Geoff

While browsing the web I came across Marv Goldberg's R&B page where I read that Ray Pollard had been the singer with the Hector Rivera Band on three singles. One of these was I Want A Chance For Romance which I've heard at soul nights. Is it Ray on this? Sorry if this topic has been dealt with in the past.

This was really popular when I started going out to soul nights again in 2002. Think it's a great double sider and always dance to both sides if I hear it played out. Would be interesting to know who the ladies were, but there so many mysteries like this in our music.

Another great podcast. Thank you very much.

Saddened to read of the death of this musical icon. I seem to have known Chuck Berry's music all my life. When I was a kid the first music I liked was rock'n'roll and I was given a magazine about it, with features on the current stars, Elvis, Bill Haley, etc. Also small articles about other artistes, including Chuck Berry. It mentioned Maybelline and how the BBC banned it due to the lyrics mentioning Cadillacs and Fords, can't have advertising on the Beeb. This sparked my interest but in those far off days you had only the BBC Light Programme and Radio Luxembourg, the latter's reception was very often distorted. I think the first Berry song I heard was Schooldays but it may have been a British cover version, possibly Don Lang and his Frantic Five, lol. Chuck was enjoying hits in the USA and seemed to be able to write songs that echoed American teenage life and their concerns. Amazing he could do that considering his background. He didn't have much chart success in the 50s in the UK, Sweet Little Sixteen and Johnny B Goode I think. But he was popular with my friends and me. Then he was sent to prison for taking a girl, not sure if she was under age, across state lines in the USA, a federal offence. This seemed to coincide with Chess moving for London records to Pye International. At the same time there was a growing interest in rhythm and blues, partly due to the softness of much of the pop music of the time. Beat groups used his songs in their acts and of course the Beatles and Rolling Stones initially relied on American songs, and included his songs in their repertoire. The early Mods liked Chuck and other Chess R&B artistes very much and my early visits to clubs like the Scene were dominated by that sort of sound. I bought Come On by him after my first visit to the Scene and I bought an LP, think it was called Chuck Berry on Stage with dubbed applause. On it Sweet Little Sixteen was called Surfing USA, after the Beach Boys had nicked the tune for that song, and Memphis Tennessee was titled Memphis, after Lonnie Mack's instrumental cover that had been a US hit. I sold that album, now wish I hadn't. Chuck toured in 1964 with the Animals, the Nashville Teens and Carl Perkins whose records were being played at the Mod clubs at the time, along with other rock'n'roll records, not sure if anyone else remembers that but the evidence is on Ready Steady Go. Chuck did his duckwalk and sang many of his hits, really exciting show. I may have seen him again, but not sure. And of course he had his biggest hit here with My Ding-A -Ling, surely his worst moment. There were stories later of his attitude of doing the barest minimum at a live show, who knows? Whatever happened in the latter part of his life he is one of the most important artistes of the second half of the 20th century. Elvis Presley may have been the king of rock'n'roll but Chuck was definitely the poet laureate. RIP Chuck.

Thanks Simon.

Another superb podcast with loads of tunes I didn't recognise, thank you for posting. Could you please post a playlist?

The night after the last 100 Club I awoke in agony with pains in my legs, due I think to back problems. As I sat on the edge of the bed I thought you must be mad to do allnighters and dance, etc. Perhaps it's time to give them up and only attend afternoon sessions. The next day I saw the video of the last 5 or so minutes at the 100 Club on Facebook, with loads of my friends dancing, even a glimpse of me at the back, and I knew I couldn't give this up. It is my life, sad individual that I am. Going out to soul nights with my friends after I lost my wife was a lifesaver. If I give up now what would I do? Watch TV every night? And there is something about a nighter and coming home when your neighbours are just waking up. I'm still an 18-year-old inside. Therefore I intend to carry on as long as I physically can, and of course while I enjoy it. Luckily I enjoy most styles of soul music so there is enough out there to satisfy me for ages to come. I just don't want to embarrass anyone.

Thanks for compiling these and posting them on Mixcloud. Plenty I'd never heard before, and good dance material. I look forward to the next one.

