maybe this has been done before, but i thought it may be worth a shout to find out what turned people to this great music.listening to grace jones on ken bruce playing 3degrees "dirty ol man" which along with "year of decision" were faves of mine at the time.the records i remember turning me onto soul (apart from the obvious motown) were DON DOWNING "LONELY DAYS, LONELY NIGHTS" AND EDDIE KENDRICKS "KEEP ON TRUCKING" and b4 that "yesterday has gone CUPID'S INSPIRATION, all great imho! would be nice for some of the "older" guys and gals on here to recall their teenage soul faves!

maybe this has been done before, but i thought it may be worth a shout to find out what turned people to this great music.listening to grace jones on ken bruce playing 3degrees "dirty ol man" which along with "year of decision" were faves of mine at the time.the records i remember turning me onto soul (apart from the obvious motown) were DON DOWNING "LONELY DAYS, LONELY NIGHTS" AND EDDIE KENDRICKS "KEEP ON TRUCKING" and b4 that "yesterday has gone CUPID'S INSPIRATION, all great imho! would be nice for some of the "older" guys and gals on here to recall their teenage soul faves!

It was the only music played in our house but i remember my dad having a cd of Wigan oldies that i would play over & over again that really got me into it. Especially Judy Street-what & Beverley Ann-you've got your mind on other things which i would have on repeat, so much so that my dad can't listen to these records now!

It was the only music played in our house but i remember my dad having a cd of Wigan oldies that i would play over & over again that really got me into it. Especially Judy Street-what & Beverley Ann-you've got your mind on other things which i would have on repeat, so much so that my dad can't listen to these records now!

The first record to awaken my interest , was " The Wah - Watusi " by The Orlons . I love it the first time I heard it , and still do , 47 years later .........

It has been downhill ever since

Malc Burton

Edited January 9, 200916 yr by Malc Burton

As a teenager i needed a reason to f*** up relationships, lose jobs and spend all my money on records.

The first record to awaken my interest , was " The Watusi " by The Orlons ........

It has been downhill ever since

Malc Burton

i suppose it's an age thing mate(no offence meant by that) but thats what i wanted in the thread.was this in a club? what yr etc?

not MY cup of tea as dated, but i can see the attraction if it was a club environment!

As a teenager i needed a reason to f*** up relationships, lose jobs and spend all my money on records.

been there done that!

maybe this has been done before, but i thought it may be worth a shout to find out what turned people to this great music.listening to grace jones on ken bruce playing 3degrees "dirty ol man" which along with "year of decision" were faves of mine at the time.the records i remember turning me onto soul (apart from the obvious motown) were DON DOWNING "LONELY DAYS, LONELY NIGHTS" AND EDDIE KENDRICKS "KEEP ON TRUCKING" and b4 that "yesterday has gone CUPID'S INSPIRATION, all great imho! would be nice for some of the "older" guys and gals on here to recall their teenage soul faves!

I got into it via my local youth club Mod nights in about 1983, i was listening to the stuff that was played there at the time, loads of obvious Motown and tracks like 'Skiing in the snow' (!) and 'Black power' etc etc etc mainly all really naff stuff looking back but it did the trick!

Ste.

i suppose it's an age thing mate(no offence meant by that) but thats what i wanted in the thread.was this in a club? what yr etc?

not MY cup of tea as dated, but i can see the attraction if it was a club environment!

No , as I was only 12 at the time when I heard The Orlons ......

My introduction to Soul music / R&B in a club environment , came at the age of 15 , when I attended house parties in the Chapletown area of Leeds with some Jamaican mates from school , then The Wheel ..........

Malc Burton

Edited January 9, 200916 yr by Malc Burton

No , as I was only 12 at the time when I heard The Orlons ......

My introduction to Soul music / R&B in a club environment , came at the age of 15 , when I attended house parties in the Chapletown area of Leeds with some Jamaican mates from school , then The Wheel ..........

Malc Burton

I went to a few 'Blues' parties back in the 80's in Chapeltown - scary!

