

So there you go – is the case convincing that this is Barry Rolfe? He was good at playing ruses as he was also known as Nicky Rolfe on the 2 Bell releases.

Hear full versions of both  Boadiceas and the B side Sayonora (in that order)

The Huntingtons – You Lose, I Win – Obscure Doom Folkrock (1965)

 The Huntingtons – You Lose, I Win/ Is There a Way – Highland Records 1167 (1965 USA)

Now here is a real moody gem which seems to be completely under the radar. The performance on You Lose, I win exudes a real sense of doom and despair. The instrumentation is dramatic and the backing vocals sound like an open invitation to suicide with the vocalists appear ing to have already taken quite a few Mogadons to ease into the ride. There’s definitely a Surf reverb feels on the guitar, so this must be the first example of Surf Goth...

The B side, Is There a Way is slightly more upbeat in a Beatles kind of way, but the interplay between the acoustic and Fender/Mosrite guitar is very impactful and sounds like a stereo idea in a mono world…

At least 2 members - Joe Aguayo, Ray Luna were school friends at Huntington Park High School (class of ’63), so there is no relation to the other Huntingtons on Wasp or Yorkshire

Joy through despair!

Here a full version of You Lose, I Win/ Is There a Way

Den Bosch Record Fair November 23 - Day 3

Finally back home and completely worn out. Note to self: Get much fitter for next April!

Anyhow I picked up a nice mixed bunch including some spares for my next list

I seem to have a bit of a Paul Revere and Raiders fetish - The German EP has a strange song selection - not a hit in sight

Perhaps the November  fair didn't quite reach the heights of last April, but I am well pleased with many of the finds

Robin signing off (Yawn...)

Den Bosch Record Fair November 23: Round up of Day 2

 

The 11 of the 11^th is the day when the area goes nuts in a very Dutch way…

But the record fair seems to take place each year over the same weekend

So a more subdued affair at the fair, still some nice pieces including the great Motions single. The Bugs are on the B side of the rather weird Strangler in the Night. 

More info on this one here https://thelisteningpostblog.wordpress.com/2019/12/01/song-of-the-day-albert-desalvo-strangler-in-the-night/

Not sure how fruitful tomorrow will be. I have my eyes on a real obscure gem, but I don’t feel confident that my offer will be successful

Den Bosch Record Fair November 23: Round up of Day 1

 Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder… 

I digress

So back to Den Bosch then for the mighty fair. The lay out is different for the November fairs as more dealers take part so it gets spread out over 2 immense halls. It seems were are talking about 700 dealers (compared to 500 in April)?

Hall 1

Hall 2

One of the benefits is that there is a wider variety of stuff to be found, the downside…well there is a wider variety of stuff to seek out!

A good first day, with one key want now happily owned. Yes we are talking about the Swinging Machine. I never noticed how it resembles The Squires Going All The Way. Especially nice to get it at a very reasonable price. 

Another great one where I probably paid a bit over for was The Sevens. 

The Green Beans in its glorious pic sleeve was another top find, in near perfect condition.

A fun one is the Stach De RolA Danish only single – or Prince Stash (Prince Stanislas Klossowski de Rola) friend of the Stones, a Swinging London happening and now a TIKTOK star.

 

Anyway a good first day. Saturday might be a bit more measured then I expect a return to quantity on Sunday. We’ll see…

Bye for now

Starlust album (2023) !

 

Starlust – Lost N Found – Reminder Records REM 20 (US 2023) 

Finally a release that tells the tale of the Steve Starlust saga with tracks recorded between 77 and 1980. After so many years was it worth the wait? 

Read on… 

The first side is a revelation as it features performances that remained unreleased until now .The chugging Sad Anita that opens the set can be considered a supremely melodic Cars number with a sprinkling  of Velvet Underground New York sleaze. Tightrope Line continues in a similar vein with some great guitar interjections. The energy levels are then upped for Evil Woman which is fine riff rock comfortably poised within its Tuff Darts, Demons or Brats setting. I’m Going Home again fits perfectly with a near Heartbreakers vibe. You Are The Only breaks the pace and is a calmer spot which jangles and swoons to the senses. This proves to be a short respite before the wild and invigorating No Time For Love concludes this near perfect side. 

