NORTHERN SOUL IN THE MEDIA - "BLACK MUSIC" by Pete Smith
Black Music magazine first hit the streets in December 1973, heralding itself as "the first complete black music magazine", probably in an attempt to distance itself from Blues & Soul which was ostensibly a soul/disco magazine. BM's intention was to cover the whole spectrum from blues to jazz, gospel to reggae, African music and other ethnic styles...and Northern Soul. In this article I'm going to look at BM's coverage of Northern Soul, not in an invest- igative way but more of a blow-by-blow account of each issue and it's content which hopefully will be of interest. It reads just like a diary of what was happening on the Northern Soul scene in 1974-75. Firstly, the soul chart of December 73 contained a handful of singles which had made their mark on the Northern scene including Robert Knight-Mountain top (also a UK top 10 crossover hit), the Isleys-Tell Me It's Just A Rumor and Jiminy James - A Man Like Me. At this time both the pop and soul scenes were being flooded with reissues of classic oldies and in-demand club sounds, a phenomenon which continued well into 1976 as you will see as this article progresses. Ian Levine is a name you can't escape from on the Northern scene and even. today arguments persist as to the rights and wrongs of his musical policies. Levine shared top billing at the Blackpool Mecca with Colin Curtis, and when he wasn't spending thousands of pounds of inherited cash on
obscure US soul 45's he was writing a column for Black Music entitled 'Hey MR.DJ". His first column began..."Southerners are biased towards the Northern Soul scene and it's 190 mph dancers. It's true that a record has to have a consistent, fast beat to be danced to in our clubs..but there are good and bad Northern dance records, and the ones I mention here are the ones that I feel are the very best around at the moment. Certain artists
seem to come up with many brilliant dancers to their credit, whereas others seem to make just one. Singers such as J.J.Barnes, Patti Austin, Edward Hamilton and groups such as David & The Giants and the Ambers, are idolised as being leading exponents of Northern type soul records, just as James Brown, Lynn Collins, the Fat- back Band and Jean Knight are leading exponents of funky music". A good link there as Levine then goes on to
review some of his fave spins of the moment, kicking off with the pre-Fatback Band Gerry & Paul-Cat Walk (Fatback) plus the superb Linda Jones-Just Can't Live My Life (Loma), and a couple of hot tips in the form of Terrible Tom -We Were Made For Each Other (Maverick) and David & The Giants-Ten Miles High (Crazy Horse). Can anyone remember when those two weren't oldies? Levine mentions that the Giants other disc, Superlove, was
in the top 5 Northern sounds right now, as is Otis Smith- Let Her Go.Finally in this first Levine column, a few records that the man himself is trying to track down: World Without Sunshine by Sandra Phillips (Broadway), What Can A Man Do by Harold Melvin (Arctic) and finally the great Freddie Chavez-They'll Never Know Why (Look). Black Music also provided an excellent guide to new Stateside product, much Of which was available through
semi-specialist shops in your local high street. One interesting release which I spotted in the 'Hot Stuff' section of BM 1 was the Montclairs-Hung Up On Your Love (Paula), which soon became the no.1 sound in the country.One of the most well respected voices on the soul scene, the legendary Dave Godin, was also a contributor to BM in it's early days. His first column was a kind of introductory 'what is soul' piece, but he also reviewed a few
singles including Jerry Williams-If You Ask Me (Calla) which got a 4-star rating. There were a few pressings for sale in that first issue e.g. Rufus Lumley, Righteous Brothers Band, Shalimars, Kellly Bros, Dramatics etc. Apart from being big Torch sounds,these discs have a common link in that they were all pressed on Out Of The Past and could be obtained through the Torch-based International Soul Club who boasted a membership of '30,000 and
