Where Next "musically"?

[Wilxy]

Having "endured" many varieties in the musical sub-genre, during my association with the term " Northern Soul",  would be interested to know, where the (nighter) scene will go after its latest flirtation  with "Funk"?

Having witnessed many offshoots/variations in both tempo and style of what has been the greatest musical influence in my own personal life would be interested to  learn where individuals feel "our next port of call " will be, in this seemingly mystical journey, and indeed what sub-genres are indeed left to explore?

                                             

[Pete S]

Seems to be a lot of reggae being slipped in to certain playlists nowadays - much as I love it, it's got nothing to do with NS and sadly some of the worst examples are the most popular (Del Davis, the female vocal to Double Barrel, 54-46 which is great but as common to reggae people as Footsee is to Northern Soul people).

There are some great soulful reggae tunes, hundreds in fact, but leave them to chill out rooms I say.

Having said all that - anything has to be better than Crossover.

[Geeselad]

At some point tradition Modern , ( 7ts, 8ts) has got to find more favour on dancefloors. Traditional modern? now there's a contradiction in terms. 

[Geeselad]

Seems to be a lot of reggae being slipped in to certain playlists nowadays - much as I love it, it's got nothing to do with NS and sadly some of the worst examples are the most popular (Del Davis, the female vocal to Double Barrel, 54-46 which is great but as common to reggae people as Footsee is to Northern Soul people).

There are some great soulful reggae tunes, hundreds in fact, but leave them to chill out rooms I say.

Having said all that - anything has to be better than Crossover.

I did here a few grt island spins I didnt know at pow wow recently, but its not a northern night really. 

[Guest Gogs]

i'm sure that there is a lot of modern oldies out there yet to be discovered. As for X-over there must still be loads. Some funk, some reggie and loads off rare,underplayed stuff. Then after all that we can always go back to the top 500.

As if to prove my point the next thread i looked at was "new oldies", or are these "old newies".

Edited June 6, 2013 by Gogs

[Premium Stuff]

Not the Latin thing again please - some R&B is OK - quite like some of that - the more soulful - but not Latin again please 

[John Reed]

Peruvian pan pipe instrumentals will be the next big thing.....

[Emily73]

I am really enjoying hearing all the Gospel Soul/RnB/Funk stuff that has been discovered over the past few years.

 

The Holy Disciples - Trying to make a Hundred is one of the best discoveries in recent years IMHO!

Edited June 7, 2013 by Emily73

[Daved]

House music.

 

I'm not joking.

[Stubbsy]

Seems to be a lot of reggae being slipped in to certain playlists nowadays - much as I love it, it's got nothing to do with NS and sadly some of the worst examples are the most popular (Del Davis, the female vocal to Double Barrel, 54-46 which is great but as common to reggae people as Footsee is to Northern Soul people).

There are some great soulful reggae tunes, hundreds in fact, but leave them to chill out rooms I say.

Having said all that - anything has to be better than Crossover.

 

Well said Pete! Reggae is reggae and soul is soul so if I go to a soul night I don't want to hear reggae, (or ska and bluebeat for that matter)!

Edited June 7, 2013 by Stubbsy

[Tezza]

Is it this way because we allow it to be so ?

[jocko]

As someone who is now completely retired, again, is there really funk getting played? The stuff I have heard is mostly just hard soul, some people like Butch and Goerge M stretch it in some venues, but most other stuff is just good dance soul.

 

I suspect the issue now is there is loads of people around with much more traditional taste, and thats not slagging that, the best Northern to dance to is proper drving traditional Black 60;s dance music, issue is there is not enough new stuff of that to keep it interesting.

 

I am genuinely interested in this, as I now look on from afar but I do think there seems to be a level of hysteria about funk from people who think Sue Lynn is a soul record...........

[jocko]

House music.

 

I'm not joking.

 

Oh No Dave, beat mixing on Dansettes, Michael Proctor remixes and Tom Jones does House! Please no. It would be a bastardisation of House that would kill me methinks!

[Wiggyflat]

How about northern soul?? Mid to late sixties uptempo music that is based on the Motown beat...is that too radical??

Hopefully the oldies scene will have got sick of the same records being played over and over again and start digging for all the great northern records with the uptempo beat that fell through the cracks.

