Hi Roger I thought that after my last glib posting and sebsequently reading some of the excellent posts on this thread I'd drop a few more serious comments which (hopefully) reflect my view on the situation
Firstly, taking on board your comment re 'natural order' or 'progression'. After spending more time that i've done for a long time in Northern Rooms recently, i'm begin to wonder whether playing more 'Modern' in Northern rooms IS actually a logical, natural progression, i'm not sure. The Northern Scene has always IMHO been (mainly) about 60's music. It has survived nearly 40 years now on that basis and from what I can see, it can (and should) continue to do so. There is a wealth of great underplayed 60's soul music still out there waiting to have its day, some of the threads on this forum that confirm this and I can personally testify that I am still enjoying listening to and buying wonderful 60's Soul. What's more, judging by the members on this forum and their commitment to 60's (Northern) Soul, i'm not the only one. So, I guess what I am trying to say is that the 'Natural Order', should not be the 'Order' of significantly different music but the order of more of the same, (especially if the idea of a good 'modern' record is the Drifters or DJ Genisis rather than Peabo Bryson or Jamie lewis)
Now dont get me wrong, i've been convinced that more Modern should be played in the Northern rooms and i've long held the belief that 'Soulful House' in so many ways is the 'real' natural progession of Northern Soul (and probably will be one day, under a different
name and to a different generation) but that should NOT be to the detrement of the Northern Soul scene as we know it. Better the Northern Soul rooms should stay as they are; places where good quality Sixties Soul is played to a crowd who want it, appriciate it and more importantly love it. Change it now and you'll possibly lose it, forever.
IMHO Northern Rooms should not become the new Modern Rooms nor become Soulful Garages ;-) or whatever, because they will loose the very people who were in there who keep the fire burning week in week out.
The majority of pepole who are still into Soul Music in a big way (buying tracks or attending gigs etc.) have probably decided by now what kind of soul is their 'Soul' and in answer to your second question, have made their minds up where they wanna be. Ask your self the same question, when did you mark your preferences? I call then 'preferences', purposely, it doesn't mean to say your forsaken everything else but you just know where your 'first love' of Soul Music lies. Everyone has done it, they dont stop liking new music completely they just love old soul music more and visa versa.
And finally, Does Modern Soul Suck? Does it F%K!! - Real modern soul (new releases) and retro 'modern' soul for me is what it's all about everything from Gary Wallace to Gino Washington but it shouldn't be forced on those that dont particularily want to hear it, let alone REALLY listen to it.