Kevinkent

Alan? Who the fcuk is Alan you stirring sod? Still straight as a die and off to VaVa Voom tomorrow with Pam. Her first do for quite some time. Now, anyone else got any Southern or Midland locations for pre '71 Northern Soul (oops!) - Kev

Paul, born in Peckham (but don't know if it was on the Peckham North Estate), later lived in Bexleyheath. Hope you're keeping well matey. - Kev

Me too. I visited the Compass Club during a holiday in '71. The tunes listed though were getting played all over Northants at clubs that I didn't really class as special but were catering to the current trends. Two I bought after hearing them at the Compass were Impressions....Check Out Your Mind, and East Of Eden...Ramsey Lewis(?). Not exactly Northern though. - Kev

Brilliant ! Cheers Jerry. Anyone/anywhere else? - Kev

I was a Northampton boy (or surrounding villages) and used to live in fear of the Corby boys mate. After getting engaged to a Corby girl I met at Wilby, I lived there in '70 - and that was despite a gang turning up at her address looking for me and in the process slicing the bottom of her brothers ear off. Things weren't always rosey on the scene eh? I used to do Wilby, Earls Barton niter, the Tin Hat at Kettering, and God knows where else - just used to jump in a car that someone appeared with, and go. Would like to think I did Bletsoe and Kelmarsh but really have no idea. Didn't know where I was half the time! The way it's looking so far on this thread, pre '71, the Northants/Beds area was a rare bastion of what became Northern Soul. I thought there might have been other strong geographical areas of influence - but they all seem to have come later. I feel priveleged, but am happy to be corrected by anyone as that's the purpose of the thread. - Kev

I've long held the belief Ady that lads in the Forces were largely responsible for spreading it around the country in the early days. Reckon there might be a fair few sailors that moved south (but how far south?) to Portsmouth. - Kev

Funny thing is, when I first heard the term 'Northern Soul' I thought it was something new. Then when I heard the descriptions of it being 100mph dancers I thought yep I've got some of those. So I split my record box into 'Northern' - Williams & Watson....A Quitter never Wins; Mamie Galore....It Ain't Necessary; Isleys....Tell me It's Just A Rumour; etc,etc, and 'Others' - Joy Lovejoy....In Orbit; Hoagy Lands...Next In Line; Little Hank....Mr Bang Bang Man, etc. Yes, I was confused about genres even back then! - Kev

The middle lands of Northampton, Kettering, Corby.

Thing is, I'm not talking about the late 70's or 80's. By that time surely there were 'Northern Soul' nights held just about everywhere. I'm talking about the formative years of the scene - and suggesting that venues other than those in the northern counties, played an important part in establishing the scene. Working in local industry was the norm, but there weren't mines everywhere. Despite the media concept, working down a pit or in heavy industry was not a pre-requisite for getting in to the scene or even for going out and enjoying your weekend. Around my way there was plenty of work in the late 60's. My weekend started Thursday night and ran into the next week - if I skipped a day or two off work and got the push I'd just go get another mundane job. Living for the weekend, but warming up throughout the week. - Kev

Tongs ya bas! And I know what soft is Roddy. I've been to Edinburgh, Edingboro, Edinborough Southern Scotland. - Kev

Did Dave Godin get it wrong? Here in Kent I've been told I come from 'up north' because I hail from Northampton. Was Dave Godin of the same mindset when he coined the phrase 'Northern Soul'? Without a doubt Manchester's Twisted Wheel was the venue that everyone knew about in the late 60's - but it wasn't the only one. I consider myself fortunate to have spent my early years discovering this music we love, call it old, rare, or even northern, soul in secret places dotted around the Northants countryside - what Ady Croasdell has recently refered to as a 'parallel scene'. The Motown/Stax influence of the time meant that a multitude of city centre clubs were playing that type of sound generally, mixed in with chart stuff. I'm not talking about those, even if those associated with them now regard themselves as having some sort of soul heritage. I'm on about the special places and early nighters that played and broke unknown sounds to an eager and increasingly knowledgeable group of followers. The hidden places that you had to know about, and once attended had you hooked. I'm getting a little tired of the TV trying to tell me that because I didn't work down t'pit and walk the cobbled streets to meet our lass at the Mill, then I wasn't part of the Northern Soul thing. So, PRIOR to it being tagged as 'Northern Soul' where were you getting your music fix? Did you consider yourself a northerner? How North is was North? - Kev

Depends wether you want to dance to it, or cut your wrists to it. - Kev

Paul there's one posted in Sales just 40 minutes before you posted this. Check the "X5 Winners for grabs" post. - Kev

When my granddaughter was about 12 months I found her bobbing her head to Heard It Through The Grapevine every time a certain TV ad came on. That progressed to me trying her with a few tunes on Youtube and she was very keen on the Mello Souls and Salvadors as well as a lot of RnB numbers. Now that she's 19 months she has a few very unique 'groovy moves'. I've had the decks out and she's got to recognise some of her favourites by the label and can be very insistent as to what she wants played. She's lifted a 100 count record box but knows not to touch records but I sometimes let her press the start button on the decks. Oh, and she has a plastic/card retro 50 count box that she carries some of her toys in. I think she's brilliant ! - Kev

