Seano

Must say I lap up stuff like this - good work Brian! Very atmospheric, though it does sort of reinforce the 'black hole of the dancefloor' that seems to be so beloved of the scene. You've clearly worked hard to capture some great images - myself, I'd happily see soul nights that weren't so obsessive about the lack of light so that I could see a bit more of the people and venue. Probably almost blasphemous to say that. I'm certainly not after the flashing lights and gimmicks of a disco, just a bit of help to see who's dancing or sitting nearby!

Ace performance! Best track on the album to me. Got his autobiography for my birthday a while ago and what a journey he's had. "I'm done" - good finish.

Bobby Womack is featured as one of the acts on Jools Holland's 'Later live with Jools Holland' tonight (Tuesday 2nd Oct) at 10 o'clock on BBC2. Performing something from the recent album, 'Bravest Man in the Universe'.

Is this a scam? Thought it might be interesting to have a shot, though highly unlikely at my age and with work commitments to get anything that might match up with what they want for the film. On ploughing through the stuff it seems to keep you in a loop of wanting you to click the pay to be on the 'starnow' website to get anywhere. That can't be right. Total plonker, duh.

Strange flurry of recent TV coverage for the Northern scene, with George Gently last week, Soulboy tonight - re-run of This England documentary about Wigan up next??

Thought it could be worth a look. It did have a brief nod to the soul scene with clips of Wigan, but of course that wasn't the focus. I was disappointed to see it was yet another top 40 moments with various pundits, as that hadn't seemed obvious from the trailers. Lots of quotes from people where I couldn't help thinking "but it was like that on the Northern scene", or "that happened with the Mods" and all the stuff about it changing the world, come on, get a grip! Yes it clearly influenced things in various ways, but there's a massive part of the world beyond this and we all pick up tiny or significant influences from what we come across and even World Wars don't draw the entire world in, let's get some perspective here. Just finish a negative slant, sorry about that, if you're watching Grandmaster Flash now on the all nighter, - "Stay with me UK"!

Fascinating - thanks for posting!

Sad to hear Big City is closing up, a real loss.

Haven't been back to New York for about 2 years now, so sorry if this is so out of date as to be useless: Lost and Found out in Brooklyn at Savalas bar was running every Tuesday. Can't find the link to Lost and Found's website, think they had something on Facebook, but here's a review of Big City Records which Jared and Chris who DJ at L&F run. The review comes over very 'breakbeat' (?) orientated, but they do play a lot of really good crossover and have a great range of 45s in the store itself. Be warned though, typically the venue is a tiny bar, with a room of sorts at the back, still very small, and although people do dance there's limited space, limited seats, and as entrance is often free you are of course expected to be buying drinks as far as the bar owners are concerned. Seemed like a very varied clientele, some of whom had probably just stumbled by the bar and fancied a drink, others fairly young and clearly into the range of music being played. Rarely got going before 10 at the earliest (although you might miss the DJ playing the best Soul - I caught the end of Honeydripper who played some blinders). I posted a set of photos of various 2nd hand record shops around the city on Flickr. Hope you have a great time living over there.

As with the earlier comment from Polyvelts, I came to Chicago Soul via Detroit and Philly, not even really perceiving that there were distinct differences between the sounds of certain cities and certain studios. Now, after near enough 40 years of being into the music, I find it astonishing how much one person can contribute to the sounds we love. Sorry to hear things were tougher for him in later years, but what a legacy.

Here's a couple of overlapping lists of songs I've put onto CD for friends when they've been getting married. One is centred on Northern, the other a little more varied Soul. Enjoy the day!

Cheers Garv, good video link - sounds interesting. It's on my Amazon Wish list!

I was flicking through tracks I've imported to iTunes (vinyl and CDs), and just listening to the intro, and to be honest, I think in many ways the opening that stops you in your tracks is pretty much the essence of Northern. And not just Northern Soul, Funk, Deep, and probably many other genres too. I think the ones that appeal to me are the ones which are quite off-beat, so to speak. I don't think Mr Flood's Party has been listed yet for instance, or Eddie Floyd "That's All". I love the tunes where there's some sort of odd chord, not knowing music enough to describe it, but it is some sort of flat maybe.

Lucky enough to pick up one of the 45s in Academy Records in Williamsburg in Brooklyn a few years ago: I love the idea of them doing a mono version in 2007! And of course agree, great track.

Come on Ed! An article would be great, including some of the finds and interesting sounds you may have come back with. Hopefully see you at Banbury Soul Club on Saturday.

Nice one Chalky - thanks!

Here's a scan of the original 'banda' I made to promote a night Keb was DJing at Le Beat Route. I'm pretty sure I remember him playing Jan Jones at the night, prompting me to buy it, and a few years later Eddie Hubbard played it for our wedding party. Also got Cheryl Berdell, though I can't remember if that was from hearing Keb play it or via tape swapping with the prolific Dave Hitch. Keb gave me a copy of John Stanberry's "I can't believe (she took the whole thing)" as a thank you for the flyer. He gave me a list of the records to put around the edge, which gives a bit of an indication of his playlists at the time - trouble is, as with so many things, there was no year on the flyer as it never seems necessary at the time. I was living in Woolwich and Deptford from 1981 - 1984, so definitely within that period.

Sidney's been on the case, and as good as his word, sorted it out and the book arrived today, along with the T-shirt and CD single with 3 tracks. Thanks Sidney!

Hi Dave, thanks for the heads up re the flip side! Also worth digging out Ray's cover of Living for the City on Crossover 1975.

Sounds fascinating - Friday not an option though. Hope it all goes well.

Still waiting - seems to have been a mess up with my payment which went via Barclaycard on the link on Sidney's connection to Paypal. Fingers crossed.