Answer this hoestly: do you truly know anyone who actually likes

BOB WILSON - SUZY'S SERENADE.

I've never met anyone who liked it!

It was like when John Leach was being played at Wigan - nobody liked it!

Id rather listen to Bob Wilson on football focus

A bit like Gaylord & Holliday "love where have you gone" and Nightwatch "lips to your heart" in reverse... no one liked them then, no one likes them now, but I know I was never on my own on the dancefloor....

i like 'love where have you gone' , and the mrs adores it.

its certainly in a different class than Bob Wilson.

Answer this hoestly: do you truly know anyone who actually likes

BOB WILSON - SUZY'S SERENADE.

I've never met anyone who liked it!

It was like when John Leach was being played at Wigan - nobody liked it!

I always think Suzy's Serenade sounds like something talked over on the radio.

Gaylord & Holliday, Oh Dear

Gaylord & Holliday, Oh Dear

Yes thats a shocker, they aren't singing in time to the music!

yep, all three of those are truly awful... cant stand any of em.

Gaylord - makes me want to skin up around a campfire with Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson.

Time to bring out the power tools Pete.

i just like the bit where it goes, whooooo, oooooo,oooooo, oooooo, ooooooooo, ooooooooooooooo, oooo, oooo, ooooooooohhhhhhh.

ah well, i can think of worst records.

QUEEN OF FOOLS!

I like Suzy's Serenade, always have.

i hate "Tell me what he said" Helen Shapiro

and a few others !

i just like the bit where it goes, whooooo, oooooo,oooooo, oooooo, ooooooooo, ooooooooooooooo, oooo, oooo, ooooooooohhhhhhh.

ah well, i can think of worst records.

QUEEN OF FOOLS!

Yes but you can't have that because other people like it - you have to find one that absolutely nobody likes - hence I'd have had The Carstairs!

I like Suzy's Serenade, always have.

Booooooo!

Another thread ruined.

i hate "Tell me what he said" Helen Shapiro

and a few others !

Oh Roddy, Tell Me What He Said is one of the greatest pre-Beatles pop singles ever made. Absolutely love it to bits. Just as a pop single, it's got nothing to do with Northern Soul.

arrrgh its ben one of my most hated records ever !

Each to there own mate

But I still have a soft spot for Tim Tam and the Turn ons "wait a minute"

Both played back in the day but as you said nothing to do with Northern Soul

Deary me!

The best thing about that record is the off centre label, thats the only good thing I can say about it.

Edited April 20, 201213 yr by Guest

Pete

There's loads of records played over the years that I hate but Suzy's Serenade is definitely NOT one of them. Classic Torch sound that was just right for the time, and my younger knees.

Rick

Pete

There's loads of records played over the years that I hate but Suzy's Serenade is definitely NOT one of them. Classic Torch sound that was just right for the time, and my younger knees.

Rick

OK that's Suzy's Serenade definitely removed from the list then.

Right then, what about

DAWN - LOVE'S A MAGIC WORD - UNITED ARTISTS

Nobody likes that one.

OK that's Suzy's Serenade definitely removed from the list then.

Right then, what about

DAWN - LOVE'S A MAGIC WORD - UNITED ARTISTS

Nobody likes that one.

Didn't they have another sound played around 77?, 'baby's gone away', had it on a st.ives tape. Ginger Taylor?

Dawn - Power tools,power tools,!!!!

Didn't they have another sound played around 77?, 'baby's gone away', had it on a st.ives tape. Ginger Taylor?

That was "Knock three times".

It might sound better if the hole was in the middle ,

must be at least20mm off center LoL

Keep pushing the Gaylord track lads.Got a 25 count box to shift.

Right ! this one i hated ! from Wigan's dark days

Can we all agree that Cochise is woeful?

I used to love the French Fries. Great atmosphere at Cleggy, Peterborough, everybody shuffling in unison.

This thread is not necessarily about bad records is it? Just very unpopular ones, right? That Brian Hyland thing was godawful but loads of f***ers danced to it. Same goes for Ben Zine.

