Classic 45's Jukebox

Label: Epic 10852
Year: 1972
Condition: M
Price: $15.00

Iconic bass & guitar riffs propel this classic rock song. This 3:15 track is a seriously edited version of the 6:15 album cut. Enjoy! Note: This beautiful copy comes in a vintage Epic Records factory sleeve. It has pristine Mint labels and audio!

Label: Parrot 9727
Year: 1965
Condition: M-
Last Price: $30.00. Not currently available for sale.

Yes, Rolling Stone magazine (#211) and Dave Marsh (#69) are spot-on in adding this great single to their respective "best of" lists. Overshadowed (in the U.S.) by its more famous A side, however, is another essential rocker that's one of the best versions of the traditional blues classic, "Baby, Please Don't Go." In the U.K., "Baby" was the hit, with "Gloria" clearly the B side.

In the States, "Baby" started out as the A side, and as early as January 1965 it was being mentioned as a "regional breakout" in Billboard magazine. However, the song never generated enough airplay and sales to register on the Billboard singles chart (though it did "bubble under" as high as #102 starting in March). Finally, in May, after radio programmers had determined that the "B" side had more potential, the sheer genius of "Gloria" managed to crack the Hot 100, reaching #93 for one short week. After the U.S. rock band Shadows of Knight released their cover of "Gloria" in March the following year, Parrot re-released Them's version, at which point "Gloria" was obviously the A side and climbed to #71.

According to Wikipedia, "Baby, Please Don't Go" wasn't written by Delta Bluesman Big Joe Williams (though that's who's credited on this 45), but he popularized it first, back in 1935. However, Williams' original acoustic blues bears no resemblance to what Van Morrison and his mates cooked up for the blistering version on this single. (I can't believe I just put in "Wooly Bully," which has the similar-sounding early garage/blues rocker "Ain't Gonna Move" on the B side. What you call serendipity!) It would take me more time than I have to determine who exactly came up with this arrangement of "Baby, Please Don't Go" first, because if you check out the song in iTunes you find it's been covered by everyone from Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker to Bob Dylan, the Amboy Dukes, Aerosmith and AC/DC. If the Muddy Waters version is one he recorded for Chess in the 1950s, I think that's probably where Van Morrison got his inspiration, but again, that's an "if" statement. Whatever, Them scored a clear 2-star (essential) recording with their rendition! (Wish I had time to make an mp3 snippet of the track... it's awesome!)

Note: This beautiful copy comes in a vintage Parrot Records factory sleeve. The labels have some storage wear, but the vinyl (styrene) looks almost untouched, and the audio sounds pristine Mint.

Label: Atco 6359
Year: 1965
Condition: M-
Last Price: $25.00. Not currently available for sale.

This is one of the nicest copies of this classic single that I've had to offer since opening the store in 2001... a solid Near Mint copy with Mint audio. Check out the mp3 "snippet". (Collector's note: This release is common in conditions less than Near Mint, but copies in truly collectable condition are quite rare.) It's also worth noting that this single appears on both the Dave Marsh Top 1,001 Singles (#228) and the Rolling Stone Top 500 Songs (#451) lists! That's one of the reasons it's hard to keep in stock! Also check out Sonny Bono's stab at Garage Rock on the B side... it's really pretty nasty! :-) Note: This beautiful copy comes in a vintage Atco Records factory sleeve. The labels grade Near Mint with a touch of ringwear. The vinyl looks untouched, and the audio sounds pristine Mint. (This scan is a representative image from our archives.)

Label: MGM 13322
Year: 1965
Condition: M-
Price: $35.00

Here's a beautiful copy of the original MGM pressing of this swamp-rock classic. These tracks had earlier been released on the small Texas label XL, a 45 that could fetch $1,000 or more if you find a Near Mint copy! :-) Besides the well-known and -loved A side, which Dave Marsh pegs at #78 in his Top 1,001 singles list, be sure to check out the totally cool blues-rock performance on the flip. This is precisely the kind of sound that British groups like the Animals and Stones were striving for at the time and is one of the foundations of what became known as "Garage Rock." (Check out the mp3 snippet we've added to our "jukebox.") By the way, this very short (2:05!) B side wasn't included on any of Sam The Sham's albums... it was a non-album cut available only this 45. Note: This copy comes in a vintage MGM Records factory sleeve. It has Mint labels and Near Mint-looking vinyl with just a few light scuffs. I'm delighted to report that both sides of this important single have nearly pristine audio -- and man, is it a big sound!

Label: A&M 3014
Year: 1988
Condition: M
Price: $10.00

From a warehouse find, this is a new, unplayed stock copy, in its original picture sleeve. This terrific number is labeled the "Straight Edit" of the album cut, but it's about the same length, so I believe this is a remix. Check out the mp3 "snippet" of it. The flip, also worth seeking out, is a non-album tune. Note: This copy has light storage wear that lowers the Label grade to Near Mint. The wax and audio are pristine. The picture sleeve grades Near Mint and has some corner and top-edge wear from storage

Label: MGM 13379
Year: 1965
Condition: M-
Price: $18.00

A must-have dance number from 1965! Note: This beautiful copy comes in a vintage MGM Records factory sleeve. It's almost Mint in appearance (Labels, Vinyl), and features pristine Mint sound on the A side... a real treat for the ears! (This scan is a representative image from our archives.)

Label: Diamond 221 dj
Year: 1967
Condition: M
Last Price: $16.00. Not currently available for sale.

From a warehouse find, this is a new, unplayed promo copy, in its original Diamond Records factory sleeve. Note that both sides were written by Neil Diamond, who also produced the A side. Great stuff! The B side ("Put My Mind...") is sought-after by Northern Soul fans. By the way, this was a non-album single. Note: This beautiful promo 45 has no notable flaws, grading Mint across the board (Labels, Vinyl, Audio).

Label: Vee Jay 456
Year: 1962
Condition: M-
Price: $30.00

This single ushered in the start of something new in vocal group music, and it set the standard for the chord progressions and percussive attack for many hits that were to follow. This is a first pressing on the black rainbow label with oval logo. The B side appears to be a non-album tune. Note: This copy's labels and vinyl (styrene) look almost new. The audio pristine Mint.

Label: Duke 375
Year: 1964
Condition: M-
Price: $30.00

In my humble opinion, Dave Marsh is right on in making this the highest-ranking Bobby Bland record in his list of the 1001 greatest singles ever made. Take a listen to the snippet and see if you don't agree. Perhaps not coincidentally, it was also Bland's biggest hit on the pop charts. Note: This beautiful copy grades close to Mint in appearance (Labels, Vinyl) and has pristine Mint sound.

Label: ABC 11164
Year: 1969
Condition: M-
Last Price: $12.00. Not currently available for sale.

This single's B side is further proof that Tommy Roe was so prolific and tuneful that he was able to throw away little gems like this on his singles' B sides! Really quite yummy. Note: This beautiful, Near Mint copy comes in a vintage ABC Records factory sleeve. The audio grades very close to Mint. There is a small drillhole not visible in scan. (This scan is a representative image from our archives.)