Amsterdam Russ

A couple of weeks back I decided to join the Mixcloud generation. Here's my first offering, a half hour mix of soul, gospel & R&B 45s favourites. https://www.mixcloud.com/HarveySoulFinger/rb-northern-soul-gospel-45s-1950s-60s/ If you take the time to listen, I hope you enjoy it.

I listened the other day - enjoyed it.

I'm sure there are aficionados of all aspects of 1960s life and culture, and those who obsess about police procedures, moaning away in other, specialist forums, just as people are here. Watching the episode "Gently Evil" last night, my partner Bev, a professional costumier with a detailed knowledge of the history of fashion and clothing, pointed out that in one scene a woman was wearing a moulded-cup bra. Such things, she tells me, were not available until the mid-90s. Did it spoil our enjoyment? No, not one little bit...

It just goes to show how little you and promoters know about the law as it applies to photography. And as any lawyer will tell you, ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the law. This is not my 'twaddle' but the law's 'twaddle'. The point here is that ultimately, people 'could' complain about having their photo taken at a venue by a photographer. Obviously, it's rare that anyone does. Courtesy is the watchword here - people have a right to be advised if a photographer (as opposed to someone taking snapshots) is in the house. Simple. Don't like it? Don't take it out on me. Write to your MP and seek the appropriate changes in the law.

But the point is that inside a club is not a public area. Clubs are private facilities owned by individuals or organisations. As I stated earlier, at the very least, photographers need the permission of venue management before snapping away. Alternatively, management should advise patrons that a photographer is in the house. People are entitled to their privacy. What we have here is a situation where people should be able to opt-in to having their photos taken, not opt-out. The photographer should get permission from people first - people should not be put into a situation where they have to ask to not be photographed. There is a big distinction between people taking snapshots to show friends and a photographer who is taking a professional approach to their work and displaying images of people in a professional context.

Simon, still hoping you might be able to shed some light on how come you remember that post from 2008. Were you the original seller referred to back then??

The only thing I know is that I can make out one and a half names on the disc. No idea if these people are directly connected to the music or not. If you can shed any sort of light on the track - who/where/when/what label or studio - it would be greatly appreciated...

In other words, you haven't got a clue.

Beware, DPD! My partner Bev sends packages and parcels of all shapes and sizes to clients across the world. She used DPD as an alternative carrier to the other big names and found their customer service dreadful. In one instance, the price she was quoted for a delivery turned out to be completely wrong (they invoice for a considerably larger amount). Bev contested the invoice and rather than discuss or negotiate, DPD threatened legal action, issued court paper work and slapped on a load extra in charges. Their customer service was arrogant, hostile, threatening and dismissive. This wasn't an overdue invoice, by the way, it was just a standard invoicing dispute! Admittedly, this was in the Netherlands, and Bev's requirements are for a parcel delivery service rather than a postal substitute, but if the attitude of the customer services of DPD here is anything to go by, I'd be cautious when using them.

You've always had great taste, Pete! In lieu of identities being discovered, and in honour of the views shared here, I'm thinking about naming the singer "Miss Marmite".

Excellent - thanks for the practical input, those that actually had something to contribute. As for personal opinions, each to their own. Now, anyone have information about the origins of the song/acetate & the two names mentioned earlier?

Blimey, that's impressive. How did you happen to remember that??

I have Habanera in my music library - just been giving it a listen. Of course, no wonder it sounded so familiar! Excellent - well spotted the pair of you! Much like The Toys and their use of Bach's Minuet in G major... Artist & label?

Can you identify the track? I'm guessing called "Eyes of love" or "Looking in the eyes of love" and I'm told it comes from Detroit. There are two names on the label: Yvonne Stevens & Ralph (something - looks like it could be Woothy / Woolly / Woodly). The song sounds really familiar - was it recorded by someone else? https://soundcloud.com/harveysoulfinger/eyes-of-love-sample All help appreciated.

Released in 1967 according to Mr Rimmer's site: https://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/whiz.htm

The seller does describe the item as "super rare remastered" and "remastered label and pressing"...

Following on from Rick's excellent insights into the Surinam soul scene here in NL... Browsing through record shops here, you'll often find soul 45s with labels that have been scrawled on with heavy marker pen - usually on both sides. I was told by the owner of one record shop that competition among djs was very fierce. So fierce was the rivalry that thievery was rife and to prevent 45s from being misappropriated, djs took to writing their names on labels in big letters.

I did send an enquiring email and the friendly people there said sure, come along. Sorry to say I didn't follow it up though as coming all the way from Amsterdam would have been a bit too much. Would have loved to have participated - George Gently is great.

The producers did post here some months back asking for extras. With the single voice presented by Soul Source members as guidance, how could the programme makers go wrong? Found it...

Elvisluvs - this is "Northern Soul" today. Well, it is here... it's the grumpy old men... Please, please... let someone with a real understanding of "Northern Soul" as a youth cult pass by here soon so the OP can be enlightened.

I dread to think how bad you'll be when you are old! In the meantime, I'd like to recommend two books to elvisluvs. The first is "Boogaloo" by Arthur Kempton. The second is "The In Crowd, Vol1" by Mike Ritson & Stuart russell. The first is a brave, ambitious, detailed, but at times a somewhat confusingly written history of the development of 'Black' music from the age of Gospel through Soul and beyond. The second is an equally brave and ambitious attempt at putting into words the effect that very same 'black' music had on the (mainly white) youth of Britain from the 1950s, the 60s, and the evolution of what very loosely is "Northern Soul". It's a subjective and highly personalised affair, but it does a good enough job in my view simply because 'Northern Soul" is exactly that - subjective and highly personalised. Another great book to help put the black music of the 60s into a mainstream cultural context (for me at any rate) is "Burn, Baby! Burn!" the autobiography of US radio DJ legend, music promoter, black culture champion - Magnificent Montague. Now, there's a story worth reading...

Terminally, most people who might have something decent to say about the origins and development of what became known as 'Northern Soul' are now at the "grumpy old men" phase of life - as you can see from the replies here. Sorry about that.

Whatever... I like the track. And I have to say I could see it going down quite well if played out. To be honest, I'm more surprised that no one's offered any info or suggestions about the origins of the first track...

There are some names on the label of the 2nd track and I'll post up what I've found out when I get some time. It definitely has a poppy feel to it, but I've heard much worse played out and masqueraded as soul

Yup, little doubt that the second singer is white.