Comments for Wall of Sound

Comment on Dancing, Northern Soul Style by Ian Hough

Ian Hough — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:30:43 +0000

I remember going on holiday with some older mates back in ‘89, and one night we went to a club. These hardened “old men” were dancing about just as you describe, and it was fascinating to watch, as I’d never seen any of them move like that before. What a culture!
I’m really interested in finding stylistic links between the Northern Soul scene and the later football “casual” look. I wrote a book last year called Perry Boys in which I describe how the original style tribe in Manchester were indeed Northern Soul lads who brought Modish aspects to an otherwise ridiculous Skinner culture in the mid-70s.

Comment on Some points about the UK Northern Soul scene and US soul music remade. by wallofsound

wallofsound — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:25:29 +0000

Thanks for your comments Terry. I too love ‘Just My Soul’ (and BT Express). I think you are right about Funk and 70 soul being more popular in the south of England; of course that’s what the Northern bit was supposed to signify. I grew up in the Midlands and enjoyed both scenes, and it was noticeable how different the two groups of people were. My black and Asian friends didn’t like going to the Northern venues which tended to be mostly white, while funk clubs had mixed crowds, and as you said, often black DJs. I don’t think that meant Northern clubs never changes; just did so differently.

More recently Northern record collecting has become much closer to Funk. Just as in the 1980s many Northern DJs picked up Jazz Funk, in the late 1990s many Northern DJs started collecting funk. Keb Darge is the best example of the latter.

Comment on Some points about the UK Northern Soul scene and US soul music remade. by terry

terry — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:21:36 +0000

very interesting, i found this site whilst looking for the lyrics to “just my soul responding” to my ears, heart and mind one of the most wonderful and haunting songs i have ever heard. The genius of using a native american and the relationship that exists between their suffering and exploitation and sufferring of black america entwined in a protest song about war, poverty and who fights in wars was nothing but genius.

When he sung at the Royal Albert Hall last year there certainly was violins

I heard it first one Monday night on the Emperor Rossco show along with the BT Express “do it to your satisfied”

My limited take on Northern Soul and soul and funk, aside from the poetry of Smokie.

I used to go to the California Ball Room pretty much every Friday and Saturday, lied about my age at first to gain entry. The bands that played or the music of Brother Louie moved towards funk and jazz mixed with the soul of Philly.
People that went to the Calli started to enjoy the jazz part of jazz funk and I believe became more knowledgeable about the origins of our music.

I think funk was a southern thing and closer to the new black working class who were the DJ’s and started the bands (central line, lynx, LOTW)
Northern Soul stayed a Northern thing, and never grew or changed.

However I think both genre’s share the same longing and thirst for a wonderful ballad or song with a social content, let us not forget where Mick Hucknell first heard “money’s to tight to mention”.

Comment on Dancing, Northern Soul Style by wallofsound

wallofsound — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:58:30 +0000

Thanks for visiting, Karen. You are so right about style linked to time on the scene. I’ve written something on that which I’ll post. And so right about the floor. My knees suffer if it’s not a Maple sprung floor. That’s one of the reasons I like my regular club: it’s got one of the best floors I’ve danced on!

Comment on Dancing, Northern Soul Style by Karen B - HertsSoulGirl

Karen B - HertsSoulGirl — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:55:07 +0000

Have to admit never read anything so specific about Northern Soul dance style before.

But also you can tell how long someone has been on the scene for by their ’style’ of dancing.

I think more should be put on about the dancefloor not only wooden not sprung, ballroom style which there are not many around now.

Comment on Dancing, Northern Soul Style by John Spithead

John Spithead — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:05:12 +0000

An excellent article, Tim. Only problem is that I haven’t been able to get Out On The Floor out of my head since reading it! Incidentally, you might like to pop over to http://ballisticwax.blogspot.com/2008/04/cheap-cheerful.html where I’ve just upped the 7″ of Spyder Turner’s I Can’t Make It Anymore.

Comment on David Murray by carlos

carlos — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:38:06 +0000

Great job!!! I will add a link to these pages from David M official myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/davidmurraymusic

Comment on David Murray Quartet Last of the Hipman by wallofsound

wallofsound — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:07:54 +0000

Thanks for visiting, sotise. 152 as leader or co-leader. Lots more as a sideman!

Organic Saxophone is coming to a blog near you very soon.

Comment on David Murray Quartet Last of the Hipman by sotise

sotise — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:53:48 +0000

ah yes ,i thought i was posting the above comment under organic saxophone, thats one i certainly need.

Comment on David Murray Quartet Last of the Hipman by sotise

sotise — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:52:10 +0000

damn ,i for one want one!!
i need one!
thanks for the extensive coverage and analyses, is it really only 152 albums murray has made!!