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 this rarely seen James Brown 45, which was released in 1971 but apparently pulled after negative reaction to Brown's groundbreaking use of a fuzz guitar in the intro and heavy electric guitar presence throughout the track. Hence, this is one of a tiny few of Brown's singles that failed to chart in the U.S. when released, especially during this period when he was still red-hot on the charts. Such a striking combo long before Michael Jackson, Prince, Run-DMC and other Funk-a-teers adopted a heavy-metal-style guitar into their otherwise Funky musical mix, it demanded an mp3 "snippet" for our "jukebox" so you can heave a listen... Enjoy! The recording also features Brown chanting "How D'Ya Like Me Now!" long before Kool Moe Dee made the phrase ubiquitous in the 1980s. By the way, the song was re-recorded in an entirely different (and, to my ears, much less interesting) Funk style and became a #1 hit in early 1972. This 1971 single was a non-album release.
Here's a beautiful copy of this early Sam Cooke classic... one of the nicest I've had in the store since opening in 2001! Have a listen to the mp3 "snippet" to recall what a great tune this is.
This terrific 1973 rarity has a B side that's definitely worth celebrating with an mp3 "snippet" in our online "jukebox"... I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! By the way, this was a non-album single.
Here's a beautiful copy of this obscure late Turtles single I'd never heard before myself. The A side is a musically ambitious Power Pop number that I'll want to hear again, but the clever, light-hearted B side rocker ultimately sold me. Have a listen to the mp3 "snippet" I've added to our online "jukebox"! By the way, I believe some copies of this release show the B side title as "Bachelor Mother", which clarifies the lyrics for me.
Though the A side is the band's most famous song and was a hit again for Nazz's guitarist and songwriter, Todd Rundgren, in 1973—in fact, it was Rundgren's biggest hit and only top 10 single—my personal fave is the terrific, snarly B side. Rundgren had clearly been listening to the Who, but that's OK: It's a great song and a great sound! That Nazz and SGC thought so, too, is evidenced by the fact that "Open My Eyes" was the original A side of the single when it was first released in 1968. As the chart information shows, "Eyes" charted nearly 6 months before "Hello" started up the chart.
This rare 1975 single didn't make any impression on radio programmers at the time, but it sure made an impression on me! It's a dynamite Northern Soul-style dancer you won't want to be without... Have a listen to the mp3 "snippet" to hear it.
Here's a beautiful Mint copy of Steve Miller's first big pop hit, which I just don't hear often enough... so I'm making an mp3 "snippet" for our online "jukebox"... Enjoy! This single has a specially edited version of the 4:26 album cut.
Here's a beautiful copy of this rarely seen 1967 45, which is clearly Gospel in lyrics and melody but which has an awesome rhythm section that happens to hit the sweet spot for Northern Soul collectors. So it's sort of a Gospel 45 in Northern Soul clothing. :-) Have a listen to the mp3 "snippet" to hear what I mean!
This catchy Country rocker was Ryles' biggest hit of a chart career spanning 1968-88. It falls in that magical pot of very short songs that demonstrate just how great short songs (only 2:30 in this case) can be!
Wanna hear how a Beach Boys song sounds like when performed by a Soul singer? I couldn't imagine it, and you might not either... so have a listen to the mp3 "snippet"! "You're So Good..." was the excellent B side of the Beach Boys single "Sloop John B."
In Stock $11.00
05/11/17
Marlena Shaw
1976, Blue Note 790 Genre: Northern Soul, Philly Style
Here's a beautiful copy of one of Little Richard's very best recordings... great flip, too! Credited to "Little Richard And His Band." Have a listen to the mp3 "snippet"!
It's a crime to Soul radio that this one wasn't a huge hit for the veteran Mr. Bobby Bland. It's a wonderful recording fully deserving our highest rating of 2 stars. We just had to put up an mp3 "snippet" so you can hear it for yourself... Enjoy!
Jocelyn Brown was a member of this group. This terrific Philly-style dancer was their biggest hit. I liked it so much right away I had to get an mp3 "snippet" out for you to hear.
Now playing:
Do It Again
I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes/ Through My Eyes by The Oak Ridge Boys
These virtual "boxes" are for you folks who only like new, unplayed or pristine Mint 45s.