The Northern Soul Story V ol 1 - The Twisted Wheel - Various Artists - Sony BMG - 86971 06822

1.  Lou Johnson - Magic Potion

2.  Bunker Hill - Hide And Go Seek

3.  James Carr - Thats What I Want To Know

4.  Lee Dorsey - Ride your Pony

5.  Oscar Toney - No Sad Songs

6.  Moses & Joshua Dillard - My Elusive Dreams

7.  James & Bobby Purify - Shake A Tail Feather

8.  Little Richard - A Little Bit Of Something (Beats A Whole Lot Of Nothing)

9.  Major Lance - Its The Beat

10. Larry Williams & Johnny Watson - A Quitter Never Wins

11. Al Greene & The Soul Mates - Don't Leave Me

12. Clifford Curry - I Can't Get A Hold Of Myself

13. Bob Kuban & The In Men - The Cheater

14. Shirley & The Shirelles - Look What You've Done To My Heart

15. James & Bobby Purify - Let love Come Between Us

16. The Spellbinders - Help Me (Get Myself Back Together Again)

17. Peaches & Herb - I Need your Love So Desperately

18. The Bandwagon - Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache

19. Bob Brady & The Con-Chords - Everybody's Going To A Love In

20. The Incredibles - There's Nothing Else To Say

21. Shirley Ellis - Soul Time

22. Major Lance - Ain't No Soul (Left In These Old Shoes)

23. Billy Butler - Right Track

24. The Vibrations - Cause You're Mine

25. Sandi Sheldon - You're Gonna Make Me Love You

Compiled and sleeve notes by Ian Dewhirst

Released: 2007

Something of a mixed bag here, quite a few tracks that northern soul fans would recognise today, but also a few - Lee Dorsey, Peaches and Herb, Bandwagon - that would be out of place on todays scene. 

As an historical document though it's interesting in its own right. Looking back at the very earliest days of the soul scene, its surprising how many tracks are still played today on what is still meant to be a forward moving scene. The Incredibles, Clifford Curry, Lou Johnson, and many more will still fill the floor at the drop of a needle, so its something of a surprise to see that they were being played this far back. All in all a good CD but, from a modern point of view, dragged down slightly by the afore mentioned pop type tracks. A comprehensive track by track guide from soul historian Ian Dewhirst make for a worthy package.

Stand out track - An easy one for once, it has to be The Incredibles 'There's Nothing Left To Say', though The Spellbinders 'Help Me (Get Myself back Together Again)' runs it a close second.

6/10

Mojo Chess Northern Soul - Various Artists - Chess 9830153

1.  Marlene Shaw - Lets Wade In The Water

2.  Mamie Galore - It Ain't Neccesary

3.  The Radiants - Hold On

4.  The Dells - Wear It On Our Face

5.  Denise LaSalle - A Love Reputation

6.  Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe

7.  The Gospel Classics - More Love, Thats What We Need

8.  Fontella Bass - Leave It In The Hands Of Love

9.  Tony Clarke - Landslide

10. The Valentinos - Sweeter Than The Day Before

11. Little Milton - More And More

12. Bobby McClure - Peak Of Love

13. The Dells - Run For Cover

14. Little Milton - You Colored My Blues Bright

15. The Dells - Make Sure

16. Tommy And Cleve - BooGaLoo Baby

17. Terry Callier - Look At Me Now

18. Tony Clarke - The Fugitive Kind

19. The Gems - I Can't Help Myself

20. Ramsay Lewis - Wade In The Water

Produced by: Various

Compiled by Lois Wilson

Year: 2005

Covering the years 1964 to 1972, we have some of the best output from one of the US's best loved record labels, Chess. Mainly mid to uptempo material this album is one that would keep the floor full if played in its entirety. OK, there are two versions of 'Wade In The Water', but I wouldn't have wanted to choose either version to include either (And that before you realise that Big Mamma Thorntons version was also on Chess!) so I think that can be overlooked on this occasion.

I'll not pretend to love every song on here - The Radiants make me want to cringe every time I hear it, and The Gospel Classics 'More Love, Thats What We Need'  reminds me of the worst kind of mid 60s crao, but you can overlook these when you realise that sandwiched between are The Dells excellent 'Wear It On our Face' (Not a Bukake song as someone suggested to me...) and that the sublime Terry Colliers 'Ordinary Joe' is following that, then you know that you have a winning album in your hands.

