Can anybody please provide me wih an image of this please? I've lost my file.

It was in Blues and Soul in the early 90s and called something like '30 Tracks To Crossover To A Better World'

Thanks

Hi Tony, is it this ?

https://soulfuldetroit.com/archives/3190/2124.html?1045634147

1. DARRELL BANKS �The Harder You Love� (Groovesville Acetate)
2. ALEX BROWN �I�m Not Responsible� (Sundi)
3. WILLIE TEE �Teasin� You Again� (Gatur)
4. WILLIE PICKETT �On The Stage Of Life� (Soul Pot)
5. BOBBY TAYLOR �Don�t Be Afraid� (Gordy)
6. AL JAMES & THE NEW RHYTHM BAND �Give Me Up� (Alocis)
7. JOHNNY MOORE �Yesterday Today And Tomorrow� (Brunswick)
8. TY KARIM �Lightin Up� (Romark)
9. L.V. JOHNSON �Tryin� To Hold On� (Chi-Heat)
10.CHUCK COCKERAM �Have I Got The Right� (Mala)
11.JEAN WELLS �What Have I Got To Lose� (Calla/UK Sonnet)
12.EDDIE BILLUPS �Ask My Heart� (Peachtree)
13.MARVIN SMITH �Peace� (Innovation II)
14.BILLY MILLER �It Should Have Been Me� (Columbia)
15.VIVIAN REED �Save Your Love For Me� (Atco)
16.BABY WASHINGTON �Cup Runneth Over� (Sixth Avenue)
17.BETTYE LAVETTE �You�ll Wake Up Wiser� (Atco)
18.RICHARD CAITON �I�d Like To Get Near You� (Uptight)
19.THE MINITS �Still A Part Of Me� (MGM SoundsOfMemphis)
20.SATIN "Your Love's Got Me"
21.ISLEY BROTHERS �My Love Is Your Love� (MFP)
22.MARY HOLMES �I Need Your Lovin�� (Philly Groove)
23.HOLLY MAXWELL �Only When You�re Lonely� (Constellation)
24.OTIS LEAVILL �You Bring Out The Best In Me� (Dakar)
25.BOBBY WOMACK �Tried And Convicted� (Minit)
26.MARVIN GAYE/KIM WESTON �When We�re Together� (Tamla)
27.RUBY ANDREWS �Just Lovin� You� (Zodiac)
28.DETROIT SOUND OF FRICTION �I�m Leavin� You� (Heavy Sound)
29.BOBBY PATTERSON �I�m In Love With You� (Jetstream/UK Action)
30.BARBARA McNAIR �It Happens Every Time� (Motown)

It was a great and different chart for the time ,quite a few that were new to me back then .Remember Richard played The Norfolk Village and 100 Club around this time also .

1 hour ago, Alan T said:

Hi Tony, is it this ?

