Paul Anka

[Gary]

Never liked this really and never owned it, untill today.

RCA 2498, 15p from a junk shop in Lincoln.

Some info, value on this issue please?

Gaz.

[bri pinch]

think it,s the uk re-issue from 1974. would have thought that it would be worth a couple o quid but in this day n age, might even be worth a tenner .

best, bri.

[Gary]

think it,s the uk re-issue from 1974. would have thought that it would be worth a couple o quid but in this day n age, might even be worth a tenner .

best, bri.

Thanks Bri, nice.

[Soul-slider]

Never liked this really and never owned it, untill today.

RCA 2498, 15p from a junk shop in Lincoln.

Some info, value on this issue please?

Gaz.

As it was never issued over here in the UK during the 60's, i'd be inclined to say FIRST UK issue!

Cracking tune, I love it! Never tire of hearing it.

Edited September 23, 2006 by Soul-Slider

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

Cracking tune, I love it! Never tire of hearing it.

You and me both - up there with "You're Ready Now" in the "best ever 'Northern Pop' record" stakes IMO.

Can't dance to this, got no bidness havin' feet....

TONE

[Simon M]

They play this down the local pub . I cant stand his white banal tones Im afraid.. Wheres the ear plugs !!

[macca]

I've never had much time for these 'pop incursions' into what was/is, for me, ostensibly a soul music scene, but this record was always an exception. I can also see why it was covered as johnny caswell. (also a white guy?) I think it's near perfect northern soul, whatever that is. the relentless stomping beat, the wailing girls, & I don't think his vocals are all that bad, ok, he ain't danny wagner or dean parrish, but the record still cuts the cod for me 32 years later.

it always goes on any homemade compilation I make. I've never actually owned one though.. mmm...

macca

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

They play this down the local pub .

...Wish they played it in mine, it'd make a refreshing change from Coldplay....

TONE

[Simon M]

...Wish they played it in mine, it'd make a refreshing change from Coldplay....

TONE

Its all part of the CHEESE music phenomenon , Andy Williams , Paul Anka , Franki Valli . I think some of the top Cheese jocks have coverups too !

[Guest]

Never really got this 'cheese' thing. Who deceides when something is 'cheesy' then?

Records like Paul Anka are surely the bedrock of the Northern Scene...its a fucking great record as is Frankie Valli....remembers Valli's tradition is direct from Doo Wop.

They're both great dancers, have great vocals are well produced with melodies and songs you can sing and still remember after thirty years, ten hundred pints and god knows what else !

[Simon M]

Well , errr, Hmmm .I

. Im off to play some Bobby Womack LP's

[Simon T]

Well , errr, Hmmm .I

. Im off to play some Bobby Womack LP's

Was intending to go and see Cecil W & Linda C at the Junction tonight, but got stuck eleswhere, anybody go and have comments?

[givemesoul]

As was quoted earlier crackin' tune ,the guy might be white but who give's a f--k great oldie,sold one on ebay for £34 last year , people still want it

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

Well , errr, Hmmm .I

. Im off to play some Bobby Womack LP's

This would be the same Bobby Womack who recorded Fly Me To The Moon and I Left My Heart In San Francsico, then, would it?

...Nothing remotely cheesy about "You're Ready Now" and "Can't Help Loving You", as Mr. White says. Both can and do hold their own against any Northern Classic you care to cite, regardless of the colour of the skin of the person/people who recorded it. Again, as Simon said, Frankie Valli has a strong R & B tradition going back to the early 50s and even Paul Anka's first record (pre-'Diana') is a heavily collected item by lovers of doo-wop groups.

Can think of plenty of cheesier dance records than these two, by both white and black artists....

TONE

[45cellar]

This would be the same Bobby Womack who recorded Fly Me To The Moon and I Left My Heart In San Francsico, then, would it?

...Nothing remotely cheesy about "You're Ready Now" and "Can't Help Loving You", as Mr. White says. Both can and do hold their own against any Northern Classic you care to cite, regardless of the colour of the skin of the person/people who recorded it. Again, as Simon said, Frankie Valli has a strong R & B tradition going back to the early 50s and even Paul Anka's first record (pre-'Diana') is a heavily collected item by lovers of doo-wop groups.

