Mark R

Sharing with Pat and Elaine at Cleethorpes.................top people..............if you remember seeing two grown men in fancy dress pretending to fish with kiddies plastic fishing tackle in the swimming pool at Cleethorpes a few years ago, that was the the Clugstone brothers Cheers, Mark R

Should probably cross-post this on the Soulful House thread too (you'll see why with the record I'm gonna mention later and the point I'm making), you are now touching on the subject of what does actually get picked up on and played by jocks who are predominantly NS/crossover. The DJ Genesis cut you refer to above does very little for me, and yet it's got picked up and gone massive. I would say there are far better records worthy of attention than that. Below is an extract from my column for Soul Up North magazine last Autumn.............now whilst I am actually talking about a GOOD record here, you'll hopefully see the point I'm making.......kind of ties in to the bit of you post above I think: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Vince Montana Jr feat. William 'Smoke' Howard That's What Love Does (Original and Benedetti mix) (US Philly Sound Works CD-R) This track will be a monster on the UK modern soul scene, and deservedly so. From the legendary Vince Montana, this has all those old skool charms that ensure it huge success in the UK, with William 'Smoke' Howard of the Ebony's providing some rasping vocals. The original mix would have to be described as a piece of Philly heaven for fans of that sound. Louis Beneditti has been enlisted to beef it up for today's dance floors, whilst not detracting from that old skool feel of the original, which is an astute move. I just find it quite frustrating that the more conservative amongst us latch on to toons like this, with scant regard to the other half dozen latest soulful dance records worthy of attention. Still, if records like this steer them slowly in the right direction, I would have to concede that this is a positive thing. Available via www.traxsource.com, with a vinyl release imminent I believe. Massive!" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope I'm making sense!! Cheers, Mark R

Does Modern Soul suck?..................you decide: Details for my next guest show on Starpoint radio are as follows: 1st broadcast - Friday 19th May 11pm - 1am Repeats - Tuesday 23rd May 8am - 10am & Wendesday 24th May 12pm - 2pm. www.starpointradio.com Sky Digital Ch 0163 Hope some of you can join me for those choice new and recent releases! Cheers, Mark R

If you've been reading this thread, and wondering what all the fuss is about, join me on Starpoint radio to hear some recent Soulful House gems...............it's only a small part of the show, which encompasses ballads, mid-tempo dancers and soulful house............but it's quality stuff...........and all new releases. 1st broadcast - Friday 19th May 11pm - 1am Repeats - Tuesday 23rd May 8am - 10am & Wendesday 24th May 12pm - 2pm. www.starpointradio.com Sky Digital Ch 0163 Hope some of you can join me! Cheers, Mark R

Hi peeps...........details for my next guest show on Starpoint radio are as follows: 1st broadcast - Friday 19th May 11pm - 1am Repeats - Tuesday 23rd May 8am - 10am & Wendesday 24th May 12pm - 2pm. www.starpointradio.com Sky Digital Ch 0163 Hope some of you can join me for those choice new and recent releases! Cheers, Mark R

My first ever all nighter..............and my biggest record I came away with in my head after that night was Johnny Caswell "You Don't Love Me Anymore". January 21st 1983..................you don't forget dates like that Cheers, Mark R

The last couple of posts from Sean and Chalky are pretty well spot on!! Cheers, Mark R

Agree 100% with that Rog..............that would be my justification of why I would expect newer releases in a Northern room as opposed to Northern in a new release room. Cheers, Mark R

Of course it's all shit.......burn it!!!!!! Cheers, Mark R

https://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/217437-01.htm

I know............I'm not denying the part that insts have to play...............I'm just thinking that some people that dismiss other genre's to easily might have selective memories when they do so on the basis of what's "soul" music. The record in question is part of a scene, but not particularly soulful. Two great records you mentioned there BTW............know your stuff don't you..................wasn't aware that Bambu got played anywhere particular, so that's how much I know ..................as for Star Suite..........that was one of 4 15+ minute records I remember using on radio a few Prestatyns ago when my voice was shot on the Sunday evening..............see, they have their uses........more music, less talking Cheers, Mark R

