Various Artists - The Ultimate Northern Soul Album

This is the cheesiest of cheesey Northern Soul albums.

My wife bought it for me as a surprise and I thought mmmmmmmmmm. I put it on to be nice and found I fkn loooooovvvedd it.

Every track is well known and obvious and it is fkn brilliant, seriously great. Happy memories from the numerous Northern Soul nights or session that made up part of the 80's scooter scene are all played out here.

If you only want one Northern Soul album get this, it will put a biiiig smile on your face. Music snobs need not apply.

track listing in comments and enjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjooooooooooyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Dexys Midnight Runners-Searching For The Young Soul Rebels

Great, great memories.

Northern soul influenced classic, classic album from the 1980's.

Kevin Rowland, the lead singer, was a fkn odd bloke but produced sssooo fkn perb music with added twist that brought up to and beyond some of it's major inluence

get on it and enjoy

Track listing in comments

Etta James - Sings Funk

Etta James is a fkn amazing vocalist. I first came across her when I heard her 50's trax on the Gaz Rockin' Blues comp (earlier post) and her vocals just stoood out big time and I was hooked

She carried on singing never reaching the fame her soooperb vocals deserved. Perhaps her love of a parttttttyyyyy then unfortunately the needle denied her the reputation she sooooo deserved.

There is much to choose from, but right noiw I just love this album of soul "n" funk. Fkn genuis and what a fkn voice, seriously what a fkn voice. GET ON THIS and ENJOOOYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

Track listing in Comments

Otis Redding - Otis Blue

Otis Redding at his very best.

As sixties soul albums go this is up with the very best. It really is fkn superb.

Definately on the list of albums it should be illegal not to own.

There is something very special about his cover of the stones Satisfaction, ssssssssoooooooooooooooo ggggggggoooooooooooood.

Enjoy, Enjoy, ENJOY

Track listing in comments

Little Richard - Southern Child

This album was recorded back in 72, then never released. Over the years it began to assume mythical status until it came out in 2005.

So what is it? Well it's southern country soul and fkn brilliant. There are a couple of duff tracks but when they are good they are so fkn good that it's all worthwhile.

He has an amazing voice that works sooo well in this style.

Track listing in comments.

VA - kent 238 double shot of soul

Great album from Kent who raided the vaults of the Double Shot label for these great tracks.

Late Sixties Soul and R"n"B with a proper funky vibe going on.

I challenge you to listen to "Foxy" bangin out "Trouble" and keep your feet from moving.

Track listing in comments

Edwin Starr - Agent 00 Soul (live)

What can you say. It's Edwin Starr a great showman and a regular at mid eighties UK Scooter rallies. It didn't matter if it was a field or a Smokin' club he just knew how to fkn rock it and get thde crow really going.

This is why I chose his live album for this post simply because hearing him live brought back so many memories.

Studio albums will follow, but in the meantime whether you have the same memories or not just sit back and enjoy the master showman at his trade.

Shuggie Otis - Inspiration information.

Psychedelic Soul, layed back funk, souled up blues no idea how to categorise this exactly other than fkn excellent

This album is absolutely amazing I came across a couple or three years ago and it has theme tuned every sunny day since.

It was hidden away, known to little more than the real soul obsessives out there since its release in the early 70's and then it was re-released, to the purists disappointment, on CD.

This awesome collection of brilliant tunes includes the original of Strawberry letter 23, which the Brothers Johnson were so successful with. Once you have listened to Shuggie do this song, you will never be able to go back to the well known version (good quality steak vs value burger). In fact as you listen to it you will start to realise how many other artists have been influenced by this hidden gem.

Listen to this album, you will not regret it. Enjoy then encourage others to do the same

Gnarls Barkley - St Elsewhere

I absolutely love this album.

Rap producer Dangermouse and deep south rapper Cee-lo got together to produce this fantastic album.

Cee-lo's vocals have real, real soul feel to them. This allied with Dangermouses production abilities gave us the only true, true soul album in years.

None of this plastic, retro nonsense served up by Amy Winehouse and her contempories.

Marvin Gaye - What's Going on

This is late 60's soul at its best.

Marvin Gaye makes clear social points in awe inspiringly good soul.

Nothing like the later music that he is, unfortunately, often remembered by.

Another album that everyone should own.

James Brown - Turn it Loose

How do you start with JB. I'm lucky enough to have seen him live and he could rock a tent. The godfather himself, it's another great compilation with a fine track list. Go for it.

Soon I'll do some JB's which will really funk you

The Redskins - Neither Washington or Moscow

This is an absolute classic album released in the mid eighties. I bought the CD when the vinyl finally died. They wanted mix Motown with the Clash to produce their own sound and they produced this amazing album. It's lyrics are strongly political and now perhaps a bit dated. However firstly it captures the mood of the time and even the political views are not to your taste (now or in the past) the music surpasses political views on the classic tracks keep on keepin on and kick over the statues. Shame there are so few miners to support and Thatchers to hate.

Bar Keys - Soul Finger

First heard soul-finger in an allnighter in Morecombe on a rally in the mid eighties. It is a great track which years later led me to dig deeper to find out about the Bar-Keys. This is their first album that is out of the stax/volt archive and is worth any persons time who enjoys the soul/funk cusp. 4 members died in the same air crash that killed Otis Redding.

Kent 001 - For Dancers Only

The first and best of Ace records Kent compilations. No filler at all, this is a fantastic mixture of dancable soul. It sounds as good now as when I heard round a mates in the early 80's.

The Temptations - Psychedelic Soul

This is an awesome album. Perfect for the hot summer that is coming. their version of "Papa was a rolling stone" is pure genius. Dig this out for the lazy sundays, with friends around and bbq going.