All Our Yesterdays

Diggin' in the crates

2010-09-24T15:19:00.005Z

As I said last time with a relaunched night and reduced reliance on all those CDs burnt from singles, abums and downloads it's time to revamp the singles box. Never easy despite only having four hours to fill between the two of us. I'm trying to resist the temptation to go for the middle sized box (about 200 singles) and keep to the small (?) one of about 100. That has however meant a great opportunity to riffle through old boxes and spin tunes I'd forgotten I had or which have been left neglected for 10+ years. Plus with not having a huge dancefloor and able to concentrate on a wide range of esoteric sounds pretty much anything goes (although I'll resist the temptation do half an hour of southern deep soul wailers...)

So in no particular order a quick guide to what's found it's way back into the box (before I revamp it yet again to fit in further rediscoveries):

Don Covay - 40 Days, 40 Nights - brought in in favour of the more well known See Saw and another fave of mine Iron Out The Rough Spots - fairly typical southern inspired pounder on Atlantic

Georgie Fame - El Bandido and No Thanks - well, why not quite frankly? Examples of tunes I copied to CD to thin out the box and then rarely played. No it may be time to resurrect

Temptations - I Couldn't Cry If I Wanted To - I love the Temps vocal style and this mid tempo clip clopper does it for me (flip side on Gordy of (I Know) I'm Losing You)

Miracles - I Can Take A Hint - another early style shuffler with great harmonies

Johnny Nash - (I'm So) Glad You're My Baby - lovely mid tempo on MGM which I bought maybe over ten years' ago and remember playing at a soul / Northern night and cleared the floor. Not the first time I misjudged an oldies crowd not really wanting something a bit below 95 mph. Oh well, still love this

Jimmy Witherspoon - My Baby Quit Me - not one for the floor but a lovely cross over of blues and soul with a gravelly voice

Esther Phillips - While It Lasted - a few beats up from Just Say Goodbye but still smashing vocals

Mongo Santamaria - I Can't Get Next To You - the Motown cover which isn't Cloud Nine! Both equally great but this deserves it's time in the limelight after having played C9 over much

Roy Lee Johnson - Boogaloo #3 and Eddie Wilson - Shing A Ling Stroll - two from the early days of AOY and these sometimes bemused the scooterists - low down and dirty boogaloo

Little Ann - Who Are You Trying To Fool - the second I think of two Kent reissues by Little Ann - I used to play the mid tempo What Should I Do and honestly couldn't remember this at all - it's a bit rougher and the sort of low down sound a basement venue deserves. It can't quite decide whether to be Etta James or Marie Knight but no worse for that

D C Ramblers - Hangin In There - another forgotten single whch I've just seen listed for 20 quid (!) on Keynote - Willie Mitchell style pounding horns / sax and guitar - got to be worth a play

That's volume 1 - further posts to follow no doubt as the box gets resorted

Getting back to our roots

2010-09-16T19:14:00.004Z

So after nearly 19 years at The Waterfront (November 1994 saw our first night) we've moved on to pastures new. Crowds were down and the club wanted bigger numbers and went for cheesy pop and dropped us plus Martin's soul night and the ska night. Never mind.

We've got ourselves a relaunch night at The Rumsey Wel ls in the centre of Norwich, down in the basement on Saturday 9th October. I've always liked downstairs venues as you feel like entering a world only you know about, making a particular effort to navigate the stairs in the dark. Once downstairs the venue has a small bar and various seating areas / snugs, a sound system and a small dance floor (no backflips here!) - but it feels right from the art on the walls, ceiling height and general look. Hopefully it will be a success and they'll have us back!

It's also prompted a re-evaluation of what I carry in terms of music. Without a huge dancefloor and the passing semi interested night club punters we can go back to basics without trying to please those who really want a 60s night rather than what we offer. I've spoiled myself with masses of CDRs of burnt singles and album tracks over recent years and neglected vinyl which doesn't even get out of the house these days. So I've been working my way through too long neglected record boxes to unearth some tracks I'd forgotten I had or haven't played out (or in!) for years. I even treated myself to a box set of awesome early RnB:

I want to try to spin tunes I've not played for a while and focus back on my loves of soul, RnB and play some more latin and hammond given an opportunity. A downstairs venue to me cries out for downright dirty tracks.

Hopefully our regulars and previous attendees will come on down.

The details:

Saturday 9th October 8 to 12

FREE

That way madness lies...

2009-09-13T15:42:00.002Z

So I've just cleared some clutter and can access my LPs easily for the first time in a few years. All of a sudden (Jeanette Williams - track 15 Kent LP 007 "Floorshakers") I can find things I've long forgotten or didn't realise I had (like Dusty Springfield's "Where Am I Going" LP from 1967 on Phillips) and can digitise pretty much what I want - given time. Then I recall a how load of boxes of old cassettes and the possibilities are endless, but slightly daunting. Out of the blue someone has found a link to this blog as they've been after a title to a track on an old tape from 1988 they bought at a CCI mod rally (Asterix Goes Latin). So i find my copy, it still plays and think "digitise this" and phew! what a track listing.

So do I start the equivalent of ainting the Forth Bridge or let bygones be bygones? I came across six C90s of my fave parts of Pete Young's "Soul Cellar" on Capital Radio from the early / mid 80s and that brought back memories. I now hav much of hat was on there but the temptation to burn them as single 45 minute slabs of my history is getting powerful. Hmm? Any views?

Artist	Title	Album	Length
P Rodriguez	Oh That's Nice	Asterix Goes Latin	02:36
H Sanz	Heart Full Of Soul	Asterix Goes Latin	03:45
T Mack	Hey Gypsy Woman	Asterix Goes Latin	02:03
Latinaires	Camel Walk	Asterix Goes Latin	02:37
Ray Barretto	Right On	Asterix Goes Latin	02:27
P Terrace	No No No	Asterix Goes Latin	03:01
King Nando	Mama's Girl	Asterix Goes Latin	02:15
Hector Rivera	Shingaling Baby	Asterix Goes Latin	02:55
Willie Rosario	Watusi Boogaloo	Asterix Goes Latin	02:45
W Rodriguez	What You Want	Asterix Goes Latin	02:28
Ray Barretto	Midnight Boogaloo	Asterix Goes Latin	02:06
Tony Middleton	Return To Spanish Harlem	Asterix Goes Latin	02:19
Willie Rosario	Wobbly Blues	Asterix Goes Latin	02:35
P Rodriguez	I Like It	Asterix Goes Latin	02:24
P Serrano	Latin Soul Pt.1	Asterix Goes Latin	02:33
Caper Brothers	Ain't Gonna Write	Asterix Goes Latin	02:21
Mongo Santamaria	There's A Mountain	Asterix Goes Latin	02:28
El Gran	Shake It Baby	Asterix Goes Latin	02:38
Charlie Palmieri	Bugalu	Asterix Goes Latin	02:20
Joe Cuba	Push Push Push	Asterix Goes Latin	02:04
Ray Barretto	New York Soul	Asterix Goes Latin	02:31
Orchestra Kool	Boogaloo Baby	Asterix Goes Latin	05:48

Todays soundtrack to my gym session...

2009-08-08T19:47:00.002Z

An hour of quality rhythm and soul and two blasts from The Clash to finish off!:

Charles Sheffield It's Your Voodoo Working 01:51
Larry Davis I've Been Hurt So Many Times 03:12
Jimmy Hughes It Ain't What You Got 02:07
Josephine Taylor I'm Gone 02:30
Grover Mitchell That's A Good Idea 02:19
Vernon Garrett Shine It On 02:17
La Brenda Ben The Chaperone 02:55
Sally Stanley I'll Have To Let You Go 02:29
Jo Ann Garrett You Can't Come In (Big Bad Wolf) 02:47
Little Milton Grits Ain't Groceries 02:38
Bob Kaylin Tie Me Tight 02:14
Bobby Bennett Big In New York 02:26
Eddie King and Mary B Mae Are You Pushed To Love 01:58
Joe Simon I Gotta Lot Of Lovin' 02:30
Miracles Father Dear 02:35
Mack Rice Baby I'm Coming Home 02:12
John Wesley You're Gonna Miss Me 02:15
Vernon Harell and Little Gigi Baby Don'tcha Worry 02:45
Ray Charles Hide Nor Hair 03:07
Ty Hunter Orphan Boy 02:45
Little Bob and the Lollipops Are You Ever Coming Home 02:09
Barbara Lynn I'm A Good Woman 02:16
Miss Lavell Stolen Love 02:11
Valls You'll Never Cherish A Love So True 03:00
Lula Reed Walk On By Me 02:31
Freddie King One Hundred Years 02:20
Bud Harper Let Me Love You 02:22

...and then "Safe European Home" and "Tommy Gun" off "Give ' Em Enough Rope" just by way of a contrast

Spoilt Broth - 4th July

2009-06-27T07:10:00.003Z

The latest from the spoilt broth collective hits Nrwich on Saturday 4th July - all the details on the flyer. The venue has passed me by but details here.

Podcasts here

Another CDR - just for TJB

2009-06-11T19:42:00.013Z

Tim just posted he had a load of the old comps I did (and so he has). Infact I was inspired to do one aimed at what then were his fave style of tracks, at least he was nice enough to say they were. On the back of the Fatboy Slim single I let my imagination run riot again and came up with "Jazz Soul Brother". But it did what it said on the tin pretty much:

Check the old style flyer as well...

