As a fan of Northern Soul I also really like old classic fairground rides. As a kid growing up in the 70’s Motown, Northern and classic reggae were the music that you heard at fairs though the big speakers on rides and my earliest memories of when I first heard the music would’ve been at travelling fairs. Last week I rode a classic vintage ride called the Moon Rocket and noticed this sign. “Motown is your town” (see pic). Over the years I’ve seen lots of references to soul, ska and even the Mod scene incorporated into fairground art. Anyone else noticed this connection or got any examples of this or feel that certain soul tunes are definitely fairground records? 

Shotgun Wedding was always played at the fair around my area , knowing the fair lads reputation with the ladies back in the day maybe a precautionary message been sent 😄

Edited May 31, 20232 yr by Shinehead

A little piece of leather, always reminds me of the fair 

Mick L is your man for this .... @Hooker1951

Most definitely. Most motown and some pop t rex judge dredd Big six etc

Edited May 31, 20232 yr by Brunswick 58
Spelling

Great examples of the records I’m talking about. Judge Dread definitely wasn’t getting radio airplay back then so just as well that he was getting plenty of his records played out at fairs! 😎

Al Capone was also a big fairground sound in the late sixties/ early seventies, great memories of the fair walking round the fair wearing Dr Martens, .Braces Fred Perry.and cropped hair  etc. with the music playing and the smells of the food vendors.

I think 'On Broadway' by the Drifters is the one I remember from fun fairs...

Had to post the pic, its such a cool ride... !

Edited May 31, 20232 yr by Mal C

Yes Fairgrounds in the mid 60,s onwards  were certainly the place to hear the Soul music we all love, we played all the current American imports which were the big club soul sounds of the time, and would you believe sounds that were re released 5 or 6 years later and became big on the NS scene, The waltzer I worked on became known as the Soul castle in the north west, the mono sound blasting and the blue and green lighting with strobe lights made a fantastic atmospheric experience and of course those days you were still open till sometimes 1 am in the morning in some towns, Magic times, Great memories, and another great facet of Soul music presented in its great history

KR

Mick Lyons

I think some of the fairs in the Northwest were definitely playing to the growing NS crowd.

I remember loads of popular Motown of the time being played: Two Can Have A Party, Needle In Haystack, Wherever I Lay My Hat etc) but also Festival Time and stuff like The Kid and Condition Red, which sounded awesome coming out of the powerful, bassy systems.

The last two still trigger the sights, sounds and smells of the fairground whenever I hear them. 

Remember. Move on up and. free for all  being played sounded great on the waltzers 

One that stuck in my mind at the annual Easter fair  on the waltzers at Hollingworth Lake, Littleborough,Rochdale was Cher's Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves.

Soul Sister Brown Sugar always reminds me of Pleasureland, Southport.

 

Paul

Big seven by judge dredd and max Romeo wet dream, Archie bell here I go again,  George mcray ,

I'm obviously a bit older then the others posting on this thread. My fairground days were in 1964/65. The big sounds I recall getting played all the time back then were the Drifters "Under The Boardwalk" & "Come On Over To My Place" , Lee Dorsey's "Get Out My Life Woman", M & V's "Dancing In The Street" plus Cliff Bennett "One Way Love", Them's "Here Comes The Night" & "Baby Please Don't Go", Righteous Bros "Lovin Feeling" & Moody Blues "Go Now".

Edited September 20, 20231 yr by Roburt

I can give you twenty records right of the cuff that were played on the waltzer I worked on in 69 70 and 71 they were Boogaloo party, Flamingos, Going to a happening Tommy Neil, Breakout  Mitch Ryder,  Soulful dress Sugar pie de Santo,. She’ s looking good Wilson Picket version,Twsting the night away Sam Cooke, Question mark and the mysterions 96 tears, Eddie Floyd Knock n wood, Lee Dorsey Ride your pony, Chiffons He’s so fine, and Sweey talking guy,, Checkmates Proud Mary. Otis reading I can’t turn you Loose, Guns of Navorone, and Al Capone Prince buster, Roy C shotgun Wedding , Four Tops Sugar pie Honey bunch and Same old Song, Temptations Cloud nine , I can’t get next to you,  and Ball of confusion , could go on forever, Fantastic memories

 

KR

Mick L

 

In the 80s do remember The Specials Enjoy Yourself, being played, while two girls battered the shiz out of each other, after an argument on the waltzers Ironically followed by Jocelyn Brown Somebody Elses Guy... Which apparently is what the fracas was about.

Sounds amazing, what great tunes you played back then!

