First Taste Of Soul

[Guest]

Dont know if youve touched on this before ? so forgive me if you have was just thinkin where and when i got my first taste of soul music, i was about 12-13 and my older sister was a big motown fan, i hadnt really taken much notice until then (still playing with barbie at the time) but i started nicking her records and as if by magic I WAS HOOKED and have been ever since LUV Di xxx

[ChrisOD1964]

Dont know if youve touched on this before ? so forgive me if you have was just thinkin where and when i got my first taste of soul music, i was about 12-13 and my older sister was a big motown fan, i hadnt really taken much notice until then (still playing with barbie at the time) but i started nicking her records and as if by magic I WAS HOOKED and have been ever since LUV Di xxx

there is no better taste it just won`t go away i got the taste for it about 32 years ago mmmmmmmmm

chris

[Guest miff]

1975, a mate of mine had an older brother into northern, He used to go to the pier and had loads of EMI discs, The first one I heard was

Bobby Hutton "lend a hand" That was it, me Hooked, never been the same since My Dad wouldnt let me go to the Pier till I was 16 so by the time I was, it was Shut down, But the winter Gardens opened so that was it Off i went and never looked back, The thing is when i first heard Bobby Hutton and was told all about Northen as a young 15 year old, I said to myself one day I would like to see him live, and thanks to the weekenders a Cleethorpes it happend, and as he sang Lend a hand all the boyhood memories came back, so, Terry Holmes, Thanks

[Guest nubes]

Jeez....i can remember my mum..who adored everything Motown...watching The Supremes...Vandellas...Dusty S..etc on RSG...she use to have her clothes made for her...copying every detail she saw the female Artistes wearing.... bought most of the soul/ska releases that came out then.....later on...it was my older mainly male cousins...save one,...who all loved the soul/funk tunes.....Northern was a later discovery for me when we became countryfolk during the mid 70s ,....Delxxx

[Guest]

1969.......third year at Rosegrove Sec Mod..........we went to a mates house (Paul Savva) for lunch and he swapped me his big sisters Motown collection of about 30 singles for my football programs, I dont thing his sister was too chuffed about that but it started the fire which still gives me Heartburn to this day.

[Guest Dirk Tiggler]

Feb 1969, St Valentines Day school disco (Hill & Cakemore, Halesowen, WM):- I'll pick a rose for my rose - Marv Johnson plus Sam & Dave - Soul sister, Brown sugar. I knew some soul music but hearing it played loud with flashing lights blew me away. Regards Ade

Edited January 16, 2008 by marchja

[corby john]

Had heard the usual bits & pieces @ school disco's when aged approx 14yrs, but really didn't get into it until around 77', as mates big brother was into it, so we used to spin his tunes when he went out.....stuff like Three Degrees- Contact, David & Giants - Ten miles high , Billy Thomson - Black eyed Girl etc.

First real do, was at E.A.S.C. All-dayer at The Central Hall in Kettering, that was incredible , & i've been hooked ever since!!

cheers,

John Mc.

[NorthernMoorSoul]

First tune that ever touched me was Freda Payne's Band Of Gold,think I was about eight or nine so around'69/'70and,ironically mam&dad were splitting up at the time so maybe I was more susceptible but even now a lot of emotion comes across in the voice and lyric.

Bernard.

"TWISTED WHEEL FOR EVER!"

[Steve Myers]

1969,14th birthday and I'm in a record shop with some birthday money I chose to buy Too busy thinking about my baby, first record I ever bought and loved anything by Marvin Gaye ever since. Then had to have Motown Chartbusters Vol 3, Not long after that started going to the Heartbeat club "rare soul nights" , which eventualy became Samanthas and all nighters about 72/73 I think. Remember hearing Creation "I got the fever" about this time. The lyrics summed up for me how the music made me feel inside.

