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Have just watched Frank Popp on you tube,heard it recently at various clubs in north west,just like to know what any one else thinks should it be played at a northern night?

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If music dont move on ? heard the chat on that one loads but if it sounds right and people request it YES. I play several of frank popp's records and they fill the floor what more can you say

Good point mate when ever ive heard it the floor has always been full.

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Good point mate when ever ive heard it the floor has always been full.

See you played the Michael Proctor track what do you think of it,what an excellent record so soulful although he is one of the better vocalists on the house music scene.

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Frank Popp has brought out Hip Teens ,Love Is On Our Side (limited Ed 500 copies ) and also Leave Me Alone which all 3 get played and requested regularly at East Kirkby and are guaranteed to fill the floor, although some people would say these are not Northern I have seen some top Northern dancers putting some great moves in to these sounds.

Even if I didnt like them but was asked to play them and a records in my box i will play it for people, as it's not about what i like, it's about those that pay their money to come in and want to listen and dance to those sounds. I believe as a promoter it's not about the Dj's it's about the people who come to the venue and want to dance.

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I've just listened to the radio broadcast with Ian Lavine, and in my own opinion, Ian has once again failed miserably to capture the esscence of what is Northern Soul. I listened to his tracks, and was left cold. And as Toad stated, they do all sound the same. If you had heard any of the tracks without knowing their origin, you could easily identify Ian's production in the sound........

On the other hand.......I've just gone on you tube and played the Frank Popp tunes there..... Wow! Imediately my feet were tapping and the sound is pure northern. I realise that the gentleman is white, but who cares, he knows what 60's northern sounds like, and he can recreate it. I know I'll get slagged off by the purists, but northern is all about dancing. Frank Popp makes me wanna dance, Ian Lavine makes me cringe.

Phil.

Edited by quinvy
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Guest NASHEE

I would be interested to know why you think its not Northern.

I say it's not northern because...When I first started posting my type of tunes on here...I got loads of PM's saying 'this isn't northern' ...that isn't northern.....so now I just save them the bother of typing.

:wub: Linda

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I've just listened to the radio broadcast with Ian Lavine, and in my own opinion, Ian has once again failed miserably to capture the esscence of what is Northern Soul. I listened to his tracks, and was left cold. And as Toad stated, they do all sound the same. If you had heard any of the tracks without knowing their origin, you could easily identify Ian's production in the sound........

On the other hand.......I've just gone on you tube and played the Frank Popp tunes there..... Wow! Imediately my feet were tapping and the sound is pure northern. I realise that the gentleman is white, but who cares, he knows what 60's northern sounds like, and he can recreate it. I know I'll get slagged off by the purists, but northern is all about dancing. Frank Popp makes me wanna dance, Ian Lavine makes me cringe.

Phil.

Hi Paul

My sentiment exactly.

If its played at northern venues and it pacts the floor, as it does then it must be northern.

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HI EVERYONE

WELL IVE GOT A BIT OF FLACK REGARDING MY POST ON I L

BUT IT WAS ME ON JULY 22ND THREAD 134 WHO PUT THE LINK UP FOR LEVINES APPERANCE ON MARY FOX

JUST DONT EXPECT ME TO LIKE HIS STUFF AND YES IT DOES SOUND ALL THE SAME!

WERE AS THE DAPTONE LABEL SOUND REALLY AUTHENTIC ALTHOUGH 2000 PRODUCTIONS :wub:

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Guest Matt Male

Anywhere that plays Frank Popp records won't be getting my admission fee.

I'd rather sit at home and listen to the real deal than tailor mades.

I agree. I don't see the point of all these groups 'recreating' a 60s sound. I love 60s and 70s soul but i'd rather listen to that than some manufactured 21st century version. The same goes for Nicole Willis, that YouTube vid just left me thinking, '...and?' Frank Popp and Nicole Willis would be better served creating a new sound surely? I don't think any of these retro groups are moving the scene forward, as JT said on the Levine thread why would newcomers what to listen to 21st century '60s' when they have the real thing?