Ste.

I got into it via my local youth club Mod nights in about 1983, i was listening to the stuff that was played there at the time, loads of obvious Motown and tracks like 'Skiing in the snow' (!) and 'Black power' etc etc etc mainly all really naff stuff looking back but it did the trick!

Ste.

i remember in school someone brought "footsee" in to discuss about. played the other side chuck wood and i thought wow i'll have some of that! maybe 75/76 ish.

No , as I was only 12 at the time when I heard The Orlons ......

My introduction to Soul music / R&B in a club environment , came at the age of 15 , when I attended house parties in the Chapletown area of Leeds with some Jamaican mates from school , then The Wheel ..........

Malc Burton

so what was played then and what yr would this be? still drive past delaneys in harehills and wonder what it's like in there! being white i don't wanna go in on own. way to risky nowadays!

thought it may be worth a shout to find out what turned people to this great music.

I think if it hadn't been for the mod revival in the late seventies, the whole Northern thing may have passed me by..

Alas as if by osmosis boating blazers and sta press became monkey boots, 501's & pilot jacket and Stevie & Smokey advanced to Dobie & The 7 Dwarfs etc etc!

I've said it many times but

Tears Of A Clown, was the first record I really loved. As a teenager, my mates were listening to Buddy Holly, Elvis etc. Dursley of my era was a very Rock N Roll town. (Dave T's experience is a little different to mine).

I was mesmerised by TOAC and bought my first ever record. Big Wheels of Motown. My girlfriend had a sister who went to Wigan with her boyfriend. They played me the Capitol Soul Casino LP, and I was smitten.

So much so the first single I ever bought was Johnny Bragg on Elbejay. It cost 4 weeks paper round money.

By this time my mates were listening to the Sex Pistols and the Buzzcocks etc. I was buying and listening to soul records, but going to punk gigs with my mates. My first Northern Soul experience was an alldayer at Stroud Subscription Rooms, as my folks wouldnt let me got with Conway and Caroline to Yate until I was 16.

But I do remember it clear as day. I made a real point of finding out what the record playing as we walked in was, and my first ever wants list was born.

Ben Zine - Village Of Tears. Not everyones cuppa, but a pivotal tune in my life.

Edited January 9, 200916 yr by in town Mikey

maybe this has been done before, but i thought it may be worth a shout to find out what turned people to this great music.listening to grace jones on ken bruce playing 3degrees "dirty ol man" which along with "year of decision" were faves of mine at the time.the records i remember turning me onto soul (apart from the obvious motown) were DON DOWNING "LONELY DAYS, LONELY NIGHTS" AND EDDIE KENDRICKS "KEEP ON TRUCKING" and b4 that "yesterday has gone CUPID'S INSPIRATION, all great imho! would be nice for some of the "older" guys and gals on here to recall their teenage soul faves!

Some older Shirebrook lads used to bring tapes back from the Pier and that switched a few of us onto it - I was a bit slow on the uptake, more into Football initially. Our youth got into it first - he still had a tape from the 70s with stuff like Danny Harrison, 'Girl Girl Girl' on, Blanch Carter 'Halos', Brenda Lee 'Where's the melody', mixed with a lot of 70s, such as Mike and Bill 'Where Do I Stand', Sandra Richardson's 'Stay here with me', amongst others, and some right old funky stuff. An early doors spot if my memory serves, can't remember exactly who.

My older brother was a mod circa 1980's and i started listening (wether i wanted to or not) to what he was playing (The Jam, The Who, Small Faces etc.).

Then he started buying Soul records (Otis Redding, Temptations, James Brown etc.) which i liked but not loved but it was the day he brought home

a compilation l.p. called "Out On The Floor" that my journey into this madness began. Frank Beverly's "If That's What You Wanted" came booming

out of the speakers and once i heard that i was hooked for life so my brother and Frank Beverly got me into Soul music.

I think if it hadn't been for the mod revival in the late seventies, the whole Northern thing may have passed me by..

