Dorothy Ashby

Afro Harping Another unusual and great instrumental first ‘found’ and played at the Manchester Blue Note club this time by Dorothy Ashby. So far the ONLY Soul recording of its kind using a Harp, no not a harmonica! This was from an imported LP from the amazing one and only: Barry’s Record Rendezvous it was near the … Read more

Chet Atkins

SUZIE Q – Instrumental,  RCA Victor 1964 Pulling Out Of Tuxedo Junction Chet Atkins’ unique style of guitar playing proved popular at both of the Twisted Wheel clubs in Manchester. Tuxedo Junction was a favourite title played by DJ Roger Eagle  in 1963 -1964 He played what he liked and Chet Atkins was high on his … Read more

Cannonball Adderley

Cannonball Adderley released Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, an excellent instrumental covered by Georgie Fame and also Larry Williams and Johnny Guitar Watson. The original was by Marlena Shaw on Chess but the instrumental version by Cannonball Adderley was also very popular at the early Manchester soul venues. A great alto saxophonist – Cannonball Adderley 1955 – … Read more

Charlie Mingus

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting (Atlantic) Oh yes, jazz was played at the Twisted Wheel, Manchester in the sixties even Charlie Mingus – see also Jimmy Smith, Herbie Mann, Ramsay Lewis, Dave Brubeck. Charlie Mingus – Wikipedia

Yeh Yeh

Yeh Yeh The original recording of Yeh Yeh was an instrumental by Mongo Santamaria. It was then recorded by John Hendricks – Live At Newport Jazz Festival 1964. It became a big hit for Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames (January 1965 – No 1 in UK chart) and in 1997 it was a hit … Read more

Ray Charles

Hit The Road Jack Unchain My Heart What’d I Say Georgia On My Mind Let’ s Go Get Stoned I Chose To Sing The Blues I Don’t Need No Doctor – HMV 1966 Get On The Right Track Baby You Be My Baby The Train Something Inside Me It’s Ray Charles’ Soul songs that we … Read more

Mongo Santamaria

Watermelon Man – Christmas 1962 Don’t Bother Me No More Yeh Yeh – the original with Vocals by Lambert, Hendricks and Bevan. Covered by Georgie Fame. El Pussy Cat (1964) These tracks by Mongo Santamaria were often played at the first Twisted Wheel – Mambo rhythms intertwined soul, jazz and blues; a great dance track! … Read more

Mel Torme

COMIN’ HOME BABY – (London 1962) (You Got) THE POWER OF LOVE – UK CBS Born 13th September 1925 – Chicago Died 5th June 1999 – Los Angeles Jazz performer Mel Torme did two great tracks which fell into the Soul category: “COMIN’ HOME BABY” and  “(You Got) THE POWER OF LOVE”. Both were played … Read more

Lena Horne

Stormy Weather Born 30th June 1917 – Brooklyn, New York Died 9th May 2010, aged 92 – New York Weill Cornell Medical Centre Lena Calhoun Horne (Lena Horne) was started as a chorus girl in the famous Harlem Cotton Club. She was a singer with an unmistakable voice as well as an accomplished actress who … Read more

John Schroeder

AGENT 00 SOUL – Piccadilly 1965 A popular instrumental played at the ‘Wheel’ and later the Blue Note Manchester.John Schroeder was the man behind Sounds Orchestral, which had a big hit with “Cast Your Fate To The Winds” –  also played at the Twisted Wheel. “Agent OO Soul” was a big hit at the club, … Read more