I've only ever really dabbled in collecting 70s - which we slightly ludicrously continue to call 'modern' - but recently acquired a collection of some 1000 records, 80% of which was 70s and 80s.

A lot of it I did actually know, some I didn't, but it got me thinking, specifically: what are the (say) top 100 modern sounds played on the northern scene?

I'm looking for a new target on which to turn my collecting passion, and that's as good as any!

 

AS SUGGESTED LOWER DOWN, IT WOULD BE GOOD JUST TO GET ARTISTS AND TITLES (THOUGH CHAT ABOUT WHERE FIRST PLAYED AND BY WHOM IS ALWAYS OF INTEREST)

 

 

Edited July 5, 2024Jul 5 by Paraboliccurve

God god man ! We could be hear all year ! If you’re looking for the timeless classics then I’ll start the ball rolling ……

 

3 minutes ago, The Tempest said:

God god man ! We could be hear all year ! If you’re looking for the timeless classics then I’ll start the ball rolling ……

 

We've got all year!

Good topic but maybe best to ask just for listings of titles and artists, and not get bogged down with youtube sound clips!

 

Edited July 5, 2024Jul 5 by Solidsoul

5 minutes ago, Solidsoul said:

Good topic but maybe best to ask just for listings of titles and artists, and not get bogged down with youtube sound clips!

 

good idea yep

BIGGEST NOT RAREST 

PRESSURE

REAL LOVE

BLESS YOUR HEART

LOVE DON'T COME NO STRONGER 

CALL ME

WHAT HURTS

8.3.1

WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG

THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE

ITS BAD YOU KNOW

LIQUID SPIRIT

NO MATTER

IM IN DEBT TO YOU

BEAUTIFUL PHILOSOPHY 

THE LOVE I LOST

PARTY TIME MAN

JANICE

HOW CAN I TELL HER 

THE GAME IS OVER

LOOK ON THE GOOD SIDE

WISH I DIDN'T MISS YOU

SPRING RAIN 

THE BOTTLE 

CASHIN IN 

SAY YOU WILL

NEVER STOP LOVING YOU

I'LL BE ON MY WAY

NEVER EVER

WOMAN

JUST LOVIN YOU

MAKE MY DREAM A REALITY

YOU BROUGHT IT ON YOURSELF

THESE ARE JUST A FEW SOME RARE BUT MOST EASY TO COME BY

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON JUST AS THE BEAT DOES 

Edited July 5, 2024Jul 5 by Steviehay

A good way to check is to visit the Facebook group >> MODERN SOUL VINYL .... but just like at NS events; records / tracks (they don't HAVE to be available on vinyl to get MS scene plays) come into & go out of favour. So a biggie at Snaith in the 70's or one that was massive @ Thorne in the 80's, may have slipped into near oblivion now.

... but be warned, items get posted on the MSV site that were released from 1970 right up to present day releases.

In the meantime, here's a decent one to be going on with ... there are also other versions from the likes of the Staples, Kenny Thomas, etc ... 

 

Edited July 5, 2024Jul 5 by Roburt

1 hour ago, Roburt said:

A good way to check is to visit the Facebook group >> MODERN SOUL VINYL .... but just like at NS events; records / tracks (they don't HAVE to be available on vinyl to get MS scene plays) come into & go out of favour. So a biggie at Snaith in the 70's or one that was massive @ Thorne in the 80's, may have slipped into near oblivion now.

... but be warned, items get posted on the MSV site that were released from 1970 right up to present day releases.

In the meantime, here's a decent one to be going on with ... there are also other versions from the likes of the Staples, Kenny Thomas, etc ... 

 

Yep, I'm a member there - but I'm specifically interested in stuff played (a lot) at northern nighters.

Don't get me wrong - I have quite a lot of the big sounds after 40 years collecting, and I know a lot of those I don't have, I'm just way better on 60s.

I'm interested in a proper idea of the biggest dance floor fillers across the eras, though I'd like to know what's particularly rare too.

