With the R&B genre well and truely established within the Rare Soul scene and some of the tracks sounding a bit White (Sorry if this is reverse racism???)and slightly pushing the Soul bounderies out somewhat , I was just wondering what "NORTHERN/R&B SOUL" 45 has the earliest release date??

To qualify the track has to have been played at a recognised Niter or Soul venue past or present. (Not your bedroom, front room, car, youth club, etc etc) and can preferably be confirmed by a thrid party.

I have a sneaky feeling its pushing circa 1957, from a converstion many moons ago but cannot for the life of me remember the track?

If this is true, it would make the SIXTIES Soul scene fall under the watchful eye of the Trades Description Act? Tut tut!

Anybody got thoughts??

Dave Halsall

aka The Man In Black.

"I've Got A Feelin'" by Big Maybelle (Okeh), which has been getting spins, dates from 1954. Doubt there's anything much earlier than this.

When was it ever exclusively a 'sixties soul scene'?

Fifties R&B played something of a part at the trailblazing venues of the 60s. The Wheel djs would have played soul and R&B records because of the sound in the grooves, not the date on the label.

The Torch, Cats and other influential venues were playing things like The Fuller Brothers as practically new releases in the early 70s. The window of '60s only' soul was a very short one, and didn't exist in all probability out of preference, just happenstance.