Sold Date: December 2, 2020
Start Date: November 9, 2020
Final Price: $499.99 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 516
Buyer Feedback: 946
Audio Clips:
To hear audio clips older than 45 days you must become a member. (If you're already a member you need to log in or extend your membership.)

Powered by eCommercePlayer.com

Unreleased 45 rpm Test Pressing by The Lovelites from the Phil Spector offshoot label Phi Dan Records. The Phi Dan record label is an off shoot or subsidiary of Phil Spector's legendary Philles Records label. White Test Pressing label.

Featuring the song “Now I Need Him” backed with the released song “Malady” (described on the label of the test pressing as “Back of M.F.Q”

Only three of these test pressing 45 rpm singles are known to exist.

Statistics: --------------------------------------------------------------------

Delta 58992 MAR AA in deadwax.

Condition: Styrene is in VG condition.

“Now I Need Him” is on the side of this styrene test pressing. Delta 58993 is written in the deadwax of the 45

Condition: VG condition.

Sonic sample of this fantastic female Northern Soul undiscovered instant classic is featured above. Apparently this record was produced by Phil Spector in association with Vini Poncia but was never released probably due to the subject of the lyrics being the sexual frustration of a young girl after a tryst with a formerly persistent suitor. Spector might have feared that this record would likely be banned in 1965. Spector had endured censorship from radio deejays and audienced before for a couple of his productions by the Crystals and he may not have wanted to get burned

Discussion:

Perhaps one of the most mysterious Phil Spector related unreleased records of all Is the Lovelites “Now I Need Him” test pressing that is one of the most compelling and controversial records I have ever come across.

The “Back of M.F.Q.” side (the B side) of this unreleased test pressing is most interesting in that “M.F.Q.” doubtless refers to the Phil Spector group the Modern Folk Quartet. In 1965 Phil Spector produced one 45 rpm record of the Modern Folk Quartet with the a side being the now famous song “This Could Be The Night” This unreleased test pressing had another Modern Folk Quartet vocal song on the other side. Yet apparently for a time the song that appears of the b side of the “Now I Need Him” test pressing was in obvious consideration to be the b side of the unreleased Modern Folk Quartet. The name of the song that actually appears on the reverse of the “Now I Need Him” is the same instrumental song called “Malady” which does appear as the B side on the only commercially released single by The Lovelites on the Phil Spector related Phi Dan label. The number of the lone Lovelites PhiDan single is 5008 and the A side of the 45 rpm single is called “When I Get Scared”

There is no indication of the name of the artist on any of the three known copies of this record and one of the members of the band did not remember the song but there are nevertheless strong indications that not only is this the Lovelites of Phil Spector’s Phidan label but this is the song that was initially going to be the Lovelites first single.

For one thing the lead singer on “Now I Need Him” sounds exactly like Joanna DeClemente, the lead singer of the Lovelites who is featured on the only released PhiDan single 5008 “When I Get Scared”

But perhaps the most telling clue is that the delta number for “Now I Need Him” which is 58993, is consecutive with the delta number of the b side of the lone Lovelites released Phi-Dan single “Malady” which was 58992.

Not to mention the fact that the b side of “Now I Need Him” is the same song with the same delta number as the b side of the Lovelites lone Phi Dan release.

I do not know why they did not use “Now I Need Him” instead of “When I Get Scared” Personally I much prefer “Now I Need Him” I think that “Now I Need Him” is the quintesential Northern Soul hit.

Discussion: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Perhaps one of the most mysterious Phil Spector related unreleased records of all Is the Lovelites “Now I Need Him” test pressing that is one of the most compelling and controversial records I have ever come across.

There is no indication of the name of the artist on any of the three known copies of this record and one of the members of the band did not remember the song but there are nevertheless strong indications that not only is this the Lovelites of Phil Spector’s Phidan label but this is the song that was initially going to be the Lovelites first single.

For one thing the lead singer on “Now I Need Him” sounds exactly like Joanna DeClemente, the lead singer of the Lovelites who is featured on the only released PhiDan single 5008 “When I Get Scared” Perhaps the most telling clue is that the delta number for “Now I Need Him” which is 58993, is consecutive with the delta number of the b side of the lone Lovelites released Phi-Dan single “Malady” which was 58992.

Not to mention the fact that the B side of the “Now I Need Him” unreleased test Pressing is ""Malady" which is the same song with the same delta number as the B side of the Lovelites lone Phi Dan release.

It is also possible that the lead singer of the Lovelites recorded the song "Now I Need Him" without the singing participation of the other two band members of the Phidan label Phil Spector Lovelites band. There appears to be some indication that this unusual situation may have happened before. There is another unreleased song credited to the Lovelites called "He's My Eddie Baby" that exists only on an acetate. This song has been identified by a former band member as featuring the lead vocals of Joanna DeClemente, the lead vocalist of the largely unknown Lovelites female vocal group who recorded on Phil Spector's Phi-Dan record label. The other two band members of the Lovelites do not appear on the "He's My Eddie Baby" acetate. The same may or may not be true of the "Now I Need Him" test pressing.

Personally I much prefer “Now I Need Him” song by far. I think that “Now I Need Him” sounds like the quintessential Northern Soul female vocals quality hit. It also sounds more like the Motown Records girl group product that would overwhelm the world shortly after the release of the lackluster "When I Get Scared"

I have played the test pressing. There are some background pops and crackles but nothing major. The music overpowers the very minor background noise. This cracked test pressing plays well with 2 or 3 pops but no skips or jumps.
This test pressing has no chips or specks and is flat.

_________

This is one selection out of a highly important collection of acetates, test pressings, standard production records and entertainment awards from a collection that ranges from the 1950s through the 1990s and was owned by a highly talented and diverse individual who served in a number of jobs in the music and movie divisions of the entertainment industry most notably  including serving as a Director in the Promotions Department of the Beatles record company, Apple Records.  

 This individual also worked in the executive office of Phil Spector Productions in the early to mid 1970s.

Most of the acetates and test pressings in this collection had standard designated acetate labels but there are some from earlier in the audio review stage of record production that have no labels at all. Unlabled reference acetates have to be listened to on a record player in order to determine what they are. 

 This test pressing was Phil Spector’s personal work test pressing. I would say that this test pressing was used for making decisions about the final mixes of the songs on the album or 45.

As I said, The former Apple Records employee who owned this acetate also worked with Phil Spector on a regular basis. I was told by this employee that Phil Spector would frequently discard record production materials, recording equipment and records once he no longer needed those items.  

This test pressing came from the same collection of records and acetates as the A&M Studio Label Acetates that I sold months ago on Ebay that were used in producing the “The Concert for Bangladesh” three record box on Apple Records featuring George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr and Leon Russell.

Check my past and present listings for more rare Philles and Apple Records records, acetates and awards. 

This acetate will come with a Letter of Authenticity signed by myself. My name is Christopher Chatman of Beyond Records and I have been writing and dealing in acetates and extremely rare music items since 1977. 

I have included an article in the photos that I wrote in the 1990s called "What is an acetate and why do they cost so much money? The article was published in the 1990 book "Goldmine's Rock N' Roll 45 rpm Record Price"