What exactly is Northern Soul?

[tyree_kevin]

How does one define NS? Is it a style of drumming? Or the Funk Bros. on smaller labels? Thanks.

[Old Disco DeeJay]

Northern Soul is best described as soul recordings with an up-tempo beat, faster than the Motown Soul, popular at the time in the late 60's. The phrase 'Northern Soul' was first used by journalist Dave Godin in his Blues and Soul magazine column, in June 1970. He was referring to the difference in the music played in the Northern Soul clubs of England, such as the Twisted Wheel Club in Manchester, the Torch in Stoke on Trent, Wigan Casino, and the Blackpool Mecca (all Towns/Cities in the North of England), compared to the sounds played in London and the South of England.

Link to Wikipedia....... Northern soul - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[feif]

Northern soul was extremely popular in the UK during the 1970s/1980s initially in Northern England (Yorks/Lancs) as well as the Midlands (Staffs/Leics/Peterboro/Kettering).
The early to mid 1970s especially saw records such as Heaven Must Have Sent You (Elgins), Youre Ready Now (Frankie Valli), Run Baby Run (Newbeats), Im Gonna Run Away From You (Tami Lynn), There's A Ghost In My House (R Dean Taylor), Love On A Mountain Top (Robert Knight), Here I Go Again (Archie Bell & The Drells) & Footsee (Wigans Chosen Few) became massive UK chart hits.
Stylistically Northern Soul had elements of the pounding Motown dance beat though later on it encoporated Philly soul elements as well as traditional gospel and smooth soul-disco.

[tyree_kevin]

Good descriptions fellas! Hey Feif that description was what I was looking for. It sounds like what I had been thinking about......Pistol Allen or Earl Young using 4/4 base. I`ve noticed these older soul records with a 4/4 kick but didn`t know how to read them. Reply.

[eddie]

2 words-"Motown knockoffs"

That pretty much sums it up but northern soul was typically made in the northern cities of the US like Chicago and Detroit. Memphis had a rugid sound that was alot slower. One could also think of it as the precursor to disco with it's distinct 4 on the floor rhythm pattern.

The "northern soul scene" was primarily in the UK and almost focused on obscurities over quality. I always get a chuckle when someone tells me that the Detroit sound is called northern soul because of where it was played in Britain.:icon_lol: Rare 45's fly off of ebay for thousands and egos amongst DJ's are quite high to say the least. Dj's typically don't say who they play and are known to supply false information for those in the chase. If delving further, I've heard deep pockets and weak knees will be required.

[tyree_kevin]

So Eddie that 4/4 kick was used by Detroit long before Earl Young changed it by adding cymbals and rolls?

Was Pistol Allen or Benny Benjamin the actual creators or somebody else? Thanks.

[eddie]

I'm listening as someone who grow up in the 90's. Swingbeat and funk had more of a intermittent rhythm. If you go back and look at Motown like the uptempos of the Four Tops, you hear that 4 on the floor steady rhythm which was later used in disco as funk and disco would merge in the early 70's on certain tracks like "Shaft".

The 4 on the floor rhythm of the Four Tops differed from the backbeat of rock and funk. That would later be used as a template for the simpliest of disco rhythms.

I have a little confession. I always preferred songs that had variables in those disco rhythms. I'm not sure what drummer started this style but it really could have been anyone as it's a very simple rhythm to say the least. It's really northern soul's signature but occasionally they throw a "big beat ballad" with a real Latin and swingy rhythm at you. I like those style tracks.

[Disco Funk]

To my ears, Motown was mainly about hitting the snare on every beat, giving the songs a marching feel. The disco beat that Earl Young pioneered was a departure from that, because the emphasis was louder, heavier sounding hits on every beat. I think part of this was a product of Sigma studios, and part of it was a product of the improved audio fidelity in clubs and home stereo system. Mind you, I was just a baby during that early 70s era, so I don't know if the bass sound in club music in the 60s was the same or less than in the 70s.

