Northern Soul Top 500 Book Re-Vamp - News

37 minutes ago, Goldsoul said:

News/Article/Feature Highlight:

Two decades on and with a rafter of new interest, the book is being re-vamped to include a new 500, based on the North’s best loved dancers spanning well over half a century.  More info via...

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Thanks Kev. Sounds interesting 

Ste

Good news Kev. A welcome addition. Can you please put Frank Wilson at number 500, right at the back in small print, thanks?

Were there only two previous versions? I've got the original and I know there was "the definitive" version some years later with different order and some changes.

5 minutes ago, Timillustrator said:

Were there only two previous versions? I've got the original and I know there was "the definitive" version some years later with different order and some changes.

I have three editions. They came out over a short period of time. I’ve never compared them against each other, side by side: they differ in various ways though. Every now and again, I thumb through one or another just to jog the memory or add a title to the ‘wants list’. They are really fine books, nicely presented with good graphics. I look forward to the forthcoming edition in the hope it features some of the latest discoveries that have received dance floor acclaim up and down the country, not just in the North.

1 hour ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Good news Kev. A welcome addition. Can you please put Frank Wilson at number 500, right at the back in small print, thanks?

I think most seasoned collectors and fans wouldn’t disagree. I have to look though at the mega interest in the genre as a whole.

Main thing is, the book will cover a fair few scenes, giving it more balance than previous editions.  
 

Maybe you can add a list of the 50 perceived most valuable discs...

Frank's back at number one there at least!

Love the book I got, had the bonus 100 as well. The back stories are brilliant.

Can't be many own a full set or even 75% of a full set.

Ed

Personally, for me, the best thing is number 51, Alexander Patton.

When I DJed at Prestwich with Alexander on the bill, he said, and I quote " you're the guy in the book?" yes, that's me.

Still got the UK Capitol RW demo. It's been my all time favourite since '67 ( it was deleted on Capitol 66 series when I first heard it)

Thanks Kev.

Julian

1 minute ago, Tomangoes said:

Maybe you can add a list of the 50 perceived most valuable discs...

Frank's back at number one there at least!

Love the book I got, had the bonus 100 as well. The back stories are brilliant.

Can't be many own a full set or even 75% of a full set.

Ed

Ed. I can't see why people would want a full set unless they where just obsessed with collecting things of lists because its a very irrational list built on people's likes of particular records. If I was a millionaire I still wouldn't buy possibly 1/3  of those records for the simple reason is I don't like them. So my top 500 wouldn't be the same as yours or the books 

Rationale behind that is why buy something you don't like

Ste 

I think there will always be a Top 50 that most of us agree on. It’s the other 450 that’s subjective. 
Strange how tastes have changed though in the last couple of decades, even as the researcher, I do find it heartbreaking that The Sweet Things on Date barely has a pulse, yet Manny Cochado’s Pow Wow has risen prominently. 
But again, it is about popularity en masse. 
Still, I have broadened the church so at least the Top 20 fan will be reading about the origins of Acetates, Cover ups, New releases and the like. A good few experts are helping with the sub scenes.

52 minutes ago, Frankie Crocker said:

I have three editions. They came out over a short period of time. I’ve never compared them against each other, side by side: they differ in various ways though. Every now and again, I thumb through one or another just to jog the memory or add a title to the ‘wants list’. They are really fine books, nicely presented with good graphics. I look forward to the forthcoming edition in the hope it features some of the latest discoveries that have received dance floor acclaim up and down the country, not just in the North.

Looking on Amazon I see there's a "Special Edition" and the "Definitive" one is the 4th revised edition. They seem to go for a lot as well. I've got the black and white one but still a great book.

45 minutes ago, Timillustrator said:

Looking on Amazon I see there's a "Special Edition" and the "Definitive" one is the 4th revised edition. They seem to go for a lot as well. I've got the black and white one but still a great book.

 

Hi Tim. I’ve fallen a bit behind then. I’ll check them out on Amazon later, thanks. By coincidence, I just ordered a book from Amazon 10 minutes ago after steering clear of them for two years after they charged me for Prime which I did not want.

45 minutes ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Hi Tim. I’ve fallen a bit behind then. I’ll check them out on Amazon later, thanks. By coincidence, I just ordered a book from Amazon 10 minutes ago after steering clear of them for two years after they charged me for Prime which I did not want.

With you there I avoid them at all costs usually, after they delivered something to the wrong address and refused to refund me, insisting someone had signed for it who I had never heard of.

4 hours ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Good news Kev. A welcome addition. Can you please put Frank Wilson at number 500, right at the back in small print, thanks?

It's a great record of which I have four different copies but I guess overplayed in some venues.

