Amsterdam Russ

Exactly - OKEH?

You need to go back and learn about the early categorisations of music, particularly in the USA. If music was aimed at the mainstream - and young people in particular - and didn't fit the already defined pigeon holes of "big band (etc)", "classical", "spiritual", "race", etc, etc, etc, than it was "popular" music - pop. That's where the term comes from. Soul music, R&B, funk, etc, are merely - and always have been - sub-genres of pop.

Oh, please! Every song ever played on the Northern Soul scene is a pop tune. No artist or group released a 45 in the decades the scene has so widely embraced - across so many genres - with the intention of it being “Northern Soul”. That’s just a hindsight label to describe a unique and localised youth movement, a cult even, that came after the music was recorded. If it was recorded to cater for mainstream musical demand, for the hope of commercial/chart success, then it’s pop music (might I remind you “pop” is short for “popular”, and that “soul”, R&B”, “funk”, etc, come under this generic banner). If Billy Ocean’s “Red light…” was not commercially successful, and was broken by a “respected” DJ soon after it’s release (like so many new releases were), then I think it would be up there with the MVPs “Turning my heartbeat up” and Frankie Valli’s “The night” - both of which are pure pop, but share that same irresistible dance beat feel with Mr Billy Ocean’s - I still think - rather excellent and heart-beat raising tune.

Oh, dear. More "divs" - and used as a derogatory term for people who just like to dance to anything. I thought people who did that "to owt" were just enjoying themselves.

Pardon? While 1979 might have marked the end of a hey-day for you, a year or two later saw mine start - and forty years on, it still ain't over. Looking through the lens of such nostalgic glasses must make the 'good old days' seem so very, very far away for you now, which I think is sad. Of course, I 'wasn't there in the day' - and in many respects I wish I could have been - but the scene I came into was (and still is, depending on certain factors) vibrant, healthy, packed, innovative, and it set the tone for the decades ahead with its musical progressiveness.

Hmmm, from what people around in the late 60s and early 70s have told me, youth clubs were a feeder park - a "gateway drug" - to the grown-up world of nighters and hard-core underground soul. Everyone has a different perspective about what happened then, of course. Although my entry into "the scene" came only as recently as the early 80s, it was most definitely due to the music I heard and the people I met at my local youth club.

Yes, I know what you mean. For me, Youth Club sounds are exactly that - the sounds of one's youth. Cheesy is applied in hindsight. But at the same time, those Youth Club sounds were often the ones I identified with when I first went to the "big boys'" nights. Funnily enough, a year after moving to NL, I found out about the Amsterdam Soul Club. I had no idea or any expectation there might be a regular Northern Soul night over here. First time I went all I heard was exactly those Youth Club sounds. It was great as I hadn't heard most of them in years, and hearing them in the exotic surrounds of Amsterdam added a certain excitement. Mind you, a few guest spots behind the decks and I like to think I helped move things on a bit - although whether that's true, I can't say.

It was ubiquitous back then (I moved from Maidstone to London mid-84). Maybe standards dropped when you left - although I wouldn't tell Kim that.

Back then - in SE England - that's the only type of club I knew. Mod (2nd-generation) was the "gateway drug" so to speak! But yes, I have to say that back then Billy Ocean's "Red Light Spells Danger" was what might be called the equivalent of a Wigan monster. And I readily admit to dancing to it at youth clubs, mod clubs and soul nights back in those days. In fact, when I last heard it (over here in NL some 35/40 years later), it actually caused something of a thrill. Maybe that's just nostalgia, but I still rate it as a really good tune. I couldn't dance to it, though. The legs and knees couldn't cope!

Youth clubs are of no interest to the soul scene? Really? Youth clubs are where I learned about "the scene" as an immature teen in the very late 70s/early 80s in the South East of England (although, admittedly, I didn't learn a lot). And weren't youth clubs integral to the development of "the scene" in its nascent days? Can't say I know what a "slipper event" is... and not sure I want to ask! Anyone able to list the 25 sections of the scene? Is this like a newly fragmented version of the Top 500, but with sub-divisions?

We've (SoulSource) had this discussion about that tune before - and I recall mentioning it was a "biggie" in the South East (of England) in the 80s. In the same way that certain tunes were "youth club sounds" up North in the early 70s, so this particular one was a staple of us 2nd-generation Moddy types who then "discovered Northern Soul" in the very early 80s. AND - it was a disco hit at the same time. I certainly remember it from soul nights, youth clubs and weddings!! Back in the days of the Kent/Sussex/Surrey scene (Kim Styles/Kev Griffin/Graham Sage/Keith Rylatt/Jo Wallace/Andy Ruw, et al), all sorts of stuff was played - and all enjoyed at the time.

Care to enlighten us all?

Am I alone in thinking it really funny that the two main protagonists on this and the "State of the scene today" thread are called "Sooty" and "Chalky" - with one supporting and encouraging the ongoing integration of "Northern Soul" into the mainstream and the other continuing to fiercely argue for its segregation from that mainstream, and that anyone not inside "the club" (my words) and obeying its rules is a "div"?

That's very sad to hear. RIP Red Kelly.

I’m curious - which Earl Connelly track? Was it “Don’t let me go” (of which there are three different versions on Maycon)? Did you pay by PayPal, and if so, have you tried raising a dispute with them?

We've had Netflix for a couple of years, and my 'other half' watches it more than me. In fact the last thing I watch - or tried to watch - was the series on 'soul food' called High on the Hog. Jeez, that was so crap I only managed one episode. Why have it presented by someone who seems to know nothing about food?? One thing we found rather quickly in the Netherlands, is that Netflix has so few TV series and movies available. Too often I've read about a series or a film coming to the channel, or one that's currently being shown and is garnering some media attention, and then find out it's not yet available in NL - and seemingly never is. Also, I like European cinema, but too often the pitiful selection of movies available offer only Dutch subtitles even though other languages are available (just English would do!). If I were asked to rate the overall Netflix experience, I'd give it a lowly 3/10. No wonder the service is losing subscribers en masse.

That's such a shame to hear. I hope you're able to clarify and resolve matters amicably.

Interesting article about this: https://peakvinyl.com/warping-temperature/

Great show - thoroughly enjoyed. @Soul Shrews - thanks for the shout-out. Didn’t know you were guesting til Hans posted the show here this morning. Anyway, two hours well spent on the balcony this evening.

Yes, what existed and came together that it might create the Big Bang? And - here’s one that’s always puzzled my little brain - if the universe is infinite, why is it expanding? Maybe a new thread needed for discussion on these topics.

Think again… https://www.ebay.com/itm/354151146242?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=B0oQf8MgR7-&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

By whom - a regular at the 100 Club, a supposed Northern Soul fan, a maybe one-off visitor? Regardless, that’s absolutely shocking to hear!!

Haha - as you say, never too old to learn something new. The term 'new old stock' of course I knew, but don't recall seeing it in abbreviated form (NOS). Or maybe the old brain cells are letting me down. Now I must go and take the laundry out of the oven.

Thanks. First time I've seen that as an abbreviation.