"Northern Pop" ...Unintended Soul Dance Music!
Historically, you had that infinite urge for new, unplayed&unheard soul dance platters in Northern discos 70-78. Every dj of self-esteem had to come up with at least a couple of newies (new oldies, rather) per gig, leading to phenomenons as label-covering-ups and reading out fake artist names&song titles. But sources of US soul records 60-68 inevitably ran dry, forcing DJ personalities to trek for richer pastures.
Then, you had Great Divide in black dance music 1920-70, between flat-four and 2step. 2step being latinized jazz dance, kinda arty with hiatuses&stops- later evolving into funk dance and hiphop. All the while standard dance beats were flat 4/4, ever since early century foxtrots- via swing/ jitbug and lindy hop- up to fast RnB/RnR of 50s.
As UK Northerners were vaccinated against jaz&funk, no wonder they grew a deep and sincere interest for all things 4/4 in early seventies. And 4/4 pop were in abundance, to the point that west-hemispheral popular dance music all WAS 4/4. In UK as 'light music' and in US as 'adult contemporary' (sounds like mom's porn today, but then understood as 'white popular' ).
Thus came to be that at least one in three 'Northern soul' titles spun in 70s, were by white artists lacking even slightest connection to black popular culture. "Don't have to be soul to be Northern", like.
Point is under-communicated in music history, to say the least. Tim Brown is to my knowledge only 70s writing dj today to stand by awkward truth in print.
Then to a few of Fadern's USDMs. Never spun as set per se- but rather whipped in among the safer klub titles...
- Lill-Babs "Tenk om han vet" + "Alla tror" (Sw. Karusell -64) top-side is Lesley Gore's 'Maybe I know' with cheating-roles turned around. Flip I presume is Gore's also, but cannot confirm
- Dusty Springfield "Little by little" (US Phil. -65)
- Robert Knight "Better get ready for love" (UK Monument -74) as for rule of thumb, USDMs are by white artists. Exceptions to any rule, though
- Adam Faith "Here's another day" (UK Parlophone -64)
- Louise Cordet "I'm just a baby" (UK Decca -62)
- Sue Thompson "It has to be" (US Hickory -62 promo)
- Jan Howard "When we tried" (US Decca -69 promo)
- Robert Knight "Love on a mountain top" (UK Monument -68)
- Merseybeats "Fortune teller" (UK Fontana -63, EP only)
- Chris Farlowe "Headlines" (UK Immediate -66)
- Petula Clark "Sign of the times" (Ger. Vogue -66 ) preferable to pitched vocals on US pressing
- Rufus Lumley "I'm standing" and "Let's hide away" (UK EMI Int.-76 of -66 US Holton)
- Lettermen "Hurt so bad" (UK Capitol -69) alas damp'erd sound to crisp US press, but as instrumentation is way forward here the UK mix is still preferred
- Rosemary Squires "Candy and cake" (UK HMV -63)
- Bick Ford "Sweet and tender romance" and "Cheat cheat" (UK Parlophone -63)
- Sue Thompson "Paper tiger" (US Hickory -64)
- Herman's Hermits "Just one girl" (UK Columbia -68)
- Bobby Goldsboro "Little things" (US UA -67)
- Moody Blues "Lose your money" (US London -64 promo) RnB shuffle
- Bruce Channel "Going back to Louisiana" (US Le Cam -64) no FlatFour here, rather NOLa boogie limping along as 'double polkas' do. These we'll meet again in Jamaican ska as well as in c&w shuffle
- Hollies "Pay you back with interest" (US Imperial -64) flip to their pitiful wrecking of Timi Yuro's 'whatcha gonna do about it'
- Frankie Valli "The trouble with me" (US Philips -66)
- Lesley Gore "Hey now" (US Mercury - 66)
- Lesley Gore "Brand new me" (US Mercury -69 promo)
- 4 Seasons "Ain't that a shame!" (US VJ -62)