The transition in the beat in Philly was in 1972. If you listen to stuff pre-I'll Be Around, you'll notice the marching beat is similar to Motown, like on this Continental IV cut from '71.



Disco Funk

[tyree_kevin]

Thanks fellas for your replies. I can remember a NS style record that had that 4/4 kick on the bass drum. I figured this is what Earl Young was reading off on. I`ve noticed the correlation between NS / Motown and Philly.

[summerhill74]

Another example of classic Northern Soul is R.Dean Taylor's "Ghost in My House" - particularly the drumming. It was discovered by the clubs and then picked up on by the record label who then re-released it and the record charted in the UK in 1974. The company was PYE and they released this and other revived classics from the 60's under their "Disco Demand" label.

If you went to a northern soul club, apart from the particular style of soul music, you would see a lot of guys spinning around, dancing on their own which you would not see in regular discotheques. It was a little manic. I was on holiday in Blackpool in 1976 and went to the Highland Room at the huge Mecca nightclub. I was in there for about 5 minites but decided it was not really my scene and went back downstairs to Tiffanys. But I do love the music !

[DISCODISK]

I was on holiday in Blackpool in 1976 and went to the Highland Room at the huge Mecca nightclub. I was in there for about 5 minites but decided it was not really my scene and went back downstairs to Tiffanys. But I do love the music !

wouldnt that be like going to heaven and asking to be sent to hell...strange

[Davicillo]

It is still very popular now and people travel miles for a particular Northern soul night. DJs used to try to find really obscure 45s to play as people found that, especially then, release's were not as prolific as now. With due respect to fans, all are really soul/blue eyed soul records with as stated fast 4/4 beat. Some of the 70s greats in Disco recorded soul tracks in the early/mid 60s which were either forgotten or more than normal, unknown in the UK and all on small labels. Some people do compare this to the 'Shag' scene in the US. Whatever the explanation it's a great sound that should never be forgotten and it brings great joy to people that like it. Kent Records has always been big on the circuit for re-issues and musicians like Paul Weller and St Etienne love Northern Soul. Many HiNRG records from the 80s have been Northern Soul remakes and people Ian Levine, Ian Anthony Stephens, Kev Roberts who were DJs in the Northern Soul Scene have remade them into a HINRG style eg;
Nothing worse than being alone - Velvette
Countown - Kofi & the Lovetones
Didn't say a word - Shirley Lewis

[summerhill74]

wouldnt that be like going to heaven and asking to be sent to hell...strange

Not sure what you mean Discodisk. Maybe I didn't explain properly ; the Blackpool Mecca Disco was a huge place with a terrific regular disco called "Tiffanys" taking up the ground floor with a smaller place upstairs called The Highland Room. There were three of us on vacation that week in '76 - Tiffanys was packed and definitely "hot" - lots of girls !! - and great disco music. We decided to check out this upstairs place and found that it was half empty (as I recall) and with mainly guys dancing on their own in a manic kind of way. We knew it was Northern Soul and thought - ok maybe next time... Perhaps if we had known it was to become legendary we might have stayed longer. But we headed back downstairs - where the action was !

[DISCODISK]

Not sure what you mean Discodisk. Maybe I didn't explain properly ; the Blackpool Mecca Disco was a huge place with a terrific regular disco called "Tiffanys" taking up the ground floor with a smaller place upstairs called The Highland Room. There were three of us on vacation that week in '76 - Tiffanys was packed and definitely "hot" - lots of girls !! - and great disco music. We decided to check out this upstairs place and found that it was half empty (as I recall) and with mainly guys dancing on their own in a manic kind of way. We knew it was Northern Soul and thought - ok maybe next time... Perhaps if we had known it was to become legendary we might have stayed longer. But we headed back downstairs - where the action was !

