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Soul Records You Just Don't 'get'

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This is sort of an outgrowth of Webby's "emotionally charged' thread....

I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't 'get' certain records that regularly get bandied about as classics. As I've said elsewhere, Lorraine Ellison's "Stay With Me" does nothing to stimulate me emotionally, and Bessie Banks "Go Now" will always be nothing more to me than the inferior original of a classic pop single.

These are not the only records to not move me, but they're fairly significant ones. I regard myself as a fairly emotional kind of guy, doesn't take a lot to get me blubbing at a record - so why don't these do it for me?

What are your equivalents to these? Doesn't have to necessarily be a slowie, just as long as it's an acknowledged classic that you're sick of having rammed down your throat as being a shining example of "Our Music"...

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Well there is this little known record by a guy called Frank Bloody Wilson(or something like that) that just dont do it for me !

This is sort of an outgrowth of Webby's "emotionally charged' thread....

I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't 'get' certain records that regularly get bandied about as classics. As I've said elsewhere, Lorraine Ellison's "Stay With Me" does nothing to stimulate me emotionally, and Bessie Banks "Go Now" will always be nothing more to me than the inferior original of a classic pop single.

These are not the only records to not move me, but they're fairly significant ones. I regard myself as a fairly emotional kind of guy, doesn't take a lot to get me blubbing at a record - so why don't these do it for me?

What are your equivalents to these? Doesn't have to necessarily be a slowie, just as long as it's an acknowledged classic that you're sick of having rammed down your throat as being a shining example of "Our Music"...

Roberta Flack - " The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face "

It left me cold the first time I heard it , and it still does whenever I hear it .

Sorry , but it is a god - awful dirge .......

Malc Burton

Edited by Malc Burton

Kurt Harris - Emperor of My Baby's Heart

Marv Johnson - Come On and Stop

F'kin dirge IMO sleep3.gif

Edited by Dave Turner

So called 'Modern Holy Grails' I just don't get...

Tyrone St German "In a World So Cold" - Always leaves me cold.

Fluorescent Smog "All My Life" - Never want to hear it again in my entire life.

Melvin Brown etc. "Loves Stormy Weather" - Bring your umbrella - it's fookin dismal!

True Image "I'm Not Over You Yet" - FFS get over it!

And a particular Northern Ear Bleeder!

Shawn Robinson "My Dear Heart" - Should have packed up years ago!

What a bloody row!

To the skip with 'em!

:ohmy:

Sean

True Image "I'm Not Over You Yet" - FFS get over it!

True - also, surely I'm not the only one who thinks this sounds like a poor imitation of Gonzales "Haven't Stopped Dancin' Yet"?

My contribution to this thread:

Wade Flemons "Janette" yeah, you can dance to it, but it doesn't seem to go anywhere to my ears

Jeanette white - Music

couldn't get on with that one sorry

P :smile:

Time to get told how wrong I am...

"The Pyramid."

I'm sorry... am I supposed to be able to dance to this pile of dross?

I know this may be sacrilege to some, but I just don't like any version of the soul standard "You send me". I just don't get it, think it's a poorly written dirge.

The Dells - Stay in my corner is one.

The aformentioned Bessie Banks is another.

Can't stand Chain-Chain-Chain-Chain of Fools either.

Time to get told how wrong I am...

"The Pyramid."

I'm sorry... am I supposed to be able to dance to this pile of dross?

You had to be there. At the time this was first played as the Mel Britt cover-up by Dave Thorley it had a mystique about it that only a few records possess. In the first few years after Wigan it was the first record to really grab the imagination of the entire scene since the likes of Cecil Washington in the latter days of the Casino. Pyramid was a very unusual-sounding record into the bargain. It still sounds fairly idiosyncratic I suppose, but really it was a classic case of the collision of time and place. It's fair to say that it still has the appeal of having a 'once heard never forgotten' identity.

If Stafford had a manifesto it was that Northern didn't die with the closure of Wigan; that there were still great records to be found, bought, sold, traded, covered-up, played in dance halls, danced to and mythologised. This 45, alongside Sam Dees on SSS, Johnny Gilliam on Cancer and a few others were in the vanguard: proof positive that a vibrant and dynamic, determinedly underground scene still existed. More than merely still existing, it was a scene that was forward-thinking and one where different types of soul record could be accepted and indeed championed.