https://soulfuldetroit.com/archives/3190/2124.html?1045634147

1. DARRELL BANKS �The Harder You Love� (Groovesville Acetate)
2. ALEX BROWN �I�m Not Responsible� (Sundi)
3. WILLIE TEE �Teasin� You Again� (Gatur)
4. WILLIE PICKETT �On The Stage Of Life� (Soul Pot)
5. BOBBY TAYLOR �Don�t Be Afraid� (Gordy)
6. AL JAMES & THE NEW RHYTHM BAND �Give Me Up� (Alocis)
7. JOHNNY MOORE �Yesterday Today And Tomorrow� (Brunswick)
8. TY KARIM �Lightin Up� (Romark)
9. L.V. JOHNSON �Tryin� To Hold On� (Chi-Heat)
10.CHUCK COCKERAM �Have I Got The Right� (Mala)
11.JEAN WELLS �What Have I Got To Lose� (Calla/UK Sonnet)
12.EDDIE BILLUPS �Ask My Heart� (Peachtree)
13.MARVIN SMITH �Peace� (Innovation II)
14.BILLY MILLER �It Should Have Been Me� (Columbia)
15.VIVIAN REED �Save Your Love For Me� (Atco)
16.BABY WASHINGTON �Cup Runneth Over� (Sixth Avenue)
17.BETTYE LAVETTE �You�ll Wake Up Wiser� (Atco)
18.RICHARD CAITON �I�d Like To Get Near You� (Uptight)
19.THE MINITS �Still A Part Of Me� (MGM SoundsOfMemphis)
20.SATIN "Your Love's Got Me"
21.ISLEY BROTHERS �My Love Is Your Love� (MFP)
22.MARY HOLMES �I Need Your Lovin�� (Philly Groove)
23.HOLLY MAXWELL �Only When You�re Lonely� (Constellation)
24.OTIS LEAVILL �You Bring Out The Best In Me� (Dakar)
25.BOBBY WOMACK �Tried And Convicted� (Minit)
26.MARVIN GAYE/KIM WESTON �When We�re Together� (Tamla)
27.RUBY ANDREWS �Just Lovin� You� (Zodiac)
28.DETROIT SOUND OF FRICTION �I�m Leavin� You� (Heavy Sound)
29.BOBBY PATTERSON �I�m In Love With You� (Jetstream/UK Action)
30.BARBARA McNAIR �It Happens Every Time� (Motown)

I'm not sure it was that exact list but it could have been. Thanks for that though - appreciated

#13 and #14 cover ups right?

8 hours ago, Benji said:

#13 and #14 cover ups right?

Marvin Smith was unissued ,recently released by Hit & Run ( Garry Cape ) .Its a great record .Not sure whether Billy Miller is a cover up ,it’s unissued though and superb .

10 hours ago, Benji said:

#13 and #14 cover ups right?

Both unissued Marvin Smith later came out on Garry J. Cape's Hit & Run label.

Was this the first popular use of the crossover term,? I guess I first became aware of the term around the time.

12 hours ago, Geeselad said:

Was this the first popular use of the crossover term,? I guess I first became aware of the term around the time.

No, it was in use prior to this article, in particular at places such as Canal Tavern, Thorne.

3 hours ago, Chalky said:

No, it was in use prior to this article, in particular at places such as Canal Tavern, Thorne.

Never went but remember searling and others talking about those venues in fanzines, needs a chapter in your book on the history of crossover😁

2 hours ago, Geeselad said:

Never went but remember searling and others talking about those venues in fanzines, needs a chapter in your book on the history of crossover😁

Most definitely, retirement job though I think.

Whilst crossover in music isn’t anything new it was Rod Deatlove who probably first used the term to describe the crossover in question. The music had been about and played for many years though. I have the article Rod penned somewhere that someone posted elsewhere (saved me finding it and scanning), might have been John Reed?? I’ll post it again a little later.

Not sure if they are in the right order?

14 hours ago, Chalky said:

might have been John Reed?? I’ll post it again a little later.

It was, and the highlights, squiggles and prices are what I had, what I wanted and the current prices.

Edited September 14Sep 14 by John Reed

Was talking to Dave Welding about this subject (Crossover) and we both agreed the mid to late 80s all-nighter scene has to take some of the credit for introducing these records and laying the foundations. Stafford with the likes of Matt Brown (both of em), Guitar Ray and more, Blackburn and Guy with Chuck Cockerham, Wilson Love and others with more of the same, Allanton with the likes of New Sounds (Andy Dyson down south), many more besides featured at all-nighters. Rod and Canal Tavern take a lot of credit and rightly so but Gary Welsh was running nights there before Rod took the helm and many of this type of record was featured. As the sound took off many Soul nights sprung up, Andy Dyson also had a top night in Conisboro' at The Hoist (think that is what it was called), Tim B and Rod alongside him, Sean Hampsey and Co at Pitches etc.

Edited September 16Sep 16 by Chalky

On 13/09/2025 at 16:51, Chalky said:

Not sure if they are in the right order?

I think that was the first time I heard the term Chalky

I always thought Ian Clarke played "crossover" type records in the late 80s before the term was formalised.