- Keith Hampshire "Big time operator" ((US A&M -73)
- Cy Coleman's Orch. "Playboy's theme" (US Playboy -60)
- Per-Olow Petren "Diana" (Sw.Karusell -68) Marcus Østerdahl's orchestration of this early 50s revival outing
- Marianne Themsen "Jo mer' jeg ser dig" (DK Sonet -67) Chris Montez 'The more i see you'
really. Most of mr. Montez' on A&M is of USDM interest, btw
- Elvis Presley "Dirty, dirty feeling" (Fr. RCA -60)
- Petula Clark "I will follow him" (UK Vogue -63 export) Little Peggy March', of course. And
mss. Clark and March go as for same as mr. Montez
- Tigers Two "Soho" (US VJ -65)
- Johnny Burnette "I'm the one who loves you" (UK Pye Int. -63)
- Mickey Denton "Steady kind" (UK London -61 of -60 US BigTop)
- Jackie Trent "On the other side of the track" (UK Pye -65 export)
- Graham Bonney "That bad day" (UK Columbia -67)
- Don and Goodtimes "And it's so good" (US Epic -65)
- Billy Larkin and Delegates "Dirty Water" (US WP -66) Standells' punker, absolving any dispute of color
Historically, you had that infinite urge for new, unplayed&unheard soul dance platters in Northern discos 70-78. Every dj of self-esteem had to come up with at least a couple of newies (new oldies, rather) per gig, leading to phenomenons as label-covering-ups and reading out fake artist names&song titles. But sources of US soul records 60-68 inevitably ran dry, forcing DJ personalities to trek for richer pastures.
Then, you had Great Divide in black dance music 1920-70, between flat-four and 2step. 2step being latinized jazz dance, kinda arty with hiatuses&stops- later evolving into funk dance and hiphop. All the while standard dance beats were flat 4/4, ever since early century foxtrots- via swing/ jitbug and lindy hop- up to fast RnB/RnR of 50s.
As UK Northerners were vaccinated against jaz&funk, no wonder they grew a deep and sincere interest for all things 4/4 in early seventies. And 4/4 pop were in abundance, to the point that west-hemispheral popular dance music all WAS 4/4. In UK as 'light music' and in US as 'adult contemporary' (sounds like mom's porn today, but then understood as 'white popular' ).
Thus came to be that at least one in three 'Northern soul' titles spun in 70s, were by white artists lacking even slightest connection to black popular culture. "Don't have to be soul to be Northern", like.
Point is under-communicated in music history, to say the least. Tim Brown is to my knowledge only 70s writing dj today to stand by awkward truth in print.
Then to a few of Fadern's USDMs. Never spun as set per se- but rather whipped in among the safer klub titles...
- Lill-Babs "Tenk om han vet" + "Alla tror" (Sw. Karusell -64) top-side is Lesley Gore's 'Maybe I know' with cheating-roles turned around. Flip I presume is Gore's also, but cannot confirm
- Dusty Springfield "Little by little" (US Phil. -65)
- Robert Knight "Better get ready for love" (UK Monument -74) as for rule of thumb, USDMs are by white artists. Exceptions to any rule, though
- Adam Faith "Here's another day" (UK Parlophone -64)
- Louise Cordet "I'm just a baby" (UK Decca -62)
- Sue Thompson "It has to be" (US Hickory -62 promo)
- Jan Howard "When we tried" (US Decca -69 promo)
- Robert Knight "Love on a mountain top" (UK Monument -68)
- Merseybeats "Fortune teller" (UK Fontana -63, EP only)
- Chris Farlowe "Headlines" (UK Immediate -66)
- Petula Clark "Sign of the times" (Ger. Vogue -66 ) preferable to pitched vocals on US pressing
- Rufus Lumley "I'm standing" and "Let's hide away" (UK EMI Int.-76 of -66 US Holton)
- Lettermen "Hurt so bad" (UK Capitol -69) alas damp'erd sound to crisp US press, but as instrumentation is way forward here the UK mix is still preferred