Freddie Hubbard - Return of the Prodigal Son
Clarence Wheeler & the Enforcers - Right On
The Clique - Wormin’
Oscar Brown Jr - Mr Kicks
Jackie Lee - The Duck
Linda Jones - My Heart Needs A Break
Soul Shakers - I’m Getting Weaker
Ray Redmond - Ain’t That Terrible
Billy Preston - Greazee Pt 2
James Taylor Quartet - Blow Up
Sugar Pie DeSanto - Do The Whoopee
Aztecs - Damelo Baby
Ray Barretto - New York Soul
Monguito Santamaria - Juicy
Ivan “Boogaloo” Joe Jones - Black Whip
Young Disciples - Move On (Lynch Mob Beats)
Terry Callier - Look At Me Now
Etta James - Mellow Fellow
James Brown - Shhhhhhh! (For A Little While)
Jimmy Smith - Mission Impossible
Jack Constanzo & Gerry Woo - Green Onions
Montego Joe - Fat Man
Ray Barretto - Right On

What we have here is a mix of latin / boogaloo / soul and one slightly left field modern (ish) tune from the Young Disciples, whch is basically some rather groovy hammond organ and flute looped over some tasty beats. In my mind the best thing to come out of Talkin' Loud with one great album "Road To Freedom"

Anyway, this CDR kicks off with some well tasty jazz and rumbles straight into one of my favourite funk / soul / hammond work outs from Clarence Wheeler. I have to play this again soon! Then into The Clique, which I picked up from an early Acid Jazz "Totally Wired" album. I assume this is the same 80s revival JTQ-influenced band? Sounds great anyway.

"Permit me to introduce myself, my name is Mr Kicks, I dwell in a dark dominion down by the River Styx" - oh yes. Vocal jazz at its finger clickin' darkest - epitome of cool. But a pig to dance to!

Via a quick Mirwood classic and back into another couple of tracks from the aforementioned Loma compilations from the previous post. I'm a sucker for OTT soul with a big build up and crescendo, especially well the vocals are as good as Linda Jones. This doesn't disappoint. Add in the Soul Shakers and Ray Redmond (which again I really ought to play again - boogaloo meets soul meets shingaling in a whole mess of dance chaos!)

By way of hammond mayhem from Billy Preston and JTQ at their simplest and finest before they got, to my mind, a bit heavy and Led Zep fixated, we get to some serious club soul from smokey basement clubs - see also the Etta James

Time for some latin and what on earth are the Aztecs talking about? But some great latin boogaloo swiftly followed by ne of my all time fave latin soul numbers "New York Soul" - 'scuse me whilst I have a quick slide across the carpet. Then from when I had a phase of buying some Venezualen (I think) Fania imports comes Monquito Santamaria geting juicy all over the place throwing pips and fruit peel all over the dance floor.

Sampled or covered at the time by I can't recall who comes Boogaloo Joe Jones rather excellent "Black Whip" and the YDs and then into more low down gritty 60s club soul pausing to take in Terry Caller's masterpiece (well, one of them!). This oozes class - just look at him now. Etta James could be singing about suited and booted Mods and Mr Brown throws organ riffs and mad mumbling all over the shop, taken froma German Mojo Dancefloor Jazz compilation (volume 2 I think). Next up my hero "god on a hammond organ" taken from a reissue 12" which i think also had "House of Bamboo" on as well - picked up second hand far too many years ago now

Then I rounded off with more crazy latin - sucker for a cover version of well known classics just to mess with the heads of audiences expecting Booker T, a really tasty "Fat Man" taken from a latin jazz comp possibly on BGP (red and green sleeve I think - must get into my record shelves more frequently!) - and then the second track entilted Right On to finish and what a beauty.

OK - having just skimmed through these I must dig a few out for another outing soon. I like some latin and remember hearing my first slbs of it in Bournemouth in 1988 at a Mod rally. I still want Tony Middleton "Return To Spanish Harlem" but will have to make do with a tape entitled Asterix Goes Latin from that period hawked around the mod rallies for my copy! I'm not sure the price of a copy back then was helped by Mr Midleton being collectable for "To The Ends Of The Earth" as well. Apparently the flip (not that I'll ever see it now!) is on the BGP comp. Just seen it offered for 200 quid!!! Certainly won't be seeing it now!

Anyway, I've just enjoyed the last hour listening to these tunes for the first time in ages and writing drivel - enjoy!

Early Personal CDRs

2009-06-10T23:34:00.006Z

A few years after we started in November 1994 I splashed out on what was then cutting edge technology (sort of) in the shape of my first hi fi separates including a CDR recorder / burner. This was maybe 1997 (?) and well before the now ubiquitous nature of PC CDR / DVD drives. I wanted to burn CDs of singles and album tracks and in those days it was like the old days of cassette recorders - cue up, press record and hope you (a) don't cut the start of the track off or (b) have three seconds blank at the start of a track. There was also the added complication that the CD didn't always want to record and I'd get a 30 second blank. In those days CDR discs were maybe three quid or you could splash out maybe £8 for a re-recordable CD-RW, burn onto that (erasing errors first) and then copying from CD to CD-R. Not for me then select tunes online, download and burn in maybe 30 minutes total from start to finish. There was no such thing as volume levelling, editing of crackles and hisses or cross fading.

I was quite pleased with my first effort, imaginatively entitled "AOY The CDR Pt.1" and represents what I was playing then from a mix of single, LP / compilation and the odd CD:

Mike Cotton Sound - Harlem Shuffle
Sly - Buttermilk Pt 1
Brother Jack McDuff - Let My People Go
The Brand - I’m A Lover Not A Fighter
Thane Russell - Security
The Action - Hey Sha-lo-ney
Hayward Lee - Oogaloo
Fabulous Peps - So Fine
Little Caesar - Everybody Dance Now
Jimmy McGriff - The Worm
Monk Higgins - Watermelon Man
The Betterdays - Don’t Want That
Sonic Invasion - Go Out And Get Her
? & the Mysterians - Got To
Buddy McKnight - Everytime Pt 2
Andre Williams - Do The Popcorn
Eddie Wilson - Shing-a-ling Stroll
Little Mac - In The Midnight Hour
Billy Hawks - Oh Baby I Believe I’m Losing You
Georgie Fame - Somebody Stole My Thunder
The Birds - Say Those Magic Words
Mike & Ike - Ya Ya
Brian Auger - Black Cat
Jimmy Smith - Stay Loose
Rhinoceros - Apricot Brandy
Barry “Barefoot” Beefus - Barefoot Beefus
John Mayall - Crocodile Walk

Quite a mix of genres but I loved the lot (still do) and infact most of these languish unplayed now although Georgie Fame and The Action still get an airing. I particularly lve the Beefus which I have on very quietly cut "This Is Loma Volume 2 or 4 (?)" LP - infact I have the set of I think seven comps in this series. Anyway...

Around the same time I received / swapped comps and this one I found lurking on my MP3 player in the gym last week:

Booker T and the MGs - Plum Nellie
Caretakers - East Side Story
Bob and Ray - Air Travel
Julian Covey - Sweet Bacon
Clarence Carter - Snatching It Back
Wimple Winch - Save My Soul
Baby Washington - Think About The Good Times
Woggles - My Baby Like To Boogaloo
Joe Tex - You're Right Ray Charles
Music Machine - 96 Tears
Patti Drew - Fever
Johnny Taylor - Who's Making Love
Ike and Tina Turner - Ya Ya
Deep Purple - Hush
Mongo Santamaria - Sweet Tater Pie
Ray Charles - I Chose To Sing The Blues
Apostolic Intervention - Tell Me Have You Ever Seen Me
Johnny Jones and the King Casuals - Soul Poppin'
Elmore James - Shake Your Moneymaker
Etta James - Do I Make Myself Clear
Dee Clark - My Little Girl In The High School Sweater
Jackie Ivory - Do It To Death
France Gall - Der Computer No.3
Honeybus - Tender Are The Ashes
Perry and the Harmonics - Do The Monkey With James
Tina Britt - Sookie Sookie
Cyril Davies' All Stars - Someday baby
Lavern baker and Jimmy Ricks - You're The Boss

Interesting mix of the outstanding and the slightly bizzare. Loved the MGs "Plum Nellie" and am ashamed to say that even after listening to soul in various guises for nearly 30 years don't recall having heard this. I assume it's the same as the Small faces, although I've seen it attributed to both Marriott / Lane and Cropper / Dunn etc and I've seen (not yet heard) a similar titled track by Jimmy Smith

Circular Soul

2009-06-10T19:10:00.008Z

Martin from Circular Sounds Records runs the third Saturday alternate months to us (even months) playing clssic northern and motown. His next date is Friday 19th June:

In addition he's starting up a series of soul and related free nights on Saturdays at "Comfortably Numb" (or Facebook) just down the road from his shop in St Benedicts St. This Saturday sees funk, RnB and Southern soul and is free from 8 til 12:

The hope is that this will run on 2nd Saturday every month, but there are contact details available if you want updates direct from Martin.

