The Joy of 45 Collecting: Lost 45 Tunes Not Available from iTunes, Spotify, or Similar Services
Jukebox "Snippet" 45s: Chronological List of Site Additions
As I add 45s to our inventory, I pick select 45s to highlight with mp3 "snippets" so you can hear the music yourself. I only record "snippets" of tunes I particularly like, ones I think have been under-played and under-appreciated, or ones that are so rare and wonderful I'll never hear them otherwise. For myself, I keep an iTunes playlist of these "snippets," and that playlist is one I listen to most often. These pages chronicle the mp3 "snippets" I've added to our online "jukebox" in reverse chronological order. You can browse the pages to see what was added and when. Click on the blue "Play" button to play the snippet, or click on a song's title to load the page. Many of these 45 records are still for sale, though just as many have been sold. I hope you enjoy perusing these pages as much as I have enjoyed putting them together!
Here's a beautiful copy of the rare first pressing of this Girl Group classic, on the light blue Philles label. (Forty years on as a record collector/dealer, I'm finally holding a Near Mint copy of this rare single! All the previous copies I've sold were second pressings, on the yellow/red Philles label.) I've posted an mp3 "snippet" to the Classic 45s jukebox so you can hear for yourself... Have a listen!
Other than her country of origin (Canada), I don't know anything about this mid-1970s soul singer. Except — Wow! What a great single she made! And what good fortune that it got enough airplay and sales to reach the bottom of Billboard's Black/RnB Singles chart in 1974. This record is so instantly likable that I just had to make snippet for the Classic 45s "jukebox" — have a listen!
Here's a beautiful copy of this rare 1968 Soul single, featuring a lovely ballad on the A side and a seriously great dance number on the flip. Both tracks had previously been released on the small Bashie label. The audio of this vinyl pressing is very close to Mint on both sides — have a listen to the mp3 snippet of "I'm In Danger" I've added to the Classic 45s "jukebox."
The Wombles were furry creatures seen on a British children's TV show. This studio group had a string of big hits in the U.K., though, oddly, this excellent production (you could also call it Bubblegum) wasn't released in the U.K. (as far as I can determine). Yet it was their only chart single here! Go figure. No matter... In this outing, the producers got the early 1960s "feel" exactly right, somehow managing to concoct an irresistible revival of that U.S. Surf Rock sound (a la the Beach Boys).
Now, here's an interesting single: The A side is a pleasing, mid tempo Country/Folk Rocker, the group's only chart tune; the flip ("Queen...") is more adventurous, with an infectious rhythm that proves as catchy as the hit side. Behind the great grooves is a short-lived "supergroup" with an impressive pedigree: Craig Fuller (Pure Prairie League), Eric Kaz (Blues Magoos), Steve Katz (Blood, Sweat & Tears) and Doug Yule (Velvet Underground). Oh, also, at the production wheel is famed Beatles producer George Martin.
This essential Garage Rock single not only has a truly awesome A side, but a B side winner as well. Three members of this group joined Eric Carmen in the early 1970's to form the Raspberries.
Rummage through hundreds of original-issue 45's for $6.00 or less!
Now playing:
Midnight Train To Georgia by Gladys Knight and the Pips
Everybody Loves A Lover by The Shirelles
These virtual "boxes" are for you folks who only like new, unplayed or pristine Mint 45s.