[Daved]

Oh No Dave, beat mixing on Dansettes, Michael Proctor remixes and Tom Jones does House! Please no. It would be a bastardisation of House that would kill me methinks!

All from edited 45s Jock, otherwise they don't count

[Tezza]

How about northern soul?? Mid to late sixties uptempo music that is based on the Motown beat...is that too radical??

Hopefully the oldies scene will have got sick of the same records being played over and over again and start digging for all the great northern records with the uptempo beat that fell through the cracks.

Nice.

Look on't tinternet and look for old playlists from the late 60's early 70's. Books on The Torch, Wheel, and the Casino usually have a list of stuff actually played. There is generally a lot of stuff that was played but never progressed through the years which could be labelled 'Forgotten Oldies'. It seems that people love to label things with some derogatory tag such as Top 500 etc. Read the Top 500 and some of them will surprise you, not all but some.  If you are into oneupmanship then put the book down, its not for you !!

[Guest gordon russell]

How about northern soul?? Mid to late sixties uptempo music that is based on the Motown beat...is that too radical??

Hopefully the oldies scene will have got sick of the same records being played over and over again and start digging for all the great northern records with the uptempo beat that fell through the cracks.

it already happens.....and has been happening for some time.....reason the more traditional fan with his cool 500 blinkers on likes what he likes is he/she is middle age the age were they don,t like/want any change dispite all there rehtoric.....for those of us that love that uptempo/mid tempo vibe that is by no means boring.....it,s there!!!...it,s great,it,s uplifting  it,s what nighters were like and thankfully this is still like.......anyone hearing  little willy and rich evans at the last radcliffe  will know what l mean.....sadly a lot of the dj,s most of you hold up as being  the ones to follow...quite frankly  have lost it!!.....as long as they keep believing it,s just about new stuff and new stuff alone....you're all lost.......little willy  played a set of L.P tracks that were uptempo brilliance par excellance....the joke is he and others have been doing it for years now.

Makes me smile when l see some on here post about nighters ect.....it,s still for most  about getting dj spots ect  because nighters they feel they won,t get a spot at ......they don,t attend......so for most of ya...same old same old

[Wiggyflat]

I'm saying the same old records...I have two editions of the top 500 and I have all the books along with about 300 old blues and soul mags..I have actually put several 1 and a half hour mixes of underplayed and forgotten northern soul..one has over 30,000 hits so there must be people out there who want to hear forgotten underplayed stuff.The Top 500 is now a generic term for overplayed oldies.I have several tape masters and exclusives so I'm definately interested in one upmanship and the exclusive sound.Not interested in gospel though...I can see it live down the end of my road in church.

[Emily73]

I'm saying the same old records...I have two editions of the top 500 and I have all the books along with about 300 old blues and soul mags..I have actually put several 1 and a half hour mixes of underplayed and forgotten northern soul..one has over 30,000 hits so there must be people out there who want to hear forgotten underplayed stuff.The Top 500 is now a generic term for overplayed oldies.I have several tape masters and exclusives so I'm definately interested in one upmanship and the exclusive sound.Not interested in gospel though...I can see it live down the end of my road in church.

 

It's not that type of Gospel and you know it. I agree with you about the top 500 though.

[Guest gordon russell]

I'm saying the same old records...I have two editions of the top 500 and I have all the books along with about 300 old blues and soul mags..I have actually put several 1 and a half hour mixes of underplayed and forgotten northern soul..one has over 30,000 hits so there must be people out there who want to hear forgotten underplayed stuff.The Top 500 is now a generic term for overplayed oldies.I have several tape masters and exclusives so I'm definately interested in one upmanship and the exclusive sound.Not interested in gospel though...I can see it live down the end of my road in church.

so you go out just to hear  someone play a one off?......what about the rest of the night?....thats bonkers.....there are whole clubs out there that listen  to upbeat 60's dance music all  feckin night   EMPTY BOTTLES in leeds is one...you,ll hear stuff you know,stuff you wanna know,but don,t and the odd covered up gem.....all played with the whole nights preceedings in mind

[KevH]

As someone who is now completely retired, again, is there really funk getting played? The stuff I have heard is mostly just hard soul, some people like Butch and Goerge M stretch it in some venues, but most other stuff is just good dance soul.

