what was your first and last northern record?

then.......love on a mountain top-robert knight

last........ain't love wounderful-fantastic four

and no cheating

alan

and no cheating

OK, with that in mind (gulp) it was;

The Joker by the All Night Band

In my defence, I would have been about 12, and I bought it blind - probably cos I'd read Paul Weller going on about Northern Soul. Couldn't wait to get it home and see what all the fuss was about. I was gutted when I played it

and today a minty white demo of "It's All Over But The Pain" by Big Frank Murphy fell through the letterbox

First - Do It To It - Funky Sisters for me girlfriend or Here I Go Again - Archie Bell for meself

Last - I Want A Love I Can See - The Temptations

I'm not counting crap like My Heart's Symphony & Paper Tiger as I don't consider that northern

Edited April 17, 200718 yr by CRUMB

and no cheating

OK, with that in mind (gulp) it was;

The Joker by the All Night Band

In my defence, I would have been about 12, and I bought it blind - probably cos I'd read Paul Weller going on about Northern Soul. Couldn't wait to get it home and see what all the fuss was about. I was gutted when I played it

and today a minty white demo of "It's All Over But The Pain" by Big Frank Murphy fell through the letterbox

'Had this conversation before, and for us older folks, it depends how you define 'Northern'!

ie. do your Motown records count etc.?

Other than Motown records that have SINCE become regarded as Northern (Edwin Starr "Time" etc.), I'd say Tommy Neal - "Going To A Happening" on UK Vocalion (bought from a local pub DJ in 1970)

Marvelows - "I Do" on UK HMV (bought about six months ago from ebay) oh, and more recently replaced my ancient copy of Ad-Libs' "Boy From New York City" (Red Bird) - coincidently, a UK label again!

Edited April 17, 200718 yr by mel brat

Not really sure of first, would probably have been something Philly from around 74/75 without thinking of it as Northern. First knowingly as Northern would probably be one of either 'Case Of Tyme', 'Epitome Of Sound', 'Judy Street', 'Paul Anka' or 'Rufus Lumley'.

Last one was 'Nat Kendricks & His Band (vocal J.D.Bryant) - Here It Is (the Philly Dawg) -Sew City (promo)

Edited April 17, 200718 yr by Bogue

first = Bobby Diamond Stop...columbia

last = Willie Pickett ...On the stage of life..Eastern

not much difference there eh?

the gasher

first = Bobby Diamond Stop...columbia

last = Willie Pickett ...On the stage of life..Eastern

not much difference there eh?

the gasher

Still love Bobby Diamond anyway Gasher, don't care what people think, great blue eyed dancer for clapping to

Remember buying that & Shane Martin on the Columbia specials from Neil Rushton or Soul Bowl, that was the two mail order shops i used to buy from out of the back of Blues & Soul.

'Had this conversation before, and for us older folks, it depends how you define 'Northern'!

ie. do your Motown records count etc.?

Other than Motown records that have SINCE become regarded as Northern (Edwin Starr "Time" etc.), I'd say Tommy Neal - "Going To A Happening" on UK Vocalion (bought from a local pub DJ in 1970)

Marvelows - "I Do" on UK HMV (bought about six months ago from ebay) oh, and more recently replaced my ancient copy of Ad-Libs' "Boy From New York City" (Red Bird) - coincidently, a UK label again!

I know some older folk wouldn't class Tommy Neal as strictly 'northern' but i suppose thats splitting hairs

for me 1st would probably be Little Anthony - Better use your head and most recently through the letterbox Cliff Nobles - judge baby, i'm back on Phil - LA

Pete

First 2 (memory cannot split them) The flasher, Reaching for the best.

Latest 'Shes my beauty queen'

BUT GOING TO SOUL IN THE SUN (RIFE) ON FRIDAY, SO IT COULD WELL BE CHANGED.

Ed

Still love Bobby Diamond anyway Gasher, don't care what people think, great blue eyed dancer for clapping to

Remember buying that & Shane Martin on the Columbia specials from Neil Rushton or Soul Bowl, that was the two mail order shops i used to buy from out of the back of Blues & Soul.