Iv'e still got the fever

[Guest]

Thanks for those so far, its great reading so keep them coming THANKS Di xxxxxx

[Spacehopper]

1972 aged 5,i loved records even then and along with crazy horses by the osmands i would play my dads copies of roadrunner/shotgun,youre not an ordinary girl/beautys only skin deep,little queenie and back st/aint it a sad thing by r dean taylor on rare earth,can still remember kneeling on the floor playing them....over the next few years i would hear james brown and sam and dave befor my older bruv discovered northern and did the alnighters at peterburough,st ives,yate ...can remember his bag in the hall on a sunday,and the floor creaking with him practising his moves upstairs !....this was mid 70s,started playing his tunes about 78 and bought "hey little way out girl"...my best mate had an ep with "youre ready now" on with the rupert the bear theme on the b side !....then two tone started and i was hooked on that until about 83 when i got a scooter and started doin the rallies...then i would ride round with a casette playing my bruvs records at full volume....now ive got the bigger collection but hes still got some gems in the loft id like to get my hands on !!

[Harry Crosby]

Must have been something about uptempo records in my blood. The first record i ever bought was dave clarke`s bits n pieces aged 6 my mam tells me i used to play cardboard boxes as drums to it in our living room, grew up listening to the ronnettes, crystals, righteous brothers etc, my brother could only i suppose be described as a ROCKER with his BSA roadrocket n his pisspot helmet with two stick on eyes on the front, so imagine his horror when in the seventees, i arrived home on my shiny LAMBRETTA LI 150 SERIES 3, sent to coventry or what, anyway at that time i thought soul was either a fish or something on the bottom of yer shoe,my best friend at the time was into motown, and dragged me to our local soul night to say i was hooked is an understatement this was a thursday night, took all my beloved fishing tackle to the second hand shop on the friday, saturday 6.15 platform 8a york station boarded a train to wigan, AND A SOULIE WAS BORN

[Brav]

My Soul experience started at Mirrion St Youth Club, Crewe in 1972 and listened to Here I go again from the wonderful Archie Bell. That was it, I was hooked and went out and bought it. The only other Soul Club in Crewe at the time was Up The Junction, but I was only 14 and couldn't get in, but kept trying to no avail . 1973 came with the opening of Wigan Casino, so me and a few mates went up there and Bingo, we were in . After a few months the Police realised about the Drug culture there and had everyone from Crewe lined up on the Station top to be searched. That was my defining moment, as I had previously worked as a school boy for the head of the drug squad on his farm, so all the dealers gave me there drugs knowing full well he wouldn't search me (Priceless) Still to this day its in my blood till the day I die. Soul that is and not Drugs.

[Guest]

If i said i was not religious it would be a big under statement so to be swept away by a tune by the name of God Only Knows (Mike McDonald) shows just how good N/Soul music really is.

I first heard it after i sneaked into the local night club as a 15 year old and as they say the rest is history. I do have to admit though that I did go through the New Romantic stage during the eighties for a while, but was soon back with and stayed with soul up to this day.

I just wish I could dance to more than 3-4 fast tunes a night but as with almost everyone else my legs wont let me without complaining big style the next day.

[Pete Morgan]

first real taste for me was standing outside the colwyn Bay pier , (I was supposed to be fishing ) I was too young to get in and it was blowing a gale outside, but managed to hear and see through a tiny crack in the the window ......Jnr Walker and the all stars,then i was hooked !! ( excuse the pun)

pete m

[Guest]

My Soul experience started in 1993 (I was 13 years old) when my mother came back home with a compilation entitled Rhythm & Blues with classic soul tracks like:

- Otis Redding "Try a little tenderness"

- Otis Redding "I've being loving you"

- Otis Redding "Sitting on the dock of the bay"

- Ben E. King "Stand by me"

- Aretha Franklin "Don't play that song for me"

- Ray Charles "Mess around"

- Sam & Dave "Soul man"

- Sam & Dave "Hold On, I'm Comin'"

- Percy Sledge "When a man loves a woman"

...

And from that moment on, I've never stopped listening and enjoying Soul music !!!

