You ever find yourself staring at a crate of dusty records in a basement, hoping—just praying—to see that one specific label design? For most of us, it’s a hobby. For a very specific subset of soul fanatics and northern soul DJs, it’s a lifestyle bordering on a mania. We are talking about the so close to what vinyl release by the legendary Roebuck "Pops" Staples.
It’s rare. Like, actually rare. Not "eBay rare" where there are fifty copies listed for a hundred bucks. We’re talking about a record that doesn't just surface every day. When it does, people lose their minds.
What is the So Close to What Vinyl All About?
Let’s get the basics down before we lose the plot. This track, "So Close," was released by Pops Staples in 1964 on the Vee-Jay label. Specifically, it’s Vee-Jay 612. Now, if you know anything about the Staples Singers, you know they are the royalty of gospel-infused soul. But this solo outing from Pops is a different beast entirely. It’s got this driving, mid-tempo beat that just works in a club environment, which is exactly why the Northern Soul scene in the UK latched onto it like a lifeline.
Records aren't just plastic. They’re timestamps. In 1964, Vee-Jay was actually struggling despite having the Beatles' American distribution rights for a hot minute. Because the label was chaotic, pressings of certain singles were limited. "So Close" wasn't a massive radio hit at the time. It bubbled under. It sat in warehouses. Then, it disappeared.
Decades later, collectors realized that the B-side, "Something's Got a Hold on Me," was also a monster. You’ve got a double-sider that kills on the dancefloor. That's a recipe for a high price tag. Honestly, if you find a clean copy of this 7-inch for under $300, you aren't just lucky; you've basically committed a legal heist.
The Sound That Drives the Price
Why do people care? It’s the tremolo. Pops Staples had this signature guitar sound—thick, shimmering, and slightly haunting. When you drop the needle on a so close to what vinyl original, that guitar hits you in the chest before the vocals even start. It’s a bridge between the Delta blues he grew up with in Mississippi and the polished soul coming out of Chicago in the mid-60s.
Most people hear Pops and think of "I'll Take You There." That’s the commercial peak. But "So Close" is the raw stuff. It’s the sound of a man who spent his life in the church trying to make sense of a pop record. It feels urgent.
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Spotting a Real Vee-Jay 612 vs. Reissues
Here is where it gets tricky for the average person. Because the so close to what vinyl demand is so high, there are plenty of bootlegs and official reissues floating around. If you’re at a record fair, you need to know what you’re looking at.
Original Vee-Jay 45s from that era usually have a specific "bracket" logo or the oval logo. For the 612 release, you’re looking for the black label with the silver "Vee-Jay" in an oval at the top. The dead wax—that’s the smooth part between the music and the label—should have machine-stamped matrix numbers. If the numbers look like they were scratched in by a toddler with a compass, stay away. It’s a fake.
A lot of the 1970s and 80s UK reissues on labels like Grapevine or Contempo are great for DJs who don't want to risk a $500 original at a gig, but they don't hold the same value. They're tools. The original 1964 US pressing? That's the investment piece.
Value is a moving target. In 2023, a VG+ (Very Good Plus) copy sold on Discogs for roughly $450. I’ve seen Near Mint copies go for closer to $700 in private auctions. The market for mid-60s soul is surprisingly resilient because these records aren't being made anymore, and the ones that survived "the war"—meaning decades of being spun in smoky clubs—are usually beat to hell.
Why the Northern Soul Scene Claims It
If you go to a soul all-nighter in Wigan or Blackpool, "So Close" is a staple. The Northern Soul scene is obsessed with "the stomp." It’s a specific 4/4 beat that makes you want to slide across a talcum-powdered floor.
Pops Staples managed to capture that energy perfectly. It’s not too fast. It’s not a ballad. It’s that sweet spot. Experts like Ady Croasdell of Kent Records have spent years documenting these kinds of tracks. They look for the "missing links" in soul history. The so close to what vinyl represents a moment where gospel music officially became cool enough for the mod teenagers in London and Manchester.
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The Scarcity Factor
You have to understand how records were treated back then. They were disposables. People played them on cheap record players with needles that looked like sewing pins. They spilled drinks on them. They threw them away when the next hit came out.
Finding a so close to what vinyl copy that hasn't been destroyed by fifty years of neglect is a miracle. Most copies you find today will have "surface noise." A little crackle is fine—it adds character—but "loud pops" (ironically) will tank the value.