 

 

"If You Can't Tell Me Something Good about My Baby" - The Mark 1V 

All Of A Sudden - Melvin Moore

I'm Lost Without Your Love - Bee Vee & Honey Bee

I Call You Every Morning - Fantasy

Thinking About You - The Answers

I'm Loving You - Cloudburst

I'll Let You Slide - Saints

Edited July 5, 2024Jul 5 by Solidsoul

"International IV - Equal Love" on DIANE , monster tune for Colin Law ... 

1 hour ago, Woodbutcher said:

"International IV - Equal Love" on DIANE , monster tune for Colin Law ... 

£3000+ RECORD 

1 hour ago, Steviehay said:

£3000+ RECORD 

And that's what makes it a proper old school 'big' niter sound in my book , rare as the proverbial and a tune you have to travel to hear played out ...  

14 minutes ago, Woodbutcher said:

And that's what makes it a proper old school 'big' niter sound in my book , rare as the proverbial and a tune you have to travel to hear played out ...  

YOU AND ME BOTH

 

I know the Montclairs is 69, but always thought of as a modern sound. 
A few more killers I’ll never own..

Essex iv “my heart just can’t take it”

natural impulse “she went away”

Seville “show me the way”

 

personal faves along with flowers already mentioned.  There other is also worth a mention.

 

never really liked modern when I first got into soul and northern but listen to it a lot now.

 

 

Wow! You got some user name there.....................

Do you have a first name that you're willing to share; I'm Peter, the "99" tag has probably been almost a twenty year SS member user name tag. I think Mike thought I looked like a tea bag. Mm' funny that.

Anyway, I digress. It might be really helpful if you look through the recent "most expensive/rare modern soul" thread. I'll try and find it for you Para bloke. 😜

Yours

Tea Bag Pete

Sorry pal I can't find it, but; Mike or one of the mods, will I'm sure find it. 

Edited July 5, 2024Jul 5 by Peter99
mods

You should really do a top 500 on this, but here are some Biggies that you all know 🙂 I expect allot of these are Mecca and Morcombe Pier spins, so folks like Shaun Gibbons, Carl Fortnum etc etc

Curtis Anderson - The Hardest Part - Not first but Keb was spinning this 2003/4

Klas - Let’s Make Love Tonight

LaRom Baker - You're the Best - Arthur Fenn

Millie Jackson - You Can't Stand The Thought Of Another Man Loving Me - LP originally, but picked up by the 100 club crew for sure in the 9ts..

Pages - Heartaches & Pain

Betty Wright - Open The Door To Your Heart - Played by Sam

Judy Freeman & Blackrock - Hold On - Richard Searling, I think

Masterpiece - Love Affair

Mighty Pope - If You Want A Love Affair - Butch

Charles Johnson - Never Had A Love So Good - loads played this, but I rememeber Richard Searlings name being attached to it.

Bobby Sheen - Something New To Do - Dave Thorley

Lifestyle - Katrina

Tony Troutman - Whats the Use

Tony Drake - Suddenly

24 Karat Gold - What Does The Future Hold

Lee McDonald - I'll do Anything For You

Stevens & Foster - I Want To Be Love

Mixed Emotions - Gold of My Life

Eric Lomax - Seven the Loser

The Oggletree Brothers - Gonna Keep a check on yo

Natural High - You Make Me So Very Happy

Odessey - Battened Ships

Jan Jones - Independent Woman - discovered/played by Ian Clark

Four Below Zero - My Baby's Got E.S.P

Fantastic Johnny C - Dont Depend on Me

Norma Jean - I've Taken Over

The Ad Libs - I Dont Need No Fortuneteller

and these are all bubbling under tunes... the list goes on...

Ecstasy, Passion and Pain - Ask Me

Joshie Jo Armstead - I Got The Vibes

The Modulations - Your Love has me Locked up

Greg Perry - Come on Down

Nolan Porter - Ohh Baby

One that was released in 1970 , but you'd never believe it and sounds like an old soul classic ,

Lou Pride , I'm Com'un Home In The Morn'un, Suemi , 1st played 74ish , can it be considered in the top 500 modern soul list ? 

