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Soul Source music magazine feature.
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Big Arctic Records Package Coming
....
Cooler Than Ice - The Arctic Records Story (6 CDs & 6 7" singles)
http://www.dustygroo...oos=1&incl_cs=1
I was told about this package a while ago & have had brief discussions with Frank 'Phi-La of Soul' who is behind it.
Seems that none of the 'bits' (the 45's) will be available separately, however it will feature some previously unissued tracks.
There was talk of a big live show package being brought together (Della Humphrey, Barbara Mason, the Ambassadors, Volcanoes, Kenny Hamber, etc) for a number of shows (in Philly & possibly elsewhere) to promote the release. But things on that front have gone very quiet over the last couple of months (I believe backers to fund the live show package haven't been forthcoming though detailed talks were underway a while back).
Anyway, no doubt the track listing will make interesting reading when it becomes available.
The Torch Allnighter Book
Over the last few months virtually every morning I have received requests for wristbands for the class of 72 reunion. From Belgium to Bognor, from Carlisle to Cambridge from Newcastle to Norwich, From Spain to St Helens the response has been as always phenomenal.
Now we've had the negative ones suggest the fact the event is virtually sold out is down to the free entry wristbands my reply is have a look at the donation buckets Sunday 28th Oct, we expect those that are attending to be as generous as previous years with the door tax donation probably exceeding what we would have taken in ticket sales. As with previous years ALL proceeds after our unavoidable expenses will be donated to charity.
While reading the aforementioned emails it became very clear how much 1972 meant to you, with many of you taking the time to share some short and ONE very long story (cheers Pig) about various escapades that went on circ 1972, with stories of 9hrs journeys to the Torch, or buying records on the balcony, stories of being chased around Tunstall Street by the DS, yep they were all part of growing up.
All though a number of venues excelled in 1972 the Torch without question became the big one and to that end bearing in mind some of the content we already have on file, we have decided with the kind permission of Chris Burton to write a book about the Torch all-nighter.
The top 50 records, scans and information supplied by two of the worlds authorities on Northern Soul, photos and personal memories by those that patronised the Torch, interviews with the DJ's.
Our intention is to have the book ready as a hard back or paper back by May 2013 via a launch party at a venue in central England.
If you would be interested in writing a few words or supplying us with photographs or memorabilia please in the first instance contact me Paul Donnelly via email
PaulDonnellyBP@aol.com and I will reply with an email outlining what we require from you, without your inclusions a book to celebrate what some consider to be the greatest underground soul music venue ever, will remain a dream.
As always all proceeds after unavoidable expenses will be donated to the 2013 Class of 72 Reunion Charity Fund
Malc, Jez and PD
site word
the cropped photo used as the header image is from chris b gallery here on soul source
can view full album here
James 'Rikki' Hicks - The O'Jays Percussionist - Sad News
He also performed on the Philly session I did with legend Bobby Eli in 2008 which was invaluable for me. I even carried out his congas to the car for him! God, they were heavy. Thanks for everything Rikki.....you will always be remembered. Here he is in action at that session:
Recently, I have been writing some new songs and he agreed to come on board and possibly do some congas and bongos for me. When I lay my demo tracks down, I always think of him and Larry Washington and ask..how would they do it? Now I know partly...with style and precision......
Newly Discovered Mix Of The Carstairs - it Really Hurts Me Girl - Giveaway @ Ritz All-Dayer
The first 100 copes will be given away to the first 100 people through the doors at the Manchester Ritz All-Dayer on Sunday September 30.
This follows the tradition we had at the Ritz All-Dayers in the 70's of sometimes giving singles away to people as they came through the door. One All-Dayer surprised punters got demos of Jeff Perry & Debbie Taylor on UK Arista.
The Carstairs mix is the real thing, it was done in the 70's when "It Really Hurts Me Girl" was recorded and was never released. It is not a re-edit, it is not the Tom Moulton mix released in the 70's on Inferno.
Big shout out to Mick Holdsworth for being the Soul detective behind this coup.
www.soulvation.biz
Thanks,
Neil
Roger Eagle Book
Nice video for the release of a new book about Roger Eagle- Sit down & listen to this.
As someone who was a major part of the early days of this scene , thought it might be of interest.
http://www.empire-uk.com/SitDown.htm
Just added a link
added by site
Fortune led him to a job putting records on at The Twisted Wheel. Ignoring the thriving Beat scene, Roger prooted gigs by and played the recordings of the original Blues and Rhythm and Blues artists, often bringing them over from the States at his own expense. The club's music policy, at odds with just about everything else in the country at the time, was an instant hit and crowds flocked to the Wheel all-nighters from all over the country...
..saw him open The Magic Village - a short-lived psychedelic all-nighter that became the cornerstone of Manchester's late sixties counterculture scene before he moved on to Liverpool Stadium, promoting gigs by artistes as diverse as Led Zeppelin and Cat Stevens.
Sensing that the stadium rock scene was burning itself out, Roger opened Eric's...
RRP: £18.95
Special offer from the publishers
Buy "Sit Down..."
£12 UK £14 Rest of World
Sad News Bob Babbitt Has Passed Away.
added by site
http://www.bobbabbitt.com/about.htm
As Bob's reputation grew, so did his recording schedule. One frequent employer was local R&B producer Ed Wingate, who owned Golden World studio. During this period Babbitt first came into contact with some of Motown's moon- lighting musicians, including keyboardists Joe Hunter and Johnny Griffith, guitarist Eddie Willis, drummer Benny Benjamin, and-most important-bassist James Jamerson, the troubled genius...
"Working at Motown was the hardest thing I ever did, because I always felt like I was in the hot seat," he sighs. "I cut 'Touch Me in the Morning,' 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered,' 'Smiling Faces,' 'War,' 'Tears of a Clown,' and a lot of other hits for the company (see discography), but I never felt....
Bob got the opportunity to make a once-in-a-lifetime artistic statement on Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On. "Marvin and [arranger] Dave Van dePitte basically left us wide open to create," recalls Bob
The full informative and recommended article can be read here
http://www.bobbabbitt.com/about.htm
Who are the Great Soul Deejays?
No doubt been done a zillion times before but it's probably worth doing periodically as people come and go and perspectives change.
When I did my defence of Colin Curtis, I had him among the top 5 Northern Soul C NS ) DJs of all times. I thought I should elaborate and then go beyond just NS. I originally intended to say he was in the top 3 but thought I should acknowledge Soul Sam, who has always had a devoted following and a massive impact albeit, in my view, a negative one. Then I thought I should include Russ Winstanley, probably the most powerful man in NS during its most iconic period, though also in a negative way in my opinion.
I suspect that if we were to line up the ultimate list of NS classics, Ian Levine will have uncovered more than anybody else. Reading the In Crowd, the point where it became something that I would recognise as NS was Circa 71 and Levine and Dave Godin were probably the key figures in turning it into a coherent scene. I have never thought of the Wheel as NS proper but that is a discussion for people much older than me. Levine is often written off for his tailor made NS records and for what he became, but his creations proved very popular with many, including a 12/13/14 year old me. Many of us followed him and Curtis into ( what we used to call New York ) Disco, Funk and Jazz Funk and, despite what the history books say, the In Crowd tag stayed with us, while NS went into its dark ages. Levine discovered Eurodisco, had a hand in Take That but seems to have forgiven NS more recently.
In Kev Roberts's top 500, he has Levine and Curtis as 1 and 2 respectively in the 70s, NSs only significant decade, but the casino as the number 1 club, which just goes to show how politics and religion can become more important than music, and not just ( original ) vinyl, but bricks and mortar, the idea of the allnighter and tactics to stay awake all night.
I would probably switch 2 and 3 and have Searling second. I may be doing CC an injustice but my rationale is that he was second to Levine while Searling was the credible end of Wigan, probably the top club in 73/4 though none of my crowd, Alex included, were going yet. Returning to my list, I imagine Richard uncovered more classics than anybody else besides Levine.
I rang Russ Winstanley a few years ago and found him an extremely friendly and decent bloke and he is probably more responsible than anyone else for the increasing popularity of NS during the seventies. However, as the mid- seventies turned into the late seventies, a new generation arrived, with Wigan Casino as it's temple, and many seemed to like plastic more than music, rareity more than quality, and northern more than Soul. In fairness, I think NS had already died of natural causes and, although it became an ever so slightly cool cult in the eighties and has suffered a massive revival since, it's nice to drop in on but no longer my idea of a lifestyle choice.
Briefly returning to the issue of ( original ) vinyl, the old argument against pressings was that the artist didn't gain; like Frank Wilson did well out of the 15k. I recently heard the singer out of Epitome of Sound on the radio during his recent visit and it's hard to imagine this could happen if You don't love me hadn't been extensively available at an affordable price. On the issue of CDs, the next time you are talking to a Soul Artist, ask them what they think of CDs and watch their reaction when you tell them that some people don't think it's OK to play Soul on CD. Or are they wrong too?
In another article, I claimed too much NS is obscurity for the sake of it and/ or a celebration of the ordinary and I think the key figure here is Soul Sam. I first came across him at an all dayer in 75. Searling had played an excellent set in the afternoon but as the grownups ( the 16/17 year olds ) arrived in the evening, people told me to listen out for Soul Sam. I was really excited and really disappointed when he was terrible. In hindsight I should commend him for at least playing different records to everybody else, but none of them were any good. I have heard him many times since at Durham, Aycliffe, Glasgow, Thorne, Bradford, Cleethorpes, Lowton etc but have never heard him play more than one great record per set: Run for Cover, Carl Hall, Helping Hand, Just ask me, original version of Now that I have you. Once at Parkers I asked him about a Prince Philip Mitchel record on Hi, I don't remember which one, but he didn't know it and became indignant.
At this point I should probably mention Arthur Fenn. I have heard him play great Modern sets, and not just the usual suspects, but also heard him terrible, which is incomprehensible. Once in the Modern Room at Bradford, he was playing sub Luther Vandross newies so I asked him if he had Lucky Fellow by Leroy Hutson, one of my favourites at the time. He quite rudely replied yes, turned his back on me and didn't play it. Presumably he thought he was being dead clever, but it would have been far cleverer to play a great record amongst the dross.
By now, Aycliffes frontline have no doubt had their suspicions confirmed that I'm too choosy by half but, with so much wonderful music to choose from, there's no excuse for playing rubbish.
The only other NS DJ I'd like to single out is John Vincent. I don't really remember why I had him second only to Searling but he once did an alldayer at Aycliffe and it was the first time I heard Adams Apple, briefly a favourite. However, in those days your favourite records changed every other week, so the real reason may be lost in the mists of time.
My return to the Soul Scene proper, after the wilderness years of night clubs and NS greatest hits nights, was consolidated at the Trafalgar near Preston and, particularly, Searling playing Love Love Love by Donny Hathaway, a record I'd championed for years. In the ensuing years at Bognor, Caister, Prestatyn, London, Ayre, Berwick, Fleetwood, Thorne, Morecambe, Southport, Manchester etc . etc., I would generally describe him as the best of a not terribly good bunch, though I was stuck in my serious ( Deep ) Soul phase with my head stuck even further up my own a$$ than usual.
Recently, at his 2 room bash in Blackburn, my missus asked why he is such a local celeb. I replied that, apart from the Soul tourists come to see the famous Wigan Casino DJ, he has probably been the best Soul DJ in the world. Once at Parkers he dropped in Don't come up here no more by Epicenter featuring Sandra Feva, one of those moments in life you'll never forget, and it's hard to imagine anyone else, apart from me, doing that.
Curtis also survived the seventies but mainly by adding Real Jazz to his arsenal. Forgive my cynicism, but I have always been sceptical about Soul DJs playing Real Jazz on the Soul Scene THOUGH I THINK Curtis generally faired better than Chris Hill, Bob Jones, Giles Peterson, Baz fe Jazz, Sylvester or any of the others. None seem to go back to Jazz, but interpret it from a Soul Music perspective, often resulting in second and third rate stuff, easy listening, novelty records and Latin pop.
