Yoni's Living Room Soul Chart

The 1999 archive

Christmas in Vietnam - Private Charles Bowens & the Gentlemen from Tigerland (Rojac)

My Christmas record for this year. Johnny and Jon also did a record by the same title, but it's not the same song. Classic poignant Christmas ballad complete with the obligatory bells, released in November 1966.

Just now and then - The Detroit Emeralds (Westbound)

Haunting ballad from the ever original Detroit Emeralds, released in late 1970. Sounds a little like a Willie Mitchell production, but it's not; it was produced by the group. The more I listen to it, the more I like it.

You're losing me - Ann Sexton (Seventy Seven)

Classic funk record from 1973. Certainly one for my funky page!

Music - Eddy "G" Giles (Murco)

An uptempo celebration of soul music, from early 1968, about a year after Losing Boy.

Why did you take your love away from me - James Brown (King LP)

As I was looking for interesting JB tracks to feature on his discography page, I found this one on the "I Can't Stand Myself" LP; Could become a northern soul spin, couldn't it?

Three hearts in a tangle - James Brown (King LP)

... and this is from the I Got You (I Feel Good) LP. JB's screaming singing style is an acquired taste, but I've certainly acquired it. As I was going through his records from the 50's to the 70's I rediscovered Mr. Soul, who I believe was the most innovative and original soul artist. This little track shows just how versatile he was - not the kind of track you would expect form JB who was just about to define the word "funky", but there you have it..

Don't want to sit down - Charles (Mr. CC) Carlson (Bold)

Another contribution from Mr. John Ridley, who keeps introducing me to the most obscure and surprising deep soul records. A bit like a home recording, (with no bass!), but listen to the two saxes blast out those soulful arrangements, and to the beautiful, bold (just like the label says) performance from Mr. CC.

Buddy's groove - Buddy Guy (Chess)

The veteran Blues man joining the funky groove of early 1968. It does get a little too loose for me at the end when Buddy hits a guitar solo, but the first part of the record is definitely in the groove.

What am I gonna do without you - Chuck Jackson (German Tamla Motown)

Found this one in a used record shop in Tel Aviv, for 75 cents. A picture cover, too. With such finds, I always wonder about the path this record made from its release in 1969 until now. Anyway this is a great mid-paced record, certainly with northern soul appeal, originally released on US Motown (thanks Tom Mitchell for making that point). Another version of this song, by the Temptations, previously unreleased, appears on the recent "You've Got To Earn It" CD.

Loneliness - Jerry Butler (Mercury)

This was on Derek "Shades of Soul" Pearson's latest tape. How can there be a track by such a popular artist, on a major label, with an R&B chart hit on the other side - Love (oh how sweet it is) - with the right beat for today's northern soul scene, and what an excellent record too, and still be relatively unknown? The wonderful world of soul keeps surprising us year in and year out, doesn't it.

Let my heart and soul be free - The Tan Geers (Okeh)

Another one from Derek Pearson's tape - brilliant northern soul sound, not too well known again - well not to me anyway, though after I wrote that I had several instant corrections e-mailed to me saying it does get 'Northern" plays, especially lately, i.e. since the mid-90's, along with its flip side "What's the use of me trying".

Burning up your love - Mr. Percolator (Wax-Wel)

The John Ridley page features the other side of this rather rare 45, "I need your love to see me through", by Pearstine "Mr. Percolator" Badger - I wonder why the called him that! Anyway thanks to a tape by Mr. Greg Burgess I've now become acquainted with the other side of this 45; and as so often is the case, the other side of a great ballad is a storming uptempo number which is just as good (and vice versa of course...)

Keep our love strong - The Webs (Atlantic)

The Atlantic label is full of surprises for the rare soul fan. The Webs probably thought they'd hit the big time when their record was released on this great label in 1967. Alas the record did not do much - that is until now, when it went straight into the Soul of the Net's Living Room Top 40, off a tape sent to me by one of my favorite contributors, Martin Goggin of Cork, Ireland.

Shake a poo poo - Chet "Poison" Ivey & His Fabulous Avengers (Tangerine)

This goes off my want list thanks to Christian Broedsjoe of Oslo, who kindly sent me this record. Don't let the title mislead you - it's not a silly dance craze record but a piece of strong, terrific uptempo soul. The flip "Handle with care" is a cool, jazzy track with northern soul appeal.