He also has on 27th June a night of Motown, Northern and RnB, to be repeated on 25th July and 29th August:

It also looks like he's planning a blues and deep soul night and a jazz / 70s soul night - TBC

When Martha met Irma

2009-05-20T16:25:00.004Z

Over the last few months I've been introduced to two quite outstanding slabs of female soul of which I was previously blissfully unaware.

First up was Martha Bass (yep, Fontella's mum) "Since I've Been Born Again". I've not seen this on original vinyl but would guess probably Checker or Cadet as I've seen something else by her on Ebay on that group of labels. It is on the Soul Jazz Soul Gospel Vol.2, where you can hear a 60 second blast, which was about all I heard when I first came across it. It ws on a "6 on 6" set on the Craig Charles' Funk and Soul Show on 6 Music probably autumn 2008. Listeners send in six top tunes of theirs and he plays (played as I think he's stopped that part now) snippets of each tune back to back. Now I don't regularly listen to the show, sometimes when cooking the tea. I'm not a huge funk fan and get a bit bored of funk by numbers (just as I'm sure some people think all Motown, Northen etc sounds a bit samey as well I guess). Having said that I've owned Eddie Bo's "Hook and Sling" and Luther Ingrams' "Puttin' Game Down" (on KoKo! - and yes it is the "Baby Don't You Weep" man!) on 7 inch for maybe 20 years , so I don't what you call hate it! Anyway, there's nearly always a little gem thrown in there even f I'm only listening for half an hour. This is all hand clappin', foot stompin' gospel at a great dance tempo. Surely too earthy for the gospel sentiments? I can't find it on any other albums and can't vouch for the rest of the album so still searching.

Then by another quirk of fate I caught a smal part of the final Radio 2 Saturday show hosted by Martin Freeman and Liza Tarbuck before Jonathon Ross completed his three moth ban around january 2009. Mr Freeman has form in compiling a Motown CD as well as citing mod influences (Independent in 2005 - article now taken off line and see also Modculture). They alternated records and bang came on Irma Thomas "Hittin On Nothin" which I'm ashamed to say I'd not heard before - flip side of "Ruler Of My Heart" and enned by Allen Toussaint - see here for example. This is available on a CD called We Sing The Blues / New Orleans Our Home Town, which is also on download at Napster and iTunes I believe (legally) for about seven quid. Great early RnB soul, right for "now" I'd say. You can see from the playlist that on that day listeners got some real treats (Terry Callier, Etta James, Staple Singers, JB...) - remember when Radio 2 was the MOR station? Either I'm getting old or people of my age and background are getting their hands on the knobs. Well worth tracking this down and as a legal and cheap download probably no excuse not to?

Soul band in Gorleston

2009-05-19T17:58:00.001Z

Just received this although I'm away unfortunately...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 45's - 8-Piece Live Soul Band (tracks by sam and dave, the four tops, otis redding, stevie wonder, the temptations, wilson pickett, james brown, curtis mayfield, kool and the gang and many more...)

There will also be a DJ

The Ocean Rooms, Pier Gardens, Gorleston

Doors open at 8pm

Tickets cost £5 and all profits go to charity - beach radios 'help an east coast child' appeal

If you want any more info, or if anyone is interested in tickets, then check out the website at www.thefortyfives.co.uk

Friday 15th May 2009

2009-05-19T17:35:00.003Z

This was the second of our new Friday dates after having spent just over 14 years on Saturdays. Numbers were up a bit from March but our last Saturday before the switch in January had also been very quiet. Not sure if this is a result of the new day or numbers at clubs being down more generally. We certainly seem to have encountered a new set of people we've not come across before so in a way it's almost like trying to rebuild the club again whilst relying on a small group of faithful followers. You know who are and your support really is very much appreciated. You may even lure me out from behind the decks for a boogie again!

Having said that this Friday most of the newer crowd cottoned on to what we're about quickly and were happy with a diet of soul plus some old classics. It also meant we dug out a few oldies which fall into the "overplayed but underplayed" category as Steve calls them - those tracks you've known for years so never play but actually sound really great once in a while as you've in reality not played them for a long time. So this time we included Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar", Anthony and the Imperials' "Better Use Your Head" and The Impressions' "You've Been Cheating". Do they sound good after a while or what? OK so no prizes for super rarity or anything but frankly who cares?

So onwards and upwards to the next night in July. If anyone reads this please feel free to come along and help us keep going in our 15th year. You know it makes sense.

The Animals (and friends)

2009-04-03T19:26:00.006Z

I first saw the current incarnation of the Animals (see here) on 3rd October 2008 (I remember as it was my birthday) up at the Blakeney Harbour Room, an unlikely bastion of RnB perhaps? I was not a huge fan, having heard mainly the "obvious" and slightly poppy sounds but live, in this formation did they play some dirty RnB? You bet! Plus special guest for the second half was Spencer Davis...very nice.

So on to the Maddermarket Theatre on Thursday 2nd April which was an even weirder venue. Anyway, getting there the front desk was selling some Animals CDs (old and new material) plus a couple of Zoot Money Cds. I asked how on earth was a relatively obscure (compared to the Animals anyway) artist on sale? Only 'cos he was guesting on keyboards all night. What an unexpected treat. The "usual" keyboard player (Mickey Gallagher - post Alan Price) was on tour with the Blockheads! Don't this guys ever retire? No Eric Burden obviously but the lead vocals of Pete Barton are pretty fine in my opinion and had a real raw energy.

So onto the set. Kicking off with "Baby Let Me Take You Home" and interspersing the Animals crowd pleasers with a great selection of RnB classics and a couple of soul numbers (and not just the obvious - Ray Charles "I Believe To My Soul" anyone?) - pick the bones out of (my fave of the night) "Road Runner" (Chuck Berry / Bo Diddley), John Lee Hooker "Dimples" and a great version of "Boom Boom" with lead guitar and Zoot's keyboards duelling (my second fave of the night), Dale Hawkins' "Suzy-Q" plus others which now escape me. Shame this was a seated venue and Zoot's only featured track was "Big Timer Operator" (no "Uncle Willie" unfortunately).

Well worth a look and it transpires last year they had Steve Cropper as ther guest! What a gig that would have been. I think they are in Wells Next The Sea in Augus this year...

Just a quick postcript - they ended with "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" and how it was the US forces nunber 1 for three years during Vietnam plus the obligatory (but great version of) "House of the Rising Sun"

Cadillac Records

2009-03-22T17:49:00.012Z

I went to see this film the other Saturday (you can find details on the official web site and on the IMDB site). For those of you who don't know it's the story of Chess Records from its formation in 1947 to the death of Leonard Chess in 1969. I enjoyed the film I have to say, although holes can be picked in it for historical accuracy. Some comments on the IMDB forum talk about inconsistencies with dates and types of car. I'd certainly query the lack of visibility of Phil Chess in the story and, whilst there are many artists on the Chess rosta, no mention of Bo Didley strikes as a bit odd. There are some questionable stories about Little Walter gunning down a namesake to preserve his name and I don't know how accurate the Leonard Chess / Etta James "love interest" actually was. I plan to dig out my copy of "Spinning The Blues Into Gold" to have a more detailed read up.

Spinning Blues into Gold: The Chess Brothers and the Rise of the Blues

That being said, it's a movie, a story plus it reminded me to dig out some great tunes I'd not played for many years. So, what's it like?

The story centres around mainly Muddy Waters (I like the performance played with a mix of world weariness and musical enthusiasm), Little Walter and Leonard Chess with larger parts for Etta James nearer the end and Howlin' Wolf lurking in the background like some malevolent force of authenticity. I have no idea if the Wolf was really like this, but his hard bitten, refusal to be bought attitude provides a neat counterpoint to the flash and swagger of the arrivistas revelling in their (supposed) new found wealth. Early on he says he can't be bought and won't have a "daddy" as he rolls up in his battered pick up truck, contrasted with Waters' most recent cadillac, and turns down an advance on his recordings - "just pay me what you owe me"...

There are flashes of the racial iniquities of the music business throughout the movie without it ever becoming didactic. Howlin' Wolf's aformentioned attitude, Muddy Waters' incomprehension that the caddies are infact payments and real money will be handed out by Chess as some form of benevolence and the alleged payola system with white DJs being paid to play "race" records. However given the very deep seated and overt racism of the period (segregated dance halls, police brutality, bus boycotts) it is also suggested that Chess got black artists into places they wouldn't have been able to access with the money and power being in the hands of white clubs and studios. It's an interesting point to consider where mutual advancement and co-operation stops and exploitation begins. Later Chess is seen being attacked at his studios one night as increasing black consciousness leads to anger amongst some about the perceived disparity of a white owner of black artists in a black neighbourhood. Against this backdrop the refrain "I'm a man" is also "...and don't call me boy"

However the film also shows that the music is also fundamentally a sexual tool(every pun intended). There is one recording scene where Wolf is virtually getting down and dirty when singing "Smokestack Lightning". In this sense I'm a man, I made 21 and I got something in my pocket...well, you know the rest (including various conotations on John The Conquer Root...and rubbing thereof). Whether the same displays of sexual prowess found as much support amongst women artists and their relationship with a predominantly male repertoire is debatable. Of course no one would argue with Bessie Smith, Nina Simone, Billy Holiday or Big Mama Thornton but sexual freedom and expression is perhaps sometimes perceived to be more favourable for men than women. It displays some of the bluesmen with a peacock swagger, violence and attitude toward women and money which may enhance stereotypes and portray them as the precursors of a certain type of rapper. Infact the story is neatly bookended by Willie Dixon starting the tale and finishing with a rap artist using a classic Chess tune as his backdrop...

