Gene Pitney - Train of thought

Gene getting down with a disco sound and a cover of a song originally recorded by Cher.

Gene Pitney - She's a heartbreaker

Another soulful outing from Gene Pitney, this one popular in northern soul circles.

Gene Pitney - That girl belongs to yesterday

Another 60s pop favourite of mine, a soulful belter written by Jagger/Richards. Low quality video, high quality song.

Neil Diamond - Solitary Man

Possibly a guilty pleasure but I love everything about the original 1966 recording of this song.

Melinda was mine
'Til the time
That I found her
Holding Jim
Loving him

Then Sue came along
Loved me strong
That's what I thought
Me and Sue
That died too

Don't know that I will
But until I can find me
A girl who'll stay
And won't play games behind me
I'll be what I am
A solitary man
Solitary man

I've had it to here
Bein' where
Love's a small world
Part-time thing
Paper ring

I know it's been done
Havin' one
Girl who loves you
Right or wrong
We go strong

Don't know that I will
But until I can find me
The girl who'll stay
And won't play games behind me
I'll be what I am
A solitary man
Solitary man

Wonderful.

The Velvelettes - These Things Will Keep Me Loving You Dear

Lovely clip of The Velvelettes performing this Johnny Bristol and Harvey Fuqua song also recorded by Diana Ross.

Chubby Checker - At the Discotheque

Great clip of Chubby Checker doing this mod classic. Always loved the way he pronunces it "At the Disco-tey ... Hey Hey Hey!". Class!

Brenda Holloway - When I'm Gone

Sexy, soulful performance by Brenda Holloway of this classic song written by Smokey Robinson and recorded also by Mary Wells amongst others. "What are you gonna do when I'm gone?" Indeed.

The Flirtations - Nothing But a Heartache

Fantastic song, orange jump suits and incongruous setting combine to make this a clip of video genius, particularly the shot towards the end when the girls are standing on stone pillars. Thanks for the find Chas!

Tommy Hunt - One Fine Morning

Vintage TV clip (from Germany?) of Tommy Hunt doing this Northern Soul / Disco classic - thanks Fritz51355 I love this!!!

Tony Clarke - The Entertainer

There's lots of things to love about this clip, not least the song. But elevating this performance even more than Tony (I assume it's really him?), his amazing quiff and less than amazing lip synching, is the emcee's intro "... Tony Clarke boomeranged way out into stardom with the tune..." ...

Keep Love Alive Mix - Soul'd Out

Another compilation of some my favourite old 7" singles where despite the occasional pops and crackles, the soul still shines through!

1. Three Degrees - Contact
2. Frankie Valli - The Night
3. Spyder Turner - I can't Take It Anymore
4. Ronnie & Robyn - Sidras Theme
4. Ronnie & Robyn - As Long As You Love Me
5. Towanda Barnes - You Don't Mean It
6. Marvin Holmes - You Better Keep Her
7. The Fantastic Johnny C - Waiting For The Rain
8. The Dells - Its All Up To You
9. Anderson Brothers - I Can See Him Loving You
10. Millie Jackson - House for Sale
11. Carstairs - It Really Hurts Me Girl
12. Boogie Man Orchestra - Lady, Lady, Lady
13. Tony Borders - Love's Been Good To me
14. Tony Middleton - Paris Blues
15. Admirations - Wait Till I Get To Know You
16. Lanie Hill - Time Marches On
17. Susan Maughan - That Other Place
18. Walter Jackson - Its an Uphill Climb To The Bottom
19. Impressions - Gypsy Woman

Keep Love Alive Mix - Funk and Soul Sevens

Another post for the Dad Dancers. A mix of original funk and soul sevens from the 7" Box of Love accompanied by a video of the Godfather himself with some dance moves to practice in the kitchen. Off you go!

