What's the word with Northern Soul (or any Soul) and seven-inch singles these days?

I don't mean (necessarily) hard-to-find originals or boots, just generally.

The Jamaican music biz has always been a singles-orientated market and probably always will be.

Thus, it's no problem to get a vinyl "fix" via proper Jamaican re-presses (only £2-£3 each) of classic tunes - sound quality can be variable, but as I've recently been (re-)discovering after a number of years of not really buying vinyl - there's a certain buzz to putting the needle to a record, especially when you get your prized purchase home.

CDs are oh-so convenient and sometimes the only way to get a tune, plus the best way to listen in the car...

Is there an equivalent market and supply of Soul/Northern singles?

I've not seen it mentioned in here - though I haven't dug too deeply.

The DJs in jamaica have gone over to playing CDs and CDRs and probaly lap tops. I'm sure their British equivalents will continue with the vinyl.

if you wish to find out about current pressings head for E bay and do a search on "seven day Fool"

Yeah I don't think the NS audience would accept a DJ to play off a labtop. This is common practice now in loads of musical genres, but has (imo) always led to a poorer quality of the nights held.

It's been discussed thousands of times but for me the bottom line is: Vinyl just sounds better.

And about the NS audience's feelings about boots: there' been some heavy discussions on this board over this matter, i'm sure you could find some in the arhives...

Looks like the general consensus about boots is: OK for playing at home, not OK for playing out.

Thanks for the responses - I occasionally go to Reggae nights and while I've seen CDs and CD-rs played, it's still mostly vinyl - original preferred but no problem with re-presses.

I've not seen anyone playing off a laptop.

I don't do ebay...

for the last 5 years ive been playing more soul nites but before that i was strictly a reggae dj and trust me the obsession with vinyl in the reggae scene whether it be revival,dub or ragga is just as mad as the northern scene....there will be some who change of course..

went to a dub clash couple of years back in bristol....iration steppas v abba shanti, ive seen these two clash before and always a good night...years ago iration would always use dat tapes while abbashanti would have vinyl and old style dubplate(acetate)...this time while abbashanti still did it one deck and vinyl style iration were using discs...recorded off vinyl ! you could still here the slight crackles etc,even a f***** rewind which the should only be called for by the crowd !...abbashanti wiped the floor with them....vinyl just shows you are makin more of an effort and doin something special which the dancefloor appreciates...in my opinion