2 hours ago, John Reed said:

I always thought Ian Clarke played "crossover" type records in the late 80s before the term was formalised.

Hi did but he was always on the phone to people like John Corless and myself asking what was being played/happening at places like Thorne and Parker's. I remember selling him a copy of Ella Woods "I Need Your Love" Merging for the princely sum of £35.00 LOL! after playing it down the phone to him. I got my first copy off Soul Bowl for £12.00 and a copy of Prince Ella Johnson "What're Doing To Me" Merging a total unknown at the time for £20.00. I later picked a second copy of Ella Woods up in a deal from the states which i sat on for a couple of years before i sold it Ian. Copies of Ella Woods used to appear fairly often over the years and then you have to add the 200 copies find in the states circa 15 years back so not as rare as people make out. People need to remember that before the term 'Crossover' was even thought of there was plenty of collectors buying up nice mid-temp soul records off Soul Bowl, Garry J. Cape etc for in most cases less than a fiver Johnny Thompson (Jay-Tee), The Original Breed (Karol), Chuck Ray (Tamboo), Willie Cager (Contact) etc On one buying trip to the Bowl following one of John's buying trip's his shipment turned up and as he started to open up the 100 count boxes off the pallet he invited me to start opening some up too out off those came interesting looking records on Zot The Epic's and Dorothy Johnson (JA charged ma a fiver each on those) in another box came Ed Cooper and Herman George on Nimrod (JA charged me £15.00 apiece on those). So happy days when a lot of these 45's took off. It makes me smile when records like Melvin Moore are now touted as 'Holy Grail's' when JA sold the first copy to Soul Sam he had a 100 copies on the self. On another of my buying trips up there when again his shipment turned up and another invitation to me to dig into some 100 count boxes both he and i were pulling out handful's of Melvin Moore. One last story to finish off yet another time at the bowl i notice a couple of 100 count boxes when i open them their full of the Notations on C.R.A i asked if i could buy a quantity "No! came the answer their going to Japan" although i did manage to skim 2 copies off the top into my pile

Dave

Edited September 17Sep 17 by Louise

We used to play a lot of Crossover soul at the Original Bretby nights but looking back I don't think we called it that.....just good mid-tempo (mainly) soul records. I believe the term became widely used in the mid-90s with venues when Pitches, Post Office Club Manchester and Parkers dedicated whole events or rooms to Crossover.

I actually have an article on my website "What is crossover soul" which I think sums up the term perfectly.

What Is Crossover Soul

It's a genre which is often misunderstood in my opinion. I've heard 70s uptempo dancers and 60s Detroit beat ballads all referred to as "Crossover" which to me they are not....but they sit well alongside the Crossover genre well in a well constructed set.

Chris

Edited September 17Sep 17 by Chris Anderton

Thought worth linking to another similar thread I started from 2016 - some more interesting crossover related thoughts on there:-

A lot of venues played crossover but not all were crossover venues although I don't think anything venue was or even is today strictly crossover but Canal Tavern where the term originated was the closest. Pitches was a little after Thorne and was across the board, Parkers around the same time and featured records from right across the decades right up to newer releases. Bretby which I loved and didn't miss one was for me more 60s orientated.

But they all played their part in a rich diverse scene back then, a time when we were spoilt IMO. We could argue all day what record is or isn't Crossover (I wouldn't call some of those in the top 30 min question crossover), is it a 70s dancer or a 60s mid tempo etc. The term today is nothing like how it was used back then with records of varying tempos and even 80s and 90s releases going under the term.

Edited September 17Sep 17 by Chalky

Maybe crossover could losely be described as 60's records that have productions that sound like they could of been made in the 70's, and 70's records that sound like thay could have been made in the 60's!

Edited September 17Sep 17 by Solidsoul

At the back end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 Richard did a top 100 Crossover. Playlist and link to the show for the final part (part 7) of the top 100 can be found on Soul Strutter's website with links to the previous 6 shows covering the 100.

