Thinksmart

I buy almost every Soul related CD that is issued (certainly in the reissue space, but most of the new releases too). For me it depends on the rarity of the music, quality of the sound, respect I have for the issuing label, the research put in and the notes. But I think about £15 is the most for a single CD. A number of 3CD sets are going for around £27 new by such as SoulMusic. There are CDs I'd paid more for to unearth some rare music or labels that it isn't worth doing unless the price is more. It is important that the royalty holders are paid to me, so I do factor that into the price. Inexpensive isn't always right. There are still key 1970s albums by such as Jerry Butler and The Originals with enduring scene plays that still haven't been issued on CD. There are hundreds of albums issued in Japan on CD that never saw issue in UK/USA. The UK CD pricing of £17+ we see around for some new release, single artist CDs by someone unknown feels too high to me. I do understand there is a need to make a decent mark-up to fund music shops and also import costs too - which can add to the cost for some sellers. As I've bought just about every Soul CD from the 80s onwards in UK, but also importing globally where needed - I will be happy to provide any input I can. Feel free to PM me and I'm very happy to chat on this.

Great to hear, thanks Mick.

Yes I could see that emerging a bit.

I really do not want to dampen anyone's enthusiasm, but I'll be very surprised if venues are open legally for dancing in that timeframe. As it is now, drinking will have to be outside, table service only, minimal contact and recording your details. That's not even near normal, just to have a drink in the sun. I believe through my professional life and engagement on the new requirements that nightclubs / dancing will be amongst the very last parts of society to reopen. Dancing in particular has deeper inwards/outward breathing, close people proximity, bumping into each other, recirculated air inside venues and the lowering of inhibitions with drinking (and more) in the vicinity - so the perfect environment for fast transmission. Nail bars cannot open due to the risk of circulation through touch in addition to breathing, so record sales will be difficult at venues. There are so many issues to deal with - including the risk of transmission by multiple DJs using the same decks. This might sound an overreaction but the recent Croatian tennis exhibition now shows the risks. I genuinely cannot see any events happening in August or September, possibly even this year. There will be extra government caution as we proceed through Autumn and towards winter with an anticipated recirculation in colder weather. Even conference centres cannot reopen yet, with none of the above risks I've mentioned. Any events allowed will need to be outside for sure in the interim. There is an extremely limited window late summer to Autumn this year, the government priority before nightclubs is indoor theatres and cinemas then such as bowling alleys where the interaction is slightly more controlled and less likely to have the same rate of potential spread. At present, I do not believe any venue or organiser can have even the slightest clarity to inform their plans for now on inside drinks/dancing events. The government has not issued anything at all to that sector with the PM today saying in Parliament taskforces will be formed to look at still locked-down areas. The work on high risk, inside locations such as nightclubs, dancehalls, ballrooms and the like hasn't really started at all in a way that will give clarity in the near term. Soul is considered as a tiny part of the wider venues sector. Keeping nightclubs closed also lowers crime and hospital admissions too at a time of limited financial and physical resources. It isn't a huge employer compared to other sectors and has high cash usage relatively. It also has the risk of fast transmission when university students return in late September, who are the main users of nightclub spaces. So I think we will not see early focus on nightclubs or dance venues by government that helps reopen the Soul scene. It will come back ultimately but not at the pace of the next key focus which is schools for September. What happened from one person in nightclubs in South Korea is profound and stimulated infection of hundreds of people which has led to re-lockdown. The fast spread outbreaks in Germany, our own Anglesey, China and even now New Zealand show the wider risks. Government also knows that people won't come forward for testing now, may give false details at pubs and that track and trace is going to be hard. If one person is a superspreader at at event (as was the case in South Korea) then a Northern Soul type event will be the perfect place for transmission. The government knows it should not of allowed Cheltenham Races to go ahead with crowds, so it is likely to be more cautious on inside events. We all hope events will be back safely and soon, but I think we need to balance that with the government considerations around venues to avoid disappointment. All of this is just my view of course.

