Southern Soul Movement-Review and Plays - Shirley

SOUTHERN SOUL MOVEMENT  - COSHAM – PORTSMOUTH

 FRIDAY 23/01/04

 We were travelling a little further a field for tonight’s soulful treat.  So a day off work to enable an early start seemed the best course of action for Col & myself, although Eddie (who was doing all the driving!!!!!!) worked ‘til lunchtime and we later learnt that Steve C, our host, had actually started work at 4.00am that morning to ensure an early finish!!!!!  Still at least Col & I had managed a lie in on Friday ;-)))))

The journey from Yorkshire to “down sarf” was relatively straightforward considering the unpredictability of Friday “rush hour” traffic and we arrived at our destination just over 4 hours later this was due in the main to Eddies driving and my navigation skills oh and of course Steve’s excellent directions.  – Note to editor – Yes Howard can you believe it, we did a 250 mile journey in the time it usually takes us to get to t’other side of Pennines and we didn’t pass the Trafford Centre once ;-)))))

After greetings, intros to Jason & Liz, a good old chinwag there was a grand tour Carol & Steve’s recently moved into mansionette (very nice too).  We were then fed & watered (also very nice) before freshening up for the soulful antics ahead at The Racecourse Snooker Club

All the signs were good as on arrival at the club we had to go up a flight of stairs – steps (either up or down) are always a good sign, just something about having to climb stairs and hearing soul music get louder as you finally reach the room that always ensures a good night, the two, stairs and music just seem to go hand in hand - We entered a reasonably sized room, the bar at the entrance and a small stage at the far end of the room with (number one criteria as far I’m concerned) a good sized, level, smooth dance floor, oh and plenty of comfy seating for those soulies who prefer to talk about the music as opposed to dance to the music!!??!!

We’d arrived at the club all fired up and ready to hear some quality Northern Soul and quality Northern Soul is just what we got all evening.  Steve C & Dave Abbott starting the proceedings followed by Col then Eddie, Steve, Dave then Col & Eddie again, the night finished with all the DJ’s behind the decks having a great time pulling out again and again some spanking toons!!!!!  I danced just about all night the exception being the first half hour or so as I had arranged to meet my brother (a non-soulie) at the club, he’s an ex-marine!! who has settled in Portsmouth and whom I hadn’t seen for over three years, so as I was down his neck of the woods I couldn’t miss the opportunity to catch up on family gossip, but at the same time we had travelled a long way and I didn’t want to miss any more of the soul music than I had to so I thought it best for him to come to the soul night as opposed to me meeting at some bar in Portsmouth (full of sailors aren’t they?)  I could tell the sights and sounds bemused him so I tried explaining our passion for the scene and despite giving him a copy of “Soul Up North” (yes Ed I said give – I couldn’t charge my own brother now could I?) I was unable to convert him to the faith, well you can either feel the music or you can’t, at least one member of my clan has got soul ;-)))))

There’s a short playlist at the end but I’ve got to say that a couple of the records played are amongst my current favourites of the moment – “Rags to riches to rags” by Donald Height and “I won’t have any babies for you” by The Bittersweet.  We all finally left the club in the wee small hours of the morning and headed back to Chez Steve’n’Carol’s where the night continued for those with more stamina but less brain than those who elected to go to bed.  This gave Steve the chance to challenge Col & Jason to a round robin game of table football, Steve then temporarily gave up his stance as polite host to become ruthless, undefeated champion at table football, well champion in his own house at least.  I declined the invitation to take part in the game and opted for the much easier task of spinning a few toons.  Eventually I succumbed to tiredness and went to bed leaving the boys to their “soul talk”.

All in all, the entire trip to Portsmouth was more than worth the journey time.  An excellent soul night, with a great music policy, run by excellent people, attended by friendly “up for it” soulies.  Keep it up boy’s you deserve to succeed. Your enthusiasm and passion for the scene is blatantly obvious to anyone who cares to make the journey to Cosham to attend “The Southern Soul Movement” Northern soul night.  For details of future nights I think they have or are in the process of setting up a website so try www.southernsoulmovement.com.  I promise you if you’re into quality Northern Soul music you won’t be disappointed.

Just left to say a huge thanks to Carol & Steve for looking after us so well, you were great hosts and made us feel very welcome.  I hope we can reciprocate sometime. 

PS: Sorry about the missing towels, it was Col who “stole” them, seems he was a little over enthusiastic when he packed the overnight bag, at least I stopped his blatant attempt to re-house your golliwog ;-))

Steve C 8.00 - 8.40

Bobby Star - Together - UA

Wilson Pickett - I found a true love - Atlantic

Butlers - Laugh laugh laugh - Phila.