Let a broken heart come in - Joe Wilson (Dynamo)

Earlier this year I featured "When a man cries" by this artist. Well, recently this became the title track for a CD on Kent that features the deep soul side of the Wand/Scepter/Musicor/Dynamo group of labels, compiled buy John Ridley. The labels operated in New York, but often, in the late 60's and early 70's, leased material from the south. This track was Mr. Wilson's follow up to "When a man cries", from the same year, 1971. Like its predecessor it was recorded at the Malaco studios, written and produced by Wardell Quezergue.

You and you alone - Lee Mitchell (Musicor)

My second pick off the "When a man cries" CD. Slow deep southern soul from 1973.

The last laugh is on the blues - Debbie Taylor

Courtesy of John Ridley comes this touching ballad, the first inclusion for Ms. Taylor on the Soul of the Net.

Baby what has happened to our love - The Ringleaders (M-Pac)

If you like this one, you ought to thank my friend Johnny Walker for its inclusion on this page. He played it on a recent mini-event here in Tel Aviv and I got hooked; a sound so taylormade for the northern soul scene always makes me wonder how could it have been made years before anyone knew what northern soul was. Relatively rare for the One-derlful group of labels, this record's price is now getting into the three digit zone, however for those of you who are not into buying rare and expensive records, it's included on two CD's, one is Goldmine's compilation of the northern soul output of those labels, and the other is Charly's recent M-Pac compilation, Chicago Soul Cellar.

Sad Affair - Lee Rogers (D-Town)

A driving, uptempo R&B-ish number, with shades of 50's doo-wop on the backing vocals; a sound not very typical of Detroit soul, from this excellent vocalist who had many fine releases on Wheelsville/D-Town. This is included on the recent Wheelsville Wonders CD on Goldmine (UK), but beware, the sound quality on this compilation is quite bad.

Somewhere - Exavations (Smoke)

A lovely uptown harmony ballad. Featured on Underground Oldies Vol. 1 (See Review Page).

That's when I stop loving you - Linda Jones (Neptune)

Beautiful interplay between Linda's tortured vocals and the mellow background harmonies on this 1969 minor hit (number 40 Billboard R&B). Featured on Undergound Oldies Vol. 3 (See Review Page).

He knows my key is always in the mailbox - Vivian Copeland (D'oro)

This was Vivian Copeland's only Billboard R&B chart hit, reaching #38 in late 1969. Nice & catchy midtempo big city sound from Washington D.C, also recorded three years later by Susan Phillips on All Platinum.

Hey Mr. Lonesome - The Carltons (Argo)

Argo's answer to the Impressions? An excellent imitation of Curtis Mayfield's sound of that time, 1964, and my final featured track from the Underground Oldies CD series.

Mean mistreater - Lee Bates (Instant)

Four years after Otis Redding's death, the Big O's immense influence is still very evident on this 1971 outing by southern soul veteran Lee Bates on this great New Orleans label.

Too much - Billy Young (Mercury)

Talking about Otis Redding soundalikes, here's a great one. The similarity is no coincidence as Billy Young was an Otis Redding protege. The other side of this single is also very good - the not too differently titled "Nothing's too much", a classic southern soul ballad again very much in the Otis Redding mould.

Aching all over - Gary Allen (Capitol)

Third Otis Redding clone in one week? The soul collector's world is full of strange coincidences, isn't it; however this track arrived in my collection not on its original vinyl but on Bill Haney's Atlanta Southern Soul Brotherhood, a compilation CD of Bill Haney's productions on UK Kent (see reviews).

Wasting my life loving you - Milton Marlin (Carol)

Another Bill Haney production from the same Kent CD as the above track, this one is a 1965 ballad which sounds earlier than that, however there's a special charm about it; the arrangement is subtle, especially the sax harmonies, and the singing is reserved yet very soulful.

Touch me - Chic Carbo (Revue)

Somewhere on the thin line between country music and soul music, this sentimental ballad features enough soul on the vocals and arrangement for me to be able to thoroughly enjoy it.

The door you closed - The Box Tops (Mala?)

