bobkayli

France Today they have the big march in Paris. I lived there for many years so feel a big connect with the Parisiens so please indulge me for just this once: JE SUIS CHARLIE

Well where is it then?!! we need the picture!!

France

I feel a bit of an orphan compared to many of the above in that much of my early interest was self-made. A friend told me about how great Tamla was so I bought Motown Chrtbusters Vol 5 back in the day. He went off into progressive music but I was infected. From then on the influences were the local record shop Janes and Adams who tried to stock soul for me, then Blues and Soul and Black Music magazines when I discovered them and pushed Northern onto my agenda. living abroad for many years, French and BElgian record dealers such as Daniel Delorme, William Berrebi, Patrick Benassia, Marcel Moersman were great influences. Piers Chambers is probably the closest dealer from a UK viewpoint. my wife Rachael encourages and supports me liking the music but also telling me to buy that record that I think is too expensive saying that I'll always regret not following my 'me moments' as she calls them. today living back in the UK, the combination of sites such as this, visits to record fairs around Europe and occasionally the U.S. and weekenders at Prestatyn, Brid and Skeggy are the bedrock.

France Four Tops jukebox/promo issue of Is There Anything That I Can Do. Song also issued as part of a 4 track EP.

Spain

Canada

France Willie Hutch promo only with no picture sleeve one of my favourite 45s to celebrate Christmas

Belgium sleeve with UK Oriole vinyl picked up for a song at Utrecht Megabeurs yesterday along with other five Orioles issued in Belgium. Sometimes life can be sweet!

France, stonking EP from their Soul Superman LP even if no I'm Not Built That Way

France I Feel So Bad

France

France

A really good night at the Reading Showcase. The film was shown in the largest hall in the cinema and was full except for the front rows. Like stepping back in time with probably around 300 plus in the audience. Good mix of Northern soulies, mods, scooter club and a few along for the experience. Saw several people we recognised from weekenders all over the country. A really nice feel about the place. The film captured the atmosphere and attitudes of the time very well even down to the copies of Blues & Soul and buying job lots of records from the shop in the famous inside back cover feature. Attention to detail of many features of life at the time was also to be commended including the old lock on the telephone to stop the children using it were lovely touches. The film was basically a meander through teenage rites of passage with all of the obvious stops but was done at a fast pace so the audience was held throughout. The class room scenes were well done with Steve Coogan playing the teacher. The home scenes were also well conveyed with Lisa Stansfield playing mum to a teenager and Ricky Tomlinson being granddad in the care home. The characters were a bit one dimensional but maybe this is appropriate since it was trying to capture the all-consuming nature of the music. This it brought out well. The storyline overplayed the drug scene but that was maybe necessary to carry it as a film. Raw and uncompromising, it also showed the gritty nature of life at the time which someone described as seedy, which, looking back, is probably a true reflection of life in the early 70s for many. I've held off writing on the music so far but have to say it was brilliant and well-chosen. Several times I wanted to get up and move. The audience contained itself from jumping up several times as some great music and dancing was seen. The underground nature and almost alienation from 'non-believers' was also well drawn-put in the movie making it self-contained for the lover of the music. The main dance hall was a good portrayal of the Casino. Incredibly as a first to my knowledge, the audience remained seated and attentive through the credits at the end of the film as Turning My Heartbeat Up was played. No-one moved. They then burst into applause as the credits rolled. A really worthwhile exercise which I guess will go down as a definitive film of the Northern Soul scene, warts and all. Clearly written and produced by people with a knowledge and passion for the scene. Some timing errors, for example I don't think Marvin Gaye's Love Starved Heart Of Mine was around in the early 70's, but I'm being picky now. A really enjoyable evening rounded off a jig and a pint at my local pub which had a soul, Motown and reggae night

Reading Showcase on Saturday night booked for me and the missus. Her wedding anniversary treat although she doesn't see it that way. The offer of a day shopping in London won her round. Never thought I would say this but I'm really looking forward to it as much as a good all-nighter. imagine that there will be other soulies there so I think the atmosphere will be tops. Being in the south and needing to live up to the stereotypes, I'm not sure what to wear, are clogs de rigeur?

country music loses me when they start yodelling. that said, there is a lot for a soulie to like in country music. Dolly Parton sings love gone bad songs with all the feeling of a soul singer and there are many others besides. northern Soul also is apt to borrow from country when it suits. Roy Hamilton, Barbara Mills, Betty O'Brien all having 45s well loved on the scene. bobby Womack also handles country music well without losing his identity. my dad was a country lover but I found his love of Jim Reeves a step too far. the link reads like a soulie torn between his love of the music and the love of his girlfriend. Balancing the two is a challenge I guess most of us have to come to terms with. A mint first pressing of Sam Dees Lonely For You Baby would test me. Fortunately my wife likes it too so it will never come to that.

France Looking at Alan's post with Gladys Knight EP and Mal's post with Maxine Brown EP, I will dig out the picture sleeves for these when i have a moment.

France, includes Run Away on side 2

Should've mentioned also that the other tracks on the Paul Sindab EP are I'm Uptight, Do watcha wanna do and You Dropped Your Candy

French Everything's gonna Be Alright

Completely agree. I also wrote to Butlins to complain about the heat. we also spoke to staff to understand why the overhead fans weren't on and they said they were broken. Let's keep in touch on this cos I feel strongly about the heat issue especially since these guys aren't getting any younger and it would be devastating if something worse happened to these guys who we all love.

Back from Skeggy today. Trying to pick out interesting sleeves from my collection which haven't already been on here, It's not easy because this a cracking thread. France again:

We were right in front of him by the stage on the dance floor when it happened. It was incredibly hot. In the middle of Love On The Losing Side he perched on his stool and shut his eyes. The song carried on with him sat there. when it finished Diane Shaw came across and then they realised he wasn't well. He was helped off stage. He didn't collapse, he just stopped and always seemed conscious sat on his stool. Heat exhaustion seemed the likeliest explanation because it was mafting there. he came back on for the finale with Dean Parrish to an incredible reception which brought him to tears. He then sang and chatted up the ladies like his old self so apparently over the moment. I think he must have been putting on a brave face, professional performer as he is. Everybody loved him for it. I wish him well like I'm sure everyone on this site does.

France

an early Berry Gordy related EP from France