Dayo

Fella, I don't know you but I do know tht music is a great healer. Sure, take a break from the scene, but why abandon a source of creativity and comfort? Someone much wiser than I said that "Life never gives you anything you can't cope with." There's also a saying that goes "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger." Keep on keepin on.... Best wishes Colin

Just time to make one suggestion at the mo: Marvellettes - Sophisticated Soul. One gorgeous song after another.....

Just like to thank everyone for their suggestions and a special mention to Soul On Ice for the thoughtful list. Cheers guys! Colin

Groan!

Matter of fact that's one of the few gebuine northern sounds that she really grooves on! Something to do with the drums, she says!

Hi all Putting together a CD for my girlfriend who is, much to my amazement, really getting into soul music. Trouble is, it's very hard to predict what she likes. Generally the fast stompers do nothing for her and she's well versed in Motown. What really seems to float her boat are what I can only call the commercial end of deep soul (contradiction in terms I know). Think of Betty's "let me down easy" or Lorraine's "Stay with me baby". Just wondered if anyone had any further suggestions along these lines for a CD comp to draw her a little more in? She's heard all the Dave Godin comps and likes about 50% of them. Thanks in advance! Colin

Bit of a hobby horse of mine this, but I'll keep on about it till someone agrees! In the first verse of this Torch classic, Roy Handy CLEARLY sings; "We stand in a line for fish and chips..." Click link below and judge for yourself - please! Roy Handy's Fish Bar

Ain't nothin but a house party

The song you want is called "Haven't got a clue" by Too Vague

Adore "Too Hurt To Cry" - fabulous ballad. Good call.

DOH! 47 ... and the weekend is still for canin' it! PS Just read thread title properly - Jess Fisher probably not a cheapie. But here's one for you; I Love You Yes I Do - The Independents. Mix could have a tad more balls, but what a gorgeous song.

Does "You're not loving a beginner" get played much these days? Jess Fisher (?) - used to love that tune.

Had a unique voice didn't he? In fact I've got a huge soft spot for "Well I ask You". It's one of the first records that registered on my conscienceness as a 3 or 4 year old I distinctly remember it on what I guess was the the old BBC Light programme.

Lovely melody aint it?

Yaaaay! You got it - thanks Andy!

Point taken. But I mean REALLY bombed in the States like The Tomagoes or Eddie Parker.

Which was the first rare soul fanzine? Any ideas anyone? First one I ever saw was around 1973 - Chris Savoury's Hot Buttered Soul. Remember that anyone? What a great little read it was too. Anything predate that? PS I don't count "Home of the Blues" as it wasn't rare soul based.

Was adding my two cents to the JJ Barnes/Marvin Gaye thread when an idea crossed my mind; what if "Heard it through the Grapevine" had been by an unknown artist on a label like Revilot? Imagine it had bombed, only five copies known. What a monster that cut would have been on our scene. Agree? That set me thinking. I know it's mad, but what if the entire Motown catalogue had bombed out? What if all these great songs never made it and hadn't become the soundtrack to a generation? Yeah, I know, Northern Soul would never have happened, but go with me on this... Which Motown song or songs (hits included) would have had the biggest impact on the Northern Soul scene? Would a mega rare "Can't help myself" have been a bigger record than, say, Eddie Foster? Hope I'm making sense here, or should I, as someone often says, get me coat?

Good point. JJ Barnes was, along with Major Lance and Darrel Banks, among the first icons of our scene; but can you imagine the world without Marvin? His influence as a social commentator extended beyond the confines of music. And what if he had been an unknown grafter and "Grapevine" had been another bombed out record on Impact or Revilot? Might have been the greatest Northern Soul sound of all time - not to mention "Take this heart of mine", "You're a wonderful one" or a zillion other classics. Marvin for me then.

If I were selling anything I'd go for EBay at the moment.

Welcome to the party SoundsOKEH

Excellent version which I think I came across on an old Atlantic sampler called Flying High. But Gladys is as close to soul perfection as it gets (for me).

You're right, of course! I'm confused now. The Wheel spin I'm think of may have been something with a similar group name or title. There were a lot of quirky instrumentals back then - well that's my excuse! Dreadful record, but I think all the records have to be seen in context of the times they were played. It must have sounded right to some ears at the time.

Didn't Cats Eyes get spins at The Wheel?