Can think of plenty of cheesier dance records than these two, by both white and black artists....

TONE

Hi TONE

I have always liked "I Can't Help Loving You", is there any truth In the rumour that Paul Anka either couldn't remember recording It or denied recording it.

I seem to remember reading something about this at the time.

Edited September 25, 2006 by 45cellar

[Guest]

Well , errr, Hmmm .I

. Im off to play some Bobby Womack LP's

I love Bobby Womack, BUT I feel you must not have been around when this 45 was first played on the Northern Soul scene, it had a bigger impact than anything I can think of off hand!

Two points I like to add to the argument. It is ceratinly not the singer who makes the song alone. Check out the credits of the arrangers and producer Wrote by Artie Schroeck & Jet Loring and arranged by the master himself Charles Calello (same guy who gave us Invitations - What's Wrong With Me Baby - and countless other killer recordings for Northern Soul.

Recorded 1966 by a tremendous and talented performer who not only keeps up with the frantic arrangement but performs it infinately better than the "black" version by Jimmy Breedlove made two years later.

If Paul Anka was "all pop" I doubt very much that he would have been invited to Muscle Shoals to record in 70s, sometimes to partner Odia Coates In 1974 gave us a soulful tune "You're having my baby" I mean the man Rick Hall himself is perhaps a better judge of who can sing soul, than anyone on this forum. I think Paul Anka can sing most anything he he asked to do. This does not mean "I Can't Help Loving You" is pop. Great a fabulous record made by a set of talented people all in the same studio at the same time.

Tony Rounce is so totally right 'cause Bobby Womack also sings a mighty fine POP record as did the Hesitations, Four Tops, Temptations and Otis Redding

So leave COLOUR out of it and think of the man's undeniable talent. Classifing this record as POP is ill-informed and narrow minded?

PS Does anyone want to know how this record was discovered, I think it is one of the best and true "Record" stories you could wish to hear. And that's what this scene is about..no barriers.. it's what's in the grooves that counts..and discovering surprisingly great records by artists you would hardly think would have made them.

[Guest]

PS Does anyone want to know how this record was discovered, I think it is one of the best and true "Record" stories you could wish to hear. And that's what this scene is about..no barriers.. it's what's in the grooves that counts..and discovering surprisingly great records by artists you would hardly think would have made them.

yes please...was it not covered up as Johnny Caswell?? Great Northern soul imo one of those I own that I would never get rid of....John, is there an issue??

[Guest]

Please tell the story John.

Must say I really like Jimmy Breedlove's version...and being slower it works well today too.

[45cellar]

yes please...was it not covered up as Johnny Caswell?? Great Northern soul imo one of those I own that I would never get rid of....John, is there an issue??

Hi Paul

Yes, I believe it was covered up as Johnny Caswell.

Proud to have this in the collection, It is just a brilliant record - a true Northern Soul classic

Please tell us the story John

Edited September 25, 2006 by 45cellar

[45cellar]

Please tell the story John.

Must say I really like Jimmy Breedlove's version...and being slower it works well today too.

Hi Simon

I notice on Jimmy Breedlove's Version - Artie Schroeck one of the writers also Directed this one.

Edited September 25, 2006 by 45cellar

[Simon M]

All fair points especially from John Manship. ( I was brought up on early 80's allniters like 100 club, Leicester ,Notts Rock City and Stafford and missed Wigans real impact ) But Vali and Anka are not for me and they are certainly played at Cheese clubs in 2006 (being played at Cheese clubs pubs defines cheese in my book LOL) . As for white vocalists check Angel Rissoff one of my favorites' from 2004 ! " Why me" is just pure soul IMHO !

Plus check "Breakout "

https://cdbaby.com/cd/rissoff

Edited September 25, 2006 by Simon M

[Guest]

yes please...was it not covered up as Johnny Caswell?? Great Northern soul imo one of those I own that I would never get rid of....John, is there an issue??

circa 1973 Simon Soussan was in Providence Rhode Island and visited one of the world's leading knowledge's on music. A hermit called Al Pavlow one of the most interesting and fabulous people I've ever met whilst looking for records. He had a shop at the time and Soussan came in..he was the very first European record collector Al had evermet.

