Thinksmart

Love Lights is also on a great modern soul compilation called 'Flying High' that also has a second volume. That CD, deleted yes, rare no. It was part of a series covering Mod, Skinhead etc.

Thanks Carl. Great to hear the music.

A few more recent great contemporary dance soul selections: Myles Sanko - Forever Dreaming (one of the best albums of recent years, every song is wonderful and seems to have been recorded live in the studio) Robin McKelle & The Flytones - Baby You're The Best Leon Bridges - Better Man The Revelations - Why When The Love Is Gone (yes the old soul hit) Jo Stance - Hey Girl (in case anyone missed it a couple of years ago) All of these carry the original Northern Soul soul sound naturally into this time. cheers Mark

Excellent. I didn't know this is coming. They balance classic and new soul production sympathetically. Giles Peterson played a track off the new album by The Monophonics that was fantastic the other day, think 1970s Buddah such as The Modulations. Possibly it was 'Too Late' but I can't be sure. I forgot to mention Soul Talk earlier, very good indeed and I look forward to when Ralph gets the Diplomats of Soul debut album done.

Get Expansions or Outta Sight on these for CD issue! The new Soul Life, Real Side etc CDs are great - we need a regular series now.

My son was playing me the new Snoop Dogg song with Charlie Wilson on it- it's basically modern soul with him lightly rapping. He's been going that way with appearances on Kem and Kindred The Family Soul. Interesting times!

Funnily enough Steve, I'd been ruminating on doing a post around this for a fair while. I've been in the soul dance scene for 33 years (how time flies!) and as I get older I find I'm increasingly interested in contemporary music being made in the style. As much as I enjoy Northern Soul and Modern Soul (and R&B, mod jazz, funk, soulful disco etc), it's great to hear new music. The issue for the northern soul-originated scene is as you say, the lack of rarity. The Prestatyn/Ralph Tee/Togetherness type events don't really seem to worry about that as it's the finding of the uptempo dance soul gems is where the reward comes in. It's obviously something different to Northern Soul (or is it) but doesn't really have (or perhaps need) a name. It was always true - an album or compilation with a load of average tracks then one or two wonderful anthems waiting for plays. I'm just glad to be enjoying new music and to have the odd track that my kids enjoy. While we're here a few more from checking a playlist of recent music: Tristan, Bluey, Don-E, Butch & Rhonda Coleman, Full Flava, Khari Cabral Simmons, Tom Glide, Muzart, Gianna, Personal Life, Tony Momrelle, Angela Johnson & Down To The Bone, Dira, Avery*Sunshine, McKoy, James Day, Victor Haynes, C. Robert Walker, Omar, Heston, Cool Million, SOS, Kloud 9, Frank McComb, Zo!, Leon Ware (still going strong), Jarrod Lawson, Papik, some Mario Bondi, Raphael Sadiiq I find this kind of soul blends well with the 1970s Modern Soul. Not all modern soul appeals, I'm not keen on the faux southern wailing stuff that's out a lot and crosses over to pop but there's room for all.

I think we're in the middle of a new great age for genuine soul music. There's loads coming from the USA and healthy artist growth across the world - Sweden, Australia, UK, it's all welcome. I'm buying as much new soul on CD (often that has tracks with the northern/modern sound in there on a few tracks) as I am old music. I almost daren't hear about any new artists or albums as there are so many to choose from. Thanks for posting these up too. My son is a huge hip-hop fan and we've found that as that music takes on much more soul influence recently there are artists now in the middle who seem to work across soul and modern urban music that appeal quite widely (without being the 90s style R&B) - such as Kem, Raheen DeVaughn, Kindred The Family Soul, Preston Glass, Anthony Hamilton, The Monophonics, Calvin Richardson, Kenya, Marc Staggers, Phil Perry, The Revelations, Anthony David, Eric Roberson, Incognito (still doing), Drizabone Soul Family (still going) to mention a few. Ronald Isley on the Kendrick Lamarr album had my son checking out classic Isley Brothers and Pharrell had him appreciating Curtis Mayfield. It's good. The best uptempo dance modern soul will hopefully get incorporated into the scene over time and the labels and definitions will blur as we all age and the youngsters don't have or need the same distinctions. (northern, modern, upfront, progressive - whatever, just good dance soul). It's sad to me there aren't nights around me focused on promoting a soul dance scene that incorporates the past but is focused on finding the best of the new as much. I love classic northern/funk/disco soul and discoveries but I'm keen on and want to dance to soul based dance music of all eras. Anyway for new soul music, there's a lot to enjoy.

RIP. Always adored 'Heart of a Child', a truly soulful dancer.

It is on 'Soul of Wigan Casino' CD from Goldmine. I collect all northern/modern soul or related CD releases and cannot see it on any other recent CDs in my database of tracks I have.

Conversely due to the loads of cheap compilations of out of copyright over 50 year old R&B almost all with an title related to NS there must be a generation emerging who perceive that as the proper sound!

A big month for releases of direct interest here- Sam Dees, Jimmy Holiday, George Jackson/Dan Greer, The Valentinos plus multiple 7"s. Always welcome anything on Money Records. Pure class!

Although a different scene, quality soulful disco / boogie (late slower disco) has a strong market. Soul Brother Records in London is worth a chat with, they buy and sell relevant vinyl of the era. https://www.soulbrother.com/

I'm looking forward to this!

Jay & The Americans 'Living Above Your Head' on TB now.

I have wondered this myself. I listen to a lot of NS influenced Modern Soul now and wonder how it will all compress into one scene and mutate onwards. The sound of 50s R&B is so different to later soul that I'm not sure that span will ever reconcile into one dancefloor. But it won't be our ears at the events and forming the playlists. Although I appreciate that many like the purity of 1960s based NS events, I'm personally a fan of fully across the board playlists which spread the overplayed classics out amongst music old and new to me from across the eras. Doesn't always work but enjoyable to hear when done right. A major worry outside the control of the scene that I foresee is the removal of sprung wooden dancefloors over the decades.

This Tony Blackburn show is good, being done live it seems. Songs that were popular but outside UK charts. Some I know, some I don't. Good sound on it. Love TB acknowledging he has made a living being annoying. Dion and The Fortunes sounded good. Love are on now.

Good spot, thanks.

Yes it's great so far.

Private Number on now. Not sure why but a nice track. Enders next surely. Show seems to be more about Texas in last quarter hour. So a welcome show, glad it was done. Fun to comment on. A bit more care needed on ensuring right versions. Hopefully it will inspire more. Actually that's it... No enders. Happy new year everyone.

But this is the area of interest for the forum. It's kind of what it is for...I'm sure she and Radio 2 won't be worrying about some view here. The only complaint I have is playing the Levine versions. Happy otherwise and it is welcome.

Self promotion time. Texas 'Black Eyed Boy'. Oh well.

The Radio 2 brief was probably to mix some recent hits in. If the show inspires something further investigation it is a good thing. 15 mins to go. Billy Butler Right Track f*cking awful Levine synth version. Destroys the value of the show along with FW. Why didn't someone check? It is Radio 2 FFS. Why didn't Sharleen herself do a listen through? No excuse ever for this. Genuine sacrilage. How can you say you love the music then play this shit version?

Yvonne Baker YDSAW. Can Chubby Checker YJDK be far behind? The Velvets. Get your soul clapping on! On a Velvet theme... How great would it be to have Velvet Satins next?

Indeed. Another was mentioned recently in another thread. Something like Tell Her could put people in hospital.