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21st June 2012
Posted by Neil Matthew
This was a week to focus fully on the music, raid my considerable vinyl vaults and get a few tunes on the show that hadn’t been aired by me for over 20 years – anywhere ! Amongst the highlights was a gorgeous track by Jean Carn who I always think of as one of Philadelphia International’s top acts, but unlike Lou Rawls, The O’Jays, Billy Paul or Archie Bell & The Drells for instance, she never had that big Top 40 pop crossover hit. In fact she only recorded three albums for the label in the 70s and the song I’ve picked is from the last of those three, “When I Find You Love”…
I have hundreds of twelve inch singles from the 70s & 80s in the vault, the majority of which I played once, twice at most, then filed away – one that I picked for this week’s show possibly got played three or four times, but sounds fabulous and maybe only got over looked at the time because it came out in 1987 when house music really started to make an impact and was possibly thought too “mellow” to fill a dancefloor then. It’s by Lanier & Co and I am told by a well-respected soul DJ that certain copies are worth a fortune – but not my one so its back on the shelf again !
There’s a double helping of “Soul Smoothies” in the second hour with two great male voices to sit back and savour, both with tracks which were cover versions from albums that came out in 1988. The first is by Gary Taylor singing an Emotions song, written by Skip Scarborough who also penned songs for Earth Wind & Fire & Anita Baker,plus wrote “Lovely Day” for Bill Withers. The second is by Gerald Alston who was great when lead singer with The Manhattans, but reached new heights with his debut LP on Motown that year and features on the show in the “Pop Goes Soul” feature peforming an Eagles song – and what a great job he makes of injecting soul into it too !
I mentioned Anita Baker in passing just now, and although about 95% of my choices come from the 70s & 80s, there are always one or two tracks from just beyond those two golden decades and the song I’ve picked this week by one of my all time favourite soul ladies is such an example taken from the 1990 LP “Compositions” – I enjoyed playing it so much last Monday that later in the week I gave the whole album a spin, so you can rest assured another couple of its highlights will feature soon too !
These are just the tip of the iceberg, there are so many other great soul, jazz-funk & disco tunes to enjoy on Saturday evening – tune in at 5pm and don’t miss a moment ! Here’s the playlist in full…
The Tunes:
Melba Moore – This Is It
Collage – Romeo Where’s Juliet
Diana Ross – My Old Piano
Joe Dolan – You’re Such A Good Looking Woman
Richard Dimples Fields – I Like Your Loving
Rick James – You Turn Me On
Michael Jackson – I Just Can’t Stop Loving You
Anita Baker – Fairytales
Jean Carn – Lonely Girl In A Cold World
Princess – Say I’m Your Number One
Lanier & Co – I Just Don’t Know (What To Do About You)
Natalie Cole – Annie Mae
Dave Grusin – Friends & Strangers
Fatback Band – Night Fever
Midnight Star – Midas Touch
Betty Wright – I Don’t Know
Gary Taylor – Don’t Ask My Neighbours
Gerald Alston – I Can’t Tell You Why
Lionel Richie – Round & Round
Intruders – I’ll Always Love My Mama
Don Wilkerson – Dem Tambourines
The Events:
Coming soon …
Friday 22nd June
“Killer Soul – 8”
Lords Golf & Country Club, Hullbridge Road, Rayleigh
“Jazz Funk, Soul & Dancefloor Anthems”
DJs: Ian Reading, Jon Jules, Mikey Porter & more…
8pm – 1am – Three Rooms Of Tunes !
More details at:
http://www.facebook.com/events/104629589675552/
Saturday 23rd June
“Soulful Seduction”
The Silver Jubilee, Link Road, Canvey Island, SS8 9QA
DJs: Bully & Stevie B
“Dance Soul Disco & Club Classics”
8pm – Late – Free Admission
http://www.facebook.com/groups/soulfulseduction/
Saturday 23rd June (next one 25th Aug)
“Soul By The Jetty – June Special”
The Lobster Smack, Haven Road, Canvey Island
DJs: Jonny Layton, Mr Messy, Brian Kelly
Special Guest: Paul Clark
£5 – Advance Wristbands Only Tel: (07989) 591399
http://www.facebook.com/events/106619646143606/
Saturday 23rd June
“Folk With Soul”
The Ship, Leigh-on-Sea
Fund raiser for Bosom Pals Breast Cancer Charity
Part of the Old Leigh Folk Festival Weekend !
