Posted January 31, 20196 yr Popular Post Obviously there could be a few contenders, but when this gets played, I cringe.... And apart from the age of 14 to 16 it's always been the case: Al Wilson is a great artist..its just this tune and it's association with the scene that is cringe worthy.. Ed
January 31, 20196 yr I think Frank Wilson has overtook the snake now.I moved to Yeovil which is a soul desert and I have heard it in pubs,supermarkets and frankly never want to hear it again 😮
January 31, 20196 yr Popular Post Quote The most hated song on the scene. Is this it? I don't *HATE* any song. Whatever it is that annoys you, it's only a song. And while Al Wilson's version of the The Snake might have been played endlessly once upon a time (and still now?), it still stands out as a rather brilliant tune. Fantastic, but like kebabs, I wouldn't want to eat one every day!
January 31, 20196 yr 7 hours ago, Amsterdam Russ said: I don't *HATE* any song. Whatever it is that annoys you, it's only a song. And while Al Wilson's version of the The Snake might have been played endlessly once upon a time (and still now?), it still stands out as a rather brilliant tune. Fantastic, but like kebabs, I wouldn't want to eat one every day! A record to be played out never , but when I play AL Wilsons ''Searching For The Dolphins'' Lp the song takes on a new light and sounds great amongst the rest of this great Lp.
January 31, 20196 yr 'The Most Hated' song, was the question. the only way to do it , is a poll, not individual choices. i can listen to the snake any day of the week, AW is a fabulous singer. but some songs i cant bear ! Bad vocals do it for me, so Margaret little,(awful vocals, superb arr.) The Deadbeats (flat as a witches tit), Antellects (sounds like its off centre), Martha Reeves 😆, William Powell (more awful vocals). . and a few more, even instrumentals like Interplay send me to the bar . I know we all have differing tastes, this is just my opinion on Vocals, nothing more some of these are big ticket rare, we can see/hear why ....... So lets start a poll
January 31, 20196 yr Don't know where you go , if you go out at all but i have only heard the snake played out twice in the last 2 decades . Personally i detest line & track by the aqua men makes me want to run for the door ! Would be boring if we all liked the same things tho eh.
January 31, 20196 yr 6 minutes ago, marty57 said: Personally i detest line & track by the aqua men makes me want to run for the door ! Would be boring if we all liked the same things tho eh. good call....
January 31, 20196 yr 1 hour ago, shinehead said: A record to be played out never , but when I play AL Wilsons ''Searching For The Dolphins'' Lp the song takes on a new light and sounds great amongst the rest of this great Lp. I must dig out my copy of the LP and give it a spin. Thanks for the 'heads up'
January 31, 20196 yr Author 8 hours ago, sunnysoul said: At least this is not the 'go to ' norvun soul record at weddings etc.... Last time I heard it...the floor was eavin... Ed
January 31, 20196 yr One that i have heard out a few times that i could do without is 'Beggin' - my receptionist plays radio1 in the office and they play it quite regularly. Edited January 31, 20196 yr by bbrich missed
January 31, 20196 yr 1 hour ago, IanP said: 'The Most Hated' song, was the question. the only way to do it , is a poll, not individual choices. i can listen to the snake any day of the week, AW is a fabulous singer. but some songs i cant bear ! Bad vocals do it for me, so Margaret little,(awful vocals, superb arr.) The Deadbeats (flat as a witches tit), Antellects (sounds like its off centre), Martha Reeves 😆, William Powell (more awful vocals). . and a few more, even instrumentals like Interplay send me to the bar . I know we all have differing tastes, this is just my opinion on Vocals, nothing more some of these are big ticket rare, we can see/hear why ....... So lets start a poll Martha really couldn't sing, but on some tunes she can just about carry it.
