Soulstu

Just two (of many!) - Brian Hyland's "The Joker Went Wild" and Charley Gracie's 'He'll Never Love You Like I Do'. Anybody asks me what northern soul sounds like I do not point them in the direction of these two so called 'records'.

MMM I like that Pete, not one for slower ones usually but that hits the spot.

US it is then, thanks for the info guys. I take Dave's point about the vinyl quality I guess they were all pressed by EMI? However, I want my records to really be evocative and have a real connection to where and when they were made. Sorry Pete, whaddo I know...didn't mean to insult UK collectors with such a sweeping and patronising statement.

Why tho? I may be a bit simple but (unless you are a UK issues collector) why on earth would you not buy the US original, like you say if they are cheaper. US singles are exotic, slightly other worldly, wonderful! UK singles remind me of black n white telly and tins of corned beef and Magpie.

Ok, so after many, many years in the CD and mp3 wilderness I'm buying northern and motown vinyl again. I've set myself a simple rule - 1st issues only and only records I really really like. Not planning to buy any UK issues. However I notice that people get quite hot under the collar and passionate about the UK black TMGs, particularly 500-599, and less so about original US Tamla, Gordy etc... See, I'm more excited about a Tamla, Soul, Gordy, Motown original, as I imagine that is the piece of vinyl you would walk out of a store with in Detroit in '65. So I see it as an original historical artefact as well as a cracking record. Is it a UK collector thing or as a general rule are the UK TMGs better - I've heard that the sound is clearer? Must admit the TMGs I've got are all pretty crisp - Stevie Wonder's I Was Made To Love Her is massively loud and powerful. So before I spend a lot of wedge on US Motown and not TMG, any of you knowledgable motown junkies think I'm making a big mistake? Your views'll be much appreciated and may help me decide which way to go. Cheers in advance, Stu ps Mike, I can't add any tags to this - are they disabled?

Brill! set to record! I love these BBC4 music docs.

OOh do you know something, that might be close!

Spooky...He was born in Mansfield (Ohio), I was born in....you know the rest!

Compared To What? Mr Flood's Party? Heard worse

Prefer the flip tho, don't you?

80s and 90s were low points for me - all my fickle mates drifted away from NS, leaving me high and dry. Goldmine CDs in the late 90s woke me back up and finally, FINALLY I'm buying vinyl again and off to my first NS do in April for 34 years.

Fair point Pete, I think after the Sharonettes, Paula Roussell etc I have a little bit of a downer on Black Magic - probably colours my judgement, all though I'm still not bothered about it - is this going off topic?!!

Don't get me wrong, I love J.J. Barnes to bits, but I'd have preferred it if he'd re-recorded the entire song rather than singing over a three year old backing track. Knowing that spoils it a bit for me Not much different from the 'Lorraine Chandler' version of Love You Baby, other than that was crap.... and not Lorraine Chandler. Actually that's not fair, JJB will always be a great record, just not quite a classic. See also the Inspirations re-issue with new vocals. Is it the rarity value that gets us more excited about the JJB version than we should be?

...and the astonishing thing is you can still pick up the 1st issue US original for £15-ish. It's got to be the ultimate cheapie. Imagine if only a few copies had been pressed - it would be the holy grail.

Hey Jim, Depends how much you'd love to own it. People think nowt of spending 5 and a half grand on a little second hand car ... or a kitchen. I think I'd prefer the Del Larks! (no I'm not putting a bid in!).

Darrell Banks for me too every time, although don't want to diss JJ too much as he had a great voice. Just prefer the timbre and phrasing of DB.

After all these years I'm forever coming across new stuff on Soul Source thanks to the links everyone puts up (including the above) - it's a constant source (ahem) of pleasure. I now have a massive list of wants that I'll never be able to complete! God look at the time - go to bed, Stu.

Anybody remember one called 'All Night Oldies' - 1977-ish? My made taped it for me when I was a kid and it had some crackers on it, all new to me at the time, It Ain't Necessary, Hide Nor Hair, Compared To What, I'lll Be There, Colalined Baby etc.. Played the tape so many times you could eventually hear the music on the other side being played backwards!

What it's all about - people coming together. Well done!

Today I'd ease in with: What's that On Your Finger - Willie Kendrick Don't Mess With Bill - Marvelettes I Don't Want To Hear it - Exits God this is hard - I can imagine the empty floor! - no wonder I'm not a DJ.... ask me again in ten minutes and it'd be three totally different ones. Total respect to the selectors.

The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game - Marvelettes of course - ends with a slow flourish - class track!

God, it was 'Rat Race' for me - Pleasley Verney Institute 'Tea-timer' (8.30 till 10), probably late '78. After the usual Judy Street, R Dean taylor etc.. Phil Cresswell the DJ slapped this on the decks and introduced it as a piece of 'heavy northern'. WOW! it sounded evil, mysterious, and weird... but great to a 14 year old. I can hear and feel it now, clear as day. Would love to have heard the first outing of 'Bari Track' wherever that was. Great thread ajb, should get some good memories from this one.

Pete, Ta for that - If you find the 'Bok' thread let me know cos it's bothered me for decades!

Yep - totally agree - an instrumental can sometimes have SO much atmosphere - and you can concentrate on the groove, the sound and the playing. btw 'BOK' to Bach.... 'BARI' Track where the hell do these titles come from? - would love to know. Top thread by the way.