Edited April 20, 201213 yr by macca

I never heard this played out

but what a piece of crap LoL

While I'm watching the site closely for all the saddest reasons, I'd just like to add an observation or two:

When finding/playing newer sounds and discoveries, perfection is a luxury DJs can ill afford, and dancefloor reaction dictates how much play and how 'big' a record gets. Some of them weren't great, but a lot were. Also, in the past, there was a big turnover in music, with records arriving, getting big, getting re-issued, then dying - all in the space of a few months. This created a constant flow of fresh music, similar to the pop charts. That has almost completely vanished, leading to the build up of a huge pool of very good, very rare records which (for the most part) will never get massive. A record gets big when there are a few copies, held by several busy, influential DJs or it is a one-off being played week in week out at a well attended venue. Consequently a one-off played every week at Wigan, the Catacombs or Blackpool Mecca could get big. Such weekly 'lead' venues have gone forever I'm afraid.

Also you should always judge a record by your initial reaction, not years later when you've heard it a million times and are sick to the teeth of it. However with the benefit of hindsight, there is no need for mediocrity when selecting oldies. There are hundreds of really good ones to choose from. DJs have a responsibility, a moral duty if you like, to play good oldies. It is unforgivable to pick and promote an oldie which is best left forgotten. The dilemma, once some DJ has already done this, is whether to play the 'so-so' oldie or refuse to play it, on request, risking wrath and credibility with the dancing public.

I don't want to talk about individual tracks, but feel I should add that "Suzy's Serenade" was a floor filler, and played purely for that reason. Similarly "Cochise" was an outstanding, powerhouse new release which just had to be played. It was also relatively scarce for a couple of weeks as an US album track. It suffered the fate of becoming too big (a number one northern monster) for its own good, but doesn't deserve criticism from a technical standpoint. They both deserve a place in the pantheon of Northern Soul. On the other hand, we have records like Dawn which should simply never have been played at all. I would not be playing any of these at home in the foseeable future. They have all had their day, unlike the other Bob Wilson classic (vocal) "Feels Good" which I still love and play.

My humble views... take with a big pinch of salt.

Pep

Edited April 20, 201213 yr by Pep

Never liked this one, don`t think i new anyone who did and i`ll bet whoever first found it was expecting something else, looking at the credits on the label

Edited April 20, 201213 yr by HARRY CROSBY

Never liked this one and i`ll bet whoever first found it was expecting something else, looking at the credits on the label

Sandpipers - Lonely Too Long

In truth....is this much better??????.........Sure it's only the opening instrumental riff that got this one through the door......a bit like The Three Degrees 'Contact'.......which is dreadful after its opening instrumental riff.....

Just my opinion though!

Edited April 20, 201213 yr by Brooky

Lester Lain - Dizzy........oh my god!!

But worse than that is......................Epitome Of Sound - You Don't Love Me..........incoming!!! truly fu**ing awful!!

Sandpipers - Lonely Too Long

In truth....is this much better??????.........Sure it's only the opening instrumental riff that got this one through the door......a bit like The Three Degrees 'Contact'.......which is dreadful after its opening instrumental riff.....

Just my opinion though!

Have you heard OWEN & PAUL & THE DRIFTERS - DEAR MOM / DEAR MOM PART.2. Giant 704 - it's awful - I defy anyone to like that one

Cheers

Richard

Right ! this one i hated ! from Wigan's dark days

liked this ..hate fife piper..

like this as well..Mike & Ray..

Edited April 20, 201213 yr by SHEFFSOUL

The funny thing is we have had copys of them at one time or another to hate them so much.

re. Mike & Ray / Sandpipers:

Two of my alltime favourites!

Mike & Ray, vocally a bit weak I admit but what a backing! The built up to the chorus is wonderful. Sounds fantastic played out loud.

Sandpipers is just a perfect record IMO, there's nothing I would change in it if I could.