Alas as if by osmosis boating blazers and sta press became monkey boots, 501's & pilot jacket and Stevie & Smokey advanced to Dobie & The 7 Dwarfs etc etc!

Loads of people got into it via the Mod thing without a doubt.

Ste.

Two of the earliest soul records I bought and almost wore out were:

Junior Walker & The Allstars - Roadrunner (UK Tamla which had Sotgun on the other side which also saw plenty of action)

Billy Preston - Billy's Bag

Must have been 68/69 ish!

Before I saw the light I'd been buying pop chart records

I went to a few 'Blues' parties back in the 80's in Chapeltown - scary!

Ste.

We went to The Gaiety in Leeds at the bottom of Roundhay rd in the early 80's. Got loads of harassment and spat at.

Shame as the music sounded great.

Edited January 9, 200916 yr by Kev Moore

I've said it many times but

Tears Of A Clown, was the first record I really loved. As a teenager, my mates were listening to Buddy Holly, Elvis etc. Dursley of my era was a very Rock N Roll town. (Dave T's experience is a little different to mine).

I was mesmerised by TOAC and bought my first ever record. Big Wheels of Motown. My girlfriend had a sister who went to Wigan with her boyfriend. They played me the Capitol Soul Casino LP, and I was smitten.

So much so the first single I ever bought was Johnny Bragg on Elbejay. It cost 4 weeks paper round money.

By this time my mates were listening to the Sex Pistols and the Buzzcocks etc. I was buying and listening to soul records, but going to punk gigs with my mates. My first Northern Soul experience was an alldayer at Stroud Subscription Rooms, as my folks wouldnt let me got with Conway and Caroline to Yate until I was 16.

But I do remember it clear as day. I made a real point of finding out what the record playing as we walked in was, and my first ever wants list was born.

Ben Zine - Village Of Tears. Not everyones cuppa, but a pivotal tune in my life.

i suppose growing up in 70's with all the glam crap thing,we all searched for something diferent.still love benzine but would it get played nowadays. i remember a certain dj saying he never had it when i asked him for it at an oldies do. seem to remember it in his top ten around 78. he says it's pop, and then plays joey delorenzo. pot and kettle me thinks!

We went to The Gaiety in Leeds at the bottom of Roundhay rd in the early 80's. Got loads of harassment and spat at.

Shame as the music sounded great.

Always a bit dodgy, then again most pubs / clubs in Leeds were a bit dodgy in those days, we seemed to spend most weekends getting into fights and being banned from the town centre pubs!

We went to The Gaiety in Leeds at the bottom of Roundhay rd in the early 80's. Got loads of harassment and spat at.

Shame as the music sounded great.

sadley now a block of flats! and you still get spat at down there!

Always a bit dodgy, then again most pubs / clubs in Leeds were a bit dodgy in those days, we seemed to spend most weekends getting into fights and being banned from the town centre pubs!

hollywood days and nights, jacomellis,big lils, o'reilys etc!

Always a bit dodgy, then again most pubs / clubs in Leeds were a bit dodgy in those days, we seemed to spend most weekends getting into fights and being banned from the town centre pubs!

Know the feeling around Leeds at that time. Lived in Chapeltown for a couple of years. The Yorkshire ripper years. Not nice. I can still remember being chased round the streets with mobs of women carrying lengths of 2x4 and baseball bats trying to reclaim the streets. heady days indead! Saying that as an art student from 80-83 in Leeds. graeat time overall. The reggae blues pubs were fine but the modern soul clubs. Phew!

Kev

hollywood days and nights, jacomellis,big lils, o'reilys etc!

Oh yes! Things have improved drastically since then - thank God!

Do you still live in Leeds?

sadley now a block of flats! and you still get spat at down there!

used to check out the Rock n Roll nights they used to have there upstairs.

Full on Finger tip Jackets n Blue Suede Shoes n Shoe lace ties-Bobby socks full circle skirts n pony tails.

