Soul-slider

During the Ska/Rocksteady period of 1965-1968 when I was living in Hackney, East London (I was only a nipper), my dad got friendly with a Jamaican guy who they used to call 'The King Of The Darkies'...his words, not mine! This guy couldn't drive and asked me dad to drive him around in exchange for money....rather like a personal taxi driver I suppose. Suffice to say, dad got invited to 'blues parties' around the Hackney area....he say's there were white people at these parties but many were women....mmmmm. I also remember dad going to the Lycium Ballroom reggae nights (can't recall where that was though, somewhere in North London I think) and that must have been around 1968/69 and saying it was full of 'yobbos'. So I guess that must have been the skinheads. Anyway, dad amassed a collection of Blue Beats, Island, Doctor Bird etc which he'd pick up at these parties, many from off the floor (some even have stilletoe prints indented in them!). When we moved to Norfolk, he stuck all his records (including some real shite, Rock n Roll & Soul) in our garage where they remained, getting mouldy and damp for years! When he buggered off with some tart, I was already into Northern Soul and begining to also get into the Two-Tone sound (1979/80)....remembering those Blue Beats still in the garage I plundered them and so started a healthy collection of ska/rocksteady/reggae alongside my Northern Soul. The gang I hung around with were all skinheads/rudies and I remember we were all into both sounds (soul & ska). Still am and still wear a crombie! Pete Smith knows the score!

'Jimmy Steward Jr. - CONVINCE ME - Coral' RnB/Northern Thumper of the highest order! Only seen demo's.

Cissy Houston...aunt of the more famous Whitney. (And I believe also related to Dionne Warwick).

8. Just Do The Best You Can - can't think of artists at the moment, male group/singer.

Website nice and fast on my pc...Perhaps your 'reel to reel' is getting a bit of residue on it Dan! Seriously, it looks great and i'm gonna order the first issue, how much is postage to the UK?

Hi Pete, Whats the story on The CROWNS? I have their album on Pama and the sleeve notes state that they're from Brooklyn N.Y, but upon hearing it they sound very British (not just the backing music either). I don't suppose they are the same group who had a couple of Northern tunes.....'Better Luck Next Time' one I seem to recall, are they?

Everything on Pama is worth a bit! Even that!

No

Personally, if it's cash only we're talking about I'd stop if it was more than, say £100. Unless trades were involved then i'll stretch...£300ish

My mate Ian got one from ebay (about a month or so back) under my recommendation. He loves their version, and far cheaper than the Stoppers although it is just as rare if not rarer. Well I like Thee Midniters stuff anyway.

Completely agree with your observations Baz, some soulies are very paranoid , I've had conversations with non soulies who've never heard the music before think it's really great and catchy and want to hear more. I can remember when the 'Soul Patrol' was on the Johnny Vaughn (who is into Soul, by the way) show and a few blokes at work the next day said it was great and they loved the Northern Soul dancers and thought the music was good. Anyway, I think youngsters, especially today are very tolerant of any underground musical scene and are keen to learn. Not the silly little teenage girls cacked in make-up (my 2 daughters for a start!) but lads who are into Hip-Hop etc....believe me, they know who Curtis Mayfield, Impressions, O'Jays....blah blah are that's for sure. Northern Soul encompasses a vast array of styles and to be honest, some does sound dated, but you blast Luther Ingram 'If It's All The same To You Babe' out of the speakers and tell me anyone who's half hip (dated word!!??) doesn't feel the quality, a quality that will never date no matter how many musical styles they invent! Soul is a very hip, happening, dope, phat, bad...(or whatever word you choose to describe it by, young or old) musical genre. Quality always shines through! But...I can see how some of the great unwashed perceive Northern Soul, I remember a mate of mine convincing these two lovely ladies we met in a local pub to accompany us to an all-nighter, I presume they thought "ooh, some dancing to soul music, sounds alright".... they paid their entrance fee (about £8) and got the shock of their lives! They did like the music but couldn't understand the dancing! Suffice to say we didn't get our legs over that night!!!!

Got my name down too. about $59 which is roughly £25/30, but its weight might bump the postage up, unless of course they get some distributed to the UK. August 4th (ish) according to the author, if he is on soulsource (and he damn well should be!) maybe he'll spot this thread and let us know for sure....

When reading the notes for the book, the author say's that for most of these groups 'Soul' & 'RnB' music was the order of the day, so I guess you're right. I have at least 4 different singles by groups calling themselves 'The Soul Brothers'....

Check out the 2 CDs which come with the book, some Northern Soul rarities on them!

'Kim Weston - The Motown Anthology'

Presume its a piece of glass on a flat base which heats up when plugged in?

Keep clicking....some of these bands share the same names as some black groups, I mean, surely 'The Attractions' aint the same group on Bell / De-To are they? 'Cavaliers' surely not the RCA group? And what about 'The Fourteen Feet Of Soul'!!!! Who the hell are they...anyone know anything by them? I gotta here it! 'Doug Clark & The Hot Nuts' what a name! but these are a black group even though their name sounds white! 'Soul Inc.' are they the guys on Golden Eye? (Soul Bros Inc?) If you keep looking there is a fab pic of the Oxford Nights...all looking like Mr. E. Humperdink!!!

Isley Brothers - 'Little Miss Sweetness' UK only 45 flip (TMG 708)

Check out this book and click where it says photos, you won't believe some of the stunning pics! www.heybabydays.com

I thought it was great too! Seem to recall seeing that baby on an advert last year or so but can't remember what it was for, nappies I suspect.

Didn't the Four Winds do 'Baked Beans, Good For The Heart' on Shattahoochie?

'I Really Need Your love So Desperately'....great Northern stormer on Date, mine's complete with a stunning pic sleeve! Herb Ward aint it?