I'd rather listen to honest to goodness modern soul than 'pretend' 60s soul, and that's saying something. :wub:

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Anywhere that plays Frank Popp records won't be getting my admission fee.

I'd rather sit at home and listen to the real deal than tailor mades.

Here, here Joe.......bang on mate, there is more than enough of the real deal to go at and plenty of authentic sounding tunes from all era's to keep our toes tapping.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

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Here, here Joe.......bang on mate, there is more than enough of the real deal to go at and plenty of authentic sounding tunes from all era's to keep our toes tapping.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

WE ARE ALL GETTING OLDER, MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ASK AND DANCE TO FRANK POPP ARE YOUNGER THEY WILL BE THE ONES WHO HELP TO KEEP THE SCENE GOING. THERE HAVE BEEN FAR WORST RECORDS PLAYED OUT IN THE LATE 70S . I KNOW I DANCED TO THEM. MY FIST POST GO EASY ON ME.

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Guest chorleybloke

WE ARE ALL GETTING OLDER, MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ASK AND DANCE TO FRANK POPP ARE YOUNGER THEY WILL BE THE ONES WHO HELP TO KEEP THE SCENE GOING. THERE HAVE BEEN FAR WORST RECORDS PLAYED OUT IN THE LATE 70S . I KNOW I DANCED TO THEM. MY FIST POST GO EASY ON ME.

I'm just back from my monthly gig in Perth Australia and once again there were multiple requests for "Hip Teens", from both Twisted Wheel graduates & newcomers to the scene alike. The floor was rammed so it doesn't really matter what label you put on it, or what colour/age the bloke is. No doubt about one thing though - its a dancer.

Cheers

Pete

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I've just listened to the radio broadcast with Ian Lavine, and in my own opinion, Ian has once again failed miserably to capture the esscence of what is Northern Soul. I listened to his tracks, and was left cold. And as Toad stated, they do all sound the same. If you had heard any of the tracks without knowing their origin, you could easily identify Ian's production in the sound........

On the other hand.......I've just gone on you tube and played the Frank Popp tunes there..... Wow! Imediately my feet were tapping and the sound is pure northern. I realise that the gentleman is white, but who cares, he knows what 60's northern sounds like, and he can recreate it. I know I'll get slagged off by the purists, but northern is all about dancing. Frank Popp makes me wanna dance, Ian Lavine makes me cringe.

Phil.

Well said (typed lol) Phil.. :wub:

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My view:

Of course it's Northern!

Northern soul is a subculture and a dance scene and if a tune is played repeatedly it's a part of that scene.

If I like the song or not is not the question and even if I like some of Levine's new songs they are not Northern Soul until they have had plays on the scene.

Edited by Bjorn78
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Guest mel brat

The "I like it... but is it Northern?" can equally be applied to Soul music in general and is a question that may never be answered given the many developments of the music over the years. All we can hope for I think is to be as true to the original integrity of the scene as possible by always maintaining and promoting the soulful element. (This does NOT neccessarily mean sticking with one type of rhythm/production however!)

Obvious "pop-tunes-with-a-beat" are almost always treated with suspicion/derision by me depending how awful the vocals are (and some are TRULY awful!), but there's a lot in the "overall sound" that determines whether a record deserves to be afforded the "honorary Soul sound" tag! In Soul music I've found, the whole is always more than the sum of it's parts. That added, indefinable "something" that makes it so exciting.

If the vocalists sing with any sincerity, whether black or white, and the production values are "sympathetic to our expectations" (for want of a better phrase!) I'm usually prepared to give 'em the benefit of the doubt. That goes equally for Ian Levine's productions of course.

At the end of the day though Berry Gordy's motto "It's What's In The Grooves That Counts" still holds true today - even when you can't see any grooves!

