Act 1 (Vinyl LP)

In compiling the two volumes of "The Soul Of Spring" CDKEND 151 & 268 and the Southbound CD "The Spring Story" CDSEWD 103, we have already drawn on Act 1's impressive catalogue. The group has two tracks on each of those CDs, very much on merit. We could easily have chosen even more if the other Spring acts hadn't been up to the task. The recordings we utilised varied from the irrepressible, uptempo, funk groove of Tom The Peeper, a UK dancefloor smash back in the day when it hardly made a ripple in its homeland (all kudos to the UK's hip 70s DJs, like Chris Hill and Froggy who chose their playlists on merit), to sophisticated Philly-style floaters like It's The Same Old Story. Act 1's harmonising was showcased in the ballads Friends Or Lovers, their biggest hit, and the sublime Bob Babbit, Andrew Smith and Perry Boyd-written You Didn't Love Me Anyhow.

Researching the group has been tough, as the main man - producer, writer and general svengali, Raeford Gerald - died several years ago. Old contracts have thrown up several group members' names and changes within the line-up, but speculation is inevitable as several questions remain unanswered. Unfortunately no photos of any of the group's line-ups could be found.

However what is unquestionable is that the music is of the highest quality. Raeford Gerald was a top-70s soul producer, up there with Thom Bell and Gamble & Huff. I Don't Want To Know What You Do To Me has a Love Train feel to it while Party Hardy People is more in the Kool & The Gang groove. An epic five minute version of the Tops' Still Water is a great example of how different producing ideas can transform a song into a different, though valid interpretation; check out those gulls! His talents were more famously rewarded on his work with Millie Jackson and Joe Simon, but there's no doubt he gave his all on what seems to be his pet project, Act 1.

All three Babbit, Smith and Boyd songs are excellent compositions, Goodbye Love was rather dwarfed by its funky Tom The Peeper flip, but sounds more majestic with the passing of time. Legendary Funk Brother Bob Babbit kindly supplied us with some information for the notes. The melodic dancer It Takes Both Of Us was a small R&B hit but was inexplicably left off the original album and the same fate befell the joyous A Whole Lot Of Love Makin' and the stomping I Never Had A Love Like Yours.

By Ady Croasdell

Condition
Media: Mint (M)
Sleeve: Mint (M)

Our Grading Standards
We grade all vinyl using the Goldmine standard:
Mint (M): Perfect, unplayed condition.
Near Mint (NM): Nearly perfect with minimal signs of handling.
Very Good Plus (VG+): Shows light signs of play but plays with minimal surface noise. The most common grade for collectable vinyl.
Very Good (VG): Noticeable marks and some surface noise, but still an enjoyable listen.
Good (G): Heavy wear — for collectors only.

All records are graded visually and by play. Media and sleeve are graded separately.

About Peckham Soul

Visit our physical store at Linnégatan 2, 413 04 Göteborg.
Mon–Tue 11:00–18:00 · Wed–Thu 11:00–18:30 · Fri 11:00–20:30 · Sat 11:00–17:00 · Sun Closed.

We're a specialist vintage vinyl shop with roots in Peckham, London. From our Swedish store we ship across Europe and the EU. Every record in our collection is individually sourced, inspected, and graded. We stock soul, funk, jazz, reggae, punk, indie, psych and beyond — always original pressings, always honestly described.

Shipping & Returns
We ship carefully packed in rigid mailers to protect your record in transit. If a record arrives not as described, we'll sort it — no hassle.