Vocal Or Instrumental

[Daved]

How about Earl van Dyke's "All For You" over Marvin Gaye's "Lucky Lucky Me"?  Not sure this strictly counts as the MG was unreleased until a long time after.

[Quinvy]

I would also add the instrumental side of "Rosemary what happened" over the dreadful vocal side.

[The Animal]

Anne Perry - That's The Way He Is.   Storming instrumental.

 

Dave Love - Colalined Baby.  Like vocal and instrumental but bought it for instrumental side in 70's.

 

Frankie Crocker - Ton Of Dynamite.  Could argue there are some vocals in this but not many.

 

Young Holt Unlimited - California Montage.  Arthur Fenn used to play it as a finisher at St Mary's Hall in 70's.

[Drewtg]

Yes the Instrumental is class but the girls make it magnificent 

 

I think your mum has good taste

 

 

Young Hearts Unlimited   Soulful strut - has soul but Barbara Acklin makes it magic, even Dusty makes it more soulful 

Na mate, she likes Tom Jones and Lulu, never liked Soul apart from the odd Motown.

[Drewtg]

I would also add the instrumental side of "Rosemary what happened" over the dreadful vocal side.

...and of course, Cool Off  over The Mighty Lover nonsense.

[oficrete]

Patrick Bradley ,Just one more chance instrumental any time over the vocal .

[Guest Dave Turner]

...and of course, Cool Off  over The Mighty Lover nonsense.

 

But Cool Off wasn't instrumental.

 

Cool Off is an iconic record of the time but horses for courses Ideals/Mighty Lovers kicks Cool Off's arse off the field for me every time.

[Guest manusf3a]

Going back in time, I didn't ever imagine LJR's Penguin Breakdown being anything other than an instrumental, still don't think the vocal compares.

 

Ditto Al Kent, You Gotta Pay the Price, none of the vocal versions since hold a candle to it.

 

Although the Supremes had a good try.......

 

Taff

What about Gloria Taylor?

[Mellorful]

Scrub Board rather than Hold Back the Night

and I don't know if its been mentioned yet

Love is like an itching Funk Brothers rather than 

Supremes

I agree the Funk Bothers is the better version but for me Timothy Wilson version trumps em both, the Ralph Carter version isn't bad either.

I don't often hear the TW version so I may be in a minority on this alternatively it's a gem that's been overlooked for too long and needs some air time at big events

[pogo paul]

Exus Trek better than vocal? no chance!  both are brilliant, but Luther Ingram has a fantastic voice and has to be one of the best records ever!

[Guest Matt Male]

Nearly always vocal for me but there are exceptions ...

 

Sounds of Lane - Tracks To Your Mind (can't abide Hey Sah Lo Ney)

Trampps - Penguin At The Big Apple (over Zing Went The Strings)

Ramsey Lewis - Wade In The Water (over any vocal I've heard)

Wingate's "Love-In" Strings - Let's Have A Love-In (over Flaming Embers)

 

 

Not many instrumentals I like but I prefer Little Sonny's version of Wade in the Water, but again Big Mama Thornton's vocal is better than any instrumental version.

[Sjclement]

or Phil Lowman  knocked me out when Richard slipped it in at the Casino in the 70s, never heard it out again!

[Sjclement]

above post refers to Rock me till i want no more alternative vocal of Penguin Breakdown.

[Stateside]

I know this isn't answering the question but Jnr Walker's track "Nothing but Soul" on the flip of How Sweet it is ......is exactly that, Nothing but soul!

 

Kev

[Patto]

I agree the Funk Bothers is the better version but for me Timothy Wilson version trumps em both, the Ralph Carter version isn't bad either.

I don't often hear the TW version so I may be in a minority on this alternatively it's a gem that's been overlooked for too long and needs some air time at big events

Same here mate Timothy Wilson for me better Northern Soul sound

[Pete S]

Exus Trek better than vocal? no chance!  both are brilliant, but Luther Ingram has a fantastic voice and has to be one of the best records ever!

 

I'd prefer the instrumental to be on both sides thanks

[Quinvy]

Same here mate Timothy Wilson for me better Northern Soul sound

Jenny & the Jewels as well.   

[charliew]

I thought this is a soul forum, how can an instrumental be called soul. An instrumental (along with that pop music with the right beat) played on the Northern Soul Scene  is what we used to call northern dance music back in the eighties.

Tell that to the Funk Brothers

[Soulfinger]

Grab This Thing Pt 1 - the Mar Keys vs Don't Turn Your Heater On - Sam & Dave is a hard one to call. I knew the instrumental first so probably like that more.

 

There's loads of soulful instrumentals from Stax and stuff like San-Ho-Zay - Freddie King, Nowhere to Run - Earl Van Dyke and Burning Spear - The Soulful Strings are all full of soul.

[Mick Boyle]

OK thanks for all the input, looks like I was right and vocals are king,   lol