Nolan porter- if only I could be sure

[Geeselad]

Just wondered, when where and who played this track first. I can remember it being massive around the milleniun but don't recall it as a known tune in the eighties. 

Edited December 21, 2018 by geeselad

[Dwr]

It was well known as an “ace record” when it came out in 1972 - bought the UK release on Probe in 1973

[Geeselad]

1 hour ago, dwr said:

It was well known as an “ace record” when it came out in 1972 - bought the UK release on Probe in 1973

I'm sue it was known as a new release by avent soul collectors but did it get played at any major venue. Its not that common on probe is it? 

[Winsford Soul]

Sure it got played at early Keele nighters. People on here  more knowledgeable than me will put you right .

Steve 

[Jim Elliott]

Mid nineties at the Ritz in Manchester and Bretby dos...doubtless elsewhere as well....it got hammered though and as with so many records on the scene, familiarity breeds contempt

....overplayed but still a great record

[Angus]

As jim said early/mid 9ts-well known by collectors for years but revived by the much missed donacaster dj saus-i sold him his copy-around that time he was playing one of the best sets around-all the r&b stuff was coming through along with forgotten oldies and loads of other left field stuff-I wish some the dj's doing the rounds these days would do the same!

[Chalky]

I knew it in the 80s but it was cheap and probably suffered because of that. I've seen it in mentions from the 70s too.

[Kegsy]

People were buying the album for Keep on Keeping on and Oh Baby, at the time, I'm sure people believed it was the only way to get Oh Baby. I remember being quite surprised when I saw Oh Baby on a 45 for the first time. The Probe 45 of If Only...  came out quite a bit later than the album, and would have sold a lot more with Oh Baby on the flip, which had been played out quite a bit.

Edited December 22, 2018 by Kegsy

[Jim Elliott]

I seem to remember reading IOICBS was a pretty seller in the States when released...

[Johndelve]

3 minutes ago, Jim Elliott said:

I seem to remember reading IOICBS was a pretty seller in the States when released...

Yes, it reached #29 on the soul charts and #89 on the pop charts in the U.S. in early 1973

[Tim Richmond]

This guy only made the one album, amazes me that three tracks were picked up for dance floor action.His background seems to be in rock music, his sister was married to Frank Zappa. He was due to do a Q&A at Blackpool in June, allegedly to tell tales based on hanging out with Zappa and his cronies, fortunately he didn't turn up.......no loss as far as I was concerned!

 

Tim.

[Kegsy]

2 minutes ago, Tim Richmond said:

This guy only made the one album, amazes me that three tracks were picked up for dance floor action.His background seems to be in rock music, his sister was married to Frank Zappa. He was due to do a Q&A at Blackpool in June, allegedly to tell tales based on hanging out with Zappa and his cronies, fortunately he didn't turn up.......no loss as far as I was concerned!

 

Tim.

Sorry mate he did 2 albums, one on Lizard before the ABC one.

[Soulsides]

7 minutes ago, Tim Richmond said:

his sister was married to Frank Zappa. 

It's the other way around.

Nolan Porter is actually married to Frank Zappa's sister, Candy.

 

[Tim Richmond]

Shows how much I know!!

How are you Kegsy?

Tim

[Kegsy]

I'm good mate, your fine self ?.

[Tim Richmond]

Shows how much I know!!

How are you Kegsy?

Tim

[Tim Richmond]

Good, not bashing those dances floors as often, but still wasting money on records!

[RichardC]

Nolan was signed to ABC by Arlene Green (Garland Greens’s late wife - when she was running A&R there )

[Kegsy]

What always surprised me with the LP were the inclusion of Singer Man and and Grooving Out On Life, two originally reggae cuts .

[Guest BabyBoyAndMyLass]

3 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Sure it got played at early Keele nighters. People on here  more knowledgeable than me will put you right .

Steve 

One of my lass' favourites, she confirms what you're saying here Steve! I can't say I remember it but spent most of my time in the car park.

[Tomangoes]

I had the Lizard album. Did not rate most of the tracks.

'Sure' Certainly took off as part of the resurgence around millenia. 

Ed

[Winsford Soul]

15 minutes ago, BabyBoyAndMyLass said:

One of my lass' favourites, she confirms what you're saying here Steve! I can't say I remember it but spent most of my time in the car park.

Thanks mate. Thought it was there that I heard it first.  When Neil and Jackie Clowes used to run it. Great times. Thought it could have been Tony,s at first but decided on Keele.

Steve 

[Geeselad]

The reason I asked, it was requested at a local soul night I did last week and it's a massive record at these kind of do's to this day, as our a few others that weren't massive at the big three venues. Unfortunately 'tribute' falls into that category too.