I'm not sure if this came out as a 45; it's included on a bootlegish Dutch vinyl compilation, Soul Sensations Vol. 3, which contains many fine deep soul gems. Hans Diepstraten from Amsterdam tells me it catered for the Surinamese community in Holland, where an amazing deep soul scene has been going on for three decades. Anyway the Memphis based Box Tops always had a somewhat soulful sound on their records, which have been mostly cut at American and played on by Memphis soul giants such as Tommy Cogbill, Reggie Young, Spooner Oldham etc.; this to me is their most soulful recording. Bill Clark reports: "The Door You Closed" was the flip side of their hit "Cry Like A Baby" - to which I say, this is yet another example of a good uptempo hit backed with a relatively unknown deep soul gem - which is what this track it IMO.

Danger - Marvin L. Sims (Revue)

Also from the above mentioned Soul Sensations LP, this is a classic ballad also featured recently on Lost Deep Soul Treasures, but apparently found much earlier by the Dutch Surinamese.

King for a day - Danny White (Kashe)

Third entry on the Soul of the Net for Mr. White, on a third label (we've had Atlas and Frisco), and again a fine ballad. It seems a discography is due on this site for this great singer.

You should o' held on - 7th Avenue Aviators (Congress)

I found this one on an old tape at home and thought I'd put a nice Northern dancer for a change on this page, after having a long run of deepies. Originally this was released as by Frankie Karl and the Chevrons on Philtown, (guess what city this was in), but later picked up by the New York label Congress (a subsidiary of Kapp), where the group was imaginatively renamed. I like the spelling of 'have' in the title - quite imaginative too. Anyway it's a great record, no empty dance floors when this one is played, I'm sure. If you don't want to spend a three figure sum on this, you can try to find Kent's "Footstompers" LP.

I caught you in the act - Roy C - (Alaga)

This is the First Roy C record on my site. I am not a big Roy C fan but this one I do like a lot. From 1972, this is yet another infidelity story by the man who has forgotten long ago that there are other aspects of life worth singing about. However this is mighty soulful stuff, with nice singing (shades of Clarence Carter to my ears), and a delightful arrangement.

Self preservation - Bill Brandon - (South Camp)

In my personal soul charts, this is Bill Brandon's follow-up to his big hit of earlier this year (though in reality it was recorded later than this one...), I'm a Believer Now. This comes from his work at Quin Ivy's South Camp label, though this particular track was produced by Spooner Oldham. Hence a very classic Fame-type sound, albeit with an uncharacteristic muted trumpet going in and out of the arrangement. I had known this song before as done by Percy Sledge (Percy's version is also featured in realaudio on the Percy Sledge page), but obviously this is earlier, and what a cracker of a ballad it is.

I'll get along - Kip Anserdon (Tomorrow)

Talking about follow-ups, this is my personal follow-up to KA's wonderful Checker release, Without a woman - but this time these two living room hits have more than 20 years between them! And again, this actually was released before his Checker sides. In between I did get a few nice Kip Anderson tracks, such as Woman how do you make me love you like I do (Checker), and I went of and cried (Excello); in fact there was half an LP dedicated to Kip Anderson, on Japanese Issue; however THIS one for me is the only track I heard by him that rivals the beauty of Without a woman. His throaty singing on it is one of the most soulful I've heard. My only complaint is that the track fades too soon, and in an unusual manner, as if not at the right place... maybe the master tape was damaged a few seconds later? Anyway thanks to John Ridley again for providing this one.

Tell your friend - Johnny Gilliam (Cancer)

A slight change of pace away from the many deep soul tracks that have been featured here lately, this mid tempo one features a good song and a nice, Jerry Butler type of deep voice, however as far as the production goes, I find it hard to decide whether it's brilliant or just plain off-key... see what YOU think.

A sad sad song - Charles Crawford (Hy Sign)

This 70's ballad, one side of the only 45 this artist ever released, was featured on the Goldmine CD Southern Fried Soul. Thanks to Nicci Talbot, the Soul of the Net's #1 fan (and often contributor) this previously overlooked gem has finally made its due entry into my living room playlist. It starts off with a sad sad rap accompanied by a piano which reminds me of a Beethoven sonata. Then the beautiful guitar organ and horns enter, to make the soulful difference, while Mr. Crawford resurrects Otis Redding's singing style, several years after the Big O passed away.

