Geoff

Never heard this song before, but really like it, I'm not a big reggae fan to be honest, but both versions are good in different ways. Thanks for posting this..

I don't recall hearing that many British records played at the Scene when I went there regularly, every week, between mid 64 to very early 66. Georgie Fame's Yeh Yeh was played and Tony Washington's Show Me How To Milk A Cow. I don't remember other British group records being played, most were covers of American R&B records, so the originals were played. However records by American white artistes were played if they fitted in. For example Len Barry's 1-2-3 was very popular, as was the follow up Like A Baby. Also Bread And Butter and Run Baby Run by the Newbeats, Let's Hang On by the Four Seasons, GTO by Ronnie & the Daytonas, the Vogues' version of You're The One, written by Petula Clark, and the big hit in 65 by the Everly Brothers, The Price Of Love. My Babe by the Righteous Brothers was another regular play for a time as was the Reflections' (Just Like) Romeo And Juliet. On the other hand there were live groups on some nights, Jimmy Justice had a regular spot if my memory is correct.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all on Soul Source. And a thank you to all the promoters and DJs for their efforts.

Those early Twisted Wheel playlists are interesting as they are very similar to the tunes played at London clubs like the Scene from 1963 onwards when there was a preponderance of rhythm and blues played that gradually led on to soul as we define it now.

Sad news, so many of our singers are dieing, we're all getting older. Although it may be heresy to some, I've always liked Odyssey. Was she the lead singer on Inside Out, my favourite of their records? RIP Lilian.

He wasn't infallible.

I'm very sorry to hear of Hal's death. HIs lyrics combined with Burt Bacharach's tunes were, in my opinion, a magical combination that produced some of the best music ever, both soul and pop. They seemed to get to the essence of love, emotion and heartbreak. The early Dionne Warwick songs are particularly memorable for me, Reach Out For Me and Walk On By still bring a lump to my throat when I hear them. And Long After Tonight Is All Over has a special meaning for me. RIP Hal David.

PM'd you, hope that helps.

Thanks very much for your reply, I've contacted Edu who has sent me details.

I understand there is a soul weekender in Barcelona, 8th and 9th December. Has anyone any more details please? I'm thinking of a week's holiday, mid week to mid week, but need details of venue, booking tickets for the weekender, etc before I book flights, hotel, etc. Any information gratefully received.

Not easy to pick a top 5 as, like other people, mine changes. But these will always get me out there, or they will when I'm fit for dancing again. Martha Jean Love cover up - That's the way the story goes Martha Jean Love cover up - Old time lover Joseph Webster - My love is strong The Poets - Wrapped around your finger Ruby - Feminine ingenuity

Hadn't heard this version before, very nice. I love beat ballads, my favourite genre of our music, but so hard to pick a favourite.

Well, it's really kind of Ian to say that I'm an inspiration to him, especially to bracket me with Soul Sam, who is a true inspiration in my opinion, a man who hasn't given up in his love for our music and is still seeking new sounds to enjoy and play. An interesting topic, is our lifestyle on the soul scene contributing to the premature demise of members? I suppose it may well do, but people of all ages die at any time, and often it's those who have led a very healthy life, sometimes there is no rhyme or reason. For myself, I was 66 in March, but inside I'm still 18, although most morning I feel 118 when I climb out of bed. At times I wonder what people at soul nights think of an old geezer dancing around like a demented dervish to very fast records, but hopefully no one cares and no one has ever made any derogatory comments, or at least not in my hearing. The fact is that we are all going to die, but I'm sure that one thing we all dread, especially as we get older, is the thought of ending our days in a "care" home, sitting in a room with our mouths open, possibly wearing a nappy, forgetting who we are and who our visitors, if we get any, are. My mum was 96 when she died, she was in a good care home, but I still don't want that for me. When the chap died on the dance floor at Skeggy a few months ago it was horrible for his family, everyone there and the promoters. But I am sure I'm not the only to feel that I would like to go that way, preferably to one of my favourite records (Poets, Joseph Webster, Ruby, etc) but I'd want it to be the last record of the night, I wouldn't want to mess up an evening for those present, my demise at the end wouldn't curtail the night. While I'm physically able to attend soul nights and nighters I will continue to do so, It keeps me going, and if it does shorten my life a bit, so be it, better to live and enjoy things with your friends than sit at home and attempt to find something decent on the TV. Life is for living.