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WE ARE ALL GETTING OLDER, MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ASK AND DANCE TO FRANK POPP ARE YOUNGER THEY WILL BE THE ONES WHO HELP TO KEEP THE SCENE GOING. THERE HAVE BEEN FAR WORST RECORDS PLAYED OUT IN THE LATE 70S . I KNOW I DANCED TO THEM. MY FIST POST GO EASY ON ME.

Hi Tim, firstly welcome to Soul Source, i'm sure you will enjoy the banter, sharing of knowledge, information and plenty of Soul on here, call me old school but I would rather enjoy the authentic groove's out of Detroit,Chicago,Philly etc. etc. whatever the decade rather than something for want of better words is a by design ''taylor made" sound and I'm not talking about contemporary modern/newly recorded Soul more the retro sounding records as with the Frank Popp, i'm sure these artists are very talented who try to make the sound now but it's not for me, one thing with an open forum like this and debate is for all people to have an opinion and for others to respect their opinion even if they do not alway's agree, there is going to be split opinion on this one i'm sure.

Yes there were poor records played in the late 70's infact there have been plenty of bad tunes played on the scene over the past four decades but I feel you find what you like and can often bypass the crap, i think it matters very little to the age of someone or to suggest that because they are younger that they are more likley to respond to a record made now recorded in a 60's dance style, would the same response not happen if they heard something like for example The Olympics - 'Secret Agent's', Little Hank - 'Mr Bang Bang Man' etc. for the first time? seems to me that 'retro' is pretty trendy in the music world right now and if it takes such music to turn people onto the real deal then fantastic, Amy Winehouse is a prime example of retro meets the year 2007 as 60's influences are all over her records, still music as with fashion seems to go full circle and influences and styles are copied, borrowed, stolen, etc, however music and the discovery of music is up to the individual but often fashion, outside influence and today's exciting mainstream club culture cater for most young people between the ages of 18 to 24/25 the age most of us were when we first got into Northern.

I just feel if I'm understanding your point here that it seems that the younger generation will only discover the real deal of the scene's music through Frank Popp etc. rather than the other way round which seems a little odd and almost hark's back to the likes of Elvis Presley, Bill Hayley etc. getting the credit as being the founders of Rock'n'Roll when the likes of Big Joe Turner, Ruth Brown, Big Mamma Thornton etc. infact were doing it several years before, I guess my point is more about authenticity of the music rather than the quality, merits and does this stuff have a place or should it be called or played as Northern Soul?, still as we all know there is sometimes a huge difference between a good Soul record and a Northern Record so i take your point on it's dance floor appeal, However if you are gonna get into a club culture then it's introduction should be via the real deal otherwise it's almost like a sub scene in my opinion, i also see the plus sides of the argument and of course if it brings in new blood to the scene then fantastic but again it's authentic roots have to be preserved, cherished, respected, understood and developed.

At the end of the day if younger people want to get involved and the only thing that will make them do that is if the music is up to scratch and appeals to them, if they feel it's not or feel it has to be re-invented or freshly made then the whole ethos and ideals of the Rare/Northern Soul scene will be lost and I'm sorry to have to say this but if this means the scene finishes with the people already involved with it the so be it.Again welcome to the world of Soul Souce and old farts like me who sit at home on a Saturday night pontificating when I should be out at a Soul Night or Allnighter..time to go and play a few tunes I think.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

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Guest rachel

WE ARE ALL GETTING OLDER, MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ASK AND DANCE TO FRANK POPP ARE YOUNGER THEY WILL BE THE ONES WHO HELP TO KEEP THE SCENE GOING. THERE HAVE BEEN FAR WORST RECORDS PLAYED OUT IN THE LATE 70S . I KNOW I DANCED TO THEM. MY FIST POST GO EASY ON ME.