Richard Searling [2023-01-22] - Crossover Hot 100 Pt. 7 (...

soul,northern soul,modern soul,lowrider,deep soul,quiet storm,rare groove,motown,neo soul,rare soul,crossover,beat ballad,60s soul,70s soul

On 16/09/2025 at 15:37, Eddie Hubbard said:

I think that was the first time I heard the term Chalky

7 hours ago, Solidsoul said:

Maybe crossover could losely be described as 60's records that have productions that sound like they could of been made in the 70's, and 70's records that sound like thay could have been made in the 60's!

Always said, my take on Crossover, "out of the 60,s, but not into the 70,s, sort of, 1968-1972, I see records listed for sale from 1975 onwards, Bollox, listen on YouTube to James Brown live at the Boston Garden , 1968, the guitar rifts and horn rifts, totally ahead of the time, and if anybody is going to follow anybody back then, guess who? BTW, this latest fad about "Lowrider" in Europe, the boy's at the sharp end in Califs, collect stuff from that same period, but too slow to appeal to the European Soul Scene, not "B" sides and mainstream labels which is constantly put out there

I do not recall anyone who was collecting and playing out any crossover records when that term was fresh ever being deluded to what period or style it was attributed to. 67-74 beat ballad to mid tempo soul. In the last 15 years all sorts of records have been given the term. How deaf can they get! Looking back it was easy to see how that scene emerged, many a soul collector had lost patience with 90% of new releases lacking real instruments and way too much of the uptempo sixtees getting played was just to bang average. So there was this little void of soulfull music in the middle of those time spans, some of which was tricky to dance to, but not half as tricky as the Velvet Satins with your shoe laces undone. Just to say, that Prince Ella Johnson 45 that Dave mentioned above is tremendous, running at Jimmy Bo Horn pace i'm really surprized to not see it in playlists, way tougher than Ella Woods easily as good IMO.

9 hours ago, Still Diggin said:

I do not recall anyone who was collecting and playing out any crossover records when that term was fresh ever being deluded to what period or style it was attributed to. 67-74 beat ballad to mid tempo soul. In the last 15 years all sorts of records have been given the term. How deaf can they get! Looking back it was easy to see how that scene emerged, many a soul collector had lost patience with 90% of new releases lacking real instruments and way too much of the uptempo sixtees getting played was just to bang average. So there was this little void of soulfull music in the middle of those time spans, some of which was tricky to dance to, but not half as tricky as the Velvet Satins with your shoe laces undone. Just to say, that Prince Ella Johnson 45 that Dave mentioned above is tremendous, running at Jimmy Bo Horn pace i'm really surprized to not see it in playlists, way tougher than Ella Woods easily as good IMO.

Hi Andy i did hear Butch play Prince Ella Johnson out at a Bretby alldayer, one time and i did try it a few times myself but without much success, the audience/crossover scene had reach the point of not hearing anything past Bobby Reed (Bell) and Richard Caiton "I'd Like To Get Near You " sadly by then. But then you and Chris Huggins (local guys to Bowl) had your fair share of interesting records out of John too.

Edited September 18Sep 18 by Louise

1 hour ago, Louise said:

Hi Andy i did hear Butch play Prince Ella Johnson out at a Bretby alldayer, one time and i did try it a few times myself but without much success, the audience/crossover scene had reach the point of not hearing anything past Bobby Reed (Bell) and Richard Caiton "I'd Like To Get Near You " sadly by then. But then you and Chris Huggins (local guys to Bowl) had your fair share of interesting records out of John too.

Cmon Dave dont be so negative! lot of young guns love and dance Soul Junction releases too ! Come down to London , you will love it

On 17/09/2025 at 16:02, Chalky said:

At the back end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 Richard did a top 100 Crossover. Playlist and link to the show for the final part (part 7) of the top 100 can be found on Soul Strutter's website with links to the previous 6 shows covering the 100.

