Detroit, Chicago, NY, Philly, LA....and

[Dayo]

London?  Somewhere else?

I'm thinking about the cities that made what we came to call Northern Soul music.  Where the legendary studios, musicians and producers were based. I've listed the top 5 as I see it in the thread title; any arguments?

OK, so if there was a best of the rest, which city would get the nod?  I've suggested London half seriously, but where would you say gave us the best NS output, other than the obvious five?  Or do you disagree with my top 5 choice?

Can't be Memphis can it?

Edited November 23, 2015 by Dayo

[Robbk]

I would say that The San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area is next with Fantasy/Galaxy, Music City, Autumn and Sam Geddins' many labels.

Then, perhaps, Memphis or Nashville.

Memphis with Stax/Volt/Enterprise, Hi, Sun/Phillips,

Nashville, with Bob Holmes, Excello/Nashboro labels, Monument/ Sound Stage 7, John Richbourg's labels,

Then, the following cities:

Washington DC/Baltimore (Shrine, Jet Set, North Bay) Cleveland(Way Out), Cincinnati (King/Federal/DeLuxe/Bethlehem, Fraternity), Pittsburgh (World Artists/American Arts, St. Louis (Ike Turner labels, Bobbin, Teek), New Orleans.

 

Atlanta, Miami, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Seattle, Denver, Houston,

[Frankie Crocker]

You've got the top tier spot on. Next level down for good Northern would be New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, Atlanta, Bay Area and Cincinnati. Most major cities have made a contribution to the output of sounds worth tracking down and some of the smaller ones such as Mc Allen and Tyler in Texas.

[Robbk]

I forgot to list Jewel Records (Shreveport, Louisiana).  I consider them in a lump in with New Orleans.

[George G]

10 hours ago, RobbK said:

, Seattle,

You're kidding, I hope. There are 7 cities in Ohio (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Akron, Youngstown, Toledo) that produced more soul (Northern and general soul) than Seattle. At least we can partly claim Quincy Jones, although he had to leave to make it big.

 

In general, you can take the largest metropolitan areas in the US during the mid 1960s and 1970s, rank them in population, and that would be the list.

[Robbk]

Yes, Seattle is by far the largest US city that had the least Soul record production per population.  Minneapolis and Boston were also relatively weak in Soul music production.  Toronto was the biggest Soul production area in Canada, and would probably come in ahead of Minneapolis and Seattle.  Toledo is basically in the Detroit Metro area.  Akron, Dayton, and Youngstown I would lump in together with Cleveland.  Louisville, The Virginia Beach and North Carolina also should have been mentioned, as well as San Diego, and of course Muscle Shoals, Alabama (which was mainly Fame Studios-which was aligned with many Southern and Northern record labels releasing their production). 

[clevesoulie]

Thank you, Robb, for mentioning Cleveland in your post!

In addition to Way Out, we also had the Boddie Recording family of labels (e.g, Luau), DeBrossard and maybe a couple of others.

Best, 

Mark

[Robbk]

2 hours ago, clevesoulie said:

Thank you, Robb, for mentioning Cleveland in your post!

In addition to Way Out, we also had the Boddie Recording family of labels (e.g, Luau), DeBrossard and maybe a couple of others.

Best, 

Mark

Yes, there was also Saru and Courier.  Was Compass from Cleveland, or somewhere nearby?  I know it was located in Ohio.

[Sunnysoul]

Would New Jersey fit in anywhere in this discussion ?   All Platinum / Stang / Turbo etc etc

[Robbk]

1 hour ago, sunnysoul said:

Would New Jersey fit in anywhere in this discussion ?   All Platinum / Stang / Turbo etc etc

Northern New Jersey is ca subset of The New York Metro Area, while Southern New Jersey is a suburban portion of The Philadelphia Metro Area.  All of it was a Dutch colony before it was taken over by you English. 

[Daved]

On ‎25‎/‎11‎/‎2015‎ ‎17‎:‎49‎:‎09, RobbK said:

  Minneapolis and Boston were also relatively weak in Soul music production. 

Minneapolis churned out some great stuff in the 80s with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis on top form then. Also The Time, Prince, Alexander O'Neal & Morris Day, etc - although this wouldn't appeal to a lot of people on this site.

[Ljblanken]

On November 25, 2015 at 5:08:12 AM, George G said:

You're kidding, I hope. There are 7 cities in Ohio (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Akron, Youngstown, Toledo) that produced more soul (Northern and general soul) than Seattle. At least we can partly claim Quincy Jones, although he had to leave to make it big.

 

In general, you can take the largest metropolitan areas in the US during the mid 1960s and 1970s, rank them in population, and that would be the list.

 

Yes! Lots of soul in Ohio.

Go Buckeyes!

 

 

[clevesoulie]

I think Compass was a New York operation.

 

Best,

Mark

[Robbk]

11 minutes ago, clevesoulie said:

I think Compass was a New York operation.

 

Best,

Mark

But weren't Johnny Brantly's Vidalia productions on that label (Ohio Players) recorded in Cleveland?

Edited December 2, 2015 by RobbK

[clevesoulie]

Pretty certain Brantley was.based in New York. Don't know where the early Ohio Players sides were cut.

 

Best,

Mark

[George G]

3 hours ago, clevesoulie said:

Pretty certain Brantley was.based in New York. Don't know where the early Ohio Players sides were cut.

 

Best,

Mark

Yes, most or all of the 1968 OP / Brantley stuff (including the Observations in Time LP) was done in NYC. Brantley was definitely in the NYC area. You can probably count on two (maybe one) hands the total number of soul records recorded in Cleveland in 1968.

On ‎11‎/‎29‎/‎2015‎ ‎12‎:‎37‎:‎11‎, RobbK said:

Yes, there was Courier. 

From Fremont, OH, 70 miles west. The only soul record I recall on Courier was by Ike Perry and the Lyrics who were from Cleveland.

[Robbk]

The Santells (Black female Soul group) had a record out on Courier, and, I believe, I also have a third Courier Soul record (male solo act).

[Ady Croasdell]

Quite a few goodies outta Florida