Urban Youtube northern soul all-nighter

[scalyboy]

In the spirit of the Youtube Reggae Blues dance Sound Clash thread, I’d like to start a similar one - but for northern soul, deep soul, popcorn et al.

Popular or arguably overplayed recordings like Landslide, Do I Love You, Tainted Love, Ghost In My House etc welcome, as they’re all top tunes.

But the more obscure the better. One-hit wonders a speciality…

For example, Charles Lamont and the Extremes recorded this superb floor-filler, but from what I can tell, he then appears to have disappeared without trace:

 

[Silas Loom]

I had no idea until now that this was a cover. Should have guessed from the relatively sensible lyrics.

 

[scalyboy]

Chuck Cornish’s Tribute to Mohammed Ali; very appropriate given the great man’s ‘Ali Shuffle’ dance moves in the ring

 

[scalyboy]

I had no idea until now that this was a cover. Should have guessed from the relatively sensible lyrics.

Like Soft Cell’s Tainted Love cover, IMHO this one is as good as the original.

If I recall correctly, MES mentions northern soul in his ‘Renegade’ autobiography - a huge youth movement largely ignored by the London-based music press at the time, cos it was happening in the Midlands and, er, the North

 

[ska invita]

Northern Soul fav right now

 

[Steel Icarus]

 

[story]

In the spirit of the Youtube Reggae Blues dance Sound Clash thread, I’d like to start a similar one - but for northern soul, deep soul, popcorn et al.

Popular or arguably overplayed recordings like Landslide, Do I Love You, Tainted Love, Ghost In My House etc welcome, as they’re all top tunes.

But the more obscure the better. One-hit wonders a speciality…

For example, Charles Lamont and the Extremes recorded this superb floor-filler, but from what I can tell, he then appears to have disappeared without trace:

Blimey I haven’t heard that track since forever.

Nice one scalyboy .

 

[story]

 

[story]

 

[story]

I really enjoyed this playlist during lockdown.

Not strictly going by the rules of the OP I guess.
But the whole channel is good so it’s worth a mention here.

brico

The Classic Northern Soul Public Library Dance!

youtube.com

 

[Nanker Phelge]

One of my favourites....

 

[Nanker Phelge]

 

[blossie33]

Another Darrell Banks I love..


....and Little Anthony

 

[blossie33]

I actually prefer the British band The Alan Bown Set's 60s cover of the Little Anthony one, I think it's also classed as Northern Soul now...

 

[scalyboy]

Written for the Four Tops in 1965, Jimmy Hart recorded this version one year later:

 

[scalyboy]

Oh blimey - great tune, but just a tad too fast for my ageing feet. Respect to those dancers who can move to this one - me, I wish I was 26 again
I struggle to keep up with this one too:

 

[Nanker Phelge]

 

[hitmouse]

Like Soft Cell’s Tainted Love cover, IMHO this one is as good as the original.

If I recall correctly, MES mentions northern soul in his ‘Renegade’ autobiography - a huge youth movement largely ignored by the London-based music press at the time, cos it was happening in the Midlands and, er, the North

And Lie Dream of a Casino Soul is definitely about the scene as well... but this is a Northern Soul thread not a Fall one, so here's the MVPs:

 

[blossie33]

Written for the Four Tops in 1965, Jimmy Hart recorded this version one year later:

He sings that really well but I would guess the tune wouldn't have been 'catchy' enough for the Four Tops to put out.

 

[ohmyliver]

I'm not sure how rare this is, but I've only recently discovered it, and I've been rinsing the f*ck out of it for a couple of weeks now

 

[Ground Elder]

He sings that really well but I would guess the tune wouldn't have been 'catchy' enough for the Four Tops to put out.

They did

.

Like most of Jackie Wilson's releases, The Who Who Song is still a cheap 7“. It's the a side that does it for me

 

[Ground Elder]

Couple from the Flaming Arrow label
The Angela Davis has taken off in the last few years and if you want a copy you'll now have to pay over a grand. It's not a particularly rare record, just a lot of people want it in their box




Usually pitch this one up a little

 

[scalyboy]

He sings that really well but I would guess the tune wouldn't have been 'catchy' enough for the Four Tops to put out.

Could be. They did record it for their first album, but it was never released as a single AFAIK


[edit: Ground Elder beat me to it, post #21]

 

[scalyboy]

Like most of Jackie Wilson's releases, The Who Who Song is still a cheap 7“. It's the a side that does it for me

Joyous!

 

[hitmouse]

I'm a carpenter of love and affection

 

[stethoscope]

Reminded me of how much fun Fishco was, and that it was ten years ago (seems plug.dj is no more either) which would have been perfect for an Urban music night

Anyway, always this tune for me

 

[Ground Elder]

There was a great documentary on, I think, Radio 2 about Dean Parrish. He had long given up his musical career for acting under his real name, unaware that he'd had a massive northern soul 'hit'.

Eventually he was tracked down and, disbelieving what he'd been told, googled himself. He was bought over to England to play at a Weekender and was shocked to find an all white audience, who were in turn surprised to discover Dean Parrish was a white Italian American.

He went on to record again before he died a few years ago

 

[scalyboy]

Eventually he was tracked down and, disbelieving what he'd been told, googled himself. He was bought over to England to play at a Weekender and was shocked to find an all white audience, who were in turn surprised to discover Dean Parrish was a white Italian American.

Great story! On the subject of blue-eyed soul, here's Robert Plant (yes, that one) from 1967... no flowers and bells here!


I heard this on one of Ian Levine's Solid Soul Sensations Mixcloud shows, always worth a listen

 

[scalyboy]

 

[scalyboy]

And on the subjects of Vodou, Hoodoo and related matters, here's Dr John before he became Dr John