At its best, Soul is an Art form, but Jazz is Post Russian Modernist ( who stole heavily from Jazz ) C20th Classical Music and, as such, must constantly progress, while Soul ( sans Funk ) is predominantly about the grain of the voice. Jazz emerged at a different time in Americas history to Soul and was therefore at a different position in its trajectory in relation to the escalation of capitalism, the Civil Rights Movement and the emergence of the mass media as the dominant cultural force. Unlike Soul, the great Jazz was created mainly by the giants of the genre:
Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Lester Young, Bird and Diz, Monk, Mingus, Miles and Trane. Incidentally, there is a similar problem with Keb Darges Deep Funk whereby the great Funk was made almost exclusively by the major bands: James Brown, JBs, P. Funk, Isleys, Ohio Players, War, Kool and his Gang, Earth Wind Fire, Sly Stone, Graham Central Station, Con Funk Shun, Cameo, Commodores, Fatback Band, Maze, Slave, BT Express, Brass Construction, Brothers Johnson, Rufus, Average White Band and one or two others.
Curtis could still pull out the odd gem though, like ( 3:36 ) Randy Brown on Parachute on his radio show with Giles Peterson at the Bognor Weekender. Incidentally, where Alex first got the idea for a Jazz Funk Weekender in the North, and I first got the idea to steer him towards a Soul Weekender with its heart in a dedicated Soul Room. Curtis played I'm Here off Intimately while everyone else was pushing I was Blessed. Also his Modern Soul Greatest Hits and radio shows at the early weekenders were terrific.
Talking Bognor leads nicely on to London and the South. Make no mistake, there are many fine DJs down there, though it is not a way of life for so many and to the same extent, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Bob Jones is the nearest thing I have ever heard to a Deep Soul DJ. He names himself Dr. Bob Jones and claims to play the Real Jazz and Soul, though his choice of John Coltrane track is a good illustration of what I described above. I met him at Caister and shook his hand but I don't think I was important enough for him. By Southport, perhaps intimidated by the likes of Searling on their home turf, he started playing ( what we used to call ) Street Soul, which is perhaps what he deserved after the handshake.
Mark Webster also impressed me playing Real Soul and Albert King - yes Albert King - at a club at London Bridge. He was a Blues and Soul journalist but is now anchor for Channel 5s American Football coverage. He recently guested on the BBCs virtual jukebox where people nominate records and went for Lou Reed ahead of Curtis Move on Up, which is unforgiveable.
Speaking of unforgiveable, Nicky Holloway was the Souths answer to Alex; prepared to play whatever he thought might make him rich and famous. Cain Gang manager Phil Mitchell was DJing at Walkers in Newcastle and playing their version of Respect Yourself. Alex thought this shocking so I asked Nicky Holloway, who routinely played equally terrible records, if he would play it. When he said no I asked him if I could redeem myself by requesting some Geater Davis, naively expecting such an important person to know of the great man. He later told Alex I had asked for Tina Turner, at which point Alex, always keen to impress anyone from the south, typically threatened me with violence. Holloway discovered the Balearic Beat, made a heap of money and even Alex eventually admitted he was an irrelevance. Incidentally, Paul Cook was the other Walkers DJ so I gave him a spare copy of the Staple Singers but he continued playing the Cain Gang, which WAS shocking.
Terry Jones and Ian Clarke also deserve mention and enjoy popularity among Soul Folk throughout the country, though they lack the gravitas of Bob Jones, Searling et all. Caught Terry Jones at the last Blackburn and he was OK but he was OK, at his best playing Just Soul like Brothers gonna work it out. There were people enthusing about stuff I didn't know and I cringed a little as I wondered whether that was me 20 years ago. However, chatting with Queen Ethna recently, an old flame and one of the countries' most illustrious active Soul Fans, I told her that I haven't heard anything of any significance recently that I didn't know 20 years ago, and she agreed that I have been extraordinarily lucky in Music; and not just catching the best era of Modern Soul, but Rock, Prog Rock, Just Soul, Funk, Northern Soul, Disco and Jazz Funk. Even my Deep Soul years coincided with the revitalised Malaco label before it got safe, as well as Beverly Glenn and Soundtown. The pop/ Rock media even reckon my teenybop years in the sixties was the golden age of pop, though I find the Beatles and their spawn no less lightweight, twee, superficial and passÃÆ’© than any other pop music.
Probably the most important Black Music DJ in the country is Chris Hill. I have mentioned elsewhere his appearance in Durham in 78, but would also like to mention an appearance at Prestatyn. Acid House was just becoming massive in the big room and he arrived in the alternative room, erected a banner saying Acid Free Zone, to the cheers of the crowd, and played one of finest sets of Soul Music, not particularly what he's known for, I've ever heard. As he left he looked genuinely brassed off. Were I to invite a guest DJ to play a Soul Night and ask them to play slightly off kilter Soul, I would anticipate he would do a better job than anyone else, expecting Levine, Curtis, Searling or Bob Jones to be either too clever or too complacent. He has been a genuine giant in Black Music in this country for almost 50 years.
But the first MBE went to Norman Jay, presumably because he's black and associated with the Notting Hill Carnival which gets extensive media coverage. He's also one of the pioneers of Rare Groove and a big Philly Man. I used to look after his girlfriend while he was off being a superstar. Once in the radio room at Southport, he handed over to Bob Jeffries but forgot his name. Bob thanked him for the last hour and, off the top of his head, outlined his full and extensive itinerary for the week. Somebody had been passing sweets around and Bob had the packet at the time but, when Norman asked for one, he told him he'd had enough.
Best of the Scottish jocks, Bob Jeffries played all 3 rooms which just goes to show that broadening your horizons actually improves the Soul Music you listen to. In his top 5, he included the sublime Whats's happening baby by the Soul Children from the seminal album Friction, and Margie Joseph Ridin High, perhaps having heard Paul Cook play my copy on Berwick Radio.
Another Scot, Tom Jackson was a genuinely nice bloke who all the girls fancied and whose wife, all the blokes fancied. Because Alex and I weren't getting along and he couldn't bear that my old mate Colin Johnson, famous for nicknaming me Silk, wasn't really contributing for his free weekend, Alex brought him in to help with the DJ timetables. The only consequence was that Tom got better spots than he probably should have which Alex and I allowed for the reasons stated above. He broke Curtis Anderson and JP Bingham at consecutive weekenders but is now mostly blamed for the really naff records which snuck through, which may or not be fair.
I'm pleased to say that, unlike others, I was never enamoured with Billy Davison, the third Scott. I recently read an article by him in Blues and Soul where he rubbished the DJs, himself included, for playing so many seventies records. Nowadays it's more or less accepted that, for the last 20 years, after my involvement ended I might add, the Soul Room limped through R n B and Soulful House, but it now seems to be acknowledged that the sixties and seventies, was, is, and almost certainly always will be the Golden Age of Soul.
I'd like to conclude my survey in the North East. With the exception of me at the Manor House, Frankie has been the best Soul DJ in the North East, and a cornerstone of the North East Soul Scene for almost 40 years. The Red Lion in Chester le Street was a much loved party night in the eighties featuring Frankie, Alex and Paul Cook. On the bus through we would line up the records we knew for certain we would hear: Joy and Pain, Movin, Aint no stopping us now, Runaway Love, I love music; mostly good stuff but done to death. Frankie would go on first and play Mecca Northern, Modern and, what would now be called crossover, while Alex and Paul cowered at the back, terrified of his Karate black belt and inhuman strength and fitness, moaning that he wasn't playing what they considered classics. For a handful of us, ready to embark on our Weekender Odyssey, this was why we came.
Bit of an afterthought. I recently saw Craig Charles and he seemed more interested in dramatically removing his jacket and flinging his arms about like a Superstar than playing anything decent - or perhaps he didn't think anybody could see him behind the decks without a box or his platforms. Checked out some of his radio playlists though and he always plays something good and I'm talking JR Bailey good.
However, best show on the radio is Fun Lovin Criminal Hughie who plays a mix of Soul, Funk, Jazz, Blues, Reggae, World Music, hip hop, SinAtra and genuinely alternative Rock - including Zappa - on Radio 2 from midnight on Friday. If I'm honest, he plays more misses than hits, but you never quite know what he's going to play and it's never less than interesting. I only know of one other person who can do what he does , so if you live in the North East, listen to this space.
BBC TV iplayer - The Devil's Music 1979 TV Series 2
A 1979 TV series delving into the world of Blues music and tracing its historical origins.
First transmitted in 1979, Alexis Korner delves into the soulful world of traditional black American Blues music. Exploring its origins and reviewing unique footage of acclaimed Blues artists including Sonny Blake, Sam Chatmon, Houston Stackhouse and Booker White.
Episode 1
1/4 Alexis Korner delves into the world of American Blues music. (1979)
FIRST BROADCAST: 09 Jul 1979
Episode 2
2/4 Alexis Korner delves further into the soulful world of traditional Blues music. (1979)
FIRST BROADCAST: 16 Jul 1979
Episode 3
3/4 Alexis Korner discovers that Blues music expresses a deep symbolic message. (1979)
FIRST BROADCAST: 23 Jul 1979
Episode 4
4/4 Alexis Korner looks at contemporary Chicago Blues music. (1979)
FIRST BROADCAST: 30 Jul 1979
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00lfs2m
Dean Francis Rip
http://numerogroup.w...ncis-1951-2012/
added by site
Soul Rockin' with Rick Redmon
Reminiscing About the Soul Rockers and the Funky Disposition
Based on an interview with Rick Redmon 4/6/03
http://www.columbusm..._rockers_1.html
a full lengthy detailed history of the soul rockers including the interesting fact that they played the backing on the Chandlers famed classic "Your love make me lonely"
New Century Summer Soul News Update - Nolan and more...
The main hall music policy and line ups will stay the same, we will put Hoss and Roger from the R&B room with Steve Cato and Paul Grant from Soul Or Nothing in the second room and along with some guests and they will be playing totally free style.
As a promotion we firmly believe that you need to change things around every so often and for the next three events we will present a live act in the main hall.
So on July the 28th we are pleased to say Mr Nolan Porter will be on stage performing his soul anthems 'Keep On Keeping On', 'If I Could Only Be Sure' plus a few more and September 29th we will be welcoming Miss Yvonne Vernee on stage.
So with two rooms hosting some of the country's top soul spinners, live acts and still only the normal £12.00 door tax.
All the best
Chris
July's event info:
Saturday July 28th
A Soulful Gathering
New Century Soul Manchester Allnighter
9pm till 7am
Main Hall
DJ's Andy Dyson, Kev Murphy, Bob Hinsley, Soul Sam, Steve Thomas, Glen Walker Foster, Mace, Andy Garside, Ed Battin
& Live On Stage Mr Nolan Porter
Room Two
Six Before Six: 10pm till 6am
Tony Evans, Paul Shirley, Hoss Watson, Paul Grant, Roger Banks & Steve Cato
£12 OTD
Yvonne in Devon in the 90s
[media=]
Info Contact Chris 07737 341585
Or Via our website
http://www.newcenturysoul.co.uk
Southern Soul Singer Robert Moore Has Died
http://jacksonville....ames-brown-dies
added by site
an earlier article from same paper
clip
The Lemon Twisters kept playing together; in 1968, they actually had an appointment at Columbia Records to talk about a possible recording contract, said Ray Love, a saxophonist who had joined the group by then.
But their driver made a wrong turn on the streets of New York and they missed the meeting.
"That was the end of that," Moore said.
In 1969, Moore moved to Miami looking for more work. He performed with several groups there, such as Notorious Miami, which enjoyed a minor hit in 1976 with a song titled "Kill That Roach."
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville....n#ixzz20EhNZlMy
John Abbey Rare Interview
Great interview by David Nathan with John Abbey, founder of Blues & Soul magazine. Listen and read John's own account of his journey and passion for soul music. Recorded in London March 2012.
