REVIEW
UK MODERN SOUL SCENE IN THE EIGHTIES BY SIMON MURRAY
If you discovered the UK Soul All-nighter scene in the early eighties, as I did, you would have found something called the Modern Soul scene. Initially driven by the hard work of record importer John Anderson and Wigan Casino DJ Richard Searling, the scene soon had other devotees and DJ's like Poke, Soul Sam, Adam, Robin Salter, myself and let's not forget my old friend Simon Dunmore (now Defected Records head man).
The music was diverse, encompassed a wide range of tempos and styles gathered mainly from independent label releases from the States. Notable English venues like Bradford Kings Hall, Birmingham Locrano, Nottingham Rock City, Royal Oak London The Metropolitan and Dingwalls of London featured these DJ's in the eighties.
In this article I will review some of the records that I can remember from the early years of the scene.
ROY DAWSON / OVER THE TOP / COEMANDS
A classic all-nighter record that was made popular via Richard Searling covered up as James Mack and the Chicago Gangsters. It's an uptempo number, from Detroit, that is driven along by a great horn section. Roy delivers a soulful lead vocal and is ably backed by a female chorus, making this one of the best Modern Soul dancers of all time.PARADISE / THE LAST TIME / QUEST INTERNATIONAL
A late seventies obscurity that I managed to purchase from Soul Sam around 1984. It reminds me of Family Of Eve "Please be truthful" with a very jazzy feel throughout and impassioned female lead backed by male harmonies. A delightful 70's dancer that I should of played more.DESIRE / I DON'T CARE / LOU JO MARE
One of my favorite eighties dancers and usually comes with a great picture cover of the group. Set at a fast pace, the plucked bass guitar, horns and orchestration really drive this along with equally good male and female leads. Sadly too fast for today's UK scene.JAMES GOVAN / UPHILL CLIMB / ENVELOPE
This is just the best gritty southern soul styled dancer that you'll ever hear. One of the first records from the Modern oul scene to crossover to London and gained many plays on Pirate radio 1984 via Bob Jones and Ray Phillips. If you like ZZ&Co, you will love this too.MOTHERFOX / FALLEN INTO LOVE / SHABANG
One of Soul Sam's coverups from the early Stafford all-nighters. A very popular Chicgao up-tempo dancer with an instant hook and those fantastic horns. This is one of the very best 80's obscurities and always reminds me of another Chicago 80's recording by Melvin Moore "All of a sudden".CRYSTAL / FORVER US / HIT CITY
This record had very few plays on the Modern scene, but has gained some plays via Internet streams today. A great hand clapper, with male group harmonies and memorable chorus. The backing is maybe too synthesized for some, but with tracks like Halo "Let me do it" being popular now, who knows what will happen with Crystal on today's dance floors. "Music" is also worth checking out on the Soundsmith label.M.B. PRODUCTIONS / STAY JUST ONE MORE DAY / SANDLEVILLE
A 1986 release and not really a dancer, more of a stepper. The modern production is perfect for the groups emotive performance. The tenor really goes for it towards the end .Well worth picking up for people who like down tempo group sounds with an 80's feel.
CLARENCE MANN / YOU MET YOUR MATCH / GRAM-O-PHONE
An obscure release on the label that brought us Tony Troutman's first recording in 1978. A typical southern mover with great stabbing horns and girly chorus and Clarence gives us a sterling performance on lead. I would imagine it's more popular in Japan due to the efforts of Hitoshi Takasawa?KARVIN JOHNSON / IF YOU LET ME / MARSHALL
The first release on the Marshall label before Halo's "Let me do it". I found this on eBay, that’s were I find most records new to me now. I heard Soul Sam reviewed this in Manifesto and wrote that it was the next King Moses "I got feeling". I now know why. The pace never let's up with urgent percussion and horns and even a guitar break although this is not as intrusive as the guitarist on the King Moses track. A great dancer that I know would have been huge with the young UK Modern soul dancers of the early 80's.HORIZON / YOU WENT AWAY C/W GIVE IT UP / SHINE
I bought this from Soul Bowl in 1988 for the sweet group stepper a-side and played it on pirate radio maybe just twice. However "Give it up" is just right for the dance floor, a fast funky groove, is provided by electronic keyboard, guitar riffs and horns. This was Horizon's first release and many will know the group for their legendary "They don't make em like you" that Soul Bowl employee and DJ Poke played for years covered up as Eddie Richards and the Three Way Split. What a fantastic group I wonder what they are doing now?