For what it's worth I still love it. It has a magic for me that can instantly summon evocative memories of youth and good times.

Kurt Harris - Emperor of My Baby's Heart

Marv Johnson - Come On and Stop

F'kin dirge IMO sleep3.gif

Too right and you can add Dean Barlow to those two :thumbup:

And then there's these -

Poppies

Jeanette Harper

Barbara Mills

I know some people will be reaching for the blood pressure meds at this (and the rotten tomatoes) but...the "3 b4 8"...didn't like 'em then and dont like 'em now...esp that miserable, depressing life negating dirge "Time Will Pass You By"...yeah right, like we need reminding.wicked.gif

Kurt Harris - Emperor of My Baby's Heart

Marv Johnson - Come On and Stop

F'kin dirge IMO sleep3.gif

Too right and you can add Dean Barlow to those two thumbsup.gif

And then there's these -

Poppies

Jeanette Harper

Barbara Mills

Dean Barlow is just plain crap.

The classic that never did it for me is Moses Smith "The Girl Across The Street"

Looks like this is turning into "The Northern Soul Track You Hate Or Dislike"

Just read another post"How am I supposed to dance to this dross"

(A) Go to the bar and get a beer like everyone else

Grant

Eddie Regan - Playin' Hide & Seek

Had people scurrying to the dancefloor & I could never work out why.

I know people love it .....but why god knows... The Jokes on you Kenny Gamble, garbage of the highest order from begining to end, leaden sodden dirge dirge dirge. Rubbish. Almost funny it's so bad !

velvets..................gotta find somebody.........WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, makes me get fookin aggresive :thumbup::thumbup:

not forgetting andy fisher and ed bruce big man cry :thumbup:

Edited by dave pinch

So called 'Modern Holy Grails' I just don't get...

Tyrone St German "In a World So Cold" - Always leaves me cold.

Fluorescent Smog "All My Life" - Never want to hear it again in my entire life.

Melvin Brown etc. "Loves Stormy Weather" - Bring your umbrella - it's fookin dismal!

True Image "I'm Not Over You Yet" - FFS get over it!

And a particular Northern Ear Bleeder!

Shawn Robinson "My Dear Heart" - Should have packed up years ago!

What a bloody row!

To the skip with 'em!

:thumbup:

Sean

PMSL...tho I don't think I've ever heard any of em...and after reading your post I don't think I wanna :thumbup::thumbup:

Aw Malc, that's not a heart you've got but a swinging brick! :thumbup:

It is true in respect of - as I stated - Roberta Flack's " FTEISYF " , but I am a horse of a man when it comes to the favour of other tunes in my heart :thumbup:

Malc Burton

Edited by Malc Burton

So called 'Modern Holy Grails' I just don't get...

Tyrone St German "In a World So Cold" - Always leaves me cold.

Fluorescent Smog "All My Life" - Never want to hear it again in my entire life.

Melvin Brown etc. "Loves Stormy Weather" - Bring your umbrella - it's fookin dismal!

True Image "I'm Not Over You Yet" - FFS get over it!

And a particular Northern Ear Bleeder!

Shawn Robinson "My Dear Heart" - Should have packed up years ago!

What a bloody row!

To the skip with 'em!

:thumbup:

Sean

withdrawn statement now i've read it properley just got up

kev

Edited by kevinsoulman

Marvin Gaye "Let's Get It On" - waste of everybody's time and talent...

Aretha Franklin "Respect" - pointless, overblown remake of an unbeatable gem...

...why are they so lionised?

LOVE YOU BABY = EDDIE PARKER

JUST CAN'T LIVE MY LIVE = LINDA JONES

ONE IN A MILLION= MAXINE BROWN (ONE STEP AT A TIME ) IS A CORKER THOUGH.

HERBERT HUNTER - I WAS BORN TO LOVE YOU ( WASNT BORN, IT'S THE AFTERBIRTH)

BILLY STORM - PLEASE DON'T MENTION.....(OK I WON'T)

BARBARA DANE - I'M ON MY WAY (FCUK OFF THEN)

KELLY MICHAELS - I NEED HIM - CARLA ( SANDY SHAW OUTTAKE)

JOHNNY CASWELL - YOU DON'T LOVE ME....(NEVER KIN DID)

JUST A FEW FROM ROOM 101.