Fair enough Steve. I didn't know that, though I think I recall Chalky having some input to the previous threads I was talking about. Without doubt it's not an unknown tune and has been played previously, not disputing that at all. What I'm saying is, that at the time Gavin played it, it was a £30 - £50 tune. There was interest on this site as a direct result of the Ghetto Soul spin, to which Chalky, amongst others, responded. It's a good tune and was a little under the radar. Mention on this site probably reminded or bought it to the attention of a few more who perhaps weren't at Bidds, Lifeline or Rugby. I've been tracking sales of this since hearing it at Ghetto Soul (first time I heard it) and can see a direct correlation between that play and the rise in value. Just thought It'd be a refreshing change to give some credit to the little man/venue. It's not mean't to be a case of who/where played it first. - Kev

In reply to the original question, and as testament to the venue and DJ responsible, the price hike started 15th January 2011 and was (unusually) initiated by a little known DJ at a little known venue on the south coast. Southampton Soul Club's "Ghetto Soul" nights were (are ?) held in a tiny one room venue. It was billed as a Rare & Underplayed night and DJ's were given free reign to use their imagination with tunes from any soul genre. No pressure to get feet on the floor - though the small dancefloor was often rammed, that wasn't what the night was about. This was Gavin Knight's playlist from the night: Mandells - How to love a woman Wales Wallace - Talk a little louder Joe Simon -When Exsaveyons - I don't love you no more Richard Brown - Don't listen to the grapevine Lee Williams and the Cymbals - Lost love Ebonies - You got what I want Clovers - One more time Danny White - Miss Fine Miss Fine Sweethearts - Beauty is just skin deep Spandells - Say no girl Intertains - Need your love Sensations - I won't be hurt Grier Bros. - Weeping baby all the time Avons - Since I met you baby Charmels - Loving Material Jeff Dale - Where do I go Jackie Ross - Dynamite lovin' De Vons - Someone to treat me (the way you use to) Honey and the Bees - Why do you hurt the one who loves you Johnny Daye - Good time Chancellors - All the way from heaven Fiestas - Think Smart Shirley & Jessie - Ivory Tower Jerms - I'm a teardrop Buster Jones - Baby Boy Not heard Gavin play, either before or since, which is a pity. Weeping Baby definately created a buzz, and shortly after both Bearsy and myself were hunting a copy. As a result it got mentioned in a couple of threads on here, and as it started to appear on the radar a few more started looking for it. The few sales copies that were around climbed in value and before long John Manship did his imaginitive sales spiel on a copy he was selling at what I considered a grossly inflated price. The rest is history. Please feel free to look at my Ghetto Soul playlist from October 2011 and create a massive price hike on any tune listed! - Kev

'Scraping the barrell' and 'finding something different to play' should be two entirely seperate things. Maybe it depends on the individuals view of how good a tune it is. IMO plenty good enough in this case and I applaud dj's that are giving tunes like this another airing. - Kev

Never heard of a Mecca Fork, but I had a Wheel Knife. - Kev

I just don't get it. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" springs to mind. At a regular nighter, if there's a DJ that's not playing stuff to your taste you can usually live with it. If that DJ is also the 'curator' the chances are he's gonna go for other DJ's that are to his taste but perhaps not yours. He might not have as balanced an overview as a long standing promoter. Maybe I've got the concept wrong and am jumping to conclusions. Any other clubs tried or considered this? - Kev

Good question. Another is why would a Motown artist want to sing a Tom Jones song? Marvin Gaye, Florence Ballard, Four tops - apparently it's not unusual. - Kev

Hope someone sorts it for you, but it wont be me - setting a reminder on the TV is about my limit! - Kev

Laughable really, but I've seen it go for more than that recently. Also fairly recently missed out on a copy at £30 then got beaten to one that went for £60. Not gonna pay more than that as there are other tunes out there. - Kev

Predictable - yes, but also well rounded and enjoyable I thought. Not at all surprised at the No1 as Heard It Through The Grapevine was undoubtedly THE anthem for a certain stage of my life before I spread my wings. If it was the same for those that voted then I'm surprised that Junior Walker didn't get a mention or even a soundclip. Could have sacrificed Elton John for a few seconds of Jnr. Soultown Andy - take a chill pill mate. Apart from one "disappointed" (which is by no means slating the programme) I'm failing to spot the negativity in this thread. - Kev

Is that the stories behind the songs list of 20? or the results of their poll? The way I read it they are two different lists. You're probably about right for one or t'other. - Kev

ITV this Sunday 6th July 2100-2230 The Nations Favourite Motown Song "A celebration of Motown revealing the stories behind 20 of the legendary label's greatest hits, followed by the results of our poll to discover Britain's favourite Motown song." I know there was a previous thread when this first came to light, but I can't find it. So, as it's on this weekend, I thought I'd give it a shout. Thought it was gonna be the stories behind the top 20 voted - which would probably be a whole different kettle of fish. Should still be good viewing I reckon. - Kev