While I'm watching the site closely for all the saddest reasons, I'd just like to add an observation or two:

When finding/playing newer sounds and discoveries, perfection is a luxury DJs can ill afford, and dancefloor reaction dictates how much play and how 'big' a record gets. Some of them weren't great, but a lot were. Also, in the past, there was a big turnover in music, with records arriving, getting big, getting re-issued, then dying - all in the space of a few months. This created a constant flow of fresh music, similar to the pop charts. That has almost completely vanished, leading to the build up of a huge pool of very good, very rare records which (for the most part) will never get massive. A record gets big when there are a few copies, held by several busy, influential DJs or it is a one-off being played week in week out at a well attended venue. Consequently a one-off played every week at Wigan, the Catacombs or Blackpool Mecca could get big. Such weekly 'lead' venues have gone forever I'm afraid.

Also you should always judge a record by your initial reaction, not years later when you've heard it a million times and are sick to the teeth of it. However with the benefit of hindsight, there is no need for mediocrity when selecting oldies. There are hundreds of really good ones to choose from. DJs have a responsibility, a moral duty if you like, to play good oldies. It is unforgivable to pick and promote an oldie which is best left forgotten. The dilemma, once some DJ has already done this, is whether to play the 'so-so' oldie or refuse to play it, on request, risking wrath and credibility with the dancing public.

I don't want to talk about individual tracks, but feel I should add that "Suzy's Serenade" was a floor filler, and played purely for that reason. Similarly "Cochise" was an outstanding, powerhouse new release which just had to be played. It was also relatively scarce for a couple of weeks as an US album track. It suffered the fate of becoming too big (a number one northern monster) for its own good, but doesn't deserve criticism from a technical standpoint. They both deserve a place in the pantheon of Northern Soul. On the other hand, we have records like Dawn which should simply never have been played at all. I would not be playing any of these at home in the foseeable future. They have all had their day, unlike the other Bob Wilson classic (vocal) "Feels Good" which I still love and play.

My humble views... take with a big pinch of salt.

Pep

good point well made..

While I'm watching the site closely for all the saddest reasons, I'd just like to add an observation or two:

When finding/playing newer sounds and discoveries, perfection is a luxury DJs can ill afford, and dancefloor reaction dictates how much play and how 'big' a record gets. Some of them weren't great, but a lot were. Also, in the past, there was a big turnover in music, with records arriving, getting big, getting re-issued, then dying - all in the space of a few months. This created a constant flow of fresh music, similar to the pop charts. That has almost completely vanished, leading to the build up of a huge pool of very good, very rare records which (for the most part) will never get massive. A record gets big when there are a few copies, held by several busy, influential DJs or it is a one-off being played week in week out at a well attended venue. Consequently a one-off played every week at Wigan, the Catacombs or Blackpool Mecca could get big. Such weekly 'lead' venues have gone forever I'm afraid.

Also you should always judge a record by your initial reaction, not years later when you've heard it a million times and are sick to the teeth of it. However with the benefit of hindsight, there is no need for mediocrity when selecting oldies. There are hundreds of really good ones to choose from. DJs have a responsibility, a moral duty if you like, to play good oldies. It is unforgivable to pick and promote an oldie which is best left forgotten. The dilemma, once some DJ has already done this, is whether to play the 'so-so' oldie or refuse to play it, on request, risking wrath and credibility with the dancing public.

I don't want to talk about individual tracks, but feel I should add that "Suzy's Serenade" was a floor filler, and played purely for that reason. Similarly "Cochise" was an outstanding, powerhouse new release which just had to be played. It was also relatively scarce for a couple of weeks as an US album track. It suffered the fate of becoming too big (a number one northern monster) for its own good, but doesn't deserve criticism from a technical standpoint. They both deserve a place in the pantheon of Northern Soul. On the other hand, we have records like Dawn which should simply never have been played at all. I would not be playing any of these at home in the foseeable future. They have all had their day, unlike the other Bob Wilson classic (vocal) "Feels Good" which I still love and play.

My humble views... take with a big pinch of salt.

Pep

Excellent post Pep and 100% right. I used to openly drool on those rare occasions when I went through your box and realised the sheer beauty of a boxfull of beautiful white demos!

Please keep contributing mate.

My thoughts are with you.

Ian D

Yuk.....

Double Yuk......

Puke City...........

Projectile Vomiting.........

Ian D

Yuk.....