Tracklist:

1. Voices of East Harlem - Can You Feel It
2. George & Gwen McCrae - Mechanical Body
3. Ultrafunk - Indigo Country
4. Rimshots - Dance Girl
5. Vicki Anderson - Answer To Mother Popcorn
6. Idris Muhammad - Super Bad
7. Smokey Brooks - Spin-it Jig
8. African Music Machine - Blackwater Gold
9. The Marvelettes - Here I Am Baby
10. Mickey & The Soul Generation - Iron Leg
11. James Brown - Lowdown Popcorn
12. Vibrettes - Humpty Dump
13. Ann Sexton - You're Losing Me
14. Marva Whitney - I'm Tired, I'm Tired, I'm Tired
15. Archie Bell & The Drells - Tighten Up
16. Fabulous Counts - Lunar Funk
17. Barbara Randolph - Can I Get A Witness
18. Variations - Sayin' It, Doin' It
19. Peaches & Herb - Down Where It's At
20. Honey Cone - Want Ads
21. Jenny's Daughters - Dirty Feet
22. Melvin Bliss - Substitution

Mark Capanni - I Believe in Miracles

Original version of this song, apparently recorded by the song's writer before the Jackson Sisters' amazing but overplayed version from 1973, though only released as a promo later in 1974. Well I never. Causing excitement over on the excellent Brownswood forum.

Joanie Sommers - Don't Pity Me

Another classic "blue eyed soul" performance found on YouTube. Great look Joanie but you can lose the dancers.

Cover Version of Rita and the Tiaras - Gone With The Wind Is My Love

Live footage of an unknown (anyone?) band performing a cover of the Northern cult classic on YouTube. Great quality recording, enjoy!

Looking forward to a video by the original singer, Rita Graham, maybe one day ....

Teddy Pendergrass - Come Go With Me

RIP to the original 70s soul lover man x

Ketty Lester - Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid

Anonymous Dad Dancer, we salute you! Check out the talc on the kitchen floor and a great tune too!

Judy Street - What

A few more northern soul posts, this time with musings on one of my favourite topics, Dad Dancing. The essence of Dad Dancing is to remain convinced that you are busting brilliant dance moves when even a 2-year old would recognise a creaky old duffer prancing around in some kind of jerky, breathless, fantasy state. Northern soul is great for Dad Dancing. Everybody thinks they can do that northern soul backward-stepping dance move but only proper northern soul dancers can. I am not a proper northern soul dancer, I'm a Dad Dancer, and I've always been inspired by the clip above from Wigan Casino as it appeared on Granada TV's This England documentary. Marvel at the high energy precision of those dancers and wonder where are they now or, more importantly, are they dads?



An example of good northern soul dancing of the kind that even a Dad Dancer could aspire to. This guy was apparently captured mucking about at work so someone has edited the video adding Judy Sreet as the backing track. Genius!



Try this at home.

Lorraine Silver - Lost Summer Love

Wow! Last post was August with a summer soul mix and now all of a sudden it's winter, how did that happen? Here is Lorraine Silver capturing that end of summer feeling perfectly with 'Lost Summer Love' which she recorded at the tender age of 13 in 1965. Thanks to Mod Generation for a fantastic video.

Keep Love Alive Mix - Summer Soul Special

Phew what a scorcher. A selection of stylish 6Ts and 7Ts soul sides for sun lovers, straight from the 7" Box of Love. x

Tracklist:

1. The Drifter - Ray Pollard
2. On Main Street - The Magnificents
3. Don't Pity Me - Joanie Sommers
4. I'd Think It Over - Sam Fletcher
5. That Other Place - Wade Flemons
6. Magic Touch - Melba Moore
7. As Long As I Have You - Garnet Mimms
8. My World Is Empty Without You - Diana Ross & The Supremes
9. Girls Are Out To Get You - The Fascinations
10. Our Love Will Grow - The Showmen
11. You Just Foolin Me - Terry Callier
12. Think It Over - The Harvey Averne Dozen
13. Better Use Your Head - Little Anthony and The Imperials
14. That Girl Belongs To Yesterday - Gene Pitney
15. Three Cool Cats - The Coasters
16. Lonely Lover - Marvin Gaye
17. Ask The Lonely - The Four Tops
18. Where Is That Girl - Detroit Spinners
19. Just Say Goodbye - Esther Phillips
20. Only The Strong Survive - Jerry Butler
21. I'll Hold You - Frankie And Johnny
22. Overdose of Joy - Eugene Record
23. That's What You Get For Being Polite - The Jacksons
24. Trying To Love Two - Barbara Lynn
25. It Happens When I Look At You - Aretha Franklin
26. Work To Do - The Main Ingredient
27. Casanova - Loleatta Holloway
28. Everything Man - Main Ingredient