So, overall an enjoyable film. Maybe not 100% historically accurate, perhaps doesn't always address some "big issues", but sure as hell reminds you of some great tunes.

Sta Prest reform for gig in Norwich

2009-03-13T20:28:00.002Z

Just received an email to say that post-punk / revivalists the Sta Prest "playing again and have reformed Sta Prest for the Mod Mayday Festival – we are playing “Eighteen” Bedford Street tomorrow – St 14th March – and CD copies of Schooldays are available – for collectors"

More details here:

Beggin' you for "Mercy"...

2009-03-12T10:23:00.004Z

Thanks to the ever brilliant RSS feeds from Modculture I was alerted to the recent release (9th March 09) of a cover of Duffy's "Mercy". Now I really liked that song regardless of any backlash prompted by her subsequent rise to fame and of course the video was good fun. However the Third Degree version on Acid Jazz (check their MySpace site for a streaming audio version) is great and apparently picking up radio plays. This is a bit earthier and has echoes of Spencer Davis thrown in for good measure. This will cost you six quid with UK postage from their ebay site. I believe it's a limited release so pick up your copy now (if you want - it's not obligatory obviously!)

PS - talking of "beggin.." (see the post header) I finally got to listen to the Frankie Valli original of the Timebox classic now bastardised by some dance outfit. It still doesn't match Timebox I have to say, but still has a certain "charm"

PPS - just listened to the streaming audio version again and at about 2:16 I swear there's a riff lifted straight from "There Was A Time" (Gene Chandler rather than JB I think) - I'm sad I know...

Remember new dates...NOT on 7th March

2009-03-04T20:23:00.002Z

Just a quick reminder. Under our old slots we would have been due to play at The Waterfront this saturday 7th March (1st Saturday of the "odd" months). Please remember we have been switched to the 3rd Friday of the sdame months so we're now due again on FRIDAY 20th March (with the 80s night downstairs). As it will have been some time between the date in January plus it's the start of the new experiment let's "make it a packer"

Ta

Norwich easter egg scooter run

2009-02-17T20:23:00.002Z

Received notification of a scooter run on 5th April 2009 from the Prince of Denmark to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital - depart 1-15pm. There's also a fund raiser at the Red Lion Pub on Bishopgate on 28th March 2009 from 8pm "with raffle etc all the normal scooter sounds etc". Organised by Norwich SC with a flyer below:

More Five Corners Quintet

2008-12-26T18:04:00.003Z

Hot off my xmas gift lift comes "Hot Corner" from Scandanavia's rather fantastic Five Corners Quintet. I've raved previously about their "Chasin' the Jazz Gone By" from 2005. This is like listening to an uptempo Blue Note / Prestige from maybe 1966 - all big horns, driving drum beats and funky piano work. Well worth a look. I still kick myself that I missed them a few years back at a local gig when I'd not come across them. Released back in November apparently - go get this one...

Ho Ho Ho

2008-12-24T09:37:00.002Z

I'm sure, like me, you can't wait until 1st November every year and "Now that's what I call Christmas tat volume 12" begins to play in all the shops and that great body of work including Slade, Wham!, John Lennon and Wizzard permeates your brain (again). NO? Not a fan of the canon of festive fun singles? Feel your hackles rising? Not just me then...

So as the antidote to all that here's a picture of the only xmas record I ever play - Jimmy McGriff "Christmas with McGriff" on Sue. The xmas angle? Shameless use of sleigh bells on the intro...thanks Jimmy

Any other good xmas records I should include?

Ho Ho Ho everyone...

Save yourself some entrance money...

2008-12-18T20:55:00.002Z

I think usual entrance to The Waterfront is £4-50. They have a reduced £3-50 rate for National Union of Students (NUS). I've just found out that by signing up to a free discount card they will offer that rate to non-NUS on production of the card. See their Facebook page and the discount card site. Not sure if there are any drawbacks but worth a look?

Next night Saturday 3rd January 2009 and then third Friday of the "odd" months...

Shop local, shop Soundclash Records

2008-12-14T18:01:00.003Z

Just in the process of starting (again) to digitise some vinyl (and heck is THAT going to take a long time!) got me thinking about the amount of vinyl I'd amassed over the years and a source of much of it - Soundclash Records in St Benedict's Street in Norwich. Started probaly back in the late 80s it emerged from Back's Records on Lower Gate Lane and is a traditional non-chain shop with vinyl (still) and knowledgeable staff. Paul generally gets a copy of the each of the new Kent / Ace CDs and whilst he can't compete on price with the corporates at least he still stocks the good stuff and you don't have to explain to someone what RnB really is!! He also sells tickets for UEA / Waterfront gigs and charges only the absolute minimum in fees / add ons he has to.

Asell as the usual Kent / ACE suspects he has or can get the Jazzman and similar reissue singles on lovely seven inch. Whilst I've not had a thorough oook there is also a parallel downloads section should you want to avoid the Apple Corp and associated alternatives.

Anyway, back to digitisng Acid Jazz "Totally Wired Vol.1" - number 7 done - only another half dozen to go...

Mailing list

2008-12-13T22:19:00.002Z

Given the recent changes to dates and days from March we've added a mailing list contact to the home page of the web site. You can always opt in and out at will. This will hopefully allow us to remind people of upcoming nights for AOY

Thanks

Change of dates

2008-12-11T17:44:00.002Z

For many years we've operated on the "1st Saturday of every other month" frequency. The Waterfront are revamping some of their nights and AFTER 3rd January 2009 we will be moving to a "3rd Friday of every other month" - same months, different day.

This means we'll be sharing the night with an 80s night downstairs rather than Meltdown.

The same times and costs apply as far as we know. Your continued support will be much appreciated on:

Saturday 3rd Jan
Friday 20th March
Friday 15th May etc etc

Ta

Geno, Geno - Geno, Geno etc etc

2008-01-27T12:45:00.000Z

Saw the This Is Soul tour last nigh and generally pretty good fun I have to say. It was my first time in the new Theatre Royal - very nice but really conducive to low down nastiness and soul fun or with room to dance. Certainly not "back in 68 in a sweaty club", if you get my drift?

Anyhow, I was surprised to see, after an intro from Pauline Black, that Eddie Floyd opened. I'd say he was a bigger soul influence than Geno globally, but maybe in East Anglia thelatter still has a following from his touring in the 60s? Anyhow, Eddie kicked off with Soul man and then into a Wilson Pickett track I've not heard for ages (should play it more) 634-5789. Sounds great and his voice is still powerful. A moody "Ain' No Man" got me right in the soul areas and makes you realise the diffeence between the recent hyped singers and those with genuine talent and longevity. Very pleased to hear him do Big Bird, although not sure quite how well known this was amongst the general audience. He said he wrote it after hearing the news of Otis Redding's plane going down. Finished, of course, with Knock On Wood and eventually we were on our feet in the plush new seats. Just about five numbers but for a man of his age and career he still holds a tune, looked great and enertained. Nice one

Next up was Pauline Black, kicking off with a number of reggae covers with a soulful tinge (Let Your Yeah Be Yeah, Prisoner Of Love amongst others. I thought she'd mellowed since the early 80s, but haven't we all? She sounded more soulful and I wasn't 100% convinced with her on the reggae tunes. A Nina rather than Bob & Marcia feeling Young Gifted & Black was great though. Then a cover of Alcohol from Special AKA In The Studio and the mood was swingy, almost Billie Holiday-esque and this suited her vocal a lot better I thought - really ryhtmic and across a spectrum of vocal ranges. Finished off with On My Radio - had to really I guess?

Quick 15 minute break and into part two. The Ram Jam Band had been on stage with both acts and came back on with Night Train before Mr Washington arrived to a frenetic I Can't Turn You Loose. From there on in it was entertainment, crowd pleasing and cheesy grins and asides to the audience. Can he work a crowd or what? Tracks morphed into one another with at one stage the vocals to Shotgun over the soundtrack to Shaft. Some James Brown Covers (Brand New Back and I Got You) were thrown in and f course he had to do Michael and (another track I've not played for years) Que Sera Sera. Showmanship, a tight band and quite frankly shameless good fun.

The encore featured all three harmonising for This Little Light Of Mine

Like I say, transposed to a less formal setting with a proper dancefloor would have improved the event, but these artists didn't disappoint across their genres. Well worth a night out I'd say.

Geno online

Pauline Black online

Eddie Floyd online - more about his early group The falcons here

The Chords

2008-01-25T14:52:00.000Z

As I've mentioned elsewhere, these were my fave revival band. Went from SE London to see them at Leicester Uni (supported by The Gas - they were good as well) for the first time. Went with a school friend - we'd be 14 or 15 I guess. Went to Filbert St in the afternoon - Leicester / Wolves - nearly walked into the Wolves' end - saved by a copper who suggested it wasn't a good idea. Too right - kicked off within 10 minutes if I remember. Left early to get back and had to walk past a bunch of Wolves boneheads outside the away end with the police maybe 50 yards away. Really thought we were in for it - and neither of us supported Leicester. Just thought we'd go to the game!

