Amsterdam Russ

That's really sad news. RIP Chris, and condolences to family and friends.

I watched a Danish film last night called Happy Ending (2018), which included Ray Charles's 'Hit the road Jack' and Speedometer's 'Happy'. The Ray Charles song has of course been used many, many times, but I was really surprised to hear 'Happy'. Not an outstanding film. Businessman in his 70s retires. His wife of 40 years thinks they'll now spend time together and have adventures just as they did when they were so much younger. Instead he buys shares in an Austrian vineyard. The couple split up. She has a lesbian affair. They come to terms with their differences and go their separate ways. The film closes with him among his beloved vines and her boarding a train with a backpack, full of new found confidence about who she is and what she wants out of the remaining years of her life. It is indeed a happy ending. 6/10. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7413472/

Congratulations to all involved. Everything about Shrine is the stuff of legends.

Agreed

Current 'must watch' programmes for me: Liaison - Anglo-French spy drama with Eva Green and the excellent Vincent Cassel. Godfather of Harlem - currently enjoying season 3 of what is a very compelling drama starring Forest Whitaker.

Ooh, that's nice - very nice!

But that's the thing - as I mentioned earlier, they're not lifted from websites. I copied and pasted a few choice phrases to check. The responses are drawn from the AI's own database of stored knowledge, hence why there are no references to web sources: it's not quoting web sources. As far as speech is concerned, I believe that is possible. You speak to it and it speaks to you. Early days in the life of ChatGPT. I dread to think what it'll be capable of in just a couple of years.

I agree with most of what you say and concur that what AI in this context is today is but a shadow of what it will become - and I do find that scary! Relative to my exchange with the chatbot, it is - as I said at the end of my post - very clear the AI is drawing from the populist aspects of what it finds on the web. The clever, the very clever, part is that it has the ability to present it in a cohesive, structured way. Sentence structure, grammar and logic can't be faulted, and that by itself is very impressive considering it takes but a few seconds to respond to questions. There are obvious fact-based flaws, of course: "...dress in a distinctive Mod-influenced style...", for example, along with some other stuff. I've read worse in music mags and mainstream media that's been written by supposedly intelligent journalists (perhaps an oxymoron these days). Copy and paste any sentence and use Google's Advanced Search to see where the bot got it from (on the basis it's copying from websites) and you won't find anything. The bot has very quickly amassed information on the subject, determined relevancy, and presented its findings. Again, that is incredibly clever!