London-born John Abbey's contribution to the world of soul music has never been fully documented: as the creator of Britain's "Blues & Soul" magazine, he was responsible for introducing thousands of readers to the artists who were at the very foundation of soul music. Through his company, Contempo, John brought classic artists like Al Green and Barry White to the UK as well as creating an in-office record store, a record label and producing recordings on deep soul singers like Oscar Toney Jr. and Doris Duke.
After moving to Atlanta in the late '70s, John worked with legends like Curtis Mayfield, Clarence Carter and William Bell through his Ichiban Records. He continues to work in the world of soul music as the manager of The Three Degrees and in this in-depth interview with David Nathan - whose own career owes much to his work with John from the early days of Blues & Soul - John traces his fascinating journey...
To read the rest of the very interesting interview conducted by David Nathan go to......
Part One at:
http://www.soulmusic...1&T=38&ART=2423
Part Two at:
http://www.soulmusic...1&T=38&ART=2430
The Soul Club Returns New Allnighter Coming Very Soon
I have been given the oppurtunity to host a new allnight session in a perfect cellar club venue and subject to the licence the first Allnighter will happen on Saturday August 18th 2012 (it would appear after checking the events guide here on Soul Source that there is no other Allnighters booked in the area that night) so although there is just a little over a month to promote this I feel it's worth a shot, subject to conformation DJ's approached so far include Cliff Steele, Ted Massey, Ian Cunliffe, Phil T, Nige Brown, Dolly with more to be added to the rosta on rotation and myself to act as warm up DJ for the night as I know my place now not having some of the shall we say trophy records left, it is my intention to host this on a regular monthly basis subject to checking with other promotions to try and avoid clashing when possible, the music policy is simple AUTHENTIC Northern Soul with no agenda other than being played by some of the best people I know, I'm not gonna start spouting this venue will be the biggest and the best or we will be playing underplayed, lesser played, ujnknows or bog standard oldies what I will say is every effort will be made to supply the best possible quality music and the policy will be dictated by the people who attend and support the venue,DJ's will be booked on merrit,collection, entertainment value and most importantly be authentic in everyway.
Full details on the venue, location, details will follow early next week subject to conformation of DJ's/venue and everything else being in place, Northern Soul events have been tried and run at this venue and I would like to personally thank the previous promoters for their efforts and commitment, it is with the blessing of the owner of the venue that I have been given the oppurtunity to dip my toe back into running an event, every effort will be made to promote this event in a proper and professional manner, an open invitation will be going out to other Allnighter promoters as a gesture of good faith.
'The Soul Club' Memberships will be valid for the new event but if you require a free membership and full details of the event pleaee send a SAE to The Soul Club, 32 Bakewell Avenue, Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire, Ol6 9BP.
The Allnighter will run from approx 9pm through to 6am To be confirmed and admission will be £10.00.
For further information please feel free to contact me via bicknellmark@aol.com or via PM here, Telephone 0161 330 6267 Text/Mobile 07870610907
Inspired! Blood, Soul, Sweat & Cheers - Harmless Album For The Olympics
A mind-boggling 4 billion plus people are expected to watch the various events on TV alone! Damn. And this is right on Harmless's own doorstep too! Opportunities like this don't pop up that regularly - the last time in London was in 1948 and Harmless wasn't around back then unfortunately.
So we had to do SOMETHING for the occasion but what....?
Bingo! What about an album which picks some of the greatest records about running, jumping, winning, losing, elation, heartbreak, inspiration and aspiration that have ever been ever made.......?
Then we'd be talking ay!
Even better, what if we heavily promoted the album to a world media which is always thirsty for great topical angles? Most of these guys would probably never even hear these records under normal circumstances in their entire lifetimes! So this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get some incredible music in front of the international media at the perfect time. How could we say no?
The opportunity of attempting to reach such a huge worldwide audience for such an iconic event that just happens to be on one's doorstep is obviously pretty enticing to those of us who are still in the business of selling music. So it was really a no-brainer.
Opportunist? For sure! Harmless WANT as many people as possible to listen to this album. It's probably the greatest sports compilation ever made for those with impeccable taste. Hand selected with love no less.
We trawled through the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's to dig out the gems and went through the usual licensing hell to present them here against a deadline that was set in stone and boy, was it worth it!
As with most Harmless releases we give a little bit of history about the songs in question and cheekily add a new section called 'programming opportunity' which suggests the circumstances where the song may work best. CD1 concentrates on some of the most brilliant inspirational and aspirational output from the late 1960's to early 1970's and CD2 covers the late 70's to the late 00's. This package spans the eras. Throughout the journey we take in numerous 60's RnB, Northern Soul, Modern Soul, Crossover Soul, Philly Soul, Funky Soul, Deep Soul and just all-time great Soulful gems from right across the last 5 decades. Numerous tracks have been widely unavailable until now, some are on legitimate release for the first time ever and most of 'em are in demand somewhere in the world right now. It's quite a journey so strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.
No one can accuse us of not getting in the spirit of things eh?
HURTXCD121 "Inspired! Blood, Soul, Sweat & Cheers" - Released 23/07/2012
Amazon Link
http://www.amazon.co...pd_rhf_se_p_t_1
CD1: Inspirational 60's & 70's Northern Soul & RnB
1. The MVP's - Turning My Heartbeat Up
2. N.F. Porter - Keep On Keeping On
3. The Steve Karmen Big Band - Breakaway
4. The Tempos - Countdown (Here I Come)
5. Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up
6. Archie Bell & The Drells - There's Gonna Be A Showdown
7. Roscoe Shelton - Running For My Life
8. Linda Jones - You Can't Take It
9. Dean Parrish - Determination
10. Willie Mitchell - The Champion
11. Lee Dorsey - Ride Your Pony
12. Tami Lynn - I'm Gonna Run Away From You
13. Billy Butler - Right Track
14. Major Lance - Ain't No Soul (Left In These Old Shoes)
15. Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon - Sweet Inspiration
16. The Exciters - Reaching For The Best
17. Alice Clark - You Hit Me (Right Where It Hurt Me)
18. The Mike Post Coalition - Afternoon Of The Rhino
19. The Just Brothers - Sliced Tomatoes
20. Betty Moorer - Speed Up
21. Bill Moss - Sock It To 'Em Soul Brother
22. Jimmy 'Soul' Clark - I'll Be Your Champion (I'll Be Your Winner)
23. Gene McDaniels - Walk With A Winner
24. Chairmen Of The Board - I'm On My Way To A Better Place
CD2: Inspirational 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's Soul, Dance & RnB
1. LTG Exchange - Keep On Trying
2. Betty Swann - When The Game Is Played On You
3. Sly & The Family Stone - Runnin' Away
4. Sandra Wright - I Come Running Back
5. The Controllers - Somebody's Gotta Win, Somebody's Gotta Lose
6. The Spinners - Games People Play
7. New York City - Quick Fast In A Hurry
8. Joe Simon - Step By Step
9. The Intruders - (Win Place Or Show) She's A Winner
10. Michael Valvano's Contours - I'm A Winner
11. Larry Wedgeworth & Clique - No More Games
12. Average White Band - Let's Go Round Again
13. GQ - Standing Ovation
14. Kleeer - Keep Your Body Workin'
15. Aretha Franklin - Jump To It
16. Mousse T - Brother On The Run
17. The Heavy - How You Like Me Now
18. Des'ree - You Gotta Be
We're promoting the album heavily to Radio & TV over the next 4 weeks, so who know? With a bit of luck we may hear some decent tunes for a change!
Ian D
Soul Express Update News
Deep Soul
The new Deep Soul column 2/2012 (June 2012) now online!
There are fresh interviews with Ron Tyson of the Ethics, Love Committee and the Temptations and
L.J. Reynolds and Willie Ford about the turbulence in the Dramatics + introducing their new member, Leon Franklin and Michael McGill of the Dells ...
http://www.soulexpre.../deep2_2012.htm
Best regards
Heikki
A clip and some of the contents
A gentleman by the name of Thaddeus Wales became their manager. "He kind of found me. He knew Norman Harris, and we became acquainted through him. That's when I was getting the Ethics started. We met and we went on to record." The first single - That's the Way Love Goes/There's Still a Sweet Tomorrow, produced by Thaddeus - was released on Wale in 1967. The other group on the label was The Springers...
Content icludes
Interviews:
Ron Tyson (The Temptations)
The Dramatics: L.J. Reynolds, Willie Ford
Introducing new Dramatics member Leon Franklin
Mickey McGill of the Dells
New CD reviews:
Ron Tyson: Recipe 4 Love
Vel Omarr: The Greatest Song I Ever Sang
Garland Green: I Should've Been the One
Frank-O Johnson: Only Time Will Tell
O.B. Buchana: Let Me Knock the Dust Off
Jaye Hammer: Hammer
Joy: Gotta Find a Good Love
Dave Morris: In & Out Of Love
Mel Waiters: Got No Curfew
Jerry L: Let's Do It All Over
Lee Fields: Faithful Man
Andre´ Lee: Stories of Life
The Revelations feat. Tre Williams: Concrete Blues
Betty Wright & The Roots: The Movie
Clonda Brittman: A Man in Love with Love
Jesse James: Do Not Disturb
Colin Curtis - Too much to Swallow.
In fact this is deja vu for me. In the early days of the weekenders, as word got round I was responsible for the dj schedules, some of the more junior djs would ask me how come he got all the best spots when he always played the same records. Not so, I would protest, sometimes he opens with Flowers, sometimes Beloyd, sometimes Gloria Scott but never Collins and Collins. You never knew if he would play Jesse James or Anthony White, he had 2 Jeff Perry tracks to choose from and 2 versions of Lucky Fellow. Sometimes he played the Carstairs before the Montclairs and sometimes Cashing In before either. Later he added the Dells.
If still not convinced, I would remind them that they were all perfectly capable of playing all of these records but none of them actually wanted to. With Searling, he was the only dj with nothing to prove to anyone and, if Richard occasionally appeared to look on with disdain, the rest of us thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to lighten up for an hour. In short, he got the best spots because he is Colin Curtis and without people like him there wouldn't be people like us. I should also mention his radio shows were far more interesting.
Last friday at the Swallow Hotel in Gateshead, emerging as the best of the North East nostalgia nights, he was criticised for committing the cardinal sin playing the incorrect variety of plastic, variously described as crap and disgraceful. In the absence of any explanation why this was so terrible, the presumption must be that it is obvious or common sense, words entirely anathema to anyone with any cultural studies.
I have never had an issue with formats, perhaps because I had pocket money for my first 4 years as a Soul Fan and wanted lots of records rather than a few collectable items. Without pressings, British releases and compilation albums djs like Alex could never have become established and Northern Soul could not have thrived beyond a few local pockets and would have quickly imitated the dodo.
Also, I always try to catch all the live acts which I consider an important part of music appreciation which clearly has nothing to do with some vinyl/ cd dichotomy. I have never understood why vinyl collectors can't listen to cds like a live performance or a radio show and then buy them on vinyl.
I found myself buying cds by accident. I moved into a tiny room with no record player, no records and no space. Since I was mostly listening to music in the car, the obvious format was cassettes and Dean of Expansions named me the cassette king. I recall Malaco were very good at putting out their product on cassette and I was an avid Malaco listener. As cassettes became more scarce I started buying cds and getting people to tape them for me.
When I bought a house with my girlfriend she brought her cd player with her. I had always sold records to buy new so selling cds was easy. By buying and selling I got through an astonishing amount of, not only Soul, but Jazz, Blues, Reggae, Rock, Classical, World, pop, rock and roll, folk, country and western, hip hop... For me to do with vinyl what I did with cds would be like crossing the road in LA. My Amazon basket has over 400 items and I buy albums every week, sometimes every day.