Two great blue eyed tunes! Didn't even realise people were dissing Bobby Diamond...surely not!

First - Johnny Caswell (champion bootleg)

Last (through door yesterday)- Poets (Red Bird)

First....... Tony Clark ''Landslide'' Chess

Last....... The Winstons ''Colour Him Father'' Pye uk

I know some older folk wouldn't class Tommy Neal as strictly 'northern' but i suppose thats splitting hairs

for me 1st would probably be Little Anthony - Better use your head and most recently through the letterbox Cliff Nobles - judge baby, i'm back on Phil - LA

Pete

how can you not class tommy neal as northern. if its not northern what is it. ?

anyway. first little joe cook - falling in love with ya baby.

last attractions - burning up some road ( thanks phil )

rupert

Edited April 18, 200718 yr by rupert

first........ Lou Johnson Goldmine EP

Last........ Comin' home Baby Francis Faye

My first was -

DOBIE GRAY - OUT ON THE FLOOR - CHARGER.Still love it today,30 something years after I bought it.

THE AVONS - SINCE I MET YOU BABY - EXCELLO.Dropped through letterbox last saturday.

Dave.

Edited April 18, 200718 yr by Dave Morris

errrrr ummm

think 1st I was born to love you

last soul on wax

Still likeum both

FIRST JJ BARNES PLEASE LET ME IN -1978,LAST YESTERDAY DAVID RUFFIN RODE BY THE PLACE MOTOWN.

BAZ A.

first was The Ceasers - La La I Love You in the late 80's

last was Emory and The Dynamics - Pretty Little Schoolgirl, which I need to pick up from the post office tomorrow as the stupid postman couldn't fit it through the letterbox and didn't have the savvy to knock next door......

I'm not buying any more though

how can you not class tommy neal as northern. if its not northern what is it. ?

anyway. first little joe cook - falling in love with ya baby.

last attractions - burning up some road ( thanks phil )

rupert

I didnt say it wasn't northern! I said some older folk would argue the toss as it was made popular long before 'northern soul' was thought of! think it comes under the genre of 'club soul'

so that's how i can say it!

Pete

First (aged 9) - traded a copy of Tobi Legend "Time Will Pass You By" on Eric for a Madness single.

Last - Eddie & Ernie "I Can't Do It" Eastern WD

what was your first and last northern record?

then.......love on a mountain top-robert knight

last........ain't love wounderful-fantastic four

and no cheating

alan

Then ....... The Orlons " The Wah - Watusi "

Last ...... Willie Hobbs " Under The Pines "

Malc Burton

First: Landslide - Tony Clarke (Chess) in 1972

Last: Heaven in the Afternoon Lew Kirton (Alston) Saturday morning

Ok, true story, my first "northern" record I bought was:

Minnie Jones & The Minuettes-Shadow of A Memory on Sugar(beginners luck! Had to choose between this for $1 or King Floyd "Heartaches" for $5 and I only had $3.... )

The last record:

Solid Solution-Loving You LP on Silver Spoon for "Think About It Girl"

I know some older folk wouldn't class Tommy Neal as strictly 'northern' but i suppose thats splitting hairs...

I take your point. It was probably already a popular youth club record when I nagged the DJ into selling it to me. The term 'Northern Soul' wasn't in popular usage then anyway, but in retrospect it was my first encounter with Popcorn Wylie and the wider Detroit scene beyond Motown, so it has a personal historical significance in that respect.

Along with Bobby Wells "Let's Copp A Groove", "Higher And Higher" etc., which that particular local pub DJ also played, I just called them "discotheque records" or "dance-soul" records at the time (as I hadn't heard the term "Rhythm & Soul" either!) However, I've seen Tommy Neal referred to as a "Northern classic" many times in recent years, so I guess it depends on when you were born as I said at the start!