[macca]

had to be 1974, I was 14 at the time, & attending a normal disco night, known as the carousel & held on tuesday nights at the wirrina in peterborough. I was already predisposed to stax & tamla through my elder sister, so when I saw a bunch of geezers in relatively strange attire 'take over' the dance floor, I was most intrigued. the record was 'tell me it's just a rumour baby' by the isley brothers. I was hooked immediately & began the search for it. I eventually bought one of steve 'jonah' jones, one of the early EASC jocks. the copy was battered & scrawled over & had cost me that day's 'school dinner money', but I didn't give a damn. I had the record in my hands. the next few records were of an entirely different nature. 'the joker' by butch baker (they told me), 'the human zoo' by the commodores & saxie russell's awesome 'psychedelic soul'. It wasn't so much the music, 'cos that seemed already familiar, but rather these cool dudes giving it 'what for' on the floor. I was simply mesmerised. most of the people that attended the carousel then were more turned on by 'me & baby brother' & 'sugar baby love', so being part of this set, this in-crowd' lent you an air of exclusivity, dare I say it, superiority, which I loved. I spent about a year in awe of these people, but was soon welcomed into the fold. thank you paul donnelly, gary spencer, andy smith & steve jones. I owe you several. :-)

[Guest moggy]

1976 Was when i discovered this new music term Northern Soul

Having been bought up on the Motown,Aretha,Johnny Bristol,Al Green, Gladys, type of soul thanks to my mom, also at that time I was a big big Chi-Lites fan collecting their albums & singles along with some bits & bobs of Motown

A friend of mine at the time, and probably known to a few on here

Ricky (peace) Lee was explaining to me this music he and his brother Micky Lee, had got into at a place in Wigan called the Casino

The first record he played me that day at his house was, Out On The Floor, I loved it and thats when it began, the very day he played me Dobie Gray

My first ever ever Northern record purchased a couple of weeks later

Major Lance: You dont want me no more: Okeh pressing off Graham War in Oasis Market 25p

Happy days

[Guest shaunthesheep]

it was 1976, I was 11, our school youth club, decided to start doing disco's to get the kids in so these 2 guys turn up, with decks etc, wearing bags, check shirts and tank tops and then this fantastic music just came out of the speaker. These 2 guys who were about 18, and must have been to wigan etc,. because of the quality tunes that came out, I feel deeply in love for the first time, with this is music. Then it seemed everyone was putting on a disco and you would get a mix of northern and punk!!!!! LOL. Also loved my 60's music became a mod at 15, met up with all other mods in area; had a great time in early 80's with northern & mod tunes, started going on scooter rallies 1983 and wow more northern, tunes I hadn't hear before, big dance floors, live artists. Then very late 80's slowed it all down, only went to scooter do's if I know there was a dj who played northern , did the norm thing marriage kids etc, and then 95 bam, straight back in to soul do's and allnighters and have never looked back. All this time no other music has really made any impression on me, peeps will say do your remember such an such hit in 80's & 90's and the answer is NO!!! My kids have grown up with northern and love it, so there is the next generation. LONG LIVE NORTHERN SOUL, quality music always last!!!!!! Jane

Edited January 18, 2008 by shaunthesheep

[Guest Dawnie]

Awh Jane

Just had a read about the start of this long term love affair with the music but I think you have a good point ~ I know a lot of venues in the midlands tend to see a lot of my old school mates and I think it all started with school discos & the youth club side cuz one of the girls brothers was a DJ and he played NS at the time so ~so of course when her brother put a disco on we followed hey presto got hooked!!!!! ~~ think my earliest recollections would be at the school disco & Holy rosary school disco where Norman (joans Bro) was the dj followed by St Giles (sammys) in Willenhall listening to theres a Pain in my heart ~ Adam & Eve ~~ i would be about 14/15 at this time ~ met Craig introduced him to the music by arranging our first date at the Walsall town hall NS nite ~ 2nd date Willenhall baths NS nite ~ Rip Ding both hooked ~ and never fell out of love with it ~ had a long break due to bringing up baby then got back into it a few years back and guess what? so where most of me old school mates so my theory if they bring NS back to school discos and encourage the kids (13/15)to go they will also get hooked ~ they'll be saving their monies for 45s instead of fags an booze just like we did ~ round their mates house listening to the 45s instead of on street corners ~ like we did OOOeerrr I'd better go or I'll be on here forever

Luv Dawniedinglexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Guest bazabod_downunder]

The first record I ever bought with my own money was Superstition by Stevie Wonder in 1972 (still have it to this day), I was 11 years old, I was always listening to the radio from a very early age, especially Radio Caroline, so I (unknowingly was becoming a soul fan).