Try to find another man - Clint and Tommy (Fontana)

A fast paced ballad by one of Soul Music's many soulful male duos. Sounds early, probably 1964 or 1965. Simple and effective. I love the horns towards the end; and thanks to Nicci Talbot for pointing out that this is apparently a Righteous Bros. original - recorded by them as the B side of Bring your love to me, and actually written by the Righteous ones themselves. Is this a black artist cover of a white artist soul record then?

Beauty - Claudette Johnson (S&H)

This one was sent to me by John Ridley, which usually means both obscurity and quality. This particular one is quite amazing to me. It sounds like it was recorded in someone's living room, or maybe bathroom. Not a professional recording at all, with just a drum, base and guitar, complete with a noticeable background noise, accompanying Ms. Johnson's very soulful singing. But what a song this is! As I listen to it I imagine these four people sitting there at the recording session and giving it all they got - what a remarkable moment this must have been for them. If you miss the horns on this one, try to play soul producer: just hum the horn part as you listen. I did, and well, I thought it wasn't bad. ... for more on this record go to the John Ridley Page.

Broken hearted - Barbara Hall (Tuska)

More brilliant femme soul courtesy of John Ridley, but this time a better known artist and a professionally recorded track. The 45 sounds a bit scratchy though. Beautiful arrangement, with the horns blasting away, and Barbara's heartbreaking singing on top. ... for more on this record go to the John Ridley Page.

You can't fight love - Shirley & Jessie (Wand)

Here's a great, stomping good time dancer from New Orleans (and don't let the Wand label fool you), to get you out of the deep soul mood set by the above four tracks.

Keep the fire burning - Skip Easterling (Alon)

Should well please the northern soul crowd. Was this ever played on the UK "scene"? I'm not sure, but I'm pretty certain it could have been, it's got everything needed to make it into a classic NS "stomper".

I can't stop - Wilson Pickett (Double L)

Speaking of Northern Soul, it always amazes me that the only record I've ever heard by the mighty wicked Wilson Pickett on a NS event is "Let me be your boy". Well, "I can't stop" is a track that's included on his first album, the one with "If you need me" etc. that has been released on about a dozen labels and under different titles. However I recently bought this 45, (with the gorgeous "Down to my last heartbreak" on the other side), and I thought to myself, the next time I get a chance to DJ on a northern soul event, then by jove, I am going to play this one!

Too poor to die - The 5th Dimension (Soul City)

Courtesy of Ms. Nancy Yahiro, the US West Coast's soul sister no. 1, comes this suprisingly rousing stomper, not reminiscent at all of the 5th Dimension's pop hits. Seems like almost everyone from Paul Anka to Shirley Bassey has a hidden Northern Soul 45 in his discography, so why not the 5th Dimension.

Can't do nothing without you - Danny White (Frisco)

A second entry for Danny White on the Soul of the Net. The first one was on John Ridley's page: the wonderful "I'm Dedicating my life". This one is again a Hayes/Porter song, though this time not recorded at the Stax studios. And BTW if you want to listen to quite a few more Hayes/Porter compositions that were NOT recorded at Stax or by Stax artists, click on to the Homer Banks page. If you know Homer only as a writer, you will be surprised by the power of his delivery as an artist.

Son of a lover - Billy Mack (Miss Betty)

Another record introduced to yours truly by Nancy Yahiro. In the grand tradition of Tramp and Papa was too (Joe Tex), Mr. Mack boasts about being a second generation lover. Good unadulterated funky soul. No date given but I would assume 1968.

Hungry for your love - Joe Perkins (Bluff City)

A record that kept growing on me ever since I first heard it on a tape from Martin Goggin a few months ago, which I've recently bought on one of the Internet 45's auctions. The sound is all the way Hi / Willie Mitchell, including the Al Green-ish vocal. Well, no wonder - arranging and production are in fact by James and Pete Mitchell; can't be a coincidence, can it.

Giving up your love (is like giving up the world) - The Twentie Grans (Columbia)

I've only had this on an old "Shades of Soul" tape - thanks Derek - until recently, when I got it in slightly upgraded sound quality on Detroit Undercovered, a Goldmine CD of assorted material from the Motor Town. I don't know anything about the group, other than they are named after a famed Detroit club. Any info would be appreciated. Anyway this is an exquisite slab of mid tempo group

She's just doing her thing - Willie Hutch - (Motown)

Willie Hutch pours his soul out on this 70's ballad. Willie had been around from the 60's, cutting some later-to-become Northern Soul records, but his commercial success finally came in the 70's. Doesn't he sound a bit like Bobby Womack on this one? I recently bought this at a Tel Aviv used record shop for 25 cents, along with a few other similarly priced soul records. A nice moment in a soul music's fan's life, that was.

