Question to RARE Northern soul fans!

[DISCODISK]

Discodisk: Thanks for all the info on Frank Wilson.

Intrigued to hear about this cryptic Beatles/Motown connection!?

The Beatles were obviously huge fans of R&B, covering tracks by the Isley Brothers, Barrett Strong, The Miracles, The Marvelletes, Arthur Alexander and The Shirelles on their first 2 albums. Mary Wells was also the first Motown artist to tour the UK (supporting The Beatles for 4 weeks in 64). There are photos of them arriving back in the UK after their first all conquering visit to the States, carrying R&B albums as they come off the plane (they also spent a famous evening phoning a NYC radio station from their hotel room requesting tracks by artists like Marvin Gaye and The Exciters).

I was fortunate enough to get to know one of the most legendary DJ's of all, the late Bob Wooler, who introduced The Beatles on stage at The Cavern 274 times (sorry, I'm going into real trainspotter mode there!). Listening to Bob talking about how he got hold of some of the records he played put me in mind of the subsequent Northern Soul movement. Many US releases were brought into Liverpool via the 'Cunard Yanks', merchant sailors returning from trips to America. Bob told me that he used to search for records in second-hand shops, not only in Liverpool but throughout the region, in an effort to unearth the odd gem (this is how he said he came across a copy of Chan Romero's 'Hippy Hippy Shake', which as a result would become a regular feature of The Beatles' live set at the time, and was later a massive hit for another Merseybeat band, the Swinging Blue Jeans').

The Beatles were the first port of call for many people who would later get into Soul in a big way, and who, after hearing their R&B covers, began to seek out the original recordings and other releases by these artists (and songwriters).

The closest I ever got to The Beatles was when they appeared at the Tower Ballroom, across the River Mersey in my home town of New Brighton, on one famous occasion supporting Little Richard (whose band included Billy Preston) in Oct 62 (the day after their first single 'Love Me Do' made it's entry into the lower region of the UK singles chart). I was then a young child fast asleep in the next street!

about the beatles/motown connection im a bit lost now as i made an earlier reply to you that has somehow got lost in here it should have been the first thing on page 3 it was there once as i saw it but its vanished,anyhow i dont think i was trying to make a connection i was just talking about the beatles and motown acts appearances on ready steady go
yes the beatles were huge r&b fans covering lots of records,the stones did it too so did dusty and other people there was an old northern soul record "you turned my bitter into sweet by mary love on modern records it came to light later that linda lewis had recorded that on u.k polydor,fascinating!the same happened with susan barrets r.c.a recording whats it gonna be dusty had done it too i would love to know the stories about how all those things came to be as they are quite obscure records especially r.c.a things from that time were quickly ground down thats why stock copies are ultra rare
jazz pilgrim bought up the subject of the cunard yanks here once that reminded me of that great b.b.c film lenny henry made the [title escapes me at the moment] on that very subject where he teamed up with an american guy who had lots of records and they became d.js in liverpool they were also on the run from the mob,its just come to me "coast to coast" it was hysterical and had a great soundtrack and has never been repeated which us a shame.
must try and get some bob wooler stories from my friend kevin when i come there tomorrow he was a cavern doorman he did tell me a story once when stevie wonder played there he was the one that had to escort stevie to the toilet thay have some jokes about that but im not gonna diss stevie here :oops: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Greg Wilson]

Discodisk: I've got 'Coast To Coast' on video, taped it off the TV when it was on. If you want me to run you a copy off just let me know. The American guy was a serviceman stationed at Burtonwood (I presume) and this was obviously reflective of another route into the UK for US records back then. I'm amazed it hasn't be shown more often. Do you remember 'The Chiropodist'!? And the ice cream van they took the mobile disco around in? The soundtrack was excellent, with all those great 60's Soul tunes. Top programme.

I met Lenny Henry back in 1976. He was appearing for the week in cabaret at a club in Birkenhead and I'd been booked to DJ in a seperate room of the club (I was 16 then). Lenny was best known for the TV sit-com 'The Fosters' and had yet to become a national name via 'Tiswas' (he would have only been about 17 or 18 himself). Anyhow, it was a midweek night and the club was empty. After he'd finished his show he came into the Disco room and asked me if I had anything by Parliament. I'd recently bought an import copy of their new album 'The Clones Of Dr Funkenstein', and he was buzzing because he'd yet to hear it. As there were only a handful of customers in I just played both sides the album while we sat and had a couple of drinks together.

First Bob Wooler, and now Lenny Henry in the same thread, better be careful or I'll get myself a reputation for being a namedropper!

[DISCODISK]

hi greg i knew you were gonna say you had that tape i actually have it i didnt know it was going to be on at the time and i was videoing the programme before there wasnt enough tape for the whole lot so it was split between two tapes ive never been able to find the first part the bit when they are going through the records and the camera was focoused on them it looked really good,in truth ill be lucky to find the second part as im the worst for labeling videos so a copy of that would be a real treat.
so you had a few drinks with lenny over the latest parliment album! there was a funk programme a few years ago on t.v there was a whole programme on that and lenny went to the u.s and interviewed that gang did you see that.
going back to the cavern club i spoke to my friend earlier tonight,he knew bob wooler very well,he told me another story involving bob,john lennon and a black eye! hes got all the stories!perhaps ill tell you more when we meet on tuesday :lol:

[Greg Wilson]

Discodisk: Just about to get all the necessary software so I can transfer from VHS to DVD, so when I suss it all out I'll run you a DVD off.

Never caught the Lenny Henry Funk programme, but I'd obviously love to see it!

It was a bit more than a black eye that Bob Wooler got. It's pretty sad really, as that ended his association with The Beatles (he was paid off so he wouldn't press charges), and all because of a wind-up about Lennon going on holiday with Brian Epstein. Bob never cashed in on his Beatles legacy when he was alive, but he said he'd written a book that would be issued after his death (which would obviously be a major event for Beatleheads). I'll have to find out what's happening about this, there's bound to be stuff in there that nobody but the inner-circle knows, not least details about the above incident.

See you on Tuesday at the Soul Cafe.

[efunk_adelic]

discodisk,

i am searchin' for it... I basically just want to hear the record... but will buy a shitty copy for $20.00 ... lol
and that other record by her sounds interesting...
:D