Label: Bang 578
Year: 1970
Condition: M-
Last Price: $12.50. Not currently available for sale.

Does it strike you how often a singer's debut single turns out in retrospect to have been their greatest song, or at least one of their greatest? "Solitary Man" is not just a great song, it's a masterpiece in which Diamond writes of a personal pain in a way that makes it universal. Originally released as Diamond's first 45 on Bang 519, "Solitary Man" tanked on the National Billboard charts (reached only #55p) in 1966. This 1970 re-release did better, reaching #21 on the Billboard chart. Note: This beautiful copy has Mint labels and Near Mint vinyl and audio. (This scan is a representative image from our archives.)

Label: Philles 115
Year: 1963
Condition: M-
Last Price: $24.00. Not currently available for sale.

Here's a beautiful copy of this Girl Group classic, on the yellow/red Philles label. (First pressings are on the light blue Philles label.) By the way, this big hit was a non-album single. Note: This 45 record comes in a vintage Philles Records factory sleeve. It has Near Mint labels. The vinyl looks Near Mint with a few light scuffs, and the audio sounds Near Mint as well, with just a touch of surface noise audible early on.

Label: Midland Intl. 10339
Year: 1975
Condition: M-
Last Price: $12.00. Not currently available for sale.

This was the Convention's first hit single, and also their best! This is a copy of the first pressing, which has a track length of 3:45. (The less-valuable second pressing has a track length of 3:05 and a different B side ("Tiger Baby").) Both release variants have specially edited versions of the 5:31 album cut. Note: This beautiful copy comes in a vintage Midland Int'l Records factory sleeve. It has Mint labels and nearly untouched-looking vinyl. The audio sounds pristine Mint.

Label: RCA 0232
Year: 1974
Condition: M-
Last Price: $12.00. Not currently available for sale.

This classic single is one of the first that was actually labeled "Disco," although it's certainly not the Disco sound that became dominant in the late 1970s. Much closer to what I call Philly Soul. Note that Dave Marsh includes this one in his list of the 1,001 greatest 45s of Rock'n'Soul... it's that essential! By the way, this 45 has a specially edited version of the 3:22 album track. Note: This beautiful copy comes in a vintage RCA Records factory sleeve. It has Near Mint labels and vinyl, and the audio sounds pristine.

Label: WB 7417
Year: 1970
Condition: M-
Last Price: $30.00. Not currently available for sale.

Seems like it's impossible these days to find a copy of this terrific single. "Express Yourself" is simply one of the premier examples of early Funk. The singer and the amazing Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band were true pioneers of the sound... as George Clinton would later call such guys, "True Funkateers!" Note: This copy comes in a vintage olive-green Warner Bros. Records factory sleeve. The labels grade Near Mint overall, but I noted faint writing (not visible in a scan) on the A side. The vinyl (styrene) looks only lightly touched, grading Near Mint, and the powerful audio sounds pristine!

Label: Jay Walking 011
Year: 1971
Condition: M-
Price: $15.00

The A side is a great example of classic Philly-style, sweet Soul. Some Northern Soul collectors prize the record even more for the fine, uptempo flip, which by the way is a non-album cut. Note: This beautiful copy has Mint labels and nearly untouched-looking vinyl. The audio grades very close to Mint as well.

Label: RCA 62336
Year: 1992
Condition: M
Last Price: $8.00. Not currently available for sale.

From a warehouse find, this is a new, unplayed stock copy, in its original RCA factory sleeve. One of my personal favorite Alabama songs... I can really relate! It's hard to slow down, but you gotta do it from time to time, or "Life's no fun..." :-) This 45 is pressed on translucent black vinyl.

Label: A&M 0766
Year: 1994
Condition: M-
Last Price: $20.00. Not currently available for sale.

Two absolutely essential Soundgarden tracks... They're also essential for an understanding of early 1990s Grunge in general. Dave Marsh included this single in his 1999 addendum to the original list of 1001 greatest singles, originally published in 1989. Note: This beautiful copy has Mint labels, and the vinyl looks untouched. The "Black Hole" audio grades Near Mint to reflect some very light surface noise audible only in the quiet intro. The "Spoonman" audio is pristine Mint.

Label: Atlantic Oldies 13139
Year: 1957
Condition: M-
Price: $12.00

Originally released on Atlantic 1123. After their 1955 version of "White Christmas," this was the Drifters' first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 chart ... though they had had years of huge hits in the Black/RnB market. With Clyde McPhatter singing lead, this one is always a thrill to revisit, so I'm adding an mp3 "snippet" of it in case you don't already know its great pleasures. This is a beautiful copy of the gold/black label Atlantic Oldies reissue, in its factory sleeve. Collector Nerd Alert: The label incorrectly lists the long title "Fools Fall In Love In A Hurry", whereas the original leaves off after 4 words.

Label: Atlantic 3439 dj
Year: 1977
Condition: M
Last Price: $12.00. Not currently available for sale.

Stereo/Mono promo copy. Here's a beautiful promo copy of the group's seldom seen & heard — but excellent — third single. Note: This promo 45 record comes in a vintage Atlantic Group factory sleeve. It has no notable flaws, grading Mint across the board (Labels, Vinyl, Audio).