J.J. BARNES & STEVE MANCHA RARE STAMPS INSANELY RARE ORIG '69 PROMO-ONLY MONO LP

$

89

WE CURRENTLY HAVE  NEARLY 400  LISTED ITEMS

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·       J.J. BARNES AND STEVE MANCHA– RARE STAMPS. VOL. 1 (THERE WOULD NEVER BE A VOLUME 2)– ORIGINAL 1969 VOLT RECORDS MONO LP VOM-6001

·       ORIGINAL U.S. PRESSING

·       *** PROMOTIONAL COPY; THE RECORD HAS STOCK LABELS; HOWEVER, THE PROMOTIONAL STAMP ON THE COVER AND THE PROMO BANNER ON THE LABELS CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE ITEM AS PROMOTIONAL ***

·       *** ULTRA-RARE PROMOTIONAL-ONLY MONO COPY; MONO VERSION OF THIS ALBUM WAS NEVER COMMERCIALLY RELEASED IN ANY WAY OR FORM ***

·       ORIGINAL BLUE VOLT LABEL WITH RED “THUNDERBOLT” LOGO (EARLY-70’s STYLE), BUT WITH THE PROMOTIONAL MONO BANNER ADDED TO THE LABEL AND WITH UNIQUE MONO CATALOG NUMBER

·       THIS IS THE ORIGINAL, AUTHENTIC, FIRST U.S. PRESSING; THIS IS NOT A REISSUE, AN IMPORT, OR A COUNTERFEIT PRESSING.

·       ORIGINAL, THICK CARDBOARD COVER (AMERICAN STYLE) [THIS IS A STEREO COVER; APPARENTLY, NO "PROPER" MONO COVERS WERE EVER PRODUCED FOR THIS TITLE]

·       THICK, HEAVY VINYL PRESSING

·       CLEAN, WEAR-FREE LABELS

·       MONO version of this album has NEVER been available on legitimate Compact Disc or in any other digital format.

(►PLEASE SEE THE IMAGE OF THE COVER, LABEL OR BOTH, SHOWN BELOW)

(Note: this is a REAL image of the ACTUAL item you are bidding on. This is NOT a "recycled" image from our previous auction. What you see is what you'll get.  GUARANTEED!)

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Rare Stampers Vol.1 might have been a better title, but the pun would not have worked. Back-to-back on one Stax album, one side each on the original 1969 vinyl, Rare Stamps Vol.1 matches two of Detroit’s greatest soul voices, JJ Barnes and Steve Mancha – but Stax was a Southern label, right? What were they doing appearing on this Memphis citadel of soul? And why didn’t either become stars? Both gained legendary status on the Northern soul scene, a sure sign that they didn’t really break big during their prime, as many Northern fans prefer exclusive ear-ticklers to mass-market sounds. But it does not take much listening to Rare Stamps Vol.1 to learn that JJ Barnes and Steve Mancha had talent to match soul’s superstars, even if they didn’t get the breaks others enjoyed.

These two artists saw release on Stax when their producer, Don Davis, hitched his Groovesville production company and label to the Memphis corporation. Davis had been on the Detroit soul scene since the late 50s, and played on Motown sessions (ʻMoney (That’s What I Want’) by Barrett Strong, for example) before striking out as a producer. He cut a lot of records at United Sound Systems, Detroit’s first proper recording facility, second only to Motown’s Hitsville in the city’s soul studio hierarchy.

Rare Stamps Vol.1 sounds Detroit; you’d never mistake it for a Memphis recording. This is one reason why fine sides such as Barnes’ ʻBaby Please Come Back Home’ didn’t do as well as they might have when Stax issued them in the UK; DJs were probably nonplussed by this Motownesque material appearing on the label. The album also sounds earlier than its release date of May 1969, with Mancha’s glorious tunes, in particular, sounding very mid-60s – which is when they were recorded. A further problem was that the world already had Marvin Gaye. Barnes’ voice had an uncanny, entirely accidental resemblance to that of the Motown legend, and Mancha was also a tad Marv-like, as the wonderful ʻDon’t Make Me A Story Teller’ testifies (and, boy, does it testify). The odds were stacked against their success at Stax, then, but that doesn’t make Rare Stamps Vol.1 any less, er, marvellous – and it means, unfortunately, that the album lives up to its title. These are great soul records that are collectors’ items.