4 minutes ago, Modernsoulsucks said:

It's a great record of which I have four different copies but I guess overplayed in some venues.

...and TV adverts with BBC currently using an instrumental version to plug itself. I’ve got the Eddie Foster boot, the UK reissue and purple vinyl test press so admit to liking it a little. It certainly was great back in the heyday, and is worthy of its place in folklore.

Christ just after I've finally collected all 500 another 500 come to the fore great news kev any contribution I would glady put pen to paper ps i don't have the original frank though 

this was number 501

I am  looking forward to 500 more

different ones

jimmy burns erica connection here 

I think there will always be a Top 50 that most of us agree on. It’s the other 450 that’s subjective. 
Strange how tastes have changed though in the last couple of decades, even as the researcher, I do find it heartbreaking that The Sweet Things on Date barely has a pulse, yet Manny Cochado’s Pow Wow has risen prominently. 
But again, it is about popularity en masse. 
Still, I have broadened the church so at least the Top 20 fan will be reading about the origins of Acetates, Cover ups, New releases and the like. A good few experts are helping with the sub scenes.

On 29/03/2021 at 23:48, Modernsoulsucks said:

It's a great record of which I have four different copies but I guess overplayed in some venues.

Strange to me the idea that it is overplayed, i really never ever hear it , its almost taboo to play it. 

On 29/03/2021 at 23:48, Modernsoulsucks said:

It's a great record of which I have four different copies but I guess overplayed in some venues.

"Do I Love You" was fantastic in Wigan, when it was first played as Eddie Foster.  But I have heard it too many times now.  It needs a rest for a while.

 I prefer Chris Clarks version of it these days. 

18 hours ago, Gaz T said:

I am  looking forward to 500 more

 

And there will be, a Top 500 Rare, Rarer, Rarest it’s under scrutiny by industry colleagues right now. 

4 minutes ago, Goldsoul said:

And there will be, a Top 500 Rare, Rarer, Rarest it’s under scrutiny by industry colleagues right now. 

Will be an interesting read Kev

15 hours ago, Goldsoul said:

And there will be, a Top 500 Rare, Rarer, Rarest it’s under scrutiny by industry colleagues right now. 

sounds interesting Kev, looking forward to seeing what's in it 

On 31/03/2021 at 08:40, Halogen said:

"Do I Love You" was fantastic in Wigan, when it was first played as Eddie Foster.  But I have heard it too many times now.  It needs a rest for a while.

 I prefer Chris Clarks version of it these days. 

Sam is a really nice bloke, I met him properly at an event in Wrexham where I was drinking whisk , playing soul 45s at this particular night 20 years ago.

We shared a drink, I think he had orange 

I realised straight away that he is a lovely man .

Really lovely company

I greatly appreciate the time effort and dedication that has gone in to the production of this series of books. The levels of expertise is astounding and it really is great that the many experiences/memories and important biographical info is recorded for posterity. Updating the publication on a regular basis also acts as a snapshot, a time capsule- capturing the mood of the scene at a particular point in time. There is no doubt these books will become important documents to folks in the future who wish to research the history of the Northern Soul Scene. Looking forward to this new edition.

I really liked the Top 500 book.  It is a book about the records and Northern Soul scene which is what I am interested in.   

I know that things slip through the net, but the most startling omission from the book was "Black Eyed Girl" by Billy Thompson. Hopefully this can be put right in the new book!

8 minutes ago, Halogen said:

I really liked the Top 500 book.  It is a book about the records and Northern Soul scene which is what I am interested in. I'm not really bothered about books about the life story of an artist or when he died etc!

I know that things slip through the net, but the most startling omission from the book was "Black Eyed Girl" by Billy Thompson. Hopefully this can be put right in the new book!

As much as I actually like Billy Thompson ( I was the proud owner of a Wand demo ) I'm not sure it was a big enough record to be a original top 500 tune.

I agree. It would my top 500, but I've never heard it played out!

*Jack Montgomery also, Do you believe it, should get as much recognition as DB.

Ed

15 minutes ago, Tomangoes said:

I agree. It would my top 500, but I've never heard it played out!

*Jack Montgomery also, Do you believe it, should get as much recognition as DB.

Ed

Ed. I played it out occasionally before I stopped DJ,in  

Agree with the Jack Montgomery

When I first got into NS, like many others it was the catchy stuff like Out on the Floor and the Flasher. Then somebody bought me that solid soul sensations LP, and I'm like wow! This stuff is incredible.

They were obviously oldies by 76 and you would never hear them played out for years and year unless in Mr Ms and such nights.

Scepter Wand produced some absolute belters for sure.

It will be interesting to see how many top 500 of 20 years ago compared to today!

Ed