[Winsford Soul]

2 minutes ago, tomangoes said:

I had the Lizard album. Did not rate most of the tracks.

'Sure' Certainly took off as part of the resurgence around millenia. 

Ed

It was a possible play at late saint's ? But was definitely  massive  at early lowton civic  soul night's. I do remember it  earlier from Keele as a nighter tune before it went mainstream soul club nights 

Steve 

[Guest BabyBoyAndMyLass]

17 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Thanks mate. Thought it was there that I heard it first.  When Neil and Jackie Clowes used to run it. Great times. Thought it could have been Tony,s at first but decided on Keele.

Steve 

She says don't quote her on it being first play, she isn't saying that, just that it was a play there.

Dust off that old geetar propped up in the corner, main riff is A-F, then moves to C-D, strangely hypnotic relaxing riff to play!

This probably been posted before but...

Fantastic!

 

[Winsford Soul]

4 minutes ago, BabyBoyAndMyLass said:

She says don't quote her on it being first play, she isn't saying that, just that it was a play there.

Dust off that old geetar propped up in the corner, main riff is A-F, then moves to C-D, strangely hypnotic relaxing riff to play!

Never quoted a lady in my life, would get you in to much trouble  and I can do that without any help from anyone 

Steve 

[Guest BabyBoyAndMyLass]

Just now, Winsford Soul said:

Never quoted a lady in my life, would get you in to much trouble  and I can do that without any help from anyone 

Steve 

Can't believe that son...

Get away wid moider you!

[Chalky]

One I took at Radders 

 

[Modernsoulsucks]

Sounds like Three Dog Night to me.

Awful !

[Steviehay]

Ritz Manchester not sure if it was Levine or colin but 4 quid record set next to and enjoyed breakfast with him at prestatyn with my probe demo signed overplayed though 

[Tomangoes]

2 hours ago, modernsoulsucks said:

Sounds like Three Dog Night to me.

Awful !

It's purely for dancers imo, just like koko...

Love both for that reason.

Ed

[Martyn Pitt]

On 22/12/2018 at 14:44, Winsford Soul said:

Thanks mate. Thought it was there that I heard it first.  When Neil and Jackie Clowes used to run it. Great times. Thought it could have been Tony,s at first but decided on Keele.

Steve 

I played it at Tony's mid 90's Steve 95 or 96, about 5 people danced to it ... a few months later and it was packing the dance floors.

It wasn't as if it was an unknown at the time I played it, but there were a fair few on the scene at the time who didn't know it. But it did get hammered and I ended up giving my copy to somebody who wanted a copy to give his wife for a present.

Edited December 27, 2018 by martyn pitt
smelling eror

[Winsford Soul]

9 minutes ago, martyn pitt said:

I played it at Tony's mid 90's Steve 95 or 96, about 5 people danced to it ... a few months later and it was packing the dance floors.

I wasn't as if it was an unknown at the time I played it, but there were a fair few on the scene at the time who didn't know it. But it did get hammered and I ended up giving my copy to somebody who wanted a copy to give his wife for a present.

Thanks Martyn.  I thought I had heard it at Tony,s but wasn't too sure.  I knew someone older  and wiser than me would know.  

Steve 

[Geeselad]

On 24/12/2018 at 14:02, modernsoulsucks said:

Sounds like Three Dog Night to me.

Awful 

You didn't say that too me when you sold me a copy in aflex rod. If you you had a mint demo of 

'You don't want me no more"  for the same price, I was uming and ring over. I've had loads of chances to get Nolan since but Mr Lance has since shot out of my reach. I quite like Three Dog Night anyway.

Edited December 27, 2018 by geeselad

[Steve L]

For me this record sums up everything thats been wrong with the scene over the last 20 years, not a bad tune but overplayed in the extreme and still probably packing the floor to this day (although I don't know for sure as haven't frequented any venues that would play it for a long time)

Familiarity breeds contempt as they say...

[Jazz]

1 hour ago, Steve L said:

For me this record sums up everything thats been wrong with the scene over the last 20 years, not a bad tune but overplayed in the extreme and still probably packing the floor to this day (although I don't know for sure as haven't frequented any venues that would play it for a long time)

Familiarity breeds contempt as they say...

Played out at shirebook the other month (req) get your self over in the new year all the best jazz 

Edited December 27, 2018 by jazz

[Rick Scott]

Was played by myself at "Cleethorpes Pier All Niters" And "Winter Gardens" Too, As was "Oh Baby" So that was quite early so defo played '75 onwards, Soul bowl buy as a  New release Lp From '72, Keep on Keeping on played too off Lizard 45 which was Earlier ('71) although included on the "Nolan" LP.