- Rosemary Squires "Candy and cake" (UK HMV -63)
- Bick Ford "Sweet and tender romance" and "Cheat cheat" (UK Parlophone -63)
- Sue Thompson "Paper tiger" (US Hickory -64)
- Herman's Hermits "Just one girl" (UK Columbia -68)
- Bobby Goldsboro "Little things" (US UA -67)
- Moody Blues "Lose your money" (US London -64 promo) RnB shuffle
- Bruce Channel "Going back to Louisiana" (US Le Cam -64) no FlatFour here, rather NOLa boogie limping along as 'double polkas' do. These we'll meet again in Jamaican ska as well as in c&w shuffle
- Hollies "Pay you back with interest" (US Imperial -64) flip to their pitiful wrecking of Timi Yuro's 'whatcha gonna do about it'
- Frankie Valli "The trouble with me" (US Philips -66)
- Lesley Gore "Hey now" (US Mercury - 66)
- Lesley Gore "Brand new me" (US Mercury -69 promo)
- 4 Seasons "Ain't that a shame!" (US VJ -62)
- Keith Hampshire "Big time operator" ((US A&M -73)
- Cy Coleman's Orch. "Playboy's theme" (US Playboy -60)
- Per-Olow Petren "Diana" (Sw.Karusell -68) Marcus Østerdahl's orchestration of this early 50s revival outing
- Marianne Themsen "Jo mer' jeg ser dig" (DK Sonet -67) Chris Montez 'The more i see you'
really. Most of mr. Montez' on A&M is of USDM interest, btw
- Elvis Presley "Dirty, dirty feeling" (Fr. RCA -60)
- Petula Clark "I will follow him" (UK Vogue -63 export) Little Peggy March', of course. And
mss. Clark and March go as for same as mr. Montez
- Tigers Two "Soho" (US VJ -65)
- Johnny Burnette "I'm the one who loves you" (UK Pye Int. -63)
- Mickey Denton "Steady kind" (UK London -61 of -60 US BigTop)
- Jackie Trent "On the other side of the track" (UK Pye -65 export)
- Graham Bonney "That bad day" (UK Columbia -67)
- Don and Goodtimes "And it's so good" (US Epic -65)
- Billy Larkin and Delegates "Dirty Water" (US WP -66) Standells' punker, absolving any dispute of color
Northern Pop = unintended soul dance music pt.2
- Clique "I'll hold out my hand" (US White Whale -69) starting with clinger/ gig-ender. Tx.band
- Zombies "Tell her no" (US Parrot -64)
- Chris Hodge "Supersoul" (US Apple -72) skip intro, start at S. Winwood-like Hammond swirl.
Top side 'We're on our way' also of value, but maybe too much 'Ziggy Stardust goes Northern'?
- ? & Mysterians "I need somebody" + " 8 teen" (US Cameo -66) most 60s US garage are swell 4/4, but maybe best to keep away from screamers?
- Brenda Lee "If you don't" (US Decca -67) mid-pace Brenda, emulating ms Yuro just fine
- Road "Grass looks greener..." (US KamaSutra -68 promo) Kentucky. BST-inspired band
- Johnny Burnette "Cincinatti fireball" (US Liberty -60) RAB corker
- Johnny Burnette "Little boy sad" (US Liberty -61)
- Ides of March "Superman" (US WB -69) ChiCity BST'ers, along with (natch') Chicago(CTA)
- Ronnie Dove "Mountain of love" (US Diamond -68)
- Classics IV "Mary, Mary row your boat" (US Imperial -69) Tymes' original?
- Grass Roots "Temptation eyes" (US Dunhill -70)
- Everly Bros. "Gone, gone, gone" (US WB -64) In remebrance of Phil. Song was staple diet of any showband Tromsø area -65-70, recorded by Arctics/Pussycats. Diddley-shuffle, really
- Chris Montez "The face I love" (US A&M -69)
- Chris Montez "The more I see you" (US A&M -67)
- New Colony Six "Come and give your love to me" (US Mercury -68) Chicago band
- Gene Pitney "Blue color" (US Musicor -66)
- Steam "I've gotta make you love me" (US Mercury -69) another Chicago outfit
- Brenda Lee "Thanks a lot" (US Decca -66)
- Triumphs "Big dog" (US KAB -63) C.Moman/ AllAmProd.Memphis. No studio band, after all?
