Dayo

Always liked that Barbra Pennington 24 hours a day track. Sounded good back then and still does.

They also wrote a load of stuff for the Four Seasons and the Toys

Oh no, I'm not having that. This kind of mis-information is ruining the scene. In fact, I've got an acetate of the original demo of "Oh My Darling" where Jackie clearly sings "Oh My Trousers" - an oblique reference to his famous checked strides. And it's Nutwood not Mirwood - get your facts straight!

And I guess most people know that the guy who gave us this: Northern Classic Also wrote this: Classic of a different sort

Nancy Ames who gave us this: Great Northern Classic Co-wrote this with Mason Williams: Not Exactly A Northern Classic I'll get my coat....

Aston Villa - Suffering City

London? Somewhere else? I'm thinking about the cities that made what we came to call Northern Soul music. Where the legendary studios, musicians and producers were based. I've listed the top 5 as I see it in the thread title; any arguments? OK, so if there was a best of the rest, which city would get the nod? I've suggested London half seriously, but where would you say gave us the best NS output, other than the obvious five? Or do you disagree with my top 5 choice? Can't be Memphis can it?

There is obviously someone in the BBC who is a massive NS fan and is sneaking them in whenever he or she can. Bravo and keep 'em coming!!!! It's high time this person was outed....

Apologies if anyone is confused by the thread, I should have taken a bit more time. The point I was trying to make concerns the male superstars of our music. The legends. Yes, the ones that crossed over. I'm just pointing out that they all died far too young and I was trying to figure out who might be left standing who could stand alongside the following in terms of quality of output and wider popularity: Otis Redding 26 Sam Cooke 27 Curtis Mayfield 57 Marvin Gaye 45 Jackie Wilson50 Donny Hathaway 34 Luther Vandross 54 Teddy Pendergrass 60 Bobby Womack 70

I think all the singers in my list had crossed over. Good call on George Benson by someone.

All great names, but I'm talking about the superstars of our music - ones that crossed over. There's no-one left, is there?

For the longest time I always said my 4 favourite male singers were Sam, Otis, Marvin and Jackie. Singers so good, so powerful and influential, that a first name is all that's needed for you to know who I'm talking about. Sadly, they are all now have long gone. Add Curtis to that list along with James, Donny, Bobby, Teddy and Luther. The first name thing actually isn't the point. And you'll have your own list, I'm sure. The real point is this: Of the truly great male superstar soul singers, who is still living? You might say Al Green, maybe Stevie Wonder, but I'm struggling to think of anyone else on that level, and to be frank, much as I love Stevie, his latter output has been - let's put it kindly - patchy. And the last time I saw Al Green he was more interested in throwing roses to the "ladies in the house" than really singing. So many of the true male greats died relatively young didn't they? Is there anyone really left?

Noooooo! Another legend gone.... From a whisper to a scream.

Noooooo! Another legend gone.... From a whisper to a scream.

I guess it was kind of obscure, but didn't Dave Godin reveal the mentioned discs as his secret sounds in his swan song column for Blues & Soul? Hope my memory is serving me correctly....

A deliberately cryptic thread but I know that there are some very smart soul fans out there, so - if I've set this correctly (and I'm trusting my own memory here) - I'm sure someone will supply the answers in a heartbeat. Just a bit of fun: What connects these three discs and (I'm pretty sure) there are two missing ones - what are they? Sweet Darling - Jimmy Soul Clark Key To My Happiness - The Charades Take Me Home - Donna King

Just curious: Has the market and value of doowop held up in recent years? I ask because I'm guessing that many of those collectors will be getting on in years - a generation older than most of us perhaps? I guess I'm trying to divine if our highly prized soul 45s will still have value when us lot are all grown up or shuffled off! So I'm wondering if there might be any parallels with the doowop vs NS collecting scene...

I don't know the answer, but it sure is a great song. It floored me the first time I heard it and it's one that I try and avoid playing too often in case the magic ever lose its lustre.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

On the basis that the only stupid question is the one you don't ask: When was the Profiles first played out? My time on the scene was the 1970's and I don't ever remember hearing it, but then it seems to have been around forever and my memory is doing all kinds of crazy things at the moment. I guess it's a well overplayed oldie, but it still makes me smile. Many thanks

Oh no - he did two of my all time faves. I'm gutted! RIP Big Fella!

That is a bit strong but I get all goose bumpy when I see a UK Chess demo...

Sorry everyone; no question, that's definitely Francis Tee's shop in Kidderminster....

... for starting most of the world's dance crazes. We did the Twist, The Monkey, The Duck... and now we're gonna do the Skate, so come on!" If those lyrics need explaining, well, you were probably never on the scene. But I want to know more about these dance crazes. Other than the Twist, I'm not sure how many made it over here. Where did the American kids learn the steps? TV? With so many "dance crazes" referenced on our favourite songs, I wonder how many of us can actually Boogaloo? Wouldn't have a clue! Shing-a-ling? Shing-a-what? And as for the Peanut Duck? What the $%&?! The point is: have all these dances been forgotten? I'm sure I did see a James Brown video once where he demonstrates some of the well-known dances of the day, but I wonder if any other fragments of these dances survive on video? Did the Twist start it all? What's the story? Let's tighten up baby!

Only had time to skim it through but can't wait to read it at leisure. Just fabulous... thank you.