Around about this time I was just starting my venturing out to the local youth clubs where the girls would all dance to the latest hits, predominantly soul being played, then around 1975 I began to go to a youth club on the other side of town where I first heard Northern Soul, I became emersed in this wonderful music, watching in awe as the slightly older guys danced, the way they dressed, this was the beginning of a love of the best music in the world which has continued to this day & until I curl up my toes.

Through the soul scene I have had many adventures, made many friends & none of it I would change for anything.

KTF

Baz

[gazman]

I got my first introduction in primary 7 (1978/79) aged about 12 form a class mate who's brother in law was into NS. I got my first pile of records a short time later, 12 records I think a mixture of Boots and re-issues, Ted Taylor, LJ Reynolds, Ann Sexton and the likes. That was me hooked and stared an almost 30 year journey. Got into the soul nites/niters when I was old enough and travelled the length and breadth of the UK, like most folk . I became obsessed with records and music and whilst my taste diversified a bit as I got older I never lost my passion for soul music. Started DJ'ing about 17 and went onto get a DJ contract with Warner Bros. playing dance, Deep House, Soul etc. After years of collecting I've sold, given away, donated literally 1000's of records (compromise with my wife ) to allow me to focus on buying soul records again and I'm loving it.

HAPPY DAYS

gary

[Guest skorpiano]

I got my first introduction in primary 7 (1978/79) aged about 12 form a class mate who's brother in law was into NS. I got my first pile of records a short time later, 12 records I think a mixture of Boots and re-issues, Ted Taylor, LJ Reynolds, Ann Sexton and the likes. That was me hooked and stared an almost 30 year journey. Got into the soul nites/niters when I was old enough and travelled the length and breadth of the UK, like most folk . I became obsessed with records and music and whilst my taste diversified a bit as I got older I never lost my passion for soul music. Started DJ'ing about 17 and went onto get a DJ contract with Warner Bros. playing dance, Deep House, Soul etc. After years of collecting I've sold, given away, donated literally 1000's of records (compromise with my wife ) to allow me to focus on buying soul records again and I'm loving it.

HAPPY DAYS

gary

13 years old, Gafneys Youth Club. They had a small 'record room' with two fixed turntable, loads of scratched 45's, James Brown, Gladys Knight, loads of Motown. Never looked back.

[BlueWail]

As an eleven year old in 1977 at the school dinner time disco

Thats when i first started to apreciate soul

For me and my mates it was all sex pistols,clash,uk subs ect

this strange northern soul stuff was more the older boys sounds

[ZapatootheTiger]

One of the first two records I ever bought was Chuck Berry's NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO (red-and-yellow Pye International 7N-25242) with E.M.I. record tokens I got for my 11th. birthday in June 1964...I'd always, so my Mum tells me, preferred listening to tunes with an edge, indeed was (apparently) known to have been singing along to Millie's MY BOY LOLLIPOP just a couple of months before

Mind you, though I bought a few records over the next 5 or 6 years, until I got into Reggae in 68-69, then into Soul proper in '71, my buying had been mostly the Pop hits of the day (sprinkled of course with a few Motown hits )

I still have the record - here's the scan:

FWIW the other record I bought that same day was the Shadows' RISE AND FALL OF FLINGEL BUNT

[Dave West]

my first experiencec would be at Riddings youth club in Scunthorpe, Mostly motown and wheel sounds, then aged 16 Doncaster top rank where they played Do it to it, Landslide, Out on the floor , and from then on I was well and truly hooked. 1972 to present day,

Motown Westy

[Guest FrostyJak]

First soul record i brought was Mel & Tim Backfield in motion on concord around about 73-74 Still got it somewhere has a "FRIED EGG" on label strange logo imho. After that came O'jays I Dig Your Act silver mojo along with Prince Buster Al Capone green blue beat.

[Mark Jones]

My Soul experience started in 1993 (I was 13 years old) when my mother came back home with a compilation entitled Rhythm & Blues with classic soul tracks like:

- Otis Redding "Try a little tenderness"

- Otis Redding "I've being loving you"

- Otis Redding "Sitting on the dock of the bay"

- Ben E. King "Stand by me"

- Aretha Franklin "Don't play that song for me"

- Ray Charles "Mess around"

- Sam & Dave "Soul man"

- Sam & Dave "Hold On, I'm Comin'"

- Percy Sledge "When a man loves a woman"

...