If these tracks had been released at the time its repercussions would have been felt far and wide

Side  2 culls the four tracks released between 77 and 1980 as by Starlust and The Grapplers. All 4 of these tracks have increasingly been recognised by collectors and hip groovers as bona fide winners. I therefore refer you back to my initial reviews of these 2 platters. 

http://purepop1uk.blogspot.com/2019/02/starlust-girly-books-magazines-obscure.html

https://purepop1uk.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-grapplers-tonites-nite-who-are-they.html

As well as  these 4 performances you will find another unreleased tune Just For One Night which feels a bit more intricate with more overt AOR leanings but still firmly positioned on the rougher edge of that spectrum

 I am really glad that my initial review of The Starlust single led to Steve getting in touch with me with the next obvious step of introducing Steve to Jeremy @ Reminder which was the natural home for getting this stuff finally released. The package is also great with the sadly now bearded Collin Makamson writing the erudite liner notes. 

 Before buying the vinyl you can check out all the songs on the album here

   

Purepop 48hr mini auction August 2023

 Hi

Over on the Purepop  sister sale site, a 48 auction is now open. Bidding closes Sunday 10pm BST (UK)

PUREPOP 48hr Mini Auction

Advance Warning: Purepop Set Sale and Mini Auction - Coming soon! Sunday 25th June 2023 at 10pm BST (UK)

 

Hi The list will be published at the link below at 10pm BST (UK) this Sunday. More details already available here

https://purepopsetsale.blogspot.com/

Thanks

Robin

Eskees – I’m Free - Obscure US Glam/Powerpop (1975)

 

Eskees – I’m Free/I Sure Miss My Friends – Self- release (US 1975)

Here’s a real obscure one, but a really great track that veers between riff rock, Glam and Powerpop. They certainly knew how to recognise and maximise a hook to its best effect with slashing guitars

The band were based in Las Vegas, but were an outgrowth of a band called The Esquires (yes, yet another one) from Belvidere, Illinois. The Esquires released the Am I To Blame / Pretty Little Blue Girl single on Feature in 1967. Pat Glass who wrote both sides, joined the Esquires in 1969, then moved to Las Vegas with the band changing its name to Eskees.

Hear a full version of I’m Free

Den Bosch Record Fair - Day 3 (Sunday)

So that was it - the 3rd edition of the Den Bosch fair. It was a good fair, perhaps not quite a buzzy as November's, but that is often the case. Great stuff though

So I walked 77,138 steps, spent too much money and came back with some great titles.

I have now definitely made the jump emotionally from Utrecht to Den Bosch. The Thursday outdoor Utrecht fair is REALLY rubbish, cheap shit and clueless chancers, so I will refrain from stopping off at Utrecht on the way.to Den Bosch again. Utrecht you are now dead to me

What is missing from Den Bosch are large hotels within a short walk of the fair. Utrecht had the NH and Park Plaza where there was a great amount of socialising with other buyers and sellers. In Den Bosch everyone is spread out. 

I ended up staying in a converted convent, that was actually really cool, however a 32 minute  walk from the fair.

So the last day

Pick up of the bunch is the French Love EP. Old shop stock with the tab (languette) and seamingly unplayed, paid a bit too much, but it's now done.

Swedes...The Shakers improve on Thee Stones' original - still desperately missing Who Will Buy (These Wonderful Evils).

and a few Yanks... The UK McCoys demo is a highlight

Till November then!

Den Bosch Record Fair April 2023 - Day2

 

A more subdued day today...

It seems dealers are more and more expecting Discogs asking prices (NOT sold prices), so there were many records I had to walk away from.

Thank god for some sellers I know well and who's best price request often cane out better than I was expecting (often 30% less than asking price)

Love the French Beau Brummels EP - still with the "languette" (as is The Motions). The Charlatans is Danish so nice to have it with a small hole

I love the German pic sleeve for the MPD Ltd. It's not in the best condition, but I am sure another will pop up one day

Tomorrow many sellers drop their prices by 25 - 50%., so hopefully I will get some nice deals done

Den Bosch Record fair April 2023 - Day 1

Hi 

As a change to the way I usually do these reports, I have done a short video - saves me typing! 

