Sat here musing to myself and thinking about records that might have been monsters in the scene if they hadn't made the charts.  

 

So, here's a little head game:

 

Motown aside because they're all just too obvious, which chart records would have been dance floor classics had they never made the charts and been discovered in a dusty warehouse?  And for a bit of fun, at what venue could you imagine them?

 

Here's 3 to start you off:

 

Showstoppers; Ain't nothing but a houseparty.  Surely that would have been a monster at the Wheel?  (Actually maybe it was?!)

 

Los Bravos; Black is black - would have sat very nicely next to the Shakers etc at the Torch.

 

And what if Mr. Bloe; Groovin with Mr Bloe had been shipped over to Wigan in '73?

 

It's only fun - remember no Motown though!

 

Edit:  

 

Or to put it another way; which UK chart record do you wish you'd discoverd as an unknown gem?

Edited February 23, 201510 yr by Dayo

I like to think if Young Hearts Run Free had been on an obscure lable it would have been a great northern tune

I know you said Motown aside, but I always think "Get Ready" - The Temptations would have been a monster if it had been unknown and rare!

Harold Melvin - The Love I Lost

 

Len Barry - 1-2-3

most of the early Invictus stuff, Chairman and Freda Payne, would have been big on the scene if they hadn't stormed up the charts. 

 

Dave Banks

 

Also like to add a plug for the Stylistics Point of no return.

 

Perhaps a bit of a cheat because it was the B side of a big hit and also because it was played briefly on the scene at the Torch before the band had any UK hits.

 

Dave Banks

Cat Stevens-Matthew & Son

Cheers

Martyn

Billy Ocean - Love Really Hurts... (Wigan?)

Real Thing - You To Me Are Everything / Can't Get By Without You (Mecca)?

 

Flip of Mr. Bloe was played!

 

Maybe they were played, I dunno?

Edited February 23, 201510 yr by Soul-Slider

Didn't things get bad enough without some of these!

Love Affair - Everlasting love.

Love Affair - Everlasting love.

 

Now that would have got them frothing at the Torch. Much more powerful than the Robert Knight - ironic really. 

Always liked The Vogues - Five O'clock World

A Taste of Honey -Boogie Oogie Oogie

Donna Summer - Love's Unkind

Spencer Davis - Any one of his hits

I remember Dave Godin chose "Charles and Eddie - Would I lie to you" as a song with all the right ingredients for a northern record

The Maisonettes - Heartache Avenue

I'm not saying that they would have been great to hear played out, but there were far worse records played at Wigan.

Kev

Jason nivens v run dmc its like that, surely would have been ideal for station road!!!

A Taste of Honey -Boogie Oogie Oogie

 

Used to be played by Russ at the "disco" they had Saturdays before the all nighters at Wigan 79ish.

Didn't things get bad enough without some of these!

 

 

A Taste of Honey -Boogie Oogie Oogie

Donna Summer - Love's Unkind

Spencer Davis - Any one of his hits

I remember Dave Godin chose "Charles and Eddie - Would I lie to you" as a song with all the right ingredients for a northern record

The Maisonettes - Heartache Avenue

I'm not saying that they would have been great to hear played out, but there were far worse records played at Wigan.

Kev

 

 

I rest my case.

Paul & Barry Ryan 'Have Pity on the Boy'. Got in the top 20, i think, and sounds almost exactly like Chapter 5.

Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davies, 'If you keep on doing what you doing you're gonna get next to me' Just a fantastic soul record. There was a time when things like this got in the charts! Possibly played at the Mecca tho...?

PS slightly off topic but did anyone see 'Top of The Pops' on bbc4 the other night?.Legs & Co were doing a typically bizarre routine to Azymuth 'Jazz Carnival'...It's hard to believe now that things like that, a Brasilian jazz funk record, used to get in the charts!

Another one is Four Seasons - Let's Hang On.

 

Also, Helen Shapiro's Tell Me What He Said, but maybe that should be excluded because it does seem to have got some plays in recent years (despite having been a big pop hit).

Now that would have got them frothing at the Torch. Much more powerful than the Robert Knight - ironic really. 

Can't imagine there's a better example - an absolutely superb record!

Can't imagine there's a better example - an absolutely superb record!

Really?

Paul & Barry Ryan 'Have Pity on the Boy'. Got in the top 20, i think, and sounds almost exactly like Chapter 5.

Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davies, 'If you keep on doing what you doing you're gonna get next to me' Just a fantastic soul record. There was a time when things like this got in the charts! Possibly played at the Mecca tho...?

 

That was played everywhere, including Wigan - huge record on import

Can't imagine there's a better example - an absolutely superb record!

 

Agree with that, loved it when it first came out

Al Green   Lets Stay Together would have been a monster crossover sound.

Gladys Knight I've Got To Use My Imagination.

Edited February 24, 201510 yr by Kegsy

Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davies, 'If you keep on doing what you doing you're gonna get next to me' Just a fantastic soul record. There was a time when things like this got in the charts! Possibly played at the Mecca tho...?

 

It did get in the charts in the U.K. - No.12 in in June 1977. Massive hit. Paul McCartney even picked up the publishing rights..... 

 

Ian D 

A Taste of Honey -Boogie Oogie Oogie

Donna Summer - Love's Unkind

Spencer Davis - Any one of his hits

I remember Dave Godin chose "Charles and Eddie - Would I lie to you" as a song with all the right ingredients for a northern record

The Maisonettes - Heartache Avenue

I'm not saying that they would have been great to hear played out, but there were far worse records played at Wigan.