January 31, 20196 yr 45 minutes ago, geeselad said: Martha really couldn't sing, but on some tunes she can just about carry it. Went to see her last year -sorry to say, she was terrible☹️
January 31, 20196 yr Martha has not been able to sing or hit the right notes since 1969 terrible voice live. ML
January 31, 20196 yr 1 hour ago, tomangoes said: At least this is not the 'go to ' norvun soul record at weddings etc.... Last time I heard it...the floor was eavin... Ed Would be perfect at a wedding, played after Jive Bunny they would rock the floor 🕺
January 31, 20196 yr My votes with Aw great artist awful tune you just know what's coming when you hear northern soul mentioned on radio 2 as for Margaret little vocal bit shaky in parts but that's because she was probably mid teens and those whom slag it off probably have it at the top of their wants list if truth be known
January 31, 20196 yr Popular Post 2 hours ago, tomangoes said: At least this is not the 'go to ' norvun soul record at weddings etc.... Last time I heard it...the floor was eavin... Ed The way I see it The Snake and Frank Wilson are wonderful tunes just overplayed but that doesn't lessen their quality, perhaps in the same boat as A Little Togetherness and a few others, you can't deny they're great soul records. Whereas Bob Sinclar is just not a great soul record, I can't understand how it even fits in to anyone's set? For me in a similar vein are California Raisins What Does It take or Billy Ocean Red Light Spells Danger - people do dance to them though.
January 31, 20196 yr 11 hours ago, sunnysoul said: Imported musical horseshit from France.. it's a no from me.
January 31, 20196 yr Author 1 hour ago, Hooker1951 said: Martha has not been able to sing or hit the right notes since 1969 terrible voice live. ML Apparently a good typist though back in the day:) Smart Lady though, having her name in front of the ever changing Vandellas! Ed
January 31, 20196 yr if you must play a record with tribute in the title then you could do worse than this one....
January 31, 20196 yr 6 minutes ago, bbrich said: if you must play a record with tribute in the title then you could do worse than this one.... add LL burnside mari bondie r these even soul records Edited January 31, 20196 yr by nz soul
January 31, 20196 yr The Snake. Al Wilson at his absolute best imo! Firstly, it's a great little story, it has multiple meanings and contexts. Secondly, Wilson has an excellent voice obviously. Thirdly, it has great backing vocal harmonies. The arrangement is wonderful, the two chord thing Dminor to Asuspended, genius, it shifts up a key for the climax to E major and B7 which is always a great feature, the Bass is some of the most driving bass in the canon, it's descending runs and the bouncy bubbly funky main riff is to die for! The simple chinking guitar is the stuff that todays' rhythm guitarists wake up at night in a cold sweat over, been dreaming they could play like that! Those drum fills, the tuning of the drums in pitch with the bass so that they descend in the same way as the descending bass runs are marvellous! It's fair to say that I personally rate it as one of the all-time very best in the canon. Certainly it has been picked up and feted in every way possible, played to destruction in the glory days of the scene from Youth clubs to huge allniters with a nation-wide attendance to the point where most connoisseurs of the music hate it, a crying shame. There's a reason though that it has been picked up in this way... It is an absolute masterpiece and a brilliant dance record! I don't talk about records I hate, I just say nothing we all have different taste, it's a subjective media where there are many different elements that appeal on an individual level, there are some people who think 'Hotsy Totsy' is better than 'The Snake', that's up to them, for me my copy of AW is a most treasured 45, I'm never gonna go off it, would I request it, no. Frank Wilson I can take or leave, I don't feel as passionately about the way that has been feted at all, do I blame the publishers from taking all they can get from Al Wilsons' masterpiece, no. I think it's a shame though. Just my opinion for the little it's worth.
January 31, 20196 yr I would have thought the only places that records such as ''The Snake'' and '' Tribute '' get played are holiday weekender type gigs which are hardly or nothing to do with real deal. I have not heard ''The Snake'' anywhere in the last 30 years or more. Edited January 31, 20196 yr by shinehead
January 31, 20196 yr 4 hours ago, IanP said: 'The Most Hated' song, was the question. the only way to do it , is a poll, not individual choices. i can listen to the snake any day of the week, AW is a fabulous singer. but some songs i cant bear ! Bad vocals do it for me, so Margaret little,(awful vocals, superb arr.) The Deadbeats (flat as a witches tit), Antellects (sounds like its off centre), Martha Reeves 😆, William Powell (more awful vocals). . and a few more, even instrumentals like Interplay send me to the bar . I know we all have differing tastes, this is just my opinion on Vocals, nothing more some of these are big ticket rare, we can see/hear why ....... So lets start a poll What "William Powell" is the one you refer to? The one member of The O'Jays who dies in 1977…) If is the case, IMHO, ONE OF THE BEST AND UNIQUE FALSETO VOICES (and so underrated) Edited January 31, 20196 yr by josep manuel concernau robles
January 31, 20196 yr 12 minutes ago, shinehead said: I would have thought the only places that records such as ''The Snake'' and '' Tribute '' get played are holiday weekender type gigs which are hardly or nothing to do with real deal. I have not heard ''The Snake'' anywhere in the last 25 years or more. We do two weekenders a year, local cause we live in a holiday resort. We don't get either of those two played.
