Geoff

Thanks for posting these 2 tracks, really liked them. Only thing I've got against them is that I'd start dancing and after 3 and a half minutes might have to be carried off the dance floor. Seriously though very good indeed.

Lesley used to say it was toys for boys.

Happy to say I've got all the TOS CDs thanks to John Stubbs. Excellent, as I missed the first couple of years of it, so helped me to catch up. Always enjoy CDs from clubs, they generally give a feel for the music played there, and often you get tracks otherwise unavailable to the general public. Remember Ady Lupton playing Marian Stewart's I Must Be Losing You at the CSC at the Dome, and being over the moon the next morning to discover it on the club's CD.

Nice set Kenny, particularly liked Timi Yuro, Masqueraders and Porgy & The Monarchs. Latter group made some good records imo. Has If It's For Real ever been played out, or is it too slow?

Hi Tone, Thanks for the info about the Four Lovers, never actually heard any of their records, but I think the Seasons recorded Apple Of My Eye on an early LP. Apologies for mistake on Silence Is Golden. I think the b side of Dawn is No Surfing Today, a death disc, and one I used to like. Can't check as I've only got Dawn on LP, no b side. I really do like Frankie & the Seasons, one of the greatest 60s groups imo.

Dawn is just a great pop record, with a good b side, original version of Silence Is Golden, miles better than Tremeloes. Frankie and the Four Seasons made some great pop records in the 60s, very popular in the clubs I frequented. And their LPs were full of old doowop songs, they were originally a doowop group in the 50s, can't remember the name, I think their hit was Apple Of My Eye or similar. Never heard of Wendall Parker.

Thanks for the info Simon, just looked on the Manship site, this one isn't available unfortunately, must say I really like it.

Some of the tracks you mention Steve were played at These Old Shoes, which while concentrating on rare/Northern, had all the feel of a "proper" sixties soul club. Would the description you are looking for be Club Soul, as my definition of that would include the stuff you refer to? Back in April, Martin RBMan kindly invited me to join him in a session at Bar 12 in Hatfield, which was a sixties and Motown evening, basically club soul. I did CD-Rs (shock, horror) and tried to use slightly lesser known tracks by well known singers, but the people there wanted the songs they knew. Nice to hear that sort of material, but from a personal point of view, I heard all the biggies from that era (early/mid/late) sixties at the time. It might end up with continual requests for "play something we know", e.g. In The Midnight Hour, I Can't Help Myself, etc. While I didn't take part in the Northern scene in the 70s, I understand that the Atlantic / Stax type records were dropped from playlists after the Twisted Wheel, is that right? So it might be nice to hear some of the lesser known records in that style out in a club. I used to dance to them then, so could now I imagine. I've noticed Loretta Williams' Baby Cakes on a few playlists lately. I remember that one from when it was issued (65/66). Others that might be nice to hear again at the sort of night you hope for might include: William Bell - Don't Stop Now (played by Nogsy at the CSC); Monkeyin' Around Billy Young - The Sloopy Tommy Duncan - Dance Dance Dance Impressions - It's All Right; Talking About My Baby; You Must Believe Me, etc. Major Lance - Monkey Time (still a fantastic dance record imo) Derek Martin - Daddy Rolling Stone Solomon Burke - Got To Get You Off My Mind Rufus Thomas - Willy Nilly; anything off the Walking The Dog LP Miracles - That Groovy Thing James Ray - If you gotta make a fool of somebody Vibrations - My Girl Sloopy Shirley Ellis - The nitty gritty; The name game; The clapping song Jackie Ross - Selfish one; Jerk and twine Larks - The jerk Blendells - La la la la la la Cannibal & The Headhunters - Land of a thousand dances Betty Everett & Jerry Butler - Ain't that loving you baby Sorry some of these are pretty well known but brain is slow today. However you get the picture, don't hear many of them at a Northern night (unless I'm DJing, lol). There are loads of lesser known stuff. It's an interesting idea, actually might get a few people in who are not on the Northern scene, but like soul music, but don't know where to go hear it, people in their 40s or 50s. Obviously have to be advertised. You're over my neck of the woods Steve, perhaps a soul night for Cheshunt or Enfield?

Like this one, has a sort of Lou Rawls feel. I think that Arthur Prysock was around from the 50s onwards, heard a few nice Modernish tracks by him, nothng remotely Northern. I assume this is a 70s recording, details if possible, is he still around?

Also by Arthur Alexander (from the same era as You Better Move On), how about Go Home Girl, Where Have You Been, Anna and Soldier Of Love? Last 2 were covered by the Beatles in their early period of fame. But I don't suppose any have been played at a Northern night, but were played out in the early/mid 60s.

Don't think I ever saw him live, didn't bother that much with British acts, preferred to wait till the Americans toured, just a personal preference. What I do remember about Geno was that he seemed to do loads of Atlantic or Stax material, and always faster than the record, though to be fair so did the American artistes when they toured. I assume I must have heard his albums or him on the radio. Liked Michael and She Shot A Hole In My Soul, but preferred the originals. These are my memories, but it was a long time ago, lot of water under the bridge since then. I don't want to be unfair to him but this was how I recall it. I remember seeing Herbie Goins at the Flamingo in 1965, he was good. Not so keen on Jimmy James. I do remember some people in my class at the LCP raving over the Action's version of I'll Keep Holding On, and being criticised for preferring the Marvelettes, oh well each to their own.

Thanks for posting Old Man River, good version.