Welcome aboard Tim, as a new member could you do us an intro in the Members Intros forum - https://www.soul-source.co.uk/index.php?showforum=44 Ta :wub:

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Guest MissM

Surprised to see Frank Popp has finally arrived on the island. He's been around in Germany for a few years and i must say i've always had a good time seeing him and band perform as well as putting on his records. Not quite sure if it is Northern or not though. Anyway, as long as he's putting out good records and not taking the piss put of good records, he does deserve some respect for his work. Think he really does know what he's doing and really loves the music. This should be kept in mind.

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Surprised to see Frank Popp has finally arrived on the island. He's been around in Germany for a few years and i must say i've always had a good time seeing him and band perform as well as putting on his records. Not quite sure if it is Northern or not though. Anyway, as long as he's putting out good records and not taking the piss put of good records, he does deserve some respect for his work. Think he really does know what he's doing and really loves the music. This should be kept in mind.

Hi MissM & welcome to the site :P

Always nice if new members fill out an introduction so it gives us an idea of who we are talking to.

Follow the link below.

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/index.php?showforum=44

Seems Frank Popp is having the desired effect regardless of what we think of him & his music.

2 new members on 1 thread.

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Guest MissM

Thanks for giving me the welcome, have already been a memeber some time ago but have been kicked out for beeing inactive (or for coming from germany ;-))

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Thanks for giving me the welcome, have already been a memeber some time ago but have been kicked out for beeing inactive (or for coming from germany ;-))

Germany?they aint kikced me out yet!! :P

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.............However if you are gonna get into a club culture then it's introduction should be via the real deal otherwise it's almost like a sub scene in my opinion, i also see the plus sides of the argument and of course if it brings in new blood to the scene then fantastic but again it's authentic roots have to be preserved, cherished, respected, understood and developed....................

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

WELCOME ABOARD TIM. Hope you can type faster than me or you're in for some late nights.

A finely considered and well written piece Mark!

If you lived a lot further south you might appreciate just how many scooterists enter the scene, not through the avenue which you and I took, but by being exposed to sounds such as Frank Popp (makes a change from the constant Edwin Starr!). Some of these guys will always want to hear instant dancers and not give a damn about history or pedigree. Some enter through this route and become fanatical and very knowledgeable collectors. It's not always just down to the age of the audience either, just sometimes a lack of exposure to the music.

For me, Frank Popp works and musically I like it. I have played it out and would again, though it would depend on the venue and the crowd.

I am still dismayed that some of the stuff heard in my youth is recognised by some as having been part of our scene, Polk Salad Annie being a prime example! Some of the 7T's crossover type stuff we used to leave to the kids at the YMCA disco while we went elsewhere to listen to something we deemed better. Truth is, there's always been stuff on the scene which I don't like and which, to me, doesn't belong. But like they keep telling me at work - diversity and tolerance is important, so plenty of room for the likes of Mr Popp I reckon.

Personally,I'm just glad I came into the scene via the Stax/Motown route in the early days.

Edited by KevinKent
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WELCOME ABOARD TIM. Hope you can type faster than me or you're in for some late nights.

A finely considered and well written piece Mark!

If you lived a lot further south you might appreciate just how many scooterists enter the scene, not through the avenue which you and I took, but by being exposed to sounds such as Frank Popps (makes a change from the constant Edwin Starr!). Some of these guys will always want to hear instant dancers and not give a damn about history or pedigree. Some enter through this route and become fanatical and very knowledgeable collectors. It's not always just down to the age of the audience either, just sometimes a lack of exposure to the music.

For me, Frank Popp works and musically I like it. I have played it out and would again, though it would depend on the venue and the crowd.

I am still dismayed that some of the stuff heard in my youth is recognised by some as having been part of our scene, Polk Salad Annie being a prime example! Some of the 7T's crossover type stuff we used to leave to the kids at the YMCA disco while we went elsewhere to listen to something we deemed better. Truth is, there's always been stuff on the scene which I don't like and which, to me, doesn't belong. But like they keep telling me at work - diversity and tolerance is important, so plenty of room for the likes of Mr Popp I reckon.