- Original Pressing: 1964, Vee-Jay Records (US).
- The Artist: Roebuck "Pops" Staples (Solo).
- The Vibe: Gritty, tremolo-heavy soul-blues.
- Current Rarity: High. Expect to wait months for a clean copy to appear online.
The Misconceptions About This Record
One thing that bugs me is when people call this a "Staple Singers" record. It isn't. While the family might be providing some backing, this was marketed as a Pops Staples solo effort. It’s his name on the marquee. That distinction matters because it changes the "hunt" for collectors. If you're looking under "S" for Staples Singers, you might miss it filed under "P" or "S" for Staples, Pops.
Another myth is that it's easy to find in thrift stores. Look, I love a good Goodwill hunt as much as anyone. But the odds of finding a Vee-Jay 612 in a bin of Mantovani and Barbara Streisand records are basically zero. This record was mostly distributed in urban centers like Chicago, Detroit, and Memphis. If you aren't in those spots, you're looking at specialized dealers.
Collector Nuance: The White Label Promo
If you ever see a "White Label Promo" (WLP) of this record, stop breathing. Just buy it. These were sent to radio stations before the official release. They are often the very first records pressed from a fresh stamper, meaning the sound quality is usually superior to the standard black-label commercial runs.
WLPs of "So Close" are the "holy grail" version of this specific release. They rarely hit the open market. Usually, they trade hands in private deals between high-stakes collectors who communicate in hushed tones on Facebook groups or specialized forums like Soul-Source.
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How to Start Your Hunt
If you're serious about getting your hands on this piece of history, you can't just wait for it to fall into your lap. You need a strategy. The "So Close" vinyl isn't just a purchase; it's a trophy.
Start by setting up alerts. Discogs is your best friend here. Add the 1964 Vee-Jay 612 release to your "Wantlist." You'll get an email the second one is listed. But be warned: the good ones go in minutes. You need to have your payment info saved and your trigger finger ready.
Check the European auctions too. Because of the Northern Soul connection, a lot of these US pressings migrated to the UK in the 70s and 80s. Sometimes a British seller will list one not realizing that US collectors are hungry to bring it back home.
Verify the Condition
Never buy this record without seeing high-res photos of the labels and the vinyl itself. If a seller says "it looks okay," they are lying. You want to see the "lustre." If the vinyl looks dull or grey, it's been "played out"—the grooves are worn down, and it will sound like a bag of potato chips.
Ask the seller for a "sound clip." Any reputable dealer selling a $400 record will be happy to record a 30-second snippet of the actual disc playing so you can hear the background noise level. If they refuse, walk away. There are enough "So Close" copies out there that you don't need to gamble on a dud.
Future Value of the Record
Is the market for so close to what vinyl going up? Honestly, yeah. As the original generation of Northern Soul collectors gets older, some of these records are hitting the market, but the demand from younger soul aficionados in Japan and Europe is skyrocketing. Vinyl isn't a dying medium; it's a diversifying one.
Pops Staples is a foundational figure. His influence on guys like Ry Cooder or Bonnie Raitt can't be overstated. As more people discover the roots of Americana and soul, the "origin point" records like this one only become more prestigious. It’s a blue-chip investment in the world of 45s.
Practical Steps for the Soul Collector
- Educate your ears: Listen to the digital version first. Make sure you actually like the song before dropping half a month's rent on a piece of plastic.
- Learn the labels: Study the Vee-Jay discography. Understand the difference between the 1964 press and the later unauthorized boots.
- Join the community: Get on forums like Soul-Source or follow big-name soul DJs on Instagram. They often post when they are thinning out their collections.
- Save your pennies: This isn't a "bargain" record. Save up specifically for a VG+ copy. Buying a "Fair" or "Good" copy is a waste of money because you won't enjoy listening to it.
- Invest in a real setup: If you buy high-end 45s, don't play them on a $60 suitcase player. You’ll ruin the grooves in three spins. Get a decent turntable with a properly weighted tonearm.
The hunt for a so close to what vinyl original is a rite of passage. It’s frustrating, expensive, and occasionally heartbreaking when you lose an auction at the last second. But that moment when the needle drops and that shimmering tremolo guitar fills the room? That makes every bit of the struggle worth it. You aren't just listening to a song; you're holding a piece of 1964 Chicago soul history in your hands.