Souledtrafford

Got to be the Four tops Second Album for me. Every track is a winner.

Try Beatin' Rhythm and Kingbee in Manchester.

Just wondering if anyone has a listing of what magazines and fanzines have been published over the years and how many issues for each? There was something on the Soulful Kinda Music site, but this is unfortunately not up to date. Any info appreciated.

Marvin Gaye - Little Darlin'. Can still remember the first time I heard it at the Casino in Blackpool and never get tired listening or dancing to it.

Remember seeing them at the Twisted Wheel. Was amazed at how the backing band and the four singers managed to get on that small stage. Recently, I came across a version of Ask the Lonely by them. Good cover version.

Saw the show in Carlisle last night and can really only echo what the previous posts have said. As 'Bobby D' said, you would have thought Eddie Holman was miming, he was so good. It was a pity that Percy Sledge and Eddie Floyd were missing, but never the less it was an excellent show and the crowd were up for it. Hopefully Guest will bring his October show back up this way. Just like to add, having now seen both the Otis Williams Temptations and the Dennis Edwards one, I have to say that the Otis one is much superior.

As Jeffree, 'All My Loving' can fill a floor every time, but perhaps a bit too cheesy/modern for some.

They also played the Bob Sinclair 'Tribute' track in the Ballroom on the Sunday night!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't have a link. I bought the newspaper for another article in the magazine and only found the Muscle Shoals one when reading through it this morning.

Nice little five page article, with photographs, in yesterday's Daily Telegraph magazine on the Muscle Shoals recording studios. Done, I think, as a form of publicity for the forthcoming film.

Just finished the book and found it a good read. There is, perhaps, too much given over to the drug scene, as it wasn't something that everybody embraced, and not enough on other aspects of the music and what the music is all about. Reading some of the tales about Wigan make me glad in a way that I missed it when I was travelling around the country following a football team. But reading all about it does make you wish that you had experienced it at first hand.

We started soul nights in a local bar, which is just off the town centre and to be honest it had a little bit of a previous reputation, but the night is ours alone. We issue (free) tickets, which allows us to have in who we want really and the owners put security on the door. Both of those certainly restricts anyone simply walking up and getting in. To date, some 9 or 10 months on we have had no problems. Ok, you cannot stop those attending from getting drunk, but thankfully, again, we have not had any problems. We would do memberships, but have yet to work out the best way to bring this in. I think it is up to the promoters and the owners to work out a solution between them.

Hope you enjoy them both. Bettye's is a real eye opener. I bought it after reading a little about her in 'The Soulful Divas' - another good read. Have you got 'Dream Boogie' - Sam Cooke biog. or 'Chicago Soul'? Worth looking for.

Yes. I did find it a good read and would recommend. If you want a real eye opener and another good read, try Bettye Lavette's 'A Woman Like Me'.

Having seen Jimmy James and Ben E king last night, I can only echo what tobytyke and DazCymru wrote above. The crowd was 300 odd, made up of mostly non-soulies. Having said that, they were very appreciative of both men, with many up dancing in front of the stage. Jimmy, whom I had seen a couple of times in the past, is still a superb entertainer. Ben E King has to be given the credit he deserves for still going on the road and I spoke with him after the show and he is a really nice guy. Also asked Jimmy why he didn't do 'A Man Like Me' and 'This Heart Of Mine' and he simply said that he often thought about doing them, but promised to do 'A Man Like Me' next time. Hopefully there will be one. Quick mention for the backing band who were total perfection. As the others said. If you get the chance go.

Sounds good, as you would expect it to be with two big names. Have never heard Jimmy sing 'A Man Like Me' live, which is a shame. I suppose expecting Ben E King to sound like he did back then is like expecting Bobby Charlton to still be a good footballer! Will report back about Sunday's concert.

I'm going to see them on Sunday night and looking forward to it. Have seen Jimmy a couple of times before years ago. I feel that if any of those singers of yesteryear are out on tour then they should be supported. Ok, they will perhaps not sound like they did, or like you want them to, but they are still happy to make the effort to entertain. Will post a review after Sunday.

Anyone out there been to the Ben E King/Jimmy James concerts yet? Just wondering what they were like.

Used to get searched at Victoria Station in Manchester on a Sunday morning after having been to the Wheel. Had a bag, as had also been at OT, but never had anything to interest the DS. You got wise to them though, as they would always ask you where you had been. If you didn't mention the Wheel, they didn't bother you.

Yes. Although there were plenty of big venues that spawned a 1000 tunes, plus countless smaller ones who had a 'name' on the scene. I certainly think it would be something that would sell, while also being a legacy to the music.

Would a book on all the different venues not prove to be of interest? I know there has been one or two on the Casino and of course the excellent one on the Wheel, but there are many more clubs and venues out there, the majority of which are long since gone, although still talked about today. Breaking the country down area by area, it would be an interesting volume.

Mentioning 'B' sides. The St Louis Union recorded 'Respect' on the back of 'Girl', which in itself was a cover of the Beatles track.

Seeing the last link. On what other subject(s) should a Northern Soul book be written?

If it is simply books about soul music, try Chicago Soul - Robert Pruter, The sound of Philadelphia by Tony Cummings, Making Tracks by Charlie Gillett (the Atlantic story) or Sweet Soul Music by Peter Guralnick, if you do not already have them. Ladies of Soul by David Freeland is a good read and having read this one, enjoying the piece on Bettye Lavette, I bought her book A Woman Like Me - what a story. This woman tried everything! Tamla Motown - the stories behind the singles, is a good coffee table book, while I also enjoyed Berry, Motown and Me by Ranoma Gordy Singleton. Books on the northern soul scene are numerous, some better than others and some getting more stick than others, but I found The Manchester Wheelers one of the better ones. Like the music itself, it isall a matter of taste.

Cheers for that Alison. I have emailed them and await a copy through the letter box. Hopefully it can return on a more regular basis and can get the soul night dates to run in conjucntion with when the mag comes out.