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Flying High - On the Real Side Vol II– The Modern End of Northern
Soul
Released
on 15 December 2003
A
selection of, virtually, 70's 'northern' material. It might be Northern, Modern
or Crossover depending on where you hear it! Basically it's midtempo soulful
groovers. The set does what it sets out to do, though not quite as strong as
Volume 1, I don't think. That said it includes some great stuff.
Elsewhere
on the site you will find eulogies to the Whispers so it won't come as a
surprise that the cream comes from them in Where there is love and the title
track Flying High. I think I dissed Hot Wax in my review of the first album but
there isn't a better piece of motownesque pop soul than Honey Cone's Better to
have loved and lost. On my review of the Moments album elsewhere on the site I
focussed on Rain in my backyard and I am pleased to see it featured here. One
of the great vocalists is of course JJ Barnes and his voice fits perfectly on
the easy paced Can't see me leaving you, which has a complex production but
still sounds underdone. Take your time by the Festivals is gorgeous and warm in
the finest male vocal group tradition. Check Yourself by IAP Co (Duprees) is a
long time favourite and play out of mine and wonderful to see featured. Getting
big plays out now I hear, as it's funkier edge is no longer frowned upon.
Another one of my favourites (did I say this set was weaker than Volume 1 –
perhaps I'd better have a rethink!) is the Joneses Pull my String (on my
curried soul playlist). Strings were prominent into the 70's (eg Bert De
Coteaux productions) and they excel and enhance the wonderful Bobby Sheen on
Come on and Love Me. If you're not familiar with this it's definitely a grower.
We'll
put Virgil Henry in this top bracket, because despite being a bit played out,
it remains a great track. Same goes for Universal Mind because it stands the
test of time and takes me back to the Blackpool Mecca
In the
middle range is Street People with You're my one weakness, girl a great opener
and Bert De Coteaux production. (Though personally I'd have chosen I wanna
spend my whole life with you, and what about Break the chains by Inner Space
for a piece of Coteaux). Gee baby by the Festivals is good but is the weakest
of their two tracks. Melvin Davis and Eight Day flys the Invictus flag with
You've got to crawl, sounding like the Chairmen!
The
Moments also feature on two more tracks the very fine Key to my Happinesss and
the oft played and tiresome Nine Times. If you remember when Eddie Parker was
the most popular sound in the country and you still hark after that style of
hard gritty vocal then New Sound is one you'll adore, though that style doesn't
seem to feature very often these days.
A bit
off the wall and not too sure about it is Mother Freedom Band and the lilting
Beautiful Summers Day. Derek Martin features on Falling out of Love and
Beautiful Woman and his inclusion will please many. Another Northern Stalwart
from the All Platinum stable is Chuck Jackson's Love Lights, but is pretty
standard fare. Again standard fare is Brown Sugar, although they are a very
popular group. The Exciters have long had an affinity with the Northern Scene
but frankly I don't like the track on here. More gritty vocals with Tyrone
edwards Invictus outing.
Generally
great stuff and I know it's the 70's but the Northern scene needs to progress
and CD's like this will assist it to do so.
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Another superb selection from the Modern end of the Northern
Soul scene, Flying High features rare grooves and floor-fillers from cult heroes
like J.J. Barnes, Derek Martin and Bobby Sheen. There's also a handful of
danceable dandies from the Invictus and Solar catalogues - all compiled by
ace London DJ, Simon White. |
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