Richard Searling [2023-01-22] - Crossover Hot 100 Pt. 7 (...

soul,northern soul,modern soul,lowrider,deep soul,quiet storm,rare groove,motown,neo soul,rare soul,crossover,beat ballad,60s soul,70s soul

They were great shows but some of those aren't crossover surely - such as Jean Carne

9 hours ago, Daved said:

They were great shows but some of those aren't crossover surely - such as Jean Carne

People are going to shoot me for saying this. Richard Searling has been a significant influence on the UK soul scene in the past, but these days what he says is not the be all and end all the what's happening in the protracted soul scene in the UK.

Edited September 20Sep 20 by John Reed

13 hours ago, Daved said:

They were great shows but some of those aren't crossover surely - such as Jean Carne

I would agree that a fair few not what we would call crossover as we know/knew it

3 hours ago, Chalky said:

I would agree that a fair few not what we would call crossover as we know/knew it

That's right, you see records from 1974, 75, 76 listed for sale as "Crossover " my take (if it means anything) is "out of the 60,s, but not into the 70,s 1968-1972 ish

Kev

On 18/09/2025 at 07:26, Louise said:

Hi Andy i did hear Butch play Prince Ella Johnson out at a Bretby alldayer, one time and i did try it a few times myself but without much success, the audience/crossover scene had reach the point of not hearing anything past Bobby Reed (Bell) and Richard Caiton "I'd Like To Get Near You " sadly by then. But then you and Chris Huggins (local guys to Bowl) had your fair shar

On 18/09/2025 at 07:26, Louise said:

Hi Andy i did hear Butch play Prince Ella Johnson out at a Bretby alldayer, one time and i did try it a few times myself but without much success, the audience/crossover scene had reach the point of not hearing anything past Bobby Reed (Bell) and Richard Caiton "I'd Like To Get Near You " sadly by then. But then you and Chris Huggins (local guys to Bowl) had your fair share of interesting records out of John too.

3 hours ago, Chalky said:

I would agree that a fair few not what we would call crossover as we know/knew it

On 18/09/2025 at 07:26, Louise said:

Hi Andy i did hear Butch play Prince Ella Johnson out at a Bretby alldayer, one time and i did try it a few times myself but without much success, the audience/crossover scene had reach the point of not hearing anything past Bobby Reed (Bell) and Richard Caiton "I'd Like To Get Near You " sadly by then. But then you and Chris Huggins (local guys to Bowl) had your fair share of interesting records out of John too.

Well if you and Mark have played it, I feel fully justified in my opinion! 👍Living in Norfolk did have it's advantages with regard to a Soul bowl visit, however as a self employed decorator during that period it was very cut throat, so my buying power did not get me too high up the pecking order. However he was unlocking the potential of so many incredible soul records in that period you had to be doing something seriously wrong to not come away with something to treasure. Think we all wish our wisdom and knowledge was better back then. Although I had stopped buying uptempo 60's by then he did occasionally offer me the odd one or two. He offered me the Poets on J2, however due to it's jovial backing I decided it sounded like a beach record and likely to end up on his front page, what a plonker. I know another local guy Andy Gill had one from him. He also offered me Bobby Rich for either £75 or £100 , again, wrong side of northern by then. He offered it to Chris as well. I think everyone who visited there wondered what the rejected all these years later.

On 18/09/2025 at 07:26, Louise said:

Hi Andy i did hear Butch play Prince Ella Johnson out at a Bretby alldayer, one time and i did try it a few times myself but without much success, the audience/crossover scene had reach the point of not hearing anything past Bobby Reed (Bell) and Richard Caiton "I'd Like To Get Near You " sadly by then. But then you and Chris Huggins (local guys to Bowl) had your fair share of interesting records out of John too.