Al had the most fabulous stock of 45s you could ever dream of. Soussan went bonkers, flying through his 45s pulling records and every so often playing a few.

Al was totally fascinated by this, he'd never seen such enthusiasm and when he looked at his "keepers" he still couldn't work out what it was all about. So Al asked him what the hell he was looking for.. Soussan said I want records that sound like this! He played him 20 seconds of The Sequins on Renfro, then the Soul Twins - Quick Change Artist..

Al looked at him and said .."I've got a Paul Anka record you'd like.. Soussan just looked at him like he was a cretin and continued to rip into the masses of 45s...about 15 minutes later the shop speakers SHOOOOK!! To the opening bars of "I Can't Help Loving You".. Soussan apparently dropped all the records he was holdin all over the floor and sprinted to the counter.. "What the F**K is this !!**#!!

Al looked at him with a wry smile on his face.."It's the Paul Anka record I told I said you might like!"

How good was Al at his job? When I met him in 1977 I went to his house armed with the matrix # "stole" by an obnlookers quick glance off Richard Searling's biggest Wigan Casino cover-up of the time. "Al all I got is this # can you help" showing him K14072 it took him about a minute to come back with a copy of Wakefield Sun - Trypt on love.. the Eddie Jason cover-up was uncovered by Big Al of Rhode Island.

I wonder if big Al didn't pull Paul Anka and play it, would it be undiscovered today..just waiting for a flukey spin by a soul collector..but what soul collector would ever play a Paul Anka 45?

Edited September 25, 2006 by john manship

[45cellar]

circa 1973 Simon Soussan was in Providence Rhode Island and visited one of the world's leading knowledge's on music. A hermit called Al Pavlow one of the most interesting and fabulous people I've ever met whilst looking for records. He had a shop at the time and Soussan came in..he was the very first European record collector Al had evermet.

Al had the most fabulous stock of 45s you could ever dream of. Soussan went bonkers, flying through his 45s pulling records and every so often playing a few.

Al was totally fascinated by this, he'd never seen such enthusiasm and when he looked at his "keepers" he still couldn't work out what it was all about. So Al asked him what the hell he was looking for.. Soussan said I want records that sound like this! He played him 20 seconds of The Sequins on Renfro, then the Soul Twins - Quick Change Artist..

Al looked at him and said .."I've got a Paul Anka record you'd like.. Soussan just looked at him like he was a cretin and continued to rip into the masses of 45s...about 15 minutes later the shop speakers SHOOOOK!! To the opening bars of "I Can't Help Loving You".. Soussan apparently dropped all the records he was holdin all over the floor and sprinted to the counter.. "What the F**K is this !!**#!!

Al looked at him with a wry smile on his face.."It's the Paul Anka record I told I said you might like!"

How good was Al at his job? When I met him in 1977 I went to his house armed with the matrix # "stole" by an obnlookers quick glance off Richard Searling's biggest Wigan Casino cover-up of the time. "Al all I got is this # can you help" showing him K14072 it took him about a minute to come back with a copy of Wakefield Sun - Trypt on love.. the Eddie Jason cover-up was uncovered by Big Al of Rhode Island.

I wonder if big Al didn't pull Paul Anka and play it, would it be undiscovered today..just waiting for a flukey spin by a soul collector..but what soul collector would ever play a Paul Anka 45?

Hi John

Thanks for this account, fascinating stuff.

I love stories like this. It's what Northern Soul collecting is about.

[Ernie Andrews]

How can anyone criticise aman who co-wrote "MY Way" one of the greatest songs of all time.

Whre does "when we get there" fit into all this?

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

they are certainly played at Cheese clubs in 2006 (being played at Cheese clubs pubs defines cheese in my book LOL) .