And I totally agree Russ...............just like it's the "N" word that's the issue with NS.............as some of the guys have already stated, NS has become the name for a sound/lifestyle, and as long as folk realise that, then fine. Hell, there was a thread not long back about the merits of Willie Mitchells "Champion".............if that's more to do with soul than that new Kenny Bobien platter on Loveslap! then I'll eat me slip mats!! Cheers, Mark R

I was about to say the same Dodge, but for some reason couln't get that statement up in quotes!! What I was actually going to say was................I try to be a diplomat, me.................but on this occassion I can't be...............that statement is simply ridiculous!!! Cheers, Mark R

Matt................look no further than tomorrow night...............www.solarradio.com........10pm-midnight. Paul Phillips plays the creme of this genre IMVHO!! Cheers mate, Mark

I don't Dave............as I've explained........I've perhaps expanded on the original post fella........my points are slightly different I think. P.S. for anyone into the genre, listen to the new Kenny Bobien on Loveslap!...........in either of it's mixes..........phew!!! ..............https://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/217437-01.htm&highlight=loveslap Cheers, Mark R

Mate..............with resect..........please don't think that what you hear in the High Street is what we are talking about here............it almost certainly is NOT.............I'm not asking you to like it..............it is these assumptions that give it a real negative press and put people off. Cheers, Mark R

Should make it clear.................from my perspective, I wasn't suggesting that anyone SHOULD like house, or even if they did, that they SHOULD want it played in Northern rooms...........so maybe I went off the original point. It is the denial that soulful music has evolved into where we are today that winds me up............whether you like it or not is your choice.....fine. It always shocks me that some guys I talk to from the Northern scene think about 70's music when you mention Modern Soul.................it's like the last 20 years doesn't exist!! Thankfully from the replies to this thread so far, it seems that most involved here do appreciate what is being discussed, even though they may not care for it. I have to say that it is generally the 60's/70's fans that tell me modern soul (not just house) isn't real soul music.................to which my answer is always......."well, ask yourself the question............are you a soul fan, or are you a Northern Soul fan?" There is a difference...........I don't care which you consider yourself, but if it's the latter, then don't presume to tell me what soul music is just because it doesn't fit with your perception!! I'm sure that I don't need anyone to tell me what soul music is..............but equally, I'm sure you all know what you like too! Respect, Mark R

Well, where do you start................I'm gonna keep it short or I'll be typing all day.............if you don't think that the quality end of the soulful dance spectrum isn't an evolution of the soul of the past then you are listening to the wrong records!! As someone I know and respect pointed out on a different forum recently, the music many of you guys are possibly using as a benchmark (perhaps what you hear when going thru town on Saturday night??) means as much to the likes of Louie Vega and Blaze as it does to you...............i.e. nothing!! As for it all sounding the same..............do me a favour...............so the typical backing on Motown tracks didn't have the same formularic sound???..............yeah, right...........and get over this "comes from a computer" thing.........times have changed.............people can't employ a 30 piece orchestra these days.............when the electronic thing's done right, you'll know! If you're not on the dance floor, listen beyond that beat anyway, and I'm sure some of you will "feel it". In terms of it's relevance to the Northern Scene...........well, I'm not gonna try and tell anybody they should like the music.............I do, and that's good enough for me................but, the music aside, just ponder this: - up-tempo danceable underground music form NY, Chicago, West Coast etc, etc. - occasionally sounding raw and under-produced - tiny independant labels - limited pressing runs (even the most popular stuff is relatively scarce when considering a world audience) - W/L promo's etc, etc . . . ..............sound familiar??? As I say......I'm not telling anyone they should like it, but don't deny it's place in the evolution of soulful black music, because that relly is doing it an in-justice. And all this is from someone with his roots in the NS scene who can still appreciate the music he started out on! Respect to all, Mark R

Warped means it could be any shape...........dished means exactly what it infers...........the centre section is lower than the outer section (or higher, depending which way up you have it!!), but other than that probably quite uniform around it's circumference...............if you think a dished 7" is fun, imagine what a dished 12" is like.............cueing a lightweight vinyl, dished 12" is no fun at all!!! Cheers, Mark R