Was asked whether there have ever been any major records on the scene sung completely in non - English vocals ?

Not tunes with just a few chants of foreign words in them such as Soul Sauce or Danse A La Musique or El Watusi , but chorus and verse completely in foreign language ?

Pretty sure Jimmy Radcliffe sung a version of "Long after tonight is all over" in Italian.

Released only on 45 in Italy (not unsurprisingly).

derek

Edited January 31, 201312 yr by Derek Pearson

yes and dubbed , long after the pizza all gone ha ha , still sounds great btw derek

Edited January 31, 201312 yr by viphitman

Here You Go

Several of the Motown acts recorded their hits in foreign languages but it's hard to think of any strictly northerm/modern records in a foreign language.

Rocky Roberts may have recorded Just Because of You in Italian, Stasera Mi Butto or something like that , but I take it no northern DJ back in the day would have attempted playing the Italian language version , would they ?!!!

Timi Yuro It'll never be over for me in spanish (unissued). Not really relevant to Northern Soul, but dutch group Tielman Brothers covered Bobby Goldsboro in german and entitled it "zu spät" (AKA "too late").

Nancy Holloway - Tu N'es Pas Venu. Had this in my play box occasionally along with some other French stuff. Was surprised to see someone on here had this on their playlist some months back. Well done that person

https://youtu.be/Zv0K1DVZlcA

^{French versions of loadsa stuff out there, incl. the snake lol, have to think about the others as they were tha bad ive forgot 'em}

Edited February 1, 201312 yr by grant

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Al-WILSON-Ep-French-version-The-SNAKE-68-Northern-Soul-Hear-/221158515575?pt=UK_Records&hash=item337e132377&nma=true&si=DsVM0WCUxaw1DsiZIt2EcptWSpE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

^{French versions of loadsa stuff out there, incl. the snake lol, have to think about the others as they were tha bad ive forgot 'em}

Bloody Nora,

in best PG tips voice

"Oi, Ami. Avez vous Le Serpent??"

This is one I have on Italian Tamla

And this one ....

thats so shite its unbelievable.

Timi Yuro unissued Spanish It'' Never Be Over is at around 1:06.25 on this podcast.

https://www.mixcloud.com/mayfairmenthol/brilliant/

French chanteuse Sylvie Vartan sings "Ne l'imite pas" aka "Monkey Time"

French chanteuse Sylvie Vartan sings "Ne l'imite pas" aka "Monkey Time"

In the 60's a lot of French singers did covers of US hits (Motown, Stax, etc...), one of the most famous being Claude François, who loved his Motown :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq7ATHBsyXU

But I prefer by far the Velvelettes singing in French !

Edited February 1, 201312 yr by Philippe

And let's not forget Claude's take on the Frank Valli/Timebox number "Beggin'" Love the footwork!

https://youtu.be/gVyEgKkltpU

thats so shite its unbelievable.

...that got me into northern soul.... just kidding.... there are a few good german motown sides by the supremes and so on...

I do have a few lps from peru/venezuela with major soul hits like um um um in spanish with a nice latin feel to it !!

Edited February 1, 201312 yr by viphitman

Was asked whether there have ever been any major records on the scene sung completely in non - English vocals ?

Not tunes with just a few chants of foreign words in them such as Soul Sauce or Danse A La Musique or El Watusi , but chorus and verse completely in foreign language ?

Remember getting in a taxi in Milan @ 2003 and hearing a record on the radio which was full on northern

Pretty sure it was pella negro or something along those lines

Nice tune

John

Pretty sure it was pella negro or something along those lines

John, is it that one ?

If so it's Nino Ferrer,a French singer, one of the best in the genre (Soul/R&B).

John, is it that one ?

If so it's Nino Ferrer,a French singer, one of the best in the genre (Soul/R&B).

Yes that's the one - always wondered what it was.

Many thanks Phillppe

I've heard this played out, by Ezzie Brown I think.

Many thanks Phillppe

You're welcome John.

This song was the italian version of his French hit "Je Voudrais Etre Noir" (I'd Want To Be Black).

Was asked whether there have ever been any major records on the scene sung completely in non - English vocals ? Not tunes with just a few chants of foreign words in them such as Soul Sauce or Danse A La Musique or El Watusi , but chorus and verse completely in foreign language ?

Sylvie Vartan - De Ma Vie..................................Rescue me.................