Here are also the Photos of today's haul

>

Reform - One For The Boys/ Salt Away - Crunching Irish Glam (1974)

 

Reform – One For The Boys/ Salt Away – Young Blood International YB 1066 (UK 1974)

This one has been hard to track down as it has taken me over 10 years to finally acquire a copy. Reform also had another great single in a similar vein namely I’m Gonna Get You http://purepop1uk.blogspot.com/2012/09/reform-im-gonna-get-you.html

One For The Boys was produced by Miki Dallon in the UK and shares similarities with contemporary singles such as Getting Hungry by Big Boy Blue as it features slight Barron Knight inflections without forsaking its Irish pedigree “The crack…”. 

Now I had never heard the B side before and Salt Away is a revelation with a fully bloodied raucousness recalling acts like The Sensation, Brother Susan and other 1974 crunchers

More information on Reform can be found here https://www.irishrock.org/irodb/bands/reform.html

Hear full sound clips of both sides

Cold Touch - Ride to live, Live to Ride - Essential unreleased Bonehead

 

Cold Touch – Ride to Live, Live to Ride – Splattered Records -Splat 30 (US 2022)

A few years back I was sent an obscure Gold Star acetate that set many a tail wagging. http://purepop1uk.blogspot.com/2018/06/cold-touch-ride-to-live-live-to-ride.html   The singer then got in touch with me and once I heard there were further recordings, I contacted Reed at Splattered Records, as I knew this could be right up his street

Heavy and not so ‘umble, these lost recordings by Cold Touch hit the spot and would be positioned high in the Bonehead Parthenon. The recordings are  basic but of high quality, rough with just the right amount of ready 

The opening trio of Ride to Live, Greasepaint Widow and Derailed Ladies (what a great title!) set the scene of much of what is to come. Again, as demonstrated on the acetate singer Barry has an inimitable garble-warble which is quite remarkable in its uniqueness and character. 

His vocal delivery is in perfect fit with the heavy powerful Thudding that underlines these gems. Land of The Foxes has a Love It To Death Alice Cooper feel to it. 

Side 2 is more of a mixed bag with a saxophone which tarnished the acetate version of Ride to Live, making further appearances. I have always had an aversion to men sticking things in their mouths and blowing on them, although I am partial to a bit of harp – go figure! There are still gems on the 2nd side including Rock n’ Roll Star which somehow reminds me of Mogan Davis and His Winos! The 2nd side also includes several alternative versions of some of the best tunes from side one, however often derailed by the sax

If some of these songs had come out at the time, people would be clamouring about them in the same way as Seompi, Supachief or Purple Sun. If this album had been released privately back then it would certainly be commanding four figure sums nowadays.

All in all it’s still an essential release and full marks to Splattered records for releasing this, however for some reason there are no liner notes or any information on the band line ups or recording dates.

From the online interviews found here .primitivemansoundz - Cold Touch it seems these sessions either took place in 74 or 75. 

There are still a few copies left here https://www.splatteredrecords.com/

Purepop Set Sale and 48hr Mini Auction -Sunday 22nd January 2023

 

Hi all

The new Purepop set sale and mini auction goes live at 10pm GMT on Sunday 22nd January.

The list with pics and sound clips will be launched here PUREPOP set sale and mini auction

The list also goes out by email to those on my list

Thanks and good luck

Robin

Den Bosch Record Fair November 2022 - Day 4: Sunday

 I was glad to have stuck around on Sunday as I made some great deals, often knocking off 50% on many items I was looking at over previous days

Perhaps the icing on the cake is The Emeralds - UK copies were housed in Dutch printed sleeve, such a cracker I only discovered a few months ago

Some other nice titles at reasonable prices

And yet more spares for my next list

So all in all, I think Den Bosch is making good sense. Things are different, so many of the old dealers and no longer present. 2 years of COVID and the change of location has meant that many old favourites have jumped ship. However there is some promising flesh blood, so it's all looking good for the future

Bring on April then!

Den Bosch Record Fair November 2022: Day 3 Saturday

 

Today, picked up a few singles, then got a lift for a furtive glance to check what was going on at The Collector/Antique fair at the old Jaarbeurs location.

Although there is a dedicated area for records/CDs, there were no more than 5-6 dealers, I still managed to pick up that elusive 2nd Belfast Gypsies EP at a bargain price

A good score at Den Bosch were these really clean Tages singles. The sleeves are usually in rough condition as the paper is very fragile.

along with some US titles.

Tomorrow I will be back at the Den Bosch fair, to make a few offers on some singles I had my eye on, then train-plane-home with my aged cheese and records