Non Vinyl

[grahame c]

Hi my first post,here goes,

Being a relatively new follower of Northern soul/soul over the last 18 months and over 60 years old(I missed it when I was younger,girls,disco,playing squash)

Some of it I remember from Motown and I am afraid 3 certain adverts made me aware of it and I started checking the music out,I found some brilliant tracks from various artists,started buying CD's and then ventured to Northern soul/soul events locally to here my favourite tracks and learn to dance to them(after watching youtube videos)

   Then came a slight disappointment,I did not here them.I did here music that I had not heard before and some of it I liked some of it I did not but that is down to individual,2 events I did not dance at all.

   I then found out about Big Sound Snobbery,most DJ's wanting to play rare and obscure sounds which,ok can be good or bad and that's how you find new track's you like but what about filling the dance floor which they do not seem to be concerned about.

  I know have about 150 tracks that I would be on the dance floor to but very rarely hear them.

I do appreciate and understand the vinyl ethos and DJ's doing the tables etc and long may it continue,but why not have events that use other forms of media like CD's, mp3 in a room with a big dance floor,play the BIG Sounds and have the dance floor full,I would go because the music will be playing,would any body else.

  Look forward to constructive replies.

 

[Len]

 

[Steve S 60]

Here's a foolproof way of getting to hear your favourite sounds out and about.  Publish a book about them and give it a snappy title like "The Northern Soul Top 150" et voila!

[Guest Spain pete]

9 hours ago, grahame c said:

Hi my first post,here goes,

Being a relatively new follower of Northern soul/soul over the last 18 months and over 60 years old(I missed it when I was younger,girls,disco,playing squash)

Some of it I remember from Motown and I am afraid 3 certain adverts made me aware of it and I started checking the music out,I found some brilliant tracks from various artists,started buying CD's and then ventured to Northern soul/soul events locally to here my favourite tracks and learn to dance to them(after watching youtube videos)

   Then came a slight disappointment,I did not here them.I did here music that I had not heard before and some of it I liked some of it I did not but that is down to individual,2 events I did not dance at all.

   I then found out about Big Sound Snobbery,most DJ's wanting to play rare and obscure sounds which,ok can be good or bad and that's how you find new track's you like but what about filling the dance floor which they do not seem to be concerned about.

  I know have about 150 tracks that I would be on the dance floor to but very rarely hear them.

I do appreciate and understand the vinyl ethos and DJ's doing the tables etc and long may it continue,but why not have events that use other forms of media like CD's, mp3 in a room with a big dance floor,play the BIG Sounds and have the dance floor full,I would go because the music will be playing,would any body else.

  Look forward to constructive replies.

 

Thanks you have shattered my perception of soul music 

[Baz1]

Hi grahame c,if you dont go and listen to other tunes apart from the ones that are familiar to you then I'm afraid you might aswell stop going nowmy advise would be :if you hear an unfamiliar tune but its got a beat that you can dance to then get up there and go for it,get a note pad and write the tunes you like down and search for them I'm sure in 12 months time you will be chattin different words m8, welcome to ss and atb. Baz

[Simsy]

Hi Graham and welcome to Soul Source.

Unfortunately you can't be Tyrone Davis and turn back the hands of time. If you could, we could go to the Fleet in 85' and dance to the kind of music you are talking about - one after the other. Times have changed and newer sounds have come along. Though as someone has already said, if you're at a do and you hear the right beat, you should rise up out of your seat and dance.

On the point of playing cd's at do's, well if we allowed that any Tom Dick or Harry would be up there and it would all turn to crap in five minutes. If I'm paying fifteen quid to get into a nighter, I want to hear some rare and obscure original recordings.

In conclusion though mate, it's a nice problem to have, for soul music I believe (Northern or otherwise) is the best kind of music there is! 

[Soulsides]

12 hours ago, grahame c said:

I know have about 150 tracks that I would be on the dance floor to but very rarely hear them.

With all due respect that's a relatively small number, there's an absolute wealth of amazing tunes out there and it goes without saying that the more deeper you're prepared to dig the more you'll discover.

