Northern Soul Top 500 Time For A Review

[Bridgesoceity]

Why would anybody buy this book?, serious question?.

[Ian Parker]

Good question

[Pete S]

Why would anybody buy this book?, serious question?.

 

Because it's a brilliant book to read maybe?

[Bridgesoceity]

What's brilliant about it?,

[Pete S]

What's brilliant about it?,

 

Read it and find out for yourself.  Because whatever I say, you'll say it's shit.

[Bridgesoceity]

What's brilliant about it?,

[Pete S]

What's brilliant about it?,

 

 

Read it and find out for yourself.  Because whatever I say, you'll say it's shit.

[Pete S]

I'd buy a book just with 500 label scans in, because I like that sort of thing.

Who can say whats good or bad about a book?

[Julianb]

Just had a look at the top 100.

Still got or had 95 of them on OVO of course

[Bridgesoceity]

Simple things etc etc

[Pete S]

Simple things etc etc

 

Post of the week.

[Bridgesoceity]

Stick that post in your top 500. ;-)

[Jaco]

Why would anybody buy this book?, serious question?.

 

Its a catalogue of the author's opinion of the most popular Northern tracks across the years.

 

It will have, by definition, tracks that some will feel are totally unworthy on any "top" list and there will be similar omissions.

 

There will be a slant towards a certain era and there will be eras and venues unrepresented.

 

It has a label scan for each track - that has some value to the reader - and it has some narrative to accompany the track, again of some value and mertit if the reader is interested in that kind of detail.

 

It also has a quote to accompany the entry, some of which may not be entirely correct in the credit, and is a little bit of lightweight commentary.

 

A value is provided for reference to the authors view to its worth at the time.

 

Now, any list book will miss it's mark with lots of people who simply don't buy into the notion of lists. And it will, and has done, date reasonably quickly.

 

BUT it's subjective. It's just an opinion based book that in 2013 may not have any relevance at all. But like Pete I like looking at scans of records and I appreciate some of the detail contained within the book.

 

It's not highbrow is it and it's not going to win any literary prizes but I like it.

 

So there.

[Pete S]

Its a catalogue of the author's opinion of the most popular Northern tracks across the years.

 

It will have, by definition, tracks that some will feel are totally unworthy on any "top" list and there will be similar omissions.

 

There will be a slant towards a certain era and there will be eras and venues unrepresented.

 

It has a label scan for each track - that has some value to the reader - and it has some narrative to accompany the track, again of some value and mertit if the reader is interested in that kind of detail.

 

It also has a quote to accompany the entry, some of which may not be entirely correct in the credit, and is a little bit of lightweight commentary.

 

A value is provided for reference to the authors view to its worth at the time.

 

Now, any list book will miss it's mark with lots of people who simply don't buy into the notion of lists. And it will, and has done, date reasonably quickly.

 

BUT it's subjective. It's just an opinion based book that in 2013 may not have any relevance at all. But like Pete I like looking at scans of records and I appreciate some of the detail contained within the book.

 

It's not highbrow is it and it's not going to win any literary prizes but I like it.

 

So there.

 

It's a really good 'bathroom book'.  I had it in there for ages. At the moment I've got one called "1000 tracks you must hear before you die" which is great for a 5 or 10 minute dip into when you're in the bathroom doing whatever you do in there.

Edited November 4, 2013 by Pete S

[Wiggyflat]

Cecil Washington is probably not in there because its so rare...even that red label boot isn't that common plus how can you handbag dance to it.I have the first edition which i thought was great and bought the last edition.The choices in that one are reflective of the dumbing down and commercialism of late.I do think it is a true reflection of the oldies and soul night scene in the Uk....Bobby Reed great record I even spun it as an ender at the ELton alldayer but northern soul top 500 material..??? Doug banks is in there even though I think its a stinker but it gets plays all over.

[Shinehead]

It's a really good 'bathroom book'.  I had it in there for ages. At the moment I've got one called "1000 tracks you must hear before you did" which is great for a 5 or 10 minute dip into when you're in the bathroom doing whatever you do in there.

That's expensive toilet paper , Pete

[Pete S]

Such a shame Rich Chorley's top 100 never came to fruition, he was so close to completing it as well, but he had an illness which was life threatening so the project was never completed, he did stacks of work on it.

[Jaco]

It's a really good 'bathroom book'.  I had it in there for ages. At the moment I've got one called "1000 tracks you must hear before you did" which is great for a 5 or 10 minute dip into when you're in the bathroom doing whatever you do in there.

 

Exactly - a bathroom book.

[Chatty]

That feckin snake must be dead of old age by now, with or without it's comforter of silk,
and it's honey and some milk!

