Dayo

Off topic slightly, but related: To reveal your porn-star name; 1. Simply take the name of your first ever pet for the your christian name, 2. Then your middle name for the surname. Well it works for me (Brandy James).

She's such a pretty thing was the first thing I ever heard by GC. Still one of his finest for me.

Bit like comparing apples with oranges. Both sweet fruit, but the taste and effect they have on you is quite different. Interesting argument though. Both great song stylists, and one thing you can say with certainty is that whether it's Smokey or Dusty, BOTH are instantly recognisable. And in a world of same old same old bland soundalike singers, that's probably the best compliment you can give to any performer.

Saw it - great little French made prog.

I'd forgotten all about that Duprees thing. Heard that version before the Intruders. There were loads of copies around the Midlands around 1971.

Tone Of course you're right. I tend to forget how long Blackpool Mecca was the country's leading edge soul venue. My first visit there was in '73 when Levine and Curtis were incomparable. I guess I tend to think of "Mecca sounds" as being from that post Torch period. Who were the DJ's back in 71? Tony Jebb? Colin

Love Machine - Mecca Love on a mountain top - you'd have to go back to The Torch or perhaps even earlier.

There used to be loads of blue issues of Tony Hestor Watch yourself at Global records in Manchester. I bought one thinking, good record but way too slow to ever take off! Think it cost me two quid. Always assumed it was a Detroit label. You live and learn!

Commodores - Zoo. Absolute monster in the early days of the Casino. About the same time as Robert Knight Branded - not sure if that made the charts though. As for Ghost in my house, it had ben played here and there since the Wheel days, but it didn't really take off until the Casino hammered it. Let's not forget that the flip was almost as big. In fact, many people preferred it.

Said it before and I'll say it again: Paul Anka's track is the very epitome of Northern. It's got absolutely everything and is right up there with Jerry Cook, Salvadors, Tomagoes and so on. Perfect song, perfect arrangement and his vocals REALLY cut the mustard. Did I mention the awesome little sax solo? It's just so bloody ironic that he's a white guy!

Missed this thread earlier - thanks to Shane for pointing me towards it. What a great record!

Will the git who nicked my Carl Douglas Something For Nothing - Go demo, from a poorly attended all dayer at the Heavy Steam Machine in Hanley circa 1974 (Velvets was huge, so was Saxie Russell, Terrible Tom etc).... please return it too please thank you. The day was already crap when you spoiled it further! Furthermore, the sod who nicked my soul time demo, my Tiffanies demo, my Little Queenie issue, my Edwin Starr signed LP.....blah blah blah I could go on....

Heard the strangest tune on Radio 2 yesterday. Song title; Rehab. Didn't catch the artist. So weird. Almost like a Shirley Ellis thing but with a modern RnB style beat. The chord changes were pure Northern/Motown, but obviously the lyrics are, well, today. Anybody else heard it? Name that tune and any background info? Please, Thanks! I kinda liked it. I'm certain the purists will disagree. Thanks Colin

Anywhere! You never knew where you might pick something up. Junk shops were faves. For mail order it was FL Moore or Record Corner. Global Records obviously. Got my Jock Mitchell there for about 2 quid. The Diskery in Brum was the source of many a bargain. The Wax Machine in Gloucester was also a fave. Colin

It was a Mecca spin too - around 74?

The various Bond arrangements are all good, but by nature spoofy or derivative. Agree with rachel regarding the Vel-vets. Not only a powerhouse, but intricate and very clever. For sheer class, the arrangements Teddy Randazzo did for Little Anthony take some beating. But then I'm a sucker for anything with a Bacharach feel. He was the number one in my book, and also (IMHO) the greatest pop composer if the 20th century.

Too many to choose from! One always springs to mind, the three notes that signal the start of The Superlatives, I still love you. Plea to DJ's; please don't talk over intro's when they're that good! Col

Early Saturday evenings there was a teens disco at Victor Sylvester's dance club in Worcester - known to all as Vics. Resident DJ there was Mark "Polo" Baulch. He'd spin all the Wheel hits like Richard Temple, Billy Butler, Mitch Ryder etc. I'll never forget hearing him play the Millionaires Never for me - yonks ahead of it's time. I learned my moves there watching some of the older kids. It was a year or so till I looked old enough to travel up north and get into niters. Colin

Isn't it time we faced facts? Northern soul is now a revival scene, akin to Teddy Boy nights? There is no relevance to young people now and I doubt there ever will be. The culture has changed, the drugs have changed - everything is different. Sonically our music cannot compete with modern day music on a typical club system. It just lacks the low end thud and production that my kids are used to. Also, most of our anthems are blues based in terms of lyrics; Come back baby, I've lost you, Just another heartache, I never knew, etc etc. Todays young clubbers ae nowhere near as self pitying as we were! They want lyrics (if any) they can relate to when they're dancing on an E. Generally more positive, uplifting, feel good words. Young people into our scene? Not going to happen in numbers. Sorry.

It's Okeh, Brunswick, RCA and Ric Tic. Let's all agree not to mention Shrine shall we? ;-)

Wow! I mean wow! Totally F*%&ing wow! WOW! WOW! Two of my all time faves. Like you say Tone, not a bad day's work eh? Awesome production on both. Thanks for that. Colin

Lurve The Soul Children. Did they ever make a bad record!? My faves would include Marvellettes Sophisticated Soul James Brown Apollo vol 2 Edwin's Soul Master and almost any early Impressions album Colin

Tone Are you saying that Dee Dee's Standing in the need of love was recorded same day and same session as Chubby's You Just Don't Know? Am I confused? Colin

Confession from Colin: er... I .... um ... er... well it's like this... I do ballroom and latin. My girlfriend dragged me into it, but I'm lovin it. My roots in Northern Soul dancing has been a major plus. Gives you a certain lightnes on your feet anyway. Oh... and taking dance classes helps your freestyle booglaoo and shingaling no end! Back to me knitting

Say what you like about the Jam, they were tight. I mean, just listen to the drum and bass on the intro to "Start". That playing is about as mean as you can get, and I'm certain the Funk Brothers would have doffed their caps at it.