There's some excellent Soul/Northern channels on YouTube with masses of stuff where you can hear new music literally every day, I'm constantly hearing things on some of those channels that I've never come across before that are fantastic records and it's the same here on Soul Source .

Have fun and search through the threads, theres music videos posted all the time plus audio links to records forum members are selling- DJ sets on Mixcloud,playlists etcetera, there's loads of cool stuff you can learn about as the collective knowledge and experience of the user base of this forum really is worth its weight in sonic gold. 

Also,look online at record sites where you can hear before you choose buy the music,again theres tons of good stuff at reasonable prices, not every record has to have a £200+  price tag for it to be a great one,far from it in fact.

Happy hunting and welcome to the site!

2 hours ago, baz1 said:

my advise would be :if you hear an unfamiliar tune but its got a beat that you can dance to then get up there and go for it,get a note pad and write the tunes you like down and search for them

Exactly this,words to live by.

Edited December 6, 2018 by Soulsides

[Winsford Soul]

Welcome to Soul Source.  150 tunes.  That's approximately 6 DJ  sets if you go to a nighter that's all your records with 2 maybe 4 hours to go. Thats if every single one got played. What do you do then . Go home . No didn't think so. Open your ears and take in everything this amazing music has to offer, I'm still hearing new records after 43 years of going to nighters. I don't like every one but now and again something will get played out that has me rushing to find out what it is. 

The most important thing is that you enjoy the journey 

Steve

[Mark S]

Big sounds were so 40 years ago tons of brilliant stuff out there of equal quality and dancibility ( is that a word ?) we all know where a northern tune is going so just get up and dance , be open minded and above all enjoy it .

As for CD and mp3s played out not the way it should be done .

[Soul16]

In simple terms, Northern Soul is/was very much about exclusivity, certain DJs had certain rare records and if you wanted to hear them on their original format, you would sometimes have to travel hundreds of miles to do so. For me, the DJ was King. They were exciting times, we were young and the records weren't that much older.

This 'scene' is now donkeys years old, so what may be new to you is considered standard fare to others. Northern Soul is now a broader church and there are thousands of great records out there, so you can't guarantee hearing the stuff that is on your CDs. With all due respect, you are just as likely to hear the 'big sounds' at wedding receptions and retirement parties via CD and (more likely) digital files these days.

So, welcome and just enjoy what you have been missing out on for all these years. 

[Guest Sliced Tomanogoe]

Hi Graham, 

I am relatively new to the site also and as although I have been enjoying soul music over half of my life I am still only 33 and just when I feel I have scratched the surface of the general sound of what floats my boat something comes along and knocks me off my feet.

I, like you missed the boat for the original venues (such as the Wheel, Casino et al), in fact that ship had sailed long before the twinkle in my fathers eye! So I do understand the journey you are on discovering what is known to many as the 'scene'.

In my early days I thought I knew what 'Northern Soul' was, most likely the said '150 tunes' you refer to were in that list. My first visits to soul do's, all dayers & weekenders I was left baffled as 'where are my 150 dancers?! I don't know any of these records?!' - what changed was my attitude, I stop trying to recognise the track but simply enjoy it, I stopped trying to analyse everything I heard but paid attention to those records that reached out to me.

Over years of searching and listening and digging and searching and listening and digging... I have found that I will never find or even hear every 'northern soul' song, I find I don't even like some tracks that my fellow soulies would die for. But whats left is a catalogue of music that I never knew were possible, I speak with a passion of a decade of hearing music that will live with me forever, not only that but I know that I still have so much more to discover, its such an exciting position to be in.

As for broadening your horizons, I have found that Soul Source and its members are the most knowledgeable and informative (and mostly friendly!) bunch you will come across, often defensive and protective of their art but it all stems from a passion that personally can only be stirred from good old fashioned soul (Northern or not) music.

Don't feel disheartened that you weren't there at the beginning, revel in the fact you are a few songs away from hearing your favourite song of all time... 

...until the next one comes along. 

Here's one of mine, Dave. 

 

 

[Len]

10 minutes ago, Sliced Tomanogoe said:

 I find I don't even like some tracks that my fellow soulies would die for.

Ditto 

Welcome to the site grahame c.