 

I suspect the issue now is there is loads of people around with much more traditional taste, and thats not slagging that, the best Northern to dance to is proper drving traditional Black 60;s dance music, issue is there is not enough new stuff of that to keep it interesting.

 

I am genuinely interested in this, as I now look on from afar but I do think there seems to be a level of hysteria about funk from people who think Sue Lynn is a soul record...........

 

Hi Jocko,i find myself agreeing with you.The funk being played treads a fine line.For me it has to hark back to something deep in my psyche,with the more "traditional" feel.Northern Funk.? Tracks around 2.30 long....

Saying that,pushing the boundaries is always a good thing.But when the dancefloor erupts,who am i to argue.?

Where next.? Back to the future.?

[hullsoul]

Punk Northern............I'm cultivating my Mohican as we speak

Cheers

Martyn

[KevH]

Punk Northern............I'm cultivating my Mohican as we speak

Cheers

Martyn

 

Except its around the sides.

[hullsoul]

Except its around the sides.

I was panicking where you was going to say then..........that'd be a horizontal one

Cheers

Martyn

[Wiggyflat]

I've talked about Punk Northern in the past....Fishbone.What is northern? I see flyers with popcorn..r and b..crossover...Latin and across the board.Now we have to add Ghetto Funk...Gospel...and Punk Northern.I love all of this music even the Punk northern but....I don't want to hear it all at a northern soul do.Take the Latin...I've hundreds of records on cotique fania..tico ...uptite and I'm very deep into the Latin big band sound so when I go to a northern soul do I want to hear northern not Jack costanzos stab at Latin pop bugaloo.Same with Reggae...I've a massive reggae collection.Do I want to be at a soul do listening to Del Davis when I could be hearing Billy Procter.

[Geeselad]

Not the Latin thing again please - some R&B is OK - quite like some of that - the more soulful - but not Latin again please 

 

 

I'm the other way, fed up with R and B, and want moore latin needed here 

[Geeselad]

House music.

 

I'm not joking.

  I'm with you there Dave but almost darn't say it here, there some fanytastic stuff from the early 9ts and late 8ts, I'm spending on this stuff now while its stil dirt cheap, found some ace stuff in the last few months. 

[Paulb]

All the exciting djs aren't playing on the soul scene. They are playing at little hidden away nights that aren't promoted on here because most people don't want to know.

The soul scene, ironically, doesn't embrace soul music unless it falls into the accepted genres dictated by the same old djs.

Soul music continues to excite, expand and evolve and always will. But unfortunately that is no longer happening on traditional soul scene.

[Geeselad]

As someone who is now completely retired, again, is there really funk getting played? The stuff I have heard is mostly just hard soul, some people like Butch and Goerge M stretch it in some venues, but most other stuff is just good dance soul.

 

I suspect the issue now is there is loads of people around with much more traditional taste, and thats not slagging that, the best Northern to dance to is proper drving traditional Black 60;s dance music, issue is there is not enough new stuff of that to keep it interesting.

 

I am genuinely interested in this, as I now look on from afar but I do think there seems to be a level of hysteria about funk from people who think Sue Lynn is a soul record...........

Yeah play some proper soul music, like holly st James, yeah right!

[Geeselad]

All the exciting djs aren't playing on the soul scene. They are playing at little hidden away nights that aren't promoted on here because most people don't want to know.

The soul scene, ironically, doesn't embrace soul music unless it falls into the accepted genres dictated by the same old djs.

Soul music continues to excite, expand and evolve and always will. But unfortunately that is no longer happening on traditional soul scene.

 well said you goit it spot on

[Jordirip]

 

I am genuinely interested in this, as I now look on from afar but I do think there seems to be a level of hysteria about funk from people who think Sue Lynn is a soul record...........

