Geoff

Slow records were often played during the course of a night "back in the day", but you danced with a girl as opposed to the way we dance alone to beat ballads now. Quite handy at a niter if you wanted to get off with a girl there, dance nice and close. I remember You'll Want Me Back by the Impressions, My Girl Has Gone by the Miracles, and plenty of others. I used to dance with Lesley holding her close and rocking back and forth.

On Wednesday I went with my friend to the Hackney Empire to see the show Soul Sister based on the life of Tina Turner. It was my first visit to the Hackney Empire in Mare Street, Hackney, an old building that dates back to 1901 I believe. I thought the show was very good, the lady playing Tina had a good voice and interpreted the songs really well in my opinion. The band that played Ike's Kings Of Rhythm were good, they really had the right sound. Songs included Private Dancer, Rocket 88, Fool In Love, It's Gonna Work Out Fine, I Idolise You, River Deep Mountain High, Proud Mary, What's Love Got To Do With It, etc. My friend has the programme so I can't refer to it right now, so don't know the names of the actors but it was a thoroughly good show and in my opinion worth visiting while it's on.

I don't know when the term beat ballad was first used in soul music but I remember it being used to describe the Four Preps' Big Man released in 1958 when I was at school and first interested in music. I'm not sure I'd describe I'm Gonna Miss You or I Cried My Life Away as beat ballads but who am I to say? When does a beat ballad become a straightforward ballad, or medium tempo become a beat ballad?

It was on the Sunday night, it's a party night.

In my opinion there is no question that If You're Looking For A Way Out and These Memories are soul music, but not right for a classic Northern Soul night. Both songs have meaning for me. In 1980 I was made redundant when the London Evening News closed, a horrible shock to me, I'd never been out of work before, I'm sure loads of people on here know what I mean. And I do know the situation now is a million times worse than it was then, but it's always horrible. Naturally I was worried about money, etc, but my wife went and bought me Odyssey's If You're Looking For A Way Out and Barbra Streisand's Woman In Love LP to cheer me up as she knew I liked them. That's the sort of person she was. I've not played the Odyssey record for ages, but it's a lovely song, certainly could be played as a Modern Soul night ender. Or at least I think so. If I get a collector's spot at the MonuMental weekender might play it myself. As for These Memories, not sure what to say. I only heard if for the first time in 2002 I think, loved it straight away. When my wife died I thought of using it at the funeral as the last record, but I knew she didn't like it at all, thought it was "stupid", so it wasn't right to play it there. But it's still my favourite record, and when I just played the link above it still made me cry, thought I was over that. It was usually the last record played at MonuMental Soul when it was at the Britannia, and is to me the most emotional and soulful record ever made. Totally agree with Jocko about Disco, as in all genres of music there's good and bad, down to personal opinion, but do lose the will to live when people class all records after December 1969 as Disco.

This is excellent imo. Surely we're mature enough to enjoy this being played at a Modern Soul night, I could imagine Soul Sam playing, he played Native New Yorker by them at Cleethorpes on the Sunday night in the Modern room, either last year or the year before. My personal favourite uptempo song by Odyssey is Inside Out, great record imo.

Thanks, i was under the mistaken notion that the record was rare, it's not in Manships guide, so didn't check Ebay. Collapse of stout party!!!

Can any of you kind people please give me a price and any information they have for the Jogettes on the Mar label, Your Love / Johnny's Comin' Home? They are a girl group singing in an R&B style. It says on the label that it's a Steve Verroca production. Hope someone can help.

Thanks for the information Gareth. All I can say is that his melodies complemented the words beautifully. While I like most styles of soul music my particular favourite style is beat ballads, and TR was at the top of that genre.

I quite like that, wonder how it would go down at a soul night? Must be plenty of French and other European language versions of soul songs, Motown did some if I remember correctly.

A great song whoever sings it, don't play it if you've been dumped by someone. TR may well have written and produced more beat ballads than anyone else. Assuming he wrote the lyrics he's up there with Hal David imo.