10 minutes ago, Happy Feet said:

One that was released in 1970 , but you'd never believe it and sounds like an old soul classic ,

Lou Pride , I'm Com'un Home In The Morn'un, Suemi , 1st played 74ish , can it be considered in the top 500 modern soul list ? 

Now, Lou Pride's, I'm Com'un.........................

I know I'll get lynched for this, but; there's a record I just don't like. 

Modern, mm, I think we're veering off course?

Tin Hat

Peter

🫣 🫣 🫣

2 minutes ago, Peter99 said:

Now, Lou Pride's, I'm Com'un.........................

I know I'll get lynched for this, but; there's a record I just don't like. 

Modern, mm, I think we're veering off course?

Tin Hat

Peter

🫣 🫣 🫣

Not at all Peter everyone's entitled to their opinion, it was just a teaser ,,, like The Montclair's, Hey you , personally prefer " Hung Up On Your Love " have them both and one was played on its release , and sold in bucket fulls and definitely should be in a Top 500 modern list .

Glad to see you up & running by the way , stay strong mate 

24 minutes ago, Happy Feet said:

Not at all Peter everyone's entitled to their opinion, it was just a teaser ,,, like The Montclair's, Hey you , personally prefer " Hung Up On Your Love " have them both and one was played on its release , and sold in bucket fulls and definitely should be in a Top 500 modern list .

Glad to see you up & running by the way , stay strong mate 

Of course my friend; we all have different tastes and opinions. It could be an interesting thread with all sorts of ideas and records being posted.

Thank you very much for your kind words, I appreciate your sentiments, thank you. Just to reciprocate, I hope all is well with you and yours.

Peter

Had my reservations when I read the opening post. Expected to see the same 3/4 figure tunes listed "as usual". But @Mal C listed a nice varied list that gives a good impression of what "modern" tunes are played these days in the UK. And many cheaper tunes among them. And it includes a few surprises as well like Ogletree Bros. Seems like it finally got the plays it deserves.

Ah well, biggest modern nighter sounds. How about Jackson Sister - I believe in miracles? Even though it's been played as a new release it seems to be as popular as ever.

 

1 hour ago, Peter99 said:

Now, Lou Pride's, I'm Com'un.........................

I know I'll get lynched for this, but; there's a record I just don't like. 

Modern, mm, I think we're veering off course?

Tin Hat

Peter

🫣 🫣 🫣

Agree 100%, Peter

'Love Dont Come No Stronger' does it for me though for modern, but its each to their own.

And 'My Baby's Got ESP' - I dunno why, but single always sounds better than the 12" to me. Not from a clarity / hi-fidelity perspective, but just the atmosphere of it.

Edited July 5, 2024Jul 5 by codehound

Personally I always thought that " modern soul" was just as inclusive as the traditional Northern Soul tunes and if mixed in to a set , as did RS , a second room would never have been necessary, unless overcrowding was the problem ,

Ila Vann , You Made Me This Way.

Carstairs, It Really Hurts Me Girl.

Dooley Silverspoon , Game Players.

Fifth Amendment, I Got You where I Want You .

Mandrill , Too Late .

So many as mentioned earlier, and a very important topic , perhaps not the big money tunes but all great tunes at their introduction, and have obviously helped to keep this wonderful music genre moving on to 2024 and beyond .

 

 

56 minutes ago, Peter99 said:

Of course my friend; we all have different tastes and opinions. It could be an interesting thread with all sorts of ideas and records being posted.

Thank you very much for your kind words, I appreciate your sentiments, thank you. Just to reciprocate, I hope all is well with you and yours.

Peter

Thanks Peter I'm doing fine , 67 got over the worse ,back at work loving life etc , What about the Instrumental version , definitely a modern take lol .

11 hours ago, Happy Feet said:

One that was released in 1970 , but you'd never believe it and sounds like an old soul classic ,

Lou Pride , I'm Com'un Home In The Morn'un, Suemi , 1st played 74ish , can it be considered in the top 500 modern soul list ? 

Surely that is just Northern?  Out and out Northern classic?