4 hours ago, Still Diggin said:

Well if you and Mark have played it, I feel fully justified in my opinion! 👍Living in Norfolk did have it's advantages with regard to a Soul bowl visit, however as a self employed decorator during that period it was very cut throat, so my buying power did not get me too high up the pecking order. However he was unlocking the potential of so many incredible soul records in that period you had to be doing something seriously wrong to not come away with something to treasure. Think we all wish our wisdom and knowledge was better back then. Although I had stopped buying uptempo 60's by then he did occasionally offer me the odd one or two. He offered me the Poets on J2, however due to it's jovial backing I decided it sounded like a beach record and likely to end up on his front page, what a plonker. I know another local guy Andy Gill had one from him. He also offered me Bobby Rich for either £75 or £100 , again, wrong side of northern by then. He offered it to Chris as well. I think everyone who visited there wondered what the rejected all these years later.

Yes he offered me Bobby Rich for £100 and i still think it's kack. 😊

On 13/09/2025 at 10:48, Chalky said:

No, it was in use prior to this article, in particular at places such as Canal Tavern, Thorne.

First tearm i heard the term was from dear old Max Rees.

He came up with it when their became a Northern room and modern room as a nighter and he used to stand between them.

Really liked Max☹️

5 hours ago, Ncfc said:

First tearm i heard the term was from dear old Max Rees.

He came up with it when their became a Northern room and modern room as a nighter and he used to stand between them.

Really liked Max☹️

I’ve heard it for other styles/genres too.

On 14/09/2025 at 16:49, Chalky said:

Was talking to Dave Welding about this subject (Crossover) and we both agreed the mid to late 80s all-nighter scene has to take some of the credit for introducing these records and laying the foundations. Stafford with the likes of Matt Brown (both of em), Guitar Ray and more, Blackburn and Guy with Chuck Cockerham, Wilson Love and others with more of the same, Allanton with the likes of New Sounds (Andy Dyson down south), many more besides featured at all-nighters. Rod and Canal Tavern take a lot of credit and rightly so but Gary Welsh was running nights there before Rod took the helm and many of this type of record was featured. As the sound took off many Soul nights sprung up, Andy Dyson also had a top night in Conisboro' at The Hoist (think that is what it was called), Tim B and Rod alongside him, Sean Hampsey and Co at Pitches etc.

Quite a good list of venues you've mentioned there Karl, however the list of records that was posted earlier, some of those were exclusive to Parkers in Manchester with Richard Searling & Dean Johnson so I think Parkers is worthy of a mention.

1 hour ago, Jessie Pinkman said:

Quite a good list of venues you've mentioned there Karl, however the list of records that was posted earlier, some of those were exclusive to Parkers in Manchester with Richard Searling & Dean Johnson so I think Parkers is worthy of a mention.

Which were exclusive mate? All I have mentioned were before Parkers.

4 minutes ago, Chalky said:

Which were exclusive mate? All I have mentioned were before Parkers.

Will Johnny Moore "Yesterday, today & tomorrow "do, I was just saying Parkers is worth a mention, I wasn't trying to catch you out.

Sorry, my fault I hadn't read the whole thing, when I got to the ads I thought it had finished, I've just read on and Parkers was mentioned a few times, even by yourself mate.

Edited September 23Sep 23 by Jessie Pinkman

1 hour ago, Jessie Pinkman said:

Will Johnny Moore "Yesterday, today & tomorrow "do, I was just saying Parkers is worth a mention, I wasn't trying to catch you out.

Sorry, my fault I hadn't read the whole thing, when I got to the ads I thought it had finished, I've just read on and Parkers was mentioned a few times, even by yourself mate.

No worries mate. I thought you were referring to the tracks I mentioned. Yeah Parker deffo worthy of a mention and as you say some exclusives, loved it there.

6 hours ago, Jessie Pinkman said:

Quite a good list of venues you've mentioned there Karl, however the list of records that was posted earlier, some of those were exclusive to Parkers in Manchester with Richard Searling & Dean Johnson so I think Parkers is worthy of a mention.