...So how come you know so much about these so-called 'Cheese Clubs', then, Simon? For someone who pours scorn on them, you ceratinly seem well enough acquainted with what's on their playlists

TONE

[Simon M]

...So how come you know so much about these so-called 'Cheese Clubs', then, Simon? For someone who pours scorn on them, you ceratinly seem well enough acquainted with what's on their playlists

TONE

Yes sometimes Tone I drink with my not so soulful mates in these places (Therefore I can assure you Pop/Northern is Cheesy man )!! Everyone seems to be having a laugh at these venues and I did hear Fatback and Frank Wilson at one last year .

Edited September 25, 2006 by Simon M

[Guest]

How can anyone criticise aman who co-wrote "MY Way" one of the greatest songs of all time.

Whre does "when we get there" fit into all this?

"when we get there" fit into all this?

This was the best that anyone could find, when the search for the next Paul Anka began..around 1974..one of the poor records Cleethorpes Pier made big.. Was it Nev Wherry or Rick Scott....I can't remember..but I doubt anyone will admit to being the first to play it.. Perhaps if Charlie Calello was at the controls, instead of Don Costa this would have sounded great too..

[Guest in town Mikey]

How can anyone criticise aman who co-wrote "MY Way" one of the greatest songs of all time.

Whre does "when we get there" fit into all this?

Not entirely true. Finding out the truth cost me a curry and two bottles of wine, courtesy of a French friend.

Paul Anka translated the song from French into English. It is called 'Comme D'habitude' and was written by Claude Francois and Jacques Riveaux.

[Simon M]

Yes sometimes Tone I drink with my not so soulful mates in these places (Therefore I can assure you Pop/Northern is Cheesy man )!! Everyone seems to be having a laugh at these venues and I did hear Fatback and Frank Wilson at one last year .

It does seem to be another sect/genre thats forgotten New music

Edited September 25, 2006 by Simon M

[Guest]

"when we get there" fit into all this?

This was the best that anyone could find, when the search for the next Paul Anka began..around 1974..one of the poor records Cleethorpes Pier made big.. Was it Nev Wherry or Rick Scott....I can't remember..but I doubt anyone will admit to being the first to play it.. Perhaps if Charlie Calello was at the controls, instead of Don Costa this would have sounded great too..

Hi John ...

If my memory serves me well , it was Scotty ...... but like you state , will he admit to it ?

Malc Burton

[Guest martyn]

Hi John ...

If my memory serves me well , it was Scotty ...... but like you state , will he admit to it ?

Malc Burton

Malc,John,

"When We Get There"

Agreed,not a great record by any stretch of the imagination,but if my memory serves me right it didn't seem to go big until 78/79,when there were far worse tunes being played (by some) ?

[Guest Dante]

circa 1973 Simon Soussan was in Providence Rhode Island and visited one of the world's leading knowledge's on music. A hermit called Al Pavlow one of the most interesting and fabulous people I've ever met whilst looking for records. He had a shop at the time and Soussan came in..he was the very first European record collector Al had evermet.

Al had the most fabulous stock of 45s you could ever dream of. Soussan went bonkers, flying through his 45s pulling records and every so often playing a few.

Al was totally fascinated by this, he'd never seen such enthusiasm and when he looked at his "keepers" he still couldn't work out what it was all about. So Al asked him what the hell he was looking for.. Soussan said I want records that sound like this! He played him 20 seconds of The Sequins on Renfro, then the Soul Twins - Quick Change Artist..

Al looked at him and said .."I've got a Paul Anka record you'd like.. Soussan just looked at him like he was a cretin and continued to rip into the masses of 45s...about 15 minutes later the shop speakers SHOOOOK!! To the opening bars of "I Can't Help Loving You".. Soussan apparently dropped all the records he was holdin all over the floor and sprinted to the counter.. "What the F**K is this !!**#!!

Al looked at him with a wry smile on his face.."It's the Paul Anka record I told I said you might like!"

How good was Al at his job? When I met him in 1977 I went to his house armed with the matrix # "stole" by an obnlookers quick glance off Richard Searling's biggest Wigan Casino cover-up of the time. "Al all I got is this # can you help" showing him K14072 it took him about a minute to come back with a copy of Wakefield Sun - Trypt on love.. the Eddie Jason cover-up was uncovered by Big Al of Rhode Island.