Thought I'd have a natter with ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot that, if you believe what you read in the news, is going to change the world. What better subject to test its insight and intelligence than Northern Soul, and to ask vexing questions such as "how do you define crossover?", and for aspiring DJs, to enquire what tunes you should be playing. You What is Northern Soul? ChatGPT Northern Soul is a music and dance movement that emerged in Northern England in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was a subculture of young people who were devoted to rare and obscure American soul and rhythm-and-blues records from the 1960s, especially those produced by independent labels in the northern United States. Northern Soul DJs and collectors searched tirelessly for these records, often paying high prices for them, and played them at all-night dance parties in clubs and other venues across the North. The style of dancing associated with Northern Soul was energetic and acrobatic, incorporating spins, flips, and other gymnastics moves. Today, the term "Northern Soul" has come to represent not only a specific type of music and dance but also a broader cultural phenomenon that continues to influence underground music and fashion scenes around the world. You What is your favourite Northern Soul song? ChatGPT As an AI language model, I do not have personal preferences or emotions. However, some of the most popular Northern Soul songs include "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" by Frank Wilson, "Out on the Floor" by Dobie Gray, and "The Snake" by Al Wilson. You In relation to Northern Soul, how do you define "crossover" soul music? ChatGPT As an AI language model, I don't have personal opinions, but I can provide you with the definition of "crossover" soul music in relation to Northern Soul. Crossover soul music refers to a type of soul music that became popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which combined the traditional soul sound with elements of funk, rock, and pop. It was called "crossover" because it crossed over from the R&B and soul charts to the pop charts. In the context of Northern Soul, crossover soul was seen as a departure from the more traditional "northern" soul sound that focused on lesser-known independent labels and obscure tracks. Instead, crossover soul tracks were often released on major labels and had more melodic and polished arrangements. You In relation to Northern Soul in the UK, which was the best venue or club? ChatGPT As an AI language model, I don't have personal opinions or preferences. However, here are some of the most notable venues and clubs for Northern Soul during its peak in the UK: 1. Wigan Casino - This legendary club became the epicenter of the Northern Soul scene in the 1970s. It was known for its all-nighters, attracting thousands of dancers every weekend. 2. The Twisted Wheel - This Manchester-based venue played a significant role in popularizing Northern Soul music. It was also known for its all-nighters, and its influence inspired other clubs to adopt the Northern Soul sound. 3. The Blackpool Mecca - This venue was a favorite among Northern Soul enthusiasts in the North West of England. It was known for its superior sound system, attracting top DJs and record collectors. 4. The Torch - This club in Stoke-on-Trent was another popular destination for Northern Soul fans. It was renowned for its amphetamine-fueled dance floor and its association with northern soul greats such as Frank Wilson and Tommy Hunt. 5. The Catacombs - This Wolverhampton-based club might not have been as well-known as Wigan Casino or The Twisted Wheel, but it played a pivotal role in the development of the Northern Soul scene. It attracted a loyal following and hosted many notable Northern Soul acts. You Define an authentic Northern Soul fan. ChatGPT An authentic Northern Soul fan is someone who embraces the Northern Soul culture and music scene with genuine enthusiasm and passion, rather than for superficial or trendy reasons. They are dedicated to discovering and sharing rare and obscure soul music from the 1960s and 1970s that originated in the North of England. They may be avid collectors of vinyl records, attend all-night dance events and club nights, and dress in a distinctive Mod-influenced style. Their appreciation of Northern Soul goes beyond just the music, reflecting a deep affection for the social and cultural aspects of the movement, its history, and its significance in British working-class culture. You Why do some Northern Soul djs play bootleg/counterfeit copies of records rather than genuine copies? ChatGPT As an AI language model, I do not have personal opinions or the ability to access real-time events. However, based on my knowledge, some Northern Soul DJs may play bootleg/counterfeit copies of records rather than genuine copies for several reasons. One reason is that some original Northern Soul records are rare and expensive, making it difficult for DJs to acquire them. Bootlegs and counterfeits are often cheaper and more accessible, allowing DJs to play the desired tracks without breaking the bank. Additionally, some DJs may prefer the sound quality of bootlegs as they are often made from high-quality vinyl and offer a unique listening experience. Finally, some DJs may intentionally play bootlegs as a way to disrupt the collector's market and challenge the notion of what is and isn't "authentic" Northern Soul. You I want to be a Northern Soul dj. What 10 Northern Soul records should I play? 1. Tainted Love - Gloria Jones 2. Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) - Frank Wilson 3. Out On The Floor - Dobie Gray 4. The Night - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 5. At The Top Of The Stairs - The Formations 6. I'm On My Way - Dean Parrish 7. What - Judy Street 8. Time Will Pass You By - Tobi Legend 9. Landslide - Tony Clarke 10. You Don't Love Me - Epitome Of Sound Conversation ends. Ok, I don't think we have anything to fear just yet, and it's abundantly clear that answers are based on mainstream notions of Northern Soul that populate the internet. Ask ChatGPT your own questions here: https://chat-gpt.org/chat

Ah, didn't know that was Lars. Small world!

This... https://www.discogs.com/release/24790805-Roy-Roberts-Lets-Wrap-Up

Freshly uploaded to my YouTube channel is a blue-eyed pop/garage/soul acetate cut of the song "Soul Drippin" performed by an unknown group. Written by Dick Monza and recorded by Syl Johnson and released on his 1968 Twinight album, "Dresses too short", the song was also covered in the same year by The Standells (Tower) and The Mauds (Mercury). When I bought this acetate and a photocopied lyric sheet some years back, it purportedly came from Dick Monza's collection. If that is true, likely the acetate cut is the first version as it's called "Soul Drippin's" whereas the released takes have the title as "Soul Drippin". Do post up if you have any info...

Absolutely fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

I looked at that but wasn't sure if it was for me. Might take another look. Pretty certain I've seen it, yet remember very little about it. Got that on DVD some years back and enjoyed it. Maybe time for another visit. I did take in Bill Nighy's Living recently. I saw Kurosawa's classic Ikiru about 20 years and was really blown away by it. I've seen it a couple of times since. I had low expectations of Living, and the first half hour or so - the establishing of the characters and the time and place - did nothing to lift that. But... once the film gets going, things improve, so much so that I shed tears as the end drew near, just as I did with Ikiru. I was really impressed with the homage Living made to Ikiru with its end, playground scenes. I can't say with any certainty, but it seemed to me that they'd looked to replicate everything from the original - the lighting, camera angles, scene set-up, and Nighy's actions. In the end, I thought it an excellent film. I do hope Bill Nighy gets the Oscar for it. That would be truly well deserved.