BRI PINCH

SUNDAY CHILLOUT, 16TH AUGUST, HORSE AND GROOM PUB, EAST LAITH GATE, DONCASTER.

sorry posted on wrong thread.

Edited by Brett F

velvets..................gotta find somebody.........WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, makes me get fookin aggresive angry.gifboxing.gif

not forgetting andy fisher and ed bruce big man cry sleep3.gif

Sorry Dave, The Velvets f++kin love it.

I have never seen the dance floor reaction from any other record in 38 years, when it was first played in 73.

It was magic to watch, you just had to be there.

I like Andy Fisher as well, just the right speed to dance to for a old c*** like me.rolleyes.gif

Not sure what Ed Bruce is?

It would be f++kin boring if we all liked the same.

Dave.

Ben Zine, all of the Lou Roberts tracks, Cobblestone, The Dogs and Patrick Bradley.

All of these were monsters in 1978 but I used to find them extremely mood changing.

Faced with a situation like that, where do you go?

The funk room, the record bar or the exit?

Kurt Harris - Emperor of My Baby's Heart

Marv Johnson - Come On and Stop

F'kin dirge IMO sleep3.gif

Totally agree on Marv Johnson. Might just as well be an early incarnation of "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies.

Marvin Gaye "Let's Get It On" - waste of everybody's time and talent...

Aretha Franklin "Respect" - pointless, overblown remake of an unbeatable gem...

...why are they so lionised?

Could not agree with you more on these two

Totally agree on Marv Johnson. Might just as well be an early incarnation of "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies.

Thing is though, Jamaica Ska by Byron Lee (The Ska Kings) is actually a copy of Come On And Stop - and it's great!

Eddie Regan - Playin' Hide & Seek

Had people scurrying to the dancefloor & I could never work out why.

Agree Macca - I just wanted to go and hide whenever it got played.

Manus

TEARS.....kin absolute rubbish!!Didn't you do this already Grant....But to me it doesn't matter ,Queen Of Fools..so bad that me mum loved it..And l once came in and she was doing the hoovering playing The Kid by Andre Braseur :thumbup:

Yes Webby we did it a month or two ago,Only then we had the Soul Police,Issuing death threats(joking),because You, I and a few other folk had the nerve to say that some Northern Soul records were crap,

Will have to go now the S P will be knocking on the door soon,so I'm going into hiding(til after teatime lol)

Grant

Rita D'Costa - Dont bring me dowm

detest this 45 from day one, and still do

make me cringe even pronouncing the track

bloody Sh**e, with a Capitol 'S'

Yes Webby we did it a month or two ago,Only then we had the Soul Police,Issuing death threats(joking),because You, I and a few other folk had the nerve to say that some Northern Soul records were crap,

Will have to go now the S P will be knocking on the door soon,so I'm going into hiding(til after teatime lol)

Grant

I think it was me who had a gripe about the 'crap record' thread. I stand by what I said then. It's very easy to produce a list of shockingly bad records played in the name of Northern Soul. This thread is a bit different as it seeks to de-bunk the 'sacred cows' of the soul world: a different and potentially worthwhile endeavour.

In answer to the question I'll go with any version of "What Does It Take" from the ho-hum Junior Walker to the execrable, unforgiveable Bay Brothers take and all versions in-between (The Electrifying Cashmeres has a scorching vocal which makes it more than listenable, but this one-chord doggerel is a sorry excuse for a song).

keep 'em peeled

the soul cop.

"What's going on?" - the LP in it's entirety - mediocre IMO.

WHAT............................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WAIT TILL I SEE YOU MR DOG......

Actually for me it's.........Right Track......Billy Butler....hate it, hate it, hate it.............

to be honest i could go on forever, i loathe Tommy Ridgley on International City, Billy Woods on Sussex.....and on and on...............

Edited by Brett F

Rita D'Costa - Dont bring me dowm

detest this 45 from day one, and still do

make me cringe even pronouncing the track

bloody Sh**e, with a Capitol 'S'

Not one of my fav's by a long way, but in the summer of 74 it sounded so good when we were out of our trees.

