A review of SOUL IN THE CITY 1 Oct 03 By Gene Robertson

SOUL IN THE CITY at BAR NYLON, LONDON – 1st OCTOBER 2003

By Gene Robertson

Since the days of the Old Blue Last , Soul In The City’s previous venue, they certainly have kept the soul flag flying by providing top drawer midweek Northern Soul for all, on the first Wednesday of every month, right in the heart of the City of London. The new venue, Bar Nylon in Addle Street, is a superb wine bar/night club type setting with a decent-sized dance floor – and it’s talc friendly!!

I visited SITC at Bar Nylon on Wednesday 1st October – it’s just around the corner from where I work, making it even more of an ideal venue. The DJs, Dave Greenhill, Paul McKay, Martin Thomson and Mac provide the sounds, and thrive on a strict policy of playing original 45s only – one I completely agree with!!! Arriving there at about 8pm, the club was already in full swing with about 40 – 50 people, and the dance floor was already pretty full!! There were a few “city girls” in abundance, but they really made an effort to enjoy the music and have a dance (though by our standards, even though they like the music, the city punters have a lot to learn about soul dancing!! No real disrespect, since they enjoy what they hear and you can’t knock ‘em for that…..). Paul McKay was behind the decks at this point spinning the likes of “You’re Gonna Miss A Good Thing” by John Bowie, “You Don’t Love Me” by Jerry Ganey (yes, Jerry got there long before Dawn Penn!!!), “Carbon Copy” – Larry Trider, amongst others, keeping the feet happy of all those on the dance floor. (See below for selected playlists).

MartinThomson & Dave Greenhill

Next up was Dave, with his usual mix of top dancers, including “Soft Walkin’” – Freddie Houston, “On The Stage Of Love” – Ronnie & Joyce (why don’t some more DJs get behind this one?) and “I’m So So Sorry” – Don & Ron. For those of you who don’t know Dave, he’s been collecting for well over 20 years now, and has never sold a single item!! Makes my blood boil, these people who can pay £20 for Ray Pollard on Shrine………..!!!!

By around 10pm, the venue had filled up considerably, and there were well over 100 people in. Martin Thomson followed immediately. Been a good year for Martin; he and Audra married in February this year and, in August, added baby Curtis to the family (named after guess who?). It was at this point I decided to “burn the boards” to sounds like “Love Is Dangerous” – Frank Polk, “Tell Me Baby” – Karmello Brooks and “No Second Chance” – The Deadbeats et al.

Mac closed the night with half an hour of choice stomping oldies, in the form of “Run For Cover” – The Dells, “That’s When The Tears Start – The Blossoms, “I’ll Try” – Sam & Bill keeping those diehard soulers, who stay till the end, up on the floor. I left the night with that feeling, knowing it had been an excellent night – looking forward to the next one (which, incidentally, is on Wednesday 5th November and every 1st Wednesday thereafter)!

In closing, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a more classier soul venue in London than Bar Nylon. Nights start at 6.30 and run until midnight, and entrance is free until 7pm, when door tax of £3 kicks in. What a night!!!!!

Gene Robertson

SELECT PLAYLIST FOR THE NIGHT

PAUL McKAY

JERRY GANEY - You Don't Love Me (MGM)

JOHN BOWIE - You're Gonna Miss A Good Thing (Merben)

BONNIE HERMAN - Hush Don't Cry (Columbia)

LARRY TRIDER - Carbon Copy (Coral)

JAY TRAYNOR - Up and Over (ABC)

DOTTIE & MILLIE - Talkin' 'Bout My Baby (Topper)

JAMES BARNETT - Keep On Talking (Fame)

BEN E KING - I Can't Break The News To Myself (Atco)

TERRY CALLIER - Look At Me Now (Cadet)

DAVE GREENHILL

RONNIE & JOYCE - On The Stage Of Love (Alpha)

FREDDIE HOUSTON - Chills & Fever (Old Town)

FREDDIE HOUSTON - Soft Walkin' (Toto)

DON & RON - I'm So So Sorry (White Cliffs)

MARSHA GEE - Baby I Need You (Uptown)

THE SHOWMEN - The Wrong Girl (Minit)

RON HOLDEN - I'll Forgive & Forget (Challenge)

VILLAGE SOUND - These Windows (Onyx)

LOU COURTNEY - I Watched You Slowly Slip Away (Philips)

LENNY CURTIS – Nothing Can Help You Now (End)

MARTIN THOMSON

FRANK POLK - Love Is Dangerous (Capitol)

JOHN ANDREWS - It's Just Love (UK Parlophone)

THE DEADBEATS - No Second Chance (Strata)

CLARENCE HILL - A Lot Of Loving Going Round (Mainstream)

CLYDIE KING - My Love Grows Deeper (Imperial)

KARMELLO BROOKS - Tell Me Baby (Milestone)

HAL FRAZIER - After Closing TIme (Reprise)

THELMA LINDSEY - Prepared To Love You (Magic City)

LIMITATIONS - I'm Lonely I'm Troubled (Bacone)

BILLY WOODS - I Don't Want To Lose Your Love (Verve)

MAC

JO ARMSTEAD - I Feel An Urge Coming On (Giant)

THE DELLS - Run For Cover (Cadet)

DEE DEE SHARP - Standing In The Need Of Love (Cameo)

DARROW FLETCHER - What Good Am I Without You (Groovy)

VIOLA WILLS - I Got Love (Bronco)

SAM & BILL - I'll Try (Decca)

LEE ANDREWS & THE HEARTS - Never The Less (Crimson)

TONY TALENT - Gotta Tell Somebody (Vando)

THE BLOSSOMS - That's When The Teardrops Start (Reprise)

Andy Faulkner - oh no, not another copy of the DreamTeam!

Carmel enjoying herself

Mac

Paul McKay

All the photos submitted can be viewed in original size in the SOUL MEDIA SECTION

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