Things like the Hamilton Movement, Ellipsis...just Northern to me as it was the northern scene that really broke them and made them what they are.  I don't consider them Modern, not what we call modern anyway.  Quite a few listed never saw a modern room, not till after the northern Djs had done with it.

Here's a bunch In played in the modern room at Culcheth, nothing ground breaking nothing out of the ordinary so to speak but I tried to play records that have not or aren't featured in Northern rooms.

Woods Empire - Universal Love - Tabu

Anglo Saxon Brown - Gonna Make You Mine - Atlantic

Lamont Dozier - Something To Fall Back On - Expansion (ABC Years & Lost Sessions)

Nudge & The Chocolate Jam Co. - Come Into My Life Again - Epic

Arnold McCuller - Freeway To Monterey - Avi

Lenny Williams - Half Past Love - ABC

Anthony White - Stop And Think It Over - PIR

Imperial Wonders - Lord Wheat’s Happening To The World? - Cordial

Ellis Hall Group - Those Passing Words - Super Disco Edits

Dexter Wansel - The Sweetest Pain - PIR

Down To Earth - Everyday - Izipho Soul

Leon Ware - Inside Your Love - Fabulous

Ronnie Dyson - Heart To Heart - Cotillion

Greg Perry - I’ll Always Be In Love With Love - RCA

Wali Ali - (Oh I) Need Your Love - Jobette

Edited July 6, 2024Jul 6 by Chalky

Trying to keep an open mind, this thread has got me really confused. I always thought Modern Soul emanated from the 1980’s and amounted to rare disco inspired tunes with a high soul quotient and danceable quality. Some of the tunes mentioned above were termed ‘Newies’ back in the 70’s, recently produced records that followed on nicely from the classic years 1966-69; nowadays, they are lumped under the broad heading of ‘Crossover’, still largely made up of traditional instruments but with a bit of electronic music creeping in.

I recall going to a 100 Club Modern Allnighter 25-30 years ago. The sounds were totally unfamiliar and not enjoyable so I left after a few hours of suffering. There were no tunes like the Montclairs, Lou Pride, Carstairs etc. Ady C seemed to stage only one of these damp squib affairs and apologetically said the event was put on as followers had no other venues to go to.

So perhaps someone could define Modern Soul for us. Is it mainly electronic dance music from the 80’s onwards or what? Does it overlap with House Music? Apologies for sounding such a klutz on the topic but I need enlightening.

As someone who got into northern in the early 80s, 'modern' to me is 70s soul and later - so Skip Mahoney, Flame N King, Nicky Newarkers etc - because that's what we called it then.

Obv this is a dated view which is why I put it in inverted commas - records made 50 years ago can't be modern except by way of distinction from stuff made even further back, and the term itself is of its time.

My post should perhaps have asked for any non 60s biggies, which arguably means 1970 to today.

But as I say I'm a creature of my times.

BTW thanks to all for suggestions so far!

Edited July 6, 2024Jul 6 by Paraboliccurve

6 minutes ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Trying to keep an open mind, this thread has got me really confused. I always thought Modern Soul emanated from the 1980’s and amounted to rare disco inspired tunes with a high soul quotient and danceable quality. Some of the tunes mentioned above were termed ‘Newies’ back in the 70’s, recently produced records that followed on nicely from the classic years 1966-69; nowadays, they are lumped under the broad heading of ‘Crossover’, still largely made up of traditional instruments but with a bit of electronic music creeping in.

I recall going to a 100 Club Modern Allnighter 25-30 years ago. The sounds were totally unfamiliar and not enjoyable so I left after a few hours of suffering. There were no tunes like the Montclairs, Lou Pride, Carstairs etc. Ady C seemed to stage only one of these damp squib affairs and apologetically said the event was put on as followers had no other venues to go to.

So perhaps someone could define Modern Soul for us. Is it mainly electronic dance music from the 80’s onwards or what? Does it overlap with House Music? Apologies for sounding such a klutz on the topic but I need enlightening.

