They used to have Northern Soul nights at the Fox and Coney when Vince and Mike had it; I always remember there being some guy in his late 60s in braces or a zoot suit dancing like a daft **** while other people sort of danced normally. Clearly in his mind he was the coolest guy there, but honestly he looked like a right gimp. That said, I went to go see John Newman a few months back and he was awesome. Not what you'd describe as traditional 'Northern Soul', but it was a great night.
I'd be delighted if northern soul made a comeback, OLM. The music scene badly needs a breath of fresh air, and i can see a lot of great acts coming out of a revival. I really hope you right.... [video=youtube_share;t8N07oFkN78]http://youtu.be/t8N07oFkN78?list=PLD7D13FBD8A0E7572[/video]
After all, it's not as if new classics are an impossibility... [video=youtube_share;F-2g6gDTyuI]http://youtu.be/F-2g6gDTyuI[/video]
I must admit to being puzzled about this Northern Soul genre I'm just surprised at some of the stuff posted as Northern Soul material. Up to now there are three of my fave songs posted, and thanks for doing so by the way, but Da Do Ron Ron - The Crystals, Will you still love me tomorrow - The Shirelles and Please Mr Postman - The Marveletts I've always thought of as straightforward pop songs derived from soul music so is this what determines the Northern Soul genre?
I was thinking the same thing ref. For me Northern soul has a certain sound, it cant just be Motown or something...Although Motown's cool as well
I posted those tunes because one way or another these "Northern American" groups did have an influence on the British "Northern Soul" scene. Some may argue with that, but certainly having been listening to music from both sides of the Atlantic over the early 60's the influence is there in my mind at least. The 3 tracks you mention and the American ladies involved were certainly influencial on the US "Soul" scene - by inference influenced the British "Soul " scene. IMO, and probably many others.
This counts, doesn't it? [video=youtube;XSQQbhu3YUc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSQQbhu3YUc[/video]
I am a massive Otis fan and have been since 1965 but what has that record, which is one of his most untypical, to do with Northern Soul? Most Northern Soul was picked because it suited the dancing style and was obscure . The reason most of it was obscure is it wasn't as good as a lot of the other stuff at the time of its release. Northern Soul wasn't really soul music anyway as understood by the people around when soul music was originally released in the early sixties.
"If music be the food of love, play on." Twelfth Night. In my mind, music is the truest globally understood language...me. It morphs....
He was the man. There were better singers but no one had more soul. Like Sam Cooke, especially his gospel stuff, James Carr who had a great voice but not the songs, David Ruffin of The Temptations,Sam and Dave the best live act of all and Solomon Burke the only one to rival Otis. Listen to them all but if I had to choose only one album it would be Otis Blue, the original mono released in 1965 a copy of which I still have. You have probably seen this, but still worth seeing again. Oh, to be 16 again and watching this on a Friday night before trying to fall asleep thinking of Sandy Sargent strutting her stuff. [video=youtube;-dVU3JYcQS0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dVU3JYcQS0[/video]
Slightly off topic - but 3 great documentaries on BB4 just started - 2 on Hendrix - one on guitar riffs. repeats, but well worth watching.....[
Yes I have listened to it, but great to listen again. You mentioning David Ruffin just reminded me of seeing Jimmy Ruffin at Bailey's in the early seventies.
I was there as well. Not as good as David, but very few were. Arthur Cowley put on a great show there. Jimmy James was someone else who was great there, as he was everywhere I saw him. Geno Washington, the biggest example of someone who wasn't a great singer but who could put on a brilliant show was another one who was memorable but I think it was still Skyline then. Those were the days.