- Gary Lewis & Playboys "Sara Jane" (US Liberty -68)
- Bobby Darin "But not for me" (US Capitol -64)
- Gene and Debbe "Love will give us wings" (US TRX -68) Gene Thomas of later c&w stardom
- Davy Jones "Rainy Jane" (US Bell -71) of Monkees fame. Neil Sedaka song. Thought I had original on Barnaby label, but turned out to be diff.song as well as diff.artist (Paul Anka!)
- Jimmy Cross "I want my baby back" (US Tollie -64) Classic demento tune, covered by Downliners sect on their 'Sick Songs' EP. But here we rather go for dub instro flip
- Ventures "Hawaiian five-O" (US Liberty -68)
- Barbara Streisand "Stoney end" (US Col. -71) Quite a builder, give it time&space
- Baja Marimba Band "Last of the red hot llamas" (US A&M -67)
- Keith Hampshire "Daytime, night-time" (US A&M -72 promo)
- Bobby Goldsboro "It breaks my heart" (US UA -65)
- Bob Miranda "When I lock my door" (US BT Puppy -68) Happenings' lead tenor. Here to end with drastic 2stepper in 5/4
Northern Pop / unintended soul dance music pt.3 (the Brenda Lee-haul)
- McCoys "I got to go back" (US Bang -66)
- Linda Scott "Three guesses" (US Can-Am -61)
- Peter and Gordon "Stranger with a black dove" (Can.Capitol -66) stateside issue, only.
Kinda folk-psych Northern, really
- Brenda Lee "Lonely, lonely me) (US Decca -63)
- Gentrys "Everyday I have the blues" (US MGM -65)
- Neil Diamond "You got me" (Can. Bang -66)
- Earl Wilson Jr. "A quiet place" (US Mercury -68 promo) another 2step at 5/4 "take five" beat
- Bobby Hebb "My pretty sunshine" (US Philips -66)
- Gene Pitney "She's a heartbreaker" (US Musicor -69)
- Lovin' Spoonful "Only pretty, what a pity" (US KamaSutra -67)
- Brenda Lee "Dum dum" (US Decca -62)
- Lonnie Mack "Baby, what's wrong" (US Fraternity -63) the Jimmy Reed song, done Chuck Berry-style
- Lou Christie "I'm gonna make you mine" (UK Buddah -69)
- Lou Christie "Cryin' in the streets" (US MGM 13412) ignore barnyard noises, otherwise OK
- miss Toni Fisher "The big hurt" (US Signet -63 )
- Brenda Lee "I'm learning about love" (US Decca -66 promo)
- Floyd Cramer "Hot pepper" (US RCA 8051) pitch down!
- Bobby Vee & Strangers "Beautiful people" (US Liberty -65)
- John Fred & Playboy Band "Hey, hey bunny" (US Paula -67)
- Gene Pitney "I remember" (US Musicor -69)
- Brenda Lee "Each day is a rainbow" / "Kansas City" (US Decca -67 promo)
- Magic Lanterns "Friscoe Annie" (US Big Tree -70) timbales-driven dancer, two years after Ozzie's departure
- Michael Dees "Cellophane disguise" (US Capitol -68)
- Mel Carter "My heart sings" (US Imperial -66 promo)
- Reparata and Delrons "He's my guy" (US World Artists -64)
- Brian Hyland "Run, run, look and see" (US Philips -67)
- Brenda Lee "He's so heavenly" (US Decca -63) deShannon comp.
- Brenda Lee "So deep" (US Decca -63)
- Ronnie Dove "Back from Baltimore" (US Diamond -67) Neil Diamond prod., most doubtful relation to name of label...