well heres the way i remember it thats supposed to be a wink but it dosnt look like a wink anymore!
i know the mecca very well i spend most sat nights there from 72 onwards blackpool mecca was the building later becoming tiffanies upstairs was the highland room downstairs the bali high, yes youre right downstairs was massive.
upstairs the highland room took over downstairs on bank holidays for all dayers thats when record numbers went through the door [4000 for the miacles all dayer in 76] so it was huge
the higland room was never half empty it was rammed throughout the 70s unless its possible you went upstairs say at 1.30 a.m when it was thinning out with people heading off to wigan casino, in 1976 you wouldnt have heard much northern soul there, its a fact no other club in the u.k or possibly world had the sheer amount of new releases from the states pass through it i dont just mean the majors the indies , but the obscure and down right rare, americans may take heed at that and disagree, all u.s releases never crossed states or city to city, i say this because i believe it was different for us because we were outside 'looking in' with people from here heading everywhere in the states looking for music d.js importers ordinary people trying to make money e.g john anderson record importer from soul bowl records what he didnt find , a lot of peope had contacts, i worked in a record shop and used to travel britain buying stuff from importers we found a lot of stuff for example the guy who ran the old gold record label oldies unlimited used to import records by the ton he only wanted the pop stuff, we used to climb mountains of records and the suff he had in there you wouldnt believe, in my opinon the highland room at blackpool mecca was the only place to be in england on a saturday night if you wanted to hear new music from the u.s.a

