Still Diggin

Yes, I recall several folks playing this back in the early 90s, we used to play it down the mucky duck in Norwich, I say we in that I knew at lease 4 local people who spun there owned a copy. It's great to see collectors and dj's take on this subject, but in reality the halcyon days of the rare modern soul scene (given most of the tracks that have been mentioned) was between 1980 and 88, for the simple fact most of the tracks mentioned did at the time sound relatively modern due to being recent releases or a couple of years old ie Curtis Anderson and Ronnie Barns were not a million miles away from new releases being played in the better end clubs around Londons north circular,it was a subculture of club culture. Even back then the people I knew who were really on it never classed Melvin Moore or Earl white junior modern, even back then they sounded dated, I still have both and are fantastic records, but had either got 1975 written on the label I doubt too many would have questioned it. The term Modern Soul should have been well and truly been dumped for these releases in and around the early nineties as record productions changed and in turn call them for what they infact are, which is rare 80s. There have also been too many records on this thread made well before the term modern soul was to my knowledge ever used! I mean surely Sammy lee and the Nialations are just seventies dancers, I have the Sammy Lee 45,supposed to be from 78, sounds more like 71 to me, that's not modern. For example a proper modern soul record is Anthony David feat Kiesha Jackson 'Lady', came out last year ON CD so it sounds modern!. Back then there were also a few tracks played that only appeared on 12" , many of these have remained elusive like the Purple Gang, Bachelor, James King, Pike, Juice on Outlet the list goes on. There have been hundreds of 45's which failed to make it back then or had yet to be found, many of similar rarity and quality of most mentioned above. There seems to be several small fractured scenes for this output now, So sadly many will get little attention. Has Larome Baker, Glenda Mcloed,Raj, Brothers Gilmore,SPG had a mention?. One record I must mention that I had purchased in the early 90's was Darrell Johnson's 'Days gone past' on DTJ productions, it actually came out in 1980, such a great production for the period, way ahead of it's time. Sorry about the terminology rant, unable to contain myself. By the way Steve I used your post to thank you for excellent work that is ALL PLATINUM the making of a sound. For a group harmony fan like miself a real treat. Never knew Jay player was in the Optamistics, every day's a school day. Oh, Jay player on 45 is no easy piece in 2024.

Yep, same guy who was flogging the Charmels 'Ive done it again' on Volt! a few years back, with the release number convienently crossed out, because the type face used for this boot is from a release three years previous and had not been recorded at that point in time.

Have we had James Fountain 'Seven day lover' yet? memorable start if ever there was one. Or The Quantrells 'Show me the game of love' pure kitchen sink stuff ! Just cant wait for the best ending thread to start🙃

Yes, you are infact correct, I failed to see the bit about 'before the singing starts' perhaps the lyrics play a major part in my appreciation of soul, hense my oversight. Not sure I would call it the opposite, just a misinterpretation of the thread.

From a perspective of 45's played on the northern/ rare soul dance scene, the two which had me the most capyivated on that first hearing had to be - Harold Melvin 'Get out' Melvin Moore 'All of a sudden' Opening lines on both are lyrical genius IMO.

Fair dues, if you you were not around back then, however it was most certainly not a 'southern thing' you would have that in Nottingham (rock city) circa mid eighties along with several other venues up and down the country. Within a six month window around that period some would say a top five modern soul want that's never really turned up.

Probably Silver platinum Gold 'Loveland' on Magic which should probably be in a different thread, as that's comparing an obscure 60's 45 with something from 83 of similar rarity. Bit like comparing rare funk or Sweet soul with Northern.

I am convinced what you are alluding to will sadly one day play its part in the making of a record aimed at the soul scene and one of it's many styles, however how AI can replicate the passion and conviction we have all grown up to deeply understand within the portrail both lyrically and emotionly in an Afro American voice I am yet to be convinced. we have enough nonsense to deal with regarding the numerous cover versions that some people think will make them rich! Just wish Jan Jones and Ray Pollard could hear the covers or not!

I have played the flip a few years back at a local downbeat gig before they became the norm, but in reality just another southern soul curiosity. As for 'Come on', well in my opinion there are a whole load of tracks like that on the likes of early Gwen Mcrae and Betty Wright LP's which in my little world are far superior in every department, but they would never get a look in, due to being album tracks by well known artists.

Special Delivery ! Geez, I record having at least two copies for re-sale every year for the past five, and I could hardly class myself as a dealer. Could never bring myself to charge more than thirty squid, boy is that a common record!

As you asked, the Gavin Christopher did gain a 45 release, and a nice track. Took me a few years to find that Arnold McCuller on 7'', bit of a cult following as a new release, having said that Robbie Vincent played it on radio 1 when it first came out.