January 31, 20196 yr 9 minutes ago, BabyBoyAndMyLass said: We do two weekenders a year, local cause we live in a holiday resort. We don't get either of those two played. I meant more of the over 50 singles type weekenders not the sort at Cleethorpes, Prestatyn ect .
January 31, 20196 yr 31 minutes ago, BabyBoyAndMyLass said: The Snake. Al Wilson at his absolute best imo! it has great backing vocal harmonies. The arrangement is wonderful, the two chord thing D minor to A suspended, genius, it shifts up a key for the climax to E major and B7 which is always a great feature, the Bass is some of the most driving bass in the canon, it's descending runs and the bouncy bubbly funky main riff is to die for! The simple chinking guitar is the stuff that todays' rhythm guitarists wake up at night in a cold sweat over, been dreaming they could play like that! Those drum fills, the tuning of the drums in pitch with the bass so that they descend in the same way as the descending bass runs are marvellous! i could'nt have put it better myself ! it used to be our 'go to' song, when i played it in a band a few years back.... want to get a crowd on their feet? Do a rendition of 'The Snake' Fabulous record, frowned upon by many (for good reason im sure), but i like it !
January 31, 20196 yr Just now, shinehead said: I meant more of the over 50 singles type weekenders not the sort at Cleethorpes, Prestatyn ect . Yeah, I wasn't having a pop. We are lucky really, our two local ones are great events, good mix of stuff, the oldies which I adore and plenty of across the board too! Win win!
January 31, 20196 yr 4 minutes ago, BabyBoyAndMyLass said: Yeah, I wasn't having a pop. We are lucky really, our two local ones are great events, good mix of stuff, the oldies which I adore and plenty of across the board too! Win win! Shh, best let the diamond that st Ives is stay under the radar.
January 31, 20196 yr 27 minutes ago, josep manuel concernau robles said: What "William Powell" is the one you refer to? The one member of The O'Jays who dies in 1977…) If is the case, IMHO, ONE OF THE BEST AND UNIQUE FALSETO VOICES (and so underrated) I'm not sure if it is the O'jays William Powell . unless someone can confirm ?
January 31, 20196 yr Just now, Leicester boy said: Shh, best let the diamond that st Ives is stay under the radar. LoL, with Dean? 🤣
January 31, 20196 yr The most hated song on the scene? Jesus wept, where do you go on this one! There are so many! The one which immediately springs to mind personally is the Strangeloves, "Night time". A godawful piece of junk which stands out among so many others being played today. The Snake? I concur with Babyboy. It may be cringeworthy to some, especially today, and may also be so played out as to make even its most ardent admirer sick to the back teeth. However...... ......if you were on the scene in 74, which, unfortunately, I understand many members were not, then you will have danced your tits off to The Snake on more occasions than you can remember. It was massive. Nor will you have complained about its quality, or lack of, nor its suitability. There are, however, several tunes played at the same time which could, quite rightly, be viewed as the most hated. My Hearts Symphony anyone? Surrounded by a ray of sunshine perhaps? Or instrumentals such as Condition Red or the theme from Joe90? And that's without trying to think! In conclusion, even though The Snake is a bit naff, it's surely far from being the most hated. And far from being the worst tune played in 74, never mind ever. Oh, and hearing it out? I came back to the scene in the mid 90's, and since then haven't heard it played anywhere. Therefore, the last time I heard it played at any venue must have been about 44 years ago! Edited January 31, 20196 yr by Guest
January 31, 20196 yr 31 minutes ago, IanP said: I'm not sure if it is the O'jays William Powell . unless someone can confirm ? Thanks for your response; definitely is not the same, this voice have nothing in common with the oone of Bill (or William) Powell from The O'Jays… He never was a solo artist. I f you hear some O'Jays tunes where he sang lead you can appreciate it, IMHO a unique falsetto: "Working In Your Case" is the most paradigmatic:
January 31, 20196 yr Author 1 hour ago, bbrich said: if you must play a record with tribute in the title then you could do worse than this one.... Another floor filler. TSWONS...
January 31, 20196 yr 6 minutes ago, tomangoes said: Another floor filler. TSWONS... sorry im being slow here.....TSWONS ?
January 31, 20196 yr Just now, bbrich said: sorry im being slow here.....TSWONS ? The strange world of northern soul.