now downstairs [gulp] lol
sure downstairs was packed but only for one reason there was a fleet of free coaches laid on from every northern town burnley accrinton, barnsley it was just a piss up , nobody seriously went there to hear music it was just for beer and the hope of having a knee trembler with wendy accersley o'nt prom!then burgers from the burger van, throw up then go home
musically it wasnt anything just the u.k released stuff,it wasnt all disco lots of pop too,just the usual stuff maybee if you were lucky you'd get veda brown short stopping, sorry thats just the way i remember it
heres a fraction of the platylists from upstairs from late 75 into 76 sorry its a bit messy...
MEL BRITT - "She'll Come Running Back" (FIP) BILLY WOODS - "Let Me Make You Happy" (SUSSEX) KENNY SMITH - "Lord, What's Happening To Our People" (GAR) HUBERT LAWS - "The Chicago Theme" (CTI) New release* ESTHER PHILLIPS - "What A Difference A Day Made" (KUDU) New release* JESSE FISHER - "You're Not Loving A Beginner" (WAY OUT) MAIN SQUEEZE -"Let It All Come" (ROULETTE) WADE FLEMONS - "Jeanette" (RAMSEL) PAT LUNDI - "Party Music" (VIGOR) New Release* SEGMENTS OF TIME - "Memories" (SUSSEX) BOOGIE MAN ORCHESTRA - Lady Lady Lady" (BOOGIE MAN RECORDS) New release* DELRAYS INCORPORATED - "Destination Unknown" (TAMPETTE) 8th AVENUE BAND - "The Real Thing" (COLUMBIA) JACK ASHFORD & The SOUND of NEW DETROIT - "Do The Choo Choo" (BLAZE) New release* VERNON BURCH - "Frame Of Mind" (UNITED ARTISTS) New release* ROGER COLLINS - "You Sexy Sugar Plum" (FANTASY) Recent release LEROY HUTSON - "Ella Weez" (CURTOM) Recent release BARNABY BYE - "Can't Live This Way" (ATLANTIC) New release* TOBI LARK - "Happiness Is Here" (TOPPER) BETTY WRIGHT - "If You Love Me Like You Say You Love Me" (ALSTON) MIRACLES - "Love Machine" (TAMLA) New release* LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY - "The World Don't Owe You Nothing" (AWARE) New release* LEE FIELDS - "Take Me Back" (ANGLE 3) JEFF PERRY - "Love Don't Come No Stronger" (ARISTA) New release* CRYSTAL MOTION - "You're My Main Squeeze" (SOUND GEMS) New release* JACKEY BEAVERS - "Trying To Get To You Girl" (GLADES) New release* SKULLSNAPS - "I'm Your Pimp" (GSF LP) Recent release JIMMY BURNS - "I Really Love You" (ERICA) CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR - "Sex Trip" (RCA LP) Recent release VENTURES - "Superstar Review" (UNITED ARTISTS) New release* IDLE FEW - "People That's Why" (BLUE BOOK) IKETTES - "Two Timin' Double Dealin" (UNITED ARTISTS) LEN JEWEL - "All My Good Good Lovin" (PZAZZ) OSCAR PERRY - "I Got What You Need" (PERI-TONE) New release* ACE SPECTRUM - "Keep Holding On" (ATLANTIC) NOLAN PORTER - "Oh Baby" (ABC) MOMENTS - "I Got The Need" (STANG LP) New release* RIMSHOTS - "Do What You Feel" (STANG) New release* KEVIN DRINKARD - "World World" (TEENS) Recent release HARLEM RIVER DRIVE - "Need You" (ARISTA) New release* CAROLYN CRAWFORD - "Just Got To Be More Careful" (PIR) New release* O'JAYS - "I Love Music" (PIR) New release* DAVID RUFFIN - "Walk Away from Love" etc. (MOTOWN LP) New release* ARCHIE BELL & The DRELLS - "The Soul City Walk", "Let's Groove" (TSOP) New release* PLAYERS - "Find My Way" (CHOCOLATE CITY) New release* record was quickly withdrawn and re-issued with Cameo group name BLACK NASTY - "Cut Your Motor Off" (BIG HIT) New release* SPOOKY & SUE - "I Got The Need" (DECCA) Belgian import* EDDIE PARKER - "Body Chains" (PRODIGAL) New release* DOLLY GILMORE - "Sweet Sweet Lady" (DOVE) New release* FANTASTIC PUZZLES - "Come Back" (NEW MOON) New release* HOSANNA - "Hipit" (LHMA) New release* JOE