Personally,I'm just glad I came into the scene via the Stax/Motown route in the early days.

Kevin, I'm originally from the South, born in Lewisham and lived in Reading,Berkshire until 1987, so went through the whole Mod revival thing in 1979/80 although Northern Soul based so I undesrstand what you are saying and where you are coming from with your comments, many of the Mods of the day back then used to attend Soul nights I ran in that area and some got well into the Northern thing moving onto the Northern scene due to the introduction of classic club/Northern Soul, Motown, Stax , Atlantic etc. and stuck with it so I very much see the connection here....respect.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

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On the other hand.......I've just gone on you tube and played the Frank Popp tunes there..... Wow! Imediately my feet were tapping and the sound is pure northern. I realise that the gentleman is white, but who cares, he knows what 60's northern sounds like, and he can recreate it. I know I'll get slagged off by the purists, but northern is all about dancing. Frank Popp makes me wanna dance, Phil.

Top Tune loved it the first time I heard it....In the early 90's on The Club Scene there was a White Lable mixed by Steve Silk Hurley that everyone was Raving About called Baby Love, But when they found out it was Danni Minogue, quite a lot of people decided they didn't like it,

Now I've seen people react the same to Frank Popp, They love it until they realise it's Origin's....

Let The Music Play On....Job Nuck

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Guest Una Scot-Oz

I agree it's good to dance to, I think it's a great tune. But will it last the distance? I find with much of the new stuff, I get tired of listening to them quicker than the old classics. I can't explain it, maybe it's just me!

I like dancing to it, but it doesn't fill my heart and soul, that's the difference!

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I agree it's good to dance to, I think it's a great tune. But will it last the distance? I find with much of the new stuff, I get tired of listening to them quicker than the old classics. I can't explain it, maybe it's just me!

I like dancing to it, but it doesn't fill my heart and soul, that's the difference!

I don't think anyone can deny that Frank Popp's singles fill the dancefloor at Northern venues. Hence if it gets played at Northern venues, it must in the overall scheme of things be considered 'Northern'

However, if you change the question slightly, and ask, is it Soul, clearly the answer is a resounding NO !

Consequently, I can understand why the dancers like it, but as a Soul fan, it's not for me, I have never considered buying it, and it wouldn't get within fifty yards of MY DJ box.

However, horses for courses if you know what I mean.

ps Apparently Steve Cato knows Frank Popp quite well.

pps Congrats to Steve on his engagement.

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Guest toffee lady

I've just listened to the radio broadcast with Ian Lavine, and in my own opinion, Ian has once again failed miserably to capture the esscence of what is Northern Soul. I listened to his tracks, and was left cold. And as Toad stated, they do all sound the same. If you had heard any of the tracks without knowing their origin, you could easily identify Ian's production in the sound........

On the other hand.......I've just gone on you tube and played the Frank Popp tunes there..... Wow! Imediately my feet were tapping and the sound is pure northern. I realise that the gentleman is white, but who cares, he knows what 60's northern sounds like, and he can recreate it. I know I'll get slagged off by the purists, but northern is all about dancing. Frank Popp makes me wanna dance, Ian Lavine makes me cringe.

Phil.

Will we be hearing Frank at Burnley then Phil?

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Guest rachel

I agree it's good to dance to, I think it's a great tune. But will it last the distance? I find with much of the new stuff, I get tired of listening to them quicker than the old classics. I can't explain it, maybe it's just me!

I like dancing to it, but it doesn't fill my heart and soul, that's the difference!

I was actually surprised to hear that they're still being played, as, like you say, a lot of this new stuff has a limited lifespan. 'Hip Teens' has been about since, what, 2003? And 'Breakaway' was being played in 2004 I think. Suppose that's not a long time in soul scene terms, but I thought they'd have been forgotten about by now.

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Guest Simon

'Hip teens' is a good track but it's not NS imo, why do peeps feel the need to play these sort of tracks when there's so much decent underplayed proper 6ts stuff out there.