- T-Bones "Fare thee well" (US Liberty -65 promo)
- Jackie deShannon "Love will find a way" (US Imperial -69)
- 4 Seasons "Dawn (go away)" (US Philips -64)
- Bobby Goldsboro "I hurts me" (US UA -67)
- Brenda Lee "Ride, ride, ride" (US Decca -66)
- Dino, Desi and Billy "So many ways" / "I'm a fool" (Can. Reprise -65)
- Four Seasons "Little boy" (US VJ -65)
- B.J. Thomas and Triumphs "Candy baby" (US Scepter -67 promo)
- B. J Thomas "Never tell" (US Hickory -66 promo)
- Ohio Express "Firebird" US Buddah -68) not so Bubblegum'mish, after all?
- Brenda Lee "Anybody but me" (US Decca -59)
- Petula Clark "Heart" (Can. Vogue -65) Builder, with gorgeous psych guitar towards end
- Britain Bros. "Mary go-round" / "300 days" (US TCF -65 promo)
- Righteous Bros. "Been so nice" (US Verve -67)
- Outsiders "Time won't let me" (US Capitol -66)
- Gentrys "Why should I cry" (US Sun -70)
- Brenda Lee "Is it true" (US Decca -64) from Shel Talmy session in London, summer-64
Little Jimmy Page on guitar, as is well known. But who's dat wall-to-wall drummer? A most adolecent Keith Moon? Or his unknown mentor, maybe? How about Clem Cattini?
- Brenda Lee "Weep no more my baby" / "Sweet nothin's" (US Decca -60)
- Ohio Express "Pinch me" (US Buddah -70)
- McCoys "Ko-Ko" (US Bang -66)
- Bobby Darin "If a man answers" (US Capitol -63)
- 2 of Clubs "Walk tall" (US Fraternity -66)
- Zebra "Miss Anne" (US Philips -68 promo)
- Brenda Lee "Coming on strong" (US Decca -64) epitome of Northern Pop / USDM, me fink
Northern Pop = unintended soul dance music (USDM) part 4
- Young Rascals "Of course" (US Atlantic -67) also please lend ear to their "Any dance I'll do" (-68) as well as to Sweden's own Ola+Janglers' "Now i like her" (-67). Quite a troika, there
- Roy Hamilton "You're gonna need magic" (US Epic -61 promo) Elvis' vocalist-mentor
- Sam Cooke "That's it, I quit, I'm movin' on" (US RCA -61) er...not exactly unintended soul as for Sam & Roy
- Skeeter Davis "I can't stay mad at you" (US RCA -63) but Skeeter's is, being one of her three tryings on Brill Building/ Goffin-King 'girl group' sound. Cub name Skeeter= Mo'skeeter/ Mosquito as youngest sibling, btw
- Sandy Posey "Ways of the world" (US MGM -68 promo) Chip Moman prod. Both hers and Riley's are now recognized as 'country soul', while 'country funk' may be stretching things too far
- Sandy Posey "I take it back" (US MGM -67)
- Jeannie C. Riley "We were raised on love" (Can. SSS -70)
- Rufus Lumley "Michelle" (Can. RCA -67) 'Standing' guy again, on builder version of Macca's
- Andy Williams "House of bamboo" (US Cadence -58)
- Doris Day "Pillow talk" (US Col. -61)
- Doris Day "Wad'ja put in that kiss" (US Col.-54)
- Tony Bennett "I'm coming Virginia" (US -61 promo) State of Virginia, that is
- Shani Wallis "Reaching far too high" (US Kapp -67 promo)
- Brenda Lee "Heart in hand" (US Decca -63) another mid-tempo by ms Lee
- Henry Shed "Save the last dance for me" (UD Cream 1011) intended soul, absolutely. Flip is also good, being American Breed's 'Bend me, shape me' with a groove
- Simon Bell "Givin' it plenty" (UK Pye -78 promo) Intended soul to the point that fast 4/4 Northern was music of the day and here even used as crime film score
- Sonny James "Bright lights, big city" (US Capitol -71) the Jimmy Reed belter, standard of any
Scandinavian beat band -64-66 and even an early UK skinhead hit (sic) thru' Duster Bennett's
- Wanda Jackson "I don't wanta go" (US Capitol -62) with early distorted guitar, in Robbie Robertson/ Jimmy Page style
- Patsy Cline "Walkin' after midnight" (US Decca -57)
- Hello People "Jelly jam" (US Philips -69) theather/vocal group, this BST-driven instro is rather by their backing band
- Wonder Who "Sassy" (US Philips -65) another instro, here by Four Seasons' backing band
- Chad & Jeremy "Should I" (Can. Col. -65) for Scandinavians, song may be better known as covered by Sweden's Hep Stars
- Trini Lopez "Made in Paris" (US Reprise -66)
- Bobbi Martin "Your cheatin' heart" / "Tennessee waltz" (US UA -68)
Northern Pop = unintended soul dance music (USDM) part 5
- Patsy Cline "Walkin' after midnight" (US Decca -57) Song originally done for Kay Starr (also of USDM interest), but ms Patsy's really hit. Numerous coverages on both sides of Color Line.
