shuggie61

Hi I want to go dancing up here in Liverpool. Unfortunately, it's a bit of a soul music desert. I'm heading over to Manchester for "Daylight" and poss "No Way Out" on Feb 13th...My question is - is there some sort of modern soul calendar or resource some kind person can point me towards? Thank you! Shuggie.

Hi Geoff whereabouts in Leamington is your shop located? My sis lives in Kennedy Square near the Builders arms and I occasionally visit her. Used to enjoy Fopp! Ta.

Hi Regalian is the Jr Walker "I'm So Glad" an instrumental of Brian Holland's "I'm So Glad "? I love the BH record!

Hi try www.djhistory.com and their City to City forum. It'll point you in the direction of some Amsterdam record shops certainly but whether you'll be able to buy soul in them is another matter...

Perhaps you'd be interested in this? Dancing in the Street Motown and the Cultural Politics of Detroit Suzanne E. Smith Honorable Mention for the 2000 John Hope Franklin Prize, Sponsored by the American Studies AssociationDetroit in the 1960s was a city with a pulse: people were marching in step with Martin Luther King, Jr., dancing in the street with Martha and the Vandellas, and facing off with city police. Through it all, Motown provided the beat. This book tells the story of Motown--as both musical style and entrepreneurial phenomenon--and of its intrinsic relationship to the politics and culture of Motor Town, USA. As Suzanne Smith traces the evolution of Motown from a small record company firmly rooted in Detroit's black community to an international music industry giant, she gives us a clear look at cultural politics at the grassroots level. Here we see Motown's music not as the mere soundtrack for its historical moment but as an active agent in the politics of the time. In this story, Motown Records had a distinct role to play in the city's black community as that community articulated and promoted its own social, cultural, and political agendas. Smith shows how these local agendas, which reflected the unique concerns of African Americans living in the urban North, both responded to and reconfigured the national civil rights campaign. Against a background of events on the national scene--featuring Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Nat King Cole, and Malcolm X--Dancing in the Street presents a vivid picture of the civil rights movement in Detroit, with Motown at its heart. This is a lively and vital history. It's peopled with a host of major and minor figures in black politics, culture, and the arts, and full of the passions of a momentous era. It offers a critical new perspective on the role of popular culture in the process of political change.

Hi VV the site you need is www.djhistory.com. There are vast numbers of disco, boogie and italo fans over there. Hope they can help you out! PS Jolyon Green hangs out there too...

Just had a listen to it on ebay. Both sides are pretty good - I prefer "One Day". Both tunes are a bit drum-heavy for me and could do with a mix to bring up the vocals, b/vox, guitar and horns. Just my preference tho'. I'd pay a fiver for it but not £140. I'm sure you could find comparable (if not better!) records in any major American city for a few dollars...There's a copy in an Ebay auction that starts at £9.99 if anyone's interested...

Hi just a few thoughts/ideas/observations/questions. Got everything that you might want to play? Got a few surefire winners if you're dying on your arse? I'd pack a dozen great oldies - Carstairs, Hesitations, Lindy Stevens etc Have you a broad selection of soul music genres or is it specifically a northern soul set that you're playing? In a fairly old interview with Mr Scruff, he said that he plays a 70/30 split during a set. 70% familiar stuff/ 30% new. I'm not sure that there's any sort of formula to a great set but it might bear some consideration? Are the dancers your friends/friendly? Might make a difference to your state of nervousness because you don't have to go all out to impress them. Early doors or late? If it's early you might be playing to the barstaff and your mate/the promoter. Now's the time to play those "difficult" records that you love that you've always wanted to hear "out". If it's a late set - do not - repeat - do not - get pissed. A couple of beers over a long night are fine. You can always get drunk later on the alcohol your admiring mates/fans buy you cos of your cracking set! Technical stuff: Got your headphones? Little torch to see your record labels if the venue's dark? Spare plastic record "middles"? Or one of those lovely chrome jobbies? Own cartridges and needles? I know guys on the house music scene who wouldn't dream of djing without their own kit. Maybe that's a bit over the top but if you have expensive records that aren't easily replaceable then it might be worth considering... Ask the previous dj how the mixer works. Headphone cue buttons/switches. Channel assignment. Walk around the room before you go on and ask yourself. Is the PA too loud or too quiet? Good balance between bass, middle and treble? Look at those lovely dancing people. Smile and make eye contact - they won't eat you. Show some enthusiasm and they'll give you a chance if things go wrong. Have fun cos that's why you're there! PS Most of these ideas can be found in "How To DJ (Properly)" by Bill Brewster and Frank Tope. Or try www.djhistory.com for advice and guidance.