I wonder if big Al didn't pull Paul Anka and play it, would it be undiscovered today..just waiting for a flukey spin by a soul collector..but what soul collector would ever play a Paul Anka 45?

The best record story I've read Just amazing!!!!

Cheers

Dante

[Guest NS101]

Amazing story and utterly brilliant. I love reading about this kind of stuff. The thing is, if Soussan did find the "1st" how come there wasnt an instru of it.

Richard Domar

[Steve G]

I'll be the first to admit it then, as pop records I think both the Paul Anka'a are credible efforts. WWGT was also massive at the Casino c 1977-8 - interesting to watch the DVD's of him singing this - Anka forgets the words, and the crowd look thoroughly disinterested in the whole affair.

[Simon M]

I'll be the first to admit it then, as pop records I think both the Paul Anka'a are credible efforts. WWGT was also massive at the Casino c 1977-8 - interesting to watch the DVD's of him singing this - Anka forgets the words, and the crowd look thoroughly disinterested in the whole affair.

Yes I agree Steve ..Very nice pop with double cheese to go ! Did Richard Searling play Alison Moyet " invisible " ( great song by Lamont D ) on the radio once or twice ?

Edited September 27, 2006 by Simon M

[Pete S]

Not entirely true. Finding out the truth cost me a curry and two bottles of wine, courtesy of a French friend.

Paul Anka translated the song from French into English. It is called 'Comme D'habitude' and was written by Claude Francois and Jacques Riveaux.

David Bowie also translated it into an English version at the same time at the request of some music publishers and it was called Even A Fool Learns To Love. It was never released because of Frank Sinatra's version. Life On Mars uses the exact same chord sequence as My Way. God why do I know all this trivia.

[SteveM]

Yes I agree Steve ..Very nice pop with double cheese to go ! Did Richard Searling play Alison Moyet " invisible " ( great song by Lamont D ) on the radio once or twice ?

Yes he did Simon. He also put it in a playlist in Black Echoes (I think) and gotted slagged off for doing so. When it was pointed out that Lamont Dozier had written it, the Soul Police went deadly quiet.

Do you think Alison Moyet is less soulful than some of the modern day so called "white soul artists" ? She didn't sell herself as a soul artist like happens today. And live, she was sensational.

[Bigsoulman]

I'll be the first to admit it then, as pop records I think both the Paul Anka'a are credible efforts. WWGT was also massive at the Casino c 1977-8 - interesting to watch the DVD's of him singing this - Anka forgets the words, and the crowd look thoroughly disinterested in the whole affair.

Yeah i've seen that!, think it was in Germany where they don't look interested in anything do they , i've seen rock videos of Beat club where they all sit perfectly still while the band on are playing their brains out

Lenny

[Simon M]

Yes he did Simon. He also put it in a playlist in Black Echoes (I think) and gotted slagged off for doing so. When it was pointed out that Lamont Dozier had written it, the Soul Police went deadly quiet.

Do you think Alison Moyet is less soulful than some of the modern day so called "white soul artists" ? She didn't sell herself as a soul artist like happens today. And live, she was sensational.

Ahh I thought he did , thanks for that!! , she certainly had some power ,but I never saw her live , so cant comment . She was ok on her recordings and I did enjoy Invisible!

Edited September 27, 2006 by Simon M

[Dayo]

Said it before and I'll say it again: Paul Anka's track is the very epitome of Northern. It's got absolutely everything and is right up there with Jerry Cook, Salvadors, Tomagoes and so on.

Perfect song, perfect arrangement and his vocals REALLY cut the mustard. Did I mention the awesome little sax solo?

It's just so bloody ironic that he's a white guy!

[Chalky]

opinions are like arseholes....we've all got one the beauty of this scene is we all differ in our opinions and thats where forums like Soul Source and RSF come in...we can discuss these differing opinions. If we all agreed and liked the same things there would be f*ck all to write and argue about

Paul Anka, take it for what it is, a good northern oldie, not too bothered about hearing it nowadays, Frankie Valli, never want to hear it doesn'ty even come close to Paul Anka IMHO