I can remember you doing a mainly 70s set when I was down there one night in 2003, I was with a friend from work, who isn't into soul in the way I am (in other words, not totally obsessed, lol). We were having a drink and you played the Spinners' I'll Be Around, it got me up dancing, I think he was a bit surprised when I stopped drinking and started dancing. Remember Don't Send Nobody Else from that set, you might have played Game Is Over. Surprised me a bit because I thought TOS was mainly 60s, but it was a nice surprise. I would also like to thank the people who post music files up, loads of great music I've not heard before, thanks.

Thanks to everyone who answered me on this, certainly a lot of versions, will try to hunt soundfiles down, if anyone can help let me know.

Please do post it, I love beat ballads, don't hear enough imo. It is hard to pick a favourite as there are so many I love. Just a few I like: Dee Dee Sharp - I really love you Roy Hamilton - The panic is on, Heartache hurry on by, etc Bobby Bennett - Alone with my tears Lenny Welch - Run to my loving arms Hal Miller - Blessing in disguise Clyde McPhatter - Lonely people (can't afford to cry) Freddie Paris - There she goes Magnificent 7 - Never will I make my baby cry Prince Harold - Forget about me Jimmy Beaumont - I never loved her anyway Little Anthony & The Imperials - Hurt so bad, It's not the same, I'm lost without you, etc I could go on and on, but I am sure you get the picture.

I'd forgotten about Brenda Holloway's version, got it on her double CD I think. Agree not as good as Tammi's. I also agree Kirk Whalen (think that is right) and Wendy Moulton is better than Stevie. Was disappointed when I heard his version). Not heard the Cleptomaniacs, any chance of an MP3 please? Anyone know of any other versions?

One of my favourite songs is All I Do (Is Think About You) written by Stevie Wonder. My favourite version is by Tammi Terrell, but there are quite a few other versions. Obviously Stevie Wonder's, but wasn't that issued in about 1980? Whereas Tammi's must have been recorded in the 60s. I also know of versions by Blackstreet, Maysa, the Four Tops, and one from the 90s by Wendy Moulton and someone whose name I can't remember, got it at home. Are there any others?

The September 2002 CSC at the Dome was the first club I'd been to for years, so glad I went. The music wasn't what I expected to hear, it was at least 2 hours before I heard a record I knew. Seeing that playlist brought back great memories, those would still fill the floor today imo. Funnily enough was playing Mayfield Singers on my MP3 player on the train today. Still miss the CSC and These Old Shoes.

La Discotheque, Wardour Street, 1964. Can't really remember too much about it, but I do remember Jan & Dean's Surf City being played. Really feel old after reading the other posts on this one. LOL.

Thanks for posting the information about Barbara's death. I Know was one of the first Sue records I heard back in the dim and distant past. Send For Me is a nice one, could get plays now I reckon.

The Clyde McPhatter track I referred to above is actually called Do Something For Me. It can be heard at the following link: https://www.group-harmony.com/warm.htm. An good website for anyone interested in group harmony vocal groups from the 1940s through to the late 50s. Clyde was a big influence of Smokey Robinson and other singers using a high tenor voice; while Roy Hamilton influenced Solomon Burke, Brook Benton and others with a slightly lower tenor or baritone.

Fascinating subject, but would have to go along with the consensus that soul music developed rather than one record causing a big bang, and inventing soul. Early Clyde McPhatter with the Dominoes (Do Something To Me) is very soulful. Also Little Willie John, tracks like Need Your Love So Bad, sadly he seems to have been forgotten or ignored. I often hear tracks at the soul nights I go to by groups like the Del Vikings, Dubs, etc. They were big groups in the doowop style in the 50s, but changed their style to something slightly Drifterish, hoping to have a hit I imagine. Just like all those Northern records we love that took Motown as a template but altered it and made it their own. Think by James Brown has been referred to, but the original is by the 5 Royals of Catch That Teardrop fame, they also did Dedicated To The One I Love before the Shirelles and the Mamas and Papas, as soulful as early James Brown. Sam Cooke had a great soulful voice, but his earlier hits were let down by the backings, especially the vocal group. Seemed to get better just before he died. Kent did 3 CDs on the Birth Of Soul, with Dave Godin. Reckon there is scope for more.

Don't they want a fiver to get in? As it is a bit of a dive that's cheeky imo.

"I also remember dad going to the Lycium Ballroom reggae nights (can't recall where that was though, somewhere in North London I think)" Would that have been the Lyceum ballroom in the Strand? When I used to go to the Mod clubs in the West End circa 63-66, ska was played, but it was called Bluebeat, after the record label. Generally the occasional record, not long sets of it. However it was obviously different in clubs where the majority of patrons were of West Indian descent. I remember going to a club in Lewisham with a mate, a fair trek for me from north London, and being disappointed that it was Bluebeat almost all the evening. At Mod clubs the records I principally remember are the Folks Brothers' Carolina and Prince Buster's Madness, etc. Also Gypsy Woman by Derrick and Patsy. Obviously loads of others played, but memory lets me down. I saw Prince Buster when he appeared at the Marquee (66 or 67) but was disappointed. Perhaps he didn't have the same musicians as on his records, loved those slightly off key trumpets. I noticed that from 66 onwards various clubs seemed to be playing far more Bluebeat (or ska) than soul, I remember the Flamingo one night like that. Also when the Scene reopened after being shut due to drug raids it went over mainly to ska. Manor House Bluesville did the same, but much later. I stopped going to those clubs because of that, don't mind a bit of ska, but after about 3 records I've had enough in a club. My recollection is that most of my friends bought soul records, and the occasional ska, but others may have done the opposite. I vaguely remember reading that Richard Searling was originally into ska before soul.

Don't think he ever made a bad record, though not so keen on show type numbers. My two top favourites are I Want You and I'm Gonna Give You Respect. Still rate What's Going On as the best soul album ever. And Come Get To This always pulls me on to the dance floor.