Let nothing separate us - Arthur Conley (Atco LP)

This is an album track off Arthur Conley's first album, Sweet Soul Music. It has been one of my favourite soul tracks ever since I bought that wonderful album many many years ago. I now re-enter it into my living room top 40 on the occasion of its inclusion on Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures CD vol. 2 (Kent, UK). After not hearing it for a long time, I was knocked out - again - by its sheer soulfulness. Written by Otis Redding, who recorded it but kept it in the can (till its posthumous release on the album "Love Man"), this is undoubtedly the better version, highlighting Arthur Conley's fragile yet dramatic delivery, and the most sublime of arrangements by the wonderful Stax band.

Just like a child - Little Dooley (KoKo)

In between two releases by Luther Ingram, who was the KoKo label's mainstay, came this 1967 gem by Little Dooley. In classic Memphis style, the organ, guitar and horn section just ooze soul on this deep soul ballad. Not to mention the vocal, complete with the obligatory little sad soul chuckle. The middle eight part is was a bit strange to my ears at first, but then I got used to it too. Again this track comes courtesy of Martin Goggin from Ireland. And if you want to know more about Dooley and his records, move on down to the John Ridley Page.

The feeling is real - George Pepp (Coleman)

No, I haven't won the lottery and started buying ultra rare northern soul records, but I finally have this track in nice and clear audio quality thanks to Goldmine's third "Millionaires Only" CD volume. Not one for the purists; a trifle pop-ish in its feel, yet if you've ever danced to this amongst hundreds of northern soul "punters", you'd know that it definitely is, a soul record. "You're breaking my heart... "

No rest for the worried - Clarence Williams (Gabriel)

Here's another one I lifted off "Millionaires" vol. 3. Is this the same guy who was featured here last year on "I know about love / I know it's true (it's all over)"? In any case this is either a fast ballad or a slow dancer, not a very typical "northern soul" sound, but a very good early soul record. Doesn't he sing "no rest for the weary"?

I can't get along without you - Betty Green (Klondike)

A nice, horn-laden track, uptempo yet deep (is this a contradiction?), with excellent singing from Ms. Green. I would guess that it was recorded in 1969, but I have no proof for this.

Big blue diamonds - Tommy Tate (Okeh)

A relatively early effort by southern soul man Tommy Tate, on this famed Chicago label. However Martin Goggin who sent me this on a tape recently tells me that it was recorded in Nashville, produced by Billy Sherrill (who also worked with Tammy Wynette). A county song, surely, but given the full southern soul treatment. I love the way it flows along from the quick, dynamic intro to the sudden, no-fade stop. When it's over, you find yourself asking - what?! have 2:38 minutes already gone by? Going by the catalog number (7253), this is 1966 vintage, and it sounds like it. This is another record shared by my Living Room Top 40 and the John Ridley Page - go there and find out a lot more about Tommy Tate and this record.

It was you - Kevin Kiley & the Out Patients (not released - not even properly recorded!)

Here's a tribute to all the soul bands that are keeping the flame of live soul music, right into the 21st century... This is an old James Brown ballad that Kevin & the guys include on their bar gigs' repertoire. Kevin sent it to me on a tape, recorded I guess with one home mike, but if you get over the technical quality problem, you'll hear the soul of these guys shine through. Also listen to their version of Allen Toussaint's Poor boy got to move - again low-fi quality and also some mistakes on the harmonies - Kevin tells me this is actually the first time they did this, without rehearsing! But don't it sound soulful!

I'm a believer now - Bill Brandon (Moonsong)

Later than his Quinvy releases, this classic deep soul track from 1972 is included on the Hotlanta set from Kent, released in mid 1998, which I have bought a few months too late...

They say the girl's crazy - The Invitations (Silver Blue)

I love the combination on this one of an easy, floating rhythm with the raucous, soulful vocal. Thanks kindly to Greg Burgess for sending this to me on a tape.

Baby I'll get it - Chuck Jackson (V.I.P.)