Slow records were often played during the course of a night "back in the day", but you danced with a girl as opposed to the way we dance alone to beat ballads now. Quite handy at a niter if you wanted to get off with a girl there, dance nice and close. I remember You'll Want Me Back by the Impressions, My Girl Has Gone by the Miracles, and plenty of others. I used to dance with Lesley holding her close and rocking back and forth.

On Wednesday I went with my friend to the Hackney Empire to see the show Soul Sister based on the life of Tina Turner. It was my first visit to the Hackney Empire in Mare Street, Hackney, an old building that dates back to 1901 I believe. I thought the show was very good, the lady playing Tina had a good voice and interpreted the songs really well in my opinion. The band that played Ike's Kings Of Rhythm were good, they really had the right sound. Songs included Private Dancer, Rocket 88, Fool In Love, It's Gonna Work Out Fine, I Idolise You, River Deep Mountain High, Proud Mary, What's Love Got To Do With It, etc. My friend has the programme so I can't refer to it right now, so don't know the names of the actors but it was a thoroughly good show and in my opinion worth visiting while it's on.

I don't know when the term beat ballad was first used in soul music but I remember it being used to describe the Four Preps' Big Man released in 1958 when I was at school and first interested in music. I'm not sure I'd describe I'm Gonna Miss You or I Cried My Life Away as beat ballads but who am I to say? When does a beat ballad become a straightforward ballad, or medium tempo become a beat ballad?

It was on the Sunday night, it's a party night.

In my opinion there is no question that If You're Looking For A Way Out and These Memories are soul music, but not right for a classic Northern Soul night. Both songs have meaning for me. In 1980 I was made redundant when the London Evening News closed, a horrible shock to me, I'd never been out of work before, I'm sure loads of people on here know what I mean. And I do know the situation now is a million times worse than it was then, but it's always horrible. Naturally I was worried about money, etc, but my wife went and bought me Odyssey's If You're Looking For A Way Out and Barbra Streisand's Woman In Love LP to cheer me up as she knew I liked them. That's the sort of person she was. I've not played the Odyssey record for ages, but it's a lovely song, certainly could be played as a Modern Soul night ender. Or at least I think so. If I get a collector's spot at the MonuMental weekender might play it myself. As for These Memories, not sure what to say. I only heard if for the first time in 2002 I think, loved it straight away. When my wife died I thought of using it at the funeral as the last record, but I knew she didn't like it at all, thought it was "stupid", so it wasn't right to play it there. But it's still my favourite record, and when I just played the link above it still made me cry, thought I was over that. It was usually the last record played at MonuMental Soul when it was at the Britannia, and is to me the most emotional and soulful record ever made. Totally agree with Jocko about Disco, as in all genres of music there's good and bad, down to personal opinion, but do lose the will to live when people class all records after December 1969 as Disco.

This is excellent imo. Surely we're mature enough to enjoy this being played at a Modern Soul night, I could imagine Soul Sam playing, he played Native New Yorker by them at Cleethorpes on the Sunday night in the Modern room, either last year or the year before. My personal favourite uptempo song by Odyssey is Inside Out, great record imo.

Thanks, i was under the mistaken notion that the record was rare, it's not in Manships guide, so didn't check Ebay. Collapse of stout party!!!

Can any of you kind people please give me a price and any information they have for the Jogettes on the Mar label, Your Love / Johnny's Comin' Home? They are a girl group singing in an R&B style. It says on the label that it's a Steve Verroca production. Hope someone can help.

Thanks for the information Gareth. All I can say is that his melodies complemented the words beautifully. While I like most styles of soul music my particular favourite style is beat ballads, and TR was at the top of that genre.

I quite like that, wonder how it would go down at a soul night? Must be plenty of French and other European language versions of soul songs, Motown did some if I remember correctly.

A great song whoever sings it, don't play it if you've been dumped by someone. TR may well have written and produced more beat ballads than anyone else. Assuming he wrote the lyrics he's up there with Hal David imo.

I've generally liked the Teddy Randazzo productions I've come across. Quite a few here that I didn't know he was involved with. I've particularly liked his work with the Royalettes and Little Anthony & The Imperials, also his two solo records mentioned above. One of my favourites is his own original recording of Lost Without You, covered in the UK by Billy Fury and also on a Little Anthony LP. On YouTube I came across his version of Pretty Blue Eyes, an American hit for Steve Lawrence and in the UK for Craig Douglas, so I assume TR wrote it. A version of You Gotta Let Go by Thelma Jones would be great if it existed; I've got Salty Tears and didn't realise he's been involved in its composition. A proper retrospective CD would be nice, perhaps mixing his own singles with the best versions of his songs for other people.