 

:lol:

[Guest Carl Dixon]

Well, I do not want to leave the traditional arrangement style of the 60/70's, so my song writing and demo production revolves around new songs, but with a 'traditional method' I guess. I still think there is potential for new material, but a factor that concerns me, as somebody who likes to write and be creative....is that I cannot always afford to release 45's. I find it a strain on my resources despite many old school saying they like the material but cannot play it at gigs. Like this....mid 70's, but sounds familiar. I am just about to commission some Philly drums on it, if it works out:

 

https://soundcloud.com/55motown/latte-straight-8

[Kev John]

Well, I do not want to leave the traditional arrangement style of the 60/70's, so my song writing and demo production revolves around new songs, but with a 'traditional method' I guess. I still think there is potential for new material, but a factor that concerns me, as somebody who likes to write and be creative....is that I cannot always afford to release 45's. I find it a strain on my resources despite many old school saying they like the material but cannot play it at gigs. Like this....mid 70's, but sounds familiar. I am just about to commission some Philly drums on it, if it works out:

 

https://soundcloud.com/55motown/latte-straight-8

This 1 is a miss    sorry

Edited June 7, 2013 by Kev John

[night nurse]

glam northern me thinks bring on the glitter band 

121053945336_1.jpg

 

 

Edited June 7, 2013 by night nurse

[Mike]

All the exciting djs aren't playing on the soul scene. They are playing at little hidden away nights that aren't promoted on here because most people don't want to know.

The soul scene, ironically, doesn't embrace soul music unless it falls into the accepted genres dictated by the same old djs.

Soul music continues to excite, expand and evolve and always will. But unfortunately that is no longer happening on traditional soul scene.

 

 

go to the event guide 

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/calendar/

type in manchester in the live search and you will see a wide range of upcoming events covering all styles 

 

you been a member since 2004, you used the events guide in the past and today still use the signature to promote your events,  lost why you feel a need to have a go, be it at the site and/or other members

 

 

Edited June 7, 2013 by mike
added

[Jordirip]

Well, I do not want to leave the traditional arrangement style of the 60/70's, so my song writing and demo production revolves around new songs, but with a 'traditional method' I guess. I still think there is potential for new material, but a factor that concerns me, as somebody who likes to write and be creative....is that I cannot always afford to release 45's. I find it a strain on my resources despite many old school saying they like the material but cannot play it at gigs. Like this....mid 70's, but sounds familiar. I am just about to commission some Philly drums on it, if it works out:

 

https://soundcloud.com/55motown/latte-straight-8

 

Nice production on this Carl, very authentic sounding Vince Montana Philly, also similar vibe to the Missin' Linc Ltd 45. Not northern though, but then you never said it was.

[KevH]

All the exciting djs aren't playing on the soul scene. They are playing at little hidden away nights that aren't promoted on here because most people don't want to know.

The soul scene, ironically, doesn't embrace soul music unless it falls into the accepted genres dictated by the same old djs.

Soul music continues to excite, expand and evolve and always will. But unfortunately that is no longer happening on traditional soul scene.

 

Without getting in too deep here,the exciting dj's are on the soul scene.A scene with the blinkers off.Could be argued an offshoot of the old NS scene that's never going back home.Underground as it can be,fresh and exciting. 

The NS scene generally, is still blinkered,but as my Maths teacher used to say "Could do better". 

Edited June 7, 2013 by KevH

[night nurse]

All the exciting djs aren't playing on the soul scene. They are playing at little hidden away nights that aren't promoted on here because most people don't want to know.

The soul scene, ironically, doesn't embrace soul music unless it falls into the accepted genres dictated by the same old djs.

Soul music continues to excite, expand and evolve and always will. But unfortunately that is no longer happening on traditional soul scene.

hey mate i run a couple of soul nights in my area and a bit of Motown but it all depends on what soul you after but i know other places around the country also do  

[Paulb]

Mike, not having a pop at anyone. Just giving my opinion mate. Sorry if you don't like it but I've as much right to voice it on here as anyone else.

The soul scene has had its day. Its a nostalgia thing at best. 8 million events on every week and a severe lack of quality from the majority of those.

You've got people saying they don't like this and don't like that. They need to be prepared to come up against criticism when making such bold statements. But this attitude is the norm. I went to the 100 club last month and it was dissapointing. I wont be going to another all nighter again.

No offense to anyone, but this scene grabbed me as a 21 year old lad and excited me beyond belief. I went to nighters every week for the best part of 6 yrs so I think I qualify to give my opinion. I see the scene as a safe bet social outing where tracks are very slowly accepted and then filtered down the ranks.

The likes of paul sadot, karl heard and james trouble were playing current nighter spins 8 years ago. The soul scene is way behind when it comes to current sounds.