FRAZIER - "First Round Knockout" (MOTOWN) Recent release* MYSTIC MOODS - "Honey Trippin" (SOUND BIRD) New release* BETTY BAKER & JAXIS - "Marching Out Of My Life" HEARTSTOPPERS - "Brainwashed By Love" (ALL PLATINUM LP) LIBERTY - "Girl You Better Wake Up" (BASF) 1973 release January - August 1976 PRINCE GEORGE - "Wrong Crowd" (DPG) DOBIE GRAY - "Honey You Can't Take It Back" (WHITE WHALE) p.Jan EAST COAST CONNECTION - "Summer In The Parks" (NEW DIRECTION) New release* KIM TOLLIVER - "I Don't Know What Foot To Dance On" (CASTRO) New release* ANDRE MAURICE - "Cream Of The Crop" (BALE) New release* VICKIE SUE ROBINSON - "Turn The Beat Around" (RCA) New release* BLACK NASTY - "Turn Your Motor Off" (BIG HIT) New release* SMOKED SUGAR - "I Can't Get Enough" (20th CENTURY) New release* SPRINGFIELD FAMILY - "The Sounds Of Disco" (ARREST) New release* MIRACLES - "Overture" (TAMLA LP) New release* L.V. JOHNSON - "Your Magic Put A Spell On Me" (PHILIPS pre-release)* CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR - "Foxy Lady" (DE-LITE LP) New release* SWEET BLINDNESS - "Cowboys To Girls" (QUALITY) Canadian New release* LIVING COLOR - "Thank The Lord For Love" (MADHATTER) DELREYS INCORPORATED - "Destination Unknown" (TAMPETE) DOOLEY SILVERSPOON - "Game Players" (Sound Of New York LP) New release* VAN McCOY - "Party" (H&L) New release* MOMENTS - "Nine Times" (STANG) New release* WALTER MURPHY & BIG APPLE BAND - "California Strut" (PRIVATE STOCK) New release* MARK PUTNEY - "Today's Man" (ATLANTIC) 1969 release YUM-YUMS - "Gonna Be A Big Thing" (ABC- PARAMOUNT) revival GATURS - "Yeah You're Right, You Know You're Right" (GATUR) aka "A Hunk Of Funk" DALTREY MARTIN - "Everybody Dance" (SPRING) New release* DEE DEE SHARP - "Happy 'Bout The Whole Thing" (TSOP) New release* THIRD POINT - "Spirit" (TIDE) ALBERT JONES - "Up To The Sun" (BUMPSHOP) New release* JOBELL & His ORCHESTRA de SALSA - "Never Gonna Let You Go" (JAN) New release* MILLIE JACKSON - "A House For Sale" (SPRING LP) New release* MISTURA feat. Lloyd Michels - "The Flasher" (FUSION) New release* RALPH CARTER - "When You're Young And In Love", "Extra Extra" etc. (MERCURY LP) New release* INSPIRATIONS - "Nobody Can Take Your Place" (PAREE) TAVARES - "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel" (CAPITOL) New release* MAURICE WILLIAMS - "Being Without You" (DEESU) EVELYN THOMAS - "Doomsday" (TOMORROW Pre-release)* HOKIS POKIS - "Nowhere" (SHEILD) New release* TYRONE DAVIS - "Turning Point" (DAKAR) New release* TODAY'S PEOPLE - "All We Need Is Time For Love" (GAMMA) New release* ALFIE KHAN ORCHESTRA - "Law Of The Land" (ATLANTIC) New release* MARBOO - "What About Love" (MIDLAND INT.) New release* CREATIVE SOURCE - "Don't Be Afraid To Take My Love" (POLYDOR LP) New release* RAMSEY & Co. - "Love Call" (RAMCO) New release* DAVE NEWMAN - "Make Up Your Mind" (LOOK) CLEVELAND EATON - "Quazar One" unreleased acetate BOBBY MOORE - "Try To Hold On" (SCEPTER) New release* ISAAC HAYES - "Disco Connection" (HBS LP) New release* DEBORAH ANDERSON - "Funny How We Changed Places" (MUSICOR) JEANNIE TRACY - "Making New Friends" (BROWN DOOR) Additional New Releases included: BENNY TROY - "I Wanna Give You Tomorrow" (DE-LITE) Feb. TERRY WEISS - "Keep On Pushing Your Love" (PLATINUM) Jan/Feb. DEE DEE WARWICK - "Funny How We Changed Places" (PRIVATE STOCK) Mar/April Later released as DeDe Schwartz on RCA UNDISPUTED TRUTH - "You + Me = Love" (WHITFIELD) 12" C.September - December 1976 RONNIE McNEIR - "Sitting In My Class" (DETO) GWEN OWENS - "Just Say You're Wanted And Needed" (VELGO) HERBERT HUNTER - "I Was Born