A bit of Country Soul/R n B, does Harlan County by Jim Ford get played anywhere?

Edited May 3, 200916 yr by Bicks

A bit of Country Soul/R n B, does Harland County by Jim Ford get played anywhere?

A superb tune, but it really would surprise me if it would get plays on the northern scene. Great ballad flipside as well ("Changin' Colors")!

A bit of Country Soul/R n B, does Harland County by Jim Ford get played anywhere?

...in my house, at least once every couple of months. One of the greatest albums of all time, in my estimation...

A superb tune, but it really would surprise me if it would get plays on the northern scene. Great ballad flipside as well ("Changin' Colors")!

I was thinking more in R'n'B circles, you're right though, suberb tune, one of my faves (I like a song with a good story).

I don't know the record you refer to, but generally like the style of soul singers doing country songs. Does anyone remember the book "Can Blue Men Sing The Whites?" Went right into that genre, in many ways a relative of deep soul imo.

These records would not really be suitable for a Northern Soul night, not good for dancing, not even like beat ballads, but for listening absolutely superb. The right records are ultra soulful.

The book had a list of records in that style; if anyone's interested I can dig it out.

The great Arthur Alexander is usually classified in the Country Soul genre.

Anything by him sends shivers right up my spine .

See below - music kicks in at 0:25

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Oscar Perry - Fool From The Sticks (Backbeat) is a nice piece of country soul.

I don't know the record you refer to, but generally like the style of soul singers doing country songs. Does anyone remember the book "Can Blue Men Sing The Whites?" Went right into that genre, in many ways a relative of deep soul imo.

Haven't read that one, but another book "Say It One Time For The Broken Hearted - The Country Side Of Southern Soul" by Barney Hoskyns also tackles this topic. A very good read in my opinion. Here it is:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Say-One-Time-Broke...d/dp/074754137X

Oscar Perry - Fool From The Sticks (Backbeat) is a nice piece of country soul.

Brilliant record-always playing it -but what about Joe Hinton's stuff as well

Rob

I don't know the record you refer to, but generally like the style of soul singers doing country songs. Does anyone remember the book "Can Blue Men Sing The Whites?" Went right into that genre, in many ways a relative of deep soul imo.

These records would not really be suitable for a Northern Soul night, not good for dancing, not even like beat ballads, but for listening absolutely superb. The right records are ultra soulful.

The book had a list of records in that style; if anyone's interested I can dig it out.

Jim Ford was a close associate of Bobby Womack's for a time, and wrote "Harry Hippie" and "Point Of No Return" which BW covered.

I can really recommend him as a listening experience, especially to people who enjoyed, say, Boz Scaggs' first album on Atlantic.

He does a great version of Stevie Wonder's "I Wanna Make Her Love Me" on "Harlan County", but it's his own songs (which are brilliant lyrically and melodically) that are the best.

He died last year, just as he was starting to get a bit of recognition for his brilliance in the rock press. Shame...

Jim Ford was a close associate of Bobby Womack's for a time, and wrote "Harry Hippie" and "Point Of No Return" which BW covered.

I can really recommend him as a listening experience, especially to people who enjoyed, say, Boz Scaggs' first album on Atlantic.

He does a great version of Stevie Wonder's "I Wanna Make Her Love Me" on "Harlan County", but it's his own songs (which are brilliant lyrically and melodically) that are the best.

He died last year, just as he was starting to get a bit of recognition for his brilliance in the rock press. Shame...

I have the Bobby Womack Goes C & W album which features a track By Jim Ford-I'd Be Ahead If I Could Quit While I'm Behind.

Not heard anything by Jim himself but Harry Hippie is one of the great soul recordings of all time in my opinion.

Also got Millie Jackson sings C & W although not played it for years so will have to dig this out.

Up The Iron

Steve

A bit of Country Soul/R n B, does Harland County by Jim Ford get played anywhere?

I read the title of this thread and was thinking of this record before I'd read the first post.

The first time time I heard it was on Andy Kershaw's radio show in about 1987 - I've still got it on cassette somewhere. As the record fades out, AK exclaims with totally unguarded joy and enthusiasm "What a wonderful record!"

I read the title of this thread and was thinking of this record before I'd read the first post.

The first time time I heard it was on Andy Kershaw's radio show in about 1987 - I've still got it on cassette somewhere. As the record fades out, AK exclaims with totally unguarded joy and enthusiasm "What a wonderful record!"

Andy Kershaw is where I first heard it too. A friend did me a tape of his 'Great Moments in Vinyl History' and it's been implanted in my brain ever since along with the first track 'Walkin' With Barrence' by Barrence Whitfield and the Savages (absolutely relentless rhythm).

Thanks to all for the extra info on Jim Ford and for posting the other stuff up too, there's some interesting music there worth investigating. It's a bit hard going on this site at times with all the bickering that goes on but this is exactly what a forum should be about. Cheers.

Edited April 30, 200916 yr by Bicks

Andy Kershaw is where I first heard it too. A friend did me a tape of his 'Great Moments in Vinyl History' and it's been implanted in my brain ever since along with the first track 'Walkin' With Barrence' by Barrence Whitfield and the Savages (absolutely relentless rhythm).

Thanks to all for the extra info on Jim Ford and for posting the other stuff up too, there's some interesting music there worth investigating. It's a bit hard going on this site at times with all the bickering that goes on but this is exactly what a forum should be about. Cheers.