I've generally liked the Teddy Randazzo productions I've come across. Quite a few here that I didn't know he was involved with. I've particularly liked his work with the Royalettes and Little Anthony & The Imperials, also his two solo records mentioned above. One of my favourites is his own original recording of Lost Without You, covered in the UK by Billy Fury and also on a Little Anthony LP. On YouTube I came across his version of Pretty Blue Eyes, an American hit for Steve Lawrence and in the UK for Craig Douglas, so I assume TR wrote it. A version of You Gotta Let Go by Thelma Jones would be great if it existed; I've got Salty Tears and didn't realise he's been involved in its composition. A proper retrospective CD would be nice, perhaps mixing his own singles with the best versions of his songs for other people.

I hope I can get up to the York Soul club later this year after the abortive visit to York in February, these playlists are most enticing. A really good mix of tunes.

A very enjoyable set Lou, as were the ones by the other DJs. I like Junction 17 because it's not the same old same old.

Thanks very much for the information. Will sort out prices with my friend.

A friend has sent me some records that she's got duplicates of and I wonder if anyone can give me advice on the price of a couple of them please? Jimmy Soul Clark - Nothing Like A Mother - Teek A-4829 This is a one sided record, blank flipside. Is it a DJ copy? What is the value of this please? Bill Medley - What Have You Got To Lose / Gone - MGM K14179 DJ copy Value please. I just want to give a fair price to my friend so any help would be appreciated.

When I retired last year one of my resolutions was to stop buying vinyl. I thought it's a luxury I can do without, doesn't matter if it's on vinyl, tape, CD or MP3, it's the music that counts, and at home it the media doesn't matter. And the latter is true, but the lure of vinyl has proved too strong and I have succumbed. Fortunately I don't buy expensive records but it still adds up. And once you've got one you want there is another one you want. As for selling up, well my collection couldn't match most on here I'm sure. I can't imagine selling my records, they are an enormous part of my life, the music means everything to me. In the future, who knows? One of my biggest dreads is losing my hearing, don't think life would be worth living without my music.

Sorry to read about the closure of the Greatstone. I always planned to go there, but typically left it too late. John Baxter gave me a couple of CDs of music played there, the sort of records I like to hear on a night out. Well done for keeping it going for 13 years, I hope you find a new venue. Good luck.

Like most on here there are too many really, also depends on how I'm feeling. But Joseph Webster's My Love Is Strong and the Poets' Wrapped Around Your Finger get me straight on to the floor, no doubt Sam's sick of me asking him to play them. Also Butch's Martha Jean Love cover ups That's The Way The Story Goes and Old Time Lover, just wonderful, love dancing to them. In fact if I get to Lifeline on Saturday will ask him to play one of them if he's got them with him.

I'll check that one out too. I've got Once I've Been There and Valentine Love by Norman Connors on 45 as well as TITTL, there was a CD issued not that long ago of his tunes, must see if it's still available. i've just played it off TITTL of the link on this page and found myself shuffling around my landing, not a pretty sight. Again thanks for the information. Trouble is there are too many records I like and want, good to hear of one in my price range.

Thanks for the info gents. I don't know those other ones mentioned, will check them out. I think Take It To The Limit is a fabulous record, played it out myself a few times.

That is a beautiful record, only heard it last year for the first time, very touching.

Sad news indeed. I've not heard much of her recent recordings but liked her earlier hits. We're losing so many of our soul singers, but her death at 48 is far too early. RIP Whitney.

I was with you in the Modern room when he played it John if you remember, and asked what it was. You got it the following week and me the week after. A great record imo, although a friend of ours (you know who, lol) branded it "disco". Was it played back in the day, and if so, where?

One of the greatest female singers in Rhythm and Bluse and Soul. So many great songs, Wallflower, Good Rockin' Daddy, At Last, All I Could Do Was Cry, Do I Make Myself Clear with Sugar Pie DeSanto, I'm sure everyone on here can think of some by her. RIP Etta, thanks for the music.