stai visitando "un raggio di soul", il sito ... out of the scene, into the music !
BALLADS WITH A BEAT
Con Nancy e David Flynn diamo uno sguardo al mondo delle ballate e dei brani mid-tempo. Gli appassionati del genere non potranno che concordare sull'indiscutibile fascino di questi pezzi fantastici
* * * Guida alla consultazione : l'ultima cifra indica il prezzo in Sterline * * *
Walter Jackson - "After You There Can Be Nothing" ( Okeh, 1966 ) - 15
NANCY YAHIRO : Walter Jackson is one of the very best voices of soul music. His voice is strong yet with a delicacy, powerful yet tender.
This beautiful and super-romantic song receives his whole vocal range and is perfectly backed by Chicago greats such as Ted Cooper, Riley Hamilton and Leroy Glover. It's my favorite of the lot.
DAVID FLINN : This Latin tinged track is one of his best...and he has done more than a handful of decent mid-tempo big production numbers to choose from !
The man is a true legend of Chicago soul and a deserved hero on the Northern Soul scene.
Freddie Scott - "Mr. Heartache" ( Columbia, 1964 ) - 40
Scott's raspy deep voice sounds like he's just been crying, which is perfect for the style.
This track is an unhurried gut-wrencher, poetically explaining that his only company is his own unhappiness. The flip is another very good beat ballad called "One Heartache Too Many".
As with Walter Jackson, Freddie also recorded several scene spins, with this one finally getting the exposure it deserved during the Stafford period.
As with many Columbia label releases, it is tougher to locate on a red stock copy rather than a white demo.
Lou Rawls - " You Can Bring Me All Your Heartaches " ( Capitol, 1967 ) - 10
Lou belts out in his characteristic voice this H B Barnum co-penned track. Although it was produced in California, it has the polished style typical of the label which reflects influences from other soul cities of the US.
This is nearly a midtempo but the dramatic production and its strong down-tempo beat make it qualify for our subject matter.
A lot of Lou's Capitol material leans more to the light jazz/MOR field which it was aimed at, but this one hits the spot nicely for the NS scene.
There's a great original '60's US trade advert for this track showing Lou standing in a studio....looking as cool as ever!
Casualiars - "Just For You" ( Autumn, 1964 )
This catchy nearly-midtempo isn't as tortured as the previous three. The lead vocalist has a southern style influenced by Sam Cooke ( but who wasn't?! ).
The backing group and instrumentation are pretty and slightly unusual in that a lead guitar is featured. Interestingly, Donald Height and Joe Webb are the credited writers.
About the Casualiars (note the spelling) : this was probably licensed in by Autumn from New York, seeing as it was written/produced by Joe Webb and Donald Height, who were based in the Big Apple.
This disc is also sought after by Deep Soul fans for it's flipside, ' This is a mean old world '.
Georgetta Banks - " Sweetly and Completelly " ( Dot, 1965 ) - 200
This is the second label, the first being G-Note. This was my first beat ballad that I found, and so I tend to think of it as a definitive beat ballad style. The tempo and instrumentation and vocals gently build to its crescendo, steadily pounding along. It's almost campy in its high drama.
A popular collector's piece that has really yet to have it's day.
Originally issued on the G.Note label, prior to being licensed to the larger and more powerful Dot label in search of wider distribution and possible chart success. It never happened...a familiar story for many a Northern Soul tune.
H. B. Barnum - " Three Rooms With Running Water " ( Imperial, 1964 ) - 15
I remember when I first heard this in Sant'arcangelo (RI) on a Saturday evening in summer, and I thought it was dynamite. I danced. I didn't realize at the time that I have a female version on the United Artists label, but this version on Imperial is the better of the two, in my opinion. It was co-written by Jimmy Radcliffe who did work for UA, so I guess the UA version precedes this release.
Great track performed by a master. This song has also been recorded by several other folk, including: Audrey Williams on Musicor, Clyde McPhatter on Mercury and even Sammy Davis Jr on Reprise !
Irma Thomas - " Take a Look " ( Imperial, 1965 ) - 30
While I'm in the Imperial section, this song deserves mention as the very strong b-side to "What Are You Trying To Do". It's written by Southerner, Allen Toussaint, but has the northern (US) big city production typical of the Imperial label.
This pleaseant little number was released in both the US and UK, and is to be found on the flipside of her ever-green oldie, 'What are you trying to do'.
May I also recommend another moody mid-tempo number from this New Orleans queen, 'Two winters long' on Minit.
Robie Porter - " Heartache Hurry On By " ( MGM,1968 ) - 20
Notice how frequently Heartache is mentioned in this genre of music? I suspect this is the same guy who recorded "Casanova" on Diamond. This song is a bit too lush for my tastes.
An Australian act, none the less, this disc also came in a picture cover too. However, when compared to Roy Hamilton's ( highly recommended ! ) original version on RCA, it really pails into insignificanse.
Mike Williams - " Lonely Soldier " ( Atlantic, 1966 ) - 15
This song is so beautiful with its spare and slow introduction. When the vocal begins, the soulfulness and melody transform a simple slowie into a soaring and elegant, um, uh... political statement ?
The second of Mike's two outings on Atlantic, it sold reasonably well on it's initial release, even warranted a full page advert in Billboard.
It's a fine example of a lyric with a war/soldier theme, of which there are many from the mid '60's to early '70's, due to the Vietnam conflict America found itself in then.
Big Dee Irwin - " You Satisfy My Needs " ( Rotate, 1965 ) - 100
What a production! Another definitive beat ballad. This is a perfect record; words can't describe its magic. Following this release is the lesser known "Follow My Heart" b/w "Stop Heart" by Big Dee also on Rotate and also excellent and recommended.
Rated by many as a contender for the all time top ten mid-tempo Northern Soul tunes, this much loved big vocal number also gained a UK release on the Stateside logo.
Yet another case of a b.side appealing more than the official a.side...albeit many years after it's release...a fact that often puzzles artists, but they are certainly grateful for the Northern Soul scene!