Northern Soul At The BBC Proms 2023

[Mike]

A quick info grab and pass.....

The 2023 BBC Proms will run from Friday 14 July 

Keep the Faith: Northern Soul – The Proms opening weekend features a stomping celebration of the underground British club phenomenon of the 1960s and 1970s that took English towns across the industrial North and Midlands by storm: Northern Soul (15 July).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/proms-2023

New musical genres are featured at the Proms for the first time. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Wigan Casino, which helped make Northern Soul nights in the north of England a global phenomenon, Keep the Faith: Northern Soul, in partnership with BBC Radio 6 Music, marries the underground British club culture of the 1960s and 1970s with the symphonic edge of the BBC Concert Orchestra, under Edwin Outwater.

https://journalofmusic.com/listing/19-04-23/bbc-proms-2023

[Smartzie]

Imagine all the northern instrumentals done live in the RAH. ❤ Gotta have a talcy dancefloor out front...welcome to all.

[Amsterdam Russ]

I anticipate orchestral versions of Do I love you, Tainted love and The snake. Each is recognised by the mainstream public, and familiarity is everything.

Other Top 500 choices that lend themselves to orchestration for this and are known to some degree by the public: Time will pass you by, and Gone with the wind.

Perhaps they'll even throw in a Motown medley of greatest hits.

 

 

Edited April 20, 2023 by Amsterdam Russ
Spelin

[Timbob]

Be nice if they did a version of the bari track, take the roof off the Albert hall

[Imperial C]

The musicians will have a ball. Afternoon of the Rhino, full orchestra, get in. 

[Agentsmith]

Absolutely have to agree with the suggestion of " Afternoon On The Rhino ". Fact is, Mike Post lead an orchestra on it anway, so an interprtation here should and would be able to replicate it to perfection....and amplified in that cavernous amphitheatre.....wow!, that would be very special......off hand, there arent too many instrumentals that lend theirselves easily to this feature...Double cooking, with its string section....Motown would be more obvious a choice to look at, but would that negate the Northern soul subject matter?

Edited April 21, 2023 by Agentsmith

[Agentsmith]

INFACT.....having just played it, at home, the exhileration comes flooding back, this structured orchestrations dynamic is breathtaking. In 73 it was hairs on the back of the neck stuff....and still is....the greatest by asskciation, Northern Soul instrumental of ALL time?, thats always been a pretty complex argument...but tell me this dosnt rank in the top 5, if not TOP.....it has EVERYTHING required to drive a dancefloor....it did 50 years ago, and still does now....and those musicians would probably relish getting their teeth into this.

[Happy Feet]

If they follow  what was played early days before the commercial side of things at the Casino , be nice to hear "Exus Trek" or " Breakaway " even "You Didn't Say A Word " but some how I doubt it . 

Maybe we should contact the director with a listeners top 10 requests .

Edited April 21, 2023 by Happy Feet

[Imperial C]

Can't resist this, I Hear a Wigan Symphony coming on, Al De Lory Right On 

[Neil Austin]

You could even add Carmel strings and 

A little festival time ️

[Soulandy]

No mention of DILY or AOTR but looks worthy of a watch/listen

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/eq2z3d

[Amsterdam Russ]

I see from the event page info that where we initially thought the programme would consist of just orchestrated instrumentals, there will in fact be singers. They are:

Vulu Malinga, Brendan Reilly, Nick Shirm, Darrell Smith, Frida Mariama Touray

That's two black female singers and three white males. Can't say I've heard of any of them. As per the link above, songs will include You're gonna make me love you, Open the door to your heart, It really hurts me girl, Hold back the night (?), Time will pass you by, and Just like the weather.

[Rick Scott]

50 minutes ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

I see from the event page info that where we initially thought the programme would consist of just orchestrated instrumentals, there will in fact be singers. They are:

Vulu Malinga, Brendan Reilly, Nick Shirm, Darrell Smith, Frida Mariama Touray

That's two black female singers and three white males. Can't say I've heard of any of them. As per the link above, songs will include You're gonna make me love you, Open the door to your heart, It really hurts me girl, Hold back the night (?), Time will pass you by, and Just like the weather.

 

[Rick Scott]

3 minutes ago, Rick Scott said:

Hold back the night (?)

Big, Big Cleethorpes Spin from 1976 from The Trammps Zing Album (also spun at numerous other events like Blackpool Mecca etc) 

[Wiggyflat]

Phil Coulter A Good Thing Going 

[Stephen Houghton]

Bring it on luv it 

[Greedy]

I'm being open minded.. it could go one of two ways.   Either brilliant if the musicians put their SOUL into it or it could be a total flop. Which I hope it isn't as I've always liked instrumentals... and hope to hear some favourite ones

 

Edited July 8, 2023 by Greedy Mick

[Torch56]

The Ric-tic instrumentals would be an obvious choice. Shades Down or Let's Have A Love-In, maybe.

