Your Northern Soul Top 5s

[bhaexpress]

What's the definition of Northern Soul?

Something that sounds nothing like real soul music. I remember being in a disco in Newquay back in 1973 and wondering why the idiot northerners were pouring talcom power on the floor. They proceeded to skid all over the floor doing what they considered dancing.

Ironically, when I moved to Wigan in 1987 the famous Cassino had been closed down long before.

 

[The Large One]

It's more of a sub-section within a genre. Get out of that.

'Black' popular music from, say, 1940s-1970s as we know it takes many forms. Gospel, R&B, blues, soul, doo-wop and so on. Soul music is in own section, and even that falls into several different styles. Funk, floaters, mid-tempo, stompers, and the style known in the UK as 'northern' soul.

Think Motown from the mid-late 60s, and you've got a starting point.

 

[zefarelly]

The night - Frankie Valli and the 4 seasons

I don't need no Doctor - Ray Charles

The snake - Al Wilson

60 minutes of your love . . .Homer Banks

Chairman Of The Board, Give Me Just A Little More Time

theres about 100 more as well

 

[The Large One]

Something that sounds nothing like real soul music. I remember being in a disco in Newquay back in 1973 and wondering why the idiot northerners were pouring talcom power on the floor. They proceeded to skid all over the floor doing what they considered dancing.

Ironically, when I moved to Wigan in 1987 the famous Cassino had been closed down long before.

They were possibly dancing to the imitation soul records from that period. Or 'white soul', as it was dismissivley termed. People cashing in like Wigan's Ovation. Real nothern soul is real soul, believe me.

 

[Willow]

Kinda what I thought. Not really a genre of music at all is it?

It's was basically just a revival of the Tamla Motown sound, at a time when it had fallen out of fashion down south. Some northern acts then starting creating music in the same vein, but it was predominantly based around soul records from America, the more obscure the better.

 

[bhaexpress]

They were possibly dancing to the imitation soul records from that period. Or 'white soul', as it was dismissivley termed. People cashing in like Wigan's Ovation. Real nothern soul is real soul, believe me.

Yes, it was 'White soul' as I remember, you're spot on TLO.

 

[zefarelly]

Wigans Ovation . . .nice sentiment, fekkin awful music though

I sat at the Hammond in the Motown Studio in Detroit a few years ago . . . .quite an experiance when I think about it, possibly the most productive and fruitful studio in the world

 

[aftershavedave]

do the '81 - candy and the kisses
skiing in the snow - wigan's chosen few
give me just a little more time - chairman of the board
backfield in motion - mel & tim
the night - frankie valli

COTB track is an absolute killer!

 

[The Large One]

give me just a little more time - chairman of the board

COTB track is an absolute killer!

Bbbrrrrrrr!!!

 

[zefarelly]

The MAgic Touch . . . .cant remember who did it, just listening to it now . . . .splendid

who did a track that went 'at the discoteque, he he'' . . . .brilliant song and I must try and get hold of a copy or at least an MP3

 

[The Large One]

The MAgic Touch . . . .cant remember who did it, just listening to it now . . . .splendid

who did a track that went 'at the discoteque, he he'' . . . .brilliant song and I must try and get hold of a copy or at least an MP3

'Magic Touch' was by Melba Moore (although the original was by the Bobby Fuller Four - the same band that did 'I Fought the Law')

'At the Discotheque' is by Chubby Checker. Absolute quality.

 

[zefarelly]

Thanks Large one . . . I think I'll do a web search for it

I have about 30 Kent tracks on the computer here, helps me through the working day

 

[zefarelly]

I nearly forgot

Let the music play . . . . .Billy Preston

pure class, hammond and horns, does music get any better ?

 

[Tommy Cook reporting]

All the stuff so far is a bit common though, eh? The whole ethos of Northern Soul is the mod one-up manship surely. Finding a truely great track that nobody else has.

That said all the songs mentioned are wonderful to dance to, but there is a little bit more to it all then say Rescue Me by Fontella Bass. Let's face it if you went to a Northern do once a year then you'd be happy with the mentioned tracks I suppose, but for a scene to have survived so long it meant that so much more was on offer.

What about Eddie Harper 'My Prayer' or Frank Beverly 'I that's what you wanted' or...christ I cannot choose cos there is soooo many.

 

[zefarelly]

Good point TCR but just finding the better known stuff is hard enough

when I went to StLouis a few years ago I just filled my bag up with $1 7" singles and sifted through them when I got home, some unknowns and some I'd heard but didnt know of etc, I've always been a fan of the Kent albums, but even finding them is hard now

 

[aftershavedave]

What about Eddie Harper 'My Prayer' or Frank Beverly 'I that's what you wanted' or...christ I cannot choose cos there is soooo many.

that'll be frankie beverly of maze fame then...not heard that one i don't think

 

[The Large One]

All the stuff so far is a bit common though, eh? The whole ethos of Northern Soul is the mod one-up manship surely. Finding a truely great track that nobody else has.

That said all the songs mentioned are wonderful to dance to, but there is a little bit more to it all then say Rescue Me by Fontella Bass. Let's face it if you went to a Northern do once a year then you'd be happy with the mentioned tracks I suppose, but for a scene to have survived so long it meant that so much more was on offer.

What about Eddie Harper 'My Prayer' or Frank Beverly 'I that's what you wanted' or...christ I cannot choose cos there is soooo many.

There are so many people on here NOT conversant with it, that at least the tracks mentioned are a good place to start.

I might throw in 'Last Minute Miracle' by the Shirelles. Damn near impossible to get on 7" vinyl - but I managed it last year, for all of £3.50.

 

[The Large One]

BTW, not strictly northern, but does anyone have a copy of Anyone Who Knows What Love Is Will Understand by Irma Thomas. I have looked or ages for this, but have never seen a copy - even on CD. If anyone has it on MP3, and can send it to me - I would be very grateful.