This is Low Rider Soul

[Frankie Crocker]

On 05/01/2025 at 15:57, Dylan said:

Even after Stafford the scene continued to evolve.  Labels like tuska, the more gritty funky southern soul etc that maybe didn’t break through previously.

 

the whole explosion of low rider sounds which was probably down to CD swaps and the use of the internet.

Fully agree on the internet having a huge impact.

‘Low rider sounds’… Manship used this term a year or two ago…I thought it referred to weak B sides that wouldn’t be acceptable at a public venue, but I’m still none the wiser.

[davidwapples]

9 hours ago, Frankie Crocker said:

‘Low rider sounds’… Manship used this term a year or two ago…I thought it referred to weak B sides that wouldn’t be acceptable at a public venue, but I’m still none the wiser.

Low rider refers to.the modified car scene in South America where they alter the suspension so the car goes lower.

The music is often slower or the b sides of songs known on northern scene

There are a few documentaries on YouTube 

[Mike]

35 minutes ago, davidwapples said:

Low rider refers to.the modified car scene in South America where they alter the suspension so the car goes lower.

The music is often slower or the b sides of songs known on northern scene

There are a few documentaries on YouTube 

think ya may be a few miles off there

a quick non soul source catch up  if you need it could be

ace release notes...for 'this is low rider soul'

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/this-is-lowrider-soul

or the various topics on here over the years

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/search/?q="low rider"&quick=1&updated_after=any&sortby=relevancy

[davidwapples]

Ah ok

I just went by the YouTube videos that said the lowrider cars were big scene in South America

 

Sorry but thanks for clearing it up

[Wheelsville1]

4 minutes ago, davidwapples said:

Ah ok

I just went by the YouTube videos that said the lowrider cars were big scene in South America

 

Sorry but thanks for clearing it up

There is also a big Low Rider scene in Los Angeles.

[Mike]

6 minutes ago, Wheelsville1 said:

There is also a big Low Rider scene in Los Angeles.

as said here...

4 hours ago, Mike said:

think ya may be a few miles off there

a quick non soul source catch up  if you need it could be

ace release notes...for 'this is low rider soul'

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/this-is-lowrider-soul

or the various topics on here over the years

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/search/?q="low rider"&quick=1&updated_after=any&sortby=relevancy

 

[Mike]

ok have split the 'low rider' postsfrom the most recent jm auction topic

 

 

[Mike]

here are

 

[Dylan]

22 hours ago, Frankie Crocker said:

‘Low rider sounds’… Manship used this term a year or two ago…I thought it referred to weak B sides that wouldn’t be acceptable at a public venue, but I’m still none the wiser.

Not sure I’d refer to them as weak.  For many they are as good or better than the dancers.

some fantastic soul music some are mega rare and highly collectable.  I’m a bit surprised you haven’t had more exposure at least to the term if not the music ?

 

 

[Johndelve]

25 minutes ago, Dylan said:

Not sure I’d refer to them as weak.  For many they are as good or better than the dancers.

some fantastic soul music some are mega rare and highly collectable.  I’m a bit surprised you haven’t had more exposure at least to the term if not the music ?

 

 

Agreed. Not remotely 'weak'. Many fantastic records, and nothing to do with 'b' sides. The term "Low Rider" to describe this type of music/scene has also been in usage for well over twenty years. It's not a new terminology.

[Happy Feet]

32 minutes ago, Johndelve said:

Agreed. Not remotely 'weak'. Many fantastic records, and nothing to do with 'b' sides. The term "Low Rider" to describe this type of music/scene has also been in usage for well over twenty years. It's not a new terminology.

It's surely all about musical taste & mood , not remotely weak & most would probably have been the A- side when first released , age & maturity of the listener may also play apart too . The Cods , I'm A good Guy great dancer probably played 1st at The Twisted Wheel , nowadays I can quite happily play "Pretty Baby ", lots of records of the same era , the slower side never got a look in and now becoming much harder to own , the strange world of Northern Soul eh 

 

 

[Wheelsville1]

Listen to Sonny Parker -What can i do,this is very sought after on the low rider scene and is far from being weak.

[Mal C]

38 minutes ago, Wheelsville1 said:

Listen to Sonny Parker -What can i do,this is very sought after on the low rider scene and is far from being weak.

Sonny Parker, Soul's opposite to Morrisey! just love his voice, and that warble... dunno what they pay for it now, cost me £300 of Pat Brady in maybe 2003/4. 'Think What can I do' is the better side I think,  Mr Romance is a ok, bit planative, but yery good record.

Thing I have noticed with 'Low rider' as a genre, as it's been uncovered and introduced to us here in the UK, or Northern fans, is they had a sound right that they collected, with deffo Mex influence in some of it, but that sound now, seems to be every slowie of a certain tempo!  I'm sure they over there like those records, but Ive heard some tracks that I just though, nahhh

Is this a Low rider track? Some might just go yeah and if they were selling it, pop Lowrider classic after the grade and price, fair enough...

Am I saying not all slowies are not 'Low rider'? I'm sure loads are, but its not exclusive is it...

