INTERNET - 2009 -1

This chart is made up from the ten tracks that received the most ‘hits’ on the internet during the first 6 months of 2009. Most of the soul we enjoy is listened to from the comfort of our armchairs and not from the dance-floors; and so it’s not surprising that not all of these records are dancers. Not just 60’s; not just R’n’B; not just Modern: that is what makes this selection particularly enchanting since it clearly illustrates the diversity of the soul music that we love so much.

1 – WILL HATCHER – YOU HAVEN’T SEEN NOTHING YET appeared on the highly collectable ‘Wheelsville’ logo from Detroit. Somewhat down-tempo, but very smooth, it’s unlikely that you will hear this record on too many dance-floors. But the high quality of this recording makes it unsurprising to find this track at the top of this list.

2 – GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS – I WILL FIGHT At least one of Ms Knight’s records gets played at just about every gig we visit: and quite rightly so. As a DJ I get most requests for ‘Just Walk In My Shoes’ from 1966, but this track dates from 1981 and is every bit as danceable. The longevity and prolificacy of Ms Knight’s output demands that one of her tracks be included in any soul chart of significance – and quite rightly so.

3 – ETHICS – LOOK AT ME NOW Just one of several popular outings on the ‘Vent’ label from Philadelphia.

4 – EMANUEL LASKEY – SWEET LIES written by Don Juan Mancha and Clay McMurry. This awesome track features a ‘Wall of Sound’ type of production; it’s melody both haunts and appeals. Laskey’s impressive vocals command on this much sought after Thelma outing.

5 – ALVIN CASH – FUNKY ’69 is just one of Alvin’s many Chicago singles, and quite typical of the man. This record doesn’t get much dance-floor play, (but why not?) and so there must have been many people finding this track for the first time via the internet.

6 – BROOKS O’DELL – WATCH YOUR STEP was released in 1963 on Luther Dixon’s “Gold Records” label. Somewhat unsung in the annuls of soul history, O’Dell delivers a peerlessly impassioned vocal on this song, making this single a most treasured possession for anyone that owns it. This track also appears on the 2008 Kent CD “Brooks O’Dell: I’m Your Man”.

7 – JOE TEX – IF SUGAR WAS A SWEET AS YOU Any number of tracks from this prolific artist may have been included in this chart: maybe this self-penned track is less well-known, or maybe it’s just the flavour of the moment. Whatever, this is a typically up-tempo dancer with all the qualities that we have grown to expect from the man.

8 – SPIRAL STAIRCASE – SHE’S READY featuring Pat Upton, may not be as familiar as a couple of this outfits’ other recordings, nevertheless, it is a quality feel-good and infectious dancer.

9 – NELSON SANDERS – THIS LOVE IS HERE TO STAY has all the delightful qualities associated with records from Lou Beatty’s stable. Seldom heard out and about, but that can only be because of its scarcity.

10 – JIMMY SOUL CLARK – TELL HER protégé of the Wylie-Hestor partnership, Clark is best known for his Northern anthems, SWEET DARLIN’ and I’LL BE YOUR CHAMPION. With similar qualities, this song certainly doesn’t disappoint.

SPIN TIPS FROM THE WINDY B RANCH IN SOULVILLE.

BRUCE SCOTT – YOU CAN’T LOSE SOMETHING THAT YOU NEVER HAD – MGM
Remember that old ‘Chubby Checker’ song writer acetate that surfaced in the 80’s? (Also came out on a Kent Anniversary 45) – Well this is the finished 45 format. Beat Ballad at its best.

BOB KUBAN – GET OUT – MUSICLAND - ALBUM ONLY TRACK
It’s about time to reactivate a memorable oldie, and what better than to add a slant to it, far superior to ‘Wakefield Suns’ version. Only had seldom spins, but this faster cut should booster its appeal.

