Thinksmart

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?

Great, Thanks.

HI all, while we are all at home - Mixcloud is providing great along with Internet Radio to complement my own plays. Soul Music is our constant companion here while we are at home. This may of been done before, but for some it will all be new at this time. So why don't we put up our favourite shows at Mixcloud (others) for people to tune into? So first I'll highlight Pete Smith who is endlessly interesting in the way he compiles music in themes drawn from his collections over the years. This continues the deep pile of CDrs it took me years to digitise from him over the years that still throw up unheard treatures. Good on him and thanks for the music.

Richard has now put up two 'lost' shows and an Aretha Franklin special on Mixcloud in the last two weeks. His Solar Radio show continues on Sunday lunch, first hour is drawn from the Friday/Mixcloud show and the second his 'Rare and Well Done' show with more Modern Soul and mellow spins. Good to have those and all the other wonderful Mixcloud shows at present. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to do them including Colin Curtis, Pete Smith, Roger Williams and so many more.

Great to see his later music appreciated. Other than a general, background appreciation of the singles I had overlooked his music then heard Richard Searling play the song 'Watching You, Watching Me' and was very taken with it. Similarly on a wonderful Kent compilation album about Vietnam related Soul, I first head 'I Can't Write Left Handed' which was quietly devastating. Eventually like many I envisage, I bought a box set of all his albums which are a source of constant delight, far beyond his wonderful singles. A true artist, decent man, someone who knew when to stop and go do something else positive with their life. Thank you.

Hi all I've got Starpoint radio on in the background and they have just said that Ronn Matlock passed early in March but it has not been reported until now. I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere else. Thanks Mark

Maybe it's because I've had more time - but some great new tunes from Bobby & Steve, GLOW, J.D's Time Machine, Frank Addai, Warryn Campbell, Binky Womack, Lukas Setto & others being played at present. New Tower of Power album has some non-funk Modern Soul, Monophonics album sees their evolution progress towards the late 60s/early 70s. It is a challenging time in society but there is some great music around too.

Sounds like '68-'69 era early funk-rock. But is it more recent and trying to emulate it? The lack of a defined chorus doesn't help.

Thanks, appreciated.

Showdown is immense.

Shrine briefly too of course. This thread is fascinating. With less communication and travel in the early '60s, Maxine's view may of seemed true to her at the time based on her experience in NY and playing live.

Some of the early Kent, Out On The Floor, Keeping The Faith, Up All Night compilation LP covers and information on reverse were back in the early 80s were instructive to me as a young teenager. I wish there could be a book of the Kent sleeves and their reverses.

So great to see them there. We all here enjoy their music. 'HIt & Run' as a duet?

Sadly OVO commitments at venues tell them where to go.

An interesting read once you get through the subscription clicks. That early 80s Prelude era influenced a lot of dance music. Glad to see he got paid after suing C+C.

Brilliant list and our sublime music.

Later than many, Peterborough Wirrina in '85 I think, age of sixteen . A group of us came down from Nottingham in a van - Simmo, Crewy, Tucker, Jo90 etc. It was in the big hall and well attended. I can't remember a single tune (and not for the obvious reason), just because I was taking it all in. It seemed so mysterious, intimidating and intoxicating at first and the music was ace. I was probably one of the youngest in there and looked it. I do remember being surprised by the 1970s and more recent music played, in my head being trained at Rob's Records and on Kent/Inferno etc LPs. I didn't appreciate that sound music then but of course here we are nearly thirty five years later and I'm into all areas of the style and associated music too. Arrived at the nighter a young Mod, left the all-nighter focused more about Northern Soul after that. By about '87 I was struggling to find local nighters in Nottingham and ended up in the early House scene for a couple of years (while still collecting Soul) before getting back to Soul as things seemed to take off again from about 1991.

https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/people/were-you-part-peterboroughs-northern-soul-scene-70s-and-80s-1422175

I do not think anyone has put up this classic yet so....

That's sad. Too many to keep up with.

For those interested, this isn't out at Amazon until 24th so plenty of options from our independent Soul sources of choice to get it now. I've got all of this series except 2004 and 2006 which are out of print and comapratively expensive which is a shame. I may end up buying them for completeness at some stage.

The Great Pottery Throw Down thing seems to be used exactly the same music, same tracks even as last year, now it is on C4 not BBC. The first episode was The Creation, The Action and mid-sixities British early rock. Second one as you saw, was more Soul music.

I buy a huge amount of new Soul so agree fully on Durand Jones. Roy Ayers, yes indeed - what an incredible artist. My work makes it hard as it is so variable, but I should try with some of these concerts - as you say before it is too late.