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Northern Soul At The BBC Proms 2023


Mike

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Personally thought it was good. I think guys like Paul Riser and Jack Ashford would have been in their element hearing that orchestra in full flow. Tad disappointed not to hear "Crying over You" with all those strings. But hey I get excited when Snake Davis performs

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14 hours ago, windycity said:

Very true words Lee after 45 years on the scene this has to be one of the finest Northern related events i have attended which gave our scene the finest and upmost respect it deserved at the home of the Greatest Classical music event on Planet earth this was worth every mile and penny from Carlisle and to those who find their place to critise and wish this and that was played what i say is this get a life. take care my friend atb Tony

Was the dancefloor any good :)

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Would be interested to know what would be acceptable aspects of the “Northern Scene” to those who are bad-mouthing the way things are at the moment. Which venues/events/DJ’s are considered to be true to the original spirit of the scene as they feel it to be? Or are the true followers meant to just sit at home playing their OVO stuff and reminisce about the good old days?

 

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On 16/07/2023 at 00:04, Stevegods said:

What a great night - did justice to everything , including Frank Wilson - just missed the orchestra doing “ Afternoon with the Rhino “ 😁

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Absolutely spot on with that observation, the ultimate orchestral arrangement....suprised Maconie missed that....what a glaring error!

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18 minutes ago, Agentsmith said:

Absolutely spot on with that observation, the ultimate orchestral arrangement....suprised Maconie missed that....what a glaring error!

Agreed - The Mike Post Orchestra would not have been out of place. Other instrumentals come to mind such as Double Cookin’ and Supertime but the predominance of vocals made for a much better show than the run of the mill classical concert.

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41 minutes ago, Ian Parker said:

ive searched and searched for videos.... anyone got a link so i can watch it ? 

Just search BBC Proms northern soul in facebook there's a whole host of punter videos.

Nothing official yet though.

Edited by Stateside
typo
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I think that most of the people who listened to it live had a slight advantage over the ones who listened to it after the event.

Imagine listening on the radio to your favourite football club playing at Wembley and your hoping they don't lose heavily but there's a very good chance that they will. The match kicks off, the goals start going in, I can't quite believe we're winning as the ball keeps hitting the back of their net.

We score from the kick off MVPS, then the Drifter from 25yds, Lee David 3-0 Jimmy Beaumont 4-0,  Yvonne Baker 5-0, Gladys Knight 6-0 etc

My neighbour missed the match live but listens to it afterwards knowing the score, all his mates told him how great it was.

Not the same is it. It's only live once.

 

 

Edited by Jessie Pinkman
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6 minutes ago, Jessie Pinkman said:

I think that most of the people who listened to it live had a slight advantage over the ones who listened to it after the event.

Imagine listening on the radio to your favourite football club playing at Wembley and your hoping they don't lose heavily but there's a very good chance that they will. The match kicks off, the goals start going in, I can't quite believe we're winning as the ball keeps hitting the back of their net.

My neighbour missed the match live but listens to it afterwards knowing the score, all his mates told him how great it was.

Not the same is it. It's only live once.

 

 

Like the old Benny Hill sketch where he comes home and his wife is ironing and he says " Quick put the telly on, it's match of the day" and she says "I don't know why you're so excited, you won't see any goals"

It sounded great through my Sonos sound system live with the volume whacked up not knowing what was coming next.

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1 hour ago, Jessie Pinkman said:

I think that most of the people who listened to it live had a slight advantage over the ones who listened to it after the event.

Imagine listening on the radio to your favourite football club playing at Wembley and your hoping they don't lose heavily but there's a very good chance that they will. The match kicks off, the goals start going in, I can't quite believe we're winning as the ball keeps hitting the back of their net.

We score from the kick off MVPS, then the Drifter from 25yds, Lee David 3-0 Jimmy Beaumont 4-0,  Yvonne Baker 5-0, Gladys Knight 6-0 etc

My neighbour missed the match live but listens to it afterwards knowing the score, all his mates told him how great it was.

Not the same is it. It's only live once.

 

 

But if you haven't seen the programme you don't know the score do you?

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2 hours ago, Jessie Pinkman said:

I think that most of the people who listened to it live had a slight advantage over the ones who listened to it after the event.

Imagine listening on the radio to your favourite football club playing at Wembley and your hoping they don't lose heavily but there's a very good chance that they will. The match kicks off, the goals start going in, I can't quite believe we're winning as the ball keeps hitting the back of their net.

We score from the kick off MVPS, then the Drifter from 25yds, Lee David 3-0 Jimmy Beaumont 4-0,  Yvonne Baker 5-0, Gladys Knight 6-0 etc

My neighbour missed the match live but listens to it afterwards knowing the score, all his mates told him how great it was.

Not the same is it. It's only live once.

 

 

Jimmy Beaumont hit the crossbar methinks. Hardest song to recognise on the playlist! Other side of the record is a winner, top left corner, sent the keeper the wrong way...

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9 hours ago, Paul-s said:

Thanks for the advice...much appreciated. Entertaining for who.......