And from that moment on, I've never stopped listening and enjoying Soul music !!!

Bless u mate....alot of us oldies would disrepect that. But you have a great oppurtunity to get to enjoy soul music head of u...enjoy! Then again my recommendation would be to not buy records because as well as costing me hundreds of pounds has cost me relationships too so beware!!

Edited January 20, 2008 by soulechoes

[Guest andyrattigan]

I was into all the accesible Motown stuff as a young Mod in the west of Ireland. I went to a Mod rally and bought a compilation tape of someone. It had the "Ellusions- Didnt have to leave" "Williams and Watson-Too late" and "The Groove- Love Its Getting Better I was immediately hooked. When I got home I used to play the tape very morning before school. I then bought a copy of "Right Back where we started from" the Kent Album and sicne then Ive been hooked. Still have that Kent Album and apart from the title track I love every track off it.

First proper Soul events apart from Scooter rallies were the Celtic Soul Brother events in Ireland with Paul Mulholland, Paul Grant and Irish Greg. Some of the best nights of my life. When you first get into Soul its life changing.

[Sean Hampsey]

July 68.

A chance discovery.

The family were getting set for our annual holiday in Ireland and on this occasion my Dad had arranged for us to stay for a few days with relations of a neighbour.

The day before we set sail we went around to the neighbours house to sort out the detail.

While Dad was getting the info, I got chatting to the 15 year old son (Ervin) who was already at the secondary school that I was due to start at on my return. On the lads school satchell he'd liberally Biro'd ARETHA - OTIS - STAX - VOLT - ATLANTIC and I asked him what it was all about.

He was soon playing me various 45's and tracks from the 'This Is Soul' and 'Memphis Gold' LP's and turning me on to the dulcit tones of these fine artists.... I was soon a keen disciple and he kindly gave me a beat up copy of Sam Cooke's "Another Saturday Night" which I thought was incredible... (and still do) to get me started!

Consequently, it wasn't long before I started putting together my own collection of UK Black (and Red) Atlantics and Blue Stax's... my weekends spent running around my local Junk and second hand shops, picking up anything that bore the logo or the names of ARETHA / OTIS / SOLOMON BURKE / SAM & DAVE / WILSON PICKETT / PERCY SLEDGE / CARLA THOMAS etc. and I soon got a reputation as the vinyl junkie in the neighbourhood, which opened up various avenues and opportunities to get my hands on 'Motown' and more.

At that time my, Mod, sister had loads of friends who came around 3 or 4 nights a week with 45's (mainly Motown & Stax / Atlantic stuff). The Parties at our house lasted all night... with Scooters lined up and down the street... and (while they were dancin' and snoggin') I was usually responsible for the music, cos (apart from the two left feet and halitosis) I had a better collection than any of 'em!

Then around 69 / 70 I started going with her and her mates to a local dance called the 1812. It was there I was introduced to such delights as:

Spellbinders - Help Me

Bobby Sheen - Doctor Love

Bobby Wells - Lets Cop A Groove

Impressions - You've Been Cheating

Bob Brady - Everybodys Going to a Love In

Chubby Checker -At The Discotheque

Bob Kuban & The Inmen - The Cheater

Tommy Neal - Going to a Happening

Rodger Collins - She's Looking Good

Brooks & Jerry - I Got What It Takes

Gene Chandler - Nothing Can Stop Me

Chuck Jackson - Girls Girls Girls

Fascinations - Girls Are Out To Get You

Impressions - Can't Satisfy

Flamingos - Boogaloo Party

Bobby Marchan - Aint No Reason For Girls To Be Lonely For Love

Homer Banks 60 Minutes Of Your Love

Tommy Duncan - Dance, Dance, Dance

Donie Gray - The In Crowd

Sam Cooke - Another Saturday Night

Marv Johnson - I Miss You Baby How I Miss You

Miracles - Going To a GoGo

Mel & Tim - Backfield in Motion

Willie Tee - Walking Up A One Way Street

Dobie Gray - The In Crowd

Roger Collins - She's Looking Good

James Carr - Freedom Train

Doris Troy - I'll Do Anything

Olympics - Baby Do The Philly Dog

Impressions - You've Been Cheating... and more!