LITTLE FLINT – PAIN – BEAST.
Pounding uptempo dancer that’s very popular on these shores and into Europe. Obscure slant on the Novas Nine / Mystics 60’s/ 1970 outings.

THE THEO/ COFF INVASION – NOCTURNAL FLOWER / LUCKY DAY – DEARBORN.
Two smooth, stylish string-laden, mid paced Detroit delights. Very few spins after Wigan in the 80’s, but still bears the test of time so well.

FRANK  POLK – DO THE JERK / YEARS OF TEARS – CAPITOL.
A big favourite artist of mine – here’s a excellent Northern Soul double sider- top side powerful uptempo thumping dancer, flip much more gentle mid paced version of The Rivington’s song – pure class.

THE CASHMERES – LIFELINE – JOSIE
Very good upbeat early RnB kinda dancer. The flip is much like The Drifters.  Predates the ‘Hem’ classic, same band as the Philly lads? Not sure, these could be Detroit.

OTIS LEAVILL – JANE GIRL – LIMELIGHT.
Another favourite artist. This time from Chicago. Maybe the ‘Limelight’ outings were a first step for Mercury for him after the local’s, before moving him to their larger Blue Rock and Smash logos? Very good uptempo qualified dancer, a long way style wise from his ‘I’m Amazed’ on the same label, but that said, none the less very good.

WILLIE PARKER – I LIVE THE LIFE I LOVE – M-PAC.
Not really in his normal gritty, grinding raw RnB style. This upbeat dancer flows so well through a very competent song with un-typical for Chicago strings. The flip ‘You Got Your Finger in My Eye’ is much more typical of him.

MARY SNEED – WHEN I WAS 15 – CAPITOL.
A fairly recent turn up on the label– excellent  Goffin / King penned song – very much a girlie thing, but compressed vocal style proves well matched for dance floors.

VAMP – DON’T MIND WAITING – MAR-VEL.
Hugely popular upbeat Modern spin.
Catchy lyrics and a throbbing rhythm make the song memorable if Modern is your bag.

Ten gems taken from MIKE ESKINS’ set at the RIVERSIDE SOUL CLUB on the 2nd May ’09 – you can hear more by going the ‘LISTEN HERE’ tab.

Jr Walker – Good Rockin’ – Harvey 119 from 1963. I get e.mails from all corners of the country, and this track seems to be getting plays everywhere at the moment.

Satisfactions – Take It Or Leave It – Smash 2098 from 1967.

Patti Austin – (I’ve Given) All My Love – Coral 62548 from 1968 – a good time for Patti – her previous release had been ‘You’re Too Much A Part Of Me’, and her next release was to be ‘Music To My Heart’.

Dr. Soul – Left Eye Jump – Mon’ca 1777 complete with music by Chuck Booker & the Blues Messengers – I’ve been playing this at Bolton for the last couple of months – superb stuff.

Billy Davis – Stanky (Get Funky) – Cobblestone 731 from Kama Sutra Music.

Rhonda Davis – Can You Remember – Duke 473  from 1972.

Partnership – Not For Love Nor Money – MGM 13854 also getting plays up and down the country, together with the tremendous flip-side ‘Baby, If I Had You’.

Johnny & the Expressions – Boys And Girls Together – Josie 959

Betty Lloyd – I’m Catching On – BSC

Denise LaSalle – A Love Reputation – Tarpon 6603 from 1967, and also released on the easier to find Chess 2005. Also, listen out for the version by Shereen Jackson.

These ten quality tracks are a good representation of what is currently filling the dance-floors in this Spring of 2009. Click on the ‘LISTEN HERE’ tab for more.