[Agentsmith]

pete's on the ball guys,....it's all about enduring popularity, and that exists in  one form or another through generations..."postioning" certainly isn't something that should govern a books format...because that's exactly the argument you don't want but will be if you try....NO-ONE, no matter who they are, can truly say or decide what is the number 1 record of all-time...and by the same token, the 500th...kev's book IS truly based on popularity but he's not claiming that frank wilson SHOULD be number one because it's the greatest record ever,..it became to most, at the most PIVOTAL time of the scene, when wigan was in it's zenith, THE popular northern soul tune to dance to, AND AS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE NEXT 3 DECADES, it still commands attention.of course we don't have to like it, we're entitled to tire of it or despise it...but it's there, isn't it? and it can't be denied. eddie parker isn't down there at 485 because it's ONLY ranked the 485th best record ever....IT'S ONE of 500 genuinely popular records to be played on the scene.....it can just as easily be claimed to be the best, it's personal opinion and choice, isn't it? if you want to add REAL extenuating circumstances why a certain record/ records don't appear in the book...it's exact;ly the same reason that stops rare/connoissuers soul nights from being the norm.......RAREITY......how many influential djs own exactly what and how few copies there are to go round....THAT'S why  so many don't make kev's book...a record CANNOT be popular in 50 places on the same night if there are only 3 COPIES doing the rounds...the term LEGEND, applies to this theory, because people get to hear ABOUT the tune, but won't hear it unless they go to a certain venue. in this day & age we are fortunate ( or are we? ) that there are so many gigs to go to in the calender year and thus, chances of hearing something unique and different, are greatly enhanced....BUT it still dosn't mean they will become popular enough to make a book's references about the most popular sounds to ever be played on the scene....BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL JUST TOO RARE!. if you also take into account that kev did orchestrate a reappraisal of the first book to include a 100 of the most popular tunes since the beginning of the millenium, then he did go someway to addressing people's concerns. if you catch my drift from the earlier entry in this debate...a book collating the top 500 most popular discoveries of the last 3 decades is your answer, i'm sure it wouldn't discriminate, because i suspect that a lot of undervalued/underplayed cheapies would register in there ( think totw, yes these tunes were throwaways back then ) along with the detroit "hoard" and the dedication of messrs croasdell & rix, to name but two for putting unissued gems on the map......or what the heck,......we'll all just carry on arguing about this til the cows come home!...i don't see ANYONE sticking their neck on the block to produce ANYTHING  of comparison to kev's book in our lifetime's that can be referred to as DEFINITIVE....OR DO YOU WANT TO SPEND A LIFETIME DOING IT?      

[hullsoul]

Because it's a brilliant book to read maybe?

Best part of the book for me was the top tens & the rest of the titbits,plus seeing of the scans of records I'd never seen before.

Cheers

Martyn

[Pete S]

Kev's probably sat there laughing his head off at this debate, about a book he originally put out 15 years ago, who'd have thought it would be taken as gospel and provide us with a new term for music which some consider played out, "Top 500".  Yet half of them aren't played out and at least half of them are totally brilliant records.  At least half.

[pogo paul]

Because it's a brilliant book to read maybe?

 

I agree, there is nothing else, out there, like it.

Really enjoyed it when it came out and can't argue with the detail and work that went into it.

Have the negative posters on here even looked at the book?

Seems to me, when it comes to books or films,lets all slag it off!

People have the right to their views and a bit more positivity wouldn't  go amiss.

[Haydn]

I got the hardback when it first came out, it is informative to a degree. I don't think it was ever intended to be a bible.

If you haven't read it, I would recommend at least once.

[Guest Gogs]

Somebody's cheese is an other man's chalk, nobody on the soul scene will ever be able to agree on a top 10 let alone a top 500. This book was pressed by Kev using his own opinion, and although i would agree to some of the records listed there is no way that i would ever agree to them all. But if we were all the same life would be boring.

[Gerry H]

in my opinion the all time number one witch can any on say they are sick of it [like frank wilson] is 14. Legend, Tobi — Time Will Pass You By (Amy)  let see who will disagree with me  

[Guest Gogs]

As a dj do you always play what you want?