growing weekly!' Onto issue 2, January 1974, and. only one release of note in this months Hot Stuff, the Temprees version of At Last (We Produce) which was a big sound in 74. Levine gave mention to some real classics this month, viz. Gwen & Ray Build Your House On A Strong Foundation (Bee Bee), Janie Grant-My heart your heart (Parkway), Joe Hicks-Don't It Make You Feel Funky (AGC) and Leslie Uggam-Love Is A. Good Foundation (Sonday). Also mentioned:
Chubby Checker- Looking At Tomorrow (Parkway), Ikettes-Beauty Is Just Skin Deep (Pompeii) and Mad Dog & The Pups-Why Did You Leave Me Girl (Magic City). Dave Godin took a trip to the Mecca and wrote an excellent piece, giving mentions to some of Colin Curtis' tips, including Johnny Caswell-You Don't Love Me Anymore (Decca), Susan Barrett-What's It Gonna Be (RCA), Wally Cox-This Man (Wand) and Freddie Chavez on Look. Two reviews, the superb George Blackwell-Can't Lose My Head (Smoke) and Gwen & Ray-Build. Finally, a tip from Dave for all would be Detroit collectors: "The letters ZTSC on a record is merely a Mattrix code for the manufacturer and are in no way indicative of the style of the record". Watch this space... Black Music of February 74 kicked off with a full page advert for Selectadisc, a Nottingham based record shop who were responsible for a lot of pressings, as well as running the Black Magic label. Selectadisc's top 10 sellers were the Gems, Sherrys, Didi Noel, Thelina Houston, Christine Cooper, Sweet 3, P.P. Arnold, Patti Austin and Tony Clarke-Landslide at no.l. The months new 45's included
Ray Godfrey's 60's soundalike Candy Clown (Mercury) and a reissue of Jay & The Techniques - Baby Make Your Own Sweet Music. Levine's column mentions a couple of discs, Billy Joe Young-I've Got You On My Mind Again (Paula) and Hang My Head And Cry by The Big Guys (Warner Bros). Two albums tracks mentioned too, Thelina Houston-I ain't going nowhere and Robert Knight-Branded, which was eventually taken off the LP due to Northern demand. Dave Godin's column deals with pressings and the never-ending argument about their merits. Dave's opinion was that any- one who knows the people behind the bootlegging should report them to the BPI (which is exactly what did happen a few months later). Godin's significant sides this month are Roshell Andreson-Know What You're Doing (Sunburst), Big Maybelle-Don't Pass Me By (Rojac) and the extremely strange Crow-Your Autumn Of Tomorrow (Inner Ear), which eventually came out on Godin's own Right On
label. Godin describes the Crow disc as "Full of latent passion and anger,this one is a certain killer-diller which is mean, signifying and black, and as righteous as it wants to be" Yeah right. Always sounds to me as if they're all on acid! Onto issue 4 of BM and a new regularular feature entitled 1000 Giants of Black Music. This was an attempt at a sort of
who's-who and was one of the best things to emerge from BM. Artists of interest to readers of this article who were featured in the first part of 1000 Giants, were Ernie Andrews, Lee Andrews, Barbera Acklin, Artistics and Darrell and Homer Banks. New UK releases included Robert Knight-Everlasting Love and the Lorelei-S.T.O.P. Selectadisc's new pressiiigs included Melba Moore-Don't Cry, David & Giants- Ten Miles High, Watts 103rd St Band-Brown Sugar, Detroit Shakers (sic)-Help Me Find My Way and Magnificents-My Heart Is Calling. Talking of pressings, Levine's column began...'With the
bootleggers pressing up my records before I've hardly had time to play them, it's becoming increasingly difficult to tip new sounds in my column without putting money in the pockets of these racketeers. He ends..."I shall try my hardest to keep the faith" (spot the cliche?). Once again, a good selection of records mentioned in this months Levine column;
Van Dykes-Save My Love For A Rainy Day (Mala),
Charles Mann- It's All Over (ABC),
and Edward Hamilton-I'm Gonna Love You (Jameco).
Also mentioned, Wlilbur Reynolds -Tenderizer (CB)
& Shaine Hunter-Sweet Things (Aware),
Jodi Mathis-Don't You Care Anymore (Capitol)
and Bobby Taylor-There Are Roses Somewhere (Sunflower).
Colin
Curtis' big cover up of the month was Casino Brothers (aka Casanova 2)-We Got
To Keep On. Recycled vinyl, tax and racism make up a rather heavy Dave Godin
column, and only two reviews this month:
James Bounty-Action Speaks Louder Than Words on Compass
BarberaLewis-Don't Forget About Me (Atlantic).
