Steve G

Maybe the first person to use the term "Modern soul" was a "beatnick" in a "duffell coat" describing the then new "Tamla Motown" releases c 1964. In all fairness whilst I think Sam coined the phrase (as he was writing to me and others about it before his article, and his article appeared at the taile end of 1980), he may have heard someone else mention it (e.g. the Collective). I certainly think his column was the first major "manifestation" of the term in "polite society". I am still in regular contact with the lad, but I'd wager that if I asked him a mixture of "modesty" and "LTML" (Long term memory loss) may not help us drill any further into this. Steve Edited

What's the history on this? - is it Jamaican originally. I got my AIrborne copy off of Mick too.

I've seen the "What's it gonna be" clip on DVD somewhere, but that doesn't detract from what is a fabulous piece of blue eyed soul.

Paul I should have mentioned the article title was: "MODERN SOUL SCENE" Steve

This would be consistent with my review of old Blackbeats. I can confirm the term was from SOUL SAM. I knew him from Wigan and he we corresponded between our paths crosing at all nighters etc such as Wigan in 1980 and Bedford Nite Spot. We were talking about modern soul records (Sam's phrase), and I encouraged him to write a column for Blackbeat. Before his column the talk was of "70's" sounds and I wrote a column headed up "80s sounds and New releases". Thus I conclude that whilst we were talking about the same records it was young Mr Barnfather who coined the phrase "Modern Soul". His first column was written at the end of 1980, and published on 15th March 1981 Issue 8. This would be entirely consistent with the Oak iN Shrewsbury timewise. I reprint parts of it here - this was Sam at his best.... "In this my first column I'll try to explain the current support for uptempo soul music, how I became involed and conclude with reviews of recent releases. Until virtually the present time the only venues programming new uptempo soul (as distinct from Jazz Funk) have been northern ones but the amount played has varied from Snaith (over 50%) to Wigan (10-20%). With the temporary demise of Snaith, my sacking from Wigan (for playing totally 70's and explaining my standpoint in a letter to Black Echoes) the percentage played is considerably less...... Not I believe through a lack of support from a sizeable minority, especially at Wigan, but the unwillingness of the majority to accept the inevitable - there must be acceptance of developments in black music on the rarer soul scene. Letters I've received from such widely scattered places...plus the people I already know suggest a large POTENTIAL following, which from others I've spoken to, could easily be swelled by more from the Jazz Funk scene who are into soul rather than exhibitionism!"..... Over 18 months ago while at John Anderson's SOUL BOWL I heard a tape with records on it like "Over the top" - James Mack, "I wanna spend some time with you" - Top Cat....in less than an hour I was hooked! These records HAD to be played, but it took months before I acquired such gems. For the first time in years I was buying records not only because as great dancers they were useful for DJ purposes, but were also tremendous to listen to at home or on car cassettes. I was really involved in the music again. Ever since I have made regular trips to obtain SOUL BOWL obscurities and more recently some from DAVE RAISTRICK and JOHN MANSHIP...... The very fact that the soulful quality of the vocals was so strong persuaded me to take a closer look at some of the more readily available major label 7" discs most of which came into the UK via Record Corner of Balham...or Soul Bowl. Avoiding Jazz Funk, apart from personal favourites, I soon found that week by week I was adding soulful uptempo items after hearing them at a shop in Wolverhampton (run by...Pep) which took Record Corner stock, in fact too many to playlist at once. These have included Alfie Davison....Dee Edwards, Chuck Strong, Charles Johnson....To me this is soul music for today; my interest as a collector has been renewed and judging from the number of copies some of the singles I have resold, others feel the same, realizing that high priced exclusiveness doesn't necessarily mean a great record!" He then concludes with a few reviews including Daybreak, Tony Fox, Emannuel Lasky etc. Signing off "Till next time remember SOUL KEEPS MOVIN'ON" So there you have it. Interesting other snippets from that Issue. There were planned Grapevine releases for Eddie Holman "Where I'm not wanted", a reissue of the Tomangoes (which had been withdrawn, Joe Matthews and the Superbs though John had told me that releases had been delayed until April 1981! Rod Dearlove wrote a colum (this was pre Midnite Express remember) where he is questioning a £2.50 pricetag on Jimmy Mack on Palmer and starts his column "After the recent Wigan split will Sam call it a day"..... Got that one well wrong, and if you think that was bad I was speculating that the Top Cat cover up which we were all trying to locate, infact Larry Houston, might be Ace Spectrum - what a mess and how little we knew! Steve

