Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities Volume 6

Product Information

We’ve positioned a wodge of funk-edged soul into the CD and hope to have your toes-a-tapping if not actually four-cornering around your living room by the end of it.

The Flodavieur label is one of the west coast’s rarest imprints and we’re proud to present its two most collectable items. The general equation runs something like this: rare, in Northern Soul parlance, is generally qualified by the number of known copies of each 45 being in single figures.Sid’s Detroit production partner, soon-to-be superstar George Clinton, offers up ‘You Won’t Say Nothing’ by Tamala Lewis, one of the earliest works from hisNew Jerseydays. We also run our own record label, we host a show on Solar radio and produce mixes of our favourite sounds on Mixcloud. Special mention in dispatches for Barbara Redd's I'll Be All Alone, which potentially may raise a few eyebrows. Producer Dave Hamilton managed to employ an accomplished brass section for the date and the sax solo is so skilful that I’m thinking “maybe Sonny Stitt? Enjoy this strong selection in a classic Kent LP format and, if you've avoided digital up to now, remember there are another 130 equally fine tracks out there waiting for you on CD.

The eye-opener on this new collection will be the previously unissued version of ‘I Only Cry Once A Day Now’, a superb Gene Page arrangement treasured by the Puffs on Doré but performed here by the mighty Fidels. In the 70s and 80s it was considered a result just to obtain the desired side on tape which you would swap with other like-minded souls at the Allniters or via the pages of the dedicated soul fanzines. Our “Northern Soul’s Classiest Rarities” CDs have showcased high quality 60s and early 70s records beloved of collectors and dancers.High-quality dance records from across the Northern Soul spectrum – floor-fillers, chin-strokers, the esoteric and the sometimes obvious. More recently we acquired the Fidels’ version of the Puffs’ Doré sleeper ‘I Only Cry Once A Day Now’ – a historic recording from the revered group.

Joe Hicks’ ‘Don’t It Make You Feel Funky’ is adrenalin-driven soul, adored by the Northern Soul crowd. A newsletter is sent out every Wednesday evening, aside from that just the odd update when necessary. The Houston Outlaws’ ‘Ain’t No Telling’ has a bittersweet melody which creates a perfect setting for the group’s fine vocals, while on Troy Dodds’ ‘Try My Love’ it’s the haunting atmosphere that dominates, with his brooding voice abetted by a superb female backing group. Having put out six CDs in the series, Kent thought it was about time for a vinyl release, and here it is - 14 tracks of the absolute crème de la crème. Other prized items include Ty Karim’s ‘You Just Don’t Know’, Eddie Whitehead’s soulful floater ‘Just Your Fool’ and the poppy stomper ‘Losing Control’ from Mary Saxton, a white teenager with a voice like Tina Turner.An even more established gem is given an interesting twist in a newly acquired early version of Maxine Brown’s ‘One In A Million’; the subtle differences make it an aural thrill.