Hi The Disco Files is available from www.djhistory.com. They've also got a book recommendation section as well that's worth a look at. I almost went to the University of East London on the strength of Tim Lawrence being a teacher there - "Love Saves The Day" is a fantastic read for the discophile and Tims also written a book about Arthur Russell that's due out about now. Probably a Xmas present to myself...

Now if you can't tell the difference between a bass played with a pick and string plucked by a finger you should not be on here raising the question Felonious - your attitude stinks. I'm just asking a question. A simple referral to another thread that covers this ground would have been enough. But condescension? Get over yourself...

Can anyone clear this up? Had a feeling that Carol Kaye played bass on "Bernadette" by the Four Tops and on the bass hits section of her carolkaye .com website she lists " I Can't Help Myself, Bernadette etc. - 4 Tops" as tracks she played on. Apart from playing approximately 10,000 sessions I was also amazed to know she'd played guitar on "La Bamba". Rhythm or that fantastic lead? Anyone?

Hi Tony I'd had a drink last night and after re-reading what I'd written it does looks patronising. Didn't really mean it like that. I'd had a brilliant night and wanted to spread some love around. I was trying to say that Dropout Boogie at the Bulls Head, Moseley in Birmingham was a real celebration of great music and recommending that soulies come along to experience it. Perhaps I should have said "reinforce" instead. Sorry!

God! Really annoyed I missed it! But I had the most fantastic time at the Bulls Head in Moseley, Brum dancing to Bill Brewster at Dropout Boogie- disco/ house/ funk and balearic. Some of you northern heads oughta get along to nights like this - it will restore your faith in music. Bobby Bland is one of my alltime favourite singers and after listening to "Who Will The Next Fool Be?" it's hard to think of a better record. Says so much about love and the human condition that prats like Mick Hucknall should quietly give up and become the traffic wardens or estate agents they were meant to be...

"Reconsider Me" by Johnny Adams.

Off the top of my head... indie pop band Spearmint's single "Sweeping The Nation" samples "Out On The Floor" by Dobie Gray to pretty good effect...

Hi I'd like to say thanks for all your help with my Northern Soul survey. It was really nice of youse to spend valuable minutes of your time helping someone you don't know. That's one of the very best things about soul-source...The survey took about 9 and a bit minutes to complete so by my reckoning that's four stompers, 3 floaters or two modern records that you forwent (is this a word?) to fill it in...Ta all. Shuggie.

Hi David I'm a mature student about to finish an Access to H.E. Humanities course next month before starting university in the autumn. I'd be happy to review a Midlands soul night if you're interested. I'm at USOS in Walsall on the 30th of May or perhaps something later? PM me. Ta.

Thank you Wigleys! It's not that I'm a techno-phobe. I just didn't know what I was doing...Ta.

Hi I'm Hugh McGuinness and I'm a soulboy. I'm also a mature student at Fircroft Collsge in Birmingham and as part of my course I have to run a small-scale social research survey. As I'm fascinated by soulies and all things soulful - I've decided to ask a few questions about the northern soul scene. It's a pretty short questionnaire but if you'd like to go into great detail about the Mecca or "Farmer" Carl Dene please do...Thanking you. The link is working now! https://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=1225435

Have you heard the Pilooski edit of "Send Him Back"? A monster...in a good way.

"A good shout not rubbish subtle and slightly muted maybe". Sorry Mark S but there's nothing subtle and slightly muted about "Girl Watcher". The horn section sound like a bunch of er, horny drunks. Have you heard the original "Boy Watcher" by Ginger Thompson? The horns play the same parts straight and timidly and it's not half as much fun. In my opinion...

I'm a fan of slightly rubbish horn playing. Sometimes just behind the beat or out of unison. A particular record springs to mind - "Girl Watcher" by The O'Kaysions.

Hi love this record to bits! Any info? It's in my mate's loft at the mo' but I think it's on Lizard? Ta.

5th Dimension - Feelin' Alright

Hi Martyn! PMed ya.