You're Ready Now/ Cry For Me

From a warehouse find, this is a new, unplayed stock copy, in its original factory sleeve. Frankie Valli, a soul singer? Well... sure... why not! According to Kev Roberts' book listing the 500 top Northern Soul singles, this one was "arguably the first Northern 45 to chart due to regional demand." Released in 1966 as one of a few singles Valli released on Mercury/Smash before switching back to Phillips, this one only barely scraped the bottom of the Hot 100's "Bubbling Under" charts. But then it was revived in the U.K.'s northern soul clubs and was turned into a big hit there, charting at #11 in 1970. Play it in a set of other fast-beat northern singles, and it's clearly in the right company. :-) Note: This is the original 1966 U.S. release.