The post asking about the birth of the 45 took my mind wandering to the early days of the medium...

What are some of the earliest recorded examples of northern soul?

I'm also interested in opinions on which styles/artists were the ancestors of motown/northern soul and would love to hear some examples.

Obviously it ALL goes back to the blues... it's filling in the evolutionary steps that really interests me.

The post asking about the birth of the 45 took my mind wandering to the early days of the medium...

What are some of the earliest recorded examples of northern soul?

I'm also interested in opinions on which styles/artists were the ancestors of motown/northern soul and would love to hear some examples.

Obviously it ALL goes back to the blues... it's filling in the evolutionary steps that really interests me.

I don't know if I understand your question but anyway, the earliest 45s played on the scene outside the R&B rooms (i.e. 45s that gained a wider acceptance) that I know of were Charles Sheffield - Voodoo working (1957/58?) and Richard Berry - Have love will travel (1958/59?).

But if you're talking about the earliest records that had that sort of sound that later became known as Northern Soul, the first one that springs to my mind is Jimmy Ruffin - Don't feel sorry for me. From 1962 but sounds much much later...

the earliest 45s played on the scene outside the R&B rooms (i.e. 45s that gained a wider acceptance) that I know of were Charles Sheffield - Voodoo working (1957/58?) and Richard Berry - Have love will travel (1958/59?).

I agree, those are good examples of early tunes that have gained mass acceptance, but Charles Sheffield is from 1961 and Richard Berry is from 1960.

Little Willie John "I'm Shakin" perhaps? It's from 1960.

Varetta Dillard "That's why I cry" - 1958

Lillian Offitt " Miss you so" - 1957

Baby Washington - "You never could be mine" - 1958

I agree, those are good examples of early tunes that have gained mass acceptance, but Charles Sheffield is from 1961 and Richard Berry is from 1960.

Little Willie John "I'm Shakin" perhaps? It's from 1960.

You're probably right about Charles Sheffield, I just thought I'd seen it somewhere that it was recorded or released in the late 50s but didn't verify that before posting.

But according to the Richard Berry discography on www.louielouie.net "have love will travel" was released in 1959 on Flip 349.

But in the end, may be it 1959 or 1960, it's still pretty early isn't it?

Yes it was 54, and you read my mind!!

What about My Babe by Little Walter pretty sure that is 1954/55 and that has been played on the Northern scene.

Suz

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In 1903, a traveling musician named William Christopher Handy was in Tutwiler, Mississippi, waiting for a train when he heard an itinerant musician playing a guitar with a knife blade and singing, "Going Where The Southern Crosses The Yellow Dog."...........The song, in three twelve-bar stanzas, intrigued Handy and he never forgot it.

This is without doubt the first "Northern Soul" record....Bob A will back me on this.........

ps...i haven't got it......

BOB A WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, YOU'RE NEEDED.........

Edited February 28, 200916 yr by Brett F

Great track. This is the kind of stuff I've been looking for--straight up roots music. That rhythm was way ahead of its time... almost sounds like rocksteady!

I've got an album on epic, a greatest hits from the fifties, a sixties issue.....anyway, it has I've got a feeling on it yet in stereo, ooh it sounds even better, sounds more like a 60-62 recording. A very polished record for it's day, just fab o lus!

The Frank Minion on Vik that I play is 1956 I think and at West Hampstead we used to play Fats Waller Your Feet's Too Big but not for a proper dance more a group hug at the end of the night.

The Frank Minion on Vik that I play is 1956 I think and at West Hampstead we used to play Fats Waller Your Feet's Too Big but not for a proper dance more a group hug at the end of the night.

and more of a group riot was Paul Gayten's 'Nervous Boogie' and Nobel Thinman Watts 'Blast Off' on Baton....and not forgetting 'Tune Up'...but I think I'm digressing

I think its hard to put your finger on it but it all goes back to the church secular music hope I spelt it right.

Nice record, but I can't imagine it going down too well in 1972!

The Delights 'Lover' Cuppy. Wasn't this a late 50's release?

Richard Berry - Have Love Will Travel -

Earliest tune I thought of and still a great dancer

The Delights 'Lover' Cuppy. Wasn't this a late 50's release?

Contrary to some belief, it appears to be released around 1964 - 1965.

The Frank Minion on Vik that I play is 1956 I think and at West Hampstead we used to play Fats Waller Your Feet's Too Big but not for a proper dance more a group hug at the end of the night.

I had a Frank Minion on Vik - sounds like the theme tune to a 50s western... surely not one for the main rooms?

If you go on the basis that most trad northern records took I Can't Help Myself for inspiration, surely early Motown stuff would be the first 'northern' sounding recordings around '63-64? Thats discounting beat ballads ect...

If you go on the basis that most trad northern records took I Can't Help Myself for inspiration, surely early Motown stuff would be the first 'northern' sounding recordings around '63-64? Thats discounting beat ballads ect...

Quite. Any other interpretation is reading history backwards to accommodate what constitutes "Northern Soul" nowadays. Even beat ballads don't qualify under the earliest definitions of the genre, despite the occasional exceptions to the rule.

No wonder American ebay sellers are confused!

Edited March 4, 200916 yr by mel brat

Big Maybelle's I've Got a Feelin' was released in 1954 I think

What's this worth on an original Okeh 78?

What's this worth on an original Okeh 78?

I'd guess about $50. Any advances on that? Up, or down?

I had a Frank Minion on Vik - sounds like the theme tune to a 50s western... surely not one for the main rooms?

you mean 'how much land'?? Sounds pure Oscar Brown Jr to me not 50s western, but then, not Norhern soul either.

A Northern spin or not, the Big Maybelle is an incredible sound for the year.

Similar to the 'my isabella' i've been playing in terms of rhythm, which i believe is also mid 50s. I'll try post a sound clip

nope sorry, not been able to post up refosoul sound files for ages, dont know why. anyway, wasn't that relevant. got to be richard berry for widespread plays?

Edited March 5, 200916 yr by mik parry

nope sorry, not been able to post up refosoul sound files for ages, dont know why. anyway, wasn't that relevant. got to be richard berry for widespread plays?

Have Mercy Baby....by the Dominoes on Federal ..was a 52 release when it feature Clyde McPhatter (not the Billy ward one from 58)...which seems to work a main room very well.....

Edited March 5, 200916 yr by Rbman

Similar to the 'my isabella' i've been playing in terms of rhythm, which i believe is also mid 50s.

The Count Demon track? I think that's an early (or even mid-) 60s tune. 1963/1964-ish.

If not that tune, please ignore this comment...

The Count Demon track? I think that's an early (or even mid-) 60s tune. 1963/1964-ish.

If not that tune, please ignore this comment...

no, same song but about 56/7 and much better. pm e-mail if you are interested in a sound file

you mean 'how much land'?? Sounds pure Oscar Brown Jr to me not 50s western, but then, not Norhern soul either.

Always reminds me a similar sound to Bobby Sharp "Baby Girl of Mine" on Whip. Love it by the way.

Suz

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