Sean Hampsey

No but seriously - it does get my back up a bit because it's being told I must like something or I can't like soul music. I agree with you Pete, and I've often sided with you on this, on this very forum. I also hate 'plinky plonky' disco shite. It's not real SOUL and that (your) description is cock on! But... I reckon there MUST be tunes that are every bit as good as the Marvin Holmes, Life, Skullsnaps etc that weren't discovered during the 'Northern' heyday and that, if you (and others) were to hear them you'd love 'em just as much! Just can't think of any right now though What about my 'Uptempo Soul' track? Any good? Shades of Lou Pride? Anyone? Sean

Ditto Pete!

Yeh, and you lot get yours at Cleethorpes, Whitby & Brid! Any road up... ... what do we all think of this? Is it Northern? Is it Modern? Is it just a nice bit of uptempo Soul? Or what? Sean

Who rattled your zimmer frame?

Not keen on Chas & Dave, Simon. Far too Suvvern for us Northern Boys!

Now I know you're joking Simon. Never said such a thing Got thousands of early 60's Soul records. Love 'em! Especially the Slow uns! Sean

I think you'll find there'd be lots of Soul fans (including those who like 'Modern') who'd agree with you Bazza. I love 60's Soul. The GOLDEN period. Just nothing like it (IMO). Doesn't stop me liking, loving, or appreciating the newer stuff too though. Didn't realise that you had to come down on the side of one thing or the other, to be a Soul fan. Sean

And in any case, what you doing on here, Pete? This is a 'Modern' thread! Sean

Ah! but it's 'our music' too Pete. That is if it's Soul music we're talking about here. If, on the other hand, you're talking about that which masquerades in some quarters as 'Soul' then I think you'll find that Soul fans often do go elsewhere. Then again, most Soul nights (even the 'Northern' variety) have long since stopped playing the really embarrassing stuff that was deemed acceptable 30 odd years ago. I suppose it all hinges on whether one believes that the appreciation of Soul Music should be one of continuous revelation... or that it's to remain as a single tablet of stone based on the mid 70's chapter of the last four or five decades. If it's only that period which pleases you then good luck to you (as I said earlier). Sean

Thanks Pete, but I don't think it's a case of 'higher evolved species' its just that I'd been into Soul Music for a few years before I'd even heard the term 'Northern Soul' and, frankly, found a lot of what was played during the 'early / mid 70's' (that so many hold onto as the defining period) to be anything but Soul. I think that the open mindedness from such DJ's as Ian Levine, Colin Curtis, Richard Searling, Sam, Arthur, Poke etc who introduced a more 'Modern' style of music to the 'Northern scene' (because up until then it hadn't been available) did more good than harm at the end of the day and helped introduce more people still to the scene and to Soul music per se. Sean

Well if truth be told, mate, there's no such thing as a true Northern Soul record at all (unless we are talking about 'tailor mades' - made specifically for that scene)! The term is often misused to imply that its a type of music in itself (i.e. Country & Western, Blues, Jazz etc.). When Dave Godin coined the term he was referring to the 'scene' up north and the music played there - not the music in itself! (He often told me that he wished he'd never coined the phrase in the first place, that it had been abused and had strangled the progression of real Soul music in the UK). Since that's the case 'Northern Soul' can apply to virtually anything 'Soulful' played in the North! Those who subscribe to the notion that the definition can only apply to that music played on the 'Northern Soul Scene' during a particular 'snapshot' of the scene (i.e. the mid 70's) have a very narrow perspective and are hugely misguided. It follows that Music played 'on the scene' 'prior to' and 'post' the mid 70's are equally as viable and can equally befit the description... if one were open minded enough to accept that viewpoint. Sean

Good work guys! Awesome stuff. Awesome label! Sean

Yeh... especially if its about Jaibi, Ian. Sean

There's at least three plausible answers to the one question - and, even then, all are open to interpretation:- 1. The general (international) consensus on the term 'MODERN' Soul is any production post the 'CLASSIC' or 'GOLDEN' era of Soul Music (which, pretty much everyone agrees, was the sixties). 2. From a 'purist' perspective it's a term which can only be applied in a 'literal' sense to 'Current' soul music. I feel that (although it's a fair description of 'New' Soul Music) that approach is extremely limiting, almost impossible to build a 'scene' around and is consequently a minority (though perfectly accurate) viewpoint. 3. In a 'Northern Soul' context 'MODERN' Soul is, as Steve M describes, an offshoot (post Wigan) of the Northern scene, championed, largely, by Sam & Arthur - and aided and abetted by others! That said, nobody with any knowledge of Soul Music (in a UK Northern 'scene' context) could deny that such Post 'GOLDEN era' classics as Esther Phillips, Rodger Collins, Ernie Bush, Sisters Sledge etc were (at the time of release) every bit 'Northern Soul Scene' monsters... and should, therefore, be just as relevant to the 'Northern Scene' as, say, the Tomangoes, the Incredibles or Freddie Chavez... ... but only as oldies! Personally, I've always felt that those who favour music from all eras are truly fortunate. Who wouldn't want to be able to obtain the same amount of pleasure from 40-50 years of great music, as opposed to just the music from one decade? However, if individuals are happy to miss out (as so many seem to be) then good luck to em. Sean

Please note: The above is a blatant plug. In light of the oncoming bad times, any opportunity to promote should be ceased upon. Sean

Been there, done that, Ian. Remember PITCHES anyone? It was a SOUL night. Pure and simple. 50p records A Go Go! Airing on merit. Mixing it with the rarities and classics! Crowd had a ball. A true SOUL fans mecca. And they loved it. The good news is... we'll be back! Form an orderly queue if you just 'like good music!' Sean

Takes balls o' steel to say all that on here Ian - even if you are a 'Northern Soul' Leg End or Stalwart of sorts! Didn't tha know there's, nowadays, a set of 'RULES' in force? Not like when we were lads, just having a kick about in street! It's a bit like being int' football league. Thas got to play by rules. Tha can't be goin just playing good n' tasty Soul music we're ever tha likes! Tha's got to earn thi stripes wi payin' thru nose for t'old vinyl jobby's! Only proper stuff mind! We'll be having none of that there 'techno 'eresy' amongst us Northern Soul types. If t'old vinyl was good enough for me grandad, it's good enough for me (and thee) I'll have thi know! You couldn't make it up Ian. Well said, to all of the above! Sean

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnEKDPHBcbI...feature=related Go Rocky Go! Sean

Sean

Is Minnie Jones now indemand/pricey? Old Clifton hall spin of mine, early 80's, (it bombed) I'd fished it out of Rob Smiths boxes at the Windmill for 90p... and sold, soon after, for a fiver! Sean

Becoming a 'Hot Boxer' then Brian? Reckon you should put 'em out on a Yard Sale or Car Boot 'em. Give a few bargain hunters a Heart Attack! Good luck mate - If I think of any wants you'll be able to satisfy I'll be pm'ing you. Sean

Stax, Goldwax, Fame, Hi, Motown. Sean

Mr Dees told a very interesting story about this track (I'll share with you some time, if you don't know it already, Mike). Some luvverly records there mate. Sean

The 'other version' is Acetate only. An old 'one off' Thorne spin for Rod Dearlove. Surprised us all when we found the 'finished' mix on the Memphis Queen LP. Quality either way! Sean

1979/80 LP containing the awesome Crossover track "You Can't Fight What's Right". No idea of price. How much do you want it? Sean