All the best,

Len 

[Winsford Soul]

21 minutes ago, Sliced Tomanogoe said:

Hi Graham, 

I am relatively new to the site also and as although I have been enjoying soul music over half of my life I am still only 33 and just when I feel I have scratched the surface of the general sound of what floats my boat something comes along and knocks me off my feet.

I, like you missed the boat for the original venues (such as the Wheel, Casino et al), in fact that ship had sailed long before the twinkle in my fathers eye! So I do understand the journey you are on discovering what is known to many as the 'scene'.

In my early days I thought I knew what 'Northern Soul' was, most likely the said '150 tunes' you refer to were in that list. My first visits to soul do's, all dayers & weekenders I was left baffled as 'where are my 150 dancers?! I don't know any of these records?!' - what changed was my attitude, I stop trying to recognise the track but simply enjoy it, I stopped trying to analyse everything I heard but paid attention to those records that reached out to me.

Over years of searching and listening and digging and searching and listening and digging... I have found that I will never find or even hear every 'northern soul' song, I find I don't even like some tracks that my fellow soulies would die for. But whats left is a catalogue of music that I never knew were possible, I speak with a passion of a decade of hearing music that will live with me forever, not only that but I know that I still have so much more to discover, its such an exciting position to be in.

As for broadening your horizons, I have found that Soul Source and its members are the most knowledgeable and informative (and mostly friendly!) bunch you will come across, often defensive and protective of their art but it all stems from a passion that personally can only be stirred from good old fashioned soul (Northern or not) music.

Don't feel disheartened that you weren't there at the beginning, revel in the fact you are a few songs away from hearing your favourite song of all time... 

...until the next one comes along. 

Here's one of mine, Dave. 

 

 

That's one amazing reply.  Love it. 

Steve 

[Soulsides]

4 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

That's one amazing reply.  Love it. 

Yep It's a +1 from me,also.

Excellent track posted there as well!

[Speedlimit]

Welcome to the site Graham as previously stated great informative site with knowledge second to none.  I've been on the scene since 74 and seen more changes to the musical styles of the scene than I can remember some are great other not so .This music will take you on a never ending journey enjoy every second like I have. You'll make long lasting friendships too .cd, s mp3,  home use only sounds better on vinyl

 

At Steve

.

.

Edited December 6, 2018 by speedlimit

[Billy Jo Jim Bob]

13 hours ago, grahame c said:

Hi my first post,here goes,

Being a relatively new follower of Northern soul/soul over the last 18 months and over 60 years old(I missed it when I was younger,girls,disco,playing squash)

Some of it I remember from Motown and I am afraid 3 certain adverts made me aware of it and I started checking the music out,I found some brilliant tracks from various artists,started buying CD's and then ventured to Northern soul/soul events locally to here my favourite tracks and learn to dance to them(after watching youtube videos)

   Then came a slight disappointment,I did not here them.I did here music that I had not heard before and some of it I liked some of it I did not but that is down to individual,2 events I did not dance at all.

   I then found out about Big Sound Snobbery,most DJ's wanting to play rare and obscure sounds which,ok can be good or bad and that's how you find new track's you like but what about filling the dance floor which they do not seem to be concerned about.

  I know have about 150 tracks that I would be on the dance floor to but very rarely hear them.

I do appreciate and understand the vinyl ethos and DJ's doing the tables etc and long may it continue,but why not have events that use other forms of media like CD's, mp3 in a room with a big dance floor,play the BIG Sounds and have the dance floor full,I would go because the music will be playing,would any body else.

  Look forward to constructive replies.

 

Grahame

Don't despair or give up. The 150 sounds you know are just a tiny fraction of what's out there. As others have said trawl through Youtube and follow the recommendations and you will here a whole range of sounds that now constitute the rare soul scene - northern, modern, crossover, sweet group etc. Look on the dealer sites and play their sound files. As with any of us there will be tunes you like and others not, but I assure you there are thousands of tunes waiting for you.  

As for venues, DJ's, exclusivity, CD's, mp3's etc. that's a bit of a political minefield, but suffice to say (with tin hat firmly on) that CD's and mp3's at a venue are a bit of a no no. There are plenty of venues which still play towards the oldies scene with the classic sounds of yesteryear, and maybe this is the place to start for you. Look out for something advertised as 'Northern Soul & Motown Night' and I'm sure you will hear some of your faves and see a packed dance floor.

