Northern For The Uninitiated

[Guest Mark D]

If you were asked to do an hour set at a party with no Northern fans, what would you play to put forward the best face of Northern to the uninitiated. Let's assume for argument's sake that they're genuinely interested and want to hear what you have to offer.

[Alan Walls]

There's no point trying to 'educate' the crowd, they've just come to party, so give 'em a load of familiar Motown*, neck yer free ale and have done with it.

*augmented with other familiar things, like 'The In Crowd', and...er...that kind of thing!

[Guest]

If you were asked to do an hour set at a party with no Northern fans, what would you play to put forward the best face of Northern to the uninitiated. Let's assume for argument's sake that they're genuinely interested and want to hear what you have to offer.

Back in 72 our crowd were getting into Floyyd and mind expanding substances.

There was a party, I was asked to bhring some sounds.......yopu ever seen ''heads'' head banging to Northern, I have, play the tunmes.....music is music, they may not dance but what the fcuk !!!!!!

[Guest]

If you were asked to do an hour set at a party with no Northern fans, what would you play to put forward the best face of Northern to the uninitiated. Let's assume for argument's sake that they're genuinely interested and want to hear what you have to offer.

I would play something like Bobby Treetop "Wait till I get to no know you"

Then ask if anyone wants to hear more tunes like that.

Once satisfied that none of the crowd are responding,

I would continue with the rest of my drum and bass set.

Cause If that oldie cant get your attention - nothing will

Edited October 8, 2010 by mossy

[grantdyche]

There's no point trying to 'educate' the crowd, they've just come to party, so give 'em a load of familiar Motown*, neck yer free ale and have done with it.

*augmented with other familiar things, like 'The In Crowd', and...er...that kind of thing!

Start with Candi Staton "Young Hearts" And The Real Thing "You To Me",

Then try "Superstition" and then chuck on the Elgins "Heaven must have sent you",Then "The Snake" etc etc etc.

Piece of piss,

Do it every week when someone asks for "Some Northern" At a birthday,21st,Wedding etc,

The above formula should not be put to the test at "Soul Nights"

[Guest Mart B]

Dont bother youth...

[Premium Stuff]

You should play some classic decent Northern - none of that pop-stomper crap that got played, or anything too Motowny - if they are genuinely asking for good quality Northern but haven't really heard any, go into it with confidence and an open mind - and as per the post above, maybe but have some back-up! - but do play records you would play to a Northern crowd

Every time I have done tapes/CDs for 'normal' people before and they have been knocked out

Some suggestions for what I reckon are good quality Northern tracks that might appeal to non-Northern Soulies.

Cheers

Richard

Billy Butler - Right Track - Okeh

Sam Dees - Lonely For You Baby - SSS International

Willie Kendrick - Change Your Ways - RCA Victor

Billy Prophet - What Can I Do - Sue

Metros - Since I Found My Baby - RCA Victor

Chuck Wood - Seven Days Too Long - Roulette

Jackie Lee - Darkest Days - ABC

Johnny Sayles - I Can't Get Enough - St Lawrence

World Column - So Is The Sun - Tower

Johnny Wyatt - This Thing Called Love - Bronco

Bobby Bland - Shoes - Duke

Salvadors - Stick With Me Baby - Wise World

Linda Jones - My Heart Needs A Break - Loma

Willie Tee - Walking Up A One Way Street - Atlantic

Ester Phillips - Just Say Goodbye - Atlantic

Darrell Banks - Open The Door To Your Heart - Revilot

Tony Middleton - Paris Blues - Mala

Eddie Parker - I'm Gone - Awake

Little Richie - Just Another Heartache - Sound Stage Seven

Frank Beverly - If That's What You Wanted - Sassy

Jean Wells - With My Love & What You Got - Calla

Rita & Tiaras - Gone With The Wind (Is My Love) - Dore

Art Freeman - Slippin' Around With You - Fame

Lou Pride - I'm Com'un Home In The Mornun - Suemi

Edited October 8, 2010 by Premium Stuff

[paultp]

Motown, Motown, Motown ........

.... with some Motown in between

I remember discussing Northern soul v Motown with a well known DJ when I lived in London and we came to the conclusion "Motown p*sses all over Northern Soul"

I'll tell you his name if you send me a tenner by paypal to ptp {at} just7.co.uk

Edited October 9, 2010 by paultp

[Guest Bearsy]

If they aint got a clue what Northern is then why play poppy and Motown stuff if they want to know what its all about give them Northern that you cant help but jig along to yourself, if they aint "educated so to speak" it means you have a free reign so just go for it in what YOU think they would or might enjoy,

[Guest Matt Male]

It's almost impossible to get 99% of people who are actually on the scene to open their ears to new stuff let alone a group of people who've never heard any before.

Personally i wouldn't bother.

[Mick Howard]

There were some 'Norman Normals' at my 50th Birthday bash this year & they were all well aware what the music policy was going to be. Whilst those closer to me didn't offer any complaints, others weren't so diplomatic and were in fact, I thought, a little rude about music they knew eff all about.

A wide range of tunes (stompers, Rn'B, beat ballads etc.) was played by me, Chalky, Craig Butler & Tony Mac but it definitely wasn't 'safe' Motown or 'known' Northern like Dobie Grey et al - maybe it should have been!

As to if folk were actually interested then I agree with Richard - a good range of stomping, in-yer-face dancers....

Mick

Edited October 9, 2010 by Mick Howard

[Guest Mark D]

You should play some classic decent Northern - none of that pop-stomper crap that got played, or anything too Motowny - if they are genuinely asking for good quality Northern but haven't really heard any, go into it with confidence and an open mind - and as per the post above, maybe but have some back-up! - but do play records you would play to a Northern crowd

Every time I have done tapes/CDs for 'normal' people before and they have been knocked out

Some suggestions for what I reckon are good quality Northern tracks that might appeal to non-Northern Soulies.