Complete with a well documented 8 page booklet written by Lois Wilson, this is a CD to pick up should you see a copy.

Stand out track: Got a bit of a tie here - obviously 'Ordinary Joe' is in the running, but then so is the wonderful Marlene Shaws version of 'Wade In The Water', and any of the Dells tracks, but at the end of the day it has to be Tommy and Cleve's 'Boo Ga Loo Baby'

9/10

The Skints - Self Titled - Do The Dog - DOGCD 37

1. Murderer

2. N55

3. Sociopath

4. Jungle Plane Wreck

5. Misunderstood

6. Little Flag

Produced by: Unknown 

Year: 

Coming from the same sort of musical area as Pama International, The Skints lay down a sixtrack mini album of politically edged - the usual left wing angle is there, but that seems to be expected these days - lazy reggae tinged ska tracks. The mock JA vocals of the band are a bit sad, but overall the album seems to sit quite well together. Regular pace changes liven up what could quite frankly have been a bit of a plodder and change the whole sound, but I can't help feel that the sax player could do with a little more practice.

Stand out track - Misunderstood

7/10

Too Much Too Young - The Specials - EMI Gold - 7243 8 38333

1  Too Much Too Young

2  Enjoy Yourself (Its Later Than You Think)

3  Man At C&A

4  Rude Boys Outa Jail

5  I Can't Stand It

6  Do The Dog

7  Blank Expression

8  (Dawning Of A) New Era

9  Monkey Man

10 Hey Little Rich Girl

11 Pearls Cafe

12 Little Bitch

13 Rat Race

14 A Message To You Rudy

15 Do Nothing

16 You're Wondering Now

Compiled by Chris White6

Year: 1996

A bit of a strange one this, not a 'singles' compilation, but not a 'best of' either. this album has all the hallmarks of being compiled by a fan. A couple of odd tracks on ther in 'Pearls Cafe', 'Rude Boys Outa Jail' (wasn't this the give away single with 'More'? I forget...) and 'I Can't Stand It', alongwith a couple of singles and probably the best tracks from the first two albums, but no live version of the title track - and I can't think of a less inspiring track than the studio cut of 'Too Much Too Young'. In all honesty I can't remember why I bought this, I have everything on other albums, but the 'fan' element must have appealed to me.

Stand out track - Its a best of type compilation so there are quite a few, but Rat Race remains a favourite track with me

7/10, would have been 9/10 with the other cut of TMTY.

After Hours Vol 1 - Various Artists - WSM - 0927 48534 - Northern Soul Compilation

1  Alice Clarke - You Hit Me (Right Where you Hurt Me). 

2  Ike And Tina Turner - Somebody (Somewhere) Needs You

3  David & Ruben - I Love Her So Much It Hurts Me

4  The Harvey Averne Dozen - Think It Over

5  Darrell banks - Angel baby (Don't You Ever Leave Me)

6  Larry Laster - Go For Yourself

7  Barbera Lewis - I Remember The Feeling

8  Ben Aitken - Satisfied

9  The Blossoms - Thats When The Tears Start

10 The Ambassadors - Good Love Gone Bad

11 Linda Jones - My Heart Needs A Break

12 Deon Jackson -  Ooh Baby

13 The Coasters - Crazy Baby

14 The Astors - Twilight Zone

15 Tami Lynn - I'm Gonna Run Away From You

16 Ella Fitzgerald - Get Ready

17 Lou Ragland - Since You Said You'd Be Mine 

18 The Patterson Singers - How Can You Say That Ain't Love

19 Bobby Womack - Find Me Somebody

20 Barbara Lynn - This Is The Thanks I Get

21 Bobby Wilson - Feels Good

22 Johnny Copeland - Sufferin' City

23 Esther Phillips - Just Say Goodbye

24 Hal Frazier - After ClosingTime

Produced by - Various

Year: 2002

Compiled by Richard Searling

Comments

This compilation of 24 northern soul classics manages to almost completely stay away from the 'safe and sound' style of too many of this type of compilations. Not a bad track amongst them, the only slight discordant note is the inclusion of two songs on the same backing track, the Ike and Tina Turner one uses the same tune as Larry Lasters.

That said, with the exception of the Hal Frazier closer and Ella Fitzgeralds version of Smoke Robinsons 'Get Ready', this is not a stand out album but one that you could play as a warm up to a night out.

Stand out track - The aforementioned 'After Closing Time' from Hal Frazier. A great floor filler.

8/10