 

[Wheelsville1]

8 minutes ago, Mal C said:

Sonny Parker, Soul's opposite to Morrisey! just love his voice, and that warble... dunno what they pay for it now, cost me £300 of Pat Brady in maybe 2003/4. 'Think What can I do' is the better side I think,  Mr Romance is a ok, bit planative, but yery good record.

Thing I have noticed with 'Low rider' as a genre, as it's been uncovered and introduced to us here in the UK, or Northern fans, is they had sound right that they collected, with deffo mex influence in some of it, but that sound seems to be every slowie of a certain tempo, I'm sure they over there like those records, but Ive heard some tracks that I just though, nahhh

Is this a Low rider track? seems some might just go yeah and if they were selling it, pop Lowrider classic after the grade and price.

Am I saying not all slowies are 'Low rider'? but Im sure loads that are touted as, havent been...

 

All the copies of Sonny Parker have slowley dried up,mint or mint - is around £900.

[Dylan]

23 hours ago, Mal C said:

Sonny Parker, Soul's opposite to Morrisey! just love his voice, and that warble... dunno what they pay for it now, cost me £300 of Pat Brady in maybe 2003/4. 'Think What can I do' is the better side I think,  Mr Romance is a ok, bit planative, but yery good record.

Thing I have noticed with 'Low rider' as a genre, as it's been uncovered and introduced to us here in the UK, or Northern fans, is they had a sound right that they collected, with deffo Mex influence in some of it, but that sound now, seems to be every slowie of a certain tempo!  I'm sure they over there like those records, but Ive heard some tracks that I just though, nahhh

Is this a Low rider track? Some might just go yeah and if they were selling it, pop Lowrider classic after the grade and price, fair enough...

Am I saying not all slowies are not 'Low rider'? I'm sure loads are, but its not exclusive is it...

 

I guess it’s a bit like northern in that respect.  Tracks dismissed as not right for the northern scene have been accepted in later years as the sound and what’s acceptable evolves.

 

so todays slowie could end up being tomorrows low rider.  

[Tlscapital]

On 15/01/2025 at 19:45, Wheelsville1 said:

Listen to Sonny Parker -What can i do,this is very sought after on the low rider scene and is far from being weak.

 

Not to break anyone's enthusiasm but ask anybody with a 'musical' ear and they'll tell you otherwise. Now it's totally fine to dig it no matter what. But to state that it's far from being weak is an 'overkill' far from what it actually is.

Still it has its "charm" but Sonny Parker's singing is really weak on both sides IMO. I first tried to keep it for the 'what can I do' side as 'Mr romance' is just too messy for me. But playback after playback it didn't stood my 'pass' test.

This is just another 'vanity' record from a random (non singer) dude. There are finer 'vanity' records out there. A record that beyond the 'rare' factor and its 'charm' wouldn't do much otherwise I really believe. On both scenes.

[Happy Feet]

Would this fall into the category of Lowrider, cheap as chips or not , due to value and availability ? Love it .

 

[Tlscapital]

FWIW I believe a lot of these 'slowies' are with time falling more and more into the 'Low Rider' category. Where before not. Although some 'purists' might dispute that. At first it was likely mostly the very sad themes and 'dark' sounding tunes. Rarity was also somehow a factor as it is also a collector's scene and competition to find the 'IN' tunes of the moment or the elusive rarities is part of the game. But with time the need for new sounds presses and so the quest for new sounds forces them to lean on previously 'overlooked' sounds. Just like it was and still is with 'Northern Soul'.

[Benji]

Lowrider spectrum is much broader than just obscure sweet soul 45s from the 60s and 70s. The whole scene started in the 50s. And just like the Northern Scene, anything that would fit in is/was accepted, even if it wasn't Soul at all. And that would include tracks like like Santo & Johnny - Sleep walk.

[Happy Feet]

43 minutes ago, Benji said:

Lowrider spectrum is much broader than just obscure sweet soul 45s from the 60s and 70s. The whole scene started in the 50s. And just like the Northern Scene, anything that would fit in is/was accepted, even if it wasn't Soul at all. And that would include tracks like like Santo & Johnny - Sleep walk.

I think I'm slowly understanding the ethos , of the Lowrider spectrum , You could possibly squeeze in sounds like Ray Pollard, The Drifter , Jimmy Radcliffe, Long Ater Tonight Is All over , perhaps this is why these tunes are gaining in price and becoming harder to locate cheaply on original copies ? 

Edited 7 hours ago by Happy Feet

[Benji]

I'm still an absolute learner when it comes to Lowrider sounds. From what I understand not everything that is slow(er/ish) would fit into the Lowrider drawer. Many classic Northern Soul beat ballads don't. Others do. Which would explain the price increase for many 45s. Imagine not just one but two collectors scenes chasing the same tunes.

I'd start with checking out the countless Lowrider comp's these guys did over the years. Many of them are on Discogs. Check the tracklistings and I'm sure you'll get a better understanding.

[Chalky]

Just highlights really how many from the northern scene live in its own insular world and think nothing else matters. Other genres of soul and black music and tempos have been collectible since soul music began.