Apologies if this has been done before (i did look & couldn't find anything) but what's the issue with 'The Snake'?

Honestly?

I've only been on the scene 8 years or so but i was brought up on soul & motown and i was thinking a couple of days ago that there's so many songs that are deemed unplayable at do's & that was one that stuck in my head.

I love the song, i like the lyrics & Al's honey smooth voice!

My question really is out of all the hundreds of songs that we know & love, what happened so that it became a cardinal sin to play 'The Snake'?

what happened so that it became a cardinal sin to play 'The Snake'?

I still love it though. Great vocals.

Nothing against scooter boys either (I was there) but it was hammered to death by everyone!

Nothing I love it !

Nothing I love it !

Me too.

chris

i think its the fact that our music is meant to be underground and exclusive. as soon as it gets raidio play and wedding song play its definatley a no no . i weant to a scooter rally in blackpool the other week and i think the DJs only had one box of records each for the whole weekend . believe me even you would have hated the snake , frank willson , dobie gray , ect . i very nearly got sick of listening to the carstairs aswell

Down the path along side the lake... All together now !

nothing wrong with al willsons voice thats for sure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTEunxwtHLo

theres loads of quality al wilson songs just have a look on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S64bPsX0IA

Edited March 26, 200916 yr by loma 1

It's alright I suppose...not really my cup of tea...but I can bet you any money that it was a gateway for the majority of people under 40 into the soul scene through saturation alone

i think its the fact that our music is meant to be underground and exclusive. as soon as it gets raidio play and wedding song play its definatley a no no . i weant to a scooter rally in blackpool the other week and i think the DJs only had one box of records each for the whole weekend . believe me even you would have hated the snake , frank willson , dobie gray , ect . i very nearly got sick of listening to the carstairs aswell

I take your point. It just seemed that there were quite a few songs that were hammered (and continue to be!) but 'The Snake' really took a nosedive.

Down the path along side the lake... All together now !

YES - THE SNAKE "AL WILSON" "AW SHUTUP SILLY WOMAN SAID THAT REPTILE WITH A GRIN"

COME ON EVERYONE KNOWS SNAKES CANT TALK!!!!!

or grin

You knew darn well I was a Snake, before you took me in !

You knew darn well I was a Snake, before you took me in !

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooh.

chris

Oh shaddup silly woman - said the reptile with a grin... ....

is my favourite line!

nothing wrong with al willsons voice thats for sure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTEunxwtHLo

theres loads of quality al wilson songs just have a look on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S64bPsX0IA

Hits the nail right on the head for me mate.

Al Wilson's Rocky Road and Playboy label stuff are some of the most soulful music ever made.

The Snake is a novelty pop record.

tell ya what...... i persuaded my pop band to have a go at something different for a change, we came up with 'The Snake', had a couple of shots at it (2 guitars, drums , bass and 3 vocals).... worked a treat

2 weddings and 3 pub gigs later, without a doubt the most popular song of the evening!

It's alright I suppose...not really my cup of tea...but I can bet you any money that it was a gateway for the majority of people under 40 into the soul scene through saturation alone

And also the over 50's. St Maries Youth club, Southport in 1971. The Snake, Breakout, Backstreet, Scratchy, Little Piece of Leather, Cool Jerk etc. I supose only Backstreet is marginally acceptable nowadays.

Paul

tell ya what...... i persuaded my pop band to have a go at something different for a change, we came up with 'The Snake', had a couple of shots at it (2 guitars, drums , bass and 3 vocals).... worked a treat

2 weddings and 3 pub gigs later, without a doubt the most popular song of the evening!

sorry mate you wernt the first....got it on a 10" by 'dodgy'...and before anyone says it no its not dodgy its quite good !....

als version is ok...good lyrics...plenty snakes out there ay girls ? BUT i came from the scootering scene to the soul scene (although i knew and liked northern before through my older bruv)..and like so many of us am bored with it now.....but some still love it...at the last 'scootering do' i played at it got requested twice !

never been keen on it and always thought it was too fast and difficult to dance to

never been keen on it and always thought it was too fast and difficult to dance to

Drink some lambrini then no problem to dance too.

chris

Drink some lambrini then no problem to dance too.

chris

he he , "lambrini girls just wanna .......get pissed"

tell ya what...... i persuaded my pop band to have a go at something different for a change, we came up with 'The Snake', had a couple of shots at it (2 guitars, drums , bass and 3 vocals).... worked a treat

2 weddings and 3 pub gigs later, without a doubt the most popular song of the evening!

I'd like to hear that. Any vids?

Having just given Al a listen, one of the great things about it imo, is the horns. Killer horns! Be cock all without the horns really.

The unfortunate thing for records like 'The Snake' is that they become synonomous with the general public as being the epitomy of Northern Soul. It's happened to DILY-Frank Wilson aswell. Of course, both of those records where big on the scene at times but as we all know they do not represent the Northern Soul scene to those of us who have sweated our pants off at many an allnighter/dayer.

It's all about that moment when you're sat there at a Christening/Wedding/Auntie's 100th Birthday Bash, etc, etc, when the damned DJ puts it on the decks. Auntie taps you on the shoulder and says, "Hey up love, are you not showing us your dancing? It's that Northern Soul you like."

Edited March 26, 200916 yr by Blunny

It's all about that moment when you're sat there at a Christening/Wedding/Auntie's 100th Birthday Bash, etc, etc, when the damned DJ puts it on the decks. Auntie taps you on the shoulder and says, "Hey up love, are you not showing us your dancing? It's that Northern Soul you like."

One of the first tunes i honed my dancing "skills" to .Youth club,1973? i think.

Its a cabaret song really tho' isn't it?.Wouldn't stand a snowball's if discovered now............. ,but i can't help still liking it. .

