Record: Champagne and Wine/I’ve Got Dreams To Remember by Otis Redding.

What can we glean? There’s a heartfelt message on the sleeve to both the ‘lady’ who was given this seven inch and to Stax/Atlantic recording artist Redding, who was certainly a suitable candidate for the ‘King of Soul’ garland (just check the singles released prior to 1968).

It’s unclear whether the scrawls on the record labels are from the same person (and it’s unlikely in my view), but ‘Micky’ is someone who either marked their records in proprietorial and teenage glee or was adamant they didn’t want another vinyl hound to half-inch any of their treasures come the end of a night at someone’s house where guests had brought their own records. In the same spirit, the ’20’ could be their age at the time (to be that age in ’68…!) or part of a numbered filing system?

The fact that the artist’s name has been completely scratched off on both sides inevitably makes one think whether the record’s owner was trying to ‘cover up’ what they had; the white stickers which indicate which side to play, genre and tempo speaks to this record having one been owned by a DJ. But when the inscription on the sleeve is read once more, it indicates that S.B. wanted to ensure their S.S. concentrated on the lyrics – read below – in order to remember through this ‘suvenir’ what they once had. And wish they still enjoyed. 

Conclusion: Music can and will hold us in a memory of lost love. Records are the sweetest valentines. Otis is still a king.