Phil J

Typo …. ‘I’ve seen which a scene’ supposed to be ‘I’ve seen a scene’

Thanks for acknowledging that I have just as much validity to express an opinion as anyone else Peter! Your post plus one other gives me some hope that people out there are open minded and willing to accept other people have a view? I liked the one where the fella said I’m from Watford so what do I know? Let’s not forget the two most famous people of Watford, George Michael and Elton John, were massive Soul fans in their younger days albeit not northern Soul. As I suggested previously the northern soul organisation is just like any other, there’s the hierarchy of promoters, DJs and vinyl experts at the top of the pyramid and everyone else or the punters or the minions. Just like a football club is not a club without its fans you could say northern soul would be nothing without the punters. Some people feel it is a scene that cannot be described because you had to have been there. There’s been two movies, two touring plays plus numerous books and I feel creative people ought to be allowed to give their version of what their truth is. The books are mostly enjoyable (Although one or two focus in my opinion too much on the drug scene.) For me the scene was always about dancing, just like the Charleston and the Jitterbug that came before and the jazz funk and the street dance/breakdancing that came later I feel that’s the essence of the scene. Didn’t want to appear to be getting bogged down in academia or intellectualism (knowledge based) when really I feel it’s a scene all about feeling (emotion based) I’ve seen which a scene which can turn aggressive lads into dancers who sing along with some of the most emotional lyrics ever written - that’s got to be worth something! As for the person who said Ray Pollard should not be copied: there’s dozens of tribute bands up and down the country who imitate the Beatles, the stones, Coldplay, Bowie etc every weekend so why can’t people imitate Ray Pollard? For all we know he might even be flattered and honoured that someone should pay homage? I’ll end it how I started the thread. (Can’t believe there’s been 1 700 views!) All I was saying was isn’t it good how a bunch of musicians half our age somehow want to celebrate northern soul, possibly from a nostalgic angle (it’s prob something their parents were into) and that it held out some hope for the future continuation of the scene. KTF

Understand it? What like some sort of hierarchy do who are in on some sort of mystical secret!! A music genre/scene can be different things to different ppl, some will be geeks/anoraks who could tell you a record’s serial no., date of release, producer etc whereas others just want a bit of escapism, turn up at a venue, pay their fiver, dance dance dance then go home and forget about it - the distraction proved to be a welcome diversion. But to suggest some ‘understand’ it more than others suggests a whiff of superiority and is ever-so-slightly pompous and judgemental, good god! It was never like this in the mid 70’s when we were all just daft naive teenagers in search of something unusual ….. you lot will be putting on masters degrees and PHD’s on NS next!! LOL

Absolutely not mate - just doing my (small) bit for the epic city of Stoke on Trent

Just to annoy you lot even more, the video has been released today - nice retro vibe going on utilising the Kings Hall Stoke which has been used before to replicate the Casino - obvs the naysayers on here will hate it!!

Know what you mean about certain tracks fill the floor even though they’re not technically ‘soul’ e.g. Bob Sinclair (a French DJ I believe) and Tribute. It’s more of a rave record really with that thumping beat but ppl seem to be mad for it when the mood is right? In terms of royalties, the original singers/composers (many of whom are deceased now) live in poverty, I know someone who located some in the States, Dena Barnes wasn’t aware there were thousands of British fans dancing to one of her old songs, it would be a real humane gesture - a kind of levelling up - if someone who’s ever made £00’s or £000’s from one of these records could donate a % to them? Just saying.

Nope - no endorsement required/necessary! I was merely saying “look what these youngsters are up to - holding a candle up to what us guys used to get up to - great!” That’s all ….. btw I would say the minority of soul fans are into the rare scene and the majority into mainstream/ ‘the 500’ / bangers etc Mind you I’m judging it on empty/full dance floors and maybe you officianados/connoisseurs of soul are not into that side of soul and mainly listen? I don’t know but personally I feel higher % of ppl on soul source are into mainstream but I could be wrong and if I am ….. fair enough

Don’t think they were trying to break into the rare scene tbf! There’s more than one type of soul - I’m sure I don’t need to list them! They’re just a normal group of lads using their musicianship skills to pay homage to the sounds they used to hear coming from their parents’ turntables, really not sure where all the vitriolic comments come from? And there was me thinking the N.Soul community was generally warm and welcoming, Jesus wept!

No.5 on the ITunes R&B chart, not bad. But don’t you ‘purists’ accept that when Amy Lame and Stuart Maconie played it on radio 6 it will have introduced N.S. to thousands of new listeners, some of whom will then go and seek out an event and some will even get into your rare/underplayed genre which then keeps the scene busy/relevant/healthy or whichever adjective you wish to insert! Is that not a good thing, oh hang on, I suspect I know the answer

Well matter of fact I WAS 15 (Nov.74) and told parents I was staying at my mate’s, g/friend did same, train Stoke to Crewe then onto Wigan. But seriously if the under 60’s are not welcomed, encouraged and allowed to put their own (tech-savvy) spin on things then the scene can only realistically last another 5-10 yrs, this is why the Darrell Smith project, the touring Do I Love You show and performers such as The Signatures and Jonny Boy - while not being everyone’s cup of tea - nevertheless are reaching a wide audience and keeping the music relevant. I guess it’s all about opinions …… TAXI!

Been in touch with the ppl making it: money made is going out in royalties (presumably to those who own copyright?)

Or even the Long John Baldry version?

As you say, the age of social media has taken over and ppl need to decide whether to adapt, evolve and participate (i.e. like we’re doing right now on this platform) or just fade away. Our generation seem to scoff a lot at the likes of Bristol Soul Club and their energetic enthusiastic youngsters but if no-one was nostalgic about their parents’ preferred music genre then the whole scene just dies like the dinosaurs which is kind of depressing IMO

I don’t think a DJ of the calibre and integrity of Colin Curtis would be involved in the project (which he is) if the band didn’t in someway have some authenticity. If you listen to the original version and this one I find them very similar to be honest and if we keep knocking Young people who are trying to emulate a music genre their parents were into then, let’s face it, when all of us 60+ year-olds have died then I’m afraid the scene dies with us!!