Thinksmart

For those interested, this isn't out at Amazon until 24th so plenty of options from our independent Soul sources of choice to get it now. I've got all of this series except 2004 and 2006 which are out of print and comapratively expensive which is a shame. I may end up buying them for completeness at some stage.

The Great Pottery Throw Down thing seems to be used exactly the same music, same tracks even as last year, now it is on C4 not BBC. The first episode was The Creation, The Action and mid-sixities British early rock. Second one as you saw, was more Soul music.

I buy a huge amount of new Soul so agree fully on Durand Jones. Roy Ayers, yes indeed - what an incredible artist. My work makes it hard as it is so variable, but I should try with some of these concerts - as you say before it is too late.

I've never gone to one of these recent concerts by classic acts. I like recorded music much more than live, and also want to enjoy them thinking of them in their prime I guess. But then I'd like to support the acts and buy what new music is released by Soul acts - but the line ups are sometimes barely recognisable. I'm not talking about people like Richard Street of course, but recently drafted in singers who are grandson era of the originals. What is the line up for this tour across the two acts does anyone know? I admired The Impressions recently in saying 'that's it' and hopefully enjoying their retirement. I see the Isley Brothers are playing in Nottingham in their forthcoming tour, which will be the last I suppose. The tickets start at £50 but they haven't declined in quality musically. There's an interesting looking Funk concert too soon led by Pee Wee Ellis with Tony Remy on guitar. I was keen to Lamont Dozier before the concerts were cancelled - but I'd want to hear his solo work appreciated in UK most, which I doubt he performs given the mentions a while back (and barely mentions in his new book). What are people's thoughts about the tours of our classic, but now elderly acts? Do you go?

When are the earliest Soul scene specific Top 20 published lists in the relevant music magazines of the time? That will be intriguing. I'd guess '68/'69 if more specific than just a club plays one that would be wider than Soul.

I always enjoy his music releases every couple of years. The big question always seems to be, mono or stereo?

Happy New Year

Looks to be. Only compiled on one CD too, the Wigan 30 old Goldmine set.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000cl4q Tie in to their recent book. I am reading the Lamont Dozier one too, fairly superficial but still enjoyable.

A Merry Souful Christmas to everyone.

https://news.sky.com/story/kenny-lynch-up-on-the-roof-singer-and-carry-on-star-dies-11889653 Everyone in Northern Soul knows 'Moving Away' of course and possibly 'My Own Two Feet' (or Puff! and others) but he was much more. The first British songwriter working in the Brill Building, NY in the early 1960s, had a key Soho record shop with R&B/Soul imports, wrote for Small Faces, produced Mod bands such as The Action, The Boys and The Game in the mid-late 1960s. His early 1960s songs are great R&B/early Soul. Even had his Disco song with 'Half A Day Is Done And We Haven't Earned A Penny'. That's without his comedy, film and cabaret career of less relevance here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Lynch https://www.discogs.com/artist/88596-Kenny-Lynch

The new Lamont Dozier autobiography 'How Sweet It Is'has just been published. My copy arrives today. Looks a timely read alongside the recent HDH book, which I held off reading until I had both to enjoy over the Christmas break.

As a six minute track (and first song thier only album - brave move), the second half is an instrumental tour-de-force that could be extracted for plays in its own right, carrying on the '70s Philly tradition of Scrub Board and others. It builds like a Tom Moulton mix. Perfect played next to Eddie Holman's 'This Will Be A Night To Remember'.

Hi all, Playing Soul from my collection on shuffle during a long train journey the song 'Come On In' by Moment of Truth (Salsoul) came on. What an epic song that has everything. I hadn't picked up on it much before. Has/where/who this ever been played out much?

I look forward to reading this. Thanks for passing it along.

Thanks. Mostly very modern. My taste these days for listening, but how was it received on the floor?

Always enjoyed his songs on the scene and played them again recently across various CD compilations. RIP and thanks.

Thanks Chalky. I'm completely guessing that the licensing ran for only a period of time. The site hasn't been updated since 2016 on it.

I recently completed buying this series on CD at last. I wonder if the Toddlin' Town one will be released in future.

To answer one of the questions only sixteen years later - it is on the first Jack Ashford's Just Productions CDs by Kent Records.

When I got to know Rob Smith really well, he used to allow me up in the old, somewhat dangerous atrium. I used to sort the bags and piles of records to see if I could find anything he had not spotted he should sell separately or keep. I spent hours, sometimes days up there going through the endless piles and bags with a tiny record player there at one stage to play them on as I went through. After a while it got too dangerous and the safe area was much less. There was no record player then and I suspect the electrics up there were dodgy too. Those were very happy days indeed. I was just a kid but he told me labels to look out for and so on and I found some ace stuff tucked away. He gave me huge discounts and free cheap records for it. I would happily spend weeks going through vinyl. Something to get back too now I am in my fifties

I walked past the King John today which is being redeveloped along with the whole Broadmarsh area. The door was open as the workers had lunch and it is exactly the same inside still. Took me back! I remember the Milton's Head at Victoria Centre front - that became popular to go to as a less Mod revival pub, especially Saturday afternoon early 80s before we went off somewhere. I live not far from Dancing Slipper which is now an English and Maths training centre.

Available already and enjoying the album.

Thanks for posting. I like the mention of the 'Northern Soul Charts'. As we all know playlists would of been more accurate.

My HDH book arrived yesterday. Looks good.