Loads of those great Parkers tunes were being played way before on the London 2 step scene. (Not all of course)

Think the stepper guys need some credit now and again. 😊

1 hour ago, Ncfc said:

Loads of those great Parkers tunes were being played way before on the London 2 step scene. (Not all of course)

Think the stepper guys need some credit now and again. 😊

I lived in Manchester 89-94 and went to Parkers quite a bit - used to hear about the London 2 step scene but didn’t really have a proper handle on it - tell us more about it? Venues, DJ’s, big tunes, etc?

(If not too off thread)

1 hour ago, Ncfc said:

Loads of those great Parkers tunes were being played way before on the London 2 step scene. (Not all of course)

Think the stepper guys need some credit now and again. 😊

I don't think I said they were all played at Parkers first before anywhere else but I'll take your word for it that most were played on the London 2 step scene. What I can say is that most of the records on that list I first heard at Parkers & Southport W/E

Edited September 23Sep 23 by Jessie Pinkman

14 hours ago, Chris Turnbull said:

I lived in Manchester 89-94 and went to Parkers quite a bit - used to hear about the London 2 step scene but didn’t really have a proper handle on it - tell us more about it? Venues, DJ’s, big tunes, etc?

(If not too off thread)

Good call, I've heard it referenced loads but wouldn't have a clue and venues or DJ's, Doctor Bob Jones perhaps?

As the London 2-Step scene essentially evolved from the reggae blues parties, I'd say it was less venue based and more sound system driven.

2 hours ago, Geeselad said:

Good call, I've heard it referenced loads but wouldn't have a clue and venues or DJ's, Doctor Bob Jones perhaps?

You could be right Re Dr Bob Jones, he did Southport every year alongside Norman Jay, Terry Jones and Andy Davies. The Saturday afternoon sessions with Terry & Andy were fantastic.

1 hour ago, Jessie Pinkman said:

You could be right Re Dr Bob Jones, he did Southport every year alongside Norman Jay, Terry Jones and Andy Davies. The Saturday afternoon sessions with Terry & Andy were fantastic.

Didn't they call it Rare Groove down there? 🤷

3 hours ago, John Reed said:

As the London 2-Step scene essentially evolved from the reggae blues parties, I'd say it was less venue based and more sound system driven.

Yes John and pirate radio stations. Had lots of tapes at one time but were stolen along with my car stereo in Gt Yarmouth late 80s.

20 minutes ago, Chalky said:

Didn't they call it Rare Groove down there? 🤷

Yes they did mate,👍It was always a treat to hear the likes of Anglo, Saxon Brown, The 3 Pieces, Sandra Wright & Crystal Winds on a big system.

Edited September 24Sep 24 by Jessie Pinkman

2 hours ago, Chalky said:

Didn't they call it Rare Groove down there? 🤷

That started with the guys playing the James Brown orientated stuff.

Maceo and the Macks and Lynn Collins lps went through the roof price wise. Obviously tons more and was the death of the cheap cut out lps i would buy from City Sounds and Bluebird.

On 24/09/2025 at 17:36, Chalky said:

Didn't they call it Rare Groove down there? 🤷

Yes Chalky ,no doubt influenced by the pirate radio stations which played a lot of the mellow groove and funky sounds from the early 70’s into the 80’s

On 24/09/2025 at 17:36, Chalky said:

Didn't they call it Rare Groove down there? 🤷

Minefield that genre, those compilations on arista, were I million miles from what I heard on the wag club and other west end venues, it seems 'rare groove's was a very broad church indeed. To me it means; jackson sisters, voices of east Harlem- dead or alive, hot wax and loads of JB and related records, to others something different entirely.

13 hours ago, Eddie Hubbard said:

Yes Chalky ,no doubt influenced by the pirate radio stations which played a lot of the mellow groove and funky sounds from the early 70’s into the 80’s

Norman Jay seems to have been a leading light in that scene via his pirate radio shows and a Monday night residence at the Bass Clef in London for several years during the late 80s/early 90s. That's certainly the kind of "rare groove" I learned at the time and those Dez Parkes comps on Arista were a fair reflection of that particular scene (and apparently quite collectable today - some proper rarities on them).