‘Club Soul Volume 1 – The Scene Club’ to be released on Charly Records on 8th April

This Charly compilation album focusing  on ‘The Scene Club -  Ham Yard, London 1963-66’, with the sub-title of ‘The Original Sound Of Northern Soul, Popcorn and R&B’ will set you back £10.99 when it is released on 8^th April.

The Charly web site says, “The Scene Club was red hot, the hottest little club in London… and in 1963 London was the centre of the world - even if the rest of the world didn’t know it quite yet.' Norman Jopling (Record Mirror)

The Scene club was in Ham Yard, off Great Windmill Street, in Soho, central London. It had previously been a jazz club, but by 1963 it had become a revered Mod venue, playing soul, R&B, blues, ska and rock'n'roll records to a sharply dressed crowd.

This new compilation collects some of the classic tracks that would have been played at the time. The 28 tracks include gems from Betty Everett, Ike and Tina Turner, Jimmy Reed, Billy Preston, The Upsetters and more.”

The track listing is as follows: -

1. BETTY EVERETT • I’ve Got A Claim On You

2. JEANETTE “BABY” WASHINGTON • Let Love Go By

3. ROSCOE SHELTON • Question

4. DON GARDNER & DEE DEE FORD • I Need Your Lovin’

5.ALVIN ROBINSON • Let The Good Times Roll

6. IKE AND TINA TURNER • A Fool In Love

7. COOKIE & HIS CUPCAKES • Mathilda

8. JIMMY REED • Ain’t That Loving You Baby

9. WILBERT HARRISON • Let’s Stick Together

10. THE DIXIE CUPS • Iko Iko

11. DON COVAY & THE GOODTIMERS • See About Me

12. ALVIN CASH & THE REGISTERS • Alvin’s Boo-Ga-Loo

13. JOHNNY NASH • Ol’ Man River

14. BILLY PRESTON • Billy’s Bag

15. JERRY BUTLER • Just For You

16. GERRI HALL • Who Can I Run To

17. HAROLD BURRAGE • I’ll Take One

18. GENE CHANDLER • A Song Called Soul

19. CHRIS KENNER • Land Of 1,000 Dances

20. THE UPSETTERS • Jay Walking

21. THE FIVE DU-TONES • Shake A Tail Feather

22. LAZY LESTER • I’m A Lover Not A Fighter

23. THE DAYLIGHTERS • Oh Mom (Teach Me How To Uncle Willie)

24. BOBBY DAY • Over And Over

25. LITTLE HANK • Mister Bang Bang Man

26. DERRICK & PATSY • Housewife’s Choice

27. SONNY KNIGHT • Confidential

28. BESSIE BANKS • Go Now

Mod Super Group 'Speakeasy' in the Studio This Weekend

Mod super group, 'Speakeasy', are back in the studio this weekend to start work on their second album.

Mark Le Gallez of The Risk & Thee Jenerators will once again take lead vocal duties with Simon Stebbing of The Purple Hearts & The RTs on guitar and Brett 'Buddy' Ascott of The Chords & The Rage on drums.

With the sad passing of Mike Evans (The Action/Mighty Baby) a couple of years ago, unconfirmed reports suggest that Ian Jones of Long Tall Shorty & Ian Page and The Affair will be on bass.

There's no news as to whether Fay Hallam will be appearing on this album, although at the present time it is thought that she is rehearsing with the Fay Hallam Trinity ahead of their Italian tour that is scheduled for March and April.

It is also thought that a digital single will be taken from these sessions and released on the Cargo label.

The Aardvarks 'Sinker, Line & Hook' (Cherry Red) Anthology Review

Out now on Cherry Red Records is The Aardvarks ‘Sinker, Line & Hook – The Anthology 1987 to 1999’ album, and what a fine collection this is. Featuring the entire ‘Bargain’ LP (originally released by Delerium in 1995) together with their two Screaming Apple released EPs, the final single on Detour plus various compilation releases, this is a comprehensive gathering of the works of one of the best bands of their time. And along with The Clique’s (who’s Paul Newman adds Hammond to some of the tracks on this album), this album provides a recorded legacy to be proud of (and to remind many of us of their great gigs from the late eighties and early nineties).