Barnes’ side is packed with thrillers. ʻChains Of Love’ is an awesome R&B groover fit to spin alongside any dancefloor-oriented Detroit smash of 1966-67. ʻNow That I Got You Back’ has a bare and simple intro that offers few clues about the steadily-building majesty of the song proper. ʻEasy Living’, which saw service as a UK B-side, has all the drama of a Norman Whitfield production, its striking piano, xylophone and orchestral introduction more suggestive of a thriller-movie soundtrack, not a thrilling, moving soul track. ʻSweet Sherry’ became a Northern soul favourite, driving towards a chorus that’s echoed on a thousand dancefloors. ʻBaby Please Come Back Home’ has long since wrecked hearts and hips. This is top-quality 60s soul incarnate.

Steve Mancha gets six songs to confirm his credentials as a Detroit hero; one, the pleading ʻKeep The Faith’, gave a credo to the entire Northern soul nation. ʻDon’t Make Me A Story Teller’ and the floating, heartfelt ballad ʻI Don’t Wanna Lose You’ made the US R&B charts in 1966 and ’67; ʻHate Yourself In The Morning’, first issued as a 7” in 1968, is a smouldering tale of a man deceived; its original B-side, ʻA Love Like Yours’, again has shades of Marvin Gaye in the vocal. The closing ʻJust Keep On Loving Me’ is the most dated thing here, with a halting cha-cha-cha that’s like soul ’63 though it was first issued in ’67.

Rare Stamps Vol.1 didn’t set the world on fire, but there’s no doubting its soulful credibility. The label used the concept to release two further volumes, by Eddie Floyd and Johnnie Taylor. The latter is key to the release of Barnes and Mancha’s edition: Stax brought Groovesville boss Don Davis to the label to enable it to keep up with developments in Detroit soul.

Davis delivered a smash with Taylor’s ʻWho’s Making Love’, giving his catalogue considerable cachet at the Memphis company. Hence Barnes’ and Mancha’s Detroit thrillers receiving a release on an unlikely imprint. Two of the Mancha sides were covered on a further 1969 Stax album, Boy Meets Girl, with Taylor and Carla Thomas delivering a far more contemporary cut of ʻJust Keep On Loving Me’, and Thomas and Eddie Floyd transforming ʻDon’t Make Me A Story Teller’. Rare Stamps Vol.1 was not only an album, then, it was a resource.

Barnes cut further fine records at the Perception, Contempo, Inferno and Motorcity labels, but none delivered the breakthrough he deserved. Mancha became heavily entwined with the Hot Wax and Invictus labels owned by Holland-Dozier-Holland, singing with 100 Proof Aged In Soul and The 8th Day, and briefly worked with Parliament. Solo fame was never his, either. The best records of both singers, with just a handful missing, can be found right here, on their unlikely Memphis album.

 (EXCERPT FROM AN ONLINE REVIEW BY IAN McCANN

What we have here technically DOES NOT EXIST and is not supposed to exist. To our best knowledge, the existence of this PROMO-ONLY mono version of this great East Coast psychedelic album has never been substantiated, and none of the price books and guides currently in print make any reference to its history or background. According to both Tim Neely and Neil Umphread price guides (multiple editions), there is no such thing… The historical importance of this item cannot be overestimated: this is an equivalent of discovering a long-lost animal or plant species!!!.

The PROMOTIONAL, RADIO STATION-, AUDITION OR DEMONSTRATION COPIES AND RELEASES (such as the one we have here) were often distributed among the radio stations before the record was released to the public, sometimes as much as four months ahead. These records are generally considered to be the "first among equals", which is to say the VERY FIRST generation and the VERY FIRST pressings of the particular title; a PROTOTYPE and the earliest known official pressing of the record. (a moot point here,  since this rare promo-only MONO version of the album was never commercially released to begin with).

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·       CONDITION:

·       RECORD

(IMPORTANT NOTE: unless otherwise noted, ALL records are graded visually, and NOT play-graded!; we  grade records under the strong, diffuse room light or discrete sunlight)

(a)          WE GRADE THE VINYL AS EXCELLENT. This is one of those albums that are somewhat difficult to grade. It is somewhere between VG++ and NEAR MINT, just a notch below NEAR MINT. A few light abrasions ARE visible, but they are extremely shallow, superficial  and only moderately visually distracting (nothing significant).For the most part, the vinyl looks impeccable without any MAJOR visual flaws or imperfections. Much of the original luster is intact, and the vinyl shines and sparkles almost like new.

