Oh my god...the sixty four thousand dollar question, i've thought about this long and hard and i've kept it to the records i still hold in my collection as one or two already mentioned here i've moved on...lol so here goes........
George Blackwell - Can't Lose My Head - Smoke - Simply sums up the whole Northern Soul ethos, perfect gritty sexy vocal, awesome backbeat and backing vocals, proper Northern in every tradition.His voice just does something to me, without question this is what's it all about for me, mid 60's, thumping beat and a record with atmosphere...number one for me on any all time list.
Jimmy Burns - I Really Love You - Erica - As above proper Northern, this had to be in my top five, how i got, where i got, when i got it and who i got it from.....him....lol, is a magical tale, a very special record to me and one of the athems of the scene, pure Chicago magic.
The Volumes - That Same Old Feeling - Impact - For male vocal harmonies nothing else for me at least even comes close to this epic Detroit production, a true super group of the rare soul scene who made some stunning records but this is their masterpeice.
The Four Tracks - Like My Love For You - Mandingo - One word 'Awesome'
Bettye Lavette - Only Your Love Can Save Me - Calla - Simply the best female vocalist in the world, does me in everytime i play it.The lady has and is class so is this record, to sing about it you have to have lived it she has, the emotion, the power and oh the SOUL!!!!
Regards - Mark Bicknell.