From the opening bars of the catchy ‘Bargain’, this album grooves. This song moves effortlessly into the big ‘Cheyenne Woman’ before we carry on to one of my favourite Aardvarks tracks, ‘The Office No.1’ – great chord sequence, great lyrics. ‘Girl On A Bike’ and ‘Fly My Plane’ are just awesome with ‘Mr. Inertia’ very Ray Davies/The Kinks at their vaudeville best circa 1967/68. Next up is one of the classics of a generation, the massive ‘Arthur C. Clarke’ – quirky, yet incredibly radio friendly, this could and should have been a massive hit.

The Aardvarks demonstrate great musicianship and vocal ability throughout this anthology and it is great to see that the best known line-up is together again to support this release and will be playing on the Saturday night at the New Untouchables Le Beat Bespoke. If they’d stayed together the first time round (and had more luck with getting their recordings out) then they could have been huge.

Having the EP cuts on here gives alternate (earlier) recordings of some of the songs (‘Arthur C. Clarke’ & ‘Office No. 1’) and work well alongside some great cover versions such as Wimple Winch’s ‘Save My Soul’, Les Fleur De Lys’ ‘Hold On’ and an organ driven instrumental version of The Jam’s ‘In The Crowd’. Their final single released on Detour, Buttermilk Boy’, is included along with its humorous B-side, ‘Bad Clothes’ (“She’s got me dressed up like a clown”) to complete this wonderful 25 song CD collection with comprehensive 16-page full colour booklet.

A great collection from a great band – highly recommended.

The Risk’s ‘Bitter Sweet’ Album to be re-released by Detour Records on 4th March

Detour Records have announced their latest release on the ‘Paisley Archive’ label, a re-issue of the 'Bitter Sweet' studio album from The Risk (that's the real, original, genuine, 'Risk', not the X-Factor imposters who are 'trading off' of Mark & Colin's good name, reputation and hard work over the last 30 years).

The Detour website says, "Hailing from Guernsey in the Channel Isles before re-locating to Bristol this band shouldn’t need any introduction as they were one of the leading main lights on the 80s Mod Scene.

First time ever to be released on CD….. This was the bands third album and is their jewel in their back catalogue as the band felt that this was the album to crack the music scene and were very proud of it. They felt that they had matured, both lyrically and musically. Even though the album sold well at the time, the big time never beckoned and sadly this was the bands last studio album. One more LP was released but was a best of… (Which will follow later in the year). The rest is history as we say…. Another great band that could of, should of….."

Sleeve notes by Colin Leach of the band.

Tracks

State Of The Union / You Are The One / Once Bitten / Rain / Eyes Of Ice / Good Together / Out Of My Head / This Year’s Model / Mad About You / Dancing With A Stranger

This CD only release will cost you £9 + P&P from http://www.detour-records.co.uk/home.htm

 <<<<<<<<< ONLY 200 COPIES PRESSED SO BE QUICK >>>>>>>>>

‘Boogie Chillen: Early Mod's First-Choice Vinyl’ [3-CD Box set] – Release Date 11th March 2013

This 3-CD box set may be of interest to many of you. It will cost you circa £11 from Amazon and is available to pre-order now. The Amazon product description below tells us that this collection was compiled by first generation Mod, Rob Nicholls: -

Product Description

“The most enlightening and informative mod collection yet to see issue, ‘Boogie Chillen’ not only provides a fascinating history lesson, but also delivers a compelling 3 ½ hours of great music. At the start of the sixties, Britain bore witness to a new, brash youth movement, which up until the onset of hippy-dom later that decade, dominated the country s fashion and musical landscape. These young modernists embraced a smart, stylish look along with the coolest sounds emanating from the US, and later, Jamaica. While the subculture eventually faded from British mainstream consciousness, it has never disappeared altogether, attracting new followers worldwide with each new generation. Yet despite its enduring popularity, the music that inspired the original mod stylists has remained largely undocumented. Boogie Chillen sets to put the record straight, collecting 75 of the most popular and influential tracks on the burgeoning mod scene of the early sixties. Annotated and compiled by first generation mod, Rob Nicholls, the 3CD set takes a musical journey, highlighting an array of classic R&B, jazz and rock & roll classics that found favour among those considered Britain s coolest youths. Disc One features recordings from 1952 through to 1960, from the elemental electric blues of John Lee Hooker, Slim Harpo and Elmore James, to the jazz grooves of Cannonball Adderley, via the rock & roll of Link Wray and Dale Hawkins. There are R&B cuts of all shades, from the New Orleans sounds of Huey Smith and Frankie Ford to the polished sound of Lloyd Price. Discs Two and Three concentrates on the early 1960s, presenting sounds that were contemporaneous with the blossoming mod club scene. The net is cast wide to include James Brown, early Motown and Stax sides, the Latin jazz of Ray Barretto and the sophisticate vocals of Mel Torme. It is this variety of styles that sets Boogie Chillen apart from other mod compilations: the early mod scene embraced all forms of popular music from Neil Sedaka to Booker T & The MG s as long as it satisfied the discerning early mods taste for cool grooves and rocking rhythms.”

