Amsterdam Russ

The producers did post here some months back asking for extras. With the single voice presented by Soul Source members as guidance, how could the programme makers go wrong? Found it...

Elvisluvs - this is "Northern Soul" today. Well, it is here... it's the grumpy old men... Please, please... let someone with a real understanding of "Northern Soul" as a youth cult pass by here soon so the OP can be enlightened.

I dread to think how bad you'll be when you are old! In the meantime, I'd like to recommend two books to elvisluvs. The first is "Boogaloo" by Arthur Kempton. The second is "The In Crowd, Vol1" by Mike Ritson & Stuart russell. The first is a brave, ambitious, detailed, but at times a somewhat confusingly written history of the development of 'Black' music from the age of Gospel through Soul and beyond. The second is an equally brave and ambitious attempt at putting into words the effect that very same 'black' music had on the (mainly white) youth of Britain from the 1950s, the 60s, and the evolution of what very loosely is "Northern Soul". It's a subjective and highly personalised affair, but it does a good enough job in my view simply because 'Northern Soul" is exactly that - subjective and highly personalised. Another great book to help put the black music of the 60s into a mainstream cultural context (for me at any rate) is "Burn, Baby! Burn!" the autobiography of US radio DJ legend, music promoter, black culture champion - Magnificent Montague. Now, there's a story worth reading...

Terminally, most people who might have something decent to say about the origins and development of what became known as 'Northern Soul' are now at the "grumpy old men" phase of life - as you can see from the replies here. Sorry about that.

Whatever... I like the track. And I have to say I could see it going down quite well if played out. To be honest, I'm more surprised that no one's offered any info or suggestions about the origins of the first track...

There are some names on the label of the 2nd track and I'll post up what I've found out when I get some time. It definitely has a poppy feel to it, but I've heard much worse played out and masqueraded as soul

Yup, little doubt that the second singer is white.

Not everyone who uses English as a second language is fluent in it...

Picked up a couple of acetates recently. No idea who the tracks are by. Any ideas? All help appreciated. The first one is an R&B flavoured number. https://soundcloud.com/harveysoulfinger/unknown-im-through-with-you The second has a nice cross-over feel to it a https://soundcloud.com/harveysoulfinger/unknown-heads-you-win-sample (I've best guessed song titles for both based on the lyrics)

Keep going. I'll tell you when you've won...

Yes, also on French...

Well, that's how much I paid for mine on eBay earlier this year

Which issue are you talking about? Belgian release with pic sleeve - about a fiver...

No one's mentioned OC Smith's great version on the LP 'For once in my life" Well, I like it https://youtu.be/EWzoJYiq3GM

TIA = Thanks In Advance...

In the Netherlands there is only one dedicated 'Northern Soul' night - the Amsterdam Soul Club, which plays a bit of everything. There are numerous other nights across the country and these are typically cross-genre events offering a mix of soul, ska/reggae, R&B, garage in varying degrees. One thing that became very quickly apparent when I moved to near Amsterdam from London five years ago is that the majority of punters attending Northern Soul nights, or indeed even mixed genre nights, are not what you might call lifestyle fans - they're basically just people off the street who go to a club for a good time. The exception is the ska/reggae scene. The Netherlands has a far bigger ska/reggae culture than it does Northern Soul. Having said that, there are quite a number of very serious and knowledgable soul collectors - Hans and Harry of Fingerpoppin' Soul fame immediately spring to mind. The distinction here is that these people are soul collectors, not Northern Soul collectors. Very few here suffer from genre-specific tunnel vision. As an example, in a couple of weeks an event takes place in Amsterdam called "Mods versus Rockers". This is an event where both broad churches come together and share their musical and cultural passions. Scooters will be parked alongside classic motorbikes. Eindoven is home to the Endless Memories events. They organise regular cross-genre nights that includes Northern Soul. They're holding a weekender in October, a ska/reggae specific affair. All-in-all, it's a mixed bag...

I have that boot - it is the instrumental.

Linda Jones - I can't stop loving my baby A 2nd Robert Henry acetate that I have of 'Walk away like a winner". The other one is an Advision acetate (posted earlier). Twistin' Dip - Take 2 on one side & Take 3 on the other. Don't know anything about this track. Any info appreciated.

Some more from me - apologies for any duplicates!

Click on 'More Reply Options' (bottom right of the text box when you're adding a reply). Then -> "Click to Upload/Attach Files". Once uploaded, click on "Add to Post" (Bottom right). And that's all...

Just to add to the info... * E. Rodney Jones was an influential DJ in St Louis during the 1950s and whilst there was the first to break Sam Cooke's career-making 'You Send Me'. The original A side was 'Summertime', but it wasn't until Jones flipped it that others started to take note. * He was the first to give Aretha Franklin the epithet of 'Queen of Soul' - this was prior to her appearing on the cover of Time magazine with those words emblazoned across the page. * He was regular MC at the music shows held at Chicago's Regal Theatre. * When Stax was in financial and legal trouble during the 70s, Jones set up a legal defence fund for friend Al Bell. Jones proclaimed the fund would raise $100,000, but in fact fell $92,500 short!

One hour, two hours, 20 minutes... whatever... Remember the days of mobile discos & early sound systems when there was just the one DJ and their 'roadshow' for the duration of the night?

Im sure at one of his nights Keb Darge used to have DJ's on 20 minute rotations - that keep things very fresh!

A quick search on YouTube for 'unknown Northern Soul' brings back a play box full of results. Of course there are plenty of discoveries yet to be made. I'll bet that there are 100s, probably 1000s of tracks sitting in collections and unknown to all except the owner. Here's three that I've picked up in recent months (each of which I've shared here before): https://youtu.be/V9m_Vk8k3m8 https://youtu.be/F1gpk4B5jIc https://youtu.be/cumvDC3hiEw

Hmm, the image I posted a couple of days ago has mysteriously disappeared. Here it is again...