Probably everyone on the scene could boast a significant record collection at one time or another.

It was just part of the fun. Traveling down to London in the early seventies was exciting too as many market stalls were a veritable goldmine of American imports.

Sadly, that market has all but disappeared and fans these days have  to look long and hard for a bargain.

While attending a pub soul event in London recently, I came across a deejay who typifies for me today's Soul Music collector.

Gareth Sweeney proudly holds a couple of Detroit 45's, which although now thirty five years old, are still in immaculate condition. A true connoisseur of the music, there was nothing he couldn't tell me about these discs.

Notes thanks to David Meikle.