Geoff

I've just had a look and subscribed. Loads of tunes I've never heard, interesting R&B, etc. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to upload. Hope you don't get any hassle.

On the rare occasions I hear either side of it I just have to get up and dance, whatever I'm doing. I do hope that Butch will play this and Jean Carter at the Lifeline anniversary on Saturday. A real tragedy that these will never be available on legal issue because the only word I've got to describe them is magnificent.

Martha Jean Love - That's The Way The Story Goes / Old Time Lover

Butch played it at the last Lifeline, I had to ask John McClure what it was, fool that i am as I've got it on a CD. So at the November 100 Club I asked Butch about it, he told me that he'd had it for years, and if he had it in his box he'd play it. Fortunately he did, not that many on the dance floor for it, but I like to think that those of us out there showed their good taste. Kitch played it at the January Boomerang. Guess it's an acquired taste, as Ted says not that easy to dance to, but neither is United Sounds and plenty of others.

Wonderful tunes here, my favourite soul music style.

He was the lead singer of the Dovells who had several hits in the USA before the "British invasion", Bristol Stomp, You Can't Sit Down, Hully Gully Baby. I've got one on a CD by him on Cameo Parkway, Hearts Are Trump, which is nice but I've never heard it played out. Presume it was before 1-2-3. Just played 1-2-3 on YouTube, I'm not at home, and it took me right back to the Scene and when I was 19, loved that record, always got up for it. And does it really matter what ethnicity he is? It's the music that counts surely.

Joe Johnson does a good version imo.

I assume that many on Soul Source remember Jim Wray who used to write a column for In The Basement. I met him at Soul Essence a few times and he told me that he had attended the Wigan Casino and the other Northern Soul clubs before it. He died a few years ago, and he was in his 70s, so he'd have been older than the average attender. Did anyone on here see him at the Casino? I only met him a few times but we corresponded, did each other CDs. He was a real gentleman.

I used to go to Bluesville at Manor House where he DJ'd on a Wednesday (if my memory is correct). He used to play Sock It To 'Em JB and my girlfriend (later wife) and I loved dancing to it, loved the bit in the middle where they shouted the names of the Bond movies. Oh happy days.

Like you I never liked his funk records but he did do some excellent mid tempo and slow records in the 70s, thanks to all who posted links, going to spend some time on them. My preference of his work is up to I Got You and Money Won't Change You. HIs Live at the Apollo album is the best live recording I've heard, wonderful long version of Lost Someone going over to side 2 of the LP. As well as his more R&B tracks he had hits in the USA with Prisoner Of Love and These Foolish Things. When he first toured the UK, think it was 66 or 67, I went with Lesley to see him at Walthamstow Granada for the first performance. We enjoyed it so much that we went and got tickets for the second show. She had to pay as I had very little cash in those days (I was an apprentice) and we ended up in the second row. Truly brilliant show, had never seen anything so polished before. In the 70s we went to see him in Hammersmith but were disappointed, he only did his funky songs, not surprising really in retrospect, and we left early. I still don't like much of his funky stuff, but each to their own. His repertoire is enormous so sure you will find many tunes to enjoy.

Thanks for posting that information Chalky. Both had interesting and varied careers. The piece about Jay Traynor didn't mention Up And Over, but why should it? Don't think it did anything over there. Jay and Rex RIP.

Are they still available?

Happy Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year to all on Soul Source.

My faves are Tammi Terrell's All I Do and Barbara McNeir's It Happens Every Time. But they're all great.

I was there with Eileen a couple of weeks ago and the only soul I found on any stall were re-issues. I explained I preferred original issues and got a blank look.

Thanks for this one Pete, really great. Got my feet tapping on a Saturday morning. I love the rare tunes but nice to be reminded of these, the bedrock of Northern Soul.

I went to several of these concerts and don't remember any of the "fab four" being present. Think if they'd been at the ones I was at they'd have been mobbed. Doesn't mean they didn't attend some. I do remember a girl there dressed a bit like a fairy queen from Lord of the Rings. Wonder what happened to her.

I saw her at the Saville theatre in London but can't remember who else was on the bill. It was on a Sunday afternoon, and I'm sure that Brian Epstein was involved somewhere in these. As far as I can recall she sang three songs, probably her singles. I think my wife was keener on her records than I was, she liked girl group type sounds. There were several concerts there on a Sunday, went to quite a few, saw Jimi Hendrix, Bee Gees, Cream, Procol Harum, Vanilla Fudge and Gladys Knight & The Pips among others. The latter were superb, just had Take Me In Your Arms And Love Me released here. Joe Tex was supposed to be the main attraction, but he didn't show up. Many people got their money back leaving only a relatively small number present. We were invited to the front of the theatre to sit. the Alan Price Set did the first half of the show and then Gladys and the Pips. They sang their two Motown singles and songs like Giving Up, Either Way I Lose, Every Beat Of My Heart, Letter Full Of Tears, etc. Sorry to digress from the original subject.

Not sure if Paul Robeson could be classed a soul singer although I've liked the records by him that I've heard, he must have influenced Jimmy Ricks, lead singer of the Ravens, because they recorded Old Man River in 1947 and had an R&B hit with it.

Thanks for these, absolutely superb.

While nothing is set in stone I was always under the impression that It's Too Soon To Know by the Orioles was considered the first doowop record, although I'd agree it's in the style of the Ink Spots with the high tenor lead vocal and the middle part being sung by a baritone. There were plenty of doowop hits in the US charts during the 50s but there was a big revival in the early 60s with many records hitting the charts but the British invasion ended it. I used to hear them played on Radio Luxemburg and very occasionally on Saturday Club on the Light Programme. At that time I used to buy various record papers, Record Mirror, Disc and the New Musical Express and can remember the record reviewers slating them, but then they generally didn't like the stuff I liked anyway. If anyone is interested it's worth checking out the Doowop box sets on Rhino. I find the roots of our music fascinating, one man's R&B record is another person's early soul track. Also find the roots of rock'n'roll interesting too. All these things go back much further than you would first think.

You are right, I'll check with the chap who did the compiling and see what he has to say, sure it should be 2 different Volumes' records.

Like all attempts at lists it is simply the opinion of the participants. Plenty on there that I hear quite often at nights I attend. Some were totally new to me, so it shows what different taste we all have.

My nominations for the list included United Sounds' It's All Over Baby; Hopkins Bros' Shake Cheri, Four Dynamics' Things A Lady Ain't Supposed To Do; Robert Tanner's Sweet Memories; Joseph Webster's My Love Is Strong; Mixed Feelings' Sha La La; (my friends would not be surprised at those two). Are these what you would call progressive? Some have been around for quite a while. I did nominate others including Marion Stewart, the Adorables and Ruby's Feminine Ingenuity. I remember when there was the attempt to do a top 30 NS list on here, quite a few top 20s were posted by participants. Off the top of my head I seem to remember that She'll Come Running Back featured in loads of them. Again it is only my opinion but I would guess that might be the most popular record if a poll could be held on all Soul Source members, it's another one that most like, whether you prefer oldies or "rare" or whatever you describe your taste in soul.

Everything does depend on one's definition of Northern Soul. But Uphill Climb To The Bottom appears to be popular with almost everyone I know, even those on the Modern scene. Quite a few, including myself, would like it at their funeral. It is probably the most popular ender. Just my opinion of course.