To Love You" (SPAR) CLIFFORD CURRY - "Body Shop" (BUDDAH) New release* PHASE II - "The First Shot" (OSIRIS) New release* STANLEY WOODRUFF - "What Took You So Long" (JULDANE) New release* EMANON'S ORCHESTRA - "Bird Walkin" (Label?) KATHY GREEN - "Love City" (MOTOWN) New release* TURN OF THE CENTURY - "Money Can't" (BUMPSHOP) AL De LORY - "Right On" (CAPITOL) BETTY LLOYD - "I'm Catching On" (BRC) ROTATIONS - "A Changed Man" (FRANTIC) DON GARDNER - "Cheatin' Kind" (SEDGRICK) RUFUS WOODS - "Before 2001" (ESPANOLA) JUDY FREEMAN & BLACKROCK - "Hold On" (RCA) 1972 release JOHNNIE WILLIAMS - "Something Kind Of Mellow" (BABYLON) Recent release JIMMY MACK - "A Woman Is Hard To Understand" (HAMSTER) MYSTERY MEN - "City Skies" (Label?) SAMMY LEE - "What Goes Around, Comes Around" (PROMCO) New release*(?) BANG GANG - "Who Said Honky Ain't Got Soul" (WARNER BROS.) New release* JAMES WELLS - "Baby I'm Still The Same Man" (pre-release)* ALVIN CASH - "Ali Shuffle" (DAKAR) New release* Sept. BARBARA PENNINGTON - "Twenty-Four Hours A Day" (pre-release)* D.C. LARUE - Cathedrals" (PYRAMID 12") New release* BOBBY WOMACK - "I Don't Know (What The World Is Coming To)" (UNITED ARTISTS) JAKKI - "Sun Sun Sun" (PYRAMID 12") New release* C. HENRY WOODS TROUPE - "The Stranger" (ENYX) New release* BUFFALO SMOKE (feat. Lou Courtney) - "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow" (RCA 12") New release* EL COCO - "Let's Get It Together" (AVI) New release* SIDNEY THOMAS - "Look Let's Make Love" (PARALLEL) New release* NIGHTS - "When You Dropped Your Guard (Love Knocks You Down)" (LITTLE STAR LP) New release* SALSOUL ORCHESTRA - "Salsoul 2001" (SALSOUL 12") New release* FOUR BELOW ZERO - "My Baby's Got ESP" (P&P/ROULETTE) New release* BROTHERS - "Were You Ready For That"/"Brother's Theme" (RCA/SUNBAR LP) New release* MIAMI - "Kill That Roach" (DRIVE) New release* LALO SCHIFFRIN - "Theme From Jaws" (CTI LP) New release* JAMES BYNUM - "Time Passes By" (PHILLY CITY) New release* CATCH - "Mr. Nice Guy" (LK) New release* DOUBLE EXPOSURE - "Ten Per Cent" (SALSOUL 12") New release* WEAPONS OF PEACE - "It Just Can't Be This Way" (PLAYBOY) New release* EMOTIONS - "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love" (COLUMBIA) New release* EARTH, WIND & FIRE - "Biyo" (COLUMBIA LP) New release* DONNY GERRARD - "He's Always Somewhere Around" (GREEDY) New release* ROBERTA KELLY - "Trouble Maker" (OASIS) New release* DR. BUZZARD'S SAVANNAH BAND - "I'll Play The Fool"/"Chercez La Femme" etc. (RCA LP) New release* POP-A-GROOVE - "Dance Your Ass Off" (SFO) New release (demo)* WILLIE J. & Co. - "Boogie With Your Baby (Inst.)" (KI KI) New release* STRATAVARIOUS - "I Got Your Love" (Canadian POLYDOR 7") New release* TOWER OF POWER - "You Ought To Be Having Fun" (COLUMBIA) New release* ESTHER WILLIAMS - "You Got To Let Me Show You" (FRIENDS & Co.) New release* DONNA SUMMER - "Spring Affair" (CASABLANCA) New release* GENTLEMEN & THEIR LADY - "Like Her" (ROULETTE) New release* LEE RITENOUR - "A Little Bit Of This, A Little Bit Of That" (EPIC LP) New release* VICKIE SUE ROBINSON - "Daylight" (RCA) New release* SOUL TRAIN GANG - "Theme From Soul Train" (SOUL TRAIN) New release* LIFE USA - "Foxy Trot" (BUDDAH) New release* Sept/Oct. CLOUD ONE - "Atmosphere Strut" (P&P 12") New release* Sept/Oct. ROSE ROYCE - "Car Wash" (MCA Soundtrack LP) New release* Oct. HEART & SOUL - "You Got Me Goin" (PIP 12") New release* HOUSTON PERSON - "Dancing Feet" (MERCURY) New release* RUBY ANDREWS - "I Got A Bone To Pick With You" (ABC) New release* SIDE EFFECT - "Always There" (FANTASY LP) New release* RARE