Kev

The Maisonettes did get some plays courtesy of Dave Evison!

There's thousands of records that if there were 'only three known copies' would instantly be elevated to all time greatest classic status.

That's rarity for ya !

John Miles "Music" ,No not all of it just stomping instrumental middle bit {comes in at 3.40 ms]reminds of all those mad bad instros from the 70s,"Police Story",Exodus" "summer of 42," "Bubblegum Breakthrough",Fantastic plastic Flying Machine"etc,etc What was it in the Norhern Pschyce" that made these tunes appealing, Just "Druggy Morons"? LOL Johnny

Their were dozens of soul records plus r n b and pop soul that made the charts in the 60's and early 70's which were played in soul clubs and Allniters at the time which filled the dance floors. it's just that a lot for a lot of Soulies it was before their time but for some of us we can remember Soul in those days was a lot bigger scene than you can imagine,

.Keep on Trucking Mick L

Their were dozens of soul records plus r n b and pop soul that made the charts in the 60's and early 70's which were played in soul clubs and Allniters at the time which filled the dance floors. it's just that a lot for a lot of Soulies it was before their time but for some of us we can remember Soul in those days was a lot bigger scene than you can imagine,

.Keep on Trucking Mick L

You're right. My sister who was born in 1949 came home with Oscar Toney Jnr - For your precious love as a new release as it was played as a slowie at the end of the night.

 

Kev

Thankfully they made the charts then.

Chairman Of The Board was massive at the Wheel allniter until it got a UK release then we dropped it.

The Showstoppers was also huge both sides.

Chris farlowe-Out of time ??

I think this would have HUGE if there were only 3 copies....

 

 

Ian D 

Edited February 24, 201510 yr by Ian Dewhirst

I don't think charting stopped too many sounds, Esther's What a difference was massive. My fave was Don covey - Better to have. I think it was played as an oldie but deserved a contemporary play.

BTW Bo and Ruth - absolute class sound.

Edited February 24, 201510 yr by Drewtg

Limmie & Family Cooking - You Can Do Magic

Sweet Sensation - Sad Sweet Dreamer

Cilla Black - Love Of The Loved is my choice.

Cilla Black - Love Of The Loved is my choice.

 

Go on then, I'll bite. It wasn't a hit and musically it's erm................................

Chris farlowe-Out of time ??

 

Big at The Wheel - I think he even appeared there.

Culture Club - Church of the Poison Mind  

 

 

 

I'll get me coat    

Harold Melvin - The Love I Lost

 

Len Barry - 1-2-3

Len Barry - Like A Baby too.

I always thought that Edwyn Collins 'Never met a girl like you before', altho obviously done as a pastiche of northern soul had something a bit 'extra' about it that made it a good record in its own right.

Edited February 25, 201510 yr by son of stan

Also, Helen Shapiro's Tell Me What He Said, but maybe that should be excluded because it does seem to have got some plays in recent years (despite having been a big pop hit).

 

Heard this played out a couple of years ago, had to get a copy.

Some of you need to read the initial post and get a grip on what its about

"records that might have been monsters on the scene" being the important bit

Jesus…...    

It did get in the charts in the U.K. - No.12 in in June 1977. Massive hit. Paul McCartney even picked up the publishing rights..... 

 

Ian D 

I like to look back at some of the better black music that charted, not just to say 'Yes that deserved it' or 'never want to hear that again', but to remember just how many thousands of artists had a go and never made a dollar. In the case of this artist it was not before time. Bo kirkland or better known to many soul fans as Micheal James kirkland recorded the wonderfull 'There's nothing i can do about it' for highland records as Mike & the censations along with several other exellent tracks, not only on this logo but later on revue. His solo work for Zay and Bryan als deserves praise. His cut 'You put it on my mind' from the 'Doin' it right album is superb. A very underated singer imo, with such a well rounded voice. So I hope it bagged him a few dollars after many years hard work. As for some of the out and out pop acts mentioned in this thread , I could not care less.

Andy

Good thread   Backfield in motion and Harlem Shuffle were huge hits and great soul records. Perhaps not 'mainstream' NS dance tracks but if they were ultra rare, then would have been stand out records - Ade

When I started this thread I thought it might push a few buttons, though that wasn't the intention.  It's only a bit of fun and an exercise in imagination.

 

I'm certainly not saying that Black is Black should have been played, or even that it's a great record.  It's just that if it hadn't been a pop hit it might have been a Torch monster along with The Shakers, Wayne Gibson and so on.

 

As we know, several hundred pop records have been played on the scene over many years, ranging from the sublime (Shane Martin) to the ridiculous (Joe 90) and everything in between.  

 

I've certainly learnt a few things too; had no idea Chairman of the Board was played at the Wheel - I guess I should't be surprised though.  Some great ideas coming through; Harlem shuffle is an obvious but great choice and I love the thought of Everlasting Love being a super rare monster - especially with that break down and killer snare fills.   

 

Can I add a couple more to my own thread?  Breakin' down the walls of heartache shouldn't be too controversial - great record!  But what about Mason Williams Classical Gas?  There's something very Mike Post about that one and the production is superb.  (Oh heck - don't tell me, Russ played it?!)

 

Cheers all - have fun!

Rescue me - fontella bass...

I like to think if Young Hearts Run Free had been on an obscure lable it would have been a great northern tune

And great flip too - 'I Know'

Simon & Garfunkel - hazy shade of winter. a right stomper!! 

Linda Carr & the Lovesquad-Highwire......

Change - Glow of love

 

Wish I could play this as a cover up. Fantastic record.