Anyway, enjoy:

Current MP3 Playlist...

2008-01-24T21:03:00.000Z

Over the years I've copied singles and LP tracks to CDR to increase the number of tracks per lb (or kg if you're under 30!) I can carry to gigs - not that fussed these days to be seen to be playing original vinyl and our crowd don't seem to care either

Anyway, a few years ago I MP3'd a number of the comps I'd made up and I currently have these playing whilst browsing t'internet. As usual when I do this sort of thing there are tunes I'd forgotten about. So far:

Alice Clark - You Hit Me (Right Where It Hurt Me)

Playing now Andre Williams - Do The Popcorn (on the Action label I think - not dug the vinyl out for a while - great stuff - google suggest Cadet label but I may have a British?)

Now up - Apostles - Six Pack - smoking funky hammond - that I havn't played for years - and now Apostles "Soulful" which I think I got on one of the great Luv n Haight funk n soul comps out many years ago out of San Francisco - probably the "Soulful" compilation shouldn't wander - also now on CD

Astors - Candy - sweet male harmonies (on the letter A I love the Artisitics for similar reasons - sweet harmonies, not 'cos they start with an A...)

As you can gather I'm running through alphabetical artist on the MP3s - didn't mention the Action, Alexis Korner, Aztecs, Andantes or Alvin Cash...

Coming up for my delectation Baby Face Willette "Face To Face" which I lifted from my chunky vinyl Blue Note LP - fantastic organ. Also on a Blue Note comp I have no doubt - several probably such as this one:

Barbara Lynn - Some Day We're Gonna Love Again

Barry Barefoot Beefus - Barefoot Beefus - ***ing awesome RnB - I know nowt about this barefooted mohair suited dude - have this on a Loma compilation - from memory there were seven and luckily I have the lot...seen this vol3 advertised for 20 quid - I think it was or is a Warner Brothers subsidiary

That's enough for now as the Beat Merchants "Messin With The Man" rings out

Soul - live at ... Theatre Royal?

2008-01-22T23:11:00.000Z

Ok so maybe not the ring to it as James Brown at The Apollo (vols 1 and 2) from 1962, but Saturday 26th Jan sees Eddie Flord, Geno Washington and Pauline Black in Norwich - details here. I've never actually seen Geno, but understand his live shows are energetic. Eddie Floyd is a stone cold legend.

I've only ever seen Pauline Black in the first incarnation of Selecter, live at Lewisham Odeon (1981?) supported by I think The Bodysnatchers. The days when the sieg heiling bonehead contingent made their presence seen, heard and felt. Infact Selecter got adverse comments I seem to recall from, of all papers, the Daily Telegraph along the lines of "Don't Rock With The Sieg Heilers". Now firstly the stereotypical Telegraph reader would more likely than not have preferred the NF / BM nut jobs than Selecter and secondly it clearly escaped the notice of the journalist of the colour of most of the band. They were hardly going to invite these people into the gigs with open arms, let's be honest. Unfortunately I can't find an online reference to the article. I'm sure I didn't dream it though.

Virgin got soul...

2008-01-15T20:57:00.000Z

Strolling through Norwich at lunchtime dodging the rain I wandered into Virgin to ahve a look to see what, if any, soul they have available. Stuck at the back of the first floor next to the "dance" section was a chap setting up a soul display of about 40 titles. He told me soul was now in with rock and pop (!) BUT there was a promotion on soul stuff until maybe April. Worth a look with titles from £3 to £10 with a number of Kent CDs at nine quid. OK, so some of these will be the classic "northern oldies" available on loads of comps, but grab 'em whilst you can. I spotted the recently reissued seminal Kent "For Dancers Only" for £6

Radio 2 - Sat 12th Jan

2008-01-08T22:41:00.000Z

Quick note to alert you to a documentary on Dean Parrish this weekend 8 til 9 deatils here - it's probably (hopefully) on "listen again" for seven days afterwards if you miss it

Dean's site is here

Features MP3, pics, videos

Popeye Ska

2008-01-02T20:27:00.000Z

For some time now I've suspected that TV and / or advertising agencies have been infiltrated by people of my sort of age and musical background. Over the last half dozen years I've heard "Bert's Apple Crumble" used as a TV trailer for Radio 2, a TV quiz theme tune using "Here Kitty Kitty" ( a "big beat" cover of Jimmy Smith "The Cat"), a couple of Felix cat food ads using classic northern tunes, various versions of "Have Love Will Travel" plus the whole Nina Simone yoghurt extravaganza. Is there a cabal of ageing mods and soulies now in positions of influence in the corridors of TV power?

By the way, check out this advertisement theme tune look up site for those elusive add tunes...

So imagine my surprise hearing a snippet of the Granville Williams Orchestra "Popeye Ska" in a part of "Three Men in Another Boat" on the BBC the other day. I've had this on original vinyl on GWO for maybe 18 years and didn't think it was the sort of thing your average "I've got Trojan History Volumes 1 to 100" person would have heard. I didn't think it was amongst the "usual suspects" of ska and reggae tracks. Is there a rudie at the controls of the BBC?

Having said that a quick google suggested a number of compilations with this on - respect to those labels for picking up on a great tune and going beyond the obvious.

If any of you know who's responsible for getting these tunes onto the telly please let me know - more power to them

Get "Popeye" here:

Or

Trojan Reggae For Kids - Gregory Isaacs doing "Puff The Magic Dragon"? I can hear the Daily Mail headlines now...!

Marathon

2007-12-31T20:33:00.000Z

Just a quickie - I'm hopefully blogging my London Marathon training for 2008, subject to avoidance of illness - click here - thanks....

If This Is Love...

2007-10-24T21:07:00.000Z

(I'd Rather Be Lonely) - The Precisions...

I'd copied this from my Drew single onto my MP3 and it came on midway through a gym session and what a track. Not heard this for years. Dramatic intro, great harmonies and vocal crescendo a bit like The Valentinos' "Sweeter Than The Day Before" - certainly gave me a kick in the gym...also found out today that, apparently, tambourine was played by Lou "I Travel Alone" Ragland - see here

Other gym highlights have included forgotten (by me) oldie Herbert Hunter "I Was Born To Love You" plus much of Sue Story Vol. 3 (Jimmy McGriff Last Minute, Intentions Dancing Fast, Dancing Slow and the wonderful Jackie Day Before It's Too Late)

Smedley Sale...quality knitwear

2007-10-23T20:15:00.000Z

Guys and girls, I just got a flyer from Smedley offering 20% off their new catalogue. OK, their new stuff comes in mainly the wrong side of 100 quid, but some nice items there. You'll need a promotion code which I have and apparently am able to "let my friends in on the secret". Valid until 15th December 2007.

Interested? Email me for the code and enjoy a warm and stylish autumn...and you can even trace the wool used back to a particular flock - sheep in sta prest anyone?

...7W3B

Soul Riot

2007-08-16T17:10:00.000Z

Currently playing this CD which came free with Mojo magazine many years ago - track details here. Eddie Giles - Losin' Boy currently playing - "I'm Like Ray Charles / I Guess I Was Born To Lose / 'Cos I Lost You" - real simple but soulful and one of those mid tempo tracks shufflers I was into many years ago but haven't played for a long time. I think it came out originally on Murco before finding its way onto Stax a few years later.

Not sure if this CD is available elsewhere these days - generally funky and southern in tone, but none the worse for that. Great live version of "Green Onions"and Camille Yarborough's "Take Yo' Praise" which became better known via Fatboy Slim "Praise You", Eddie Floyd's "Big Bird" as covered by The Jam (see "Dig The New Breed" live LP)

Enjoy...

Georgie Fame

2007-08-01T05:43:00.000Z

A few months back Mr Fame popped up at The Maddermarket in Norwich. Expecting the worst from the make up of the crowd (chicken in a basket supper club "jazz") I was presently surprised. Straight into a cooking version of Green Onions with some blues covers mixed in. A few obvious crowd pleasers (I don't like "Bonnie and Clyde" I can tell you) and don't expect "Thunder", "El Bandido" and other Mod obscurities - but a good night in general. He kept up a steady running commentary on his career and tracks throughout. A tight and young backing band were great as well.

Well, he's back at the same venue on 27th and 28th November priced at 16 quid. Also out this week is retrospective of some classic soul jazz tunes, including "Thunder", "Seventh Son" and appears to be available for under a fiver...

Somebody Stole My Thunder: Jazz-Soul Grooves 1967-1971

The Jam (well, 2/3rds)

2007-04-14T13:31:00.000Z

Messrs Buckler and Foxton attend The Waterfront on 23rd May (sold out I'm told) and then the UEA on 12th December priced at £18-50. I know it's the same without the wellerman, but for for some old time nostalgia probably worth a look.

I've been sent some YouTube links as well - looks fun

Synchronisation...

2007-04-14T13:05:00.000Z

OK, so I've now got the old blog back so what follows are a few of the posts on the new blog which I want to carry over top the new one. Confused? You will be...