Brothers of love - My hearts in trouble - Intrepid

Steve Mancha - Monday through Thursday - Groovesville

Tootsie Rollers - Give me love - Me o

Timmy Shaw - Im a lonely guy - Wand

Curtis Knight - Voodoo Woman - Gulf

Mitty Collier - Pain - Chess

Artistics - Whatll I do - Okeh

The Traits - Too good to be true - Garrison

Art Wheeler - That’s how much I love you - Cee Jam

Vernon Harrell & Little Gigi - Baby dontcha worry - Decca

Jive Five – You’re a puzzle - UA

Spurrlows - Baby I love you - Yas

Dave Abbott 8.40 - 9.20

Stormy - I wont stop to cry - Twinight

Penetrations  - Sweet, Sweet baby - Highland

Adams Apples - Dont take it out on this world - Brunswick

Chubby & Turnpikes - I didnt try - Capitol

Arabians - Please take a chance on me - Le Mans

Les McCann - Sad Little Girl - Limelight lp

Harvey Averne - Think it over - Atlantic lp

Bobby Reed - The time is right for love - Bell

Big Frank - I wont see my baby cry - Philips

Buck Rogers Mvnt - Take it from me girl - 21st Century

Shadows - My love has gone - Golden sound

Little Anthony - Gonna fix you good - Veep

Tommy Neal - Going to a happening - Pameline

Larry Davis - The magic is gone - Decca

Benny Spellman - This is for you my love – Alon

Perfections - So lonely - Big B

Colin Wood 9.20 - 10.00

Ambers - I love you baby - Verve

Gene Anderson - Baby I dig you - Royal Tone

Sophisticates - I cant stand it - Mutt

Sandra Phillips - You succeeded - Broadway

Teddy Pendergrass - We got love - Unissued

Lee Williams - Lost love - Carnival

Archie Bell - A 1000 wonders - LP track

Joe Douglas - Crazy things - Playhouse

BJ Thomas - Keep it up - LP track

Joe Hinton - Got you on my mind - Backbeat

Jack Montgomery - Baby take a chance on me - Revue

Kim Weston - Dont let me down - Unissued

El Corols - Chick chick - Rouser

Gloria Jones - Finders keepers - Uptown

Enjoyables - Push a little harder - Capitol

Innocent bystanders - Frantic escape - Pameline

Billy Butler - Sweet Darling - Brunswick

Eddie Engel 10.00 - 10.40/12.20 - 1.20

(A selection from his fantastic spots)

Linda Queen - Where can my baby be

Antiques - Go for yourself

Joe Vandiver - You fooled me

Bonnie Brisker - Someone really loves you

Rose Brooks - Im moaning

Tokays - Baby baby baby

The Puffs - I only cry once a day now

Lou Lawton - Knick knack paddy wack

Clydie King - My love grows deeper

Cody Black - Im slowly moaning

Kell Osborne - The lonely boy song

Paul Sindab - You dropped your candy in the sand

Steve C 10.40 - 11.20

Luther Ingram - If its all............ - HIB

Isonics - Sugar - Kammy

Dee Dee Sharp - Deep dark secret - Cameo

Paul Sindab - Do watcha wanna do - Hype

Bobby Day - Pretty little girl next door - RCA

Silky Hargraves - Keep loving me......... - Dearborn

Gloria Taylor - Total Disaster - Mercury

Chesterfields - You walked away - Phillips

Chosen few - Birth of a playboy - Canyon

Carol & Gerri - On you heartaches look good - MGM

Mayfields - Dont start none

Joanie Sommers - Dont pity me - WB

Solomon Burke - Cry to me - Atlantic

Freddie Houston - If I had known - Old Town

Bobby Angelle - Too much for you - Money

Billy Hambric - Talk to me baby – Fury

Colin Wood 11.20 - 12.20

Donald Lee Richardson - You got me in the palm of your hand - Soulsville

Curtis Blandon - In the long run - Wand

Joel Christie - Since I found you - Imperial

Donald Height - Rags to riches to rags - Avco Embassy

Intruders - Check yourself - Gamble

Kenny Gamble - Our love - Columbia

James Bell - Amazing love - Rojam

Freeman Brothers - My baby - Soul

Constellations - Didnt know how to - Gemini

The Vows - Tell me - VIP

Vonettes - Touch my heart - Cobblestone

Visitors - Im in danger - Bashie

Gene Chandler - Such a pretty thing - Checker

Rock Candy - Alone with no love - Dontee

Ithacas - If you want my love - Fee Bee

Maurice & the Radiants - Baby you got it - Chess

Al Gardner - Sweet baby - Googa Mooga

Para mounts - Come go with me - Ole

The Q - That’s the way - Hound

Rivieras - You counterfeit girl - Rileys

Checkmates Ltd - Run nigger run - Rustic

Satisfactions - Take it or leave it - Smash

Bobo Mr Soul - Hitch hike to heartbreak road - Ovide

Little Anthony - Hurt so bad - DCP

Dave Abbott 1.40 - 2ish

Hyperions - Why you wanna... - Chatahoochee

Frankie & Damons - Man from soul - jcp

Patience Valentine - If you don’t come  - Sar

Kindly Shepherds - Lend me your hand - Checker

Jackie Wilson - Because of you - Brunswick

Fortson & Scott - Sweet lover - Pzazz

Unique Blend - Yes Im in love - Eastbound

Shades of Blue - Happiness - Impact

Vanguards - Good times bad times - Lamp

Artistics - the chase is on - Brunswick

Delegates of Soul - Shell come running back - Up Look