Reminded me of borrowing our Dave's blue suede shoes and shoe lace tie to go to Sandygate Youth club discos in Burnley as a young teenager.

Kev

Oh yes! Things have improved drastically since then - thank God!

Do you still live in Leeds?

No mate after Leeds I moved back to Burnley for a couple of years then in the words of Thatcher-I got on my bike and came to London. Been here ever since. Loved my time in Leeds used to hang about with Dave Ball of Soft Cell just B4 Tainted Love and Judy Street were covered by them.

Kev

No mate after Leeds I moved back to Burnley for a couple of years then in the words of Thatcher-I got on my bike and came to London. Been here ever since. Loved my time in Leeds used to hang about with Dave Ball of Soft Cell just B4 Tainted Love and Judy Street were covered by them.

Kev

Must have been a long journey on your bike?

maybe this has been done before, but i thought it may be worth a shout to find out what turned people to this great music.listening to grace jones on ken bruce playing 3degrees "dirty ol man" which along with "year of decision" were faves of mine at the time.the records i remember turning me onto soul (apart from the obvious motown) were DON DOWNING "LONELY DAYS, LONELY NIGHTS" AND EDDIE KENDRICKS "KEEP ON TRUCKING" and b4 that "yesterday has gone CUPID'S INSPIRATION, all great imho! would be nice for some of the "older" guys and gals on here to recall their teenage soul faves!

as a "teenage" fave, hearing Def Leppard's 'rocket' was a life changing moment! lol.. , though a few years later, one of our brewery manager's answered my "What's northern soul?" question by presenting me with a few tapes he'd put together for me. Hearing Marvin Gaye - Love staved heart was another bloody life changing moment.

Not immediately, but I loved it and got curious & wanted more so he took me to KGH the following month and it dominated life ever since...

Oh imagine how different life would be now if I'd said "stick it, it's shite" I could have been normal! LOL

Jayne.x

Must have been a long journey on your bike?

You wouldn't want to know.

They don't even have Holland's pies down here.

Then again I remember the first time I asked for a Steak Pudding in a Leeds chippie and got some very strange looks!

Kev

Loads of people got into it via the Mod thing without a doubt.

Ste.

Me included. Listening to the Jam, hearing their cover versions of Martha Reeves and the Supremes and wanting to hear the originals. Going to Brannigans on Briggate on Monday nights as a kid and dancing to Tamla, Madness, the Lambrettas, Dexys etc, but the dj playing northern soul, getting out of his booth, and dancing his socks off. Who was that man?

There was a shed load of Motown and Atlantic reissues at this time, inspired by Quadrophenia and the '79 mod revival scene. However, by the time of my first niter (Bradford Queens Hall), the only 'northern' I'd heard was 'Ain't Nothing But A House Party'. I was blown away by the music at Bradford, and haven't looked back.

The first records to make my ears prick up were The Isley Brothers 'Tell me It's Just A Rumour Baby', Tony Clarke 'Landslide' & The Furys 'I'm Satisfied With You'. That must have been 1973. Hitherto, it was Philly stuff like the O' Jays, Intruders & the excellent Motown chartbusters etc; If you were open min ded, it seemed like the natural direction to go in. Most of the Funk stuff like The Ohio Players, War, James Brown left me pretty cold. 1974 was the key year in my NS education. I pretty much liked everything that was thrown at me. Our Youth Club was the church & Paul Donnelly, Smudge Smith & Gary Spencer the priests. Exciting times.

Me included. Listening to the Jam, hearing their cover versions of Martha Reeves and the Supremes and wanting to hear the originals. Going to Brannigans on Briggate on Monday nights as a kid and dancing to Tamla, Madness, the Lambrettas, Dexys etc, but the dj playing northern soul, getting out of his booth, and dancing his socks off. Who was that man?

There was a shed load of Motown and Atlantic reissues at this time, inspired by Quadrophenia and the '79 mod revival scene. However, by the time of my first niter (Bradford Queens Hall), the only 'northern' I'd heard was 'Ain't Nothing But A House Party'. I was blown away by the music at Bradford, and haven't looked back.