Cheers

Richard

Billy Butler - Right Track - Okeh

Sam Dees - Lonely For You Baby - SSS International

Willie Kendrick - Change Your Ways - RCA Victor

Billy Prophet - What Can I Do - Sue

Metros - Since I Found My Baby - RCA Victor

Chuck Wood - Seven Days Too Long - Roulette

Jackie Lee - Darkest Days - ABC

Johnny Sayles - I Can't Get Enough - St Lawrence

World Column - So Is The Sun - Tower

Johnny Wyatt - This Thing Called Love - Bronco

Bobby Bland - Shoes - Duke

Salvadors - Stick With Me Baby - Wise World

Linda Jones - My Heart Needs A Break - Loma

Willie Tee - Walking Up A One Way Street - Atlantic

Ester Phillips - Just Say Goodbye - Atlantic

Darrell Banks - Open The Door To Your Heart - Revilot

Tony Middleton - Paris Blues - Mala

Eddie Parker - I'm Gone - Awake

Little Richie - Just Another Heartache - Sound Stage Seven

Frank Beverly - If That's What You Wanted - Sassy

Jean Wells - With My Love & What You Got - Calla

Rita & Tiaras - Gone With The Wind (Is My Love) - Dore

Art Freeman - Slippin' Around With You - Fame

Lou Pride - I'm Com'un Home In The Mornun - Suemi

[Guest Mark D]

Above was kind of what I had in mind. Was interested to see how people would "sell" the Northern scene to a group of non-soulies (given the working assumption that they were interested). Would it be a predominantly odlies/classic set or would it include some more modern sounds, or perhaps some of the other sub-genres. So the idea was what would you chose to demonstrate the best from the scene, but also with the view of entertaining a party.

[Koolkat]

It's almost impossible to get 99% of people who are actually on the scene to open their ears to new stuff let alone a group of people who've never heard any before.

Personally i wouldn't bother.

Miserable. Why bother posting? I dont geddit. And Im not gonna get into an argument so dont bother replying back. Please.

[Guest Matt Male]

Miserable. Why bother posting? I dont geddit. And Im not gonna get into an argument so dont bother replying back. Please.

[Dave Abbott]

It's almost impossible to get 99% of people who are actually on the scene to open their ears to new stuff let alone a group of people who've never heard any before.

Personally i wouldn't bother.

Matt...if they aren't on the scene they wouldn't know if it was new or not; they wouldn't know a Tommy & The Derbys from a Mel Britt

If they were genuinely interested then i personally would play what i would want to hear.

[Guest Matt Male]

Matt...if they aren't on the scene they wouldn't know if it was new or not; they wouldn't know a Tommy & The Derbys from a Mel Britt

If they were genuinely interested then i personally would play what i would want to hear.

I agree, no point playing a set of northern standards, may as well play some of the things current around the clubs.

I think my point (although Koolkat couldn't geddit) was that i gave up trying to educate people long ago, if i ever did (musically any way). Now we just play what we like at Move On, and if people don't like it, then f**k em to be honest.

See you Friday mate at the disco

[Guest Bearsy]

I agree, no point playing a set of northern standards, may as well play some of the things current around the clubs.

I think my point (although Koolkat couldn't geddit) was that i gave up trying to educate people long ago, if i ever did (musically any way). Now we just play what we like at Move On, and if people don't like it, then f**k em to be honest.

See you Friday mate at the disco

Fooking quality

[Guest Mark D]

What a cracking thread!!!

Fool- Al Williiams.......

Nice one....

More record suggestions please. What's gonna draw these people in.

[Guest Andy Kempster]

Nice one....

More record suggestions please. What's gonna draw these people in.

wham rap

whap bam i am a man

job or no nor job dont tell me soul i not got a lot

let them have and keep the snake

who f*cking cares

[Ljblanken]

ha ha ha ha ha.. welcome to my world!! i have DJ-ed about 50 times in the last five years (in northern california) and ONE time i had TWO people there who knew what northern soul was.

here is my "formula":

-DJ-ed in a college town and started to have a bunch of japanese exchange students show up - they only wanted to hear funky soul (margie hendrix, dee dee gartrell, brenda parker)

-I DJ regularly now for older black people (40s-60s) at a retired military personnel club - they only want to hear '70s motown and stax (and they LOVE gwen mcCrae!) - if i play this stuff i can also sneak in obscure northern stuff and they don't mind

-DJ at an artsy cafe/wine bar: they want cool "background" music - girly ballads work well (sonnettes, beverly mckay, shirelles, etc)

its rough being in the hinterland!

[Spacehopper]

well like people have already said if they dont know northern you can play what you want as far as oldie/newie is concerned...but best with things that catch you first time not the growers...something not too fast,easier too dance to without being blloxd.!..mid tempo rnb by the likes of zz hill etc is easy to dance to no breaks etc...but good luck !

reminds me of years ago when working with a reggae sound...a couple we knew were getting married and wanted us to do the reception...we were concerned but they assured us it would be ok...it wasnt....loads of complaints by people wanted pop or rock n roll...somewhere a double lp of rnr turned up and my mate was playing it takin piss on mike (the dancers didnt realise ,too busy showing off their jiving)...venue also had a decibel meter which cut the music if it went too loud,well we had a reggae sound with 18in scoop bins !...needless to say the music went off once,twice and before a third time a pissed up mate stood on the bar and ripped the 'sensor' mic off the wall! that was it wedding over by 10 o clock...and it was a double wedding with the other groom who we didnt know was a u.s marine...brides were crying ....we just got our system out quick and never did another one!