First Northern Soul-gig in Amsterdam, January 29th 2005

Northern soul got off the ground in Amsterdam

January 29th 2005 was good for a surprise in our usual club surroundings, Vaaghuyzen, between 17.00 and 3.00.
Originally planned for a bigger venue, but after the disappointing tryout of December we thought it safer to try the first alldayer in our own Heart of Soul - and it worked out just great. A promising start - of something better beginning!?
This is what I posted about it on a forum which is inaccessible for non-members, but this is not a secret (a pity that the smilies cannot be copied):

And then there was the soul alldayer at the small venue Vaaghuyzen, home of the Saturday matinees for nearly a year, with 

Steve C.

Tim Brown (Steve C. on the right packing up)

Molly

Mark Fisher

Hans D. (the Dirk bag was mine, actually)

and me - certainly a vindication after what looks like a false start in December. A well-visited small scale event which even enthused some colleagues who were about to lose The Faith, so there will be following events. There were even new people - new to us anyway - willing to participate in the matinees in the future. Steve 'Cannibal Lunch', bartender-deejay-host, was taken by surprise, as were the Saturdaynight regular visitors of Vaaghuyzen: what's going on? a scene arising before our eyes? who is responsible...

Kickoff tune was Mo' onions by Booker T & the MG's, displaying my particular preference for instrumentals on the dancefloor. Ironically, the last one was I'll take you where the music's playing by The Drifters, admittedly in the extra time after 3 am - when the boxes were turned off. So no real closing tune - should have stopped with Scruboard by The Trammps but was amazed and inspired to go on, because it did not empty the floor. The jocks from England thanked me for the night, of course it should be the other way around - and thanks to everyone who participated.

Rob G. 

Ten non-Blackamerican dancefloor side dishes

Cloudnine Soul Squad

TEN NON-BLACKAMERICAN DANCEFLOOR SIDE DISHES

Special numbers we (should) have introduced...

• 1. Dum maro dum - Asha Bosle
  You can imagine dancing to a Christian spiritual, but a 1966-sound with the refrain "Hare Krishna Hare Ram"? Try it!
  
• 2. Neem me mee sexy natel - 12345
  Admittedly, from a difficult-to-spin bootleg, but the original artists or record company can be encouraged to give it a legal (re-)release. Draw some excited surprise from Britons. Should add that it is a version of Al Wilson's Snake...
  
• 3. Eli's coming - Laura Nyro
  She has written quite a few good songs for others - but this original is a revelation. Difficult starter, then breaking out in an amazingly fast sound and ending slow again, but people on the floor should be used to complicated rhythms these days. Also to watch out for is her version (together with Labelle) of Monkey time.
  
• 4. Dans tous les pays - Richard Anthony
  Since you would not dare to spin the original of Dancing in the street, try this one instead.
  
• 5. Senza te - Kiki Dee
  San Remo entry 1965. You thought that magic carpet number was slightly interesting? This one is much more suitable for the dancefloor.
  
• 6. When will I be loved? - Manfed Mann
  Should have been a British club hit, US only release - amazing what can be done to a country rocker. And talking about the Everlies:
  
• 7. Somebody help me - The Everly Brothers
  Faster and better beat than Jackie Edwards or the Spencer Davis Group. Why not? Good combination with nr. 6 of course.
  
• 8. Find me love - Jackie DeShannon
  Browsing through a stack of 45s bought in New York for a dollar a piece I found this B-side. Collecting anything by Jackie that is my way of discovering such a tune. But I have found out that it has been noticed before... Her version of I'll turn to stone and another B-side, the folksy Don't turn your back on me will certainly also work.
  
• 9. Right of way - Andrew Oldham Orchestra
  Amazing instrumental I never see mentioned - you cannot call it soulful, but the same goes for the T-Bones and other adopted "white" (=non-jazz?) instrumentals.
  
• 10. She comes with the rain -The Weather Prophets
  Hey, you and I have lived through several decades, meanwhile... A mid tempo English guitar band number from 1987 with an unexpected motownesque edge. See if you notice it. Has not been a chart hit on this side of the North Sea anyway.

We have been told that it is daring to play the Intruders' I'll alway love my mama part 2, it might catch up. ("You'll never get away with the A-side" - but why not?) And while I was writing this down we were playing some Trojan material and decided The jerk by Derrick Harriott can pass any point of criticism. But these are Blackamerican. KTF in 2005...