Away from Soul Music the debate has concerned itself mainly with sound quality. Initially cds were trailed as an improvement but recently the discussion has surrounded compression and authenticity, another word reviled by culture students. I don't worry too much about sound quality lest we all end up listening to Dire Straits and the latest Beatles remasters and never get to hear early Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Country Blues or Reggae's premier label Studio One, renowned for its poor sound. All of the above have improved dramatically beyond anything achieved on vinyl. With Soul Music, I get the impression it's not the quality of the sound but that perennial demon politics ( economics, religion, sport ).
I always find it ironic that you cannot put on a Soul Night without advertising it via networking but you are not supposed to use technology to mediate the actual music. Whenever I go to Esington I always wonder whether the film footage they show is VHS or Betamax.
Recently somebody told me Soul Music will always be intrinsically linked to vinyl, like s/he would know and I wouldn't. Ninety years ago it was widely thought that recorded Classical Music would never catch on but it would always be wealthy, educated people reading music from manuscripts, playing the piano and attending concerts. Nowadays most people cannot read music, do not own a piano and do not attend concerts and it is hard to believe that, in another ninety years, record players and records will exist other than in antique shops. Indeed, it could be argued that cds are already obsolete. Make no mistake, if Soul Music is dependant on vinyl, apart from Marvin Gaye's masterpieces, Stevie Wonders more accomplished albums and a few other odd bits, Soul Music will disappear.
Colin Curtis has managed to upset people in the past but has always proved ahead of his time. I see the increased availability of Soul Music via cds and computers as a positive thing. No longer are there big/ in demand/ rare record only available to people with the most money and the greatest access to dealers. This will open up the playlist beyond the same 200 records or the next 200 records or the 200 records after that and Soul Fans will be richer because of it.
photo Lucky Hell by tetradtx, on Flickr
Symposium on Soul Music and Community - Manchester 29th June 2012
It'll feature a few talks from people who are researching the history of Northern Soul, and a lecture and panel discussion with fans, DJs and others involved in or interested in Northern Soul.
A flyer is attached with a bit more detail
The event is free. If you are interested in coming along, here are the registration links
Day: http://soul_symposium.eventbrite.com/
Evening: http://northernsoul_...eventbrite.com/
Please PM stereojet if you'd like more details
clip from above links...
Lecture by Professor Tim Wall, Birmingham City University; 'Stomping Ground: How Northern Soul Built a Dance Community' followed by panel debate chaired by Dr Katie Milestone (MMU) with fans, dancers, DJs, researchers and entrepreneurs involved in the Northern Soul scene - past and present.
Virtual, real and 'imagined' communities that are linked to Northern and Rare Soul scenes will be discussed.There is no single Northern Soul community - a significant number of first generation fans are still actively engaged with Northern Soul but over time newer communities have emerged. With a legacy approaching half a century do notions of community become increasingly linked to memory and nostalgia? We will discuss a number of questions about Northern Soul and community including debating what, in addition to the music, plays a role in forging a sense of community.We will also discuss the impact of new technologies on Soul scenes. To what extent do the profound developments in new and social media, the dissemination and consumption of music, impact on the way music fans interact with other fans/performers/DJs and others involved in Northern and Rare Soul scenes? How important is 'place' for the Soul music communities of the analogue and digital world?
8pm onwards DJ Steve Cato and friends, The Old Nags Head, Jackson's Row, Manchester. Entry ticket available for people attending the symposium/early evening debate
The event is free but booking is essential.
29JuneSymposiumFlyer.pdf
The Prestatyn Soul Weekender Returns
Following huge public demand, Pontins have announced the welcome return of the Prestatyn Soul weekender at their largest holiday camp at Prestatyn in North Wales over the weekend of March 8-10th 2013.
Between 2001 and 2011 the weekender was widely acclaimed as the leading event of it's kind and quickly became a national institution for soul devotees from Great Britain and beyond.
Every March, over 2000 like-minded souls made the annual pilgrimage to the North Wales coast the celebrate the best in Northern Soul, Motown, Modern and "crossover" soul as played by many of the UK's top DJs.
Following the last event (the 10th anniversary) in March 2011, the Prestatyn site was taken over by the Britannia group who have now invested heavily in upgrading the accommodation and the entertainment venues.
With thousands of new beds now in situe, as well as new flooring in many apartments plus an additional 80 top of the range "club" apartments available, comfort as well as an untouchable array of great soul music is now guaranteed at Prestatyn.
With "recession -busting" great value pricing set for the re-launch weekender ( prices start from as little as £29 per person for 3 nights self-catering!) demand is set to exceed capacity for this event.
Looking back, in addition to a well-respected list of DJs representing soul clubs from all parts of the UK, what really set Prestatyn apart from the rest was the exclusive live artists they were able to attract - and in March 2013 it will be another jaw-dropping act to savour - The Vibrations!
The 4 man group flying in exclusively to appear at the event and are itching to get on stage and to see Prestatyn rock to 2000+ people singing along to their many dancefloor anthems including" Gonna get along without you" , " ' Cause you're mine" and " Surprise Party for Baby"!
Carl Fisher, lead singer of The Vibrations says about their forthcoming visit :
" I want to take the time to thank in advance all the fans of Northern Soul music and the people of England for making it possible for us to come over and perform for all of you. I remember my first time coming over there in the sixties and how we were made to feel welcome in your country. At that time we were backed by a great band who went on to become "The Moody Blues". We played at The Twisted Wheel and The Cavern Club and many other venues and had a good time. We are looking forward to singing "'Cause you 're mine" , "Shake it up", "Surprise party for baby" and "Ain't nothing but a houseparty" ( which I wrote for my good friend Earl Smith of the Showstoppers), who will also be there with us. It is because of people like you who have kept the music alive and make it possible for us to still be doing what we enjoy. We will see you all in March.
Sincerely, Carl Fisher ( the original lead singer of the Vibrations, The Jay Hawks and The Marathons)"
In addition to an exciting live act that will be sure to pull in a huge audience, there are five separate venues covering classic Northern , Motown and Modern soul as well as specialist sessions for lovers of 70s "crossover" soul, 60s RnB and " Rarest of the rare" All Nighter sounds.
Appointed to select the DJs and schedule the entertainment on site is a man who was very involved with Prestatyn the first time around - John Poole. John says : " To have Prestatyn back is a dream come true. With a site that has undergone a huge refurbishment , a mind-blowing headline act direct from America, and a great DJ line-up to cater for all tastes. Add to that the incredible value accommodation deals that are on offer , and I m certain the hundreds who regularly tell me how much they miss Prestatyn are going to be highly delighted at this great news. Britannia have taken their time, made the right improvements to the accommodation and are determined to retain the best elements of the "old Prestatyn" , but to also make the necessary improvements to ensure that the 2013 weekender experience will be the best one yet".
Britannia's event sales manager Lucas Czarnecki commented: " Due to repeated enquiries and questions from the public it has been decided to resurrect the Prestatyn Northern and Modern soul weekender as it's one of the most iconic and successful events in Pontins 65-year history. After long discussions and many meetings we have compiled a team of experienced, passionate and dedicated consultants as well as a top line up of DJs - people who truly dedicated their lives and careers to establishing and preserving the Northern Soul scene in the UK. We are happy to organise this event again and welcome the UK soul scene back in North Wales. We hope our efforts in restoring Prestatyn's accommodation combined with the great value relaunch pricing and a most exceptional and exclusive American live act will put Prestatyn Soul Weekender on the UK map for years to come"
For further details, The Prestatyn Soul weekender has a new, regularly updated website : www.prestatynsoulweekender.co.uk, plus a dedicated e mail address info@prestatynsoulweekender.co.uk, or follow via Twitter : UKsoulweekenders
Bookings for Prestatyn 2013 are being taken now via www.pontins.com or by phone on 0844 576 5949 / 01745 881800 .
When booking please quote reference no: NSP1
Info via John Poole
Northern Soul - The Film - Latest news - June 2012
Clip below, can read the full article via the link below the below....
Steve Coogan plays a teacher, it's a small part but I'm really pleased he agreed to do it and Ricky Tomlinson plays the granddad
Elaine says it was a 'no brainer' to shoot here in the north west, but she's keen to point out that the town in the film is fictitious. "I know the main towns on the Northern Soul scene were Wigan, Stoke and Manchester," she says, "but I didn't want to pinpoint a certain place, so I've taken relevant bits and put them all together. "But I knew it had to be filmed here, it's my old stomping ground - where I first fell in love with Northern Soul - it's synonymous with the scene."
Elaine has also enlisted the expertise of legendary Northern Soul DJ, Richard Searling to act as a music consultant and she reveals the film company is in early discussions about releasing a soundtrack to the film, which is planned for release around next spring. "That's the time scale we're working toward," she says. "We envisage shooting will be pretty much completed by the end of the summer and so spring 2013 is our projected release date."
Read more at: http://menmedia.co.u...eping-the-faith
Rugby Allnighter 23 June 2012
Why is this significant I hear you ask ?
Quite simply because it's the only allnighter on this weekend, and in these days of overkill with venues, that is significant in itself.
Rugby has established itself as one of the major allnighters over the last few years and is fast approaching it's tenth anniversary, something not achieved by most allnighters these days. More than that though, Rugby has established itself as 'the friendly' allnighter with a feel of it's own community growing up around the venue, and the promoters.
The venue itself could have been designed for an allnighter; A large, dark, main hall with a superb wooden dancefloor, a smaller room (More about that later), a bar where the record dealers can set up in the light, and still hear the music, and of course that large foyer where people gather throughout the night to chat and chill out.
The smaller room is now known as the Freestyle room. Originally this room was designated as a Modern room, but to put it quite bluntly, it wasn't working. So it was changed to a Freestyle room, where anybody could come and DJ, and play any style of music. Not only did it work extremely well, but you now see other venues adopting the same sort of policy, and even calling their second rooms a 'freestyle room'. The room has it's own dedicated clientele and over the years you could have heard R & B, cutting edge Northern, Funk, Modern, Southern Soul, even a Jazz Funk spot by the greatly missed Pete Robinson, complete with whistles from the dancers.
The DJs in this room have included some of the top names in the country, that have requested spots in there so that they can play something different, Sean Chapman is one of this month's guests in the Freestyle Room, and yes, Sean asked if he could DJ in there !. If you fancy doing a spot get in touch with the promoters, but be warned, there's a waiting list.
The main room is more of a traditional Northern Soul allnighter in terms of music, with the three residents (Dave Rimmer, Matt Smart, & Ken Aitchison) anchoring the room playing a mixture of Oldies, Rarities, R & B, and until the last one Adam Buchanan played a Modern spot right in the middle of the night. Sadly Adam has now retired as a resident DJ, and plans are well under way to replace him. Guests this month are three guys right at the top of their game, Mick H, Molly, and Keith Money. All of whom are well known across the country.
So, it's up to you now. Do you want to sit at home with your pipe and cardigan (and that's just the ladies!), or do you want to get yourself along to a buzzing allnighter with some of the best DJs in the country, in one of the best venues in the country.
The Benn Hall
Newbold Road
Rugby
Warks
CV21 2LQ
*Thanks to Dave Rimmer for this write up as I'm sure I would have not got round to it and hope to see many of you on 23rd June...;-)
can find the event guide thread for all the talk here
Sharon Scott: The Search Is Over
For some of us it came as no surprise to see the inclusion of a Sharon Scott recording given how he has championed her work since discovering a batch of her songs in the infamous RCA Vaults find.
Anyone visiting the site will see this review
"SHARON SCOTT I'm Not Afraid (unissued RCA/Pied Piper master tape and acetate)
Kent CD From the fabulous trawl of Pied Piper masters from the RCA vaults, I could have chosen brilliant tracks by Lorraine Chandler, Nancy Wilcox or the Metros but this is the one I never tire of hearing. It's understated arrangement just builds and builds on a ferocious rhythm and Sharon sings wistfully and enigmatically: somebody please find this girl."