I'll look out for that. I watched a French film recently called "My donkey, my lover and I" Clearly donkey's are in! The film - a comedy/romance – was pretty lightweight, but then anything involving comedy in French films usually is. It was enjoyable, but doubt I'd feel the need to see it again. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11013434/ Jumping from lightweight French cinema and over to music, I saw both the Mahalia Jackson movies in recent weeks: the TV movie Robin Roberts presents: Mahalia (2021) and Remember me: the Mahalia Jackson story (2022). Anyone who grew up watching TV movies in the 70s and 80s will recall them as low budget affairs and equally low budget acting, but I have to say I found the TV movie outshone the later offering. While both suffer from excessive Disneyfication, what tipped it for me was the different portrayals of Mahalia in each. In the 2022 film, Mahalia is played by soul singer Ledisi. She makes no effort to *be* Mahalia Jackson, except in name and some mannerisms. And this is deliberately done by the producers and Ledisi herself. When she sings, it's as Ledisi - and while she's a good singer in her own right, she's no Mahalia. What also separates the two films is that each present her life in different ways, and it seems likely that the second film avoided some of the aspects presented in the first film, thus avoiding being a mere copy of it. Both worth watching, but the TV movie wins because it captures the powerful spirit of the legend that was Mahalia Jackson - and when Danielle Brooks sings as Mahalia, oh Lord, you'd swear it was Mahalia! And, I'm sure I read somewhere there's to be a third Mahalia biopic sometime soon. Links: Robin Roberts presents: Mahalia https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13942226/ Remember me: The Mahalia Jackson story: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13880832/

It's great it turned up at last. You might like this thread from a couple of years ago...

And now to Florida and Henry Stone's TK Productions in Miami-Dade County at 495 SE, 10th CT, Hialeah. TK Productions, formed by Stone and Steve Alaimo, included labels such as Alston (Alaimo/Stone), Glade and others. The name TK came from sound engineer Terry Kane "who built a recording studio in the attic of Stone's office in Hialeah." Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TK_Records The image below is of the street where the offices and studio were based, but there are only single storey buildings here, the street/building numbers follow no logical sequence, and the place seems like a rather dodgy backstreet neighbourhood; something that's reinforced when you look at Google's street view images from earlier years. Presumably the original buildings, including the one housing TK and its studio, were demolished and these small business units put in their place. There really is no indication that this little street was once the global heart of the Miami sound. Sad.

From Shreveport to New York and 545 Fifth Avenue, a 14 storey building and prestigious location for the Big Wheel label. Obviously the label wouldn't have had the whole building – just an office or two at best. Here's a Big Wheel trade ad from Billboard magazine dated 3rd December 1966.

Shreveport, LA - 728 Texas St: the location of Stan 'The Record Man' Lewis's record shop and home to the labels he founded - Jewel, Ronn and Paula. Now a soulless car park for the First United Methodist Church. How it originally looked 'back in the day': Stan died July 15th 2018 aged 91. Here's a link to his obituary in the local Shreveport Times. It's well worth a read. https://eu.shreveporttimes.com/story/entertainment/2018/07/16/stan-record-man-lewis-tribute/787990002/

Next up is the former location of Don Robey's Peacock-Duke labels: 2809 Erastus Street, Houston, Texas. Robey moved his labels here from Lyons Avenue, Houston, in 1953 after acquiring Duke. The location was home to Robey's Bronze Peacock nightclub, from which Peacock got its name. According to the excellent Texas State Historical Association website: Nothing to see there now, except an empty plot of land and a local church on the horizon. Must admit I always thought the address would be in a more commercial/ business location, although having said that, looking at the map it appears there's a massive freight terminal to the left and across the road.

Could be from Indianapolis, I guess, but I don't see it being the Ebony Rhythm Band. Their sound is hardcore funk, whereas the Ebony's Band cut is lighter, more boogaloo in style. I did a bit of digging - looking to find of they did manufacture and wholesale blank acetates. The answer is no - seemingly they got theirs from Audio Devices, purveyor of those fine Audiodisc acetates that always quicken the heart when seen. However, RPL did provide extensive mastering/editing/cutting services to broadcasters, businesses, marketing/ad agencies and anyone who either needed something recorded and cut to disc, or who had a recording on tape they wanted cut to disc. So in theory the track could have been recorded to tape anywhere in the USA and sent to RPL in Camden, New Jersey, to be cut on an acetate. That though, seems unlikely as getting something cut on an acetate could be done locally and more cheaply. While digging, I found an excellent article about RPL featured in a 1952 edition of Audiodisc's own customer magazine. The article, the lead piece in the mag, has a pic of RPL's chief engineer cutting a record master, and behind him are packs of Audiodisc blank acetates. Note the pdf was very slow to open, but it's worth the wait. https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-Audio-Record/Audio-Record-1952-03.pdf

Mmm, I think it unlikely, unless RPL was a wholesaler of blanks. But, maybe they were. Certainly their Discogs listing makes for interesting viewing for those with curiosity... https://www.discogs.com/label/738769-Recorded-Publications-Laboratories

Why do you think it might be them? Vocals? Arrangements? Style? Other things...?

Just as feasible.

That's a very interesting thought. Listening to their early cuts, there's no vocal similarity between Ebonys lead singer, David Beasley, a baritone, and the lead vocalist on the acetate, who sounds more like a tenor. But... The Ebonys were doing gigs right from the off. One online source states: As a vocal quartet, The Ebonys would need backing musicians everywhere they performed. Could it be that for a period in those early days they had a regular group of musicians/friends supporting them at gigs, and that the group simply went by the name of Ebonys Band? While that seems feasible, I've no idea if it's fact!