Rare EP?

[Terry B]

I picked up this French EP of The Shadows in a flea market the other day with Feelin' Fine, Don't Be A Fool, Bongo Blues and Chinchilla tracks. They were asking £3 for it! Cheek! Knocked him down to £2.50! There is a scratch on side A which I was a bit concerned about - no need, it plays absolutely perfectly - only minor clicks and NO distortion whatsoever! According to web sources it would appear I've picked up a bargain as it's selling for around £50!!! Not that I'm selling, I bought it 'cause I wanted it! Anyone esle got it and have any info on it?

[malcolmc7]

Terry

You might like to look at my website:

http://www.malcolmcampbell.me.uk/book8/

Some of these French EPs are indeed offered on eBay France for absurdly inflated prices. I'm not sure that they ever sell though! Your record is valued at 80 euros by France's Jukebox magazine, surpassed ony by ESRF 20002 (Saturday Dance etc.) -- a cool 100 euros.

Best wishes
Malcolm C.

[iefje]

My father owns this same French EP since the 1960's, although I think he has the one with the red record label and a slightly different catalogue number. I bet he paid just a few of the now inexistent Dutch Guilders! The record and sleeve, by the way, are still in very good condition.

[MikeAB]

I have three French EP's - this one, the 'Apache' issue with the best (and I always thought quite nice) cover, and the 'Be Bop A Lula/Saturday Dance' one - also used to have the 'Dakota' EP which was available before the Dance With The Shadows LP as I recall . All purchased to complete tracks missing from the collection at the time. Covers a bit faded and battered and the actual singles probably play fine but have little bits of fabric tape stuck on them to stop them slipping in the stack on the 'Dansette' look alike. Happy days.

[Terry B]

Thanks everyone. Maybe not as rare as would appear, but still a worthwhile addition to my collection. A point about the recorded sound though. Is it just me or do the original recordings when an original record is in good condition sound far better than all the reissues on CD and even on vinyl sometimes. The vocals on Feelin' Fine are so clear compared to modern recording. I think that like with a lot of things less is more sometimes and the more technical recording gets we lose something in the process! Whatever it is, simplicity probably, it sounds superb! It has always been my belief that digital recording loses something in the process - don't know what it is, but I'm convinced of it. My theory, for what it's worth, is that while analogue records in a continuous stream, digital is a series of snapshots, and its those bits in between that digital misses that make the difference. What do you think. Comments anyone?

[bob t]

I have the Apache, Be-Bop-A-Lula and the Feelin' Fine ones
All in excellent to mint condition

Bob T

[Graham C. Marshall]

I bought this EP new in a street market in either Chilly Mazarin or Villeneuve St. Georges in the early/mid 1970's. The disque is in very good condition; the cover, like me, is showing signs of wear but not, hopefully, anywhere near terminal. I don't remember how much I paid for it. Great record.

[MikeAB]

I don't always buy into these ideas that digital music actually sounds worse than vinyl - but I do think we miss the old surface hiss filling in the gaps in the stereo image - and the odd pop and crackle - the 'digital Apache' never sounds as 'real' somehow!

[UlrichS]

My father owns this same French EP since the 1960's, although I think he has the one with the red record label and a slightly different catalogue number.

Hi Ivo,
Would it be asked too much to check the EP in your father's collection regarding a red label and a modified catalog number? Should there be any differences would you be so kind to post scans? Many thanks in advance.
Ulrich

[Terry B]

I don't always buy into these ideas that digital music actually sounds worse than vinyl - but I do think we miss the old surface hiss filling in the gaps in the stereo image - and the odd pop and crackle - the 'digital Apache' never sounds as 'real' somehow!

Hi Mike,
I didn't say it sounded worse, just that something sometimes seems to be missing and reissued cd recordings lack the vibrancy of the original. I'm no expert in digital recording but it would be interesting, if it were possible, to subtract a digital recording from the analogue recording and listen to what's left! You see, digital recording may well sample at 44000 times a second, but that also means there are also 44000 gaps! That doesn't happen in analogue recording. So something is by definition "missing" in a digital recording. Could what's "missing" contain that all important extra information that makes the difference? Just a thought!