Thinksmart

It's wonderful to have that feeling and appreciation for the hard work there. Nice of you to put it out there. Sunday is Soul music day for me, from getting up to end of day - it's on all day across shows and my library. When life permits we'll be out and about, especially on a Sunday - but Soul on Sunday is most definitely our thing.

Over the years, I've tried to separate the music from the 'scene' (whatever that now means) - we overlay a lot of emotional intensity around how we've enjoyed the music that wasn't intended in the songs. They stand in their own right and were/are enjoyed in many contexts - mostly I guess fleetingly on radio, then on vinyl for most. As I get older, it's just the songs that matter - the complexities and perspectives people have around the scene are 'theirs' but shouldn't detract from the music itself in my own enjoyment. Over time some Soul songs are becoming the new standards, in part driven by the enthusiasm of soul fans and scenes as here. I absolutely get that the underground, alternate way of life that Northern Soul offers is integral to the enjoyment of the music - for me that lasted until I was about 40, for some it carries on through life. Appreciation and dancing to this music has lasted six decades, it's bound to fragment. We shouldn't try to find one unifying story through Northern Soul anymore, we're different communities drawn together by our appreciation of some songs and situations in which we enjoyed them. Beyond them, it's like trying to find one orthodoxy through blues, country, jazz or any other enduring music that evolves in form and appreciation. It's okay for everyone to have differing perspectives around the BBC prom, to engage or not - we just need to each spend our time on that aspect of the music we enjoy. Anything else is waste of time as the clock ticks down inevitably.

Congrats!

I guess it is also hard to tell how many of us are devoted Soul music advocates and collectors but dropped out of attending completely for various reasons such as work, home and health. I was out until my early 40s when it just became impossible to fit everything in, I'm now mid-50s and could be back at some stage, especially for the weekender/all dayer type events which I can plan for. But for now it's 'armchair participation' - but I'm active continually listening, collecting, promoting the music and for now that's enough until I get some more time back in life. I have also introduced people to core Northern Soul events in the past who found it a bit hard to understand or even slightly intimidating for them - so the Warner type events might be for them. It's only the music that unites us now and even then, what is fresh for some, are old sounds to everyone here.

I just hope he's having some quality time now after a long career. His music and song writing will endure for us all here.

Ah, yes - mixing up my mountain titled songs. Had pressed send before reflecting!

Also a great Dionne Warwick Modern Soul version from album with Then Came You

Fascinating that Yum Yum Tree was '71, the Wheel member who shared all that may of been mixed up telling me in the 1990s. I did see his card though. Wigan was ironically his exit from the scene. Yum Yum Tree certainly sounds earlier than 71, I wonder if recorded then or sat in the can for a while.

It was issued on UK Sue in 1965, so less need to import it.

An older friend who was a Wheel member travelling from Nottingham did two tapes of his singles from the era with notes for me years later. I recall him saying Yum Yum Tree was huge in the same era which I still adore and was on the tape with all the above plus Mr Soul, The Cheater, Darkest Days, I Got What It Takes, Tightrope, Outcast & I Can't Do It, Earthquake, Baby Reconsider, You've Got To Pay The Price, Grits Ain't Groceries, Backstreet, The Horse, You Left The Water Running, You've Got To Pay Your Dues & I'll Take You Where The Music's Playing, Turn On Your Love Light, It's Me, Help Me, Nothing Can Stop Me, (I Love Her So Much) It Hurts Me, Nothing Worse Than Being Alone and others. I remember now The Platters also had With This Ring and Don't Hear, Speak, No Evil on the tapes in addition to Washed Ashore mentioned above. The tapes got damaged, I wish I had them now.

I haven't listened to it, even though I posted it up originally. I was most interested that Spooner Oldham produced it, being his song.

https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/texas-cover-northern-soul-classic-keep-on-talking/

I've got all my music collection in a cloud library (like my own Spotify). I also have masters of it all at lossless conversion on 6 different portable hard drives (along with photos etc). Beyond home things, it's that I'd hope to get if needed. I weaned myself off vinyl and now only buy legal downloads or CDs that I can sell on later - so hopefully I could keep my collection in the cloud at the least. Kind souls have filled in some vinyl only or unissued onto CD/digital gaps over the years and Japan has been a great source of reissues. But..... vinyl calls to me still, I'd love to collect it but I'll leave it to others now. I could envisage for some it's not only the music but the memorabilia too.

Love the Loma songs too

Just seen on the news that Tina Turner has died aged 83.

Fascinating reading. Not issued much on CD either, with the old Goldmine CDs including it - but not widely on wider mass-market compilations.

The are spread across Ace/Kent CDs so it seems from Discogs

Thanks for this thread. Wonderful music that has resulted in many digital purchases. Please do keep the music coming in.

1972 Motown that sounds prime 1967 dance floor Soul. When was is picked up in UK for plays and why by? I have it along with Art & Honey on a Japanese Motown CD and keep returning to it. Not on any other ones that I can see.

I'd celebrate Dave Godin day, but St George isn't really anything to do with the country - never visited, isn't exclusive to us, may be a myth and I don't believe in Saints. So Dave Godin it is for me.

Yes it is on Unreleased 1968, part 2.

This topic also opens up to related prior DJs such as Guy Stevens, Brian Phillips, Carl etc. Formative to the Soul scenes to follow. Nobody picking Peter Stringfellow in his earlier days at the Mojo?

Sad news and yes, lots of affection for Chris in Nottingham. Would chat at Rob's in the past. Was important also in that 1990s Nottingham Northern Soul resurgence that was really exciting to be back part of.

So many great songs

Some great smooth, modern Soul from the accomplished singer. RIP