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Then the live version of B B King's take on Night Life is perfect. First heard on Kent LP 'Smart!' For me. Such a great theme for a set.

I like that track a lot, the way you hear it inside and outside the club. For years I never connected it being Spooner Oldham, which is obvious given the name and it being on Fame. I wish I had known it back as a youg Mod in the early 80s like so much I only heard later.

Sounds like Two In The Morning by Spooner's Crowd

Ordered this via Bandcamp and enjoyed two play throughs so far. Thanks for putting it together.

Yes I read it on Northern Soul Essential Story, the first Goldmine CD after their Soul Supply vinyl LPs. I must of re-read it many dozens of times. I bought it directly from Rob Smith in the shop, when Kev used to drop them off. I bought them for years that way. Any sold out I would get from Selectadisc round the corner if there instead. There are still a few songs only on Goldmine CDs (and related labels) contained on this such as Inticers, Bell Boys, Jimmy Mack.

Enjoying this while on holiday. Great 1970s Ronnie McNeir Soul perfect!

That's sad to hear and good to read your thoughts Ian.

Keep up the good work. Thanks for the diligence on it.

Ah I see! It might need a lateral shift into something adjacent but not the same. Best wishes with it.

That feels a good approach.

Are there any organisations you got close to or have personal relationships with that you can build on in making the career step? I've just accepted a position at a client of my consulting company that I got ever-closer to during the work and it lead to a natural conversation about joining. I've always wanted to and the role is excellent, but it emerged as many do, through the connection that was growing between us.

Oh this is similar to an experience of mine. I started a new role back in 2007 and was discussing my enjoyment of Soul music including the 'Modern Soul Scene' so was asked to do some CDrs for some young colleagues. Upon asking later how the CDrs were, I received embarrassed, confused faces who said 'this is all really old, it's not even Modern Soul or R&B and some of it is before I was born!'. Of course I'd compliled Modern Soul as we understand it, from 70s onwards through Philly, Disco, Boogie, through into early 2000s Modern sounds. But to them they wanted the R&B chart sound of that time, not really Soul music at all and definitely not.......old Modern Soul! I later found the Northern Soul advocates in the company of my own age, but these youngsters fifteen years younger than me didn't ask for any compilations again! However they are all now into their forties and definitely not into Modern R&B or Soul of any type now having followed the charts through genres as most people do.

And today's newie is tomorrow's oldie of course. Talking of Oldies, I've worked back through Northern Soul to R&B in all its forms and keeping digging. I now find myself enjoying 50s black Boogie Woogie, Jump Blues, Honking and Jiving R&B, uptempo Doo Wop, early New Orleans. Some of these were also early Mod plays too for such as Roger Eagle, Guy Stevens, Ian Samwell and at such as The Lyceum, Americana, Flamingo Clubs and first location of the Twisted Wheel. Some of it is the same Soul artists in their earlier career, some from Jazz, Blues. These really are oldies - a lot of it the music that led to Soul and Rock 'n' Roll. Ace has done many dozens of great complilations of it earlier in their history that I'm picking up for a few quid on CD. So what is the music too old and early to be an Oldie called?

Wonderful to celebrate Ace.Records 50th with their music. I am searching through and finding all the old Rhythm & Blues CDs from their catalogue having bought all the Soul, R&B, Mod Jazz, Jazz etc related releases and much more to date from the 80s to now. It is amazing how many pure Blues, black Swing, Doo Wop and so on that I didn't buy first time around. Their podcasts linked at the website are always interesting, I was listening to Keb this week and see he is DJing at the events (60s Garage now). Thanks to all at Ace Records.

Excellent reading, yes keep it coming. I was listening to Norman Jay talking recently and he was talking similarly about local Soul selections such as Archie Bell and the Drells 'Don't Let Love Get You Down' with its mid-tempo Philly Groove that were break-out plays for him separate to Reggae. Interesting about the CCR song too - that's a wonderful, deep song. The Ted Hawkins version is a particular favourite of mine: https://youtu.be/v8UsXFrfq7I?si=R8_XujQUsHHp0LHe