I'm pleased that last night I was able to tell Ady that somebody had indeed found that girl. Alive, well and happy, as a Church Minister, in the USA.
It's been a 10 year, on and off, search with not many clues to go on. Prior to the release of the first 'Rare, Collectable And Soulful' Kent CD I recall asking Lorraine Chandler about Sharon. She responded that she was from Philadelphia but had no other information.
Conversations over the years with various Stateside figures yielded nothing more; Jack Ashford was unable to add anything of substance.
A further trawl threw up a reference to one Sharon Scott being a member of a late 50s group, from Harrisburg PA, called The Chanels aka The Five Chanels aka Virgil & The Four Chanels. Their recordings for Julius Dixon's Deb label remain of interest to collectors of that genre
To cut a long, and tedious, story short my detective work finally paid off last night when a cold call, just like the one to Margaret Little, hit the spot.
Residing many miles from her Harrisburg origins, the now 70 year old Sharon, born on 1st Jan 1942, was speechless to hear of the admiration and affection afforded to her by the rare soul community.
She doesn't use a computer, has no interest in the internet and, therefore, has never 'googled' herself. I suggested that maybe she should.
She's had a lovely life. She remembers her songs well and looked back with a sense of pride. She's lived in New York, Detroit, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia and it sounds like she's loved every minute.
We will of course send her the iconic Pied Piper/RCA tracks and there will be a 'proper' interview as opposed to my erratic ramblings.
I suggested to her that she should come and sing for us but she said her faith meant that she only now sings for God.
We've all heard he moves in mysterious ways so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
I was thrilled to speak to her after searching for so long. Ady was really thrilled to have had his plea answered ... and Sharon, well she said she was "humbled" by what I told her.
We'll keep you posted
Andy Rix
So many sides of Northern Soul.
It is easy now to laugh at the fashions, the pop records, dodgyy instrumentals and novelty records and I agree that many of the records haven't aged well. If I were listening to Steve Wright in the afternoon non stop oldies and they were playing records from the last 10 years, I would protest that they are not oldies. In the mid seventies the records played in the name of Northern Soul had been recorded over the previous ten years and many were new releases. Now they are between 35 and 45 years old and, while some have matured magnificently - Mel Britt and Tobi Legend spring to mind, I am certain that if people listened to them beyond pure nostalgia, more would agree that many of them sound at best passe and at worst ridiculous.
However, I also think that, with not nearly enough exceptions, the discoveries of the last 35 years represent obscurity for the sake of it and/ or a celebration of the ordinary just to ensure that nobody else knows or cares about them. If I were to line up my favourite Northern Soul records very few were not ' out ' by 78 and I think flipping over Jack Montgomery is the best thing that has happened since.
The relationship between Northen and Modern is one which no 2 Soul Fans seem to agree on. Popular myth would have it that everything changed with the Carstairs, but as we know from the Beatles, Wigan and punk rock, myths seldom reconcile with events on the ground. I recall reading an interview with Ian Levine when Russ Winstanley banned Bobby Franklin and Snoopy Dean from the decks at Wigan and he was not saying this was the biggest change since the Carstairs. Indeed, in the excellent book the In Crowd, he claims Crown Heights Affair Dreaming a Dream is the ' definitive late Mecca record. ' Perhaps Ladies Choice and Shake and Bump have fallen through the middle because they are not terribly good records and, in their own ways, the Carstairs and CHA are. And of course you can always rely on Levine, like myself, for a bit of audacity. The conclusion therefore is that the Carstairs did not lead to Modern Soul but to Disco, Funk and Jazz Funk.
My own view is that, while there are obvious similarities and parallels, they are essentially separate scenes. The aforementioned Mecca records tended to be let out, mostly by Curtis, as part of his greatest hits set, and there were the 70s records which emerged during the 80s, but the Modern scene probably achieved its apogee at the early weekenders, just before the northern revival took hold, and was dominated by people, often with a background in Northern Soul, who had dug deeper than Marvin, Curtis, Teddy and Womack and discovered Sam Dees, Lamont Dozier, Leroy Hutson, Donny Hathaway and Leon Ware and then dug deeper still. The problem was that, like the northern scene, it quickly developed a same 200 records syndrome, with everybody following Searling and/ or Sam.
Natch this is all discursive and dialectical which is what makes it, and us, so rich.
Blues or Soul?
Recently I saw Michael Roach in Durham; a Black American Country Blues artist and there wasn't a familiar face in the building. Normally I run a mile from a singer with just a guitar but this is how this music is supposed to be played and he is also a Blues Historian and the history of Blues is the pre-history of Soul.
About a year ago my son and I saw Larry Garner at the Darlington Arts Centre. LG is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and one of the most important Blues artists to emerge in the last 30 years and there wasn't another Soul fan to be found. My son was carrying a guitar injury so we ended up talking guitars with him and the band and he invited him to join them on stage. Thirteen and with a bandage on his hand, my son can still play a bit and took the roof off.
Consequently he became fanatical about Blues which ultimately took us to a Blues Festival in Switzerland to see Howlin Wolf pianist Henry Gray, Soulful Blues singer/ guitarist and another of the modern greats - Joe Louis Walker, top of the bil for my son Larry McCray - another modern great with a Soulful voice and perhaps the finest Blues guitarist since Buddy Guy. Top of the bill for me, Otis Clay, a regular at the festival, because in Switzerland, like most places, Blues and Soul go together.
Recently Larry Garner returned to Darlington and, since I'd seen him in Keighley a week earlier ( guess what - no Soul Fans), and knew his set and his jokes, found myself people watching and people clearly couldn't believe they were watching an artist of this calibre making such incredible music in a tiny room in Darlo.
Michael Roach, LG and Henry James are not Soul singers in the way Joe Louis Walker, Larry McCray, Bobby Bland, Little Milton, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Albert and Freddie King and Robert Cray are, but all Black American Blues Singers are soulful, I like to make the distinction, with a small s.
Recently I was at a Soul Night in Sunderland and people kept saying to me - this is better than Muddy Waters and this is better than John lee Hooker - and I was reminded that Frankie Lucas used to say that some of the stuff I listen to is so Soulful it's almost Blues and I figured this is where it came from. I've been listening to Blues for 30 years, alongside Soul, and Reggae and Jazz and lots of other things.
In the mid eighties I saw Bobby Bland, Johnnie Taylor and Denise LaSalle ( and Mosley and Johnson ) on the same bill and Latimore and Little Milton on the same bill. Can anybody say categorically, once and for always, whether Bobby Bland or ZZ Hill are Blues or Soul?
photo
JuniorWells1996 by Masahiro Sumori (Own work), from Wikimedia Commons
Steve Mancha Tribute Grave Marker Dedication
Dear Soul Source people, we have received a message from Melvin Davis in Detroit and the Marker for Steve Mancha's grave is being dedicated and laid in place tomorrow.
Melvin sends his thanks to all who contributed to the Steve Mancha memorial fund in the appeal in 2011 on Soul Source. As Melvin says "If it was left to Detroit to do this then we would still be waiting and Steve's grave would have been left un-marked"
A small gathering of Steve's friends will attend the dedication, along with a film crew and press and local TV. Melvin is saying prayers and will publicly thank soul fans from around the globe who contributed to the fund.
Both myself and Ady wish to thank everyone who helped us to achieve this, surplus funds after all costs were given to Steve's mother, who is in a nursing home herself. There is now a permanent memorial to one of the finest voices ever to grace 45 rpm records. RIP Detroit legend Steve Mancha
Rob Wigley
The photo of the marker at the memorial merchants, the stone is made from Rose marble.
Lou Pride Has Gone
A great guy, I was very lucky to interview him in 2001 before he came over to the UK.
Herb Reed Of The Platters RIP
http://www.nydailyne...ticle-1.1090683
added by site
Herb Reed (c. 1929 - June 4, 2012) was an American musician, vocalist and founding member of The Platters, who were known for their hits during the 1950s and 1960s. Reed is credited with creating The Platters name and was the last surviving original member of the group, which he co-founded with four other musicians in 1953.
Reed thought of the group's name after noticing that DJs in the 1950s called their records, "platters."
Reed was raised in poverty in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Los Angeles when he was fifteen years old.He moved to the Boston area during the 1970s, after the success of The Platters.
Reed is the only member of The Platters who sang on all of the approximately 400 songs recorded by the group.His vocals can be heard on The Platters' biggest hits, including Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, The Great Pretender, Twilight Time and My Prayer
As the last surviving original member of The Platters, Reed waged a long, but successful, federal court battle over the rights to the name, The Platters. The courts ruled that Reed was the only heir to the group's name. In 2012, Reed said in an interview, "It's not right to have someone steal your name. It's just not right. We were cheated back then, but that's how things were done...It's theft, and I have to fight it so that no other artist faces this."
Reed toured throughout his career. He performed as many as 200 concerts per year until 2012, when he stopped due to declining health.
Reed died of complications from several ailments, including heart disease, at a hospice in Boston on June 4, 2012, at the age of 83. He had most recently resided in Arlington, Massachusetts.
via wikipedia
Cleethorpes Saturday Night Tickets
Some Saturday Night passes have been made available for this years weekender
Can grab full details via the link below...
click this
Tony Jebb Benefit at Blackpool Tower Weekender
Tony Jebb Benefit at Blackpool Tower Weekender
Date: Nov 9-11, 2012
Special TJ Favourites Hour dedication on Saturday 10th November
Tony is eager to attend the event to meet friends old & new. It promises to be an emotional re-union.
________________________________________________________________________
Many on this forum will remember Tony Jebb, the legendary DJ from Blackpool, who, along with Ian Levine, Colin Curtis and Les Cockell (RIP) played a major part in establishing The Highland Room as the UK's best northern soul venue during the early 70's.
The mid-sized room was on the top floor of Blackpools' Mecca establishment and people in the know would travel from far and wide to be there every Saturday night to hear the best there was in up-tempo soul rarities of the day.
For me, Tony was always Number 1. TJ stood out from the crowd with his long hair, tank tops and flares and yet this northern geezer looking like he was on his way to a Slade concert played soul music to die for - loud. Tony's talents on the mike were also unbeatable as he charmingly kept the dancers in excited anticipation for the next "sound" with his eccentric loud 1000 mph announcements like "... that was the brilliant Vibrations for you ...... MEANTIME we've got the sounds of Wendy Rene and Bar-B-Q." The record would start on the button and dancers didn't even realize there was a break in the music.
Tony knew how to keep the floor full and then some. He also knew his stuff and would never compromise by playing a record he personally didn't like. Unlike many a DJ, he essentially played for himself and his own taste but also knew what would please the floor. No messing about with Tony at the decks. Never a dull moment and job well done.
Us London guys loved TJ to bits. We were Mods at the time of course and there was this "hippy" playing the best soul music we had ever heard. One after the other, storming monsters. As we say in the capital ... Jebby was a Top Bloke ïÅ
That was quite a long time ago now but the memories haven't faded a bit (for most of us). That is why we hope as many people as possible will attend the benefit for Tony who has suffered greatly over the last decade or so from Multiple Sclerosis. He has had 2 hip replacements and years of physio but sadly is now virtually bedridden, although he does occasionally venture out. Tony lives in his own 1-bedroom unit in a care neighborhood but his life is very hard these days.
I have to thank Sheila Hart (now living in San Diego but a Lancashire lass through and through) for putting the idea for the benefit forward. Bless your heart Sheila xxx.
Richard Searling and Kev Roberts, promoters of the Blackpool Tower Weekender are devoting one hour during the weekend to TJ. Some of his friends and colleagues will be spinning and saying a few words, such as his Blackpool Mecca colleague Rod Allsworth (aka Billy the Kid)
By attending the benefit in Blackpool in November you will be able to contribute to a fund for Tony's future care by purchasing raffle tickets. Raffle prizes promise to be well worth owning (no hints just yet) and GoldSoul will also be contributing more than £250 worth of gifts.