I play oldies nites, but tonite i've been in the boxes and listening to

Prince Philip Mitchell- One on one

Bobby Womack- Tried and convicted

Phyllis Hyman- You know how to love me

Greg Perry- it takes heart

GQ- Make my dreams a reality

Gene Chandler- Does she have a friend for me

Bobby Wilson- Here is where the love is

Bobby Cauldwell- love won't wait

Benny troy- Ectacy passion & pain

Joneses- Hey babe (is the getting still good)

Bionic Boogie- Feel like dancing

 

I could go on, got loads more, (all good tracks (imo) but as you can see none of these would go down very well at an Oldies nite (imho but i'm often wrong), so when Djing do you let your head rule your heart, or am i just a bottler? or should i just throw the odd 1-2 in a set. (all tracks listed are available on youtube so if you don't know them check them out and let me know what you think)

Edited November 5, 2013 by Gogs

[Guest Gogs]

in my opinion the all time number one witch can any on say they are sick of it [like frank wilson] is 14. Legend, Tobi — Time Will Pass You By (Amy)  let see who will disagree with me  

ME

48. Vibrations — Cause You’re Mine (Okeh)

[Guest Dave Ward]

An empty dance floor means the DJ is crap, DJ's get gigs when they play music that fills dance floors with dancers,  don't try to educate them with what the 'teacher' thinks they should like.

Edited November 5, 2013 by Dave Ward

[Russ Vickers]

Here we go....

 

Russ

[Daz Mc]

Too many d.j's play too safe...im sick of going to nites where the top 500 is played every month.before the d.j goes on you know what theyre going to play...have some balls and play something different...theres millions of tunes out there so why play the same old crap.

[Mark S]

I love new to my ears stuff . We all know roughly where a northern tune is going so I dont have a problem dancing . I cant understand people not dancing . If our dj,s dont push the boundaries who,s going to ? .

[Reforee]

Russ

Depends on the venue and type of event your at and what time your on in my opinion, the aim at most is to get them dancing but if your at an out and out Northern gig probably 3 to 4 of those tracks might receive a positive response if you dropped 2 in somewhere.

If you've got bottle drop em in! You might or might not clear the floor?

Personally I like a bit of both when I'm out, new , unknown, underplayed tracks and then ones I know.

Went to an Oldies Northern night some months back and to be honest it took me back to the mid 70s and some of the tracks I have not heard in 20 years while out, as they are old school northern classics. Still great music but not every night out!

Dave H

[Haydn]

In my opinion if you are doing the legwork searching for the music, you never will have a number one tune.

Theres always something that crops up and moves the positioning, unless you are listening to that same old battered tape from years ago.

[Guest Polyvelts]

Empty dance floors says as much about the punters boring mind set than dj bullying.

[Mal C]

its all good, the top 500, and everything else before and since...  just a number inst it, as Pete says it was never meant to be the best top 500, just ones that had found favor on the northern scene...  love the top 500, although I generally prefer to love my soul without putting it into a book..

[Haydn]

Prince Philip Mitchell- One on one

Bobby Womack- Tried and convicted

Phyllis Hyman- You know how to love me

Greg Perry- it takes heart

These are oldies in my book, any dj should have the tools to turn it around if the dancefloor dwindles.

[Ted Massey]

Get your self to Life Line if you want hear some thing different along with the classics or Solid Hit Soul

[Sooty]

"As a dj do you always play what you want?"

At a 10 hour wedding/function/disco Gogs....I play what I like throughout....across genres and mix old n new....BUT...am mindful of 'entertaining' the people throughout. IE...let's say a wedding is at 2pm...they arrive at the reception for 4pm. I play background stuff which gets Nan and granddads foots tapping early evening....but they aren't all ready to dance until 7/8pm...if ure a good DJ! I have seen weddings just kick off for the last hour when folk have got pi**ed enuff.....!! x

As a Northern DJ.....ALWAYS have entertained first....educated 2nd....at a Soul Night. At a Nighter.....played what I wanted and fit in 2 or 3 requests which were tunes I was known for playing. At the 100 Club....Winsford...Blackburn....Congleton...Bretby....Cottons Stockport...and other 'hard core' nighters.....I played what I liked......but kept them entertained with it!x DJing has been 'natural' for me. It isn't for everyone I have witnessed. But...your questioning and request for advice....is the way forward friend!x Those who think they know all.....are the ones that leave the floor empty...and play tunes out of order....in play order or tune wise!!! The scene is full of them....or was! But as a DJ....I luv'd having them around....it made sure I had an easy life when getting up there......!!!x Some nights....folk were chewing the cud for several hours 'waiting' for my spot for it to 'kick off'.....!!!! It was a psychological thing! Me reputation went before me I suppose and folk always anticipated a 'happening'. That is what I enjoyed...the 'expectation'....and as a DJ...when u deliver.....it is the most rewarding feeling you can have as a DJ anywhere!!x