I take your point. It was probably already a popular youth club record when I nagged the DJ into selling it to me. The term 'Northern Soul' wasn't in popular usage then anyway, but in retrospect it was my first encounter with Popcorn Wylie and the wider Detroit scene beyond Motown, so it has a personal historical significance in that respect.

Along with Bobby Wells "Let's Copp A Groove", "Higher And Higher" etc., which that particular local pub DJ also played, I just called them "discotheque records" or "dance-soul" records at the time (as I hadn't heard the term "Rhythm & Soul" either!) However, I've seen Tommy Neal referred to as a "Northern classic" many times in recent years, so I guess it depends on when you were born as I said at the start!

Sorry Mel, wasn't having a pop, im far to uneducated on the subject for that! and it seems i'm slightly younger so respect,

I do know older soulies that enjoyed their time in the 60's in night clubs not just youth clubs to sounds such as Tommy Neal and now wont associate themselves with the term 'northern soul' also attended events in recent years billed as club soul/motown nights with a strictly no northern policy and heard TN many times!

Having said all that Mel i wouldn't have touched on it had you not initially seperated Motown that has since been regarded as NS,

Kind Regards

Pete

Sorry Mel, wasn't having a pop, im far to uneducated on the subject for that! and it seems i'm slightly younger so respect,

I do know older soulies that enjoyed their time in the 60's in night clubs not just youth clubs to sounds such as Tommy Neal and now wont associate themselves with the term 'northern soul' also attended events in recent years billed as club soul/motown nights with a strictly no northern policy and heard TN many times!

Having said all that Mel i wouldn't have touched on it had you not initially seperated Motown that has since been regarded as NS,

Kind Regards

Pete

No problem. I'm not in any way offended, but it just goes to show the grey area that existed prior to about 1972, where uptempo Soul records were just called that, and before the term 'Northern Soul' became a bankable commodity! Back then I guess we knew what we meant, we just liked Soul and we liked to dance - and that ain't changed much has it?

(By the way, when exactly did people start using the term "soulies" to describe us?, as it's a comparitively new phrase to me!)

Edited April 18, 200718 yr by mel brat

No problem. I'm not in any way offended, but it just goes to show the grey area that existed prior to about 1972, where uptempo Soul records were just called that, and before the term 'Northern Soul' became a bankable commodity! Back then I guess we knew what we meant, we just liked Soul and we liked to dance - and that ain't changed much has it?

(By the way, when exactly did people start using the term "soulies" to describe us?, as it's a comparitively new phrase to me!)

I agree but thats a term of speech, whereas the soul minded folk that had 'retired' from their 'scene' (being very careful here on the terms i use lol) prior to 1970 ish don't regard NS as a term of speech but a different 'movement' altogether, and i don't think they would be offended at being tagged a 'soulie' as much as a 'northern soulie'

gettin me coat lol

Edited April 18, 200718 yr by pete60

what was your first and last northern record?

then.......love on a mountain top-robert knight

last........ain't love wounderful-fantastic four

and no cheating

alan

What a coincidence!

My first one was Bob Brady - Illusion (Chariot)

and I've just won Ain't love wonderful through evilBay

Cheers

Dante

Not sure on my first and maybe if i had to do this bit for my dad i would have said it be a record like Gloria Jones - Tainted Love but my last Northern i brought to add to dad's collection was Christine Cooper - SOS (Heartaches in Distress)

First Queen of Fools on Hickory in 1971

Last This Thing Called Love Jonny Wyatt on Bronco.

Not sure on my first and maybe if i had to do this bit for my dad i would have said it be a record like Gloria Jones - Tainted Love but my last Northern i brought to add to dad's collection was Christine Cooper - SOS (Heartaches in Distress)

Leave your "dad" outta this, 'cos we feel old enough as it is!!

