Mark S

Love this never heard it before, not your typical Marvin could imagine Major Lance or Otis Leavill singing this. Cracking tune cheers

Four Tops - Right before my eyes, off the Changing times album

I agree the genie has been out of the bottle for years . The proms and this show are taking it to a new level , the Proms were well done completely pointless though but to me it was'nt soul and certainly not Northern soul . If they can capture the atmosphere of the Casino at 3am and the electricity that flows through you during the opening bars of George Blackwell Can't lose my head then I may give it a go .

Years ago we were discussing " new blood " on the scene , well this is what it looks like . Sanitised over exposed bollocks all neatly packaged for your convenience . Non of this reflects my experience of the scene totally misses the point lacks edge and exclusiveness . When the proms were aired Maconie said " it was the best night of his life " poor sod must have lived a very sheltered life

As long as people respect the floor and don't dick about no problem

The term cultural appropriation definitely doesn't apply to the soul scene. Early days for me was the late 60s early 70s Skinhead / Suedehead culture that for me at least morphed into the Northern soul scene . Blue collar white British culture meets Black American blue collar musical culture. We weren't trying to be black just disenfranchised working class youth finding a connection with black American disenfranchised youth. We cant expect kids in 2023 to understand that let alone respect it and the sad thing is we can weep and wail gnash our dentures but there is absolutely fu#k all we can do about it

Sign of the times I suppose social media appears to be a cesspit and trolling for many now is the accepted defence mechanism. Dont use it myself except here. Yes agree to a point about people on the scene manipulating the narative you only have to listen to Russ W to hear the shite he comes out with but ultimately its the media that allows this content without propper research. I am just a punter on this scene and have an if you know you know type attitude the story never needed telling in the first place..

Just being pragmatic, there's nothing anybody can do about this. Years ago there were discussions on here abouut encouraging new blood we can't control what they then do this was bound to happen in this new media savvy age. My personal veiw is when I die the scene can die with me never bothered me about encourageing new blood those that do usually have a vested interest. I believe that Levanna doesn't mean to cause harm as do many of the big DJ's but by sticking her head above the parrapet those intentions are then manipulated and distorted by the media, exprerience has shown this many times over the years the media can't be trusted ever so why people that purport to care about the scene don't learn is beyond me. Naivety or narcissistic tendencies are my only conclusion sadly.

Looking forward to Paul Sadot's response

Not worth getting bent out of shape over. Everyone has thier own NS story and differing points of reference depending when they first got into it, for me early 70s Manchester very different culturally than the 90s and by the time Levanna got into it 2014 the genie was well and truly out of the bottle. The disinterest demonstrated by the presenter was evident when Levanna spoke about beat ballads and popcorn the presenter never asked what that was it's not normal parlance in everyday speech. The media have never understood or represented the scene propperly and never will this was evident with the Proms and various documentarys Levanna and her Mum are doing no more damage than some of the big name DJs that feel the need to promote the scene and co-operate with the media. The scene has historically gathered its own momentum in spite of interference will survive.

Live at Dary, ls house is great Sharon Jones and Toots and the Maytals great sessions

Eli Paperboy Reed springs to mind a good effort at a soulful sound. I like his music. My view is that soul music amplifies the black experience and white singers are just impersonating the sound and are not soul singers.

Written by Curtis Mayfield, performed by Gene Chandler / Curtis Mayfield / Baby Huey - Hard Times not sure which ones the cover though I personally prefer the Baby Huey rendition.

In an interview when asked how the dancers kept going all night Russ Winstanley replied " Lucozade".

If you didn't have it back in the day tough.