70s MODERN/NORTHERN SOUL FLAME 'N' KING O HAPPY DAY GRP
£
48
$
64
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Description
I've made the decision to sell some of my very large collection of 7", 12" and LPs.
ALL THE ITEMS I AM SELLING COME FROM NEARLY FORTY YEARS OF COLLECTING.
I AM NOT A DEALER.
There will be some real gems, so make sure you keep your eyes open.
SOME OF MY LISTINGS NOW CARRY 'BORROWED' SOUND CLIPS BENEATH THE TITLE.
I AREN'T QUITE ADVANCED ENOUGH YET TO PROVIDE MY OWN!
From now on, most of my items will start at just 99p, unless they are valued at £50 or more.
70s NEW YORK MODERN SOUL/NORTHERN SOUL
ONE OF THE TOP FIVE ORIGINAL GRAPEVINE COLLECTABLES
THE FLAME 'N' KING & THE BOLD ONES
"HO HAPPY DAY"
HEAR HERE! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTiDi1qcdqY
b/w
"AIN'T NOBODY JIVE IN (GET UP, GET DOWN)"
(UK: Grapevine GRP 123, 1979)
Recorded: 1977
Record conditon: Excellent ++++
Labels condition: Spotless
Harlem soul brother, Oscar Richardson, released about a dozen hard-hitting soul and funk 45s, spread out over three decades. He always used his dynamic stage alias of "The Flame 'n' King", backed on various occasions by The Desyreens, The Sons Of Darkness, The Bold Ones, or The Pazant Brothers. His output appeared on tiny New York-based labels, such as Amaker, Raines, H.S.P., and P.M.P.
Many see the peak of Richardson's achievements being in 1977, when "Ho Happy Day" was released on the B-side of the only N.Y.C.S. 45. The record's gospel-style fervour is hightened by the references to "Sunday". I assume that the "park" he takes his lady "strolling" in is Central Park, and the fact that he goes there in the "afternoon" is certainly advisable. Central Park at night is not the safest place to be. When Richard Searling got his hands on a copy, it became a huge favourite at Wigan Casino. His pal John Anderson obliged with a British release, on RCA's thriving Grapevine imprint.
The UK outing came just two years after the single appeared in the States, so it was virtually a contemporary release. Having said that, original copies have always been pretty scarce, and the £50 quoted by Kev Roberts in 2003 seems laughable six years later - John Manship has since put the same price on a GRP reissue! The original A-side (here relegated to the flip) is an uptempo boogie groove of the highest quality. It was co-penned by Billy Nichols, who also produced both sides with Richardson.
"Oh Happy Day" has since featured on a number of compilations. The first was 1980's "Sound Of The Grapevine" album; it has since been seen on a few Goldmine/Soul Supply comps, including "The Modern Times" (1985), and "Kev Roberts Presents 100% Casino Volume 2" (1999).
A. Simply amazing 70s anthem; listen in full via the youtube posting above.
B. Very tasty full-on boogie; throbbing bass-line; tremendous in it's own right.
I bought all of the original series of Grapevine singles and LPs as new releases.
This one remains in near to perfect condition, with hardly a mark on it.
Both labels are immaculate, and the original four-pronged centre is intact.
The edges are completely chip-free.
It comes with my own personalized white card cover.
This record has been played on both sides to verify condition, but there's a full money-back guarantee on all my sales, and I'll refund anyone who isn't totally captivated.
New postal rates:
One 7" single: £1.80; 30p per 7" afterwards.
One 12" single/LP: £2.80; 50p per 12"/LP afterwards.
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