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This listing was first posted on the Soul Source Forum and unfortunately drew the usual xenophobic irrelevant remarks. At a forum dedicated to Blackamerican music we would not have expected to be targeted that way. But judging by the sexist and homophobic remarks tolerated over there we should have known better. Well:

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem

Eldridge Cleaver

Vaaghuyzen February 19th 2005

BEAT & SOUL MATINEE VAAGHUYZEN FEB. 19TH

February 19th, an afternoon with occasional snow looking remarkably like hail (or the other way around)
We did not feel like dancing, and it shows. Yet, we did - and no-one else!
In the 4-5pm slot Lady G. included

More more more - Carmel

So good to hear it again - one we played much in its own days, never realizing what a soulful gem it was - and of course, featuring a hammond organ! Like:
to which the first remark made about Carmel was also applicable.
Setlist Rob G. 17.00-19.15 CET
1. The Cisco kid - War
2. Don't stop the carnival - Sonny Rollins & Co.
3. Ain't nobody's business - Taj Mahal
1971 recorded CD-release only version featuring The Pointer Sisters (although I cannot actually hear them). Used to be Mike Hagler's intro tune on Radio Caroline '73-'74 - presumably he was in the possession of an acetate. The vinyl album version was released in 1976.
4. Get to this, get to that (dub version) - Sly & Robbie
My own theme tune for Radio G.O.D. in the last months of RVZ, 1986-1987 - what an exciting tune it still is!
5. I'm your hoochie coochie man - Jimmy Smith
One of the few numbers with The Man on vocals, recorded 1966
6. Billy's bag - Billy Preston
Talking about exciting theme tunes: this was Lady Godiva's at RVZ, around the same time as nr. 4 was mine
Obvious tribute to hammond R&B, the founding father of which passed away on Feb. 15th
7. Tes yeux bleux - Jo-El Sonnier
This is certainly not the original of "The wild side of life" etc.
8. In the land of plenty - Trini Lopez
1966 anti war song, still, or again applicable, alas
9. You got to move -The Blind Boys
10. Carry me back - The Rascals
11. (Don't worry) If there's a hell below we're all going to go - Curtis Mayfield
12. Man with the golden arm - Jimmy Smith
13. Home cookin' - Jimmy Smith
Second part of this first tribute to The Late Great
14. Oh how happy - Shades of Blue
15. Gwen Tracy - The Humbys
16. Paranoid - Inspiral Carpets
Which led to questions - yes, it is the Black Sabbath number - and one of the reasons I played it is that as far as I can see a synthesizer acid group like the Carpets would not be doing what they do without the now late Master JS
17. Goldfinger - Shirley Bassey
Why would it be difficult to admit this is a soulfully sung song - anyway, played as a tribute to BAFTA-winner John Barry
18. Paramaribo - Max Woiski Sr. en zijn Zuidamerikaans Orkest
19. Sixty minute man - The Dominoes
20. There's something on your mind - Baby Ray
21. Niki Hoekey - P.J. Proby
22. Going home - Ike Turner
23. Waiting for a train - Jimmie Rodgers
This was the first time I ventured playing the good old blue yodeler in a club setting. With special attention to the yodeling bits - and it was the obvious choice after Ike T.
24. Accident waiting to happen - Billy Bragg
Our most faithful Wally always wants to hear something by Billy Bragg after I jotted in "Upfield" once - and thinks a countrysong once in a while helps people stay on the alert - so a double helping!
25. That's the way (I like it) - Madeline Bell
The first number ever to get me on the disco dancefloor (honestly!), this version is back in the shops at the moment.
26. I'm gonna make you love me -Candi Staton
27. Suds - James Brown & The Famous Flames
Better-late-than-never-discovered as far as I am concerned.
28. Turn back the hands of time - Tyrone Davis
Passed away on Feb. 16th - most appropriate number & title
29. Joy's address - Float Up CP
We played it a lot in its days - was it good to hear it again? I am not sure.
30. It's happening all over - William Bell
31. Washed ashore - The Platters
32. Son of a preacher man - Erma Franklin
The original - ironically, sung by a daughter of one of the most famous preacher men of the USA of the '50s and '60s.
33. Stormy weather - Doris Troy
34. I caught you in the act (Neighborhood scandal) - Roy "C"
35. Aire of good feeling - The Ides of March
36. Something different - Cannonball Adderley
37. Compared to what - Jerry Jones
38. 1-2-3 - Richard "Groove" Holmes
Another master at the hammond organ
39. Brown paper sack - The Gentrys
40. Mountain of love - Johnny Rivers
41. It'll never happen again - Jerry Sharell
42. Nights over Egypt - The Jones Girls
43. Eli's coming - Year One
After having played Laura Nyro's (original) version a few times I tried this one - which drew attention of some colleagues. "That is a driving beat! Can I have it?" No you cannot - and it will be difficult to find it - on this side of the North Sea certainly.
44. My toot toot - Rockin' Sidney
45. Fever - Jimmy Smith
Vintage laid back smooth paraphrasing Jimmy Smith at the organ, 1963 - only at times recognizable as the Little Willie John/Peggy Lee standard.
With this I managed to chase away everyone left at Vaaghuyzen except for some colleagues waiting for their turn. Time to go and watch snooker!
Rob G.

Right back where we started from

Which way should I jump - The Milltown Brothers

One way - The Levellers