Description
Wand ๐ WND 1135 Red Text DJ ๐ Al Wilson Help Me & Help Me Instrumental ๐ 1966
https://www.raresoulman.co.uk/al-wilson-help-me-help-me-instrumental-wand-wnd-1135-red-text-dj.html
Description
The extremely RARE red text STOCK copy, still housed in its birth sleeve - looks utterly gorgeous.
As soon as we slid, this anthem out of its Wand sleeve, we could tell this extremely rare red text STOCK copy had never travelled on its holidays to Blackpool, Wigan, Wolverampton or Cleethorpes; this copy is a recent acquisition, that looks flawless and consequently plays just beautifully crisp and clean.
Although this tune has been heralded as a Northern Soul classic for well over 4 decades, enjoying a place in the first UK record company rush to cash in on the Northern Soul phenomenon; when in 1973 after strong plays at The Blackpool Mecca, The Torch & The Catacombs etc. Pye released an LP and a "Disco Demand" series to meet the rising demand from the growing Northern Soul congregation. this 45 being the 6th in a series of 17 "Disco Demands" Before Pye left the wealth of USA catalog behind and tainted the Pye Disco Demand project with sadly inferior UK recordings..
Here today stands, one of the greatest releases within that Pye Disco Demand run and by far the rarest of it's original 1966 pressing. I was not in the least surprised when our data-bank revealed this is our first STOCK copy on the auction for over 30 years. Two reasons for that is, it never sold a bean upon release, due to the woefully weak promotion. Hands up who has actually seen the gorgeous RED TEXT stock release, before. Secondly it is not a record any serious Northern Soul collector would ever be willing to part with.
When "Al Wilson" performed at Cleethorpes Weekender, the now legendary story goes; When an admiring Northern Soul fan seeking Al Wilson's his autographed, was asked by Al "which was his favourite record by him" without hesitation he replied "Help Me"..... "instrumental version" - oops! he thought afterwards, that was not a good thing say...
Luckily for him, he was talking to Al Wilson of "The Snake" "Show And Tell" fame, who was NOT the same Al Wilson who recorded this "Help Me" monster, so no harm was done.. Mr. Wilson must have chuckled at such an odd response.
To this day, Northern Soul scholars do not have a definitive identity who "this" Al Wilson really was, but "J. R. Bailey" himself seems to be the knowledgeable consensus as being the singer Also it's baffling why this spectacular Robert Banks, Johnny Northern & (J.R.) Ralph Bailey collaboration received so little "Help" from the Wand promotional machine.
But what what that lax response did leave us with, was a real rarity, considered and received by all, as one of the All-Time Northern Soul Greats!
If you'd like to learn more about New York's major music force Scepter / Wand Records there is an completely informative book out by Wand expert Steve Guarnori.. it's a "must read" ... just like Al Wilson Wand 1135 DJ is a must own for anyone serious about collecting Northern Soul anthems! Steve by the way, has the greatest "Wand" collection on the planet has no got this "Red text" stock copy.
Condition Report
Tiny radio station notes on the flipside label in tiny fine "ballpoint" instrumental #89 (see images) otherwise bright and clean STOCK copy labels. Vinyl is gorgeous mint minus and play so. Still housed in birth-sleeve.
Detail
Artist: Al Wilson
A Side: Help Me
B Side: Help Me (Instrumental)
Produced By: Robert Banks, Johnny Northern, J.R. Bailey
Label: Wand
Format: 7"
Year: 1966
City: New York
Condition
Vinyl Condition: M-
Label Condition: EX (Tiny ink note on flip)
Sleeve Condition: M-
Auction Details
Current Bid: ยฃ445.00
Reserve: ยฃ1
End Date: 22/07/2026 18:00 UK TIME
YouTube Tags
#NorthernSoul #VinylRecords #RareSoul #RecordCollecting #SoulAuction #VintageVinyl #SoulMusic #VinylCommunity #JohnManship #Rare45s #WandRecords #BlackpoolMecca #DiscoDemand #AlWilson
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