A superb tribute to a Northern Soul pioneer - Tony Jebb at the famous Blackpool Tower, Nov 9-11, 2012
www.goldsoul.co.uk
Dave Burton
Hong Kong
site note
the original thread behind this (and one that will be best used for further discussion) can be read here
click for full view
A Little Togetherness
A clip from the article
Round about 1970 was when I joined the in-crowd. I cut off my hair, learnt how to get my kicks out on the floor, and swore I'd just keep on keepin' on. Northern Soul was a unique phenomenon, youngsters from Lancaster down to Stoke seeking out the best American dance music the rest of the world seemed to ignore.
I have no idea how it began, although I seem to remember the Stax label becoming a crucial part of the northern music scene in the late sixties. I grew up in Blackburn and, when I was eleven or twelve, I heard about the Stax club that had opened up there. Suddenly, and almost impossibly, 'Blackburn' sounded exciting, the way 'Nashville' and 'Memphis' did ..
The full article can be read here
http://content21.wor...e-togetherness/
Hear a Northern Soul classic tortured and finally murdered.
Jubilee with Soul
Fundraiser For Uriel Jones Headstone
http://www.detroitne...NT04/205300302/
http://www.indiegogo...ieljones?c=home
added by site
Detroit musician fans of Funk Brother Uriel Jones are raising money for a headstone to mark the Motown drummer's grave at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit. Jones, the last survivor of Motown's three main drummers, died in 2009, at 74.
From The Detroit News:
http://www.detroitne...2#ixzz1wYN1w7Rv
From the project website as at 1st June 2012
$817 Raised of $1,000 Goal
BBC 2 Britain In A Day featuring Blackpool Tower Weekender
Apparently the Blackpool Tower Weekender features as one of the many clips that will make up this snapshot moment in time view of Britain today
BBC info below
Britain In A Day
Confirmed for Monday 11 June on BBC Two at 9.00- 10.30pm
On Saturday 12 November 2011 an eclectic range of British people turned the camera on themselves, capturing the entertaining and mundane, the exciting and unusual, the poignant and the everyday. The result covers everything from breakfast with the family to an unexpected marriage proposal and life in a detention centre. Britain In A Day tells the fascinating story of the British public in their own words.
Directed by BAFTA-winner Morgan Matthews (The Fallen, Scenes From A Teenage Killing), the 90-minute film offers an extraordinarily candid look at 21st century life across the UK, masterfully crafted from over 750 hours of footage, including 11,526 clips submitted to YouTube.
BBC Website link
http://www.bbc.co.uk...rammes/p00kqz5p
Lifeline June 30th Allnighter Cancelled
We will return in August.
It is absolutely crazy the current situation, how long it can carry on we don't know.
There is Cleethorpes this month which has been going for nearly 20 years (a weekend I wouldn't miss). Manchester decided last year to put on a weekend and are doing the same again. Besides this there is Bridlington.
There is also an extended Bank Holiday with added nighters and dayers, your regular all-nighters and your usual monthly events. It all adds up to much IMO, not enough punters to go round, many who are feeling the pinch with the recession as it is.
I'm not sure how much money promoters think ordinary people have but the situation is getting ridiculous.
As I said rest assured Lifeline will be back in August. One guest is finalised, another to be confirmed. As soon as all is confirmed i will post details.
chalky
image © Pauline Eccles cc-by-sa
Soul Purpose Records 1st Release - Gloria Jones
Both titles licensed from top LA writer and producer Lou Baretto.
The test pressings have just arrived from the pressing plant and they sound fantastic!
Official release date is Friday June 8th
You can pre-order from http://www.soulpurposerecords.co.uk
You can see the promo video at
Kenny Gamble Interview By Ralph Tee! Released Today......
Ian D
site note
full thread with info and talk on this release can be read here
Channel 4 Documentary Request - Never Too Old for Drugs
Are you over 40 and still taking recreational drugs?
Would you be willing to talk to us about your experiences in a candid, open and upbeat way?
Channel 4 is making a documentary exploring positive experiences and opinions of people in their 40s, 50s or 60s who still take recreational drugs and who don't think it's having any impact on their jobs, lives or families.
For more information, please contact jennifer.gilroy@iwcmedia.co.uk or call 0141 353 8417. All calls and contact will be treated in confidence.
Many thanks,
Jennifer Gilroy
Soul Source Does Shop
Now as part of the site setup we have the early start of an online shop that as well as doing shop things also allows us to offer some new features to the site
Features
1. Intergration - as its all part of the site, once you are logged in, the shop can take advantage of all the current features of the site and streamline the whole actual ecommerce process
2. Normal ecommerce features - all the usual run of the mill shop stuff, cart, paypal checkout, images, sounds etc
3. Customer area - does have a fully featured customer area which will make keeping track of orders, support, looking up past purchases a fairly simple task
4. More to follow - as always this is just the first runnings, improvements and new features will follow as time passes,
Aim is to offer to members.
.
1. The best bang for buck - basically a main building block will be to offer the best deals around for the best quality new releases be it vinyl, dvd or cds etc
2. Keen dispatches - a keen 24 hr turnaround for all sales where possible will be another main building block
Running
Will be run as a stand alone independent feature and my better half has been drafted into look after it 24/7 and will be dealing with all orders, postage etc. This should bring a rare (on here) element of organisational skills whilst still in keeping with the soul source thrust
Features for promoters
Can now offer ticket sales for mint members who are involved with events - basically this will form part of the overall event service and will be a service for mint members. This will be opening shortly and info will follow
Banner Features
The telasource banner service has been revamped and shortly direct ordering will be available via the shop
Early Days and Opening Offer
The doors are now open, however the main thrust has been getting this to open fully today
and so the emphasis has been more about the system rather than the actual contents
The current listings are a bit sparse but do involve quality with the latest three Soul Junction 45s
including the just released
Ivy Jo Hunter - See you around 45 SJ516
which was released today and may remember that was featured a couple of weeks ago featured in a pre-release news item - http://www.soul-sour...n-records-r2464
The Soul Junction 45s being the main meat but also there's a clearance offer of some back issues of SUN
Obviously the listings will increase as time moves on
To mark the opening we do have a opening offer of Free UK First Class postage on ALL items (sorry but only can offer this tor Uk based Members only at the moment)
You can find the shop via the link below and the top main menu
Your customer account area can be found via the top right drop down menu
Early days but do feel that this feature over time will become a worthwhile useful addition to the site
Anyway here's the link...
http://www.soul-sour...oulforum/store/
Cheers now
mike
Holy Spirit - Spiritual Soul and Gospel Funk From Shreveport's Jewel Label
One of the greatest labels for funky Gospel releases was undoubtedly Jewel Records from Shreveport, Louisiana founded by Stan The Record Man Lewis in 1963 from his original tiny record store, Stan s Record Shop. From such humble beginnings sprang a recording empire which also included the Paula, Ronn and Soul Power labels.
Jump forward some 50 years to 2012 and suddenly the Jewel Gospel catalogue is being fiercely mined by collectors across the planet due to the sheer amount of quality funky Gospel records which are still being found. We invited serious DJ s, Record Collectors and all round funky Gospel addicts, the UK based David Hill and US based Greg Belson, to compile 2 CDs of some the best funky Gospel and Spiritual Soul from the Jewel archives. Added to this combination we also have collector and historian Chris Menist on sleeve notes duty for the 16 page booklet which also includes a variety of label and album scans.
Also, as a timely inclusion, we re also delighted to include one of the rare records which made it into John Peel s legendary 7" record box the sensational "No More Ghettos In America" by Stanley Winston proof positive that Jewel's funky Gospel sound found supporters right across the spectrum!
Holy Spirit - Spiritual Soul and Gospel Funk HURTXCD119
CD1
1. The Meditation Singers Trouble's Brewin'
2. BPS Revolution Brotherly Love
3. Soul Stirrers I'm Trying To Be Your Friend
4. Ernest Franklin Trying Times
5. The Hopson Family Prayer Will Take You There
6. Chimes Woke Up This Morning
7. Albertina Walker Mama Said, Thank You
8. The Brooklyn All Stars If Loving God Is Wrong (I Don't Want To Be Right)
9. Keith Barrow Everything's Gonna Be Alright
10. Dorothy Norwood He's A Friend
11. The Brooklyn All Stars I'm So Glad You're Mine
12. Leomia Boyd and the Gospel Music Makers 'Need More
13. The Southerners Jesus Is Real To Me
14. The Traveling Echoes The Golden Gate
15. The Violinaires The Upper Way
16. Roscoe Robinson Do It Right Now
17. Clarence Fountain This Little Light of
18. Soul Stirrers Crying On The Mountain
19. Armstrong Brothers Far Away From God
20. The Meditation Singers A Change Is Gonna Come
CD 2
1. Armstrong Brothers Can You Treat Him Like A Brother
2. Bill Moss & the Celestials You've Got To Serve Somebody
3. The Southerners I'll Wait For the Lord
4. The Meditation Singers Good Old Gospel Music
5. Roscoe Robinson There's a Creator
6. Mighty Sons of Glory Don't Forget the Bridge (That Brought You Over)
7. Dorothy Norwood There's Got to Be Rain In Your Life
8. Soul Stirrers Lord, Oh Lord, I Believe
9. The Meditation Singers I Love My Jesus
10. The Silver Gate Quartet of North Carolina Watch That Rogue
11. The Fantastic Violinaires I'm Not Worried
12. The Hopson Family Hello Sunshine
13. Dorothy Norwood Come and Go With Me
14. The Traveling Echoes I'd Like To Know
15. The Spiritual Interns He Walks With Me
16. The Brooklyn All Stars In The Ghetto
17. The Violinaires Message To My Friends
18. Dorothy Norwood Winding Up
19. Rev. Oris Mays Nobody Can Turn Me Around
20. The Travelling Echoes God Don't Change
21. Stanley Winston No More Ghettos in America
Amazon Link:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Holy-Spirit-Spiritual-Soul-Gospel/dp/B007O3VO2Y/ref=sr_1_11?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1337623606&sr=1-11
Ian D
Best Soul Nights in the North East Ever
My first all-dayer was in 75 and I tend to think of them amongst the best days of my life. Most of the records I hear as I go round Northern Soul Nights still, I heard for the first time that first day. People came from all over the country and all the top jocks played. Searling did an afternoon set due to commitments elsewhere on the evening; with Levine and Curtis moving increasingly into disco, Funk and Jazz Funk, he was head and shoulders above the rest playing traditional northern, though some prefferred Soul Sam. Some things never change.
Alex did an all-nighter in 77 but staying up all night wasn't my thing and I hated it. Probably the most important dj set of his life though as he played Hi Tension to a mostly northern crowd and got away with it.
The following year he put Chris Hill on armed with fireworks, a portable mick and just about the last great set of Funk and Jazz Funk newies and wearing red trousers. Somewhat ill advisedly, Alex copied and wore his for years.
2. THREE TUNS, DURHAM.
Its legendary bouncy dancefloor wouldn't get past health and safety now, the Bottle generally got things started and Jimmy Radcliffe normally brought proceedings to a close. Whatever Alex became, we benefitted from the last relevant years of Wigan, the peak of Cleethorpes and the last great flowering of the Mecca before Saturday Night Fever and Georgio Moroder made disco naff. Levine and Curtis both guested.
3. BERWICK WEEKENDER.
Technically on the Scottish side. Not as life changing as what happened next, but it certainly had its moments and hinted at what was to follow. A time when the djs were discovering they were playing the same records as each other before they started deliberately playing the same records as each other. Funk and disco maestro Paul Cooke asked me to produce his radio Soul show and became an unlikely hero among certain serious Soul folk and some of the records he played became staples on the Modern Scene.
4. MANOR HOUSE, WEST AUCKLAND.
Solely in terms of music, in a league of its own, though too ahead of its time for anyone who just wants to dip their toe(nail) or those who want to play politics. Similar manifesto to Rhetford but much of the music there is as naff as the term Just Soul with its connotation of unimportance. Been tying to remember if I gave Paul: Curtis - No thing on me, George Jackson - Aretha and the Tops - Still Water to play at Berwick.
