Ian Dewhirst

So here's Track 8, from the immortal Marvin Gaye and the absolutely brilliant "I Want To Come Home For Christmas". This is the master at his very best with a wonderful heartfelt Christmas anthem. RIP Marvin. Ian D

Are we ever? Ian D

And here's Track 7, from the wonderful Flirtations and a wonderful example of a UK produced big sounding Christmas song "Christmas Time Is Here Again" produced and written by the UK's Wayne Bickerton. Ian D

And here's Track 6, from the Godfather of Funk....Mr Jaaaames Broooooown and hisincredible "Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto". If you ain't heard this, then do yourself a favour and listen! Ian D

Phew. Catch up time again. I've missed the last few days, so here's a catch up..... So here's Track 5, the fabulous Impressions which starts with a slow beginning before it turns into a mid 1970's storming version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"... Ian D

Nice one Soulfinger. You're our perfect target audience mate! Some surprises on here. I'm quite partial to the Natasha Watts track.... Ian D

Biggest star of this year Pete but he's been around for the last 10 years in one guise or another. He's the voice on Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" and also on Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines". However, if you want his throwback Northern stuff, then take your daughter to see Despicable Me 2.......... Ian D

Check this then Paul. Pharrell doing his best Curtis and the Impressions impression..... Pharrell Williams - Prettiest Girls Ian D

Typically the rest of the continent have already taken to "Happy" as it's already No.1 in France, Holland and Portugal. Unstoppable..... Ian D

It's seldom that American artists even acknowledge Northern Soul - most of 'em don't have a clue what it is. So that's why it's surprising that the hottest vocalist in the world has made such a record and acknowledged the term. I've no idea how he got there because there weren't any clues in his previous recordings I don't think. His stuff with NERD was bloody awful to my ears. But stranger things have happened. Prince once requested a full set of Mastercuts compilations which I duly delivered to him, so who's to say Pharrell hasn't been checking things out on the quiet. Interesting times indeed..... Ian D

It beats the shit out of "Tribute" though. Pharrell Williams - the most popular vocalist in the world in 2013 is acknowledging Northern Soul big time. Brilliant. Plus that string section on his record is really something else. One of the best arrangements I've heard in a long time. Where the hell's he hearing this Northern Soul stuff then I wonder? If he does a pastiche of Sandy Golden then I'll really start wondering what's going on.......... Well, we were asked about the future weren't we.....? Ian D

Looks like it Denbo. And things have moved on a bit since I started the thread. It looks like we're going to try and release the complete Invictus/Hot Wax/Music Merchant singles, both A & B sides plus as many unreleased tracks as we can find, all on one king-hell bastard box set. No point in messing about ay? Ian D

He sold it me! I told him there was something dodgy about it back then, that's why I got it cheap....... Ian D

Well that's a hell of a memory you have Scal. I definitely had both those records even though they're both pretty different. I've PM'd ya back...... Ian

What pray tell? I haven't exactly been underground Scal...... Ian D

I'm well insulated as I've lived in several other countries and 20 other addresses since then. Plus I have my subversive weapons collection and gas-fired harpoon handy but I reckon he's a good 40 years behind anyway..... Ian D

Yep. Good memory for 40 odd years ago! Do I know you? Ian D

Patti Labelle perchance? Ian

She is from my vantage point....... Ian D

Don't worry Spot. These things take a while to reach Goole.... Compliments of the season to yourself and missus by the way! Ian D

Wow, different strokes and all that. The record sounds like a breath of fresh air to me. If that song had come out 40 years ago I'd have played it. I do like this stuff though - I thought "Get Lucky" was the record of the summer, albeit not for Northern venues. Ian D

It's a youngster dancing fast to a new uptempo Soul record, which is pretty much like it was for us in the 60's and 70's wasn't it? Don't see much of that these days, so when it does happen, it gives us cause for some optimism about the future doesn't it? Ian D

The answer to the original question is staring you in the face...... A 2013 Northern Soul smash from Pharrell Williams (and record of the year for me) with a video of a 17 year old lass from Bristol who loves Northern Soul and can seriously dance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZLLPaX4SS4 If I was 17 now, I know what would be rocking my boat. Northern Soul looks pretty healthy to me. Ian D

And here's Track 4, the original Smokey Robinson and The Miracles version of a much loved classic from 1963 with the timely "Let It Snow"... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-deEz77DfKc Ian D

Realised I've missed a few crucial days on this Christmas countdown, so I'm catching up.... And here's Track 3, the immortal Otis Redding with "Merry Christmas Baby" Ian D