Record collecting need not be an expensive pastime as there are plenty of 5 quid records that will tickle your fancy.

But I would say come and join the scene with an open mind and listen to everything it has to offer.

Andy 

[Guest BabyBoyAndMyLass]

Hi Grahame, welcome to Soulsource and welcome to the Soul Scene. I envy you, as will most here, you have embarked on the first leg of one of the most wonderful musical journeys in existence. You are going to hear sounds for the first time that so many wish they were hearing for the first time once again!

To begin with you have a way to go yet, there is a phenomenal amount of music within the 'Northern soul' canon without even approaching the wider field of todays' scene. To begin with there is the Top 500, this was published in a book decades ago now (Kev Roberts and Dave Carne 'The Northern Soul Top 500) it encompasses what were reckoned to be the best 500 sounds played at events from the late sixties onward. Nowadays the veteran soulies regard this as somewhat naff and in many cases the records are considered overplayed, this is true for those who attended for forty years, they are tired of hearing a lot of these same tunes over again when they go to events, fair enough of course. It goes without saying that there will be certain tunes in this group that individuals will absolutely adore  and will never grow old, (for me The Belles, Bobby Garrett, The Tempests, The Tomangoes are a few of those) so yes your 150 is a small number relatively, I would guess that most of yours will be Top 500 sounds.

To add to this there has been the 'Upfront/Across the board/Progressive' side of the scene which revolves around avoiding in the main, the Top 500 and concentrating on the lesser known sounds, 'new' records more recently discovered and played out to a lesser extent or even recently discovered. It really is mind-blowing the amount of music that is collected under the blanket term of Soul. Some regard the Top 500 as the 'Northern' side of things, using terms like 'rare/underplayed' to describe sounds outside of the Northern category.

Most view the best type of event as one that encompasses both sides, what would be called an 'Across the board' event, some Top 500 sounds mixed with a generous helping of the latter category I've described. One thing is certain, you will never be guaranteed to hear even the 150 you've mentioned, however you stand more chance if you start by looking to attend events described as Top 500, there are many excellent Top 500 DJs around and many events to choose from, search the event guide here for details! Oh I have to point out also that with the OVO scene, where only the original first press of the 45s are played, it would cost a similar amount to put together a 150 count box of the best of the tunes as to buy a house, broadly speaking, very few will have every single 45 in the 500, most will have a selection. So there's a lot of tunes out there to get familiar with yet! When you go tro an event don't be afraid to ask for requests, although you may get a blank look if you ask for Arthur Willis and soulful dynamics or something similar in terms of rarity! (I'll let you research that)...

Don't neglect the other side of the Scene, there are many, many wicked sounds out there, absolutely loads that I haven't yet even heard, I'm just a beginner too, there are chaps and lasses here and on the scene whose knowledge of the canon is completely vast, I'm privileged to know a considerable number of these folks, all of whom will freely admit to being still learning after a whole lifetime.

I won't bang on any more because some of the members might start moaning, the swines… Lovely bunch and hell do they know their stuff, use it to your advantage, look in the forums, the record club forums is a fantastic resource, huge amounts of tunes there, the Friday thread also, Look at your box, all will have sounds inside and outside of the 500 that I guarantee will rock your boat, no-one likes every single one, which makes it even more diverse, I recommend having a delve into the Mirwood label as a great place to start! 'll leave it at that for now, and leave a few records I've discussed recently, enjoy!

 

[Timillustrator]

Hi Grahame, 

Good post! I'm not sure the vinyl or non-vinyl is the issue here, lots of DJ's will have (as others have said) various top 500 tunes with them and most will play one or two at least. I suspect it may be the venues you've been to. Locally to me there are Rare/Northern Soul events that range from mainly top 500 to mainly not top 500 with all shades in between; I haven't counted but I'd say probably every night you'd hear at least 10 or so or sometimes a lot more.

