Amsterdam Russ

Scrolling through some files on the computer, I found a set of playlists from our last Amsterdam rare soul weekender, which was in 2019. Guest DJs included Dave Thorley, Mick H, Kitch, and a host of others with big hitting playlists classics, rarities and unknowns. But, my point in posting the playlists below is to show the diversity of sounds that can be heard in mainland Europe (well, Amsterdam at least) from DJs you might not have heard spin before. Of course there are plenty of familiar sounds, but the point is there's - to my mind - a brilliant mix of stuff from dance floor faves to lesser played tunes and a good number of one-offs. That, to me, represents progressiveness. But maybe you'll think otherwise. A DJ from Germany Friday 13th December (Ground floor and Downstairs) Lee Fields - Ladies (Truth & Soul) Clara Wood - You‘re after my guy (Imperial) Shirley Wahls - Why am I crying (King) Jean Wells - With my love and what I‘ve got (Calla) Ray and Dave - Wrong, Wrong, Wrong (Mica) Little Ann - What should I do (Kent) Bobby Bloom - We‘re all going home (MGM) Lou Rawls - Dead End Street (Capitol) Ted Taylor - How do you walk away from fear (Ronn) Sugar Hill - Slow Down (Washington) Roosevelt Roberts - Hooked on your Love (R&R) Willie & Anthony - Selfish Lover (Blue Candle) Chosen Few - Lift this hurt (Bandit) Pamoja - Oooh Baby (Keiper) The Spontanes - Where did I go wrong (United Artists) Judson Moore - Everybody Push and Pull (Capri) Lattimore Brown - Sweet Desire (Renegade) Coasters - Love Potion Number Nine (King) Village Callers - Evil Ways (Rampart) Rex Garvin - You don‘t need no help (WSJ Sound) Wilson Picket - Let me be your Boy (CUB) Freddy King - Now I got a woman (Federal) Teddy and the Fingerpoppers - Soul Groove (Arctic) Larry Williams - You ask for one good reason (Okeh) Ira Glover - Funky Woman (Soul House) Justin - Right Now (Down East) Ringleaders - Baby, what has happened (m-pac!) Sam Fletcher - Think it over (Tollie) Voices of East Harlem - Cashing in (Just Sunshine Records) Velvet Satins - Nothing can compare to you (General American) Ann Heywood - Crook his little finger (Hondo) Joys of Live - Good Times are over (Columbia) Razzy - I hate hate (Aquarian) A DJ from Germany Saturday 14th December (Ground Floor) Judy Clay - Bed of Roses (Stax) Betty Lloyd - I'm catching on (BSC) John Bowie - You're gonna miss a good thing (Merben) Sandy Wynns - A Touch of Venus (Champion) Barbara Mason - You better stop it (Arctic) Bill Bush - I'm waiting (Ronn) Maurice Williams - Being without you (Deesu) Shirley Lawson - One more Chance (Soul City) Larry Davis - I've been hurt so many Times (Kent) Otis Lee - Hard Row to Hoe (Quaint) Manny Corchado - POW-WOW (Decca) Joe Bataan - Gypsy Woman (Fania) El Corols - Chick, Chick (Rouser) Triumphs - Workin' (Okeh) Honey and the Bees - Almost Eigtheen (Pentagon) Louis Jordan - 65 Bars (Tangerine) Ollie Jackson - Gotta wipe away the teardrops (Magnum) Chuck Cornish - A Tribute to Muhammed Ali (White Cliffs) Darondo - How I got over (Ocampo) Ray J. - Right Place, Wrong Time (Hep' Me) The Sheffiedls - Right On (Ssexx) Lee David - Temptation is calling my name (Columbia) Pointer Sisters - Send him back (Atlantic) Sonny Munro - Open the Door to your heart (Epic) A DJ from Scandinavia Friday night first set Daughters and sons of zion – he made a right from wrong – Togetherness Billy Young – Burning up – Joyja LC Green – Start all over again – Solid state production Leon Ware – Time won't get you out of my mind – Unissued acetate Peter and the wolfs – My heart is true – Bridge society Karriem productions – Heartbreak – Unissued acetate Gospel Harmony Allstars – Are you ready – C/Up Rufus Hunter – These are my people – Ref-o-ree Eugene Gaspard – Holding on – Rosemont Combination Inc. - People listen – Arc-Lark Christian Harmonizers – Troubles of this world – Hummingbird Jackie Rhett – get him in your life – Raines Marvell Love – Gotta have your love – New World Decisions – Do I love her – York Art Ensley – Open the door to your heart – Shiptown A DJ from Scandinavia Second set Sir Henry Ivy – He left you standing there – Future dimension El Corols – Chick chick – Tiny Impressions – Love me – Curtom demo (alt take of course...) The Harmonics – Which way – Way out Henry C – Country girl – Action Rance Allen singers – Let's get together and love – Reflect Louzett and the fabulous swans – Don't tease me – Pearl Earl Connelly – This girl – Maycon Althea spencer – take me – AV international London fog – Love you – Virtue Vernon Garrett – Little black woman – Glowhill Roger Hatcher – That's when I'll stop loving you – unissued acetate Clark Bridges – Foxy – C.J. Ready Willing and Able – Trouble – Bennett Gospel Artistics – Time shall be no more – db Neil Reed – Gonna find a way – music now A DJ from Scandinavia Saturday Dynamic upsetters – come on down – Upsetters Wayne Carter – Peter in or out – Mootreys Alfonso Ramos – If you can want – Capri LP Black and white affair – Sweet soul lady – Topaz Candy coated people – time to love – New york sound company Jimmy Ross – Separated – Mimic Lee Porter – Nobody's doin a doggone thing – SOH Page four – Take the rest of me – Zip El paso premiers – Let me call you darling – frog death Sir Thompson – Real love – New Hit William Powell – You can't have your cake and eat it too – Unissued acetate Soul Blenders – Love built on a strong foundation – Vanessa Getto Children – Here I stand – So-Char Exceptions – Baby you know I need you – (alt take) unissued acetate Sweet Breeze – Good thing – Willpower Ascots – Anytime – Mir-a-don Watson and the Sherlock – Standing on the corner – (alt mix) unissued acetate The New Phase – Love is the name of the game – Gaytime east Big Jay – Who knows better than me – Ain't going nowhere records Ronnie North – I've gotta hear it from you Larry Reynolds – Take away the big hurt – Tri Spin Wess – There's gonna be a revolution – Durium Perfections – So lonely – Big B Prince Johnny Robinson – I got love - Mercury A DJ from the Netherlands Saturday afternoon Betty Wright - Open the door to your heart - RCA (Italy) Margie Joseph - I can’t move no mountains - Atlantic Caffey Bros - Make me over - Aura Sunny & the Sunliners - I’m no stranger - Key-Loc Joe Bataan - Cycles - Vampi Soul Joyce Jones - Help me make up my mind - Vee Eight Shirley Caesar - Stand the storm - Hob The Salem Travelers - Give me liberty or death - Checker Gospel Travelers - Jesus is watching you - Hy Sign The Jubilee Hummingbirds - Same thing it took - Messenger Mary Alice McCall - Wade in the water - E&C Kindly Shepherds - Lend me your hand - Checker The Gospel Pearls - Two little fishes - Liberty (France) The Swan Silvertones - If you think your god is dead - Hob The Meditation Singers - Don’t you want to go pt1 - Checker Bobby Gale - River deep, mountain high - Bell Sound Studios acetate Unknown - Ring around the rosie - Acetate Barbara Harris & the Toys - I got a man - Bell Sound Studios acetate Unknown - I don’t believe it - Acetate Gates Intino - She just said no - Alt take acetate Unknown - I’m through with you - Acetate Unknown - Eyes of love - Acetate Nat Hall - That’s why - Acetate Duke Turner - Friendship or friends - Acetate Ebony’s Band - Hang loose - Acetate