The International Soul Club pressed it's latest batch of biggies, using the shooting star design. These included Nolan Chance, Patti Young, Jerry Williams, Ben Aiken, Mel Williams Vel-Vets,Steinways and Frankie & The Classicals.
These
are slightly rarer than the
earlier white label OOTP releases. The ISC was busted very soon after this
batch
of pressings went on sale. April 74's Black Music editorial was the first to
concern itself with Northern soul: "Britain's notorious Northern Soul
scene is getting so much publicity these days that you'd almost think they
were MAKING the music up there!" It then goes on to pour scorn on the
bootleggers and adds "As you groove to that rare Northern sound, does it
make you feel good to think that the guy who poured his soul into it may be
penniless and forgotten?" To be honest I could'nt give a toss, all I'm
doing is dancing to a record in a disco. This months Levine goodies:
Watts 103rd St Band-Joker (Warner Bros),
Art Wheeler-That's How Much I Love You (CeeJam),
Madeleine Wilson-Dial L For Lonely (Sanar),
Storm-Sweet Happiness (Sunflower),
Frank Beverly-Tomorrow May Be Your Day (Gregar),
Petals-Windows Of Your Heart (Mercury),
Lada Edmund Jr- La Rue (Decea)
Chips-Mixed Up Shook Up Girl (Philips).
This months 1000 Giants included
J.J.Barnes,H.B.Barnum,Chris
Bartley, Big Maybelle, Bobby Bland, Otis Blackwell
James Brown.
This months new US releases included :
Melvin
Bliss-Reward
(Sunburst) which was played, plus quite a few names from the past including
What More Do You Want man, Gene Toones billed as Gene Toone (the king of the
Screamers) on She's My Girl (Thuinley). In the UK, Chess rush-released Tony
Clarkels Landslide to stop Selectadisc making a killing from their pressing,
and Motown issued the Contours-Baby Hit And Run due to demand. As a footnote
to Dave Godin's comments in BM 2 concerning the ZTSC mattrix, Fax 'n Info now
publishes the following information.: "Further research shows ZTSC to be
a fairly good method for dating the release of certain records, and
determining the origins of discs with these numbers". Black Music 7 (June
1974) was a real biggie for Northern 'fans' - a seven page investiagtion of
the scene. This is a massive piece which would take literally pages to analise
in full, but basically it's a guide to what the scene is, who the
people are, the djls, what sort of discs are played, the venues, the
bootleggers and the artists themselves. Journalist Tony Cummings pays a visit
to Newcastle Tiffanies where he describes Sam's set as "A downer"
and adds "Many kids don't share my aversion for the Ventures and
hicoughing pop discs which sound like the Nashville Scene (sic)'' (in other
words, Sam only plays pop music). There's a guide to whos-who on, the Northern
scene which makes interesting reading: Keith Minshull - "A rather
unimpressive dj who
encourages the market for pressings"; Pep-"Occasionally mixing a
little too much pop into the dancing soul brew, he is respected and
influential"; Kev Roberts-'His influence is considerable"; Richard
Searling-'Seems to play mainly discs supplied by bootlegger Simon Soussan"
(oh really??); Russ Winstanley- 'The most likeable of the Wiean crew" and
finally Soul Sam "The joker in the pack, playing streams of unknown pop
records which just happen
to have the right beat". For me though, the most interesting part of this
7-page feature was the inclusion of the countrys top 5 sounds for each years
from 1967 onwards. The top 5 was listed, often cornplimented by sarcastic
comments. This is how those top 5's from yesteryear looked: 1967 -
Tony Clarke--Entertainer (Chess), Bobby Sheen-Dr.Love (Capitol),
Little Hank-Mr Bang Bang Man (London/Dlonument), Shirley Ellis-Soul Time (CBS),
Major Lance-Ain.lt No Soul (Columbia) 1968 -