Excellent choice, always liked the slow material by the group Lakeside. The moody 'Show you the way' & 'Say yes' are firm favorites and available on 7". The Whispers cut some nice material on Solar, the excellent 'You'll never get away' is a great litle dance track IMO, brilliant harmonies, but I suppose it would be, it's the Whispers arranged by Gene Page and Tom Tom 84! .

I don't think too many folks who have collected slow harmony soul for any length of time would be surprized. simply because they have seen prices compleatly rocket, someone must have wanted it for 'what you gonna do', still a daft price for something thats never far from a listing. All that type of stuff Marvells' How could you hurt me so' Symphonies 'That's what love will do,' there are thousands of titles that have gone north of £500 from £50 in a very short time. You could buy the great beat ballad byJean & Joe 'Youre all I need' on Dot before lockdown for less than £50 , bet that will go north of £300 pretty soon because there are so many people all over the joint looking for stuff like that , Either because it now has an over used and missused tag of low rider or they have finally woken up and realized that a good soul record does not have to be 90 miles an hour.

For about forty five years I have suffered from this compulsive disorder which makes me try to purchase a soul record that is better than the worst one I have. I try to dress it up and throw some light on this problem and in denial call myself a collector. The secret is to keep a really crap record.😉

Unlike most teams still in it, for the most part we have been up against championship strikers and good players that have seen better days. So the fun starts saturday, if the chuckle bros keep a clean sheet it will be close to a miracle.

Sorry, you are correct I did infact mension the wrong track, however it's all cut from the same cloth of europop/ dodgy disco nonsense, which in due cause partially morphed to hi-energy.

IMO the House Bros record does sound from 79, infact the Village people recorded a track in that year called 'I wanna shake your hand' almost identical backing track, the Gibson Bros had tracks of the Cuba LP which again have almost the same backing tracks, it's called europop not soul. It drove me mad back then, so the last thing I want to listen to is a soundalike in 2022 just because it's of acetate origin. If for argument sake it was infact on an old Gibson Bros LP ( which anyone with half an ear would agree it could have been) then it would get some serious stick from most soul fans on here. Having different taste is one thing, but this is bridge too far.

Never gave it much thought back in August, but it used to be, i'll get the barbeque out ,bring a couple of beers and then we can watch the game, now the temparature has dropped it all seems a right damp squid and completely wrong to have it staged in november you used to see the car window down and the flag hanging out , not sure I would have the window down for anything this morning. I'm sure my enthusiasum will improove as the better teams get to play each other.

What a brilliant mix you could do with 'In the navy', give me strength it's painfull! That backing track !🤣

If you pay a visit to the discogs site and search for seller familyofgold you can purchase Daniel Golstones product, including the nice pleading ballad ' I,m alone' which I remember buying in the early 90's, I did contact him when he re-cut 'Of all the hearts to break' on the red/white 12" and he did have some info regarding the various takes of the song, but sadly I no longer have that detail to hand, he was actively doing stuff in the buisness and 'full of beans'.

Would have thought if Hall and Goldstone were the same person then we would have been treated to a stronger production straight out of the reflection studios when Duke Hall was working with Ron Henderson ! could be wrong, but the only connection I see is Hall produced the Black & Blue and somehow managed to get credited as writer.

I was actually playing some uptempo early eightees material from them the other evening, and forgot how good 'love love love' was, came on the flip to 'Fan the fire'. It made me think just how inept much of this eightees boogie new release soundalike shite that's getting ramed down our throats actually is. Some folks need to remember how good some of the soulfull end of what was new release club music actually was.

Good shout Dave, pushed by the re-issue 7'' in Japan last year.

Remember sending Lew Stanley some funds via one of those crazy cash pick up things , moneygram or something like that, anyway I was unaware he had to drive fifty miles to pick it up, as that was his nearest outlet that provided that service. My next conversation with Lew resulted in me holding the phone some distance from my ear!On a more depressing note he landed one or or two copies of Emit Long 'Call me' he kept one for me. That same evening I drove off down the lake to get some fishing in, on the way back I got out of the van to shut the gate so the cows didn't escape, as I got back into the van to drive off the timeing belt snapped, I then had to inform him the next day his sale was off! I had to buy another van and no vinyl.

Probably go for the Positive Sounds, not just because i've played it in downbeat rooms before, but because both sides featured are on the same 45, thus giving the chance of spinning either side, with one being slightly deeper than the other, I have allways liked the Wilson Williams 'I cant get over loosing you', a nice 45 IMO.