I think your searching for a definition that's impossible for anyone to define. If it's not 60's and post 1970 northern then someone will define it as modern, somewhere, it's a looser term than the nuts in Dave envision's record trolly. 🤣

'Newies' to me is a term we used to use to describe non 60s oldies in the 80s ie the stuff Guy, Keb, Butch and others were digging out with help from Tim Ashibende and the likes.

Like so much in northern it's all subjective - I could probably come up with five different definitions of northern soul itself!

44 minutes ago, Paraboliccurve said:

'Newies' to me is a term we used to use to describe non 60s oldies in the 80s ie the stuff Guy, Keb, Butch and others were digging out with help from Tim Ashibende and the likes.

Like so much in northern it's all subjective - I could probably come up with five different definitions of northern soul itself!

If you look at flyers etc for late Wigan early 80s, newies was used before it became modern.  As you say it was later used to describe the 6ts in the mid 80s

1 hour ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Trying to keep an open mind, this thread has got me really confused. I always thought Modern Soul emanated from the 1980’s and amounted to rare disco inspired tunes with a high soul quotient and danceable quality. Some of the tunes mentioned above were termed ‘Newies’ back in the 70’s, recently produced records that followed on nicely from the classic years 1966-69; nowadays, they are lumped under the broad heading of ‘Crossover’, still largely made up of traditional instruments but with a bit of electronic music creeping in.

I recall going to a 100 Club Modern Allnighter 25-30 years ago. The sounds were totally unfamiliar and not enjoyable so I left after a few hours of suffering. There were no tunes like the Montclairs, Lou Pride, Carstairs etc. Ady C seemed to stage only one of these damp squib affairs and apologetically said the event was put on as followers had no other venues to go to.

So perhaps someone could define Modern Soul for us. Is it mainly electronic dance music from the 80’s onwards or what? Does it overlap with House Music? Apologies for sounding such a klutz on the topic but I need enlightening.

Newies was indeed the term in the late 70s early 80s.  Modern first used in adverts in 1982 (The Oak in Shrewsbury) and Sam used the term in an article around the same time (although it was a term in use prior to this in talk).  Many of the tracks mentioned are just 70s Northern to me and many as I said never really saw a modern room or broke by modern Djs first, it was all-nighter Djs that played them first, Hamilton Movement etc.

 

 

A few I’ve heard recently in modern rooms that have ticked the box -

The Manhattans - Blackbird

Soul Scratch - Telephone

Essex IV - My heart just can’t take it

Thee Sacred Souls - Running away

Harvey Averne - Central Park

 

My 3 that I've heard played at soul venues are as follows.

1,ANGIE STONE,WISH I DIDNT MISS YOU.

2,GREG PORTER,LIQIUD SPIRIT.

3,DENNIS FERRER,CHURCH LADY .

they just do it soulful 

Some records played at the back end of the casino, into the early days of the term Modern Soul at Niters, like Morecambe Pier, Clifton Hall etc 

Mike Jemison "you'll never get my love" (men in the moon c/u)

Marvell Love "don't break that rule"

Detroit Sounds Of Friction "I'm leaving"

The Differences "five minutes"

More recent years

Joseph Webster "my love is so strong"

Mixed Feelings "sha la la" 

Salt n Peppa "a man of my word"

As stated loads to go at, depending on your viewpoint!!!

40 minutes ago, Micksmix said:

Some records played at the back end of the casino, into the early days of the term Modern Soul at Niters, like Morecambe Pier, Clifton Hall etc 

Mike Jemison "you'll never get my love" (men in the moon c/u)

Marvell Love "don't break that rule"

Detroit Sounds Of Friction "I'm leaving"

The Differences "five minutes"

More recent years

Joseph Webster "my love is so strong"

Mixed Feelings "sha la la" 

Salt n Peppa "a man of my word"

As stated loads to go at, depending on your viewpoint!!!

I get confused with xover and modern,would salt & pepper come under xover? The others modern? 

3 minutes ago, Dobber said:

I get confused with xover and modern,would salt & pepper come under xover? The others modern? 

