Geoff

One of my friends is looking for a copy of this. Not sure if he is on here, so if anyone has it for sale, perhaps they would kindly pm me.

Sorry, I have to disagree with Tony on the British covers, I don't think any of them are any way as good as the American originals. This just a personal opinion of course. I am probably influenced by seeing great American pop/rock'n'roll records being kept from being hits in the UK by covers when I was at school. Developed a real dislike of Craig Douglas, Marty Wilde, Ricky Valance, etc, probably very unfair, they had to make a living. I've just played the Tokens, and prefer it, but as I say above I would. To be fair to the Searchers their version of Sweets For My Sweet is quite different to the Drifters' original. They did help introduce some quite rare records to the public via their albums. Yet, despite my earlier comments, I prefer Dusty Springfield's version of I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself to Tommy Hunt and Chuck Jackson. Partly because Dusty seems to highlight the dramatic and emotional potential of the song, and because of the memories it evokes in me of a girl I was passionately in love with, as you only can be when you're 18, lol. As for Wayne Fontana, he wasn't a bad singer imo. Really liked Come On Home and Pamela Pamela, my wife used to say the sort of wimpy records you like. The latter has a real charm, haven't heard it for years though, cue for hopes of an MP3. One I vaguely remember by him was called Mind Excursion, originally done by the Tradewinds, of New York's A Lonely Town fame (probably my favourite surf record). Anyone else remember that one? Sorry to hear Wayne's got problems. Must be difficult when you stop being famous.

I can vaguely remember her putting something down on the carpet there, was it a door? So long ago now. I remember Janet changing her outfit 7 times at the Soul In The City all dayer at the place used by the Valatone, St Aloysius hall or something. Oh happy days!

This disproves the saying that any publicity is good publicity. I too will do an email to the editor of this magazine, but after I've popped out to get my suede loafers. By the way are the middle aged men weeping because of the prices of the records they want?

I'd heard of the Long John Baldry version of The Drifter, but had never heard it till now. It would be hard to beat Ray Pollard's version, but not a bad attempt. Might be nice to hear it out for a change, although I can't remember the last time I heard The Drifter outside my front room. When LJB was in his heyday, I saw him live at Bluesville, Manor House, with Rod "the mod" Stewart. I didn't rate either at the time, possibly because I was very anti British covers of R&B. But a few years ago I saw LJB with the Blues Band at the Millfield theatre in Edmonton, he was really good, so perhaps I was just too prejudiced to appreciate him originally.

Thanks for the information Sebastian.

I am sure most of the members here know Guitar Ray's You're Gonna Wreck My Life, great crossover/Modern song. It's a 12 bar blues, and writer's credits are C Burnett, on the Goldmine CD I've got it on. I wonder if C Burnett is the guy who was Howling Wolf, the great blues singer? Could well be, I can imagine him singing it. I did ask a friend who is into that type of blues, but he didn't know. Has anyone on here got the information? It came into my mind again because Hammy played it last night at Letchworth, and I dance to it.

Thanks for uploading this one Sebastian, new to me but really good. Out of curiosity is it rare, expensive, etc?

There is a song of the above title on the b-side of Baby I Need Your Loving by the Four Tops.

I bought Love Come Down by Evelyn King on a 7 inch at Soul Essence from Steve Plumb's cheapies box. Another good one is Arthur Adams' You've Got The Floor. Was it ever played at a soul night? Reading all the tracks listed makes me want to do a disco set at Blue Skies on the 27th, but I suppose I'd get lynched. Memo to me: stick to 60s; and early 60s at that.

Perfect description of These Old Shoes Jo. I know I'm inclined to go on about how much I enjoyed TOS, but I always left it and walked back across Tower Bridge to Liverpool Street on an absolute high. To me it had everything. Especially the sloping dance floor, lol. Aside from TOS I actually like quite big dance areas, the Dome (despite the holes in the floor) and Plinston Hall spring to mind, also the Hitchin venue. Probably because I want to take up half the floor. Also decent toilets are a must. I was caught short once at the Dome, not an experience to be repeated. Karen and I had some laughs with our descriptions of toilets at soul nights on the Keeping The Faith list. I seem to remember she did an article in Manifesto on the subject, but my wife advised me not to do a male perspective, people might think you're odd talking about toilets at places you go to. As if it isn't odd enough to be travelling around to Northern Soul nights instead of being tucked up in bed by 10 pm. But on a serious note, it is the music primarily, and friends that make a night.

Just been reading these 2 quotes, and I'm having hysterics at work over it. How naive we all were when we were young.

All my friends will laugh at me but I love these records, bring back some great memories for me. Used to go bananas for Boogie Wonderland, and one I used to love was the Gibson Brothers' Cuba, don't know if it could be classed as soul, but used to get me on the dance floor. Bang goes any Northern Soul cred I've got, lol.

I never knew she was married to Frankie Lymon.

Martin Thomson played Que Sera Sera at Soul In The City, not sure if it was at Vivo's or the Ditch Bar, memory being poor these days. It was a top Mod club play in 1964. Wish I had it on a 45.

My sincere condolences.

First Motown 45 for me was Please Mr Postman by the Marvelettes on Fontana, unfortunately it was a jukebox record, but in good condition. Second was the Contours' Do You Love Me on Oriole in 1963, I couldn't stand the awful versions in the charts by Dave Clark 5 and Brian Poole and the Tremeloes.

Thanks for that Tony, I've been on the Amazon site, and located one, will order today. I like the other versions posted, does anyone know if there are any versions of the Classics IV's Traces by soul singers?

Thanks for the information.

This is a new one to me, very nice. But can I ask a question, and I don't want to look silly? Who is James Taylor. Surely not the white folk rock singer who sang Fire And Rain and You've Got A Friend? I think there is a group called the James Taylor Quartet, is this him? I imagine I'm the only person on SS who doesn't know, but thought I'd ask.

The original version of Stormy is by the Classics IV, an American group who had several hits in the USA in the late 60s: Spooky, Stormy and Traces. Also a few minor hits. One of their tracks, 24 Hours Of Loneliness was played on the Northern scene as far as I know. I haven't heard Georgie Fame's version, he's a good singer so should be quite acceptable, I like the Supremes' version, but prefer the Classics IV. Santana also did it. I've got an LP of the Classics IV's better known stuff, still waiting for a decent retrospective CD.

When Harlem Shuffle began to gain popularity in 1966, there was a story going around that Bob and Earl were Bobby Day and Ben E King, later this was disproved. It does get confusing.

Funnily enough I'd never really noticed this till I saw him live some years ago, then it was most noticeable.

I did say eventually. In the future these rarities won't be played, something else will supersede them, therefore it would be nice to eventually have them issued. I take your point about going to a do and hearing a rare track, I used to love it at Scenesville when Crying Time by Brenda Holloway was played. Due to not being in the right place I think I've only seen Butch DJ once or twice, I caught the very end of his set at Cleethorpes last year, must try to be more organised in future.

First time I've heard this, great track. Just wish some of these rarities could eventually come out on legitimate issues that ordinary people could afford and buy.