Outside from 12 Noon – 6pm
Inside Upstairs 6pm – 1am
DJs: include Gavin Page, Grumpy Brown & Stavros
http://www.facebook.com/events/183348781777270/
Saturday 23rd June
“Four Seasons Of Soul”
The Britainnia, Fort Hill, Margate, CT9 1HH
DJs: Chris Bangs, Pete Collins, Micky B, Jason Anderson
Paul French & Jasper
8pm – 1am
http://www.facebook.com/events/298730926864699/
Saturday 23rd June
“Street Soul”
Henrys Bar, Romford Road, Aveley, RM15 4XB
9 – 2 am – £5 On The Door – (01708) 864042
DJs: Andy Davies, Steve Kite, Ginger Tony
Special Guest: Bob Jeffries
http://www.facebook.com/groups/293780927330405/
Friday 29th June
“Soul Night”
The Qube, Crouch Street, Colchester
DJ: Shaft & Kev James
9pm – 2am – Admission £3
“Soul, Jazz, Funk, Disco, RnB & Soulful House”
Saturday 30th June (last Saturday every month)
Soul At The Pavillion,
Pavillion Room, Cliffs Pavillion, Southend
DJs: Gary Turner, Snowboy & Bob Jones
“Rare Groove, Soul & Jazz-Funk”
£10 on the door – 9pm – 2am
Friday 6th July (next one August 3rd)
“Zero Soul Night”
Marco’s Wine Bar, 30 Eastwood Road, Rayleigh
DJs : Bully & Guests
“Caister Anthems, Gold Mine Favourites & Zero 6 Classics”
Free Entry – 8.30pm – 1am
http://www.facebook.com/events/187848161337342/
Friday 6th July
“Sounds Of Soul”
The R.U.S.S.C., 28 Mawney Road, Romford, RM7 7HB
DJs: Tony Matthews, Roni O’Brien, Jazzbod
“New & Old Soul, Disco, Funk, Boogie & Caister Anthems”
8.30pm – 1 am – £5 OTD , £1 Members Tel: (07729)497939
http://www.facebook.com/events/368783049830323/
Saturday 7th July
“Soul At The Ship”
The Ship Pub, New Road, Leigh-on-Sea,SS9 2EA
8pm – 1am ; £5 on the door
DJ: Gary Turner & Tom Toher (Upstairs)
“The Best Jazz-Funk, Soul, Nu-Jazz, Rare Groove & Latin”
“From the days of the Goldmine, Caister, Hadleigh Suite & Lacy Lady”
http://www.facebook.com/events/308174082596240/
Saturday 7th July (and every 1st Saturday of the month)
“Soul On The Harbour”
Jacksons Wharf, York Street, Ramsgate
“Upfront & Classic Soul & Jazz-Funk”
Free Entry – 8pm – 1am
http://www.facebook.com/groups/160257550703871/
Just added…
Saturday 28th July
“Back To The Groove”
The Wheatsheaf, Margate
DJ Lee H presents a night of…
“Classic Soul, Jazz-Funk Stompers and Caister Anthems”
Free Entry – 8pm – Midnight
More details at www.feelthegroove.webeden.co.uk
Sunday 26th August
“Soulbay Bank Holiday All-Dayer”
The Knot, 20. Beach Road, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent CT8 8AD
DJs: Paul French, Chris Bangs, Micky B & Jason Anderson
“Soul, Sun & the Sea – BBQ, Great Music & Great People!”
4pm – Midnight – Free Entry
http://www.facebook.com/events/321735801243779/
Friday 12th – Sunday 14th October
“Bless The Funk Weekender” (2)
Esplanade Hotel, Marine Parade East, Clacton-on-Sea
“Three days of soul & funk anthems”
SPECIAL GUEST DJ: GREG EDWARDS
7pm Friday, 12 Noon Saturday, 12 Noon Sunday
£20 per person, further details at
Every Other Saturday:
Love Canvey Soul
Bar Monico, Canvey Seafront
8pm – 2am – Free Admission
Tony D with Guest Djs & Live Acts
ROY CARTER LIVE – SAT 23rd JUNE
“Jazz, Funk, Soul, Old Skool, Disco, Boogie, Motown & Reggae”
**Check with the venue for dates (01268) 683026**
Monthly Events:
First Friday: Zero Soul Night Out – Marcos, Rayleigh – next one July 6th
Last Friday: The Qube, Crouch St, Colchester – next one 29th June
Last Saturday: Disco Stomp, Jacksons Wharf, Ramsgate – next 30TH June
Bi-Monthly Events:
Soul By The Jetty – next one 23rd June
2012 Dates: 25th Aug (Guest : Nick Aravis) 20th Oct (Ginger Tony) 15th Dec (Tony Matthews)
And don’t forget…
Live Jazz at The Inn On The Green, Mountnessing Road, Billericay
Every 1st Sunday Of The Month
1pm – 4pm – Free Admission
Next Date : 1st July
If you enjoy the show, then the chances are you will like what happens each month here with music provided by The Dan Banks Duo
Also recommended…
Friday Nights At …
Lot 75 , Shenfield, DJ Graham Norton
Plazma, High Street, Wickford, DJ Geoff Grove
Both chaps play plenty of “our tunes” within their sets !
Do you know of any soulful, jazzy, funky gigs taking place in 2012 ? Let me know the details whether you are a DJ or a punter and I can spread the word to fellow “Old Gits” in this space !
E-mail: [email protected] or send a voice/text message to (01268)833978
The Old Gits Soul Show is on Gateway 97.8 in Basildon & East Thurrock and also around the world via www.gateway978.com from 7pm – 9pm every Monday – plus you can catch it again Saturday evening from 5pm – 7pm