Soul Agents "Expo 70" LP - Joe Jr, Michael Remedios, Hong Kong, Osaka Japan

$

40

Soul Agents - Expo '70 (Polydor 2427 001)

Original 1970 first pressing in stereo sound! Raised gold foil seal on front cover!

This is the band's only LP. Insanely rare, hard to find Hong Kong beat / garage / teen pop. All songs sung in English - half sung by Joe Junior, half by Michael Remedios. This LP was later reissued as "The Best of Joe Junior & Michael Remedios". Joe Junior's albums are mentioned in Hans Pokora's book series "Record Collector Dreams" which are a vast guide to rare Psych, Beat, Garage, Prog, Rock, and Folk records.

The "band" was actually a collection of musicians put together to perform at the 1970 World Expo in Osaka, Japan. Uncle Ray Cordeiro, Hong Kong's premier rock 'n roll DJ for more than five decades, was the man who formed and managed the group.

From Uncle Ray's website, "I was selected as the road manager of a local pop group to perform at the Hong Kong pavilion, which was next to the British site. I picked Joe Junior, Irene Ryder, Michael Remedios and other top musicians from Hong Kong, including a twenty-something Sam Hui. We got Tsang Fook Piano to provide us with Fender and other top-of-the-line equipment and free shipment to Japan, too. It so happened that we were the only pop group there, others brought in folk groups performing soft music. So our band music attracted a lot of attention. Every Saturday night, when a pavilion threw a party, we were the band there. But it also drew the jealousy of the host, who complained that we played too loud."

On the heels of their success at the Osaka Expo, Uncle Ray started his longest-running radio show with RTHK called "All the Way with Ray". Begun in 1970, it is still going strong in 2013!!

This came from a collection of LPs from a woman who was a teenager living in Hong Kong at the time of their release.

Condition:

Sleeve : (VG+ / NM-) The photos don't do this one justice. The cover is flat black with a raised gold seal on the front. One tiny crease on the left side of front cover by the spine (less than half an inch). A couple small spots where you can vaguely see the impression from the LP inside. No seam splits. On the back, there is handling evidence at the opening and one small glossy spot (smaller than a dime) possibly from a greasy fingerprint. No ring wear! Amazing shape! Original plain white inner sleeve is perfect.

Record : (NM-) vinyl is very clean and glossy! Looks almost un-played. Definitely great condition for a rarity like this. Labels are nearly perfect. no spindle marks, but a tiny bit of evidence of fingerprints.

Track Listing (next to each title I have noted the lead vocal):

Side 1: Love (Joe Jr.), Bury Me Down By The River (M. Remedios), The World Doesn't Matter Anymore (Joe Jr.), Leave Her Alone (M. Remedios), Longer Than Forever (Joe Jr.), All Because of You Girl (M. Remedios)

Side 2: Fire And Rain (M. Remedios), Are You Growing Tired of My Love (Joe Jr.), Come On In (Joe Jr.), Fade Away (M. Remedios), Gotta Be Strong (Joe Jr.)

About Joe Junior:

Joe Junior, real name Jose Marie Rodrigueson, was born on 22/7/1946. He is of Macanese (Chinese and Portugese) ancestry. His family moved from Macau to Hong Kong where Joe was born and grew up. In 1963 Joe Jr became one of the top winners of the New Star Talent Contest and formed his first band, The Hunters. Later he played with the group D'Topnotes, and he then formed Joe and The Zoundcrackers who recorded "I Gotta Find Cupid" for the Diamond label in 1966. The single did well on the RTHK pop chart. After some major changes in band members, they regrouped as Joe Jr. & The Side-Effects. They recorded "Here's a Heart" in 1967 which became their most successful single. They also released two successful LPs ("Effective" and "Tribute"). After disbanding, Joe Junior continued to sing and record as a solo act and was included in a band called the Soul Agents which performed at the 1970 World Exposition in Osaka, Japan. Joe later became an actor, and he still performs today for popular Hong Kong television shows and on the stage for audiences in Hong Kong and Macau.

About me: I've been collecting records since about 1995 and have been an eBay buyer since 2001. I'm just now making the jump to selling. As you can see, I have great feedback as a buyer and intend to offer excellent service as a seller. In addition to collecting, I have released two records (one 45 and one LP) on my own Flea Circus Records label.

Grading - I do my best to grade carefully by the Goldmine standard. LP gradings are visual only unless I feel it necessary to listen and make sure a scratch does not effect play.

Records will be packaged carefully for shipping in a new mylar sleeve with the record outside of the jacket.

International bidders, please contact me about shipping costs.

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