I also think you need to look at it from a DJ's point of view - say you'd been DJing since the 70's and collected records all that time, you'll want to play all the stuff you think is great much of which will be new, not just the same 150 records over and over again. It would get so stale, even if you love those records, after the 500th spin anyone would get a bit bored. So I don't think it's snobbery more like sanity!

Having said that there are venues that just unashamedly play popular stuff - there are a couple not that far from me. One is billed as a "Soul night" has video DJ's and apparently plays a bit of Northern, a lot of Motown, 70's + 80's soul etc. I've not been to that though. The other I have been to is similar - popular soul Cameo, a bit of Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Barry White, Billy Ocean some 60's and again a few Northern things. It was OK, free in more a place to have a drink than a dance although some people did. 

These events are not listed on soul source though, I think they are both on Facebook. 

I think what you are suggesting would, however, be the worst of both worlds - by not having a vinyl policy it would alienate most people on the soul scene but at the same time sticking to the top 500 even would alienate the more casual dance music fan who only know the S song, DILY and  one or two others and would find most of the top 500 obscure. 

Edited December 6, 2018 by Timillustrator

[Koolkat]

See...........Ive never heard that Bessie Jones before. That's how mad northern soul is.

[Guest BabyBoyAndMyLass]

9 minutes ago, Koolkat said:

See...........Ive never heard that Bessie Jones before. That's how mad northern soul is.

Bit nice innit the Bessie!

 

[Jerry Hipkiss]

13 minutes ago, Koolkat said:

See...........I've never heard that Bessie Jones before. That's how mad northern soul is.

Nor had I until a year or so ago, despite having been around for more decades than I can remember - apparently played by Soul Sam, Top Rank Hanley 1973 - and just the other day I saw it on a Soussan sales list from 1975 - just goes to show how many tunes there are just under the radar...

Edited December 6, 2018 by Jerry Hipkiss

[Kenb]

4 hours ago, Sliced Tomanogoe said:

Hi Graham, 

I am relatively new to the site also and as although I have been enjoying soul music over half of my life I am still only 33 and just when I feel I have scratched the surface of the general sound of what floats my boat something comes along and knocks me off my feet.

I, like you missed the boat for the original venues (such as the Wheel, Casino et al), in fact that ship had sailed long before the twinkle in my fathers eye! So I do understand the journey you are on discovering what is known to many as the 'scene'.

In my early days I thought I knew what 'Northern Soul' was, most likely the said '150 tunes' you refer to were in that list. My first visits to soul do's, all dayers & weekenders I was left baffled as 'where are my 150 dancers?! I don't know any of these records?!' - what changed was my attitude, I stop trying to recognise the track but simply enjoy it, I stopped trying to analyse everything I heard but paid attention to those records that reached out to me.

Over years of searching and listening and digging and searching and listening and digging... I have found that I will never find or even hear every 'northern soul' song, I find I don't even like some tracks that my fellow soulies would die for. But whats left is a catalogue of music that I never knew were possible, I speak with a passion of a decade of hearing music that will live with me forever, not only that but I know that I still have so much more to discover, its such an exciting position to be in.

As for broadening your horizons, I have found that Soul Source and its members are the most knowledgeable and informative (and mostly friendly!) bunch you will come across, often defensive and protective of their art but it all stems from a passion that personally can only be stirred from good old fashioned soul (Northern or not) music.

Don't feel disheartened that you weren't there at the beginning, revel in the fact you are a few songs away from hearing your favourite song of all time... 

...until the next one comes along. 

Here's one of mine, Dave. 

 

 

A truly wonderful response by you.

Yes, good advice you gave to the OP. You are right to say “Don't feel disheartened that you weren't there at the beginning” - 

and it got me thinking...

Everyone’s beginning starts at a different point. For instance, (and you could pick TW, Va Va's ,Torch,etc) i wonder how many are still around [and i hope it's many] who heard the first play of The Sherrys -Put Your Arms Around Me ( BTW: i think you’d need to be born at least before 1960). So the scene's history is fantastic- but don't let it hold you back.

[Geeselad]

A counter point would be my recollection of attending Burnley about 10 years ago, for context burnley was renowned as one of the best upfront nights around. A dj played "a little togetherness". an the two dj"s, I was with, both well Know on the scene. said "that's the final straw I were not driving up here to listen to this". I think just about every track played that night wouldn't scrape the top 1000 but they were both really pissed of about the younghearts. 