PLEASURE - "Let Me Down Easy" (CHERI 12") New release* JERMAINE JACKSON - "Space Odyssey" (MOTOWN LP) New release* RALPH MacDONALD - "Calypso Breakdown" (MARLIN LP) New release* BESSIE BANKS - "Don't You Worry Baby (The Best Is Yet To Come)" (QUALITY) New release* TAVARES - "Don't Take Away The Music" (CAPITOL LP) New release* JEAN NAPOLI - "Let's Make Love" (VIGOR 12" New release* WEBSTER LEWIS - "Theme" (EPIC) New release* BOBBY WOMACK - "Home Is Where The Heart Is" (COLUMBIA) New release* CAROL TOWNES & FIFTH AVENUE - "If You Leave Me" (SIXTH AVENUE) New release* DENIECE WILLIAMS - "It's Important To Me" (COLUMBIA LP) New release* M.F.S.B. - "Kay-Gee" (PIR LP) New release* STEVE MARSHALL - "Maintain" (REYNOLDS 12") New release* DEXTER WANSEL - "Life On Mars" (PIR LP) New release* WHIRLWIND - "Full Time Thing" (ROULETTE 12") New release* GLASS FAMILY - "Smoke Your Troubles Away" (EARHOLE) New release* LATIMORE - "Something 'Bout Cha" (GLADES) New release* JIMMY JONES - "Ain't Nothing Wrong Making Love" (CONCHILLO) New release* BILL BRANDON - "Streets Got My Lady" (PIEDMONT) New release* VESSIE SIMMONS - "I Can Make It On My Own" (SIMCO) New release* DENISE LaSALLE - "I Get What I Want" (ABC) New release* NORMA JENKINS - "Can You Imagine That" (DESERT MOON) New release* BRASS CONSTRUCTION - "Ha Cha Cha (Function)" (UNITED ARTISTS) New release* KOOL & The GANG - "Open Sesame" (DE-LITE LP/12") New release* LITTLE BEAVER - "Listen To My Heartbeat" (CAT) BRICK - "Dazz" (BANG) New release* JEAN CARN - "Time Waits For No One" (PIR LP) New release* EDDIE KENDRICKS - "Going Up In Smoke" (TAMLA) New release* SKIP MAHOANEY & CASUALS - "Running Away From Love" (ABET) + 12" New release* CHUCK STEPHENS - "Let's Get Nasty" (EAST COAST) New release* The new "official Mecca ender", replacing "California Montage" C.Autumn 1976 The following new releases were also buzzing around... PHILADELPHIA AMBASSADORS - "Girl I Love Everything About You" (PIP) ROCKGAZERS - "I Believe In Love" (SIXTH AVENUE) SPACEARK - "Do What You Can Do" (COLORWORLD) FREDDIE HUGHES - "Don't You Leave" (GREG-UH-RUDY) MIKE & BILL - "Where Do I Stand" (YORK) RUMPUS - "My Love's Gonna Get You" (DASH) SILVER, PLATINUM & GOLD - "Just Friends" (FARR)

[summerhill74]

Hey Discodisk - I am impressed. Obviously you know a lot more than I do about the Highland room. It's just how I remember it - 34 years on ! Interesting list of music too - great stuff.

PS : you may be asked to explain that a knee trembler is not a way of spinning the records !

[tyree_kevin]

Thanks fellas for keeping this thread going. Thanks for all the info. It seems like this should be the "Pistol Allen" thread because it seems like he`s the main point of coorelation here.

[tyree_kevin]

So, how does one classify Freida Payne`s "Band of Gold"? Do you consider this to be Northern Soul? The Motown "B" Team played on this. They`re using a 4/4 snare featuring Uriel Davis and Bob Babbit.

[Scientist]

Hi tyree_kevin, i would classify Band of Gold (I assume you mean the version from 1970) as a pop-soul classic and not Northern Soul. The sounds of HDH/Invictus had moved on from the 60s Motown sound even if many of the same musicians were involved.
An earlier poster linked to the Wikipedia entry for Northern Soul and this seems to give a balanced history. In 1970, the Northern Soul scene would have been more uptempo and would have rejected any tunes that became popular anyway.
By the time certain DJs began playing contempoary releases in the early 70s, Band of Gold was history and early disco was taking off with a different drum style again.