I have the space and integrity to say, it is nothing to do with any Northern Soul scene i have ever been a part of. It was, for me, as Chalky said, everything i ran away from via the Northern Soul Scene. In fact my parents used to watch it! And i didn't, and dont, want to be my parents.

Homogenised, sanitised, covers of NS vinyl  is not my bag, thats all. And i will say that without advice from anyone. The mainstream NS scene is exactly that, mainstream, where any coverage of NS is considered good coverage by the disciples of the Top 500: be it by BBC middle class producers giving it the old 4/4, happy clappy beat, or Strictly Come prancing events or The Flying Pickets doing a musical play, or mundane, smiley self-obsessed dancers coming at me on instagram.

It's as if people (many who were never really on the scene post Wigan, or at all it seems) are seeking validation via external arbitrators. Many cannot even just dance and 'get into it' without documenting themselves dancing or skipping or hopping around, posting how soulful they are  online. 

It is, i have written before, 'historico-pastiche', a re-imagined past of Northern Soul based on spurious bits and bobs, assembled, curated perhaps,  into a commercial package that is highly profitable, tame and devoid of any socio-political integrity. For me, it is everything I got into NS to escape from. 

Perhaps we can call this latest manifestation the 'Northern Stroll Scene'.

"Just for once Paul, let it go" What a bland and flaccid statement.  (just my opinion of course).

" Thanks for the advice...much appreciated" Thank you.

" Entertaining for who " , For the audience, who where at The Albert Hall by the sound of the reaction they gave and from most of the post comments, on SS and other media outlets too.

Nowadays quite a lot of old Soulies can't get out and about, either through old age or illness or both. I bet they found it entertaining too , I know I did , nothing wrong with my ears just my bowels.

Saturday night it sounded fresh , ok a couple of vocalists a bit of a shaky start , but the music , the orchestra, the venue , made for a very entertaining occasion. I don't believe I've sold out , I still buy plenty of 45s old & new for my own enjoyment, Northern , Modern and new Soul releases .

To be honest I admire your integrity and beliefs , and if I was able to get out and about more I would probably think the same , there is very little though for Soulies of a certain age group, to get excited about .

I'm not looking to score any points here , why what for ? And for the record I loved your work " Once Upon A Time In Wigan " , went to see it in Coventry and the do after brilliant.

Atb Paul 

Dave 

 

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16 minutes ago, Happy Feet said:

" Thanks for the advice...much appreciated" Thank you.

" Entertaining for who " , For the audience, who where at The Albert Hall by the sound of the reaction they gave and from most of the post comments, on SS and other media outlets too.

Nowadays quite a lot of old Soulies can't get out and about, either through old age or illness or both. I bet they found it entertaining too , I know I did , nothing wrong with my ears just my bowels.

Saturday night it sounded fresh , ok a couple of vocalists a bit of a shaky start , but the music , the orchestra, the venue , made for a very entertaining occasion. I don't believe I've sold out , I still buy plenty of 45s old & new for my own enjoyment, Northern , Modern and new Soul releases .

To be honest I admire your integrity and beliefs , and if I was able to get out and about more I would probably think the same , there is very little though for Soulies of a certain age group, to get excited about .

I'm not looking to score any points here , why what for ? And for the record I loved your work " Once Upon A Time In Wigan " , went to see it in Coventry and the do after brilliant.

Atb Paul 

Dave 

 

Ah I didn't realise that Paul S was the guy who ended up cut into pieces and stuffed in a suitcase in Dead Mans Shoes.

Classic Film.

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1 hour ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Review in Times 2 of yesterday’s Times (17/07/23). Just glad to be one of those of pensionable age but the younger brigade might consider the last sentence a bit cheeky.

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The Times.....who cares what they say? Are they also curating the scene now?

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7 minutes ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Just informing our readers... The Times is a decent newspaper therefore worth flagging up. Always interesting to see what appears in the press just in case the writers become more objective.

It wasn't the glowing review you lot on here give it was it?

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18 minutes ago, Frankie Crocker said:

No idea who the author is or his credentials, but as with all sorts of reviews, best to take what you want from them. His piece is now a matter of record for others to reflect on - he used the word ‘clunky’ but that was not appropriate as the orchestra handled several tricky tunes with panache. For the orchestra to achieve what they did, they must have listened to the original music in some format; to accommodate the vocalists, the rehearsals must have been endless. I thought the performance was brilliant - I own most of the tunes on original vinyl and all of them in some format or other; I have listened to some of the tunes hundreds of times over the last 50 years. I doubt Stephen Dalton can match that but he still felt he had to be sufficiently nit-picking to please his sub-editor.

Well said ⭐👏👏👏

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27 minutes ago, Woodbutcher said:

Just pleased to see the review clearly state that it was about a scene that flourished from the late 60's to the early 80's ..................... that means it was bugger all to do with the scene that I know starting in '81 at the Wirrina , through Stafford and the 100 Club on to today ... :thumbup:

Wigan getting blamed for the BBC orchestra now 🤣👀🕺💃👍

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3 hours ago, harrythedog said:

I understand that this site is called Soul Source, and there we have clue. I know iam in a minority with this but why are we discussing the BBC concert orchestra on this site. It has really has baffled me how we can rave about an orchestra which has about as much soul as my big toe. I may be blinkered but i did not hitch up and down the country in 1976/1977 and follow the scene ever since to listen to listen to The BBC orchestra play covers of the music which changed my life for ever. I always said the scene owes me nothing, but i owe it everything. Please get a grip.