And to be honest I wasn't impressed myself. 

Edited December 6, 2018 by geeselad

[Guest]

3 hours ago, geeselad said:

A dj played "a little togetherness". an the two dj"s, I was with, both well Know on the scene. said "that's the final straw I were not driving up here to listen to this". I think just about every track played that night wouldn't scrape the top 1000 but they were both really pissed of about the younghearts. And to be honest I wasn't impressed myself. 

Not being a collector of Northern myself, BUT importantly being able to recognise what I perceive to be a good song when I hear it, out of curiosity I had a listen to The Younghearts. It sounds damned good to me, so what was the complaint about it in this instance? 

[Guest BabyBoyAndMyLass]

Just now, Martin S said:

Not being a collector of Northern myself, BUT importantly being able to recognise what I perceive to be a good song when I hear it, out of curiosity I had a listen to The Younghearts. It sounds damned good to me, so what was the complaint about it in this instance? 

One of the scene's biggest and most enduring sounds, hence some people have heard it many times, a staple of the scene for it's entire history post The Torch, where it was an anthem, love it! Younghearts/New Younghearts/The Tempoes all the same band.

 

[grahame c]

Hi All,Thankyou for your replies and input.

From the music perspective I do agree with a lot of your comments,it is early days and thereis a lot of stuff I have not heard yet,wether it be classic,modern,rare etc andi am not sure what falls into each category.

 I was going to put a copy of my list in this post from a scan to my laptop,buggered if I could do it,so gave up.Open to help there.

I do like the more up tempo,faster beat stuff generally,

  Sidney Barnes-Standing on solid ground(Great)

Moses Smith-Girl across the street-makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

Cause your mine-Temptations etc etc.

Thanks BabyboyandM ,your uploaded tracks pretty good.

It certainly varies from person to person.I will still venture out and discover.

I went to an ordinary music event last Saturday(disco stuff) and got bored.

There does seem a difference of how long you have been on the scene as to how you rate the music.

Coming back to my initial question of non vinyl,I am not advocating you have one or the other at a venue but whether they can be side to side and possibly the CD,MP3 promoting the vinyl.

It certainly is easier to get CD ,MP3 than vinyl and cheaper.

PS if I get my list uploaded perhaps somebody can tell me the predominant category my taste lies.

Again thankyou for your replies.

 

 

[Guest]

Hi Graham, take a listen to all 10 of the tracks I linked in the "Tomorrow's Promise" thread in the forum. They are a mixture of uptempo tracks and ballads from 1973 to 1975. They should be a good test for your preferred styles. Did you realise it's possible to download from youtube? 

 

[grahame c]

No I did not.

[Mark S]

Here you go Grahame propper Northern enjoy

 

[grahame c]

Martin S,The 9th Track was pretty good,the others a bit slow for me,cheers

Mark S,Not bad and a bit more to my liking,cheers.

I will look into the youtube downloading,Ta.

 

[Mark S]

The soul scene is more complex than Brexit not just musically , politically we have been having the same arguements for the last 40 odd years and still not resolved them

All good fun though

[Guest]

I'm glad I saw this thread as I had forgotten how good this midtempo funk cut is. Is it the same Rudy Love?

 

Edited December 7, 2018 by Guest

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Mark S said:

The soul scene is more complex than Brexit not just musically , politically we have been having the same arguements for the last 40 odd years and still not resolved them  All good fun though

The soul scene, complex? I think this offering should dispell that theory. Otis in fine voice:

 

[Guest]

Re the above wonderful Otis track, a google street search reassuringly shows there still being a recording studio at that address at the time the images were taken. Any members been there? 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/5840+2nd+Ave,+Detroit,+MI+48202,+USA/@42.3625196,-83.0735649,114a,35y,81.16h,45.01t/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8824d29896901d4f:0xe89e2a8710ca1a29!8m2!3d42.3623379!4d-83.0722417