..take me in tender woman.....

The unfortunate thing for records like 'The Snake' is that they become synonomous with the general public as being the epitomy of Northern Soul. It's happened to DILY-Frank Wilson aswell. Of course, both of those records where big on the scene at times but as we all know they do not represent the Northern Soul scene to those of us who have sweated our pants off at many an allnighter/dayer.

It's all about that moment when you're sat there at a Christening/Wedding/Auntie's 100th Birthday Bash, etc, etc, when the damned DJ puts it on the decks. Auntie taps you on the shoulder and says, "Hey up love, are you not showing us your dancing? It's that Northern Soul you like."

I get that with R Dean Taylor, 'isn't that one of yours?'.

You're right Kylee, initially, these tunes probably were the stuff that got us into the music in the first place, but they got so played out and became the equivalent of 'lambrini northern stars on 45' mixers that it's hard to hear them with fresh ears (p.s. you are probably too young to remember stars on 45).

And I shall probably regret posting this, but I still think 'What' Judy Street is everything you've said about the Snake - in other words, I might not agree with you about this particular record, but big up to you for asking why a particular overplayed oldie should be apparently disliked.

"Touch and go" best thing he ever cut IMHO. Fantastic record.

Its a brilliant record (soul or not....).

It's got clever lyrics, a great tune with a brilliant key change in the middle and some great breaks.

But in 26 years of scooter rallies and parties I've heard it at EVERY single bloody one I've been too.

THATS whats wrong with it!

I refuse to play it now, have done for about three or four years. I can even stare punters in the eyes and say 'no mate, don't have it' now!

In short its a great record but give it a rest and play something else people know.

Oh, and its banned at my clubs parties!

i always wondered if any bikers/rockers whatever our opposite's are called nower days have this same problem in the rock scene,here its the ace of spades or quo and its on a original demo ,or am i stereotyping? god forbid ?

I've actually had the pleasure of Al Wilson personally singing this to me on a train in 1997!!! Fifteen years earlier it was the village disco anchor in the Northern spot! Peas B

i always wondered if any bikers/rockers whatever our opposite's are called nower days have this same problem in the rock scene,here its the ace of spades or quo and its on a original demo ,or am i stereotyping? god forbid ?

Thin Lizzie - Whisky in the Jar.

I don't do a huge amount of bike rallies but I'm sick of hearing it but I used to love it.

Thin Lizzie - Whisky in the Jar.

I don't do a huge amount of bike rallies but I'm sick of hearing it but I used to love it.

theres nothing wrong with having a open mind ,or is that wrong aswell !

theres nothing wrong with having a open mind ,or is that wrong aswell !

I entirely agree, you'd be surprised at my record collection, if its good then it goes in no matter the genre.

But twice a night and once in the day would put you off any record. Thank god Led Zeps good stuff is either too fast or too long!

if I found a snake half frozen by the path alongside the lake on me way to work, Id hit it with a shovel

if I found a snake half frozen by the path alongside the lake on me way to work, Id hit it with a shovel

Have you got a friend called billy? and isn't the punchline "and now it's only five foot four"?

Paul

The unfortunate thing for records like 'The Snake' is that they become synonomous with the general public as being the epitomy of Northern Soul. It's happened to DILY-Frank Wilson aswell. Of course, both of those records where big on the scene at times but as we all know they do not represent the Northern Soul scene to those of us who have sweated our pants off at many an allnighter/dayer.

It's all about that moment when you're sat there at a Christening/Wedding/Auntie's 100th Birthday Bash, etc, etc, when the damned DJ puts it on the decks. Auntie taps you on the shoulder and says, "Hey up love, are you not showing us your dancing? It's that Northern Soul you like."

True!

I get that with R Dean Taylor, 'isn't that one of yours?'.

You're right Kylee, initially, these tunes probably were the stuff that got us into the music in the first place, but they got so played out and became the equivalent of 'lambrini northern stars on 45' mixers that it's hard to hear them with fresh ears (p.s. you are probably too young to remember stars on 45).

And I shall probably regret posting this, but I still think 'What' Judy Street is everything you've said about the Snake - in other words, I might not agree with you about this particular record, but big up to you for asking why a particular overplayed oldie should be apparently disliked.

I like Judy Street too!

i always wondered if any bikers/rockers whatever our opposite's are called nower days have this same problem in the rock scene,here its the ace of spades or quo and its on a original demo ,or am i stereotyping? god forbid ?

My sister is in to that music, i'll ask her for you!

Don't know if anyone remembers this but ...

An old episode of "Northern Exposure" featured this song quite heavily - one of the female characters was going throug a "singing" phase and sang the whole song at least once during the episode, much to the annyance of the rest of the cast ..

and ..

More recently in an episode of "Doctor Who", at a wedding reception (where else), the "DJ" played a song that was clearly an adaptation of The snake - It was the first episode with Catherine Tate.

Never heard this before - or since - don't know if it was a real record or just incidental music especially for the show.

its fooking shite

if I found a snake half frozen by the path alongside the lake on me way to work, Id hit it with a shovel

Would you Dawn?

Thats not very nice.. wouldn't do in freebasing!

Do you really carry a shovel with you?

Edited March 27, 200916 yr by Dave

We got bored of the song in about 1982, but me and Ange still like to work the odd snake into our routine when dancing at niters - think Salma Hayek in 'From Dusk Till Dawn', but about two stone heavier, dressed by Top Shop and with a lot more clapping...

Would you Dawn?

Thats not very nice.. wouldn't do in freebasing!

Do you really carry a shovel with you?

I've alsorts in me handbag...

if it was by the lake, Im buggered cos I'd be going the wrong way to work