On 31/05/2023 at 20:56, Paul R said:

Soul Sister Brown Sugar always reminds me of Pleasureland, Southport.

 

Paul

a mate of mine did the music for the fairground in southport  ( he also did mobile discos in southport, called SOUL LITE SOUNDS DISCO , his was GREAME BOOTHE ,) he sold lots of his British stock to LEVINE...

 

There are old stories of soul records you could win at the fair, on the old tombolas up north in the 70s...  I remember someone saying that's how he got his  Bobby Wilson LP on Buddah, that person may be on here... Music that i recall at our local fair was generally chart R&B and most fairly decent, but certainly no sealed Bobbys to win sadly, although the guy who managed the ghost train could regale you with all the lyrics to  Sugarhill Hill Gangs Rappers Delight for 50p but was fked when asked to do the 15min version.

Edited September 20, 20231 yr by Tee D

1 hour ago, Tee D said:

There are old stories of soul records you could win at the fair, on the old tombolas up north in the 70s...  I remember someone saying that's how he got his  Bobby Wilson LP on Buddah, that person may be on here... Music that i recall at our local fair was generally chart R&B and most fairly decent, but certainly no sealed Bobbys to win sadly, although the guy who managed the ghost train could regale you with all the lyrics to  Sugarhill Hill Gangs Rappers Delight for 50p but was fked when asked to do the 15min version.

Got this from the fair.

 

Guy Darrell - I've been hurt. 

  guaranteed, every single year

I don't specifically remember any northern soul being played, not that I knew what it was in 1970 but back then Tighten up Vol 2 was played on a loop by the Octopus ride when the fair visited our small town. More recently, about 12 years ago, I was in Clacton and took my daughter on a ride which was playing some fabulous funky music. The ride operator told me the name after I enquired but my daughter's demands for an ice cream made me forget before I had a chance to write it in my phone . 

When the fair came to Longford Park in Stretford late 60's early 70's, we always got The Showstoppers - House Party, Frankie Valli - You're Ready Now, The Drifters - Saturday Night at the Movies, Dave & Ansel Collins - Double Barrel, Roy C - Shotgun Wedding, Otis Redding - I Can't Turn You Loose, Booker T - Time is Tight, Wilson Pickett - Land of 1000 Dances. For a 12 year old, the sounds were absolutely captivating.

When the fair used to come to our town (Macclesfield)back in the 1960/1970.the waltzers used to play motown and there was a creepy waltzer attendent giving extra spins to the girls for a kiss (or two).it must have worked because it spread to the candy floss man then to the ice cream man ,simple days eh 😆 

I worked  on the Gaff in Knutsford every mayday from 73 for at least 3 years 2 songs soul wise that used to bang out on the speedway and the Whip were the Sharonettes papa ooh mow, and Dave & Ansell Collins Double Barrell ,i don't recall any Rare northern but Motown yes ,BUT GOD DID WE ENJOY THE RIDE ... 

Used to go stevie when we thumbed a lift from Macclesfield 

Here,s another 20 of the cuff, Marv Johnson Oh how I miss you baby, Donny elbert little piece of leather, Capitols cool jerk, James brown sex machine, Eddie Floyd things are getting better, Jonny Johnson breaking down the walls of heartache, Brenton Wood , gimme a little sign , Judy Clay William bell private number, Arthur Conway Sweet soul music , funky broadway, Joe benson n Peggy Scott dancing with the soul shake on, Edwin Starr War, Jimmy Ruffin Baby you’ve got it, Jackie Wilson higher n higher, Pj Proby Nick hokey,  Miracles goin to a go go, Chairman of the board , singing chairman f the board, Ben e king Amor, Tams hey girl don’t bother me, velvelletes needle in a haystack ,

I could go on forever

KR Mick L

 

 

1 minute ago, Hooker1951 said:

Here,s another 20 of the cuff, Marv Johnson Oh how I miss you baby, Donny elbert little piece of leather, Capitols cool jerk, James brown sex machine, Eddie Floyd things are getting better, Jonny Johnson breaking down the walls of heartache, Brenton Wood , gimme a little sign , Judy Clay William bell private number, Arthur Conway Sweet soul music , funky broadway, Joe benson n Peggy Scott dancing with the soul shake on, Edwin Starr War, Jimmy Ruffin Baby you’ve got it, Jackie Wilson higher n higher, Pj Proby Nick hokey,  Miracles goin to a go go, Chairman of the board , singing chairman f the board, Ben e king Amor, Tams hey girl don’t bother me, velvelletes needle in a haystack ,

I could go on forever

KR Mick L