Hi all
I was looking though my compture and found this and thought it might be good for the site
i can't rember where it from but i THINK it from the Carm yahoo Group so here goes

Geoff Story1
I would think the Northern Soul scene is a descendant of the Mod era of the early mid 60s.
When I went to clubs in the period most of them played mainly rhythm and blues records, this covered the Muddy Waters/Jimmy Reed/John Lee Hooker bluesy style, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, early Motown, Barrett Strong, Marvelettes and Atlantic records, Solomon Burke, etc, the Chicago styles of the Impressions, Major Lance, etc.
By late 1964 there were less bluesy records played, and more of what is recognisably soul.
New releases were played, sometimes before release in this country. Of course there were great records out almost every week.
Quite a few Northern classics were played: Invitations' What's Wrong With Me Baby, Gene Chandler's Nothing Can Stop Me and Good Times, Poets' She Blew A Good Thing, Willie Mitchell's That Driving Beat (it was the b side of Everything's Gonna Be All Right, but both were played). There must have been others, but can't think at the moment, I do remember in the NS top 500 book there are various top 10s for clubs in later years and many were played in the mid 60s.
I can only give a London perspective, but probably the same in other towns.
One big difference between the Mod scene records and the NS scene, is the way that you don't hear many Atlantic or Stax records in the latter. This may be a generalisation on my part but there are very few Otis Redding or Wilson Pickett records played. I presume they are just too well known, or are they difficult to dance to?
Personally while I still love the records I grew up with, I don't really want to hear them when I go out, with a few exceptions. In The Midnight Hour, Respect, I Can't Help Myself, etc are for the front room only these days. Yet I'd love to hear Monkey Time, I Like It Like That, Jerry Butler and Betty Everett's Ain't That Loving You and various others in a club now.
Apologies for the trip down memory lane.

I've enjoyed reading the emails in this thread, some interesting opinions. Obviously I can only speak from my own experience.
On the subject of groups, black and white. For several months in 1964 my mates and I used to go to the Marquee in Wardour Street to see the Yardbirds with Eric Clapton. At the time they seemed brilliant, he was fantastic, did quite a bit of improvisation. I attended some of the sessions used for Five Live Yardbirds, but when I heard the LP years later it didn't have the same feeling. So I suppose it is something that is of that time, if you can see what I am trying to say. A good live performance is a unique thing and can't always be captured on vinyl.
I also used to go to the Marquee when the Who started a residency there, they did quite a few R&B numbers, I'm A Man, as well as Leaving Here, Heatwave, etc. I can't remember what night they were on, probably Monday, as we used to go to the Marquee, and go down the Scene in the bit where the supporting group were on. I think it was Monday as Tuesday was the best night at the Scene during the week, so wouldn't want to have missed it.
I saw the Stones a few times, but while they were good live, I preferred them when they did original material. Lesley used to be a regular at Eel Pie Island before we started going out, but I never went there.
I saw the Animals when they first came to London (Club Noreik, Seven Sisters Road, Tottenham), they were really good. Personally wasn't a big fan of the Small Faces, Lesley was, but just a personal opinion, seemed slightly manufactured to me, but of course the Who were as well.
I saw Georgie Fame on a few occasions, always good, also Herbie Goins at the Flamingo I think. I wasn't quite so keen on Jimmy James and Geno Washington, preferred to hear records (as I still do).
I (and my mates) preferred to hear soul (R&B) when we went out, but ska was played (we called it Bluebeat after the record label), but generally only a few records intermingled with soul.
Some pop records would be played, but generally fitted in with the soul stuff. I suppose the DJ could also play the ones they liked.
There was a short period in the summer of 1964 when old rock'n'roll records were played, e.g. Bill Haley's Shake Rattle and Roll, Carl Perkins' Blue Suede Shoes, etc. They seemed to go with the American style fashions of that period and the dances (Block and the Bang).
I know I am getting old because I can see it all in my mind's eye, yet can't remember what I did at work yesterday.
Once more apologies for the ramblings of an old git.

