The Prophets
I Got The Fever The Prophets make number 80 on The Kev Roberts Northern Soul Top 500: A.K.A. The Creation, this white group made a Soul recording that got a release on Stateside (1971) two years after its inauguration in the USA.
Sixties Sounds
Paul Anka – I Can’t Help Loving You
I Can’t Help Loving You Paul Anka in the late 50’s was high on the hit parade with Diana – such a successful song that he vowed to retire at the age of 17 (which he didn’t of course). He later made a fortune from penning I Did It My Way for Frank Sinatra. He … Read more
The Velvet Satins
Nothing Can Compare To You (1965) The Velvet Satins – 74 – Northern Soul Top 500
Julian Covey
A Little Bit Hurt Julian Covey released A Little Bit Hurt in the mid sixties. Call us snobby and elitist and you’d be right. In the mid sixties the Manchester Soul Mods mostly only acknowledged Soul as only coming from a black musician. This group from Nottingham: The Machine did play at the Twisted Wheel, … Read more
Bobby Hutton
Lend A Hand Come See (What’s Left Of Me) 1969 The first thing we at The Blue Note heard of Bobby Hutton was Lend A Hand then it was was rediscovered on an LP, before it was established later as a 45 release due to interest on the 70’s Northern Scene – upon which Kev … Read more
The Vel-vets
I Got To Find Somebody (1967) No not the Velvelettes nor The Velvets and not the backing singers for Lou Reed; but you never know. This is The Vel-vets. Kev Roberts informs us that the lead singer is Janet Terrell in his Top 500 in which he puts this song at 37. Certainly a good find and … Read more
Stranger And Patsy – When You Call My Name
When You Call My Name Stranger And Patsy – Patsy Todd and Stranger Cole – on the Bluebeat label, were popular at Manchester’s Nile Club (Moss Side) and also at the only Manchester city centre club The Blue Note, that included Rock Steady SKA and Bluebeat alongside its Soul music focus. Stranger Cole – Wikipedia
Dandy Livingstone – Rudy A Message To You
RUDY A MESSAGE TO YOU (1967) This song by Dandy Livingstone was a huge track at both The Blue Note and The Twisted Wheel. It was all about the Rude Boys in Jamaica. And an even bigger hit in the 80’s when the Specials caught that SKA ROCK STEADY BLUE BEAT. Dandy Livingstone – Wikipedia
Theophilus Beckford
Jack And Jill Shuffle This track by Theophilus Beckford was another Blue Beat 45 played regularly at the Blue Note Manchester.
Billy Larkin
PYGMY Oh how happy that Hammond organ sound makes me feel on this track by Billy Larkin – unmistakable. Good version of the Packers HOLE IN THE WALL as well.