What an absolute scorcher from Chuck, from his not very commercially successful stay with Motown. Not many people realize that Motown could produce such deep deep soul. A perfect record, everything here is A-1, the melody, lyrics, production and vocal performance.

Since I've lost you - The Undisputed Truth (Gordy)

More from Motown. A Norman Whitfield production from 1969, on one of the first of the new wave of groups whose name was in singular number... I can't stop tapping my feet when I hear this one, but guess what: there are no drums on this record. What an original idea, and it works just fine. Which goes to show you, you don't quite have to hit the (electronic) snare every beat on the beat, like they do on most records nowadays.

When a man cries - Joe Wilson (Dynamo)

Gentle ballad from 1971, and one of the first records to carry the Malaco Prodcution credit. More famous for its other side, the mid-tempo, danceable "Sweetness".

Say you will - Joe Haywood (Deesu)

I don't know too much about this, except that it's a heartfelt ballad with Otis Redding type horn arrangements. On my copy a date is handwritten - 1967, so I guess it's from that year.

Morning noon and night - Berna Dean (Imperial)

Starts as a MOR ballad, but stay with it and you will be rewarded with one of the most intense early deep soul performances you will have heard lately. It really builds up wonderfully.

Action - The Showmen (Amy)

A 1968 record by the post-General Johnson Showmen. An outstanding slab of late 60's uptempo southern soul, produced by Papa-Don Schroeder, written by Schroeder and Moses Dillard. With credentials like that, it's difficult to go wrong, and they didn't. I wonder why this wasn't a hit. Probably missed the southern soul boom just by that much, as my catalogue number listings say Amy 11036 is from about November or December 1968. By that time psychedelia (Sly) on one hand, and softer sweet soul sounds on the other were beginning to push out southern soul, especially uptempo southern soul, away from the charts.

Sock it to 'em soul brother - Bill Moss (Bell)

More from 1968. Bill Moss talks black awareness over an amazing rhythm track. This record is quite popular among 60's soul DJ's. I have just bought a spare copy of this, so that I will not risk not having it twenty years from now, if something happens to my old copy. And I find it just as moving - emotionally and physically - as when I first heard it all those years ago. It makes me want to march for Black Power.

The same way you love your man - Dynamic Singletary (Dynamite)

A mystery record - who is "Dynamic Singletary" aka Henry David Singletary, who seemed to have his own label? Any relation to Shrine owner Eddie Singleton, who's real name was also Singletary? Anyway this is a fine, driving, song, self written and produced; sounds a bit like the Clarence Carter hits of 1968/9, and to my ears, and legs, it seems like this record could well be danced to. Does anybody out there know anything about it?

Sock boogaloo - Bobby Rush (Checker)

Time for some early, "boogaloo" funk now. This type of record seems to fall out of place with most types of soul collectors - too funky to be northern, too fast to be deep, too 60's to be "rare groove", but I love it. Again, this one was written and produced by the artist, and it must be from 1967 or 1968, but I was too lazy to check this on my ever-useful label cat. number listings on the label profile page.

Your love is all I need - Della Humphrey (Arctic)

Early-ish deep soul from the Philly label not too famous for its deep output. Della belts out the song very emotionally and beautifully, but beware of the lyrics: a trifle too masochistic for me...

No more like me - Ray Pollard (Shrine)

Off the recent Kent CD compilation of Shrine recordings, I chose this fine uptown ballad by the famous (to northern soul fans only I'm afraid) Mr. Pollard.

Mystery - Jimmy Armstrong (Shrine)

... and I also chose this classic northern soul number, from the same Shrine compilation. Does the original record also end at 1:40? This record comes and goes before you know what's going on. It's so fast and furious, and so soulful at that.

I've got a secret - The Sharpees (One-derful)

My final Top 40 entry for this time (mid February 1999) comes from the second in the three CD series of Mar-V-Lus, One-derful and M-Pac! recordings by Charly, which truly is an excellent one. This is the follow-up to "I'm so tired of being lonely", and is in the same vein and just as good - intense, driving and soulful. I wonder why this wasn't on the Goldmine Mar-V-Lus, One-derful Northern Soul CD, which unlike the Charly CD's focused just on the northern soul aspect of these labels. It sure sounds to me like it has that northern beat.