Needless to say the record collection could only have got bigger (and better) after that... and I set out to buy the lot!

Within two years of my chance discovery, Freda Payne's "Band Of Gold" & Smokey's "Tears Of A Clown" were high in the charts... and it felt like the whole world was into Soul!

Curiously it was a few years later (72) before I even heard the term 'Northern Soul' and yet the tunes I'd been buying were the Bedrock of what was to become this 'scene' of ours.

Must say, I've always felt really fortunate that I didn't get into the music any other way. After my introduction to what I've always felt was 'proper' Soul I was always appalled to hear some of the drivel 'passed off' as Soul Music played at Northern venues in later years.

Regardless, the good stuff I heard (and had the privilege to play...) on the scene well made up for the bad!

So it's been a continuous, 40 year, journey of discovery for me and I'm still enjoying looking for (and finding) new Soul Music to excite and delight me... from the 60's / 70's / 80's / 90's and the 21st Century!

Hence my countless hours spent on this amazing resource (Soul Source - and eBay) until the wee hours!

Sean

[Ficklefingers]

Until I was about seven (1966) I thought that all music was 'black soul'music, as I was raised in a house who's mother was (& still is... at 79 yrs old!) fanatical about the music - all Motown based stuff predominantly. She still has in her possession an enviable collection of LP's (some very choice pieces in there too... Eddie Holland's LP with the superb, album only, 'Gotta Have Your Love' included) and she's also made it quite clear that the only way I'm gonna get my grubby little mits on 'em is via inheritance!!!!

Wasn't until I started to 'listen' to the radio I realised other styles of music even existed.

With three older brothers (unsuprisingly) becoming involved, at some point and to varying degrees, in the 'Northern Scene' my destiny was quite probably, already, subconsciously mapped out for me.

One of those brothers in particular ('Ada') was a mod in the sixties and ventured to the 'historic' venues of the time (Torch, Va Va's, twisted Wheel, etal) and he also started collecting 45's... which was, really, to lead me to my introduction to this 'alternative' soul music. With approx 150 discs in his box I gradually started learning the lyrics to a lot of them, as I would always hear them being played from his bedroom whenever he came home from work! Lot's of 'great' songs, the kind I had never encountered the likes of before... and I found myself taking a strong liking to several of them.

When I was about 12 me and a mate would wait for my brother to go out on a friday night (it had already become 'normal' for him to not return until the next morning, and then spend the rest of the day in bed - which I thought a bit peculiar at the time). We would give it 10 or 15 mins then out would come his box from beneath his bed, lid off and record player on. Being privvy to this 'Secret Squirrel' world thru observance of my brothers activities and, more importantly, his records... made my mate and I feel 'special' as we sat there listening to things like Bobby Freemans 'I'll Never Fall In Love Again', Barkays 'Soul Finger' and, my particular fave, Soul Bro's Six's 'Some Kind Of Wonderful' (who'd of thought the 'flip' side to this would go on to become such a classic, the excellent 'I'll Be Loving You'!) along with lot's more strangely wonderful, but extremely 'catchy' pieces of plastic. What we really found 'weird' at that time was that some of these records had really big holes in the middle!! Unlike the very small one I had previously only ever experienced!?!

When I was 14 - that same brother introduced me to my very first 'northern' function. After waffling at the door to get me in, then ringing my mum to inform her: 'Johnny will be a bit late home but it's okay 'cos he's with me'.. that was it!! From that moment I would be forever held under it's magical spell - to the eventual point of obsession, and now? Well... as we all have come to realise, 'Northern Soul? It's A Way of Life'!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the words of the great B.B. King.... 'I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fingers

Edited January 20, 2008 by FickleFingers

[Guest]

So it's been a continuous, 40 year, journey of discovery for me and I'm still enjoying looking for (and finding) new Soul Music to excite and delight me... from the 60's / 70's / 80's / 90's and the 21st Century!

Sean

Edited January 20, 2008 by Malc Burton

[John Parker]

Probably similar story to most

I remember going on a school trip to london

Whilst waiting for the coach went to browse in record shop

Saw a SUPREMES LP which I bought because of the cover!