First, out on the floor,...

last... I don't know yet I have an inkling it wont be long though

I agree but thats a term of speech, whereas the soul minded folk that had 'retired' from their 'scene' (being very careful here on the terms i use lol) prior to 1970 ish don't regard NS as a term of speech but a different 'movement' altogether, and i don't think they would be offended at being tagged a 'soulie' as much as a 'northern soulie'

gettin me coat lol

Yes I think you're right. Northern Soul was/is a quite different "movement" from the 60's Soul scene - even though there is some continuity of purpose even today. We who embraced the Mecca/70's Soul scene were at pains to distance ourselves from the (all of 5 years old!) 'Northern Soul' tag too, even though both shared similar roots, obviously.

It always happens that way I guess, and you can find just the same struggle for identity in various 20th Century art movements for example, where to outsiders they seem virtually identical to each other!

Edited April 20, 200718 yr by mel brat

first johnny moore - walk like a man - date

1973

last larry atkins - aint that love enough - highland white demo

april 2007

Edited April 20, 200718 yr by Tony Parker

First - 12" Red Vinyl Tainted Love

Last - Jimmy James LP (for Hey Girl)

First: Rubin - You've been away - MCA at The Casino on the one and only time I went (yes, push me off the balcony if you want )

Last: Olympics - No More Will I Cry - Loma which turned up yesterday and is trashed - neg feedback left for the theiving american (ebay ID skv50)

Cheers

Paul

first johnny moore - walk like a man - date

1973

last larry atkins - aint that love enough - highland white demo

april 2007

you sure it wasn't 'Footsee' ?

Freddy Butler - That's When I Need You (Bought from Brian Rae's 3 for a quid box at Wigan).

J.J. Caillier - Pusherman

First - Judy Street, What

Last - honetly can't remember, but possibly the 12" clear vinyl re-release of Gloria Jones' Tainted Love.

I did treat myself at xmas to a compilation CD "Wigan Casino Soul Club" Have all the tracks but the "pop up" Wigan Casino was a must!

Baby Boy, Fred Hughes/Purple Haze, Johnny Jones & the King Casuals

last... A Fool In Love, Ike and Tina on Sue

first johnny moore - walk like a man - date

1973

last larry atkins - aint that love enough - highland white demo

april 2007

Is that the same as Ty Karim's ?

My first 45 was Dobie Gray - Out on the floor - Black magic

but my first northern record was a bootleg LP from Wigan on a yellow label, Bee i think. Brilliant listing.

My last buy was 3 Freddie Scott's last night about 12.30, including I'll Be Gone - Shout.

First, Alfie Kahan - Law of the land - US Atlantic

Last, The Complements - Beware Beware - Midas

First: Dobie Gray - Out On The Floor (Inferno re-issue)

Last: Cookie Scott - I Don't Care (ORR)

Rich

first: i remember the feeling - barbara lewis - atlantic c1984/5

most recent: i care for you/world go round - three jades - maurci

see you've surfaced buckley

been a bit quiet since we spanked you at the weekend

first - Johnny Bragg - they're Talking About Me (Elbejay)

Thats if you dont count, Big Wheels of Motown, or that LP that Colin Bee made.

Last - Short term memory loss- by, too many late nights.

Its one of the Tempest singles, for a fiver, but the track escapes me.

First: Bettye Swann "Make me yours" Money.£1

Last: Main Change "Sunshine is her way" Nebula (Slightly higer price)

Is that the same as Ty Karim's ?

Yup!. An old Catacombs spin in fact. (and I think it's the best version!) Also, the other side has his great version of "Lighten Up" and makes it one of the best Northern double headers of all time, surely?

Edited April 24, 200718 yr by mel brat

Tammi Lynn/Tams/Robert Knight/Willie Tee think I got them all around the same time it was a long time ago, all 60's soul sounds but also northern in the 70's and I guess both nowadays. Last one I bought for myself SHARP-ETTS on PERMA HIT.

Yup!. An old Catacombs spin in fact. (and I think it's the best version!) Also, the other side has his great version of "Lighten Up" and makes it one of the best Northern double headers of all time, surely?

Agreed.

I bought the Larry Atkins, and because everyone wanted that, got a great deal on the Ty Karim.

The Larry Atkins has to be in the photo finish for best double sider.