Gorgeous 'honky tonk' band backing her here, btw
- Nat 'King' Cole "Who's next in line" (US Capitol -63) Unintended or? Er, well... comp. is
Van McCoy and as such this may be well intended for RnB charts
- Cookie Irene "I know-you don't love me no more" (US 4stars -75) The NOLa/ Barbara George hit from -61, here given a slight c&w 4/4 makeover with rolls regrettably peeled of
- Bob Crewe "One more tear" (US DynoVoice -66) Four Seasons' prod&arr. on own career
- Four Blazers "Peanut butter" (US Buddy -63?) Tx frat group
- Vigor Fisher "Padiddle" (US Mala -62? promo) 'one potato, two potatoes' rap, really. A&R mogul Bugs Bower prod.
- Esko Affair "On broadway" (US Mercury -68) Group has some Northern standing due to 'Salt&pepper'. Here with ultra slow version of -63 Drifters' hit, ten years prior to George Benson's. Song is compound Brill Building job of mann/weill/leiber/stoller&mayb
- Brooklyn Bridge "Free as the wind" (US Buddah -70)
- Tronics "Pickin' and stompin' " (US Landa -61? promo)
- Shy Guys "Rockin' pneumonia and the booga loo flu" (US Uni -67) the NOLa/Huey Smith -58 hit, upgraded from boogie-woogie to boogaloo (in words, at least). Flip "you are my sunshine" is also of interest, but done in funky blues style akin to Wayne Cochrane/ Mitch Ryder/ Ray Charles/Dyke&Blazers. And as such outside scope of this blog for now
- Chiffons "March" (US Laurie -68 promo) 4/4 is said to be marching rhythm. So why not?
- Jimmy Boyd "Lazy me" (US Imperial -66 promo) diddley shuffle
- Paul Peterson "Your love got me burnin' alive" (US Motown -68)
- Gloria Lynne "But not for me" (US Everest -59 promo) Gershwin song, with Bobby Darin's -60 hit coming suspiciously close (Darin as singer AND comp)
- Roy Smith "I wish you love" (US UA -69 promo) Now, most intended soul, here. Singer doubling in Georgia Prophets/ Prophets/ Creation of 'I've got the fever' fame
- Arnie Corrado "Ghost of a chance" (US Date -67 promo) Another lead singer, here of some Ohio garage outfit. Just cannot recall which
- Clarence 'Frogman' Henry "Ain't got no home" (US Parrot -68) Remake of his 'frog' hit of ten years earlier, here too regrettably leaving out them original NOLa rolls
- Duane Eddy "Freight train" (US Congress -69) the Peter, Paul& Mary -63 song as instro
- George Michel "I gotta be right sometime" (US NewVoice -65) Bob Crewe prod.
- Curiosities "Sunset Strip" (US Seeburg Discoteen/juke box series -64?) Assume song's from some TV-series, but here by copycats. Flip is Barrett Strong's 'Money' done in fine UK RnB style circa -63. May wonder if Seeburg capered some lesser known Brits for the job?