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/5840+2nd+Ave,+Detroit,+MI+48202,+USA/@42.3621711,-83.0727008,3a,87y,69.85h,100.09t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8SzjQt_FEfB8JZVA74VdOQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x8824d29896901d4f:0xe89e2a8710ca1a29!8m2!3d42.3623379!4d-83.0722417

Edited December 7, 2018 by Guest

[Mark S]

8 hours ago, Martin S said:

The soul scene, complex? I think this offering should dispell that theory. Otis in fine voice:

 

Thats it you have lit the blue touch paper now 

 

[Guest]

It's fair to say it's one of Otis's least well known tunes but with such a wonderful melody, if spun by the right DJ's I feel it could well regenerate an outbreak of body popping in hoods such as Blackburn, Grimsby, and Middlesbrough. 

[Timillustrator]

17 hours ago, grahame c said:

Hi All,Thankyou for your replies and input.

From the music perspective I do agree with a lot of your comments,it is early days and thereis a lot of stuff I have not heard yet,wether it be classic,modern,rare etc andi am not sure what falls into each category.

 I was going to put a copy of my list in this post from a scan to my laptop,buggered if I could do it,so gave up.Open to help there.

I do like the more up tempo,faster beat stuff generally,

  Sidney Barnes-Standing on solid ground(Great)

Moses Smith-Girl across the street-makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

Cause your mine-Temptations etc etc.

Thanks BabyboyandM ,your uploaded tracks pretty good.

It certainly varies from person to person.I will still venture out and discover.

I went to an ordinary music event last Saturday(disco stuff) and got bored.

There does seem a difference of how long you have been on the scene as to how you rate the music.

Coming back to my initial question of non vinyl,I am not advocating you have one or the other at a venue but whether they can be side to side and possibly the CD,MP3 promoting the vinyl.

It certainly is easier to get CD ,MP3 than vinyl and cheaper.

PS if I get my list uploaded perhaps somebody can tell me the predominant category my taste lies.

Again thankyou for your replies.

 

 

It would be interesting to see your list, I like to see other people's perspectives on things. If you could save it to your computer somewhere as a PDF or JPG you should just be able to drag it into a post as you type below. 

[grahame c]

Hi,Have been trying to load my lists but its not working,bloody computers,any techies out there.

Got to go out now,will try again,watch this space.

[Preston Soulie]

Hi Graham, 

And a big welcome to the soul scene. New sounds are the life blood of the whole scene without them collectors would have a limited amount of records to squirrel away and the DJs would all be playing the same stuff and we would all be bored and the soul events would be no more ! Just think of your favourite record and realize that somone had to find it and give it it's first play somewhere. I'm an old twisted wheeler getting near my 70s now and ive been DJ ing and collecting for over 50 years, and I'm still at it. My collection is well over 2000 and counting. Hope my son's get a good deal on them when I'm gone. 

Keep going to as many soul clubs as you can and get to grips with the new stuff you haven't heard before and dance to it. You will find your liking for " the sound " will only get more intense.  If you find yourself near Leyland on a Friday night give the driving beat soul club a try, we play loads of first time plays to keep the soul events fresh.

Have a good one,

Paul. 

[Geeselad]

22 hours ago, Martin S said:

Not being a collector of Northern myself, BUT importantly being able to recognise what I perceive to be a good song when I hear it, out of curiosity I had a listen to The Younghearts. It sounds damned good to me, so what was the complaint about it in this instance? 

Must be great hearing a track like that for the first time, but for most of us it's absolutely hammered to the point that the nails are coming out the other side. I most certainly not what you'd travel a distance to hear.

Seriously I would I thought it's a 'most likely heard" down your grab a gran or grandad with trilby an Fred perry night. Really don't mean to sound arrogant but I'm surprised anyone who's found this site hasn't heard it, esp if from the UK. 

[Guest]

Not being a collector of Northern or having attended any such events as I prefer mid 70's onwards, I have simply never previously been exposed to that track and the style is not a sound I would go hunting for. I fully understand what you mean though, it would be like me going out to an event only to be subjected to what I believe to be the most overplayed track in the south, Roy Ayers Running Away, which I might do upon hearing it.

In the 90's another track that was hammered to oblivion down here was New Jersey Connection Love Don't Come Easy. I got tired of it, but haven't been going out for some years now and when I played it at home two weeks ago not having heard it for potentially an entire decade it sounded phenomenal.