A rare issue on Loma - in fact, without a doubt the hardest on the label. Easily obtained as an unwanted sound for a few quid as a yellow issue and as a white demo, but this one - the first under the new Warner/Seven Arts branding on the cusp of 1968 - is exceptionally elusive. The poor quality scan below is one I grabbed from somewhere online back in 2010. I've not seen another since.

The take by the Marvelettes is just a classic Motown pop song. It's very pedestrian. Although I favour this style of Motown groove to the earlier stuff, Edwin Starr's take is too close to '25 Miles' and thus lacks originality from him and those involved in the recording, arranging and producing of the track. The Miracles, on the other hand, offer a take that really comes across in an exciting way as "the sound of young America". Not my cup of tea really, but out of the three it gets my vote by a country mile. Unlike the Marvelettes and the legendary Edwin Starr, I can really imagine the sense of excitement young/teen listeners might have had on hearing the Miracles do this track for the very first time courtesy of little transistor radios, car speakers or whatever.

When the Covid restrictions are lifted and things get back to normal, you could do worse than take a trip to just about any major event in mainland Europe.

A new year means a new thread. You can find the 2022 incarnation of "Show us your great photos" here:

Happy New Year to one and all. A new year means a new beginning, so here is what is now the 10th Soul Source photography thread. Thanks to everyone who has contributed over the years, whether by posting up pics, commenting on them, or simply liking them. My first contribution is a short iPhone slo-mo vid of some fireworks as seen from our balcony as 2021 departed and 2022 began. Here's to a great year ahead!

If I remember correctly, it was a Guy Hennigan spin around that time. <Edited>Just spotted Chalky had already stated Guy was playing it back then.

And another selection of photos to round off the year. This time from the Euronews website. Here's one from the selection. Caption: A bolt of lightning crosses the sky as people look at buildings displaying a light show related to the anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, China. June 2021. Source: Euronews / © Noel Cellis/AFP Pics here: In pictures: 30 breathtaking nature and landscape views from 2021.

From the BBC News website: "A tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore lights up Piccadilly Circus, London. The 100-year-old, who raised almost £33m for NHS charities by walking laps of his garden, died with coronavirus in February." Source: BBC News / © Aaron Chown PA Media Photos here: https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-59478434

This week's Your Pictures of Scotland courtesy of the BBC News website. Another great selection of reader pics with this one below - taken in Edinburgh - being perfectly appropriate at this time. Source: BBC News / © Janina Dolny Pics here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-59699194 Here's to happy snapping in 2022!

Best wishes to one and all for a most festive Christmas. And here's wishing everyone a happy, healthy and harmonious New Year. May your days be merry and bright...

I don't think so - although the sound clip is of very poor quality.

Confirmation here... https://www.vibe.com/news/national/wanda-young-marvelettes-dead-1234641322/

Two really nice tunes. And I'd strongly suggest a British - in fact, an English vocalist and recording. The arrangement, particularly with those horns, sounds classically British 60s soul/pop to me. And I wonder if it might possibly be the same vocalist as on this unreleased take of the Truly Smith MGM rarity "This is the first time". Maybe?

Oh, nearly forgot this one, which I took with my iPhone - wood ear fungus...

We took a trip out to the Amsterdam water supply dunes this afternoon. Although the weather is fairly mild still, it was very overcast most of the time, which doesn't provide great conditions for taking pics. But, I managed to nab a few, including one of a pair of goosanders, which I was thrilled to see. A crow in silhouette. To give bit more of an atmosphere to the pic, I added a vignette. Hundreds of canals here supply much of Amsterdam's fresh water. Chaffinch against a grey sky, which pretty much typified the day. Fallow deer fawn Goosanders (male in front, female behind). Initially I thought these were red breasted mergansers, but the RSPB bird identification pages tell me otherwise. Just a boring old crow - except that the light was quite good for this shot and shows up a lot of detail in the feathers. Normally, we just think of them being black all over.

It came out on a 12” EP in 2018. And if you hurry along to the Michelle David website, you’ll find copies are still available for a mere €10. Shipping is from the Netherlands, so import/customs charges will probably apply. https://michelledavidandthetruetones.com/product/ep/ It’s also listed on Discogs, but no copies are available for sale. https://www.discogs.com/release/12749454-Michelle-David-Michelle-David-The-Gospel-Sessions

This week's selection of interesting reader photos in Your Pictures of Scotland courtesy of the BBC News website... Source: BBC News / © Robert Wright Pics here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-59561748

And a final selection...

Part 2...

A few festive photos from our annual pre-Christmas trip to the local garden centre. The garden centre, which is the largest in the Netherlands, always puts in a lot of effort to create a huge festive display of its wares. It's always worth a visit regardless of whether you buy anything or not, and I love going around with my iPhone looking for interesting Christmassy shots. More to follow... Ho, ho, ho!

No!

More great pic sent in by readers of BBC News Scotland. Here's one example... © Niall Fraser Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-59637350

No, that wasn't it - but I also like it!

I presume you've at least attempted to make contact with all the local cab companies.