Lancashire’s Darrell Smith has released a homage to the Drifter in collaboration with the Stoke band ‘Soul Brothers Syndicate’. Many of you will remember him from the epic Royal Albert Hall gig on bbc in 2023. It’s been played so far on Radio 6 but if anyone can help get it played on mainstream Radio 2 it would no doubt give a boost to its chances of success? Available here   https://kycker.ffm.to/drifter

On 09/12/2024 at 15:36, Phil J said:

Know what you mean about certain tracks fill the floor even though they’re not technically ‘soul’ e.g. Bob Sinclair (a French DJ I believe) and Tribute. It’s more of a rave record really with that thumping beat but ppl seem to be mad for it when the mood is right? In terms of royalties, the original singers/composers (many of whom are deceased now) live in poverty, I know someone who located some in the States, Dena Barnes wasn’t aware there were thousands of British fans dancing to one of her old songs, it would be a real humane gesture - a kind of levelling up - if someone who’s ever made £00’s or £000’s from one of these records could donate a % to them? Just saying. 

Bob Sinclar baffles me, yes, white French DJ with a really below average House record but in certain venues goes down a storm. Curiously they seem to play absolutely no other House records whatsoever, then again random rock, pop, Rock n Roll and disco records seem to fill the floor too.

Edited December 10, 2024Dec 10 by Timillustrator

👍🏻👍🏻

19 hours ago, Phil J said:

Thanks for acknowledging that I have just as much validity to express an opinion as anyone else Peter! Your post plus one other gives me some hope that people out there are open minded and willing to accept other people have a view? I liked the one where the fella said I’m from Watford so what do I know? Let’s not forget the two most famous people of Watford, George Michael and Elton John, were massive Soul fans in their younger days albeit not northern Soul. As I suggested previously the northern soul organisation is just like any other, there’s the hierarchy of promoters, DJs and vinyl experts at the top of the pyramid and everyone else or the punters or the minions. Just like a football club is not a club without its fans you could say northern soul would be nothing without the punters. Some people feel it is a scene that cannot be described because you had to have been there. There’s been two movies, two touring plays plus numerous books and I feel creative people ought to be allowed to give their version of what their truth is. The books are mostly enjoyable (Although one or two focus in my opinion too much on the drug scene.) For me the scene was always about dancing, just like the Charleston and the Jitterbug that came before and the jazz funk and the street dance/breakdancing that came later I feel that’s the essence of the scene. Didn’t want to appear to be getting bogged down in academia or intellectualism (knowledge based) when really I feel it’s a scene all about feeling (emotion based) I’ve seen which a scene which can turn aggressive lads into dancers who sing along with some of the most emotional lyrics ever written - that’s got to be worth something! As for the person who said Ray Pollard should not be copied: there’s dozens of tribute bands up and down the country who imitate the Beatles, the stones, Coldplay, Bowie etc every weekend so why can’t people imitate Ray Pollard? For all we know he might even be flattered and honoured that someone should pay homage? I’ll end it how I started the thread. (Can’t believe there’s been 1 700 views!) All I was saying was isn’t it good how a bunch of musicians half our age somehow want to celebrate northern soul, possibly from a nostalgic angle (it’s prob something their parents were into) and that it held out some hope for the future continuation of the scene. KTF 

Typo …. ‘I’ve seen which a scene’ supposed to be ‘I’ve seen a scene’

hey @Phil J

no real need for the last two posts

better to use our 'reactions' for 'thumbs up'

and can use our 'edit' feature for 'editing' typos

Looking at  the last few posts I'd say that the topic (originally about a 45 release) has had its day and will close shortly

cheers

mike