Northern Soul 2007, thanks but no thanks!

Simon :P

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Have just watched Frank Popp on you tube,heard it recently at various clubs in north west,just like to know what any one else thinks should it be played at a northern night?

Frank Popp .....

James Last's love child .....

Retribution for the bombing of Dresden in WWII ......

Malc Burton

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Anywhere that plays Frank Popp records won't be getting my admission fee.

I'd rather sit at home and listen to the real deal than tailor mades.

:P spot on.never have liked any of this made up stuff i.e popp,levine.its one of the reasons why i stopped going to alot of local dos in nottingham.to say if it FILLS dance floors play it, is crap because that means any old tosh can be played if it sounds like "NORTHERN".definitely not for me,i like soul music too much,something the sounds of mr popp isnt

Edited by JMYTG
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my opinion only...love the tune...the young mods up our way were playing it yonks ago...but absolutely nothing to do with the northern scene.....i like this , like i liked emma bunton- ill be there....fuckin hell wot ever cred i had left..has just been flushed away

Do not worry .....

You could have had the hots for Scary ..... :P

When I were a lad , I had a thing for Alma Cogan .....

Now that is sad .

Malc Burton

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HipTeens is a great dancer, and dancing is a major part of what our scene is all about.

Certain collectors may sit and shake their heads but many serious soul fans pack the floor and love it.

But is it northern?

What exactly is northern? We'll be here all day...........

The bottom line is, it sounds great, and fits into the overall feel of the night.

If I was a DJ (which i'm not) I would play Frank Popp's Breakaway every time.

It pisses all over the Soul Communicators, which now sounds under-produced in retrospect. Amazing.

But not sure I've ever found anyone brave enough to play it at a major venue. (Searling did hammer it on Smooth FM tho).

Our German friend has achieved exactly what Mr Levine (God bless him for his past discoveries) has tried to do and failed.

Dave

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There are many hundreds of records made in America by black artists in the requisite time period that don't get the attention they deserve.

Until these have been fully exploited I fail to see why a recording artificially manufactured as a soundalike of these fantastic records should have any place on a scene which is meant to be about celebrating the works of Black America.

No disrespect to the talents of Mr Popp, Ms Willis et al - they're genuinely talented folk and produce very pleasant pop music. But that's all.

I imagine that they're as bemused as many of us are that such records are being played on what purports to be a Rare Soul scene.

Just a personal view and if people enjoy dancing and listening to this sort of thing then that's their prerogative.

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HipTeens is a great dancer, and dancing is a major part of what our scene is all about.

Certain collectors may sit and shake their heads but many serious soul fans pack the floor and love it.

But is it northern?

What exactly is northern? We'll be here all day...........

The bottom line is, it sounds great, and fits into the overall feel of the night.

If I was a DJ (which i'm not) I would play Frank Popp's Breakaway every time.

It pisses all over the Soul Communicators, which now sounds under-produced in retrospect. Amazing.

But not sure I've ever found anyone brave enough to play it at a major venue. (Searling did hammer it on Smooth FM tho).

Our German friend has achieved exactly what Mr Levine (God bless him for his past discoveries) has tried to do and failed.

Dave

dave with the greatest of respect.... reckon youve got the wrong end of the stick were the northern scene is concerned..there would have been no breakaway without the soul communicators so how the f*** can it PISS all over it....we dont want mass produced piss..hence we got into rare soul music,,,still like hip teens ,,but asbsolutely nothing to do with soul music

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Guest Bearsy

Do not worry .....

You could have had the hots for Scary ..... :P

When I were a lad , I had a thing for Alma Cogan .....

Now that is sad .

Malc Burton

My dad still does laugh.gif honestly

Frank Popp, ive heard it out a few times and yes it does fill the dance floor but its not Northern to me one little bit, should it be classed as rare soul, YES , it should be so rare it never gets heard or played again :wave:

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