Talking of Northern Soul on another topic. I have never been sure about this, I've never really known the difference between it and motown.

I know all the big motown tracks etc. Can someone give me a list of good floor fillers or the big tunes to have when playing a northern soul set.

Thanks Guys

Al Wilson - The Snake
Invitations - Skiing in the snow
Robert Dean Taylor - Ghost in my house
Gloria Jones - Tainted Love

This album has a good selection - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Northern-Soul...7656&sr=8-1

Its quite specialist though, and one mans northern soul could be anothers motown, best to just ask exactly what songs they would like if your asked.

Agreed. It's very specialist, so the dividing line is thin:

Frankie Wilson - Do I love you (indeed I do)
Curtis Mayfield - Move on up
Len Barry - 1 2 3
Isley Brothers - This old heart of mine
Tams - Be young be foolish be happy
Contours - Do you love me
Martha Reeve -Jimmy Mack

Quite a lot of Motown is regarded as "Northern Soul" but the reverse is not the case. There are similarities because a number of studios copied the best selling Motown style in the 1960's. A fairly prominent example is "Rescue Me" by Fontella Bass which was on the Chicago-based Chess label. Edwin Starr's "Stop Her On Sight" and "Headline News" are available now on Tamla Motown but were actually recorded for the Golden World/Ric-Tic group of labels. That studio did so well at emulating Berry Gordy's style that he bought it.

Motown means anything on that group of labels - Tamla, Motown, Gordy, Soul etc.

The basic Northern Soul style is "four on the floor".

There are a number of Northern Soul compilations available. Quite a good one is "The In Crowd - The Story of Northern soul" a 50 track double album. It contains 3 Motown tracks.

As mentioned, Northern Soul is very specialist, and unless you have a number of Northern Soul fans, it may kill the dance floor, unless programed in correctly.

If I'm asked for Northern Soul, I will normally precede it with some well known Motown, then push towards the Northern Soul end of Motown/Soul (Norfolk DJ has given some given some great examples of tracks to precede a Northern Soul set with) before then playing some specifically requested Northern Soul tracks. (Northern Soul fans can be very particular - tracks I choose may not be to their liking, so I'll ask them for specific tracks.)

It's very hard to give a list of Northern Soul tracks that will always work - although Danno has listed some great and popular Northern Soul tracks. All I can really think of to add to the list is Tami Lynn's "I'm Gonna Run Away From You" as this was one of the few Northern Soul tracks that crossed over to the mainstream (it was top 10 in the early 70's).

I would automatically have considered these as standard disco/soul.

The Northern Soul tracks I use were never released into the mainstream chart, even though they are (by and large) also charting artists.

I sympothise with you.....to be honest, If i got asked to do a northern soul night....I would probably pass it on to steve mitchell haha!

Good point. Can be a floor clearer, so only play if requested or you feel they will like it.

ay northern soul nights fire them my way.
while a couple of the previous tracks are considered northern they are also considered what we call 'played out' that is heard that often they are no longer fresh.
do i love you ,frank wilson, is the most valuable single in the world. currently about 20k but i dont reckon that would get you it.

two blinding northern tracks are
eddie holland - just aint enough love
ray agee - i'm losing again.

these epitomise the motown style of northern soul and the more rare obscure style as favoured by die hard northern soul fans,myself included.

Neil Hannon - Love don't roam

What tracks do you use then?
I need to do a Northern Soul spot on Friday.

Jim

jim pm me with your email asap and i'll send you a list of goodies

seven days...............................wicked track

Any Idea why the 2006 version only has 46 tracks and is cheaper than the 2001 version with 60 tracks?

Jim

My version of Skiing In The Snow is by Wigans Ovation, wonder which was the original.

It was recorded in 1966 by The Invatations and copied in 1975 by Wigans Ovation.

Jim

I was asked for the Wigan's Ovation version for a police retirement last week. The guest of honour was a Northern Soul fan and a keen dancer, unlike most of his guests.

Couldn't find it so downloaded a version by Laura Pallas.

wigans ovation were a joke,just like wigans chosen few. a blatant attempt to cash in.
listen to doug banks - i just kept on dancing.
now that is true northern soul as is
catch that teardrop - 5 royals.

pure class.

Hi there,

Try the following tunes:

No One Could Love You More - Gladys Knight
Turning My Heartbeat Up - MVP's
What - Judy Street
Love Starved Heart of Mine - Marvin Gaye
Send Him Back - Pointer Sisters
Wonderful One - Marvin Gaye

All top tunes for the dance floor!!

Regards

Hi there,

A tune I play all the time at Northern do's is quite unusual to say the least but seems to work really well, it is

Linda Lewis 1975 version of "Its in his kiss" a disco/funky cover of the "Shoop, Shoop Song" which was badly recovered by Cher in the 1990's.

Try it your audience will love it!!

Regards

Rapmeister

An obscure one but a goody is...

Mr universe - The Flirtations

Rapmeister - MVP's what a track!!

i did a northern soul - ska - 80's mod wedding 2 weeks ago and i have to say what a night i loved every second of it, the dance floor was full all night they even asked me to stay an extra hour.

Buster

Not a northern soul fan paticularly but that MVP's track rocks. Just bagged a CD with it on for £3.50 on fleabay !!! ;-)

Wigans ovation was a cover I think it was to motivations i have the track ill check tommorow Jim Mckluski from wigans ovation (lead singer)ist still around i bump in to him now and again.And last Suturday night I was the sound engineer at a northern soul party and Dean Parrish was on stage what a night .Read some of the comments
http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/ar....shtml?focuswin

there are lots of great northern soul cds around, all in the high st stores, ebay etc, even check the net for the northern soul sites

you will be amazed at how many you know and have played or have heard on mainstream advertising, and although i hate it , stick on duffys, mercyand ask for soul requests, see how many closet fans are in there

keeping the faith

Hi

How about some of these gems

Little Carl Carlton, Competition aint nothing
Helen Shapiro, Tell me what he said and Stop
Cuck Wood, Seven days is too long
Young Holt Trio, wade in the water
Willie Tee Walking up a one way street
Olymics the Bounce

and one of my favs Betty Everett Mighty Crowded


Do love a bit o Northan Soul, although a lot of it can bomb.
Motown Northan its all in a label.

Keep the Faith
Oh that DR Who track is Fantastic sounds like Al Wilson's Snake