A good tip is this......put ure 'unkowns/risky' tunes together in your box.....play one....when the floors been busy to a 'classic'....and if it holds say 20/30% of the floor....then go back more 'obvious' with the next....! I call it the yoyo effect....and ultimately.....when u play it the third time at the same gig over time....the floor will stay!x It happened like that with Carla Thomas 'I'll Never Stop Loving You....Brenda Holloway's Reconsider....the 4 Tracks Like My Love....The Drapers-Your Love Has Gone Away...and a few other tunes that were 'new' back in the 90's!!! Cleared the floor virtually at the beginning....I believed in the tunes....persisted...and today.....'classics!x DJ's have to 'go through it'...that ar*e wobble when putting YOUR choice on......but do it......if you believe in the tune!x My DJing was based on being a Soulie and lover of the music....and it always got me through no probs!x Keep away from the matrix numbers and stick to the groove..and I believe Gogs....you will be agog at the response!!!x

 

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LUV
SOOTY
X

[Tezza]

Here we go....

 

Russ

Hey Russ, haven't we been here before and before and, oh yes, before. 

Have you anything to add or should we say ' I refer the honourabe gentleman to my previous reply ' Lol !

[Tezza]

An empty dance floor means the DJ is crap, DJ's get gigs when they play music that fills dance floors with dancers,  don't try to educate them with what the 'teacher' thinks they should like.

A promoter books a DJ to play what a DJ plays and not to play what the promoter plays.  If the floor is empty it is because the Promoter hasn't done his/her homework and booked the wrong kind of DJ for his/her venue.

[Ian Parker]

Too many d.j's play too safe...im sick of going to nites where the top 500 is played every month.before the d.j goes on you know what theyre going to play...have some balls and play something different...theres millions of tunes out there so why play the same old crap.

It's those DJs that keep getting the gigs mate

Just sayin like.....

[Davenpete]

An empty dance floor means the DJ is crap, DJ's get gigs when they play music that fills dance floors with dancers,  don't try to educate them with what the 'teacher' thinks they should like.

Surely this is the definition of a dead scene - playing stuff people don't/hardly know (PROVIDED IT IS AN APPROPRIATE VEIN AND DANCEABLE) but will appreciate alongside stuff they do know and like is what it's all about - would we ever have heard anything new had DJs followed the above?

Dx

Edited November 5, 2013 by DaveNPete

[Sooty]

Too many d.j's play too safe...im sick of going to nites where the top 500 is played every month.before the d.j goes on you know what theyre going to play...have some balls and play something different...theres millions of tunes out there so why play the same old crap.

 

I'd never seen the top 500 list until the thread appeared on here yesterday Daz..X I have had perhaps 400 of them in me time. But...I DJ'd at a Dayer t'other week....a 'classics' venue really....and so I took 'party' music for the occasion. EVERY ONE would have been considered a 'classic'...yet....when I review me tunes I played....only 3....are on that list!!!!x

For me...they were 'obvious' tunes!!!x Bob Brady...'Everybody's Goin' To The Love In'.....and it rammed!!!x If you'd have asked me before hand i;'d have guranteed that was in the top 500...but it ain't.....!!!!x There are 100's as u say of unplayed classics outside of the 500.....and innocently...I played 8 among a 16 record set!!!! Yet....'hard core' would have lambasted it as an 'oldies' obvious set.....i;m sure!!!x

 

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~

LUV

SOOTY

X

[Mike]

no real  need for two very similar threads

 

so both merged

[Bazza]

An empty dance floor means the DJ is crap, DJ's get gigs when they play music that fills dance floors with dancers,  don't try to educate them with what the 'teacher' thinks they should like.

 

No I don't agree with this,if a DJ don't thin out the floor now and then ,He or she is playing it to safe ,Some of us still get a tingle when something is played and think wow whats this,within the first 30 seconds of a new to me tune ,I know if it it will suit my style of dance ,same old stuff = boring to me 

 

Bazza  

[Liamgp]

Time for a new book methinks...

 

[Guest Byrney]

An empty dance floor means the DJ is crap, DJ's get gigs when they play music that fills dance floors with dancers,  don't try to educate them with what the 'teacher' thinks they should like.

So DJs should only play the tried and tested records that fills floors and not introduce new or underplayed records, like what the wheel, Wigan, the torch, cats, Stafford etc etc did.

There's always been newly discovered records that have cleared floors which have gone big.

The picture you paint doesn't look like the Northern Soul scene to me...

[Steve S 60]

Time for a new book methinks...

 

top.jpg

 

Don't need it with the live version on here.

[KevH]

An empty dance floor means the DJ is crap, DJ's get gigs when they play music that fills dance floors with dancers,  don't try to educate them with what the 'teacher' thinks they should like.

 

ffs.