"This is very funky track that struts hard. Plus many of you have probably heard this at some point (they used to play it on TV's Fresh Prince of Bel Air). Originally released on Irvine's '74 RCA release Cosmic Vortex, but this sample is coming straight off the promo single."

Used from the website of - http://www.angelfire.com/ab/soulsounds4/

I myself have gone to such lengths to get a certain "Soul record" that I have been after for years in the past. That original "Don Blackman album" (Usa) is now safely locked away from prying eyes and hands. So there!!

But after listening to tales from others who have got the bug. I am relatively sane.The love of Vinyl is something that will never diminish. In fact there has been a rise in buying vinyl again here in England. Sales are up according to the BPI.

But probably the most excessive collectors that there has ever been lies with the people/s that were into the music called by the "English", as "Northern Soul".

A complete scene was created by these record collectors based in the North of England within the 1970's, which led to the club culture taking place. Some of you more older readers of this page may have heard the likes of clubs such as "The Wigan Casino", "The Torch Club", "The Blackpool Mecca". These are just a few of the clubs that conjour up memories for those that that ventured there. (I didn't I was far too young!!)

The reason why many of these vinyl junkies (of Northern Soul music) were forced to look for "rarites" of the time was quite simple. It was to do with the fact that around the early 1970's, the Black Amercia had moved away from the poppy sounds of Motown, and to the newier and rawier sounds of James Brown and Sly & The Family stone, who had been experimenting with a newier black urban sound called Funk.

You see in the mid 1960's, Britain had began to embrace the American Soul music sound of Motown. They loved the appeal of the earlier 60's Soul records that had been hits in the Usa. Eventually a club scene was built around these "sounds" that was dedicated to dancing to these records (which included Motown and other sounds from Detroit).

Whilst the rest of England moved on to either Funk or Progressive Rock sounds of the late 1960's early 1970's. Hardcore soul fans in the North of England stayed with the fast, four-beat dance music; searching out ever more rare examples of the sound they loved.

To be truthful all what happened in places like Blackpool, Stoke, Wigan and Cleethropes (England) was again to happen in London, 16 years later.

History was to repeat its self again, but this time it was from the South of England. The term of "Rare groove" for example stands for "hard-to-find", or "obscure" here in England.

Norman Jay, London, England, is often credited as the person who created the term "Rare groove". "The Original Rare Groove Show", on Kiss FM, London, England - then a pirate station, which reintroduced seventies funk tracks and plenty of obscure rarities to the London public during 1985/86.

After being excluded from many of London's westend night clubs of the time because of the racist door policies. Black English clubbers found events or nights in other areas of London due to the huge popularity in "Sounds Systems". Sounds systems that ran under the names of "Shake n Fingerpop", "Good Groove" and "Soul 2 Soul" ,which really did bring joy to many. However it was when Norman managed to produce a show on the then pirate station of Kiss Fm ( He was one of the Co - Founders of the Radio Station!!) that "Rare Groove" really took a hold in London, and the South East of England.

This again led to Dj's, then the clubbers and ravers looking and hoping to find that "rare" record. It was only a time before another Uk movement was started. - http://www.normanjay.com

The Love of Vinyl has always meant that people/s now will travel from New York to London.You will be surprised as to where people will go. Certain people/s have even been employed to find records for Hiphop or Garage and House bands in the Usa, for samples and breakbeats.

Sometimes these groups will themselves be seen hunting around old Jazz vinyl record stores, etc so that they can find that exclusive break. It has been rummoured that the House and Garage supergroup - The Masters at Work have use from time to time a particular Uk specialist store for all their tracks for old Disco, jazz and soul numbers to get samples from!!.

Reggae music, in itsself another is huge topic to talk about. It too has its own vinyl junkies. And the music that has been the creative breeding ground for all types dance to experiement with over the years.

Please listen to this wonderful documentary in which the BBC have put together. I have to hand to the boys. This documentary is first class which I'm sure that you will like it. Please, please click on it and listen and enjoy.