Not sure why I'm even bothering getting involved with this thread. Very few people accept that soul music is anything other than 60's northern. It's a battle I can never win and all opinions like mine do is get peoples back up.

Keep the faith, etc, etc....

[Guest Matt Male]

I've been thinking for a while my favourite sound is the late 60s/early 70s. It has that driving 60s feel but with more instrumentation and better production values but it hasn't gone too far into the melodic 'disco' (and btw I love 70s disco) of the mid-late 70s.

 

I'm thinking things like:

 

Ann Sexton - I Still Love You

L.J. Reynolds - Intruder

Ann Sexton - All Over But The Shouting

Gladys Knight - I've Got To Use My Imagination

 

Ok, so all of these are played out, but when ever I hear something I like it always seems to hit that late 60s/early 70s period. I just wonder how much more there is out there. I think (hope) it's a period with more to mine.

[Steve G]

One things for sure, there is no longer a "scene" as such.

 

Just a loose linkage of broadly black music sub genres and clubs playing assorted music from 1955 to 2013 - everything from oldies, newies, lesser playeds, funk, crossover, mid tempo, old moddun, new moddun, great funk, crap funk.... etc etc....  

[Pete S]

One things for sure, there is no longer a "scene" as such.

 

Just a loose linkage of broadly black music sub genres and clubs playing assorted music from 1955 to 2013 - everything from oldies, newies, lesser playeds, funk, crossover, mid tempo, old moddun, new moddun, great funk, crap funk.... etc etc....  

 

I disagree to a point.

There isn't much of a scene as it was known in the old days - new records discovered week after week, people travelling to hear exclusive sounds...that's all gone, due to various factors but I think the most important is simply that everyone got old and had other things to do other than stay up all night every weekend.  The lack of a permanent weekly nighter meant there was no central meeting place.  The availability of all the music on cd also stopped people travelling.  Playing of certain types of music also drove people away - no point denying this.  So yes, maybe that was the end of the scene as we knew it.

But it lives on with hundreds of weekly local events and several national weekenders, attended by thousands of people...and one or two upfront allnighters for the real keepers of the faith.

It'll never die, it just won't ever be what it was - but that can be said for most of us anyway.

[Steve G]

I thought that was what i was trying to say Pete. When I said there is no scene as such I didn't mean there weren't people into the music, just that it's become totally fragmented.

[Pete S]

I thought that was what i was trying to say Pete. When I said there is no scene as such I didn't mean there weren't people into the music, just that it's become totally fragmented.

 

Sorry I thought you said there wasn't a scene anymore, I said there was. 

[Steve G]

I am saying there isn't "a scene".....but instead there are loads of different scenes  

[Guest penny]

Love some of the funky stuff - although a lot of it was known but largely ignored once already, in the 90s - and the funky gospel, but what u dont get so much with these genres - something that makes 60s music of all genres so incredible - is that masterful songwriting / production / orchestration. A lot of the gospel stuff really oozes soul and feeling but tends to get stuck in a one- chord rut, a lot of home made, one take business.

I found this with the first serious funk revival in the 90s - after a certain amount of it I find myself craving a chorus and some 60s columbia production values.

The funk scene encountered the problem in the 90s - music so deep struggles for broad appeal so you end up with tiny clubs populated only by collectors.

One thing trad northern always had and has - songs. In the final analysis, you cant fucking beat em

Mik

[Guest penny]

Might as well add that, despite it being supposedly more cool and modern sounding, I find that the old 'brothers, we gotta bust out of the ghetto' type theme to be almost more dated now than the 'shoo be doo I love my baby' of ten years previous.

[Len]

all played with the whole nights preceedings in mind

 

 

Len

[Len]

The likes of paul sadot, karl heard and james trouble were playing current nighter spins 8 years ago. The soul scene is way behind when it comes to current sounds.

 

 

Agree to a point, but some (of us) have stopped moaning (I'm one of the worse btw) and embraced the change - For example, 'packing em in' at venues, but having a second room which is promoted, and not just a 'bone chucked' to appease 'those rare soul fans'

 

It works mate - You just got to find the venues that do it right - Yes, different from the past, but you gotta make the most of what we got

 

All the best,

 

Len  

[Len]

(of 'The Den')..........Sorry, I couldn't stop myself!!!

 

All the best,

 

Len

Edited June 7, 2013 by LEN