It's okay because the conversation will end tonight as Wednesdays are usually dominated by the results on Manships auction.

Edited by Jessie Pinkman
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On 16/07/2023 at 11:23, Twoshoes said:

I don't disagree with most of what you say though I don't see any exploitation in this case.Much as the majority who have contributed to this thread whilst listening  enjoyed it and I may well be wrong here I doubt many would buy a recording of it were such a thing made available taking it into the realms of exploitation depending on your view.

Much as we might like to think of the music as ours it never has been and never will be.

There are some naff live albums but personally I usually prefer live albums to studio recordings so, yeah, I'd buy it.

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5 hours ago, harrythedog said:

I understand that this site is called Soul Source, and there we have clue. I know iam in a minority with this but why are we discussing the BBC concert orchestra on this site. It has really has baffled me how we can rave about an orchestra which has about as much soul as my big toe. I may be blinkered but i did not hitch up and down the country in 1976/1977 and follow the scene ever since to listen to listen to The BBC orchestra play covers of the music which changed my life for ever. I always said the scene owes me nothing, but i owe it everything. Please get a grip.

Why are you discussing the musicians at all?  They're just working stiffs.  Some enjoy it, some hate it, most just get on with it, just like factory workers.  Musicians arrive for the job, play the dots that the man has given them to play, get paid and go home, and that applies to the people who played on the original records just as much as the orchestra.  As stated on the programme, they used the original arrangements whenever they could, the rest of the time they copied them out from the discs.  In other words the only difference between the performances was with the singers, and they all seemed to be putting their all into it.  My only criticism would be the gaps between the songs.  Too long.  I was shouting "Get on with it!" in nearly all the breaks (Much to the consternation of my fellow motorists...).

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Some great clips of people enjoying themselves at the event have been posted up on Facebook. Those in attendance certainly seemed to have gotten swept up in the joy of the occasion.

www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=search&v=1028987714685544&external_log_id=34215e52-24ed-4784-8e26-16b242e9171c&q=bbc%20northern%20soul%20prom

To paraphrase an earlier post on this thread though ... It really has baffled me how we can rave about the pop pap played at the Casino, it has even less soul than my big toe .... ... Different strokes for different folks I guess.

Edited by Roburt
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Interesting that we haven't had a prog proms, or a be bop special, perhaps a orchestral rendition of Miles David's sketches of Spain. The reasons simple, irrelevant and they have too much respect for those genres. Where as northern, well they don't care about offending us uneducated plebs. Reminded me of when James last played the Albert hall. 

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31 minutes ago, Geeselad said:

Interesting that we haven't had a prog proms, or a be bop special, perhaps a orchestral rendition of Miles David's sketches of Spain.

There is a jazz prom...

Quote

Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Jazz Orchestra are joined by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Dee Dee Bridgewater to perform a collection of jazz standards. 

Featuring the best teenage performers from across the USA, NYO Jazz also presents contemporary works exploring jazz’s influence on hip-hop, R&B and pop music in this unmissable late-night performance.

https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms/bbc-proms-2023/prom-23-nyo-jazz-usa-with-dee-dee-bridgewater/

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When I was young we used to listen to a radio show called workers playtime. Popular tunes played by jobbing musicians and singers and broadcast from a factory canteen. It was popular mainly because the BBC refused to play recorded music. Years later we had those "Top of the Pops" albums on budget labels. Then we had Wigans Ovations sound of Lancashire etc.  There is a direct lineage here. Not really an OVO event more like a KFC advert.

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3 hours ago, Happy Feet said:

Anyone read this yet ? 

https://thesoulhouse.net/2023/07/17/bbc-proms-northern-soul-review/

A different take may explain sound quality ,,,

May need to click on articles to read 

There were no sound issues apparent to these well trained ears. From the first note of the MVP’s, the sound was loud and clear, fully authentic and recognisable in the first two bars. Same with Dobie Gray. I’ve got short-snatch video clips of all 31 songs but I can’t load them on Soul-Source and Facebook would not accept the 2min 37secs for Tobi Legend. The remainder of the review was OK but the author was incorrect to state there were sound issues.

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59 minutes ago, Davebanks said:

When I was young we used to listen to a radio show called workers playtime. Popular tunes played by jobbing musicians and singers and broadcast from a factory canteen. It was popular mainly because the BBC refused to play recorded music. Years later we had those "Top of the Pops" albums on budget labels. Then we had Wigans Ovations sound of Lancashire etc.  There is a direct lineage here. Not really an OVO event more like a KFC advert.

I must have missed that KFC advert with the Philharmonic Orchestra.

You've just reminded me to get my Sound Burger (King} fixed then I can play my OVO

I wish I still had Bob & Fred (Big Mack) to play on it

Edited by Jessie Pinkman
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