Basically I lost my original blog, created a new one then go the old one back. So I'm resurrecting the old one and copying a few entries from the "new" one into the revitalised "old" one - phew!

27th Feb 2007

It's been a while...too much time spent pounding the streets ahead of the London Marathon (7 1/2 weeks and counting). Anyway,

I was listening to Radio Show #62 from Boogaloo Radio the other day when about half way through hey dropped Symarip's version of "Phoenix City".Now I've loved that track since getting my mitts on my sister's reissue of Club Ska 67 (I think), but hadn't heard that version. I had the reissued "Skinhead Moonstomp" many many years ago but frankly had dismissed it as skinhead reggae by numbers - nothing too great on there - but this was nice - more reggae than ska and well worth a listen. i dug the LP out and unfortunately tracking it quickly didn't do much to convince me the LP was up to much overall, apart from a novelty version of "These Boots Were Made For Walking". If you own the LP dig that track out (track 2 side 1 I think) and dust it down.

Cheers to the guys at Boogaloo Radio...

We're up next this weekend on 3rd March

PS - I also found out my old copy of Floyd Lloyd and the Potato 5 (feat. Laurel Aitken) from the early 80s the other day - may a review some time soon? "Dance Mr Jackson..."

8th Jan 2007

Writing this a couple of days after the last gig and a bit of an odd one. Due to other commitments I was on my own for the night and feelings of trepidation were not helped by a very slow start to proceedings. By 11pm I was ready to resign myself to a quiet night and wondering how I was going to get up in time for my 16 mile run the next morning (it's a marathon thing...).

Then about 11-30 the room got steadily busier and by maybe 11-45 the dancefloor was looking a lot healthier. I was still fearing this would be a flash in the proverbial and it would go quiet again - but I was happily proved wrong. Some good requests (plus the usual way off beam ones). Played a good dose of soul / Atlantic / Motown, but was also able to resurrect some former faves for a quick blast, including Boogaloo Joe Jones' "Black Whip", Monsieur Dutronc's "Le Responsable" and, most pleasing to me, some latin to surprisingly raucous reception, including "New York Soul" and "Soul Drummers" Ray Barretto and Mongo's "Cloud Nine" and (in tribute to the godfather) "I Got You".

Played more JB than usual - only right really and rounded off the evening with "This Is Man's World", which fitted quite nicely with the usual enders of "Waterloo Sunset", "Preacher man" and "Tin Soldier". Only had to play one Beatles' tune ("Taxman" of course), no Stones (apart from Wynder K frog's cover of "Jumping Jack Flash" and dusted off a couple of oldies including Countors' "Do You Love Me" and Benny Spellman "Fortune Teller" - the latter whch I first bought about 24 years ago when half the audience weren't even born! Ho hum...

Anyway, enjoyable night despite a slow start - had a chance to play some blues, latin and hammond (wheeled out "Black cat" to follow "Indian Rope man") and so thanks to those that came - see you on 3rd March...

3rd Jan 2007

Happy New Year - hope to see some people down at The Waterfront on 6th...

Whilst travelling down to London on Saturday 30th I heard a couple of live tracks from Little Barrie. They reminded me a bit of Jet, who in turn have a 60s beat / garage / blues feel - so no bad thing there. Incidentally they (Little Barrie) are playing Norwich Arts Centre 19th Feb. Anyway, looked to down load some tunes from Napster to see how they sounded and came across Candie Payne. She lists her influences as Dusty (In Memphis), Marlena Shaw and Billie Holiday amongst others. Now that's some pedigree and a lot to live up to. Downloaded "Take Me" and blow me if it doesn't remind me of Doris doing "Don't", which is a good thing in my book. It has that quirky and beat-influenced female vocal an worth checking out. I know nothing of this artist. Anyone enlighten me?

Plus any views on Little Barrie? Worth going to see?

29th December 2006

Having recently moved and set up some room for my records again I want to slip on the odd LP every now and again and reacquaint myself with old tunes left neglected for too long. So tonight I grabbed an LP close to hand and rediscovered the fantastic 1969 Artistics album "What Happened" (more details here). I've been a bit of a fan of this group (and Brunswick records) and not just for the stomping "The Hope We Have". I love the mid tempo of "I'm Gonna Miss You" and the vocal delights of "This Heart Of Mine", amongst others.

Despite the odd hiss and click, this still sounds great and the opening title track is a delight - all dramatic vocal crescendo and great harmonies. Judging by the couple of online stores I've seen this on the vinyl shouldn't set you back a mint.

I also had time to slip on a 1985 Lou Rawls compilation for a few tracks - Dead End Street, Soul Serenade (oh yes!) and nice version of "For What It's Worth". Googling Dead End St gave me a link back to the fantastic Funky 16 Corners blog and a mention of a stomping hammond version by The Soul Finders. Worth a look I reckon - amazing what you can find on the net!

More soon...

More ironing music...

2006-09-01T18:40:00.000Z

Earlier this week my random play threw up the following and, byand large, did me proud whilst ironing shirts for work...

Who - 5:15 (Quadrophenia) - we started playing this again maybe 18 months ago and continues to be popular - "inside outside, where have I been? Out of my brain on the 5:15..."

Episode Six - Slow Down (The In Crowd - 60s Beat) - not quite the Larry Williams' original but a nice british beat version

I Roy - Hot Bomb (Trojan DJ Box Set 1) - early toasting at its best over a great rock steady beat

DJ Spinna - Spinning Wheel (Shirley Bassey Remix) - what I think the young people used to call "big beat" - close enough to the "original" to sound good but different enough to make a cover worth doing

Special AKA - Gangsters - I recall buying this downstairs in Boots (yes, the chemist) in the Whitgift Centre in Croydon when I was a mere slip of a lad and it was number one - still a great tune

Brenda Holloway - Lonely Boy - solid soul

Nancy Wilson - The End Of Our Love - a forgotten classic (well, by me) taken from my Kent Lp "Right Back Where We Started From" - I need to dig this out more often

Eddie Cano & Nina Tempo - King Kong (Latin Dance Party Vol 2) - latin boogaloo

Jame Brown - Cross Firing (Soul Pride Disc 1) - nice hammond

Soul Proprietors - All Alone (Purple Heart Surgery 2) - rare and solid freakbeat

Fred Lowery - Can't Get Enough Of My baby's Lovin' (RnB Meets Northern Soul 2) - not the strongest on the CD

Showstoppers - Ain't Nothing But A Houseparty - another tune I've played on and off for 25 years now and tend to overlook - then I'll hear it again for the first time in years and it will suddenly sound revitalised - in the same category I'd include Carstairs "It Really Hurts Me Girl", Yardbirds "For Your Love" and even The Jam "When You're Young". The tunes you know only too well and never play and consequently can smack you between the eys every now and again

Darrow Fletcher - My Young Misery - quality soul

On the CD player now? "Mojo Chess Originals" - a fantastic 25-tracker full of classic Chess blues and RnB - Howlin Wolf "Back Door Man" playing now. The sort of CD you probably have most of the tunes, but maybe scattered around your collection. Here all in one place and well worth a punt:

These ads must be stopped now...

2006-08-27T18:26:00.000Z

Ok, so this blog started with information about some great tunes being picked up in adverts. But last night I had the misfortune of seeing an advert for two childrens' toys which, rather than using the real deal, has some kind of bastardised and generally downright disrespectful versions of I think "You Can't Sit Down" (love the Phil Upchurch Combo classic) and then Johnny Otis' "Hand Jive".

So I ask, clearly someone in the ad world for this company knew of these great tunes but then decided to commit hideous crimes upon them. Was it to save on the royalties? Did they think their reworked playground soundalikes added to the originals? This evil must be stopped...

(just in case anyone picks this up from the company (yeah, right!), whose name I can't recall - make sure you have a sense of humour when reading this but PLEASE don't mess up perfectly good tunes!!!)

Five Corners Quintet

2006-08-27T18:02:00.000Z

New to me (and courtesy of a gift from my wife who heard them on the radio) comes this splendid jazz band from Helsinki. Their website can be found here. They sell themselves as late 50s / early 60s straight ahead jazz influenced with a touch of latin. Certanly can't get them on the trades' description act - if you like, for example, Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley, Lou Donaldson, Art Blakey et al from that era then you'll probably find something here you like. I have the CD on for the first time as I write this and there are some great tunes - just up is "Case Study", with a finger snappin' female vocal scatting over the top of a laid back classic 60s jazz sound. In parts it reminds me of where The Style Council were partly coming from and aiming for with D C Lee's superb vocalising. Stand out tune so far? "Straight Up" - which could be Mongo Santamaria meets Hank Mobley

Nice...

Music to iron (double cuff) shirts by...

2006-08-05T20:12:00.000Z

As I stood there ironing my shirts (yep, some people still do AND we tuck them in!) as usual I stuck my PC audio on random and hit play and decided (between shirts) to note what came up and maybe blog them. Now my experience of this is often it starts well then either repeats itself or plays all the tunes I don't actually wnat to hear. However today wasn't too bad.