Hey Sallie Mae get off my feet - Lee Fields (Desco)

Now doesn't this sound like it was recorded in New Orleans in 1969 or 1970? Well, it was recorded in New York City in 1998. And it's on a vinyl 45, too. Read more about this on the Desco CD review on the reviews page.

You better think twice - Sharon Jones (Desco)

More from Desco Records. This lady sounds a lot like Jean Knight to me. Another 1998 vinyl 45 from this NY heavy-heavy funk factory.

I found all these things - C. P. Love - (Chimneyville)

From one of the most soulful labels of the 70's comes this deep gem, released in late 1970 or early 1971. A slow ballad, tastefully arranged, with a beautiful modulation near the end. A sad melody with happy lyrics - so typical of that awesome soul-logic. Thanks again to Martin Goggin for this one as well as the next one by Bo Bo Mr. Soul.

Hitch hike to heartbreak road - BoBo Mr. Soul - (Ovide)

I'm not sure which was the official A side of this record, but I've always listened to the other side, the ultra soulful version of Archie Bell's "She's my woman" - (to be featured on part 2 of the Soul of the Net's Seventies Special). But this faster side is also extremely nice, featuring the oddly named BoBo's formidable singing qualities. Maybe it was that name that stood between him and more considerable success?

Love look in her eyes - The Falcons - (Big Wheel)

Looking at my top 40 I've noticed there was not much Northern Soul in it lately, so let me correct this right away with this wonderful track by the Falcons, from about the same time as "I'm a fool I must love you", one of my all time favorites.

Puppet on a string - Gino Wahington (Ric-Tic)

This is the flip to "Gino is a coward"- Ric Tic's first release. Detroit's Gino Washington was an interesting artist, not to be confused with England's Geno Washington. My favourite track by him is Rat race, a track that has never been released officially (instead, the same backing track was used in the weaker Like my baby (Atac/Mala). The backing track was released as an instrumental on Do-De-Re). Anyway, I digress. Barry from Minneapolis who sent me this track on a tape calls it "lazy soul". Another atmospheric gem by Gino from 1964. BTW it was also released on Correc-Tone.

My baby likes to bogaloo - Don Gardner (Tru-Glo-Town)

A dancefloor favorite for many years, what a straight ahead stormer this is, rough production and rough singing, still it's so soulful it gives me shivers up the spine no less than the deepest of deep soul records. There's another great version of this by the Interpretarions.

I spy for the FBI - Luther Ingram & the G-Men (Smash)

Everybody knows Jamo Thomas's wonderful hit version of this. However this version is said to be the original. and it's just as good. Luther Ingram hit the big time with the Stax subsidiary KoKo in the late 60's/early 70's. However he recorded some great tracks before KoKo, e.g. this and If it's all the same to you baby (HIB). Again courtesy of Barry from Minneapolis.

Monkey see, monkey do - Sam the Sham and the Pharaos (MGM LP)

From time to time I've got to get out of that deep soul habit, and play something that will move (almost) every bone in my body. Don't forget all you old geezers, there's more to soul music than the mighty ballad - and this track, which some (ignorant) people will doubt being soul music, for me captures all the happiness and excitement of a soul party. I had looked for this for ages, and found it recently - it's on an MGM soundtrack, "When the girls meet the boys", (amidst Connie Francis, Herman's Hermits and Louis Armstrong tracks) which was kindly sold to me by Mr. John J Grecco. Sam the Sham had soul, there's no doubt about that.

Mr. Success - Bobby Harris (Shout)

Hot from the Soul of the Net's inbox comes this totally irresistible ballad, with a Sam Cooke influenced vocal, perfectly carried out by Bobby Harris. Thanks to Martin Goggin again for this one, definitely my #1 record for the 1998/9 holiday season.

My heart cries oh - Fred Hughes (Vee Jay)

I've got to admit, for a long time I knew Vic Taylor's reggae version of this, called just Heartaches, on Jamaica's Treasure Isle label without being aware that this was a cover of a soul song. There are two types of reggae covers of soul songs - the acknowledging type, where the real writers are credited and the real title appears, and the unacknowledging type, where the title is changed and no credit is given - well, Vic Taylor's was of this second type. Now that I found the original, I find it difficult to make up my mind which one's the better version; they are both wonderful.

RealAudio help for soul surfers

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