1969/70

Started going to a local disco eith a mate and heard records like SHIRLEY Ellis --SOUL TIME

Tried to get one at the local record shop--without luck initially-- he got me one and put me on to other similar "unavailable" records

Had built up a small bx.At school was eventually granted access to the 6th form common room because of possession of said records-- these kids were older but got introduced to stuff being played at The Wheel

The rest is history--MEcca--Va-Va --Casino etc

[Chris L]

Dont know if youve touched on this before ? so forgive me if you have was just thinkin where and when i got my first taste of soul music, i was about 12-13 and my older sister was a big motown fan, i hadnt really taken much notice until then (still playing with barbie at the time) but i started nicking her records and as if by magic I WAS HOOKED and have been ever since LUV Di xxx

Can't be sure, think 1967, the pirate stations playing all that Motown,

Stax, etc. By 1968 well and truly hooked, 1st concious soul record

purchase was Jay & Techhiniques - Baby make you own sweet music.

1969, Bob Potter setting up his decks he'd play a reel to reel that started

with the Isley bros. Aaahh.....halcyon days..............

Chris L

[Guest]

THANKS TO YOU ALL ITS BEEN GREAT READING luv Di xx

[kathdj]

One of the first two records I ever bought was Chuck Berry's NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO (red-and-yellow Pye International 7N-25242) with E.M.I. record tokens I got for my 11th. birthday in June 1964...I'd always, so my Mum tells me, preferred listening to tunes with an edge, indeed was (apparently) known to have been singing along to Millie's MY BOY LOLLIPOP just a couple of months before

Mind you, though I bought a few records over the next 5 or 6 years, until I got into Reggae in 68-69, then into Soul proper in '71, my buying had been mostly the Pop hits of the day (sprinkled of course with a few Motown hits )

I still have the record - here's the scan:

FWIW the other record I bought that same day was the Shadows' RISE AND FALL OF FLINGEL BUNT

. . . . . I hope you aren't going to play this re-issue out!!

[ZapatootheTiger]

. . . . . I hope you aren't going to play this re-issue out!!

Unfortunately, I've only ever been the most occasional of "player outers", Kath...(sacrilege to some, maybe but) I'd probably use the shiny CD version of this if I did

[kathdj]

Unfortunately, I've only ever been the most occasional of "player outers", Kath...(sacrilege to some, maybe but) I'd probably use the shiny CD version of this if I did

Me too - I'd have your bit of genius vinyl framed in a glass case!! None of us had any thoughts of value or longevity when we bought our records back in the 60's. That's just how the music came and we wanted it. Although I do wish I hadn't left my 45s at home for my brothers & sisters to play or I would be in possession of a large fortune today! Still they love the music too so maybe it was worth it. Actually I've been giving them a wash this week and some of them don't sound that bad

(the records not the family!!)

One of the best things I ever bought was a second hand portable cassette player - it was the size of a shoe box!! I used to tape all my records onto it using a mike and that went everywhere - better than those portable record players that ate singles!! It cost me £13 which was a huge amount in those days.

Some people might look down their noses now at the 'oldies' on those tapes but in those days those tunes were new and exciting:

Girls are out to get you; I got a feeling;The Entertainer; Just look what you have done; Our day will come; Function at the junction; Love in them there hills; You ought to be in heaven; Quicksand; Candy; Wade in the water; That drivin' beat; Help me; Mellow moonlight; I'm gonna miss you; Ain't no soul etc

Ideal for those long journeys or waiting around for an allnighter to start. I did get it stolen once in Leicester but being in with the local bad boys I soon got it back

Edited January 22, 2008 by kathdj

[Dave Rimmer]

I was indoctrinated as a mere child by my Mother.

She used to run a 'Keep fit' class at night school, I suppose you'd now call it aerobics, and obviously the best music around at the time to keep fit to, was Motown. I can still remember her recording all the latest Motown tunes onto a reel to reel tape recorder to take down to her class, and this was about 1968 ! Of course I didn't know it was Soul music at the time.

As I got older a mate of mine's older brother started attending The Torch, and like so many others on here, we played his records when he went out. School discos and Youth clubs were almost entirely Soul music by the time I was 12, and this led onto Wigan and other clubs.