I think both you and I had similar musical backgrounds Bob. First music I really liked was rock'n'roll, but soon realised that so much was copied from black artistes doing rhythm and blues. As the 60s got going groups of musicians started R&B groups and this helped the scene to get going. Parallel of course was the fashion scene, I think Mods were originally Modernists, who liked modern jazz, as opposed to the popularity of trad jazz, whose devotees, with due respect, I remember as slightly scruffy, duffle coats, etc. I remember guys when I was at school with really nice coats and raincoats, pale blue trenchcoat, like a Burberry. Short Italian box jackets, and trousers with a sort of step cut in the bottom, not sure how else to describe it. (This was before the fitted jackets, with one or two vents came in.) Shoes were winklepickers believe it or not, at that time, replaced by square toes, then round toes. They were all at least one or two years above me, I didn't have the money for much fashion, and my parents were rather unco-operative, lol.

I agree with Bob, suits were much more in evidence in that time, unlike nowadays (last year there was only one occasion when I wore a suit and tie, at a christening, and I looked overdressed). For allnighters I didn't ever wear a suit, just too hot. I used to like the woollen casual shirts, Italian or French, long sleeves, bigger collar than the average polo shirt now, and a button at the back. Mind you, looking back they were pretty hot too, when the place was packed and you danced. I remember lots of guys kept their leather or suede full length coats on all evening. They must have been really hot, but appearance was everything. Do you remember the light grey crewneck pullovers?

Nice to be reminded of the pocket hankies, they were really nice, matched your tie sometimes. If I was taking a girl out on a date (not to a club), I would usually wear a suit (or co-ordinated jacket and trousers, still my preference today over suits), and a tie.
Sorry to digress to a fashion note.
I like this thread, gets my memory working, and it helps to put it down (if only on the screen as opposed to paper).
Please tell me if I get boring and I'll stop.






Bob Jones Story1


I grew up as 1st generation Mod in Chelmsford, Essex in the early to mid 60's and use to spend most of my weekends in London at The Flamingo, Whisky A Go Go, and The Crawdaddy in Richmond. Grew up listening to my sisters Blues and R 'n' B collection at the age of about 11, then progressed into Soul and what is now termed 'northern', but back then growing up in Essex it was just '60's soul music'. Some of my favs back in the day were (and still are) :-

Howard Tate 'Look At Granny Run Run' (Verve)
Ikettes 'Peaches and Cream' (Stateside)
James Brown 'Night Train' (Parlophone)
Willie Tee 'Walking Up A One Way Street / Thank You John' (Atlantic)
Candy & The Kisses 'The 81' (Cameo Parkway)
Flamingos 'Boogaloo Party' (Phillips)
Edwin Starr 'I am The Man / My Weakness is You' (Tamla Motown)
Olympics 'Baby Do The Philly Dog' (Phillips)
Darrell Banks 'Open The Door To Your Heart' (Stateside)
Jimmy Smith 'The Cat' (Verve)


As you can see I bought UK releases in the 60's and didn't start to buy imports until the end of 60's beginning of the 70's

As with Geoff, sorry to dwell back then but it was my 'mispent youth' and trips to Brighton, Margate, etc on Bank holidays went along with the threads and the sounds....good times?...oh
yes.

My musical upbringing ran parallel to your own. Remember seeing the Who at The Railway Hotel, in Harrow. The place had a real low ceiling, use to sweat like hell, but the atmosphere was brilliant. The Who covered alot of R'n'B back in the day. They performed a brilliant version of Derek Martin's 'Daddy Rollin Stone' and were a regular band at Chelmsford
Corn Exchange, where live music was put on every Sat night. We also had US acts play there, that were mainly Blues based such as John Lee Hooker, Howling Wolf, Sleepy John Estes, and Sonny Boy Williamson.
Also I don't know about you but we always wore suits when going to a dance. Tonic mohair 2 piece, 9" or 12" side vent in the jacket, hand stitched lapels and 2 to 3 buttons with silk lining of course. Button down shirt with tie and silk hankerchief in the breast pocket with tie pin to keep it in place. Finished off with wearing polished Loafers or Royals.
My mod roots definitely played a major part in my appreciation for quality black music, that goes without saying.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as i did

Lewis


P.s it go to show the people at Modculture that loafers and Royals where woren in the 60's