Soul16

What a fascinating read this thread has turned out to be. You guys are a fountain of knowledge. Great stuff 👍 .

From my experience of what I've seen, I would say that Larry is the rarest version. I'd be keen to know how come there are two versions though.

Here’s a close up...😁

Surely, if you need dancing lessons, you ain't really feeling it. Howard Guyton - I watched you slowly swim away...

Northern - Seven day lover - James Fountain Modern - Heaven in the afternoon - Lew Kirton (12” version, because I love it)

As cringeworthy as it was last week, now I’ve got used to the idea, part of me is looking forward to it tomorrow! I’m as protective of ‘the scene’ as anyone else on here, but we also have a reputation for being a friendly bunch, so I’m gonna run with that attitude. Northern Soul stopped being a secret society decades ago, but the simple beauty of the music never fades for me. It could have been worse, at least he didn’t open up by dancing to Frank Wilson and demonstrated to the masses that there are more than two Northern Soul records in existence - the other one being The Snake...

If memory serves me correctly, I read somewhere (Record Collector mag?) that the BBC auctioned off a lot of vinyl for charity on a particular day in the 1990’s. DJ Mike Read was the auctioneer and did it for ‘free’, other than being paid in a few vinyl 45s from the BBC Radio 1 / 2 library - one of which was said to be Frankie and the Classicals on Philips.

That's how it used to be back in the day for sure. It still is for the more discerning of course. Sadly, with all the dodgy bootlegs that are apparently getting played out, it seems you don't need to travel anymore to hear your favourite tunes if you don't care about the format.

I can’t deny it, I have maybe 30 or so bootlegs (stored separately from my collection of originals, in order to avoid any cross-contamination😊), they’re all from the 1970’s when that was the only way of being able to listen to the music at home, either due to lack of access to, or inability to afford certain rare originals. The world has moved on, the Internet gives access to everyone that has the means to buy originals, but not only that, you can listen via streaming services, no need to clutter your house up with fake pieces of vinyl. Clearly, the Internet has also created a marketplace for ever more bootlegs for those that feel the need to buy such things. Given that Northern Soul is now quite trendy, there is of course a large customer base for bootleg 45s. As for the dancers, I’ve no doubt that some couldn’t care less about the medium from which the music is being played - that’s not what it’s about for some - they just want to go out and enjoy themselves, which is fine for them I guess. Northern Soul is the perfect vehicle for the over 50s and 60s to go out and let their hair down (if they’re lucky enough to have any). For now, I prefer to stay in and wash mine.

I may be mistaken, but we do seem to have this debate on the run up to Christmas every year on Soul Source! 😊 For me, it's very simple. There is no pleasure or pride in owning/playing a fake or bootleg. However, holding an original piece of rare vinyl in your hand (regardless of monetary value) is a great feeling. Northern Soul is so much more than having 'a good night on a full dancefloor'. It may seem a bit sad, but one of my favourite moments was when Ted Massey allowed me the privilege of handling his copy of George Pepp after he played it at the Station Hotel in Dudley in 1998. I've never forgotten it!

Boy, do I miss the 1980s and 1990s when the playing of originals at soul nights was assumed and the acronym OVO wasn't even a consideration for printing on your event flyer.

Agreed, the liner notes are great, as you would expect from Ace. I’ve been playing the CD in the car this week, nice stuff. 👍

Reviving an old thread I know, but at last, it looks like there's a really nice Ace compilation due next month. Even though I haven't bought a CD for years, this is a definite purchase for me 👍 https://acerecords.co.uk/yesterday-has-gone-the-songs-of-teddy-randazzo

I don't use Facebook, but to be honest I absolutely love the first two and still like the third one for nostalgic reasons. Makes a change from Al and Frank Wilson's outings being 'absolute favourites' on FB I guess...

There's definitely a blue vinyl one from the 1970's out there. I've got one on a jukebox.

As I said in my initial response, I don't know all the lyrics, in RED is the bit I've never been able to determine correctly. So here, just for you, are the (mostly) non gibberish lyrics : (She’s the queen of fools, she’s the queen of fools) Well I’m the queen of fools or so they say Yes I have, yes I (caught the VD??) only yesterday But now look at me and you will see The lonely but proud queen of fools. And I’m the fool they talk about Yes, I’m the one that you’re heart left out So now look at me and you will see The lonely but proud queen of fools. (She’s the queen of fools) Well you hurt the heart that loved you so Yes the one that cared the most, you finally let go So now take a bow and we’ll propose a toast To the lonely but proud queen of fools I’m the fool they talk about. Yes, I’m the one that you’re heart left out So now look at me and you will see, the lonely but proud queen of fools I’m the fool they talk about Yes I’m the fool... (Fade)

As I said in my original response ‘I don’t know all the lyrics to the song, but’ I was only trying to be of help!

I don’t know all the lyrics to the song, but some of the stuff written above looks like gibberish to me (Yes, you are that catch too much. So now let’s bond and we’ll drink up the toast. It’s my mind that your heart can’t have) Some of the lyrics definitely in the song, but not quoted in the post above are: ‘yes I’m the one, that your heart left out’ also ‘Well you hurt the heart that loved you so, yes the one that cared the most, you finally let go, so now take a bow and we’ll propose a toast, to the lonely but proud queen of fools’

I heard it when it was broadcast a few weeks ago, it caught my ear at the time too. Tried to ‘Shazam’ it, but it’s too far into the background and the main dialogue gets in the way. It sounded kind of 70’s, but my guess is that it’s a new recording.

Craig Moerer does it for $8.50, but as stated above, the sheer volume of sales may come into play. Currently waiting for a couple of 45s from him as it happens, just hope I don’t get stung for any customs charges. Never fully understood how it can be charged on used goods to be honest.

This is a favourite because it’s so laughably awful that whoever wrote it deserves a slap coz it’s so bad and a handshake for getting away with it. Jeez... ‘I don't want to see a ghost, It's a sight that I fear most I'd rather have a piece of toast And watch the evening news’ Having got that off my chest, my true favourite line soul-wise will always be: ’I’ve never had a single lesson, All this time, I’ve been guessin’ However, I could pick any lines from the verses in that song, the writers (Lewis - Lewis - Farmer) must have been pretty pleased with it 👍

It’s this one at the beginning of this video. I think it was credited to ‘The Inferno Orchestra’. A Keele floor filler back in the day.

You're muddying the waters! 😁 I think the OP may have been attempting to wind us all up a bit to be honest. This subject never fails to raise blood pressure.

OVO events should not need to be 'advertised' as has been suggested, it should be assumed - just like it used to be. Bootleg events however, should be clearly advertised as such, so that the discerning paying customer can see that the DJ/Promoter supports the guys that have recently been imprisoned and everything else illegal that goes with it.

Me and my wife backstage with Edwin Starr at Butlins in Minehead. Taken in 1990 or thereabouts.