So here, with random notes thrown in, is what it chucked at me. Some of these I "digitised" from singles or albums, others I've downloaded from Napster, some from my CDs and a couple quite frankly I have no idea where they ame from:

N'Betweens - Security - not a bad version of a classic song with Etta James still being my preferred version over Thane Russell. As you may know this band contained a number of musicians who would later become Slade. More info here. I believe this can be picked up on a CD called "Genesis of Slade" and is probably available on freakbeay albums of various sorts. So not a bad start...

The Newcomers - The Exit - taken from Kent's "Let's Crossover Again" and, I assume, the same band which did the frankly superb "The Whole World's A Picture Show". What I guess is called "Sweet Soul" and probably early 70s? A bit weird in the middle but nice smooth vocals.

Les McCann - Boogaloo - oh yes! I had this on "The Soul of Jazz Vol 2" on a "Gitanes Jazz" series from many moons ago. Nice uptempo, well, boogaloo I guess

Ben E King - Don't Play That Song. Available on "Stand By Me - the very best of..." this has obvious echoes of "Syand By Me", but is far superior (perhaps because it's not so well known?). Another builder vocally...

Nicola Conte - Jet Sounds. From an LP / CD of the same name this is a great cocktail lounge jazz and latin beat from when, late 90s?

Bob Dylan - Love Minus Zero from "Bringing It All back Home". Bob in fine acoustic form. I actually like a lot of Dylan, but have so far resisted persistent requests to play him at a do. He ain't usually that dancey! However I am tempted by "Absolutely Sweet Marie" on the "Blond On Blonde" album as it has a nice RnB feel in parts - not had the guts yet mind!

Paul Weller - Leafy Mysteries - from "Illumination" and what I thought was a good start to an album which lost it's a way a bit as it went on. But I've not played it all the way through for a good while. This track I like though...

And then bizarrely next up was the unreleased version of "In The City" taken from disc 5 of "Direction, Reaction, Creation". I don't recall playing this before and it has a less "angry" feel to the single and album versions and is no less the worse for that.

On a soulful tip and taken from the Kent LP "Soul Agents" comes Jackie Ross "Keep Your Chin Up". This mid tempo stuff from Brunswick records often hits the spot for me - mellow and soulful

George Lemmons - Fascinating Girl. An old fave of mine from when I used to go to the 100 Club allnighters about 15 years ago. Again a builder and vocally adept. This was from the time I moved away from stompers and got into more soulful mid tempo gems, epitomised by what is perhaps still my fave soul tune Chuck Jackson "What's With This Loneliness" - pure soul heaven. This track is on Goldmine's "Detroit Floorfillers" I think

To raise me from my floaty soulful mood comes the Betterdays "Don't Want That" - full on harmonica and British bluesy beat. I think I digitised my vinyl version of English Freakbeat Vol 1 to get this

Then Mr Weller in his third guise of the evening with Style Council "A Stone's Throw Away". Musically not a great track from what is still a great LP ("Our Favourite Shop") but does bring to mind a period of 1984 / 85 when the whole country seemed to be a stone's throw away from something. Lyrically he makes the links with Chile, South Africa, Poland and South Yorkshire

From a few years earlier came the Specials and "Rudy, A Message To You". Clearly a lot faster and heavier than the Dandy Livingstone version. That whole first Specials LP had a mood and menace about it which resonates now - an undercurrent of urban violence, the rise of fascists on the street and the threat of getting slapped for wearing the wrong clothes in the wrong place (Do The Dog, Concrete Jungle, Nite Klub, Doesn't Make It Alright - I like the SLF version of that as well). I sometimes wonder how a young Mod ever made it through the early 80s!

Next up is the rather superb Nina Simone "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" (previously referenced in my post about Napster downloads). Great track, great voice

Lifted from my Back Beat 45 comes Carl Carlton "Competition Ain't Nothng" - a club classic if ever there was one and available I think again on Goldmine "Twisted Wheel Forever"

The second Dylan track of the night (and random play not being too random, this comes from the same alblum) "It's All Over, Baby Blue"

In a mood change next up was Sharon Jones "Bump n Touch Pt 1" which I got from the Desco CD "Spike's Choice Vol 1" - essentially a collection of the A and B sides of the first maybe dozen new funk singles from the Desco label. I think this is now defunct (pardon the expression), but they also had Sugarman Three with some righteous hammond, Lee Fields and others - heavy...

Greyboy - Unwind Your Mind. Taken from the now deleted "Home Cookin'" album (but still available on "Best Of Cookin'" this represents the very best of the 90's San Francisco dancefloor jazz which mixed soul, jazz, latin, funk and hip hop beats - masterful and on Ubiquity. They also pumped some great reissued funk out on the Luv n Haight label.

No idea where I got the next tune - Bill Doggett "The Worm" - full on sax hollering and quite nicely complements the latter day sax from the previous track

Muleskinners - Missed Your Love. I got this on the CD version of English Freakbeat Vol 2 and was Ian Mclagan's first band I believe before ending up with the Small Faces. Off the same CD I preferred "Backdoor Man", but this is till good with harmonica and bluesy guitar thrown in

And that friends concluded my ironing and I have to say my audio player did me proud tonight. Any views?

A tribute to my dad...

2006-07-24T19:25:00.000Z

Without being too mawkish or too personal I wanted to mark to passing of my father on 15th July. At times like these you tend to recall many things and one of them was how my dad used to bring music back for me on his way home from work in London (probably stopping at London Bridge). The first example I remembered was a cassette of The Beat LP "I Just can't Stop It". The thing was my dad wasn't into my music and probably didn't understand why I was a Mod back in '79 / '80 (especially when you consider the aggro you got being a young mod those days...). He wanted to be sure I liked it and / or didn't already have it (the answer to that one was yes and no - cheers dad!).

Anyway, it then struck me that actually I think it was him who stopped off on the way home to buy me "So Far Away" by The Chords on its day of release in May 1980, complete with limited edition 7" single "Now It's Gone" / "Things We Said" and I recall playing it three or four times that night. Do you recall the thrill of getting that sought after record all those years ago when buying vinyl was still a real buzz and relative rarity? The Chords were my fave band of the time and they still have the ability to fire me up as I replay the album now as I write this. He would have stopped off at Sydenham station and gone down to Treble Clef on Sydenham High Rd (long since closed I think) before walking back home with a precious package. I'm sure he couldn't understand what the fuss was about, particularly as I practised drumming to the whole LP very loud on a makeshift kit of boxes before I got my kit a few years later. I wonder what the landlord upstairs thought...?

If you don't know The Chords from the '79 revival then I urge you to check them out. Try this site (not updated for a while mind) or buy the retrospective anthology from Amazon :

I could go on about the album, but it has some great critiques of suburbia, railings against the rise of fascism plus a decent cover of "She Said, She Said". All time fave Chords track? Got to be "Maybe Tomorrow" as the first single of theirs I bought and then off the LP maybe "Happy Families" and "So far Away"

Maximum R&B - at The Marquee...

2006-07-19T13:34:00.000Z

News just in echoing the classic Who gigs and images of 4D Jones playing The Marquee in Norwich (Cattle Market Street) on Thursday 17th July. As well as the usual Muddy Waters, Slim Harpo, John Lee Hooker style of top quality rhythm and blues I'm told they've also added some Pretty Things and similar. Support comes from the Ida Mae Band who, I'm told, play in a British Blues Yardbirds / Peter Green vein

Sounds like a winner to me...

As the poster says, "Turned out nice again"

After all these years...

2006-07-07T20:47:00.000Z

...you can still spot something which has been staring you in the face.

At our July do Steve and I were double-decking and I was wondering what to play after "You Really Got Me". I'd lined up "Bert's Apple Crumble" but decided instead to go for Julian Covey "A Little Bit Hurt". Having played both those tunes for years it sudenly dawned on me that the beat and tempo of the Kinks and Julian Covey were basically identical. Obvious now so why has it taken me the best part of 25 years to spot it?

Now, how about Mod Mega-mix 06 anyone? Get those mixers out and start blending...

Napster Downloads

2006-06-30T21:41:00.000Z

For those of you wanting legal and virus-free downloads then Napster has a lot going for it. I've been able to find some nice stuff on there of late and throw the following in as a few of the tunes I've not only downloaded, but also purchased:

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free - Nina Simone - the tune was perhaps well known as the theme tune for Barry Norman's "Film xx" series on the BBC many moons ago by Billy Taylor on Blue Note
Take Five - Carmen McRae - the vocal version of the Dave Brubeck classic
Baby Help Me - Percy Sledge - seen this for 15 quid on the web - just above mid tempo mid-sixties chugger
That's A Good Idea - Otis Redding - another suggestion I picked up on in "On The Scene" magazine
This Is Northern Soul Vol 1 and 2 - some great Motown Northern-related tunes on this LP - including Brenda Holloway "Think It Over", Marvin Gaye "This Love Starved Heart", Eddie Holland "Just Ain't Enough Love" and the sublime Virgil Henry "You Ain't Sayin' Nothin'" - sheer class of a mid tempo shuffler
High Numbers - Leaving Here - the 'orrible 'Oo in their early incarnation doing the great Eddie Holland (and Birds) track
Aretha Franklin - Walk On By - great tune done by a great artist...
Money - John Lee Hooker - so far THE version I've come across - Mr Hooker in his prime with a rough and ready version (also on the same "Serve You Right To Suffer" LP comes "Shake It Baby"

I offer these as few items to have a look for and browse what else is available - you may just be surprised...

