Dayo

Now that really is the end of an era. Massive kudos and appreciation to Brian Mathew and giant of the broadcasting world. Wonder if he's got any demos for sale.....;-)

As an aside, one of the first records I ever bought - just snuck in before it was deleted. Can't help feeling this would be the biggest crossover record of all time, if it hadn't been so well known. What a tune! Reckon my copy would sound even better if it was on a scroll top demo. Yummy!

I saw Al Green at the height of his campy, sexy pomp - must have been 72. Birmingham Odeon. Thought I'd died and gone to soul heaven. Lucky enough to see him again doing a gospel set in London in the late eighties and it was different but equally wonderful. Last time I saw him was about 8 years ago at the NEC and it was so cringeworthy - just awful. So the answer is Al Green 72. Special mention for Edwin Starr. He had a one of a kind connection with us soulies.

What an awesome record it is too! Perfect!

First heard the Del Larks at a Whitchurch allayer in 74 - Levine played it.

Has to be Duke Browner. Yes, I know it's a cliche, but it was the first sound I heard at a "proper"northern do (Top Rank Hanley early 73) and yes the seemingly random claps in unison just blew my mind. I knew I was part of something very special. Other biggies that day? Bob Relf, Clara Ward, Rat Race, Jerry Williams, Howard Guyton.... I could go on and on, but Duke was the first I think.

Would this be an appropriate moment to share this little sunshine pop gem that's been lurking in the darkest corners of my record box since it was a new release? I'm not suggesting it's a northern dancer, not by any stretch -but there are one or two elements in there that make me think of Wigan in 73. It's all wrong really. You'll probably hate it, but I've got an inexplicable soft spot for it.

Well that's that theory gone then! Why did I assume it was LA? What a thundering baseline it is.

Can't say much about this debate but I reckon CK must have played on dozens of NS classics cut in LA. Dana Valery, anyone? That's a Wrecking Crew track if I ever I heard one.

I'm not sure that Sonny was technically the greatest singer but he had an instantly recognisable voice with great soul and personality. Up and Down The Ladder was always a huge favourite, but Check Yourself wasn't far behind. RIP soul man.

Mecca spin - definitely - though not especially huge.

Now this is sad, sad news. Chess was arguably the greatest label in the history of black music. RIP

So many memories. Lots of trips on the coach from Worcester with the obligatory stop at Knutsford for supplies. Remember coming back from Va Va's to Worcester by train once. Me and my mate Jim Reeves fell asleep and woke up freezing, lost, lonely and abandoned in some railway sidings near Crewe. Before I could drive, Dick Warburton from Malvern was kind enough to take me round loads of places in his Triumph Vitesse. First car I'd ever been in that could do a ton. Lovely car that, even if it did rattle and shake a bit when the needle touched 100. Scary as hell. Wish I knew what happened to him. A great guy; known for his "right-on" single leather driving glove and passion for Larry Laster.

Sirs The other day I was enjoying my usual superfood salad down at Prezzos when - imagine my surprise - I heard the familiar lolloping beat of Jacky Beavers singing that he needs his baby over the restaurant sound system. Fast forward a few days and there I was again. This time tucking into a Calzone when my ears pricked up at an unfamiliar mid-tempo Supremes type thing. I may have missed a couple of decades of the Soul Scene, but I'm no slouch when it comes to Shazam, and having located the speaker I set the app into action. Bing Bong! In came the result: Your kind ain't no good by the Mirettes! Now I realise there is more than one closet NS fan lurking at the BBC judging by the amount of stompers that turn up on daytime TV (the only reason I watch Bargain Hunt - honest), but will the person who programs the background music for Prezzos stand up and take a bow? I never thought I'd hear a track that's completely new to me at the local pizza place!

I must confess that The Crow sounded perfectly proper at Blackpool in 74; didn't mind it at all - great energy even if it is pop/psych. If I recall, Dave Godin was tipping it big time too. I can see why it would rub some people up the wrong way though.

The original US Motown design (with the road map) has not and cannot be bettered ;-)

FL Moore was my first list too. And the first imports I bought? This old heart - Tammi Terrell and Girls Girls Girls - Chuck Jackson. The magic of holding those magically colourful Motown imports for the first time was exquisite. I remember he had a copy of Little Johnny Taylor Zig Zag Lightening for 30 bob. I may even have that list somewhere.

I'm the one to do it? A top ten record! The better side for me. Sublime. Records that just didn't do it for me - in fact, they all make me feel slightly uncomfortable for some reason (even to this day): Let's copp a groove - Bobby Wells, Sho nuff got a good thing - JJ Jackson, Don't let it happen to you - Benny Harper.

Yes, Len. My memory may be failing but I stand by that comment. How many of us had heard the Maxine Brown track before that compilation? Ok, there were a couple of duffers (Luv Bugs, anyone?) but it was chock full of goodies for the time.

So, it wasn't on the Solid Soul Sensations album? Bloody hell, I sometimes joke about my memory issues but I would have bet my house on that being the case. I guess the whole point of the thread is redundant then! Sorry to send you guys down a blind alley. It was a great album though!

Yes but the DelLarks definitely had its moment in the sun before it was pressed. Like many that year, it was all too brief. Same with Gwen Owens. Don't recall hearing the Ivories before the LP came out though....

It's hard to imagine a better Northern Soul record. Sublime arrangement, lead vocal to die for, wonderful lyrics and a crashing beat - dance floor and soul perfection. But.... Was it ever really big? Hands up if you knew it before the Levine album came out? It was unknown to me at that time (not saying much, perhaps). Was it ever a big, in-demand tune before Solid Soul Sensations?

So many treasures have been unearthed this way; it's really helped to keep the scene alive and old codgers like me still interested. I think the one that absolutely stopped me dead in my tracks was the first time I heard Maxine Brown's Torture. Probably over-played and done to death now, but boy that record has everything! I wonder how Ady felt the first time that tape got loaded and played. Must have been exquisite.

Got mine in a soul pack for sure. And didn't it get an issue in the UK on Monument too?

Bob Relf BMMTP was the first record I ever heard "up north" in 1973. My ears had an orgasm.