Double Yuk......

Puke City...........

Projectile Vomiting.........

Ian D

Cherry people for me as well Vom !

Black Eyed Peas - "Smallest Man Alive"

- what a dirge

Yuk.....

Double Yuk......

Puke City...........

Projectile Vomiting.........

Ian D

..now come on be honest..i bet you played Gary Lewis to death..back in'74..cos every other bugger did that had it..if only for a few weeks..it was massive..

..now come on be honest..i bet you played Gary Lewis to death..back in'74..cos every other bugger did that had it..if only for a few weeks..it was massive..

Nope. Never ever. Likewise "Hawaii Five-O" and other drek.

That's not to say that I don't like Poppy Northern Soul by white singers. I love "I Can't Help Loving You" by Paul Anka, "Determination" by Dean Parrish, "I'm Gonna Change" by the Four Seasons, "Stranger In My Arms" - Lynn Randell and even "Surrounded By A Ray Of Sunshine" by Samantha Jones.

I just hate pure Pop records which are quite obviously badly contrived and made to order, which all of those were.

But admittedly, it's not an exact science......

Ian D

That's not to say that I don't like Poppy Northern Soul by white singers. I love "I Can't Help Loving You" by Paul Anka, "Determination" by Dean Parrish, "I'm Gonna Change" by the Four Seasons, "Stranger In My Arms" - Lynn Randell and even "Surrounded By A Ray Of Sunshine" by Samantha Jones.

I agree with you on all songs but Dean Parrish. He sure wasn't a "poppy northern white singer"!!!!

Someone mentioned 'Queen of Fools' - couldn't agree more as absolute total shite.

Same with Hoagy Lands' 'Next in Line'.

I could go on. In fact, I will:

Sisters Love 'Learning to trust my man' .

Keanya Collins 'Love Bandit' (be a bit of disagreement there, but shite nonetheless).

AND WHAT about:

George Benson 'Supership', eh?

ALL MASSIVE PLAYS AT THE CASINO.

It defined my life, but I ain't looking back & saying it was all brilliant. There was a lot of absolute rubbish.

Edited April 21, 201213 yr by Droylsdonian

I agree with you on all songs but Dean Parrish. He sure wasn't a "poppy northern white singer"!!!!

He was white and marketed towards the pop audience but the point I was making is that Dean Parrish's records are much better than Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Tommy Sands, The Cherry People and Wigan's Ovation. He sounds soulful for a start!

That's why some records work for me and other's don't. Dean Parrish is one of my favourite vocalists of all time.

Ian D

^{HI ALL This is a good thread, as yet I have only read Pete's starting page, and immediately thought out off all the records, why does he not like SUZY SERANADE??}

^{The more I read this type of remark? I have to wonder, what is not to like about it, as it would justify the reason, and not for speculative replies, or agreement that it's had it's day,?}

^{There could only be 1 reason not to like it, you did not hear it when it was a top TORCH SOUND, You have got it so wrong Pete, top sound played to the in crowd, nice dancer, when dancing meant putting spins splits & backdrops to the breakers in the beat or a tempo lift, this was a great spin, and the flip, is the standard 'after hours' and I am sure that there was a vocal to it?}

^{Back to the point, the thread could be a variation on 'the Strange World of Northern Soul' which is in no particular order 1, always box clever about anything, this used to irritate me in the early days, of the scene, when at Blackpool Mecca the real know it all paradise, when you had to own a special top sound to be acknowledged, as at one time, as I was trying to remember a tune, so I could go to Contempos and by it for 85p, was the cover up, also we must not forget at the junction mecca torch cats, a high percentage of the records were less than 2 years old many were current, so my first choice in this thread goes to all the cover up records, 2 records in particular both played buy KEITH M at the TORCH #1 a record i am sure was cover up as Otis smith, I really loved the record and when MICK S offered me it for £1.50 I was really chuffed #2 again was to my block head a great tune, £1.50 of MICK ,, when I got home I naturally wanted to find out who or what was written on the label? A 55p RECORD. THE OTHER WAS HARTBREAKER HONEY END ON SPARK/}