January 31, 20196 yr I do not attend gigs anymore so I am out of touch, so records like the '' DJ GENESIS'' f**k up of the Betty Wright coming of age classic are filling dance floors at certain so called northern soul gigs ? If so the next time I do drag my ass out I will be doing my homework to make sure I do not have to endure such crap. Edited January 31, 20196 yr by shinehead
January 31, 20196 yr I've never heard it out at a ns do, my point was that if someone likes bob sinclair then they might actually find this a bit more soulful. I wouldn't want to hear either at a ns do but i quite like playing the dj genesis when I am in a 'soulful house' mood at home. Edited January 31, 20196 yr by bbrich corrected
January 31, 20196 yr 2 minutes ago, bbrich said: I've never heard it out at a ns do, my point was that if someone likes bob sinclair then they might actually find this a bit more soulful. I wouldn't want to either at a ns do but i quite like playing the dj genesis when I am in a 'soulful house' mood. It was Tomangoes who alluded to the playing of this record and it been a floor filler thus his '' TSWONS '' .
January 31, 20196 yr Author 3 minutes ago, shinehead said: I do not attend gigs anymore so I am out of touch, so records like the '' DJ GENESIS'' f**k up of the Betty Wright coming of age classic are filling dance floors at certain so called northern soul gigs ? If so the next time I do drag my ass out I will be doing my homework to make sure I do not have to endure such crap. You would have thought, and it certainly may be the case, that some events have a strict music policy to ensure a certain standard is maintained. You know quality sounds on original recorded format etc etc. Problem is there's no consensus on what ' quality ' defines itself as. I've been to the undred club where I heard an hour of top top tunes followed by an hour of slow tempo suicidal 60s dross followed by a salsa inspired Latino hour.... All filling the dance floor. Don't forget Searling played my hearts symphony quite a few times ' early on'. I think the only way to deal with it, is to stay away, or don't take it serious. I got into a real heated argument a few years ago at a ' only soul' event when some ska got played out. Now Ska is not soul to me, but it must be to others as the floor was packed. Ed
January 31, 20196 yr Dont really hate any soul tunes not over keen on The Winstons Colour him father makes me reach for the sick bucket .
January 31, 20196 yr Popular Post What a joke of a topic. Some of the records, well just about all ram every dance floor somhow on earth can they be hated. Ones personal taste I can understand but to say a record such as Margaret Little is one of the most hated is just plain daft. It may not be the most soulful, it may not be the best record ever but by eck it rams the floor, its great northern soul. Edited January 31, 20196 yr by chalky
January 31, 20196 yr Just now, chalky said: What a joke of antopic. Some of the records, well just about all ram evry dance floor somhow on earth can they be hated. Ones personal taste I can understand but to say a record such as Margaret Little is one of the most hated is just plain daft. It may not be the most soulful, ot may not be the best record ever but by eck it rams the floor, its great northern soul. Couldn't agree more Chalky, lovely side!
January 31, 20196 yr 2 hours ago, IanP said: I'm not sure if it is the O'jays William Powell . unless someone can confirm ? No it's not
January 31, 20196 yr 5 hours ago, JulianB said: Went to see her last year -sorry to say, she was terrible☹️ Saw her myself lf about 29 years ago, her voice is knackered but her heart and skill as an entertainer allow her to carry off, still made me cry when she sung 'no one there'
January 31, 20196 yr Couple of observations, Al Wilson footage is historic and a great artist in his prime, appreciate it for what it is. William Powell, exactly what the label says, Powerhouse. O'Jays superb. The thing is we all differ on our views far better use of time is finding new stuff you haven't heard before and singing its praises. Talking the music up! Very difficult to fathom this 'Find the negative' mindset, finding the positive is more rewarding and much more interesting to read!
January 31, 20196 yr Going back to my youth two that I loathed would be, doug backs-kept on dancing, and Howard guyton- I watched you slowly slip,. I don't mind either nowadays as both are only heard occasionally, mid 8ts however they were absolutely hammered. the worst sound from that era would have to be that instrumental version of Frank will wilson, that somebody knocked up on a bontempi organ. The anyone remember it? Can't find it on tube but used to have the it on a tape.
Obviously there could be a few contenders, but when this gets played, I cringe....
And apart from the age of 14 to 16 it's always been the case:
Al Wilson is a great artist..its just this tune and it's association with the scene that is cringe worthy..
Ed