Actually for me it's.........Right Track......Billy Butler....hate it, hate it, hate it.............

to be honest i could go on forever, i loathe Tommy Ridgley on International City, Billy Woods on Sussex.....and on and on...............

I agree on Billy Butler I find it boring,

But BILLY WOODS = 70.S MAGIC

So called 'Modern Holy Grails' I just don't get...

Tyrone St German "In a World So Cold" - Always leaves me cold.

Fluorescent Smog "All My Life" - Never want to hear it again in my entire life.

Melvin Brown etc. "Loves Stormy Weather" - Bring your umbrella - it's fookin dismal!

True Image "I'm Not Over You Yet" - FFS get over it!

And a particular Northern Ear Bleeder!

Shawn Robinson "My Dear Heart" - Should have packed up years ago!

What a bloody row!

To the skip with 'em!

yes.gif

Sean

Oooohh Mr Hampsey ......................you've cut me to the core.................... I love this record

Melvin Brown etc. "Loves Stormy Weather" - Bring your umbrella - it's fookin great !!!!

For me it's a 'pour it on me' soul record along with ...............ooh, I dunno, .............Eunice Collins - At the the hotel or Maze - Look in your eyes

................ but then, each to their own...............I'm glad we don't all like the same stuff...............that would be too much!!

Kev

love stormy weather is the 14th best track of an lp that contains no other good tracks,

bobby kline is probably the worst record ive ever heard, and ive seen john ottway live !

that thing on gamble, i,m a dreamer, bloody hell soul pack chuck away if ever there was one

i,m a believer-idris muhamed, come on now someones taking the p**s

curtis-how can i tell her (the revved up gay anthem sounding version), remind me grow a moustache

room full of tears, i presume when it was recorded they chose the wrong take, this is deffo a song you dont play to "normal people" to promote northern soul

lou ragland-what can i do (i think this is correct as i lost intrest 40 secs in)

Mixed Emotions "Gold Of My Life" leaves me cold.

yep, never thought of that one

Don't know the "modern" stuff so can't comment

Pet hates Bobby Goldsbro Paul Anka et all - soul? No kin way jose!! :thumbsup:

Agree regards Dean Barlow no soulful window cleaners near me thanx :thumbup:

"What's going on?" - the LP in it's entirety - mediocre IMO.

...Can't quite agree with you on the "in its entirety" bit, but certainly a classic case of the "two or three great songs" (all of which came out on singles anyway) "and a lot of padding". Not something that can be said about some of the Marvin albums that preceded it.

Marvin Gaye was only truly great when he was produced by others - hardly a bad record before 1971, hardly a good one thereafter...

Edited by TONY ROUNCE

I think it was me who had a gripe about the 'crap record' thread. I stand by what I said then. It's very easy to produce a list of shockingly bad records played in the name of Northern Soul. This thread is a bit different as it seeks to de-bunk the 'sacred cows' of the soul world: a different and potentially worthwhile endeavour.

Yes, Gareth, that was exactly what I had in mind and I thank you (and Pete and others who got what I was getting at) for "sticking to the script" with your nomination.

Like you say, it's easy for anyone to produce a list of NS records that they think are crap, given how many ARE crap. I just wanted to see how people felt about the "What's Going On"s, the "I'd Rather Go Blind"s, the "Go Now"s and, indeed, the "What Does It Take"s etc. not the Baltimore and Ohio Marching Band's...

Edited by TONY ROUNCE

Etta James "Seven day snore bore"

Billy Woods - a "B side piece of nonesense" filler if ever there was one - loads of "la la da da' s" just to fill up the song.

4 Tracks - "Like my love for you" classic northern for some, but just awfully dull.

Etta James "Seven day snore bore"

Billy Woods - a "B side piece of nonesense" filler if ever there was one - loads of "la la da da' s" just to fill up the song.

4 Tracks - "Like my love for you" classic northern for some, but just awfully dull.

This post should be closed down now.. Its putting Webby out of business

I'm sure that the prolific Mr. Webb has a million of 'em in the pipeline,, Stevie. I'd guess you can expect to see "Best Kenny Lynch Lookalike On The Scene" coming up any day now, mate...

...hope all's well in your neck of the woods. :thumbsup:

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