[Mark S]

A dreadfull souless dirge fit for room 101 .

[Johnny Jones]

Was played a lot mid nineties when I was going to plenty of different venues. Never been a big fan then or now ,then again what do I know (I spun Pop Goes The Hammer - Lorne Greene at our last do lol) I had a couple of dancers. 

[Hooker1951]

On 24 December 2018 at 17:45, martyn pitt said:

I played it at Tony's mid 90's Steve 95 or 96, about 5 people danced to it ... a few months later and it was packing the dance floors.

It wasn't as if it was an unknown at the time I played it, but there were a fair few on the scene at the time who didn't know it. But it did get hammered and I ended up giving my copy to somebody who wanted a copy to give his wife for a present.

Yes I can remember Martyn playing it around that time, I had heard it before , , but not played out at a nighter as such,  but Martyn is correct after he played it at Tony,s  it gathered momentum and became a mimi cult dancer It was played that much it became annoying LoL, it always sounded to me like a catchy  pop tune with a little bit of soul, but a lot of people loved it and to them it's what mattered, it's funny it's not been used on TV adverts yet, but don't hold your breath.

Mick L

[Guest BabyBoyAndMyLass]

In more recent times it gained a lot of popularity and exposure for NFP after Paul Weller covered it on his Studio 150 album where he covered 'The Bottle' and 'Wishing on a star', seems obvious he would cover it the song itself is very much like Weller in style and composition.

[The Yank]

On 22/12/2018 at 07:55, Kegsy said:

What always surprised me with the LP were the inclusion of Singer Man and and Grooving Out On Life, two originally reggae cuts .

      Producer Gabriel Mekler had already done "Groovin' ... " with Frederick the II in 1971. He probably recycled the track or it 

    could even be the same song- the vocals are very similar. 

 

 

[Autumnstoned]

The guitar riff is pretty decent. Not easy to copy exactly as Paul Weller’s guitarist discovered. Apparently played by Lowell George from Little Feat on Nolan Porter’s original version.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 28, 2018 by autumnstoned

[Petebangor]

Awful record, in the same vein as Ace Spectrum - ‘Don’t Send Nobody’ and  Futures - ‘Party Time’ 

Weak wishy washy music. That was overplayed 

[Benji]

Alltime favourite of mine. Such a great tune. Haunting guitar riff and silk vocals. I love it. One of many non-traditional sounding records played in the 90s that became massive.

It was definitely played at Cleethorpes w/ender around 95-ish. I didn't attend but my wife did, she heard it played there.

I used to hammer it here in Munich in the late 90s, first off the ABC mono 45. Later on I played the LP stereo version which I think sounds much better.

Paul Weller's take is not a patch on the original. Good production, from a rather general point of view. But when compared to the original, no chance.

[Jazz]

Got a lot of plays at the hippshaker gigs Iow scooter rally 

[Tomangoes]

On 27/12/2018 at 13:22, RICK SCOTT said:

Was played by myself at "Cleethorpes Pier All Niters" And "Winter Gardens" Too, As was "Oh Baby" So that was quite early so defo played '75 onwards, Soul bowl buy as a  New release Lp From '72, Keep on Keeping on played too off Lizard 45 which was Earlier ('71) although included on the "Nolan" LP.

I wonder why koko was not on the Lizard LP?

Ed

[Frankie Crocker]

Rediscovered in the mid 90’s. One of the biggest spins by the late 90’s. Hammered to death in the Noughties - by now a poppy-soul sound featured everywhere, filling the floors up and down the country. Can’t believe it’s still being discussed, let alone played, at the end of the Teenies decade. Funny how a slightly different different record gathers a cult following. I think records by Terry Callier (Ordinary Joe) and Les Mc Cann (Sad Little Girl) did much to popularise mid-pace tunes such as If Only I Could Be Sure. That said, Nolan’s record is very common and a staple in every Wannabe DJ’s box which perhaps explains why it hasn’t gone away yet.

[Rick Scott]

2 hours ago, tomangoes said:

I wonder why koko was not on the Lizard LP?

Ed

Mmmmmm ,good point

[Tlscapital]

On 24/12/2018 at 15:02, modernsoulsucks said:

Sounds like Three Dog Night to me.

Awful !

Always did the same effect to me. Sounds like a rock group trying to reach the Pop crowd with some 'bluesy' touch sounding that; not soul ! Had them all in multiples (promos, UK's, French's..) since it was an easy pick-up (hit record) for the crate diggers and an easy seller. Never kept a copy.