Something a little bit different for today’s featured 45; this is Willie Small – How High Can You Fly – Jessica 401, evidently this was a Stafford spin in the 80′s for Keb Darge. The Stafford connection is probably why I like it; although I never went, nearly all the tunes I hear that are known Stafford sounds seem to be really good.

It’s hard to find out much about the label or the artist, but the track is written by Eddie Silvers; presumably the well known Chicago R&B personality who was involved in One-Der-Ful records. The label says it was distributed by Dot Record Dist of St Louis, Missouri. I wondered if Willie Small is a pseudonym of Little Willie John but maybe I’m reading too much into the name!

Anyway, its a really good uptempo dancer that has been a mod favourite as well as a Stafford play. Thin on lyrics but with an urgent drum beat and a great horn break I reckon it would suit both an R&B room or a main room playing other than oldies.

Click here to listen

Price wise it books at £25 but it has been seen recently between £30 and £50. It isn’t an uncommon record but with a few plays it could be popular again.

Willie Small on eBay:

Just back after a refreshing holiday touring the churchyards of Cornwall researching my family tree and to my wife’s dismay there is a sizeable pile of 7″ square brown parcels behind the door (plus a couple of cards from the post office) welcoming us on our return.

One of the cards produces a box which is 7″ x 6″ x 3″ and contains across the diagonal (ask Mr Pythagorus) this beautiful record wrapped in newspaper with no other packing! Quite how it has survived a transatlantic crossing in this flimsy packaging eludes me but thankfully it has.

As beautiful a mid-tempo female voice dancer as you could ask for, Patti’s as ever gorgeous voice describes how despite him treating her rough and everyone telling her how wrong for her he is; he’s good enough for her. Aww! hold that thought!

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Though it won’t appeal to the stomper crowd it certainly has dance floor appeal and is really professionally arranged and produced. This is not one for my sales box but one to add to my small but perfectly formed collection.

So what’s it gonna cost you? Another tricky one this as this is a good record that is quite hard to turn up but isn’t really an “in demander”. John Manship’s 3rd edition guide rates a mint copy at £125; this one cost me just short of £50 and I would grade it Ex although it does have “Good record” written across it as you can see from the scan. As it is a promo I like to think that this has been done by a radio station DJ in the 60′s to remind him which side to play, thus giving it some history, but it is just as likely to be some bozo who thinks it is a good thing to write on record labels.

Incidentally the track has also been covered by Mary Wells and this is just as good if at a slightly slower pace. It is an LP only track from a self titled LP, with a great picture of Mary on the cover, on the 20th Century label and is packed with good tracks. When I find my camera again I’ll put a scan of it up here (I might even sell my copy now I’ve got Patti’s single!)

Click here to listen to Mary Wells

This is one of those records that is quite difficult to find any information on. I don’t know who Cam Cameron is or where the label is from; googling Cam Cameron brings up loads of references to the offensive coach of the Baltimore Ravens!

I first heard it when rummaging through John Weston’s play box after he DJ’d at “These Old Shoes” soul club in London and stayed at my house afterwards. His copy was on the red label variant of the Capri label.

It actually took me another 3 years to find one, but it was worth the wait. Starting with a neat bit of drumming and horns coming in after, Cam’s really quite good vocal kicks in. A mid to up-tempo, highly danceable tune it’s got it all; good arrangement and backing, great vocal and group harmonies as an added bonus.

Click here to listen

Price wise this is one of those records that varies massively in price depending on whether it is getting played as it isn’t that well known. I’ve seen it at anything from £20 right up to £100. It isn’t too easy to find but I reckon a decent copy should be about £40 to £50.

Barbara Acklin – Raindrops – Capitol 3892

Uplifting 70′s soul from the woman that gave us “Love Makes A Woman” in the 60′s; Barbara Acklin.

Right from the intro it gets your fingers snapping and you know its a good tune. Credit to Jo Wallace for playing this to me last time she visited.

It isn’t an expensive one either, you should be able to pick one up for between £10 and £20 quite easily.

Click here to listen