Modernsoulsucks

I was going to mention the new release connection but I thought it might complicate it even further and I can't remember any examples except for a 12" on MCA by Front Page and I've forgotten the title of that! ROD

The Gentle Persuasion is also on UK People I seem to remember. ROD

Steve, I think Dave and I got onto it quite quickly and because we were selling it and it was new to us we had to pay special attention to the sound so that we could pick stuff up in the States. I really like the sound as it's something different and similar to soulful reggae. Much preferred it to the modern Northern of the time. And luckily we had a good teacher by the name of Victor who used to come up to the stall. I think he was actually one of the prime movers of that scene. ROD

Yes you're right and that Water and Power track was very popular with 2-step crowd. I think it's just coincidence though rather than influence. I did notice though as the 2-step thing went on some of the guys out of that scene did then start to get into the mellow Northern including 60's. So Colin's last hour at the Mecca does come into play. ROD

I kinda know the two-step scene from selling it from around 1988 into the 90's. I'd say it was album-based and relatively mainstream artists but as long as the sound was right anything went. Basically ballads with a bubbling backbeat. Judging from our customers at London record fairs I'd say it was a predominantly Black scene, more so than rare groove but there was some overlap with the more mellow rare groove and of course some punters liked both. There was also a big reggae connection with many of the soul tracks being covered by reggae acts in I suppose what's termed a lovers rock style. Not so sure about Gareth's comments. I think the scene was pretty new when I stumbled upon it. I went to the Mecca in the mid 70's. Two-step was far too slow for that venue. I think 2-step passed the majority of the modern Northern scene by certainly at the time of release in the 70's and even when it took a hold down in London in late 80's. That's not to say it didn't start to catch on with some but I'd say 2-step influenced the modern side of Northern rather than the other way round. A few classics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGB1NKcOeJU

John please get in touch by PM asap re your introduction and Profile. ROD [forum moderator]

Im sure when I was younger this was a ballad. The older I get the more danceable it gets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF0u14rrWII

This is very very true. Last couple of times I went out [some time ago I admit] in Sunderland and at Burnley I got stuck in a conversation with some moron talking titles and it was evident all they were interested in was big value 45s. Extremely dull so I started introducing cheap titles to counter every expensive title and they lost interest. Almost like I put down Cecil Washington and you raise me James Lately. Throwing in the Formations isn't playing the game so they won't play with you cos you don't know the rules. ROD

It's cheap Bob. It'll grow on you. You can put it in some appropriate section in your collection. ROD

Im thinking big seller,mostly used copies, little unused stock lying about. And although Im loathe to mention it in case I got the wrong end of the stick I think some copies out there are pressed by other than Motown. Something about Gordy owing money. The pressings look cheap and faded. You see the odd Supremes and 4 tops 45 like that. That was the story I heard years ago. Boba, assume you know the HB Barnum version of "The Record" ROD

"Dancing in the Street" on Mint Gordy for me since about '85 when I decided to collect US Motown. ROD

Like extrawesomely totally rad. Out Peace

If not. X is for Kiss. Kiss my love [and the idea] goodbye. ROD

I did get some copies from that Midwest Distributors in St Louis where Gene worked and did get them tastefully autographed for a few mates. You must be one of them then. Did I give it away free? The idea was a cunning sales ploy. How could you refuse when it had your name on it! ROD

Thanks for bringing this to my attention Nev. Unfortunately computer problems, still ongoing. Gumbo, I've PM'd you. ROD [forum moderator]

My recollection is really hazy as it was only a couple of times. Think I went upstairs and room was pretty narrow and not that big. Wasn't it next to that white cinema? Also I think it was on a weekday. As you say mainly soul but odd pop record. Lot of Motown. My mate took me on back of SX200 and I think there was this rockers cafe [black Cat maybe - can't remember] just down the street and as we were going back to Hazel Grove we got a bit of hassle. If I knew we were going to be talking about it 40 odd years down the line I woulda paid more attention! ROD

Went to Brown's a couple of times too around late 68/early 69. ROD

Long before Stafford. Mid 70's I'd say. Mecca,Wigan etc Not massive but deffo had it's plays back then. ROD

It's known as having your finger on the pulse. Not all my fault if the patient was dead at the time. ROD

Gotta agree with Gareth really. Im into the second hour and I can't say that there is anything that I've thought I'd like that, other than those I've known for years. As Gareth said the lesser known items were pretty bad. That Jason Steel on MS, Bob Wright [shades of Rod Stewart in the voice] on UK Bell, Letta M and...., the Porter.. on HBR. So far the best track I'd not heard before was that Wilson Williams but as we're discussing this playlist in the context of a 100 Club appearance you gotta wonder whether that type of sound would fit in there. Of course he could be keeping some items under wraps that haven't appeared here. That's not to say that in the 3 hours he hasn't got a 60 minute playlist that would be OK for a more 70's leaning night but my feeling is he's not going to stand out compared to say Dave Ripoles or others. And I don't think Ian would like to settle for second-best as he never has done [which is why he drove the scene forward in the early 70's]. ROD

Actually if you're looking for someone to blame for Nightwatch it's me. Sold it to Richard along with Peter Jarrett [MGM] and Reperata "It's waiting there for you". That pop thing was happening. ROD

Yes in regular contact with Dave. Obviously Paul is having you on. He only dances at the club. He doesn't run it. ROD

Yep. I got very friendly with him in late 90's when I had my stall in Manchester. Troubled lad. Committed suicide I believe. ROD

I think those Guytons came from either George's Song shop or another shop close by in central Pa. Think there was a flood sometime which ruined a lot of basements. Used to spend quite a bit of time in US looking for 45s and recall being told this. I'd guess there may have been other Verve titles involved. It appears to be a quite common occurence over there. Alex Jones and I once spent a couple of hours going through a lady's basement in Chicago. Multiple copies of Bobby Hutton on Philips and Apostles [funk 45] plus others all stuck together. Luckily there were still some 45s attached to peg boards which were undamaged but the lady spent a lot of the time we were looking, ripping the damaged 45s apart for us. Of course we didn't want them in that condition. Now they'd be OK for dj-ing! Another time we were actually walking on records at Dolores' in Cleveland. By the time you got a couple of feet inside the door they were 3' deep. Nowhere to move to. What was surprising was how few were actually broken. You just plunged your arm in to the mess and saw what you came out with. ROD

Nowt really to add to your recollections Paul apart from Scottish Kenny [Graham was his surname I think] died a few years back. ROD