Disc: 1 

1. Walkin The Boogie (John Lee Hooker) 

2. I Just Want To Make Love To You (Muddy Waters) 

3. Dust My Blues (Elmore James) 

4. Ain t Got No Home (Clarence Frogman Henry) 

5. Who Do You Love (Bo Diddley) 

6. Susie-Q (Dale Hawkins) 

7. Reet Petite (Jackie Wilson) 

8. I m A King Bee (Slim Harpo) 

9. Little Bitty Pretty One (Thurston Harris) 

10. Don t You Just Know It (Huey Piano Smith and The Clowns) 

11. Willie And The Hand Jive (The Johnny Otis Show) 

12. I m A Lover Not A Fighter (Lazy Lester) 

13. A Lover s Question (Clyde McPhatter) 

14. Rumble (Link Wray) 

15. Parchman Farm (Mose Allison) 

16. Stagger Lee (Lloyd Price) 

17. Sea Cruise (Frankie Ford) 

18. Hey Little Girl (Dee Clark) 

19. So Fine (The Fiestas) 

20. Red River Rock (Johnny and The Hurricanes) 

21. One Way Ticket (Neil Sedaka) 

22. I m A Hog For You (The Coasters) 

23. You Got What It Takes (Marv Johnson) 

24. Tell Me (Howlin Wolf) 

25. Work Song (The Cannonball Adderley Quintet)  

Disc: 2 

1. Fannie Mae (Buster Brown) 

2. Shop Around (The Miracles) 

3. Just a Little Bit (Rosco Gordon) 

4. Gee Whiz Look At His Eyes (Carla Thomas) 

5. Kiddio (Brook Benton) 

6. Ooh Poo Pah Doo, Parts 1 and 2 (Jessie Hill) 

7. I ll Go Crazy (James Brown and The Famous Flames) 

8. You Talk Too Much (Joe Jones) 

9. Let s Go, Let s Go, Let s Go (Hank Ballard and The Midnighters) 

10. My Girl Josephine (Bill Black s Combo) 

11. Big Boss Man (Jimmy Reed) 

12. One Mint Julep (Ray Charles) 

13. Mother-In-Law (Ernie K-Doe) 

14. Mama Said (The Shirelles) 

15. Pills (Bo Diddley) 

16. Turn On Your Love Light (Bobby Bland) 

17. Come On (Chuck Berry) 

18. If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody (James Ray) 

19. Quarter To Three (Gary US Bonds) 

20. The Twist (Chubby Checker) 

21. Do-Re-Mi (Lee Dorsey) 

22. It s Gonna Work Out Fine (Ike and Tina Turner) 

23. Gypsy Woman (The Impressions) 

24. Down In The Bottom (Howlin Wolf) 

25. It Will Stand (The Showmen)  

Disc: 3 

1. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl (Don and Bob) 

2. Watch Your Step (Bobby Parker) 

3. You Better Move On (Arthur Alexander) 

4. Night Train (James Brown and The Famous Flames) 

5. Twist And Shout (The Isley Brothers) 

6. Hide And Go Seek, Part 1 (Bunker Hill) 

7. Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah (Bob B Soxx and The Blue Jeans) 

8. Let s Stick Together (Wilbert Harrison) 

9. Lover Please (Clyde McPhatter) 

10. Chains (The Cookies) 

11. I Keep Forgettin (Chuck Jackson) 

12. Crossroads (Homesick James) 

13. I Need Your Loving (Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford) 

14. Land Of 1000 Dances (Chris Kenner) 

15. Green Onions (Booker T and The MG s) 

16. You Beat Me To The Punch (Mary Wells) 

17. Mind Your Own Business (Lightnin Slim) 

18. When My Little Girl Is Smiling (The Drifters) 

19. Fortune Teller (Benny Spellman) 

20. Some Other Guy (Richie Barrett) 

21. Rhythm Of The Rain (The Cascades) 

22. Walk On The Wild Side (Jimmy Smith) 

23. Got To Have Some (Willie Mabon) 

24. El Watusi (Ray Barretto) 

25. Comin Home Baby (Mel Torme)