Yeah Bradford was my first niter, didn't have a clue what they were playing, maybe recognised one or two records all night to start with...

In the late 50s in my house it was Ray Charles, Jackie Wilson, Ben E King and The Platters whom my Dad adored

Lenny

Edited January 9, 200916 yr by BIGSOULMAN

Not having to listen to shite like Tennesee Ernie Ford was a major factor in my life

Tony

as a "teenage" fave, hearing Def Leppard's 'rocket' was a life changing moment! lol.. , though a few years later, one of our brewery manager's answered my "What's northern soul?" question by presenting me with a few tapes he'd put together for me. Hearing Marvin Gaye - Love staved heart was another bloody life changing moment.

Not immediately, but I loved it and got curious & wanted more so he took me to KGH the following month and it dominated life ever since...

Oh imagine how different life would be now if I'd said "stick it, it's shite" I could have been normal! LOL

Jayne.x

Anyone got a sound clip?

Oh yes! Things have improved drastically since then - thank God!

Do you still live in Leeds?

no it's been downhill since i got wed. i live in bradford now!!

Jackie Ross - Selfish One

At the age of 16 I bought a Chess compilation from a junk store for a mere 50p.This is where my interest in the "rare" side of life began.

maybe this has been done before, but i thought it may be worth a shout to find out what turned people to this great music.listening to grace jones on ken bruce playing 3degrees "dirty ol man" which along with "year of decision" were faves of mine at the time.the records i remember turning me onto soul (apart from the obvious motown) were DON DOWNING "LONELY DAYS, LONELY NIGHTS" AND EDDIE KENDRICKS "KEEP ON TRUCKING" and b4 that "yesterday has gone CUPID'S INSPIRATION, all great imho! would be nice for some of the "older" guys and gals on here to recall their teenage soul faves!

Lincolnshire's finest pop soul band. FACT !!

I'm a big fan of the lung bursting "My world" from the same album.

I went to a few 'Blues' parties back in the 80's in Chapeltown - scary!

Ste.

The ABC and The International well scary x

The ABC and The International well scary x

The one i went to was called 'Sunny's' i think?

Ste.

Anyone got a sound clip?

hey, don't be knocking def leppard!... classic rock & heavy metal would deffo work as a 2nd room at a northern do.. I'm just waiting for everyone else to catch on.

I'd be in heaven!

Jayne.x

The ABC and The International well scary x

but not as scary as mr ms .

listening to twisted wheel sounds my uncle used to play and the northern in cafes , youth clubs , school discos , fairgrounds and pubs in west yorks is what first got me into it .

stuff i first noticed at nighters was , van dykes, terrible tom , johnnie taylor , lou edwards, skull snaps , all the big loud ones that used to make the building shake kind of stuff x

so what was played then and what yr would this be? still drive past delaneys in harehills and wonder what it's like in there! being white i don't wanna go in on own. way to risky nowadays!

With reference my earlier post / reply stating " When I attended house parties in the Chapletown " - The year was 1965 ......

In respect of sounds played , bear with me as it has been 44 years , but I can remember notable tunes like The Mar - Keys " Last Night " , John Lee Hooker " Dimples " , Bo Diddley " Road Runner " , The Miracles " Shop Around " , ? & The Mysterians " 96 Tears " , Phil Upchurch " You Can't Sit Sown " , The Spencer Davis Group " Washed My Hands In Muddy Water " and Ray Charles " I gotta Woman " being played , along with Blue Beat and Ska records . Hearing records like those fired my imagination and my need to hear more ........

Malc Burton

MINE was 1971...

have you ever ate the blues-Howard Tate....still taste them mate,

The V vibrations- suprise party for may baby, it was Ciggarette Ashes it was The Millioniares Never for me, it was Sebastian Williams- Shucks..and above all that it was ten a £1

With reference my earlier post / reply stating " When I attended house parties in the Chapletown " - The year was 1965 ......