(b)            The record is pressed on a beautiful, thick, inflexible vinyl, which was usually used for the first or very early pressings. Usually, the sound on such thick vinyl pressings is full-bodied, vivid, and even dramatic. Do not expect to obtain such a majestic analog sound from a digital recording!

(c)             Promo-only MONO version of this title is much rarer that a regular, commercially released, version of this title. We estimate that stock copies of this album outnumber promo copies by a ratio of at least 100:1.

(d)          Of course, this is a full-bodied ANALOG recording, and not an inferior, digital recording!!!

·                               THE COVER

THE COVER IS NICE --- ABOUT VERY GOOD++ (VG++).

The following flaws or imperfections are noted on the cover:

-        Cover has some  writing on its back side (a small filing code written in one corner in thick black marker, about 1 x 2 inches in size)

-        Cover has some light ring wear (nothing significant); On the scale from 1 to 10 (1 being the least, and  10 being the most severe), we assess the severity of ring wear as 2  (front side) and 4 (back side)

-        Back cover has circular tarnish (grayish, dust-covered sections, which closely follow the contour of the record),  probably caused by friction or by rubbing against other covers during the storage. The tarnish is similar in appearance to a common ring wear, but, UNLIKE ring wear, these grayish areas may be possible to clean up with a minor effort and with a right cleansing solution.

-        Cover shows some light yellowing on back side, apparently from aging (nothing significant)

-        Cover has a few tiny wrinkles along the spine  (nothing significant)

-         Cover has two corners slightly worn / dinged (nothing significant)

NO OTHER VISIBLE FLAWS OR IMPERFECTIONS ON THE  COVER

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POSTAGE & SHIPPING:

We offer THREE postage rates for both Domestic and International Mail: Media Mail, Priority Mail and Express Mail for domestic, and First Class, Priority International Mail, and Express International Mail for international orders. INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE: WE RECOMMEND (BUT DO NOT INSIST) that you select USPS International Priority Mail OR International Express mail when making a payment.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE rates vary from one region of  the world to another. For SPECIFIC international and domestic postage rates ►click here. While you can be rest assured that our packaging is careful, sturdy and impact-proof, please note that damage, loss or theft in transit is always possible, and in the case of some countries even PROBABLE. To discuss this potential problem and ensure flawless delivery, please contact us thru eBay BEFORE placing a bid.

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OUR REFUND POLICY :

WE OFFER UNCONDITIONAL MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE RECEIPT OF THE MERCHANDISE, NO QUESTIONS ASKED; Still sealed items MUST be returned sealed in order to be eligible for a refund Some restrictions apply. Please read our complete refund policy before placing a bid. ►Click here  for the full text of our policy

FINE (BUT IMPORTANT!) PRINT

 (1) The year indicated in the title bar is the year of the original release,  NOT necessarily the year of the actual pressing; for the actual generation of the pressing, please see our item description (top section, text in red letters). (2) Please do NOT bid based on the title bar, subtitle bar or item specifics box alone; instead, please read the entire description and grading before bidding; (3) Absolutely NO order cancellations after the auction closes. ever, under any circumstances. We can ONLY cancel bids before the item closes. (4) We are unable to cancel bids in the final 12 hours of the auction; if you need to do so, please contact eBay for help (5) We are unable to provide matrix-, stamper- or other pressing  information in the final 24 hours of the auction. If you require this information, please contact us well before the final day of the auction. (6) Yes, we DO combine shipments. Please click on "Shipping and Payment" tab on top of the auction page for additional details. (7)  All Paypal payments must be made from confirmed Paypal shipping addresses. NO third party shipping addresses will be honored  (8) Absolutely NO partial refunds: if you are unhappy with the merchandise you received, please return it for a full refund, postage included (9). Civilized people can disagree without accusing each other of being indecent or dishonest; if you need proof of this seller's personal integrity, please check our eBay feedback, which speaks for itself  (10) All disagreements and miscommunications can be - and will only be - solved in a civil and mutually respectful manner;  please avoid puerile, offensive, abrasive or menacing language (attempted humor is fine and usually appreciated, although overused-to-death sarcasms can be really, really tedious. (11) This seller will accommodate all reasonable requests and is generally a flexible and agreeable person (12) Our love & appreciation for your trust, loyalty and business, always and forever;  Thank You & Good Night!

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