A great point. The other side of the 45, Changing Colors is pretty fantastic as well.

I wish I knew more about this particular strand of music: I only really got the Jim Ford records because of his connection to Bobby Womack. The crossover between soul and country in the American South at that time is fascinating and I'd love to be pointed in the direction of more music of this character and quality.

Anyone remeber Dobie Gray at Rotherham?

Anyone remeber Dobie Gray at Rotherham?

Thanks for attempting to keep a floundering thread going, but, isn't your post a little bit...er...random.

Jim Ford was a close associate of Bobby Womack's for a time, and wrote "Harry Hippie" and "Point Of No Return" which BW covered.

I can really recommend him as a listening experience, especially to people who enjoyed, say, Boz Scaggs' first album on Atlantic.

He does a great version of Stevie Wonder's "I Wanna Make Her Love Me" on "Harlan County", but it's his own songs (which are brilliant lyrically and melodically) that are the best.

He died last year, just as he was starting to get a bit of recognition for his brilliance in the rock press. Shame...

Ive always loved the lyric to Point of no return, "baby if the cake aint missing? how that icing get all over you?"

Magic

I'm slightly embarrased to admit i've never heard anything by him.........he sounds essential listening

Tats

Edited May 1, 200916 yr by foolish fool

Ive always loved the lyric to Point of no return, "baby if the cake aint missing? how that icing get all over you?"

Magic

I'm slightly embarrased to admit i've never heard anything by him.........he sounds essential listening

Tats

I'm sure you'd love it Tats. Here's a youtube link to Changing Colors:

Very much like Point Of No Return. I'd completely forgotten how much of The Poets I & II he was responsible for: American Dream, Trying To Get Over, Tell Me Why, Secrets, So Many Sides etc. When you listen to his stuff you see how much of an influence he was on Womack harmonically.

It must be said that very little of his material is straight country: there's a lot of soul, west coast soft rock and bluegrass in there as well. As well as his solo stuff and the Womack connection he also wrote Niki Hoky for PJ Proby which received early scene spins as well.

A great point. The other side of the 45, Changing Colors is pretty fantastic as well.

I wish I knew more about this particular strand of music: I only really got the Jim Ford records because of his connection to Bobby Womack. The crossover between soul and country in the American South at that time is fascinating and I'd love to be pointed in the direction of more music of this character and quality.

Try:

Joe South - first Capitol album "Introspect" - a big favourite of (and although he wouldn't say it himself, influence on) Swamp Dogg. Most of Joe's albums are at least good, this one is stupendous.

Bobby Charles - first and only Bearsville album. "Small Town Talk" is almost too beautiful for words.

Boz Scaggs - first and only Atlantic album. "I'll Be Long Gone" is a masterpiece. This is perhaps the greatest 'country soul' album of them all...

That should do you for starters, Gareth!

Edited May 1, 200916 yr by TONY ROUNCE

Try:

Joe South - first Capitol album "Introspect" - a big favourite of (and although he wouldn't say it himself, influence on) Swamp Dogg. Most of Joe's albums are at least good, this one is stupendous.

Bobby Charles - first and only Bearsville album. "Small Town Talk" is almost too beautiful for words.

Boz Scaggs - first and only Atlantic album. "I'll Be Long Gone" is a masterpiece. This is perhaps the greatest 'country soul' album of them all...

That should do you for starters, Gareth!

Cheers Tony. I have (and love) the Boz Scaggs and will seek out the others. Bobby Charles on Bearsville sounds particularly interesting.

Haven't read that one, but another book "Say It One Time For The Broken Hearted - The Country Side Of Southern Soul" by Barney Hoskyns also tackles this topic. A very good read in my opinion. Here it is:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Say-One-Time-Broke...d/dp/074754137X

Great book Sebastian, so many underrated singers from this genre. I've always loved George Soule, Dan Penn, eddie Hinton but there are so many more.

Bobby Charles - first and only Bearsville album. "Small Town Talk" is almost too beautiful for words.

Amazing LP. "I Must Be In A Good Place Now" on that album is one of my all-time favourite tunes. Has moved me to tears several times.

Totally agree with Joe South and Boz Scaggs as well (George Freeman's version of "I'll Be Long Gone" on EPIC is also great).

The two volumes in the "Country Got Soul" series are both well worth checking out if you're into this kind of sound. Here they are:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Country-Got-Soul-1/dp/B00009WNAU/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Country-Got-Soul-V.../dp/B0002JU61W/

Haven't read that one, but another book "Say It One Time For The Broken Hearted - The Country Side Of Southern Soul" by Barney Hoskyns also tackles this topic. A very good read in my opinion. Here it is:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Say-One-Time-Broke...d/dp/074754137X

Actually that's the book I was referring to, the title I quoted is one of the chapters. My only excuse is that I was at work and couldn't check out the title. As you say it's a very good read.

I always feel that people who only like uptempo tunes are missing so much of the greatness of our music, but, hey, each to their own.

"Reconsider Me" by Johnny Adams.

Not sure if this works but what about as said there are country singers like Dolly Parton, Charlie Rich and so on who did Northern soul tracks or are they actually Northern soul and not country.

never would have crossed my mind to think country and soul mix and i happen to listen to both

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYJSiFJ4Nms

Quality soul version of a country song by Webb Pierce