5. AYCLIFFE. Legendary Northern Soul town, the home of many a day/ night in the mid seventies including the first all-nighter I ever went to which was the first time I heard the Flasher and the Ojays I Love Music. John Howard persuaded us to go and I never told him how much I hated it.
I particularly remember a great night in nearby Spennymoor around the time of Cathedrals when my big sister, obviously keen to lose her kid brother, told me another child had started coming. For decades I thought it was local legend Paul Shoulder until he recently confessed to being 3 years older than me.
In the 80s Gaz Simons and Baz Atkinson arrived on the scene to offer spirited resistance to the demise of Northern Soul in just about every venue in Aycliffe and the surrounding area, initially playing mostly well chosen oldies, before gravitating to sixties newies with mixed success and then more Modern and Just Soul. When the crowds returned they sought out obscurity, cynics might say, for the sake of it.
6. COACH AND EIGHT, DURHAM.
The second venue Alex ever played after Nevilles X Youth Club; in fact he would feed his several dozen records to the resident dj. At 12/13 I was too young to get in but I was talking to North East Northern Soul stalwart Pete Donnelly just last night and was reminded that I used to go down to the bus station to see people coming out. On one occasion he was armed with a selection of Dells albums, announcing, in his inimitable way, they were his favourite group. Who ever guessed he would prove ahead of his time?
Alex retrned in 77/8 playing 50/50 Funk and northern though it only really took off when he jettisoned the northerm catching the last classic era of Funk and Jazz Funk. Wild and crazy.
7. NEVILLES X CLUB.
His last full on northen night, if you include Lamont - Back to my roots, JB - Body Heat, Kool and the Gang - Open Sesame, 3 tracks off the Tramps album Disco Inferno and Carwash by Rose Royce. Both Bill Swift and Paul Mooney guested so not quite sure who to thank or blame. Now 15 I was developing a critical ear saving my trips to the loo for You're ready now and Jnr. Walker - I aint goin nowhere, part of his ill concieved Motown half hour. Also divs ( remember them? ) on the horizon.
8. RUMORS, SUNDERLAND.
Not really sure why I remember this monday night in 1980 so fondly. Perhaps it was the last gasps of the Jazz Funk scene before it became too night clubby and Funk and Jazz Funk descended into club classics and smooth Jazz. The music wasn't bad though: JBs Doing it to death, Cameos last great album as a full on Funk Band, Gene Chandler - Does she have a friend? and Really, Really love you by Cecil somebody or other.
9. TOGOS, CHESTER LE STREET.
Formerly Sombreros and latterly Crocadillos, Alex and Bill Swift did a mid week night around the time of Mr. Nice Guy and Troublemaker. The Leeds Central Djs ( whose names have temporarily escaped me ) did an all-dayer as part of their Bott1e$ over Britain/ Ar$e$ over England tour and there was an all-nighter which I hated.
10. HOOCHIE COOCHIE, NEWCASTLE.
Easter Bank Holiday all-dayer was the best Northern Soul event I've been to in 35 years. Everything was all wrong but with Soul Musics enduring resilliance it turned out right. No dance floor to speak of, no imported big name djs, a stupidly priced bar, no food and a que to get back in didn't deter people - this was what it was like to go to a Northern Soul Night in its Golden Age. And herein lies the perennial problem, that Northern Soul will forever be judged on how well it can approximate the early/ mid seventies. The trick seems to be in ommiting the ones which haven't aged very well ( for me, the majority ) rather than relentlessly playing Casino Karaoke or I'll name that tune in 1974. I've been trying to think what was played in the 4 hours I was there which I didn't have by the time I was fifteen: two big ballads which were terrible, 2 ska records which briefly reduced it to farce, the Spinners I'll be around and Lou Rawls are a bit bogstandard and probably owe more to the Jazz Funk scene. I always listen to Modern Soul with trepidation and this was no exception: Sam Dees Fragile handle with care and Lew Kirton Heaven in the afternoon are great, if tired, classics and presumably the latter is an inevitable part of every all dayer. Anybody who thinks I've got the need is Modern Soul is using a simplified formula which misses the point and JJ Barnes version of How Long, enjoying its second outing I've heard in recent times, should have been left in the seventies.
Likely to be another one in August and some of the problems should have been sorted, but demand and expectations will be high and it could turn out to be one of those one - off events that nobody can quite explain.
Respect also for putting on: Candi Statton, Azymuth, Rose Royce and Alexander Oneil.
Not forgetting:
WALKERS: Chilites, Womack and Womack, Tashan.
NEWCASTLE MAYFAIR: Brass Construction, Gil Scott Heron.
SUNDERLAND MAYFAIR: Crown Heights Affair.
NEWCASTLE CITY HALL: George McCrae ( in 74 ), Commodores, Four Tops, Crusaders, BB King, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Bill Withers, Average White Band, Benson, Cameo, Mary Wilson, Chilites.
SAGE, GATESHEAD: James Brown, George Clinton, Irma Thomas, Mavis Staples, Ornette Coleman, Swing Out Sister.
GALA, DURHAM: Maceo Parker, Terry Callier, Femi Kuti.
SUNDERLAND EMPIRE: Temptations, Smokey Robinson, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards.
METRO RADIO ARENA: Four Tops, Temptations and Tavares.
Obviously I was 13/14 during the glory years of Northern Soul so my choices emanate from Durham and are somewhat Alexentric. Do you have fond memories of a Soul Night in Newcastle or Sunderland? Was the Garden Farm your thing? Or the Red Lion? Or do you prefer the nightclubs: Julies, Gretna, Buddys, Walkers, Macmillans or As you like it?
I am currently writing a book about my life in music so if you have any info, memories or anecdotes you'd like to share and you see me flying at a Soul Night near you, come and have a chat. If you respond here there's a fair chance I won't read it since I'm seriously computer illiterate and can never find these things once I've started them.
top photo: http://www.flickr.com/people/12653005@N05
Letters for Tony Jebb and IPod Campaign
MS is a terrible disease and I will say a prayer for him. So many great memories especially him playing Wendy Rene and his catchphrase "meantime!"
Update on Tony Jebb - I spoke to Tony's daughter, Natalie, today and would like to provide an update for friends on his current health condition. Tony is living in his own place which is a 1 bedroom unit in a community care neighbourhood in Blackpool where he is visited by care workers regularly. Natalie lives very close by and also sees him regularly.
Unfortunately, Tony is now bedridden due to his poor physical condition even though he underwent two hip replacements and many years of physiotherapy. He has lost the use of his right hand which was his writing hand. The good news is that Tony has not lost his spirit and sense of humour and reads with the aid of glasses. Natalie said that he would love an iPod with northern soul classics so, job done. As soon as I can load one up with tunes it will be on its way to Blackpool!
He gave a lot of pleasure to many of us in the 70's at the Highland Room so it's the least we can do.
I will also write a letter to Tony so if anyone else would like to send him a letter Inbox me and I will ask for permission to give out his address.
God bless him xxx
Dave Burton
Hong Kong
In conjunction with sending the iPod to Tony I have just launched a campaign to persuade Apple to start redistributing used iPod Shuffles to the elderly & infirm around the world. At the moment they only have a recycling thing and they re-sell them to the "electronics industry". It's about time they did some CSR and gave back to the community. Please take a look at my campaign page at:
http://www.facebook....liveinsideipods
The news article was posted after a thread was started by Kev Roberts regarding Tony in the forums and can be read via the link below
New Issue 75 - Soul Up North Fanzine - Out Now
Soul Up North...
Out now..
£3 plus £1.50 postage... 5 euros to Europe..
Back issues of No74 available...
drop us a message if you need a copy.... paypal stevecato64@yahoo.co.uk
Some of the content in this 50 page fanzine...
1) A PALE GREEN COVER WITH A PICTURE OF A YOUNG 'WILLIE WEST' AND SOME LABEL SCANS
2) PART ONE OF WILLIE WEST STORY (DAN PHILLIPS)
3) MATT LUCAS (via COLIN WOOD)
4) CONFESSIONS OF A VINYL JUNKIE pt3 (SOULMANJAN)
5) BLOOD, SWEAT & STAPLES pt2 - NITE LIFE (MARTIN SCRAGG)
6) TRIBUTES TO ETTA JAMES (RANDY LEWIS) & GRAHAM SLATER (MARTIN CHIPPENDALE)
7) VENUE REPORTS including THAILAND
😎 FUNK IN YO' FACE civil rights, black power &the sound of funk (HOWARD PRIESTLEY)
9) LOADS OF VINYL REVIEWS AS ALWAYS (DAVE HALSALL, WAYNE HUDSON, CHRIS 'BEARSOUL'MORGAN, CRAIG BUTLER, STEVE PLUMB, LORD SNOOTY,MARTYN BIRD, DARYL SCOTT,STEVE COPEMAN, MARK RANDALL & MIKE FINBOW) COVERING ALL TEMPO'S AND SHADES OF SOUL
9) LITTLE SILVER DISCS & HOT OF THE VINYL PRESS - NEW CD AND VINYL RELEASES REVIEWED (HFE)
10) HAPPY 75 BIRTHDAY SUN (SHIRLEY WOOD)
... AND A FEW OTHER LITTLE THINGS TO FILL UP UP THIS 50 PAGE EXTRAVIGANZA!!!!
Chuck Brown Rip
http://www.washingto...6zUU_story.html
http://www.washingto...GGxT_story.html
added by site
Affectionately known as the Godfather of Go Go, Chuck Brown created the Go Go sound. He combined Latin beats, African call and response chants and American Jazz, throwing in a touch of soul with a continuous drumbeat. This nonstop dance music is and has been a trademark of original creative music from the nations capital, Washington, D.C., and has gained Chuck Brown worldwide fans.
Chuck Brown began his musical career in the early 60s. His first stage experience was with Jerry Butler and the Earls of Rhythm. Then in 1965, he joined Los Latinos, whose syncopated backbeat enthralled him. This experience gave Chuck the confidence to get out on his own, incorporating all these styles into his band and introducing a sound unlike anything available at that time. I got sick and tired of watching people sitting around, Chuck says Disco was too fast-people didnt want to get all sweaty, and they just sat down. So we cut the beat in half.
Chuck called this new sound Go Go, because it never stops. Chuck Brown exploded onto the scene in 1971 with his first hit We The People. In 1972 he scored again, with the hit Blow Your Whistle. This was followed by the gold album Bustin Loose and the ..1 hit single of the same name on MCA/Source Records.
full bio can be read via
http://www.myspace.com/chuckbrowndc
Jimmy Ricks
Whilst there, he met Warren 'Birdland' Suttles who originally hailed from Alabama. In early 1946, they decided to form a vocal group and recruited Leonard "Zeke" Puzey (who had just won a talent contest at the Apollo Theater) and 'Ollie' Jones. They found a manager, Ben Bart, and an accompanist, Howard Biggs, and made their first recordings for Bart's small Hub record label. They called themselves the Ravens and so initiated the trend for vocal groups to name themselves after birds. Although the group were strongly influenced by the Ink Spots & the Mills Bros, they used Ricks' bass voice rather than a more conventional tenor as the lead on their recordings and this became their trademark style. The Ravens primarily existed to showcase Ricks voice; he made Isaac Hayes sound like Betty Boop. Ricks' voice became the standard against which every rhythm and blues bass was measured for the next decade.