RnB Meets Northern Soul...

2006-06-30T20:20:00.000Z

RnB Meets Northern Soul…

A couple of weeks ago I treated myself to three CDs on the Goldmine label, namely “RnB Meets Northern Soul” volumes 1 and 2 plus ChiTown Boogaloo. I spent a day travelling to and from Leicester, during which time I managed to work my way through each CD at least twice. Now they’re all pretty good in their own way, but Volume 1 of “RnB Meets Northern Soul” really hits the spot.

It kicks off with a tale of hard luck and being down on your uppers – Willie Jones’ “Where’s My Money”. This has a fairly typical blues storyline with some soulful vocals over a solid RnB based track. A few tracks in and there’s a Billy Preston track I’d not heard of before “Volcano”. I got this a couple of days after reading of his death so this was topical. Based around a “Fever-esque” beat the production sounds like it’s been recorded in someone’s bathroom – sparse and a bit messy. Tambourine, sax, drums – they all compete for attention.

Other standout tracks include the classic Willie Mabon “Got To Have Some”, Jimmy Ricks “Oh What A Feeling” (this could be classic Big City Soul – with a voice sucking on hot gravel – deep and then some to coin a phrase), Little Sonny vocal and harp workout “We Got A Groove”, Pearl Woods’ classic “Sipping Sorrow” and Buddy Ace on the soulful side “True Love Money Can’t Buy”.

I’d recommend this for anyone who likes the bluesy side of soul and, arguably, the type of tune which bridged the gap between blues / RnB and soul. This isn’t Northern Soul in it’s usually understood manner. It’s too slow in parts, in some ways too soulful compared to the more uptempo dance-oriented tracks and maybe a bit too early. However if you like RnB and early soul this is a goodie.

From volume 2 I’d recommend “Honey Child” by Johnny Williams. I’d only heard the great Bobby Bland version and this is not dissimilar – a great dance tune with a staccato off beat. The next track on the CD is a nice version of the jazz standard “Summertime” by Cornerstone Trio. Before hearing this, my favourite version was the Billy Stewart vocal performance – this has jumped ahead of that. Forget any version you’ve probably heard before. This sounds very different. “Don’t Let Him In” by George Lee is reminiscent of various “Do The Hully Gully” type of tunes and tells the tale of keeping a dancer out of the room to stop the stealing the show at a dance…Finally “Hanky Panky” by the Captions feels a bit like Hestor / Wylie Detroit tunes – probably because of the title! Slowed down and rhythmic.

Off these three CDs if I had to choose one it would be Volume of “RnB Meets Northern Soul” – but there are tunes on there for many tastes who like their bluesy soul

Desmond Dekker RIP 26th May 2006

2006-05-28T18:18:00.000Z

In case you haven't heard, one of the true greats of reggae / rock steady died recently. Full BBC story here. Desmond's own site here. The latter hasn't yet been updated but serves as a reminder of what the man contributed...

James Hunter - Contemporary British Blues

2006-05-28T17:44:00.000Z

Whist listening to Paul Jones' RnB set on Radio 2 last week I heard "Riot In My Heart" by James Hunter from his "People Gonna Talk" CD. I'd not heard this before and it sounded similar to Georgie Fame circa 1966 to my ears. Digging back it appears Mr Hunter was also aka "Howling Wilf" and hails from Colchester. He's worked, according to his website, with Van Morrison and Doris Troy, amongst others. Not bad recommendations to my mind.

I've not heard the rest of the CD, but reviews appear to put it in the 1960s RnB vein along with a mix of big band and ska - may be worth a look. Feel free to come back and post comments if you've heard or bought this and let us know what you think.

Atlantic R&B CDs

2006-05-24T19:30:00.000Z

Whilst having a little browse in a local branch of a well-known chain I came across a CD entitled Atlantic R&B Volume 2. I thought I'd check out the series on Amazon and you can see the results from this to Atlantic R&B . Running from 1947 through to the mid-70s this series contains a high number of classics you probably already own. However at the time of writing they were coming in at £3-33 each, which seems fine value to me - plus free delivery on all UK orders over £15. The first volume include Willis Jackson "Gator's Groove". If I remember correctly this artist also recorded "Later for Gator" (or similar) which I think was one of the early jump blues played at Jamaican sound systems which then formed the basis of Ska. I stand to be corrected on this latter point...

Anyway, have a look at this series and you'll also find other recommendations along a similar vein from other Amazonians - enjoy

Funky 16 Corners Blog

2006-05-01T21:43:00.000Z

Whilst browsing for Johnny Otis "Watts Breakaway" (I can't find my Epic seven) I came across this blog. I've not had a chance to look properly but it seems this guy posts up details of his soul and funk singles and biogs about the artists. I just listened to his link to Dean Cortney "Rubber Neckin'" (not the Elvis tune...) and that is seriously down home southern funk and on Verve - nice

As a complete aside I had the media player on random and was listening to Mongo Santamaria doing a nice boogaloo / latin version of Booker T's "Hip Hug Her", which I picked up on Latin Dance Party Vol 2:

Mod Culture Blog

2006-04-25T21:38:00.000Z

A fairly new addition to perhaps the ultimate UK / European mod and 60s web site is the modculture blog. Regularly updated including a selection of relevant TV and radio shows each week

Steve's Ad-tastic Heaven.

2006-04-23T19:08:00.000Z

I have posted a kinda who's what!! of Advert killers on other sites so thought I would leave a few here...All these tracks have been big at our Club.

Have Love Will Travel...Sonics (Range Rover) See Previous Blog

Ain't Got No , I Got Life...Nina Simone (Muller Yoghurts) Now being releashed as a Remix by 'Groovefinder' the CD and 12" have the original and far better version included(so I am Informed).

Bert's Apple Crumble...The Quik (Radio 2) Still one of the Best Radio Stations we have over here..and what a tune from Sheffield Freakbeaters 'The Quik' B Side to the Single 'Love Is A Beautiful Thing' also check out their other track 'Soul Full Of Sorrow' . Arrange a re-mortgage if you plan to buy either on original 7"s.

Funky Chick...The Majestics (K.F.C) One of many Great Northern/Funk tracks used in recent years by the K.F.C Ad Executives (Someone way up in that company is an old Mod or Soulie me thinks !!!).This was a very rare and exspensive 7" before the ad, it's now three figures but has been reissued both Legally and Bootlegged in recnt years.It's a hard Funk edged Instrumental full of Breaks/Beats and Organ just how we like them at the Club.

Sergio Mendes & Brazil 66...Mas Que Nada (Nike) A great version of this latin Jazz standard by this Easy Listening Superstar (my apologies to 'Le Hammond Inferno') it's well worth finding his Version of 'For What It's Worth' which he gives a great Easy Funk twist.

James Clarke...White Elephants (Gap 'Khaki A-Go-Go' ) When this advert came out I already had this track sitting on a Compilation and everyone would rush to the Decks to ask me what is was ,which must have led to much confusion as it got a release on the Blow Up Compilation (Vol 2) and was titled up as 'Blow Up A Go Go' (see what they have done there..clever chaps er').

Anyway thats my first ever blog out of the way and well done to Phil for sorting it out...Stay Sharp and Focus on the important things in life......Health ,Love ,Music and lager!!!!!!,Steve.

Grasp! - new single

2006-04-21T18:01:00.000Z

Those popular and widely gigging power popstars Grasp! have a new single out on 1st May entitled "Breaking Down The Walls". It can be pre-ordered online, which may help them break top 75 in the charts and push them further up the indie charts...give them a look

Have Love Will Travel

2006-04-15T15:53:00.000Z

For those of you interested in "ad watching" you'll no doubt have heard over the last several months (or is it years) the Land Rover advert with The Sonics "Have Love Will Travel". Over the last couple of club nights Steve has been dropping the version by The Gallahads - a nice soulful and surprisingly hard edged doo wop / RnB version. For a couple of hundred quid you could try here

For a few quid less check out the CD from Amazon.

It was also done (originally?) by Richard Berry and the Pharoahs - the man behind "Louie Louie". More info on Wiki. Also available from Amazon.

A site I stumbled across whilst looking for The Gallahads was a US doo wop site which could probably fill in the gaps.

Happy listening

Who we are..

2006-04-14T20:06:00.000Z

Just realised I didn't say who we are, which is sort of dumb. Though you can check the main web site...

Starting in November 1994 we hold a club nights every two months playing mainly 60s mod-orientated music to a mixed crowd of people. We're at The Waterfront in Norwich

Spam Avoidance (?)

2006-04-14T18:15:00.000Z

Whilst playing around with the look and feel of the site (bear with me) I wanted to put an email link in the links section (kinda makes sense). However like most of you I'm fed up with spam and the "bots" which harvest email addresses from web sites. So I'm trying this little site to see if it encodes my address so the link works when clicked, but can't be picked up by programmes trawling the web for likely looking email addresses. Check it out if you post / publish online.

Hope this is of use

Future Dates

2006-04-14T05:41:00.000Z

Next Dates:

Saturday 6th May 2006

Saturday 1st July 2006

Go to our web site for details