Hello. New to the forum and I've got a question. Don't claim to be a true Northern fan, but I've got a love of the stuff that I had ingrained into me from by older brother playing it all the time when we still lived at our folks. Been to plenty of All Nighters at Keele, the Ritz and Stoke, but not been for a few years now. Anyway my missus bought me a CD at the weekend titled "The greatest Northern Soul CD" or somert like that. Some belters on there, "Carstairs" one of my favourite rug cutters. Anyway here's the question - Some of the tracks (almost 50 per cent on disc 2) sounded suspect to me. Reading the sleave notes a load of the tracks have been redone by Ian Levine. Can anyone shed some light on all this, cos to be honest they sound awful.

is this not the Cd that has all the tracks redone on a synth ? really bad , but if you look at the notes it says something like re-done but it is misleading, sure KRL had something to do with it as well

No, not all the tracks have been redone just some of them. All dodgy ones list Ian Levine and Tropicana Records.

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Ian Levine..he does a good line of northern cds that end up in petrol stations...The true soul man... I think its time for one of my pills.. I'm not thinking straight and my blood is starting to boil...

On the subject of bargain bin CDs - we didn't see it in a petrol station but yesterday, Al and I found a Double-pack CD for £4 in a shop in Brighton. It was the TITLE that caught my eye - "Treasury of Northern Soul" - ooh and it sooo was not!

Who are the Casino Soul Orchestra? It would appear that for ever song on the CD that the record company couldn't get copyright for (about 50%) , the CSO did a cover version off it instead. Oh how it made us chortle.

Mark, if you're going to dip into the CD compilation market and aren't sure where to start - go for the Kent and Goldmine releases. Some great stuff!

Cheers, I've got about a dozen or so decent compilation CD's by Kent/Goldmine. This one is the one that's been advertised on the T.V recently. Inspired by/done in conjunction with the KFC ads I think.

Be careful as they're a few shoddy Goldmine releases that are classed as 'Soul For The New Millenium' and 'It'll Never Be Over' etc which should read: 'Bontempi Keyboard Soul For Supermarkets'

They really are crap.

But the quality of the rest of the stuff is usually very good. Try and stick to Club and Record Label compilations, they're usually pretty safe bets.

Jamie

Be careful as they're a few shoddy Goldmine releases that are classed as 'Soul For The New Millenium' and 'It'll Never Be Over' etc which should read: 'Bontempi Keyboard Soul For Supermarkets'

They really are crap.

Those were also done by Ian Levine and some involvement from KRL .Yes they are awful.I usually get them as a present from a sister or Parent "ooh its that stuff our Adam likes in Asda for £5.00!".

I supose the good thing about Goldmine is that for some of the tracks they didnt give a flying fig about copyright and just put em out.Thanks lads

Hi Mark..Some of the best cds come from these members on soul-source..Come on people and help this lad to listen to the real deal and keep him away from the Asda and petrol station soul..I will be the first to offer one of my tapes/cds..contact me...stevecato64@yahoo.co.uk..I'm sure plenty others will do the same..

Who are the Casino Soul Orchestra?  It would appear that for ever song on the CD that the record company couldn't get copyright for (about 50%) , the CSO did a cover version off it instead.    Oh how it made us chortle. 

There's a CD full of casino soul orchestra nestling in selectadisc (Soho London)

with I presume, instrumentals of very well known Northern tracks. Saw it months

ago & actually mentioned it on here, can't remember now what tracks were on it though.

Dave G

I've recently bought a 'Re-Do's' CD aswell. It's titled 'The Ultimate Northern Soul'. Ultimate my f**king arse!! Some stuff isn't too bad but to play around with such an awesome track as The Carstairs, all the time making it worse really gets my goat...

I attached a soundbite to show just HOW bad it really is for those of you who haven't already heard it.

Summary: PENSIONERS CAN'T SING!!

Summary: PENSIONERS CAN'T SING!!

Actually... I resent myself here. The Mel Britt I have on another CD is fantastic, and if it weren't for the rediculous up-tempo backing, would be almost the same!!

i would also look at some American release CD's there are a few stormers, eg Wardell Quezerque on tuff city records, mighty fine double CD.

come on lads! let's embrace the Casino soul orchestra, we could wear cocktail dresses and eat chicken-in-a-basket

bought my 1st cd bout 3 years entitled "you didnt say a word" or summin, its complete shite over production and "evil annie" or letters to that effect was involved.