VARIOUS PIED PIPER - FOLLOW YOUR SOUL

This is the eagerly awaited second volume of Pied Piper Productions, the Detroit group of arrangers, writers, artists and musicians who defined the Northern Soul style in their short 1966-1967 lifespan. Easily as strong as the first Pied Piper Presents CD of 2013, this volume has some of the biggest new 60s soul discoveries. Nancy Wilcox provides two with the pounding 'He'll Be Leaving You' and equally classy 'More Than A Miracle'. September Jones' 'Voodoo Madamoiselle' has been the biggest record of the past two years, already released as a single following Northern Soul girl dancer Lev featuring it in one of her YouTube videos; this is its CD debut. September's 'You'll Never Know Why' is femme soul perfection. Lorraine Chandler's original version of the James Bond theme 'You Only Live Twice' is even more urgent than the first version Ace revealed in the 90s and her beautiful 'Lost Without You' shows Pied Piper could produce mesmerising ballads when required. There are two scorchers from the Cavaliers, the fully finished version of 'Ooh It Hurts Me' with Jack Ashford's rhythm track, missing from previous versions and 'Without Someone To Tell Me' whose acetate sale reached the highest price ever. The Metros also have two previously unheard numbers and there are two established classics, one from the Dynamics with 'I Need Your Love' and the other the evergreen 'Could It Be You' courtesy of Sharon Scott. There are new exclusive photos of both those acts. Harry Gates is a largely unknown quantity but his haunting 'Love Will Find A Way' which utilises the backing of Tony Hester's 'Just Can't Leave You' is a terrific find. The Pied Piper Players, ie the musicians on the sessions, many of whom were established Funk Brothers from Motown, can be heard uncluttered by any pesky singers on the Cavaliers' 'Hold To My Baby' and the Dynamics' powerful 'Love Sick'. There are great mid-tempo ballads from Freddy Butler and the Hesitations, cameos from Sam E Solo and Mikki Farrow and several thousand words that help paint the picture of the source of some of the best uptempo soul ever made. 

I will be getting a copy of this as I have had volume one for a while and was very impressed with it, as I have been with all the Kent releases right from the beginning. No one else can compare, long may they continue.

Just pre-ordered this.

 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pied-Piper-Follow-Your-Soul/dp/B00VTN1CS6/ref=pd_rhf_pe_s_cp_46_JXPH?ie=UTF8&refRID=08FJMF65WXG636WKXEAN

Essential.

Essential.

Absolutely!

As are all the Pied Piper releases on Kent! 

I've been waiting for that Cavaliers track ever since it grabbed me by the short & curlys and dragged me onto the Stoke allnighter dancefloor must be well over 5 years ago.  James Trouble played it off the acetate that he later sold.  Anyone know who bought it?

James played that Cavaliers track at Burnley many years ago. The place went mental. So much so he played it again. I know who got the acetate, but he may want to remain anonymous, so I'm not saying.

Sound files for the CD are now posted on the Ace/Kent web site.

 Some great tunes are on the CD ! 

Edited May 1, 201510 yr by the yank

I've just heard the nearly finished master and it really is a scorcher, at least as good as Vol 1.

One of the highlights is our fellow SS member Lorraine Chandler singing Teddy Randazzo's 'Lost Without You' it's an absolutely stunning ballad that she delivers superbly. It makes you wonder what a major artist she could have become if she had chosen performing above producing and writing. But then we'd have missed out on some wonderful songs and productions.

Has Sharon Scott been tracked down? Is she still with us? What a fabulous tune CIBY is! 

Yes, Andy Rix got her eventually. I wrote about her in the notes. She's still about and well and a Minister I think; certainly church involved.

I'm having some of this

Excellent quality all the way as ever from kent, well done Ady.