Edited December 7, 2018 by Guest

[Geeselad]

4 hours ago, Martin S said:

Not being a collector of Northern or having attended any such events as I prefer mid 70's onwards, I have simply never previously been exposed to that track and the style is not a sound I would go hunting for. I fully understand what you mean though, it would be like me going out to an event only to be subjected to what I believe to be the most overplayed track in the south, Roy Ayers Running Away, which I might do upon hearing it.

In the 90's another track that was hammered to oblivion down here was New Jersey Connection Love Don't Come Easy. I got tired of it, but haven't been going out for some years now and when I played it at home two weeks ago not having heard it for potentially an entire decade it sounded phenomenal.

OK fair point, I understand your perspective, hope you get mine. I apologise for any offence but I think that's how anyone with Northern nounce would se it. Atb. I geese. 

[Geeselad]

New Jersey and connection is brilliant and perhaps, ironically, ripe for upfront northern dance floors. 

Edited December 8, 2018 by geeselad

[Guest]

7 hours ago, geeselad said:

I apologise for any offence but I think that's how anyone with Northern nounce would se it. Atb. I geese. 

Don't worry, I wasn't offended at all. The scenario prompted me to think of tracks that infuriated me (although ultimately the DJ's playing them were the ones to blame), on the same basis, in particular during the 90's when most of the following were being sampled as well as played to death. It was just about possible to have heard all the following offences committed at one function in the London & South East area:

Mary Jane Girls All fking night long (The track is so toilet I cannot understand why anyone would even want to play it) 

Roy Ayers Running away, but not quickly enough

Jackson Sisters I believe in miracles, of which one would be never hearing this again on a night out

Maceo Across the tracks, ditto and I might have to lay on some if I'm subjected to this yet again

Gwen McCrae All this love, Funky sensation, and Keep the fire burning

Jocelyn Brown Somebody elses guy.

Despite some of them being great tracks, I'm feeling angry just looking at them so I fully understand your point now!

Edited December 8, 2018 by Guest

[grahame c]

Well I have just listened to the above tracks and even more confused as to my perception of Northern soul/soul music,

Love bandit and Does your mama know I would not class as NS/S,they are certainly more funkish and not for me at the moment,

Suffering Wrath I quite like that and to me still has the thing to make me listen to it.

Martin S made a interesting point on hearing some track he had fell out of love with,forgot about it for years and got reintroduced to it  and re-found it which can happen to a lot of us and that is the same as a new follower finding for the first time the overplayed classics that the long time followers have fell out of love with.

PS still trying to load my lists???

 

 

[Guest BabyBoyAndMyLass]

Grahame, the titles Martin posted are somewhat obscure...

Here's a selection of huge Northern Soul oldies, all Top 500 sounds, see what you think of these!

 

Finally here's one of my videos showing the kind of atmosphere to expect at a top drawer Northern event, Djs are Mr Dean Carr and the Late Mr Lee Vowles, the tracks are Gerri Grainger 'I go to pieces' and Ray Pollard 'The Drifter'. 

 

Edited December 8, 2018 by BabyBoyAndMyLass
Added an addition and changed one.

[grahame c]

That's more like it,liked all those and have a couple in my list.

[Guest BabyBoyAndMyLass]

13 minutes ago, grahame c said:

That's more like it,liked all those and have a couple in my list.

Look again, I was in the process of editing that post when you replied!

I'll bang up some quality from the rare/underplayed scene in the thread when I've got time later on, glad you liked those, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone on the scene that didn't like that selection, some might be bored of hearing them, but they are all much loved if people are honest!

Have a look at my first forum thread here, some class here, Mirwood label related, as I said fantastic label to look into! 

 

[grahame c]

Very good,looks as if it had a great atmosphere,

Was it at St Ives Cambridge.

[Guest BabyBoyAndMyLass]

2 minutes ago, grahame c said:

Very good,looks as if it had a great atmosphere,

Was it at St Ives Cambridge.

St Ives Cornwall, one of the fastest sell-out weekend gigs in the country, July 2019 close to sold out already!