By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 08:11 pm:

maredda

i often wonder how many people in the states are into rare soul music.

how did you drift into it? are there any clubs in your state which cater for this subject?

By maredda (130.49.149.41 - 130.49.149.41) on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 10:02 pm:

Hi David,

That's a groovy question.

Well, I'm on the younger end of the 60s soul/traditional gospel/50s doo-wop/Motown/Northern soul fan spectrum. I think I'm in this "unique" position because my mom is in her late 50s, and she grew up on the 50s rhythm and blues and 60s soul. She really likes the pioneers like Big Joe Turner, Louis Jordan, Nappy Brown, and she likes soulsters like Wilson Pickett, the Tempts, and Jerry Butler etc. I grew up hearing these folks from the cradle and when I was old enough (and made enough money) to begin collecting, that's what I did. Furthermore, I discovered Smokey Robinson's music at 5 yrs., and my my my, what that cat did to my five year old ears is nothing short of earth shattering. What he continues to do to my ears, each time I listen to ANY SONG of his, AMAZING.

Also, my town (Pgh., PA) is called the "Oldies Capital of the World" and we have some rabid r&b fans here in the 'burgh. Our dee jays like Porky Chedwick and Mad Mike are famed for flipping sides over, so I grew up hearing relatively rare songs daily, simply because I was blessed to live in a city that has groovy taste in music. For instance, "A Fork In The Road," one of my fave miracles' b-sides was just as popular as "tracks..." here. The Five Stairsteps' slow tunes were hits here. Things that weren't played regularly elsewhere were played daily here.

As for clubs, we have 2 doo-wop clubs and no soul clubs in the city, but most doo-wop fans here are also by extension soul fans, but not as "hard-liner" soul as I, at least not from what I perceive. I wish there were, I'd love to create one, but I think if a soul music club would fly here, it would have to be Motown based, because Pittsburgh is like a second Motown, we have treated Motowners really well over the years, so I think that'd be the way to ease a soul scene in at least one state in the US of A!

But, I must say, I don't think ANY stateside soul club could put together anything as awesome as the Northern Soul All-Nighters that you guys put on. That's my dream, to go to a UK All-Nighter!

By Dave Rimmer (213.122.201.120 - 213.122.201.120) on Friday, October 26, 2001 - 07:17 pm:

As a twenty five year veteran of Northern Soul allnighters (and still going out on a weekly basis)I'm pleased to see that you want to travel all the way over from the States just to come to England to hear us play some records.

Especially as there are regular Northern Soul allnighters in California. They even held a weekender last year with a mixture of UK and US DJs and about three live acts.

So if you haven't heard about your 'homegrown' Northern Soul scene, drop me an email and I'll let you have all the details of who to contact in the States.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Friday, October 26, 2001 - 08:06 pm:

welcome to the forum dave.

maredda, dave is editor of the northern soul fanzine 'soulful kinda music', which is now standing at an incredible 47 issues.

yes, northern soul is for life!

By corvax (199.29.22.28 - 199.29.22.28) on Friday, October 26, 2001 - 10:15 pm:

Dave, you may want to post that info on this board as many of us would be interested in the Northern Soul scene. It's so cool that you guys have taken the lead in keeping this alive

By daverimmer (213.122.201.15 - 213.122.201.15) on Sunday, October 28, 2001 - 11:35 am:

Well I'll start by giving you the URl for my owm website:
http://members.tripod.com/SoulfulKindaMusic

I'll also email the guys who run the scene out in California and ask if they mind me giving their email addresses out on here.

Dave

By maredda (204.120.54.1 - 204.120.54.1) on Sunday, October 28, 2001 - 05:52 pm:

Gee thanks David M and Dave R.! I would totally be interested in seeing what's on here. Although, I am on the East coast, as opposed to the West. Is there a thriving scene on the East Coast of the US? Thanks a lot!

By Dave Rimmer (213.122.196.251 - 213.122.196.251) on Sunday, October 28, 2001 - 10:21 pm:

I'd suggest you contact Greg Tormo about East Coast things.

This is his website address
http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/club/1268

By eastside soul (64.12.105.173 - 64.12.105.173) on Thursday, December 20, 2001 - 05:50 am:

I am a mexican-american living in Los Angeles. Although there are no soul clubs in L.A. sixties soul is very popular here especially the ballds. A couple of friends of mine run LOST SOUL RECORDS and i am writing a book titled "The Encyclopedia Of Low Rider Music 1950-1974"

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.1.134.107 - 213.1.134.107) on Thursday, December 20, 2001 - 09:11 am:

welcome eastside soul. tell us a bit more about low rider music please.

lost soul records sounds familiar. i think i tried to get some of their stuff some time ago but couldn't get anywhere. do they have a significant no. of volumes? all ballads? i'll check it out when i get home.

By Ade (193.129.220.205 - 193.129.220.205) on Thursday, December 20, 2001 - 07:13 pm:

I might be summising but I take it that the name is due to the fact that the sounds can be heard coming from Lowrider cars? lowrider cars are FANTASTIC! The paint, the engineering (bouncy suspension!) and the other associated trick bits and pieces. Loads of style, but mainly associated with hip hop videos...?

By maredda (209.195.140.181 - 209.195.140.181) on Friday, December 28, 2001 - 02:07 pm:

Hi Eastside, I have a couple Lost Soul CDs, and if I'm not mistaken, you cats on the left coast like those Linda Jones, Brothers of Soul, Superbs kinda ballads, which are all right with me!

Pgh. is the same kind of deal, we don't really have any soul clubs, but we are big on soul nonetheless. We really go for Motown and Philly (esp. the Tabulations, Ordells, etc.)

Do fill us in on your book, cat! I'd certainly be interested. :-)