Dayo

Saw Marvin Gaye at the old Bingley Hall in Brum around '76. Not good.

Bloody hell - I was there! Completely forgot who the support was - thanks for that. About the same time I saw a fab double bill at the Odeon; The Temps and Jr. Walker. Great venue, comfy seats!

I belive Pete has his tongue only partly in his cheek. They were an amazing live band.

Hi Mirja - welcome to Soul Source. Personally I'd love to see Al Green. Saw him around 1972 when he was at his very best, then again in the early 90's when he did a gospel set; awesome. I've heard he's now singing some of the old hits again, so he'd be top of my list. Well, I'll never get to see Otis or Jackie....

Thanks Paul

Sat here doing a small mountain of tedious paperwork. My usual companion is solar radio, but for some reason I can't get it playing this afternoon. Server probs I guess. Anyone point me to another daytime soul music radio station that I can get online.... like now!? Doesn't have to be Northern. Thanks Colin

That may have more to do with PRS (songwriter's/publisher's royalties) than mechanical copyright (ie the recording). I'm sure others are more expert than me though. Colin

Joe Hicks - now that's a killer drum track!

Sounds dodgy. There is a link somewhere on the abay site that you can use to report scam emails etc. Col

My fave: Carolyn Crawford; Just Got To Be More Careful Col

Another man of taste - thanks Steve. She also gets my vote because I never once heard her cheat on a lyric or do any song that she didn't fully commit to. ATB to you too

Never knew he worked at Selecta. Quite a few well known soulies passed through there I guess.

To kick this debate off and close it at the same time: There's only one Gladys Knight. The true Queen Of Soul. Her contribution to our music and the longevity of her career make her second to none. Col

Just wanted to say hi to all the newbies and near-newbies that have posted in this thread. It can be frustrating to pop your head above the parapet and then have no-one acknowledge you, or your superb taste in music! so..... HI!

They erased my tape too - or to be more correct they stuck it into record mode and left it in the manager's office. On playback I could just make out saxie russell as the door opened and shut! Also had a pile of records nicked that day (including a UK Carl Douglas GO mint demo). Not a good day! Should have been though; every top name jock was there but only maybe 30 people showed up!

Obviously Freddie Jones and Estella Dennison are known cover-ups, but some of the songs in that Mecca ad may have been made up names and not even referring to any particular track. Soussan pressings were taking a lot of heat out of the scene in those days; anything you could do to put him off the scent or send him down a blind alley was considered fair game. Even wants lists sometimes featured fictitious records like I can't get enough by the Monk Higgin's Band. Well I assume it's a fictitious track.....

Lot of venues were littered with cassette recorders near the stage - lots of girls took them too. (I got my brand new Grundig confiscated by da management once at a near empty all dayer at the Heavy Steam Machine in Stoke). But Wigan was most definitely the most taped venue ever.

Agree. In fact the whole "Sophisticated Soul" album is worth a mention for it's sublime arrangements. Motown at it's very best. Someone mentioned the drumming on Dan Varner's classic. Powerhouse stuff and my girlfriends fave for that reason.

I'm almost sure I heard that distinctive drum intro sampled and looped on some hip hop thing last year. Given the label and artist, I still can't believe it took so long for that record to turn up and get played out.

You naughty lad! I pride myself on ordering it from Boots (PT109?) and having my girlfriend nick it for me when it came in

Just dug out Dee Dee Sharp, Standing in the need of love. Haven't heard it in yonks. Don't know if this Wheel monster ever gets played nowadays, but to me it's gorgeousness personified.

Jesse Fisher was a Midlands Monster around 74, probably big everywhere but my memory fails me. Breakout.. the ultimate Youth Club record in Worcester circa 72. Real handdbag stuff. Odd; hated it then, but love it now.

Thanks Linda - that's one for the faves

Love the drums. Really get off on killer percussion - and some of the guys that played on our anthems were simply awesome. I mean, we all love Motown for the driving beat, tasteful pick ups and awesome fills by Benny Benjamin, Richard "Pistol" Allen, George McGregor, Clifford Mack and even Marvin Gaye. But so many other great drummers graced our favourites, unsung for the most part. For example, can you imagine the Salvadors without those blinding drum fills and congas? Those guys was no journeymen. So.... Any other tracks that stand out for you just for the drumming alone? Off the top of my head: O'Jays - Working on your case (Snare that just cracks and fizzes. In fact, the early Gamble and Huff stuff was always stand out for the drumming imho) Robert Parker - Watch Your Step (Toms and Cymbals) Dana Valery - YDKWYIL (He doesn't do a lot, but the little fills towards the end still give me tingles) Colin

These days I'm loving My Heart Needs A Break equally as much as Just Can't Live My Life. Impossible to choose, but maybe the gorgeous harp in the latter just swings it.