Those Boogie Times CDs are as you say hard to get (at a decent price) and never released outside France. I had overlooked the Nightime Lovers one.

Hi all, the new double CD of under The Influence 8 arrived to me yesterday, compiled by Woody Bianchi. It is also available on vinyl. It has Rideout and Jay Player on CD for the first time plus other songs of interest with good sound on it too. https://www.zrecords.ltd.uk/product/under-the-influence-vol-8-compiled-by-woody-bianchi/

It will be self evident to most people at the forum, but this compilation is sublime. It is on heavy rotation and will be enjoyed so long as I am able to listen. I am grateful for those putting out excellent Soul music, old and new. During these times, music is a big help. Ace/Kent is commended for their continual work in releases that we all enjoy. Please just carry on the good work. Thank you.

https://www.wigantoday.net/heritage-and-retro/retro/archives-wigan-casino-pictures-through-ages-2884350/ There are four pages, with a small link at the bottom of the pictures. Most are of pop acts at the venue which are themselves interesting. There are some Northern Soul related pictures in there too.

Excellent, thanks. I'll be sure to check this out.

Recorded last night, so look forward to watching.

I had not realised that the track had been done by them too even though I have it. I'll go check, lots of wonderful music on their albums.

Was on their LPs but not on CD that I can see.

This thread has me buying even more New Orleans 'gritty' Soul. I recommend the two 'Ric and Ron' label CDs on Ace records of New Orleans R&B/early Soul that are right up Irish Mash's street I think. On these (and related artist CDs) are such as Johnny Adams, Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair, Eddie Bo, Chris Kenner, Robert Parker, Tommy Ridgley - amongst the very best. Let's not overlook Fats Domino too, New Orleans R&B starts here (and early Ska took that sound and localised it). I've always been partial to his brassy, harmonica led R&B uptempo gem here: The pre Gris Gris career of Mac Rebennack / Dr John is confusing to collect as some of it is out of copyright so all kinds of dodgy compilations abound (one of the best is the unlikely sounding 'Trader John's Crawfrish Soiree' another is 'In The Studio with Mac Rebennack'). However I do not think any of them include his Zu Zu Blues Band one off single beloved by Mods (even though they do include a separate song called Zu Zu Man): Dr John takes you a long way from R&B, swing, his voodoo psych-blues, funk-soul to the sweet City Lights and so much more. There was a great double CD introduction called Mos' 'Scocious that is a useful launching pad to find the era of his music you enjoy (or all of it!). Enjoy yer gumbo folks!

Great to have the releases back. I'm enjoying the Soul Voices CD as I type. What a wonderful collection. The LP releases were great on CD and will be so on vinyl for sure. Good to see the MP3 releases to help spread the music beyond us core listeners here.

That is what has happened with conferences in my sector too - all rescheduled to broadly the same dates, clashing and with a very nervous audience. But in London - I don't think we will be going to any in person in London this year. The South Korea wave that is still rippling through from the lone guy in clubs on one night, shows the sensitivity. (good new article on it here: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/south-korea-coronavirus-response-second-wave) The situation on contract tracing and the app seems unclear at present - imagine it pinging at a Soul event. I am keen to get back though, in fact after this time, I'd welcome going out more if safe (though as someone who had severe double-lung pneumonia from a business trip to China in 2015, safe is the watch word). It is good to start thinking it through - listening to Richard Searling and others online talking about Blackpool as the largest event perhaps, it is unclear how you could run that for a fair while. I could easily envisage small 'underground' local events starting with little advertising and people taking the risk.

So far it is only outdoor things that are opening up and shops where they can enforce social distancing. I may be a touch cautious, but it feels like indoor events, especially those with dancing within range and drinking are a way off yet.