I remember Do You Want To Dance when I was a kid, really liked it at the time but you rarely heard it on the BBC Light Programme. Occasionally you'd hear his releases, usually on Saturday Club. But in 1964 his record of C'mon And Swim Parts 1 and 2 was a big record in Mod clubs and was, if my memory is correct, played on Ready Steady Go and featured Patrick Kerr and Theresa Confrey demonstrating the Swim. I still like that record, might get me up on the dance floor now. Some of his later records were popular on the Northern Scene and I remember Swing Me and Fever being played at the Capitol Soul Club. Sad to read he's died but you can only hope his latter years were healthy and comfortable. I wonder if he knew that some of his records were still popular over here.

I've just gone to the website for this book and found it costs £99.99. It's hardback with loads of pictures so that makes it pricey. A shame as I fancy it but not to pay that. Perhaps I can persuade my local library to purchase a copy. Would be more relevant than many books there.

I'm glad I'm not the only one Steve. I seem to know the lyrics to so many records, can sing them while dancing. Perhaps I should have put all that effort into work, lol.

Dave told me that he compiled various Latin compilations for Charly. We were sitting in the R&B room at the Va Va Voom NYE nighter at the time and he'd included the records being played in his compilations. I bought the Rare Soul Uncovered when it came out, I came across it yesterday when going through my LPs for Facebook thing. Little did I know that I'd be dancing to the Montclairs at the above mentioned nighter years after purchasing the album.

I think it was Ian Dewhirst who mentioned this in a post on SS a few years ago. I'd not heard it but loved it and bought a copy, nice and cheap. I've played it out, at the MonuMental Soul weekender and other places, always popular. But there will be some who will decry it as "disco". And of course it being cheap doesn't help either.

Thanks Steve.

I like all 3 versions mentioned of this song, my preference is Jimmy Radcliffe. Here's a link to the Buck Ram Platters' version of the song. I have this on a CD and know nothing about it, date, record company, etc.

I am so sorry to read this awful news. I knew Paul through the MonuMental Soul nights in London initially. He was a man of superb musical taste but more importantly a thoroughly nice decent guy. My condolences to Clare and the family. RIP Paul

Unreleased so far I'm sorry to say. One of my favourite 100 Club tunes.

I really enjoyed this. Any chance of listing song titles as well as the artiste please? I've heard some great podcasts on Mixcloud recently, Pete Smith's come to mind. Might try to do one myself but would I get moaned at if I included tracks I didn't have on vinyl?

What a great thread this is. Loads here that I don't recognise, but here's some that get me out there. Martha Jean Love – Old Time Lover / That's The Way The Story Goes Jean Carter – I Wanna Know Just Brothers – Go On And Laugh Diane Lewis – You Ain't Got A Chance Mighty Lovers - ??? Chuck Jackson - ??? (Butch and Kitch play this) Esther Grant (?Norma Jenkins) – Here I Am Love Is The Answer – played by Arthur Fenn from an unissued LP Demures – I Wanna Be Good To You Gerri Grainger – Why Can't It Be Tonight Holly Maxwell – 3 Strikes (think that's the title, Ady plays it at the 100 Club) Kae Williams – Our Love Is Dying Kenny Lewis – Not The Marrying Kind and one that has been issued but always got me on my feet at Scenesville: Brenda Holloway – Crying Time I'm sure there are plenty I've missed, sad that some of these will never be available on vinyl or CD but it makes going out to soul nights and allnighters really important if we want to hear tunes of this quality.

The only legitimate vinyl release as far as I know is on Kent Select from Ace Records.

I was shocked when I read the headline to this thread. I knew John mainly through Soul In The Sun although I've not attended for several years. A thoroughly decent guy who loved soul music. My condolences to Bev and his family. RIP John.

Sorry to read about Lee's death but he had a long career. As far as I know he started recording in 1954 and carried on till the mid 60s. He made some lovely doowop sides, my favourites of the ones I know are Try The Impossible and Long Lonely Nights. Of his sides played on the Northern scene my favourite is Quiet as It's Kept. RIP Lee.

I'm sad that Toby has passed away, but thinking of him makes me smile at the good memories of time with him. I can see him in my mind's eye. RIP Toby.

I've heard this out a few times, I think Steve G told me what it was but as usual it's slipped my mind now. Very nice tune.

When I was working on a Monday after an allnighter I was all over the place, not sure if anyone really noticed except the girls in the H&S office opposite who always asked what time I'd got home on Sunday morning. Yeah Steve, Shake Cheri on your brain might make work slightly tricky. Trust you are well.