Mike

Afternoon at home so managed to listen to Mr Searlings show on and off. Heres bits for those who missed. Ginger was first guest and most enoyable with some of his big sounds, clip should be up very soon. Next guest was Fran with a look at all the classic clubs from the 60s with sounds from that era to match Future guests - next week Kenny Burrel Then next wek Johnny Pearson with a Gene Chandler feature Followed the next week with one to note Adey croasdell - inc kent r+b, hideaway club feature. News from Radio one - Bob Mclaw (?), was in studio with plans to make the "definite" radio program on northern soul. Plans to feature all aspects -clubs, including some of the lesser know ones,sounds, djs, attendees, stay at homes, sounds and so on, sounded well up for it so could be a good one. Contact number for people who have ought to relate 01619454686

LIVONIA -- In the pine-paneled rumpus room of a nondescript brick house in a sleepy suburb, the worlds greatest basement band is kicking some serious butt.You know these musicians, even if you never knew their names: the Funk Brothers, as they called themselves, were the uncredited studio band that laid down the intricate, funky grooves for Diana, Smokey, Marvin, Tammi, Martha and the rest of Berry Gordys stable. Weve heard it for years -- Pistol Allens infectious shuffle on "Baby Love," Ivy Hunters funky keyboard intro on "Pride and Joy," drummer Uriel Jones urgent beat on "Aint No Mountain High Enough." For 15 years, a slightly changing cast of Funk Brothers plied their trade in tiny Studio A in the back of 2648 W. Grand Blvd., coming up with the goods over and over for producers ike Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Ashford and Simpson, and the boss, Gordy. Their reign ended abruptly in 1972. Now, thanks to the persistence and heart of a 48-year-old, self-described "bar mitzvah" musician from New Jersey, the Funk Brothers will swing again, in a documentary being filmed in locations around Detroit next month .

Northern Souls Classiest Rarities CDKEND192 Adey admits in his introduction that there isnt one outstanding label or theme to this compilation, other than it simply being a bunch of NS tunes that Ace/Kent have had kicking around for ages but had yet to Utilise...nothing wrong with that! Every NS fan will find plenty theyd like within the 24 tracks for sure, as it covers many a soul-genre which all go to make up the wide and varied Rare Soul scene in the year 2001. Most folk will be pleased to see a couple of ex Casino Searling spins, Mr.Souls "What happened to yesterday", and The Imaginations "Strange neighbourhood", or "Maurice McAllister" and "Ray Pollard & The Wanderers" as they were first spun as! Plenty of dancefloor favourites from the 80s and 90s scenes as well, with Eddie Whiteheads "Just your fool", the jazz tipped Karmello Brooks "Tell me baby", Jimmy Seals "Yesterday of our love" (or "The Moving Parts as Keb once named it!) and the striding New York City soul sound of The Diplomats "Cards on the table". One of todays surprising big spins has to be the C&W flavoured "Ill be all alone" from Barbara Redd. which has proved to be very popular for Alan Handscombe at The Dome in London over the last year or so, and gave birth to a new soul-genre, "Tumbleweed Soul!" From 72 is the beautifully polished "Yes Im in love" by the Unique Blend which has been an on off spin since the 70s, and if you like that youll probably already in love with the cross-over sound of The Joytones "This love", also included. Kent also treat us to a few previously unissued tracks, the way they do, with The Delfonics, "Youll get enough", Bettye Swanns belting uptempo version of "I think Im falling in love", and finally Audrey Matthews (daughter of Johnnie Mae) version of "I have no choice" ..brilliant discoveries, and what we all love Kent for! For lovers of the earlier 60s sounds, The Rockmasters "Raining teardrops" (sharing the same backing track as The Sapphires "Who do you love", and championed by Scotlands Keith Money) and Joe Simons skippy and light "I see your face" should satisfy, as should Charlie Richs big beat ballad, "Dont tear me down" and Johnny Wyatts Popcorn favourite, "I wouldnt change a thing about you". Other tracks include, The Millionaires "And the rains came" (beautiful), Charles Lamonts "Ive got to keep movin" (never really lives up to its strong intro), Claude Hueys "Why would you blow it" (superb), Pat Powdrills "Do it" (too fast, still!), Denita James "I have feelings too" (inferior to its 45 flip, "Wild side"), Lil Bobs version of Billy Blands "My heart is on fire" (highly recommended ex Keb spin), and a couple from the Elf label, Clifford Currys "Aint no danger" (flip to "I cant get a hold of myself") and Dan Folgers "The way of the crowd" (popular cross-over from the last few years), and thats it.......another fine NS CD compilation from Kent that belongs on most soul fans shelves! David Flynn CSC http://www.capitolsoulclub.homestead.com/