The sub genres can muddy the picture, as stated at the end of my post, all depends on your viewpoint?

I divide my records into Northern (6ts) and Modern & Crossover (Basically everything else)...

I mean 'Channel 3 - Sweetest Thing' the ultimate record that covers both genres right, too Modern for a 6ts only bod, but an oldie 7ts track for any folks that listen to anything past 81 say, when the sound changed again...

Can I add a record I've got back into in a BIG way this week?  thanks to Tony Turner for putting it on an MP3 swap, what a killer record this is... absolute class... and LP only...
Ronnie Dyson - I Want To Be Where You Are / Columbia, he also pipped this over, Lifestyle - Trying To Make It Up To You, again LP only...

THIS IS WHAT WE WANT!!

 

1 hour ago, Dobber said:

I get confused with xover and modern,would salt & pepper come under xover? The others modern? 

its neither, neither is Mixed Feelings or Joseph Webster modern IMO, both niter sounds and not from the modern rooms

wouldn't it be good if it was all just soul music all in one room

I've run out of likes, so, I concur with Chalky and Mal C.

Some nice tunes added by fellow SS members.

Just to repeat myself, the awful Lou Pride thing, is neither modern, crossover, or a newie. 

It will be interesting to see where we go with this one......................

Yours

Cloth eared Peter

😜

Lou Pride  a northern record 100%, I would never consider it any way a modern record, brilliant though it is…

 

16 hours ago, Mal C said:

Lou Pride  a northern record 100%, I would never consider it any way a modern record, brilliant though it is…

 

I only mentioned it as a teaser, due to its date of release and according to comments made over the years " Funky edged banger with a tinge of Jazz " not just a Northern Classic sorry 😐 

Edited July 7, 2024Jul 7 by Happy Feet

20 hours ago, Mal C said:

Can I add a record I've got back into in a BIG way this week?  thanks to Tony Turner for putting it on an MP3 swap, what a killer record this is... absolute class... and LP only...
Ronnie Dyson - I Want To Be Where You Are / Columbia, he also pipped this over, Lifestyle - Trying To Make It Up To You, again LP only...

THIS IS WHAT WE WANT!!

 

Lifestyles album is brilliant from start to finish horace ott putting his stamp down !!

21 hours ago, Mal C said:

Can I add a record I've got back into in a BIG way this week?  thanks to Tony Turner for putting it on an MP3 swap, what a killer record this is... absolute class... and LP only...
Ronnie Dyson - I Want To Be Where You Are / Columbia, he also pipped this over, Lifestyle - Trying To Make It Up To You, again LP only...

THIS IS WHAT WE WANT!!

 

Mal, there's some issues of "Don't Be Afraid" that play "I Want To Be Where You Are" on the b-side but they are mislabeled. I used to own one.

Do you mean stuff like this?

The Only Way Is Up - 80s Northern Soul Mix by Dixieeagle | Mixcloud

 

6 hours ago, Alan T said:

Mal, there's some issues of "Don't Be Afraid" that play "I Want To Be Where You Are" on the b-side but they are mislabeled. I used to own one.

Oh wow, I'd love a copy of that, so I guess unless your lucky, somebody's gonna know if and when they'd offered it... 😞

On 06/07/2024 at 16:51, Chalky said:

its neither, neither is Mixed Feelings or Joseph Webster modern IMO, both niter sounds and not from the modern rooms

wouldn't it be good if it was all just soul music all in one room

Spot on that's why i've always said I collect Soul.

6 hours ago, Soulman58 said:

Spot on that's why i've always said I collect Soul.

Exactly - I collected, and love soul music.

So that's two spot on's, if you get my drift. 

Peter

 

On 05/07/2024 at 17:54, Woodbutcher said:

"International IV - Equal Love" on DIANE , monster tune for Colin Law ... 

Does anyone have a soundfile?

Not on youtube.

Cheers, Carl

25 minutes ago, Tagtag said:

Does anyone have a soundfile?

Not on youtube.

Cheers, Carl

Yes but I'm not posting it , you'd best make the trip up to the "True Soul Weekender" to here it played out ...