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On the Real Side – The Modern End of Northern Soul

Released on 31 March 2003

"The Northern Soul sound didn’t die as funk seized the black music mainstream, it just slipped into the sidelines – where the clubgoers and collectors of the Northern scene kept it alive. Compiled by DJ Simon White from the Metropolitan Soul Club, On The Real Side assembles 22 sublime sides from an unjustly overlooked era. Following on from Castle Music's best-selling Northern Soul 'best of', The In Crowd, this collection includes several early 70s dancefloor classics never before reissued and boasts bona fide Northern Soul classics by the likes of The Carstairs and Larry Saunders."

A great Cd illustrating where Northern Soul has moved to. Now this isn't 'Modern Soul' in that it was cut in the last few years , it is Modern Northern Soul, or a particular sub genre in the strange world of Northern Soul - this is virtually all 70's. Confused? Yes me too. Let's concentrate on the music.

A storming intro with the atmospheric and melodic Odds and Ends. A sound that encapsulates the old and you can imagine the sweat dripping down the Casino walls. Still pounding Philly sytle with the Jay Walking outing by the Continental 4.

Lezli Valentine is a sweet and mellow cut from 1968 that would have been out of place in the original Northern Soul World but a beautiful strained yet mellow and sensuous vocal and early All Platinum strings. Quality disco beats as you would expect from Patrick Adams on the Debbie taylor track, out of the Today label. A favourite of mine has always been the Soul Generation and their embryonic Philly Sound and great to see this track on show.

Just to show that this is truly a Northern album we get an out and out stomper in the Heartstoppers. The Carstairs of course was a ground breaking record , here is the Tom Moulton Mix, and it still cuts it right across the board, one of the biggest and most enduring records of all time. Similarly Love Factory by Eloise has that enduring quality.

Cookie Woodson is the sort of tempo – mid tempo crossover 70's that oozes soulfullness at a pace that us oldies can dance to. Jimmy Helms British 1974 cut is a bit of an oddity but quality nonetheless, a top Modern Soul room f a few years back. Reminds me of the tempo and groove of Albrighton but I can't for the life of me remember whether it was played – sure to have been.

The title track is a classic and one of those 'Modern' sounds that has always been big across the board. Barabar Jean English, another voice I like, and here she's on a straight Northern tip. Look out for her If this ain't love on Royal Flush. Chocolate Syrup is more bouncy in a disco sort of way – Bert DeCoteaux production – aside from the shoo do do bop bop's and heavy production there's a great falsetto on this. I wasn't familiar with the Whatnaut's O'Jays interpretation, it's Ok but I'll stick with the one I know. However, and agreeing with the Utterly Marvelous Simon in the sleevenotes, the Linda Jones track is, as always, a gem. So unique and so gut wrenchingly soulful.

Rosey Jones is where I don't entirely agree with our compiler, good track but doesn't do an awful lot for me. I much prefer the Timothy Wilson, still bouncy, a bit nasal but sure pounds along. This moves us on into frantic disco territory - Jeanne Napoli – and the slightly more mellow Mecca sound of Retta Young, a great great record. Crown Heights Affair certainly crossed many a divide back in the mid 70's and this track is a very good choice of track.

Shelley Black, another Vigor release – perhaps we'll get to see the Street People in due course – and this one has been very popular over the last year or two. Hot Wax for me is a slightly over rated label but this Silent Majority track is a fine one and a great soulful ender to a great compilation. Nice one Simon.

Track listing

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