I grew up in the North West, and it seemed like every shop that sold records had a really good Soul section at the time. I remember Boots The Chemist in Warrington actually had an import section for a while, more to do with the girl who ran the record counter I think than Boots though. There was also a shop further down past Woolworths (And of course The Carlton) that sold Northern in a big way but I can't for the life of me remember the name. If you went into Manchester there were loads of shops. Anyone remember Derek Howe working at HMV (?) where I first came across the idea of a metal rod through the middle of the singles to stop people knicking them ! There was also Spin Inn. In Bolton there was J W Lee's (?) where the Soul stuff was downstairs. I remember Tracks in Bolton, more a Rock type of shop than Soul, but they always had all the latest Soul albums, and were cheaper than anywhere else in the town.

Happy days.

[Guest moggy]

Aerobics / Keep Fit

See the apple never fell close to the tree on this occasion Mr Rimmer

[Guest Mrs Simsy]

1986...i was 3 years old, following my mum round the house as she did chores whilst playing motown as loud as it would go & dancing in the kitchen with my dad to Major Lance!

Never looked back!

[Guest Mark Cartwright]

Like a lot of people I suppose it was the 'cool thing' at school and with my mates (Wolverhampton; ealy 70's -unavoidable really).

I can distinctly remember bunking into the Essington Working Man's club, now venue of Good Times (it ain't changed much!!!), though the window in the gent's loo at about the same time as Little Anthony - Better Use Your Head was played to see a fnatastic dancer - later learnt it was Gethro of Footsie 'fame' - take the floor over.

F**king hell, I was hooked, hairs on the back of neck and, despite a few years off, I still am!!

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

When i was about 7 i did a tape of recordings i liked and my first soul record was on it if classed as soul Jackie Wilson - Reet Pettie it was something i got hooked on and Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up it was my first ever Northern soul song i got into and loved

[Guest carolyn]

My first memories of northern soul music were at local under 18's disco's, youth clubs and of course the school disco when I was around 12 - 13 years of age. The records played mostly at these venues were The Snake, Baby Boy, Out on the floor etc. The first record that I bought aged 13 was The Champion, Willy Mitchell.

Living in Wigan at that time was very exciting as everywhere was buzzing with northern soul, but alas I was too young to get into the Casino then (although I did eventually make it for the last 3 years and ventured to other places too!).

[Gene-r]

My first memory of soul dates back to early 1968, when my eldest brother bought "Shake" by Otis Redding on Stax, and played it at home. Every time he played it on the family's Dansette Tempo, it always used to jump in the same place on the intro!

[John Parker]

ALSO REMENDER OUR LOCAL VILLAGE SWEET SHOP HAD A SMALL BOX OF IMPORTS

GOODNESS KNOWS WHERE HE GOT THEM

AGAIN ?1970

FOUND

BABY YOU SATISFY ME KING DAVIS HOUSE ROCKERS VERVE

CAN STILL PICTURE THAT SHOP WHENEVER I PLAY IT

[Guest barnsey]

for me it all started in the mid to late 1940,s i was probably not much more than a sperm at the time.i was working as a midwife in detroit at the time .on this particular day i was helping with the birth of a young african american girl from the ghetto it was an, unusual day for me and the start of something beautiful much better than the rest of you humps on here could ever comprihend .the contractions, and a stange muffeld noise started so faint at first i thought i must be hearing things from over use of snuff. but no the first thing to appear was not the head but a hand,a left hand followed by another and another and another all moving in unison then another four little hands all holding tiny microphones.then the once muffeld sounds became clearer ,faint but clearer.your sweet as a honey bee,,,one by one i witnessed the birth of the now four tops and its somthing that will stay with me for ever

Edited January 23, 2008 by barnsey

[alfie00soul]

I was 11..was listening to some of me mothers motown lps...have'nt looked back...

(way of life for me i'm afraid).....

still keeping the faith......

[Guest]

I was 11..was listening to some of me mothers motown lps...have'nt looked back...

(way of life for me i'm afraid).....

still keeping the faith......

[Guest whippet]

In the early 70s I went to Holbeach youth club it was a fantastic place run by Eggy Molen (he was a legend to us ). I can still hear the Tams and see us dancing in the lines, hopping from foot to foot. I was facinated and wanted to know more. The rest they say is history still going now but not doing the hopping. ha ha.