Two more Wardell Quezerque compilations I have on checking: Strung Out - The Malaco Sessions Sixty Smokin' Soul Senders

It is worth a watch. Ironically his music is only a small part of it - the life of the man and result on people around him is fasincating. It's interesting in there how much music he was performing and is shown but seemingly not releasing - adapting to the style of the era, big haired 80s boogie, 90s R&B, bedroom Soul - he kept on but it was the attention from the music rather than releasing the music itself that seemed most important. There's more to him than was even in the documentary as subsequent articles have picked up on.

You beat me to it, I'll try only to mention others not covered already. There was a great 3 CD series Ace did called Gumbo Stew that is definitely worth getting - it's all that early 1960s New Orleans soul sound. That for me was a foundation source that took me beyond the greats by such as Barbara George, Lee Dorsey and Benny Spellman. There are compilations of the production/playing/song writing by Dr John, Wardell Quezerque and Allen Toussaint that are good. The Dr John ones are usually in his own name and include other artists. Allen Toussaint Artist - Producer - Songwriter is one for example. Kent's recent 'Rolling With The Punches' is a fantastic collection of Allen Toussaint work with other artists (his own work is definitely worth exploring too). I'd go there as a starter for sure. Kent's Birth of Soul series and other CDs are often the best masters of key New Orleans songs. The compilation 'My Goodness Yes!' covering the Silver Fox label sounds up your street. Also New Orleans Soul 1962-1966 set. The New Orleans Funk series (1-4) hasn't been mentioned, which is almost all gritty Soul rather than Funk as it is thought of later. The 'Shake What You Brought' CD is similar to those mentioned with some good New Orleans. Metro's 'Simply New Orleans' two CD is probably only a couple of quid to get now. One thing to be aware of, with the licensing of a lot of New Orleans music not clear and the pre-1963 music on public release by anyone now - there are a lot of sub-par compilations, often from disc of 50s/early 60s that repeat the same songs and can sound terrible. So the compilations mentioned above and here should be useful and are from reputable sources (in sound and licencing). The music produced by Wardell Quezerque in particular seems to be all over the place and there are a fair few low quality compilations that might have a few exclusive old tracks from disc. Hope that helps Thanks Mark

Blimey. What a life. This adds more after watching: Murder, mystery and a hit record: the unbelievable story of Ike White https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/18/mystery-and-a-hit-record-the-unbelievable-story-of-ike-white?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

Gutted at this, been digging more into her music in recent years - she was so young when she did her classic singles and albums in seventies and into eighties. More you dig, there's so much quality. RIP to all the Soul artists and people around them passing away at present.

According to Discogs it was a short lived name for what became Gordy Records: https://www.discogs.com/label/56689-Miracle-Records-5

To extend the Philly listening beyond the four volume set I mentioned before, also check the the Creme de la Creme two CDs that Richard Searling compiled of 70s Philly Soul (plus the not all Philly Soul 'You Better Believe It' CDs). Kent's Philly Groove CDs (Deep In The Philly Groove and Deeper In The Philly Groove) are a good primer for that label.

Well Salsoul is of course the next logical step, with the musicians from PIR splitting away to work there https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsoul_Records. While there is a lot of Disco at Salsoul the Soulful output ranks highly. Alongside that, Stan Winston's Philly Groove label will be perfect too as home to The Delfonics and many more. Lots of explore there. A lot of the legendary Sigma Studios recordings aren't on labels that are only Philly related, or artists from Philly, so worth checking out the Spirit Of Philadelphia CD series (volumes 1-4 so far) - or the artists and songs on there as a primer. They still count as Philly produced Soul of the era. The Trammps, The Futures and many dozens more weren't on specifcally Philly related labels - so it starts to blur. There is a lot of crossover from sixties to early seventies on Philly labels such as Artic. Thom Bell as a producer is a great reference point working for Philly Groove and more widely for such as The Spinners on Atlantic by then. Ace is helpfully issuing a new Thom Bell CD in the next couple of months: https://acerecords.co.uk/ready-or-not-thom-bells-philly-soul-arrangements-productions-1965-1978 Inevitably there is a lot of interchange here between labels/producers/studios and artists, but this should give a good basis to start further explorations.

The Artistics - Girl I Need You?