Chubby
Checker-Dischotheque (Cameo Parkway), Poets-She Blew A Good Thing (London),
Flamingos - Boogaloo Party (Philips) ("An inane, mechanical stomper"),
Contours-Misunderstanding (Tamla Motown), Bobby Freerman-C'Mon Swim (Pye Int)
1969 - Invitations-What's Wrong With Me Baby (Stateside), Tami Lynn-Gonna Run
Away From You (Atlantic),
Tams-Hey Girl DonIt Bother Me (HMV), Earl Van Dyke- 6 By 6 (Tamla Motown),
O'Jays-I Dig Your Act (Stateside) ("A dull stylised disc")
Alexander Patton - A lil lovin sometimes (Capitol), Leon Haywood-Baby Reconsider (Fat Fish), Bob Brady-More more more (Chariot), Bob Wilson-All Turned On (Ric Tic) ("Boring Detroit instrumental"), Ad Libs-Nothing, Worse Than Bein Alone (Share) 1971 -
Prophets-I Got The Fever (Mercury), Sandi Sheldon-You're Gonna Make Me Love You (0keh), Richard Temple-Beatin rhythm (Mirwood), Bobby Hebb-Love love love (Philips),
Hoagy
Lands-Next In Line (Stdteside) 1972 -
Sam & Kitty-I Got Something Good (4 Bros)("Repetitive, boring and
obscure Chicago dancer"), Chubby Checker-Just Don't Know (Cameo Parkway),
Lenis Guess-Just Ask Me (SPQR), Soul Twins-quick Change Artsist (Karen),
Archie Bell & The Drells-Here I Go Again (Atlantic)
'1973 - Tony Clarke-Landslide (Chess)
Damita Jo-I'll Save The Last Dance For You (Ranwood), Tempos-Countdown (Canterbury), Gems-I'll Be There (Riverside),Invi-tations-Skiing In The Snow (Dynovovoice) 1974 -
Joe Hicks-Don't It Make You Feel funky (AGC), Salvadors-Stick By Me Baby (Wise World), Watts 103rd St Band-Joker (WB), Maurice Chestnut-Too Darn Soulful (Renfro),
Louise
Lewis-We Oo I'll Let It Be You (Skyway) It's interesting to note that up until
1972 practically everything being played was on UK issue. BY 1975 the dj's
obviously realised that to discover really new, unknown discs, they'd have to
look to the original source, the USA. Finally in BM's article on the Northern
scene, we have another Wigan slag-off as our roving reporter visits Blackpool
Mecca and describes the punters as "the connisseurs of the Northern
scene" and of their counterparts says "the black bombing, bootleg
playing, dull brained brothers from Wigan". It's strange how Tony
Cummings keeps contradicting himself in this piece. On one hand he's praising
the Mecca for it's policy of "no white stompers allowed" but then
slags off almost every record he hears: Chris Jackson-Since There's No Doubt
"Pleasant
but just like a thousand others": Lydia Marcelle-Its Not Like You 'A
Supremes ripoff". And to end the piece, one last dig at the Wigan Casino:
"My brother heard them play the pressing of Eddie Foster at Wigan, bloody
pressers ripping off the artists". Question is, how did he know they were
playing the pressing??? Anyway, meanwhile back at the rest of BM 7,
Selectadisc had a new full page advert with Butch Baker at number one with The
Joker (Jocker?), along with new bootlegs of Moses Smith, Sandra
Phillips, Audio Arts Strings, Fred Smith Golden World Strings (Total Eclipse)
and Dana Valery. I should think that something happened to the Dana Valery
pressings on Pussycat as I had to pay £4 for one in 75 and sold it at Wigan
in 76 for £6! A lot of money back then. New releases this month included
Jimmy Conwell-Cigarette Ashes, Contours-Do You Love Me and Frankie & The
Classicals-What Shall I Do on a new label called Pye Disco Demand.Over in the
States, completely unnoticed in the Hot Stuff section was a new release on GSF
by the Anderson Brothers entitled I Can See Him Loving You. Twelve months
later it was big everywhere, impossible to find, and remains a classic today.
The 1000 Giants of Black Music this month included Chubby Checker, Tony
Clarke, the C.O.D.s, Contours and Lou Courtney.
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