Was just reading the "made in the box room" thread and it sparked an idea for this thread.

Which Northern Soul records do you consider to be the best recordings in terms of overall sound quality?

Which records have got the deepest, cleanest bass? The punchiest snare? The zingiest strings or the loudest horns? Any labels that consistently put out well engineered stuff? Maybe we should limit suggestions to the '60's, before the technology leapt.

If "Time's a wasting" is one of the worst (dull, muddy, no bass) , which are the best for you?

I'll kick you off with one off the top of my head that always make the speakers shake, though I guess it's late sixties pedigree explains it:

Don Varner - Tear Stained Face

ooh mine would have to be....

THE FESTIVALS - CHECKIN' OUT - BLUE ROCK.....in fact most of the blue rock stuff is well put together...but this track has it all for me.....storming horn section...punchy base line...and stunning vocals complete wiv me fave male wooooooo woooo eeeee babeeee type fingies

cookie

Was just reading the "made in the box room" thread and it sparked an idea for this thread.

Which Northern Soul records do you consider to be the best recordings in terms of overall sound quality?

Which records have got the deepest, cleanest bass? The punchiest snare? The zingiest strings or the loudest horns? Any labels that consistently put out well engineered stuff? Maybe we should limit suggestions to the '60's, before the technology leapt.

If "Time's a wasting" is one of the worst (dull, muddy, no bass) , which are the best for you?

I'll kick you off with one off the top of my head that always make the speakers shake, though I guess it's late sixties pedigree explains it:

Don Varner - Tear Stained Face

Hi ,for me "PIED PIPER" PRODUCTION = QUALITY ATB Steve

Most of the major label stuff is good quality, RCA, Phillips subsidiaries, out of the independents motown is generally very well produced. A lot of the independent stuff is highly variable in quality. (bloody hell, that was a bit obvious wasn't it?!)

Top tip if you have an amp with a mono button do use it on your mono records, the backgrounds noise is massively reduced as you drop out a whole unused and unmodulated groove on your records, its an uncut surface that just introduces noise with a modern micro stylus that attempts to track the whole groove.

Edited December 2, 200519 yr by Stuart T

ooh mine would have to be....

THE FESTIVALS - CHECKIN' OUT - BLUE ROCK.....in fact most of the blue rock stuff is well put together...but this track has it all for me.....storming horn section...punchy base line...and stunning vocals complete wiv me fave male wooooooo woooo eeeee babeeee type fingies

cookie

Tony Diamond "Don't Turn Away" - brill Blue Rock cut.

Could'nt give you a particular one but how about Sandra Richardson for a slab of Detroit genius

The Ric Tic stuff had some balls didn't it?

Thinking of Double O Soul in particular.

Brunswick always well recorded, but wish the bass was more thumping...

Was just reading the "made in the box room" thread and it sparked an idea for this thread.

Which Northern Soul records do you consider to be the best recordings in terms of overall sound quality?

Which records have got the deepest, cleanest bass? The punchiest snare? The zingiest strings or the loudest horns? Any labels that consistently put out well engineered stuff? Maybe we should limit suggestions to the '60's, before the technology leapt.

If "Time's a wasting" is one of the worst (dull, muddy, no bass) , which are the best for you?

I'll kick you off with one off the top of my head that always make the speakers shake, though I guess it's late sixties pedigree explains it:

Don Varner - Tear Stained Face

Most of the RCA stuff has the lot, top production, big orchestra, and normally first class vocals,

Freddie Paris , There she goes. Willie Kendricks , Change your ways. etc, etc.

Steve

Sam Dees - Lonely For You Baby.

Montclairs - Hung Up On Your Love.

Both have Mega Basslines, that give the speakers a right old rattling.

The balls of all records with balls has got to be........................

Johnny James - Tell You About my girl(aint that lovin)- Circle M

Think it's early 70s (71, 72?) but Patti Austin's version of 'Didn't Say A Word' has incredible instrumentation - great tune to listen to through headphones and hear all those different lines going on at the same time

traits, too good to be true pounds along nicely and is a quality cheapie to boot (no pun intended )

Always thought "The Panic is On" had great clarity and production, obviously being on a major like MGM you expect such things.

While i'm here another interesting point, the Blue Rock recordings of Dee Dee Warwick compared to the Mercury Lp release of her 45 's....the fidelity on the Blue Rock is far inferior to the aforementioned Mercury release.

Edited December 2, 200519 yr by Brett

Always thought "The Panic is On" had great clarity and production, obviously being on a major like MGM you expect such things.

While i'm here another interesting point, the Blue Rock recordings of Dee Dee Warwick compared to the Mercury Lp release of her 45 's....the fidelity on the Blue Rock is far inferior to the aforementioned Mercury release.

ooh yer soooooooooo picky lol

cookie

ooh yer soooooooooo picky lol

cookie

oops forgot to say...panic is on,,,,,chooooooooooooon

ooh mine would have to be....

THE FESTIVALS - CHECKIN' OUT - BLUE ROCK.....in fact most of the blue rock stuff is well put together...but this track has it all for me.....storming horn section...punchy base line...and stunning vocals complete wiv me fave male wooooooo woooo eeeee babeeee type fingies

cookie

Flippin eck Cookie, Blue Rock, bloody awfull styrene = terrible quality on most of the ones I've owned. As are Phillips, Mercury etc. Best must be Brunswick, RCA, DECCA, AMAZING QUALITY for 60s 45s

Flippin eck Cookie, Blue Rock, bloody awfull styrene = terrible quality on most of the ones I've owned. As are Phillips, Mercury etc. Best must be Brunswick, RCA, DECCA, AMAZING QUALITY for 60s 45s

my festivals is vinyl

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my festivals is vinyl

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ooops sorry, that told me. By the way can you let me have Mr Stevensons new mobile number please.

Best Phil.

ooops sorry, that told me. By the way can you let me have Mr Stevensons new mobile number please.

Best Phil.

he says get stuffed...until u make him a decent offer on rozaa on antone ......PM to follow lol

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Fabulous Jades-C'mon and Live is one of the best quality productions on a 45 I've ever heard. The bass is "balls to the walls"...