In respect of sounds played , bear with me as it has been 44 years , but I can remember notable tunes like The Mar - Keys " Last Night " , John Lee Hooker " Dimples " , Bo Diddley " Road Runner " , The Miracles " Shop Around " , ? & The Mysterians " 96 Tears " , Phil Upchurch " You Can't Sit Sown " , The Spencer Davis Group " Washed My Hands In Muddy Water " and Ray Charles " I gotta Woman " being played , along with Blue Beat and Ska records . Hearing records like those fired my imagination and my need to hear more ........

Malc Burton

God must have been magic,all new and exciting.i presume this was before the northern scene took off if you see what i mean.must have been great, little sweaty clubs, walls bouncing, and music to die for!

Hearing Archie Bell "Here I Go Again" around late '71 it blew me away. Fortunately my first job when I was 15 was working with a mate who was into Northern. Used to go around his house and spend hours and hours listing to the likes of Philip Mitchell, Jimmy Conwell and all the other stuff that was coming out on JayBoy around that time. Mate then took me to a club in town (lied about my age) and there were these older guys playing all these unknown to me then choons like Billy Butler, Major Lance, Rufus Lumley, Art Freeman etc

Really became hooked though on my first hearing of J.J.Barnes "Please Let Me In". It was like I imagine a religious nut who experiences "seeing the light". Halleluyah, to this day I never tire of hearing it.

Been a soul sucker ever since.

MINE was 1971...

have you ever ate the blues-Howard Tate....still taste them mate,

The V vibrations- suprise party for may baby, it was Ciggarette Ashes it was The Millioniares Never for me, it was Sebastian Williams- Shucks..and above all that it was ten a £1

It was around '69 when a few of us used to go to the Saturday afternoon session at the Georges in Barnsley.

Bub would DJ for a spell and play some sounds that were different. Didn't know it was Northern Soul at the time but I liked it.

I remember the older lads dancing to it though - Ebby, Rob Slater etc. Boy did they look c-o-o-l.

One of my mates got a bit lippy with Bub (in fun, not nasty) and Bub got his own back by sitting on him. He was 5'5" before and 6' when Bub got off him

Then it was the Boys Club in town, always remember them playing Nobody But Me followed by You Get Your Kicks.

It was here that I met my first true love, Janice Smith.

After that it was The Londoner with Janice and my mates with their girlfriends, until it finally shut its doors. Tragedy. By then I was an avid soulie, collecting 45s when I could afford them. (Which wasn't very often cos my first wage was £6.65 after stoppages)!

Still in love with it now.

maybe this has been done before, but i thought it may be worth a shout to find out what turned people to this great music.listening to grace jones on ken bruce playing 3degrees "dirty ol man" which along with "year of decision" were faves of mine at the time.the records i remember turning me onto soul (apart from the obvious motown) were DON DOWNING "LONELY DAYS, LONELY NIGHTS" AND EDDIE KENDRICKS "KEEP ON TRUCKING" and b4 that "yesterday has gone CUPID'S INSPIRATION, all great imho! would be nice for some of the "older" guys and gals on here to recall their teenage soul faves!

Think we may be the same age?!... loved ALL the tracks you mention... I can smell my youth when i hear'Hey girl dont bother me' wicked tune! what year was that?.. My mum was into soul music though she didnt know it so got the vibe from her. In fact all 6 of my brothers and sisters were into tamla/atlantic etc.. we were convinced we had black roots somewhere back in our ancestry and still do! or was that wishful thinking... sweet thread x

first ever alnighter and northern experience at the Drill Hall in Lincoln blew my mind, what a scene, what music, good looking blokes n and they could dance a bit too.. never looked back since and that was about '75

first ever alnighter and northern experience at the Drill Hall in Lincoln blew my mind, what a scene, what music, good looking blokes n and they could dance a bit too.. never looked back since and that was about '75

went there in about 78, as lived in louth at time with my then girlfriend,horrible dark polace if i remember right,but good crack all the same.met a few from lincoln,i think henry hall was in their crowd!