Bill & Ben are back too and they were definately victims of the PC brigade. Still common sense prevailed in the end. Wasn't the creator of P&P a Polish refugee or something?

Simon If you go back to the old Blackbeats - probably c Issue 11 when I first got Sam to write for us, I seem to recall he did an introductory article which referenced "Modern Soul" and gave an explanation of what he was doing. WIll have to try and dig it out tonight to check as we are talking 1980-1. Previous to that I had been corresponding (there's a term you don't hear anymore!) with Sam via the old Basildon Bond paper method and we had been discussing tips, new records etc. Will get back to you once I have searched my "archives"

Yup, Early days yet - first BIG test Sunday lunchtime with the arrival of L**DS at Chez Selhurst. We usually misfire on lunchtime kick offs, but hey 6 points in the bag at this point is better than three. I am sure Leicester will be fine once they get started.

I have often wondered whether the sax playing frog was one of the earliest influences that submiminally pointed me in the vague direction of soul music He was excellent, but then again I was a big P&P fan in my younger days. Didn't an early incarnation of the PC brigade have them taken off air? And I believe P&P also moonlighted on the B side to The French Fries "Dancez a la musique"?

...or more importantly the question of why the thread is showing pictures of TOMMY Hunt when it's talking about PIERRE Hunt. Tommy is an all round "good egg" BTW and a very good singer before anyone suggests I am being miserable!

And a few of them ended up here

God I hope not - a truly abyssmal record. I do have acopy and it has Pierre's business card in it - he was a real estate agent (estate agent) by day. Presumably he valued your gaff and left you his 45 by your record player.

Fabulous record. In my Top 10 Ballads of the 90s!

Do we know why it's under a different name?

Must have heard it at the Plinston Gr8 tune

Yes he can dance too. Earlier this year in Spain he was encouraged onto the dancefloor by the SPanish folks when I dropped "It's a shame" by the Spinners on the decks. Quite a nifty mover he was too.

He did a gr8 version of "Be thankful for what you got" in the 70s as well.

He still has them!!!

That's true - it was at a Miners Welfare hall too.

Baz there are a number of us after this - including myself, and SouL Sam.

Why have you found his records??? The address I have may be out of date now but here goes: Russ Winstanley c/o The Casino Club Station Road Wigan Lancs

Think rarest of the rare is a valuable reference, and interesting. The next one in the series is the "Best of the Best" - but hey, you know what we'll all start arguing about what's included / excluded at that point.

Partly, though how this "known copy" thing is actually calculated baffles me. Whilst dealers aren't sitting on stocks of 100 of any rare records, I don't know how anyone knows where all the copies of anything are, or put another way when some of these reviews of record collections was done. Can't remember anyone doing mine, unless it was when I was in the US - the missues did mention something about us being audited - didn't realise it was for records - and I don't think I am alone.

You've all forgotten "She's just a pretty thing...way hay hay" Interviewed him on 24-7 a few years ago, and that was the catalyst for him coming over to the UK - a commensurate professional he was too....having done his vinyl output, let's not forget his productions either on Andrew Williams Bamboo label, Wand, Mister Chand etc......I mark the old geezer on Corrie right - Gene Chandler a leg end indeed!

Agree - was in there Monday. Paul you can spend a day in there and a day in Beating Rhythm as well.