The group had quite a few big chart hits, making it onto the national R&B chart 11 times over a 4 year period (1948 to 1952). This success made them a popular live act and they could command a fee of $2,000 dollars a night. However, Ricks quickly developed an attitude problem and his ego resulted in Howard Biggs quitting. After their initial single, "Honey", Jones had left the group and was replaced by Maithe Marshall. The contrast between Ricks' bass voice and Marshall's tenor soon became an important part of the group's success. They left the Hub label in 1947 to join National Records for whom they had immediate hits (the 1st one making the national chart early in January 1948). Their success with National prompted King to license some of their old Hub tracks for release and one of these even made the US Top 10 in summer 1948. Also that year they were landing gigs at prestigious venues such as the Adams Theater in Newark, NJ, Chicago's Regal Theater, the Million Dollar Theater in LA and a two week long stint at the Club Bali in Washington, DC.
1949 saw them play the Apollo a number of times plus the Paradise Theater in Detroit, the Royal Roost in NY (47th & Broadway), L.A.'s Club Oasis, the Earle Theater in Philly and Broadway's Bop City (Manhattan). Their run of R&B successes continued through to early 1950, with the basic line-up of Ricks, Suttles, Puzey, and Marshall essentially remaining together for several years. The group signed with Columbia & Okeh Records in 1950, before moving to Mercury the following year. In 1951 Marshall and Puzey both left, being replaced by Joe Van Loan and various other shorter-term group members. The group had its final hit on the R&B chart in October / November 1952, when "Rock Me All Night Long" rose to No. 4 (the highest position one of the group's 45's had ever reached). Unfortunately it was to be their last chart entry and in 1953 some of the recordings released as by the group were actually solo efforts by Jimmy. But with the rise of R&R, their style had became increasingly unfashionable. After several break ups within the group, Jimmy's version of the Ravens signed with Jubilee in 1955. But he soon quit the group to try for a solo career (1956).
Jimmy must still have been something of a 'handful' to deal with and this showed as he was signed to 6 different labels before the end of the decade (Josie, Baton in 1957, Decca & Felsted being some of these). He was without a record deal in 1958 but was signed up by Felsted Records in 1959. Felsted Records was part of the Decca family and operated out of the New York office of London Records. They were very prolific with their releases in 1959, putting out 96 singles and about 3 LP's (one of these by the Jimmy Wisner Trio). Jimmy's first release for the label was "Secret Love" and this escaped early that summer. His new record label must have put some promotional effort behind this 45 as it seemed to do quite well (radio play wise) in the 'breakout' market of Baltimore. Here it seems to have been a popular track on radio stations WSID and WITH and this helped Jimmy secure two bookings at the top 'chitlin circuit' venue of Carr's Beach (near Annapolis) in September that year. He appeared on a bill with Hank Ballard & the Midnighters plus Faye Adams on Sunday 6th September and returned alongside the Bill Doggett Trio the following day.
Jimmy continued to record as a solo singer without too much commercial success throughout the 1960's. He had records out on Atlantic, Atco ("Daddy Rolling Stone" with the Raves), Fury, Felsted Records (an earlier recording ?), Mainstream, Sure Shot, Festival ("Oh, What A Feeling") & Jubilee. Having lost his solo recording contract by 1970, he and Suttles got back together and temporarily revived the Ravens (adding additional members Gregory Carroll & Jimmy Breedlove) in 1971. At the time of his death, at the age of 49 in 1974, he was the vocalist for the Count Basie Orchestra.
Belita Woods Dies Aged 63
Very sad news.
added by site
as the msm info below shows someone who's work touched many lives in many ways
Belita Woods is a former lead singer of late 70's R&B group, Brainstorm.Brainstorm had a disco hit in 1977 called "Lovin' Is Really My Game". Their follow-up album, 1978's Journey To The Light featured a more soul-funk sound, anchored by the album tracks "We're On Our Way Home" and "If You Ever Need To Cry".
Prior to joining Brainstorm, Woods had an early 70s Epic demo playing on Detroit urban radio called "I Just Love You" (considered a rare item for those who collect soul music), a soulful Denise LaSalle-ish groove. Also released the amazing, classic single "Magic Corner/ Grounded" on Detroit label Moira in 1967.
Started touring and recording with P-Funk All-Stars in 1992 which led to many....
Belita Karen Woods - October 23 1948 - May 14 2012
Youtube video clip below from 2004
top photo from flikr
credit
Belita Woods by Shannon J. Effinger, on Flickr
Jim & Trisha's Wedding and the Inuagural Allnighter
The weather was horrendous, strong winds, lashing rain, and to Dean's horror, a small propeller driven plane. His reaction when he saw the pilot was even funnier though "That's all we need, a woman driver !"
She did a great job though, taxied out to the runway, a little pause so that she could touch up her makeup and then it was high heel to the metal and off we took.
Forty five minutes later we landed in Belfast and were collected by Phil Shields. I have to at this point say a big thank you to Phil. Not only did he open his home to us for the weekend, but actually gave up his own bed so that the visitors could have the beds and he slept on the settee for the weekend.
Sian was continuing her bizarre medical experiments on Dean by trying to burn his eardrums out with some drops that were supposed to be washed out of the ear after a minute, but she'd forgotten to tell Dean that bit and told him to stop whinging when his ears started stinging. As Phil had to be up for work at 6.30am on the Friday morning and we were in effect sitting in what was his bedroom for the weekend, drinking beer, we decided to have an early night. Only for everyone to be woken by my mobile ringing and vibrating on a wooden floor 45 minutes later by Keith Money saying they had also arrived safely.
Friday, the big day for Jim and Trisha. We arrived in good time at the City Hall in Belfast for what turned out to be a very quick ceremony, followed by photos in a very impressive setting. Jim scrubs you quite well and Trisha looked radiant. I did wonder why she was carrying a bunch of leeks (And it turns out every fella I spoke to thought it was a bunch of leeks), but was informed in no uncertain terms that they were flowers not leeks !
As we'd stolen Phil's car for the day we weren't on the coach to the reception venue and Sian had programmed the postcode in the Satnav so off we set. Half an hour later we pulled up outside Trisha's house because Sian had put the postcode for the RSVP off the invitation in, not the venue postcode ! I supplied the right postcode, and an hour after leaving the City Hall arrived at the Cottonmount Arms.
Speeches over, some nice food, and the music started at 7pm. Jim had lined up some of the cream of Irish DJs, North and South, Steve Cato, Chris Morgan, Keith Money and me for an allnighter.
Sadly, it didn't happen. Despite the venue being owned by Jim's Uncle, at 12.30 last orders was called, and at 1.30am the music stopped. I understand a similar thing happened when Jim organised an allnighter here previously. All a bit of a blow really, as Keith was down to DJ at 2am and me at 3am, so it was a long way to travel, and somewhat expensive as well, to not get to DJ ! That said we still had a really good night. Keith and Sandra have been friends of mine for nearly twenty years, and although we are often in the same venue, we rarely get the chance to have a good drinking session, we made up for it tonight though, and Dean was struggling to keep up towards the end of the night. Mostly because when we asked if he wanted another drink he couldn't hear us due to Sian's evil experiments, so we got him one anyway !
'Sian's Executive Limo's' used the company Kia to drop Keith and Sandra off at their hotel, and came back for us having passed through a Police roadblock three times on the way. A couple more beers at Phil's and then off to bed.
Saturday morning we had a ride out to see Kev up in Newry. We took the scenic route there (Sian put the postcode in the Satnav again), and the sun was shining brightly. I was introduced to Kev's charming wife Ann, and she took us on a guided tour of the beautiful part of the country she lives in. A few beers in the pub, and then a nice buffet meal provided by Ann, and then we set off back to Belfast. Kev was hoping to come with us, but Sian had persuaded Ann to say she was coming instead, so she got in the car and we drove off leaving a very disconsolate Kev waving goodbye from the door. Ten minutes later we came back, and Ann relented and let Kev come with us instead.
We followed Kev's directions and it was major A roads and Motorway all the way so took twenty minutes less to get back to Carrick Fergus where Phil lives.
We settled down with a few beers, and Sian took the Company Kia out again to collect Keith and Sandra first, then straight back out for Chris and Carlos, and Olof and Jo. She managed to get stopped by the police yet again on the way, and despite ending up in the middle of a marching band at one point, returned safely with her cargo.Phil did the first DJ spot, followed by me, and then Keith Money gave us a wonderful two and a half hours, especially considering he didn't have a record polisher assisting him (Ask Keith when you see him) leaving Chris with the next spot, and then Phil finished the night off for us
The beer was going down well, and because there was one less chair than there were people, we sort of did a disorganised game of musical chairs all night, so you ended up talking to everyone for part of the night. It really was a great night. I know we all talk about having good nights with mates, but this was one of the best I've ever had. The music was superb throughout, there was as much food and beer as you wanted, and the company was great, and at some point in the night we realised that even though there were only eleven of us there, we had Irish, English, Welsh, Scots, Swedish, and Mexican people present. So it really was the inaugural allnighter of the Carrick Fergus International Soul Club ! I was going to post playlists, but it all got rather messy and I haven't a clue what I played anyway, so that's not going to happen I'm afraid.
Sadly, around 6am, Keith and Sandra had to leave. Now on Thursday night when they arrived Keith had managed to leave his glasses behind in the taxi. After much searching, the hotel rang the taxi firm who said yes they had found them, and would deliver them out to Keith at the Cottonmount Arms. After they left Phil's there was a pair of glasses left on the mantelpiece. Nearly everyone there owned a pair of glasses (It must be an age thing !), and everyone said they had theirs, so we naturally assumed that Keith had lost his glasses again.
When Sian returned Chris, Carlos, Jo, and Olof also decided it was time to leave, but not before Chris, Olof and Kev gave us all a rousing, completely out of tune, rendition of 'Hit The Road Jack', allegedly the version that Tony Clarke would have recorded if he had actually ever recorded it. I thought Little Wee Jo was actually going to wee herself she was laughing that much !!!
Sian dropped them off and returned to tell us that the glasses were actually Chris's. He'd checked whether he had his case with him, but not whether he'd put the glasses in the bloody case !
Bed for a couple of hours, only to be woken by Sian conducting more medical experiments, and Dean screaming (That's not true actually, but it sounds good). A leisurely morning spent listening to a few more records, and then an afternoon spent watching the Rugby League whilst finishing off the last of the 24 cans Sian had bought for me (She had, quite cleverly I thought, done an internet shop at Tesco and had the weekend's food and beer delivered to Phil's house in Carrick)
The horrendous weather had returned by Sunday, and when we got the the airport Sian was relieved to find that the plane was a jet and not a propeller driven one. She actually said though "They have probably swapped it because it's so windy"
I asked her "Where do you think they got the jet from then ? The 'Spare Jet For Windy Weather Cupboard' ?" Honestly ! A good flight back got us into Birmingham early, and I was home by midnight.
All told, despite not actually DJing at the wedding, this was one of the best weekends I've had for a long time, and I know everyone else thought so as well. So, to all my friends, I salute you, I feel like death today, but it was worth every minute of it.
Oh, and Sian left a pair of shoes behind.
New Shotgun 45 Release - Gloria Lynne
GLORIA LYNNE
I've Just Gotta Tell Somebody / I'm So In Love
Shotgun Records
SHOT 109
Release date: 14 May 2012
Distribution: SELREC
Copies are available direct from SELREC:
£9.99 each with free shipping worldwide.
ALL ENQUIRIES: info@selrec.com
www.selrec.com
Duck Dunn Rip
we have lost another great soul musician ....
added by site
Musician Donald "Duck" Dunn, the pioneering bass player whose grooves drove Booker T and the MGs and hits including Otis Redding's Respect has died in Tokyo, age 70.
Dunn was in Tokyo for a series of shows. News of his death was posted on the Facebook site of his friend and fellow musician Steve Cropper, who was on the same tour. Cropper said Dunn died in his sleep.
"Today I lost my best friend, the world has lost the best guy and bass player to ever live," wrote Crooper.
Miho Harasawa, a spokeswoman for Tokyo Blue Note, the last venue Dunn played, confirmed he died alone early Sunday. She had no further details.
read rest of news article here
http://www.guardian....o?newsfeed=true
official website
http://www.duckdunn.com/index.html