Looking ahead, the RIVERSIDE SOUL CLUB have a 2-room All-Nighter coming up on the 14th August – start time 9pm thru’ till 6am – at the WOTTON HALL with a tremendous line-up of DJ’s and music – details can be found at www.riversidesoul.co.uk

Sandra Metcalf from Nottingham -  Ten Favorite Oldies – Feb 2009

1         Righteous Brothers Band Rat Race                       Verve
2         Magic Band                       Falbala
3         Al Foster Band                  Night Of The Wolf
4         Bobby Garrett                   My Little Girl                  Mirwood
5         Mike Post Coalition          Afternoon Of The Rhino 
6         Ann Perry                         That’s The Way He Is    
7         Skullsnaps                        I’m Your Pimp
8         Pointer Sisters                  Send Him Back              Atlantic
9         Williams & Watson            Too Late                        Okeh

10       Lloyd Price                        Just For Baby

MAY 1983

1         Big Frank & Essences   She Won’t See Me Cry                 Philps/Blue Rock
2         Boogie Kings                 I Got Your Number                        Paula
3         Bobby Hutton                Come See What’s Left Of Me        Philips
4         Originals                       Suspicion                                        Motown
5         Gordon Keith                Look Ahead                                    Calumet
6         Little Charles                It’s A Heartache                              Decca
7         Freddie Williams           I’ve Got To Live While I Can          Hollywood
8         Frank Dell                     He Broke Your Game Wide Ope   Valise
9         E.J. Chandler                I Can’t Stand To Lose You            SOS
10       Gladys Knight               It’s Too Late For You And Me        Motown

APRIL 1979

1        The Group                    I Don’t Like To Lose                      Prophonics
2         Rita & Tiaras                Gone With The Wind                     Dore
3         Jimmy Burns                 I Really Love You                          Erica
4         De-Lites                        Lover                                             Cuppy
5         Chandlers                     Your Love Makes Me Lonely        Col-Soul
6         Larry Clinton                 She’s Wanted                               Dynamo           
7         Vickie Baines                Country Girl                                  Parkway
8         Benny Sigler                 Who You Gonna Turn To             Phil LA of Soul
9         Agents                          Trouble                                          Liberty Bell
10       Kenny Gamble             The Joke’s On You                        Arctic

APRIL-MAY 1969

1      Darrow Fletcher         The Pain Gets A Little Deeper          Groovy
2      Jackie Lee                  Darkest Days                                    ABC
3      Bob Brady                  Everybody’s Going To A Love-In      Chariot
4      Dells                           Wear It On Our Face                         Cadet
5      Jackie Wilson             Since You Showed Me How To Be   Brunswick
6      Willie Tee                   Walking Up A One-Way Street          Nola
7      M & J Dillard               My Elusive Dreams                           Mala
8      Little Hank                  Mister Bang Bang Man                      SS7
9      Ramsey Lewis            Wade In The Water                           Cadet 

10    Deon Jackson            Loves Makes The World Go Round   Carla     

November 1963

1         Jerry Butler                               Need To Belong
2         Brooks O’Dell                           Watch Your Step
3         Shirley Ellis                              The Nitty Gritty
4         Martha Reeves & Vandellas    Quicksand
5         Timmy Shaw                            City Slick
6         Hank Marr                                Greasy Spoon
7         Major Lance                             Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um,
8         Theresa Lindsey                      Gotta Find A Way
9         Drew Vells                                Tell Him

10       Bessie Watson (Tobi Lark)       ‘Deed I Do         

2009 - JAN / FEB

1          Endeavors                      I Know You Didn’t Want Me
2          Partnership                     Not For Love Nor Money
3          David Ruffin                    Everything’s Coming Up Love
4          Dells                                Wear It On Our Face
5          Apollas                            Just Can’t Get Enough Of You
6          Dr. Soul                           Left Eye Jump
7          Satisfactions                   Take It Or Leave It
8          Marvelettes                     Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead
9          Roger Collins                  She’s Looking Good  

10       Ideals                              You Lost And I Won                                     

I am always interested to hear your views and opinions, and if you would like to share them then just get in touch. And if you would like to hear more of any of the tracks mentioned, just get in touch.

E-mail: n.soulchris@hotmail.com