Impact's Crying Over You and Nothing But Love are another two that would hold my attention.

[Roburt]

We could do with them trying to play "Fife Piper" and "Two In The Morning".

Don't think they'll attempt to do "Scratchy".

[Happy Feet]

Reading through the lines could there possibly be a few dancers thrown in ? or just a back drop (see what I did there ) on the big screen behind the orchestra . 

[Neil Austin]

Esperanto, interplay and the flasher 

or is that the stage lighting

[Magpie69]

Spoke to Stuart Maconie (who is curating the prom) a few years back and put him on the spot about his favourite NS tracks. He quoted Rita and the Tiaras (GWTWIML) and “the vocal version of Exus Trek”, i.e. Luther Ingram’s “If it’s all the same…..”, so maybe they will feature.

[Amsterdam Russ]

As I mentioned a few posts ago, there are going to be five singers. There might be a couple of instrumentals, but anticipate most will be sung.

[Seano]

4 hours ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

As I mentioned a few posts ago, there are going to be five singers. There might be a couple of instrumentals, but anticipate most will be sung.

 

On 07/07/2023 at 11:50, Amsterdam Russ said:

I see from the event page info that where we initially thought the programme would consist of just orchestrated instrumentals, there will in fact be singers. They are:

Vulu Malinga, Brendan Reilly, Nick Shirm, Darrell Smith, Frida Mariama Touray

That's two black female singers and three white males. Can't say I've heard of any of them. As per the link above, songs will include You're gonna make me love you, Open the door to your heart, It really hurts me girl, Hold back the night (?), Time will pass you by, and Just like the weather.

I think @Amsterdam Russ has the definitive answer on this, see above!

 

[Happy Feet]

8 minutes ago, Seano said:

 

I think @Amsterdam Russ has the definitive answer on this, see above!

 

Possibly but Northern Soul was never meant to be a spectator sport , so will be very surprised if no dancers are included 

[Amsterdam Russ]

Oh, please, no dancers! They’ll only be portrayed in baggy trousers, vests and circle skirts - exactly like the float on the Queen’s Jubilee. We can all do without that! Good interpretations of classics, and a crowd that dances in whatever way they like as they feel the music - that’ll be plenty.

[Guest]

When is this potential debacle occurring?  

[Happy Feet]

On 07/07/2023 at 09:05, Soulandy said:

No mention of DILY or AOTR but looks worthy of a watch/listen

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/eq2z3d

Friday 20.00 hrs 

[Happy Feet]

To be honest I think  Stuart is on our side , he went to the Casino , he has always tried I think to promote N.S. in the right way , remember those live alnighters on the BBC he presented, and he still stands in for Craig Charles when he's busy on 6 music , if the dancers are the best of now , young energetic and followers of the music not payed actors , in costume, then hopefully it all goes well , 

There is plenty of footage documented from years gone by to show on a big screen , not necessarily focusing on the dance floor , so there's hope

 

[HRPufnstuf]

Visiting from Dublin . . . Anything going on afterwards?

[Twoshoes]

I've checked out the singers on youtube, as you'd expect they are all decent singers.I'll let you judge for yourselves if you check them out. Only one for me doesn't have a particularly soulful voice, pick of the bunch going off the limited posts on the tube would be Vulu Malinga, Frida Touray has a lovely voice but the clips make it hard to judge what she'd make of a Northern song. Pick of the male singers for me would be Brendan Reilly.

[Rick Scott]

When Aired on the 15th July i will watch it and form my own opinion of the Show like most people will.

We have all been there befor with these sorts of shows , documentries etc. so why should this one be any

different, we will just have to wait and see, if the Scene subject is treated with the respect it deserves we may all be in for a big surprise and it may come out smelling of roses, i really do hope so.    

Edited July 10, 2023 by Rick Scott
date correction

[Solidsoul]

I have never liked any plagiarism/remakes of any great, precious Northern Soul classics!

I say, play the proper records or leave them alone!!

 

Edited July 14, 2023 by Solidsoul

[Roburt]

On 08/07/2023 at 21:00, Amsterdam Russ said:

Oh, please, no dancers! They’ll only be portrayed in baggy trousers, vests and circle skirts - exactly like the float on the Queen’s Jubilee. We can all do without that! Good interpretations of classics, and a crowd that dances in whatever way they like as they feel the music - that’ll be plenty.

