Chris Turnbull

Re. jazzy cabaret feel, how about something like Shelley Fisher's brilliant version of 'Girl I love you' (Dalya) - starts off fairly unpromisingly but shifts gear and ends up truly soulful - one of my absolute faves

Loved it since Parkers Manchester early 90's - wouldn't have had it down as crossover necessarily but a brilliant record

Definitely top 100 for me, also the sublime 'More than I can stand'

I would add to that tunes like The Attractions 'New girl in the neighbourhood' (Bell), the wonderful Jimmy Dotson 'Heartbreak Avenue' (Mercury), and Leon Haywood 'Consider the source' (Capitol), which of course has had lots of plays while not adhering to a traditional dance blueprint and should probably make a top 100

Bang on Peter, that would be well up in a top 100 IMO

Good shout Ivor, though the grittier Winner version gets my vote. Also on Twinight of course Annette Poindexter 'Wayward Dream', and the brilliant Notations 'A new day', arguably as good an example of the crossover sound as you would find

Just back in tonight and some brilliant responses, thanks all - will have a proper look tomorrow

Had forgotten 'What good am I' in particular, would deffo make a top 100 IMO in terms of most played, most loved, etc In fact would also include the brilliant 'Please heart, don't break' (Rampart Street)

Same here as previously stated

Great shout, love it Gwen McCrae 'Lead me on' (Columbia) and James Fry 'Still around' (Hi) would also get my vote on the more downbeat southern side

All three top tunes but I must admit only Jean Battle what I would class as crossover. Love the Eboney Essence version too

Woah, that is fantastic Ivor - completely passed me by - is it pukka? Certainly sounds the real deal. So good I had to post below. Brings to mind the wonderful Qunestine Strong 'One Hundred years from now', also below:-

You are right Ivor, I had forgotten the Southport weekenders etc Great tunes to add to the list BTW - had forgotten Tommie Young & Minits but prime examples

Bang on there - I have the excellent Voices article somewhere and will scan when I get a minute

Maybe the term was used that way back in the day but for me it represents tunes from the late 60's / early 70's that were mostly ignored before the 1990's because they had the wrong tempo Just modern soul at a northern night, nothing more

That's really interesting as I always took it to mean the crossover between the 1960's and 1970's, therefore records from that short period with their distinctive sound. Most of the records we have listed weren't played much, if at all, until the early 90's onwards. At that time with venues like Canal Tavern at the forefront I did see it as a new music scene (albeit under the umbrella of the northern and modern scenes) which then expanded with a whole load of 'across the board' venues like Pitches. Or Rhetta Hughes 'Cry myself to sleep' (Tetragrammaton) which of course was a huge play for Roger Banks late 90's

My original point was a poll of top crossover tunes of say the last 25 years (effectively since people started using the term crossover to define that the sound of that particular small era) - the biggest, most played, most loved, etc. I know there are thousands out there but which have been the biggest? A couple more good examples for me would be Stratoliners 'What do you want with my love' (Federal) which was massive for Butch for a time, or Ella Woods 'I need your love' (Merging), big everywhere for a while NB. who did coin the phrase 'crossover soul' - Rod Dearlove in Voices?

It's the bit between 60's and 70's soul i.e. 1968 - 1972. The three you mention IMO are more like early modern soul, too smooth and too late to be crossover. Turn of the decade stuff like Sonny Til 'Tears & Misery' or Elvin Spencer 'Lift this hurt' (Winner version) are much more what I would call classic examples of the genre, with that slightly jerky, funky beat common to a lot of the great crossover tunes.

Look forward to checking out a couple of the recommendations that I don't know - thanks folks Bobby Dukes one of my faves Forgot about Fantastics 'Where there's a will' (Impresario) - sold in a weak moment and regretted ever since Also a few more that spring to mind - George Wilson 'Here stands the man who needs you (Black Circle), Buddy Ace 'Pleasing you' (Paula), Hesitations 'Is this the way to treat a girl' (GWP), Nate Adams 'Why is it taking so long' (Atlantic), various versions of Colour him Father (either The Winstons or O C Smith's storming LP only version for me), and Charlie Hodges 'Loving you is beautiful'(Calla)

It's been a widely used sub-category for many years now, and to be fair when someone says a record is 'crossover' you have a good idea what to expect in terms of rhythm and style - usually quite different from typical northern or modern soul, so for me it justifies the tag

Fair points Dave - hadn't thought of any of this. Where would we be without a list though Wouldn't have thought of Room full of tears but do love it - also 'Baby take me back' on Modern of course

Wouldn't have thought of Buddy Smith but do love it Forgot about Darrell Banks 'I'm the one who loves you' (Volt) which would have to be well up there

Just been pondering in an idle moment, if someone did a Crossover Top 500 Poll (OK maybe 500 a tall order, so say 100) based on what have been the biggest, most played, most influential, most loved, etc, crossover tunes of the last 25 years (since it kind of took off as a sub-genre in its own right) what would be in it? If Frank Wilson is number one in the mythical Northern Soul top 500, what would be the crossover equivalent? Admittedly 'crossover' as a term can be hard to pin down, one man's crossover being another man's beat ballad, etc, but sticking to crossover in the broad sense of the late 60's - early 70's period between the classic 'on the fours' sixties sound and early modern soul / disco, what would people say have been the biggest and best? Twenty from me for starters, roughly in order as above:- Constellations - I don't know about you (Gemini Star) Jackie Wilson - Because of you (Brunswick) Ruby Andrews - Just loving you (Zodiac) Unique Blend - Yes I'm in love (Eastbound) Margie Joseph - One more chance (Volt) George Hughley - That's why I cry (Buddah) Bobby Reed - The time is right for love (Bell) Chuck Cockerham - Have I got a right (Mala) Willie Pickett - On the stage of life (Eastern) Virgil Henry - You ain't saying nothing new (Collossus) Ty Karim - Lightin' up (Romark) Willie Tee - First taste of hurt (Gatur) Milton Parker - Women like it harder (Closet) Richard Caiton - I like to get near you (Uptite) Guitar Ray - You're gonna wreck my life (Shagg) Just Bros - Go on and laugh (Butch) Natural Four - Hanging on to a lie (Boola Boola) The Differences - Five Minutes (Mon-ca) Sonny Til - Tears & Misery (RCA) Willie Hutch - Let's try it over again (RCA) John Edwards or James Phelps - The look on your face (Bell / Apache) Would make a great podcast Cheers, Chris.

Superb article and photos, thanks - really enjoyed reading. All that in a residential area - amazing to imagine Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder etc turning up

I haven't got three grand but would consider giving up a kidney