The 'public' view of NS dancers is indeed as quoted (baggy pants, vests, etc). . . . . With help, I took a bunch of Brits on a Soul Trip to Vegas in early 1998. While there, Nancy Yahiro organised a nite in Long Beach with Brenda Holloway & a SanFran soul band as the live entertainment. Guys on the trip acted as DJ's but we also all danced. Lots of local mods / soulsters turned out too (Nancy's crowd & those that knew them). When we Brits took to the dance floor, we weren't in baggys & vests or doing backdrops ... the locals all accused us of being imposters and not real UK NS fans.

See photo taken during the trip ... this was the day we took over the Vegas Motown Cafe (located in NY, NY Casino) and we were filmed by an LA tv stn news team.

Edited July 10, 2023 by Roburt

[Drew3]

Is this an iPlayer view as I can't find anything for the Proms on Saturday 15th July on my TV planner?!!!!

Regards.

Drew.

[Amsterdam Russ]

16 minutes ago, Drew3 said:

Is this an iPlayer view as I can't find anything for the Proms on Saturday 15th July on my TV planner?!!!!

Regards.

Drew.

Here's a link to the broadcast scheduling. However... at the moment the link to the northern soul prom on Saturday is not working. Should be worth checking back later.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/Nv86dGXjPQr1GQxQTfgWYS

According to the Royal Albert Hall...

Quote

Every Prom at the Royal Albert Hall will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and for the first time, the majority of concerts will be available on BBC Sounds for 12 months. BBC television and BBC iPlayer will broadcast 24 programmes.

But that doesn't say if Saturday is being broadcast on telly or not!

https://www.royalalberthall.com/about-the-hall/news/2023/april/programme-announced-for-bbc-proms-2023/

<Added> Just checked the Saturday iPlayer schedules for BBC 1, 2, 3 & 4 and there are no proms that I can see. Will have to wait for that broken link to be fixed!

 

 

 

 

Edited July 10, 2023 by Amsterdam Russ
More info

[Drew3]

Thank you Russ.

Regards.

Drew.

[Rick Scott]

All very confusing regarding the TV viewing Plans for Northern Soul at the BBC Proms 2023 as i too checked the TV Schedules and found Nothing so not at all sure what is going on

[Maxwell]

8 minutes ago, Rick Scott said:

All very confusing regarding the TV viewing Plans for Northern Soul at the BBC Proms 2023 as i too checked the TV Schedules and found Nothing so not at all sure what is going on

Have a feeling it will be on the iplayer.

[Maxwell]

6 minutes ago, Maxwell said:

Have a feeling it will be on the iplayer.

And just checked on the BBC site, the first night, Friday, is on with the proms on TV. And the northern soul prom on the Saturday also says proms on TV.

[Staceys Dad]

On 08/07/2023 at 21:27, Happy Feet said:

Friday 20.00 hrs 

thought it was saturday 

[Happy Feet]

1 hour ago, Staceys Dad said:

thought it was saturday 

Yes you are right , it's the start of the proms season starting on Friday oops 

[Roburt]

On the BBC website ... Saturday is Prom night 2 ... 

Edited July 10, 2023 by Roburt

[Frankie Crocker]

I booked up for the Albert Hall months ago. I’ll be going with an open mind and shall report back later. Normally, I ignore classical music and boycott the Proms but I thought it sensible to support the event. Someone has evidently attempted to diversify affairs and tap into the rich vein of Northern Soul - it’ll be interesting to see if the orchestra can match the quality of the original recordings...we’ll see...

[Neil Austin]

Please share your royal Albert hall 

experience, can’t wait for the feedback

hope it’s good 

 

[Dobie5]

How about Libra - Apollo 11 ( covered as Mystic Moods - One Way Out Of This World ) by Russ Winstanley 77/78, I've always liked it but never heard it play anywhere since.

 

[Happy Feet]

 

I think this confirms Radio 3, so far nothing on the TV programming yet, but all the other televised Proms have been confirmed , but when I literally just checked again , across the banner heading a pop up came up " This programme will be available shortly after broadcast , 

Edited July 11, 2023 by Happy Feet

[Happy Feet]

Not the best photographer in the world but here it is .

[Happy Feet]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001nnsq

I think this is it ,

It may say page can't be found ,

Click on sounds , scroll to BBC radio 3 ,

Then scroll to the proms 2023 

Then click Sat.15th 

It worked thanks Mike

If you click on " show more " it gives the list of tunes to be featured. 

Edited July 11, 2023 by Happy Feet

[Seano]

Not sure how many people were in the MPVs ();