Roger’s Top Ten - Nov 2004

I’ve bought loads of stuff since I last put up a top ten and the night has grown beyond all recognition, so it’s clearly time to post another. So here it is, a top ten of my current favourites.

Etta James – Tighten Up Your Own Thing
Marlena Shaw – Wade In The Water
Marvin Gaye – You’re A Wonderful One
Mable John – Running Out
Cecil Garrett & The Fascinations - Bearcat
Shirley Ellis – The Nitty Gritty
Archie Bell & The Drells – Tighten Up
Professor Longhair – Big Chief Part 1
Herb Johnson – I Know
The Tams – Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy

Poster Gallery

Here’s a list of posters past and present. Click on each poster to enlarge it.



December 2004



November 2004



October 2004



September 2004



August 2004

Ben's Top Ten - July 2004

Weakspot - Evelyn Thomas
Working On A Building Of Love - Chairmen Of The Board
Sweet Understanding Love - The Four Tops
We'll Be Makin' Out - Jessica James & The Outlaws
Time - Edwin Starr
Memphis Soul Stew - King Curtis
Here Comes The Judge - Shorty Long
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Looking For A Fox - Clarence Carter
Shotgun - Pete Terrace

Where To Start - Recommeded Compilations For Those Who Are New To Rare Soul and Funk

The Blush Organisation have always been keen to bring new comers into the scene and find that their enthusiasm for the music makes our nights what they are. I thought that it might be helpful to publish a list of recommended compilations if you are new to soul music. So here it is, a list of great compilations with links to them on Amazon so that if you feel inspired you can go off and buy them.

The first two volumes of This Is Northern Soul are great stuff and cover a very wide range of northern Motown from obscurity to really well known.



This Is Northern Soul Volume 1

This Is Northern Soul Volume 2


The Talcum Soul series are fantastic and I certainly rate the first three volumes of it.



Talcum Soul Vol.1

Talcum Soul Vol.2

Talcum Soul Vol.3

For Chicago soul, obviously an Okeh compilation is a good idea (the two volumes of Okeh - A Northern Soul Obsession would be the way to go)

Okeh - A Northern Soul Obsession Vol.1

Okeh - A Northern Soul Obsession Vol.2

A good Chess one around at the moment is Chess Club Rhythm & Soul



Chess Club Rhythm & Soul

Soul Jazz can do no wrong in my eyes and their most recent soul compilation Chicago Soul - Electric Blues, Funk and Soul: The New Sound of Chicago is on my deck as I write this.

Chicago Soul - Electric Blues, Funk and Soul: The New Sound of Chicago

Another Soul Jazz album that I would recommend is Saturday Night Fish Fry - New Orleans Funk Vol 2. This album is a perennial favourite of mine and any resemblance between the cover art and our posters is purely coincidental.

Saturday Night Fish Fry - New Orleans Funk Vol 2

If you like to hear the ladies get funky then the I’m A Good Woman series is worth checking out. For my money volume two is the one to get but they are all very good.



I’m A Good Woman Vol.1

I’m A Good Woman Vol.2

I’m A Good Woman Vol.3

For Latin boogaloo I would recommend Brown Sugar: Latin Breakbeats Basslines and Boogaloo Vol.3 and Bigbadboogaloo. Both albums are an excellent introduction to Latino soul and funk and are crammed with great tracks.



Brown Sugar: Latin Breakbeats Basslines and Boogaloo Vol.3

Bigbadboogaloo

Back to northern soul there's a mid-price compilation called Cooler Shakers - horrible name but very good comp.

Cooler Shakers - 30 Northern Soul Floorstompers

Let us know what you think of them.

Roger’s Top Ten - June 2004

In no particular order, these are my favourite tracks from my current set.

I’m A Good Woman – Barbara Lynn
Seven Day Fool – Etta James
Bold Soul Sister – Ike and Tina Turner
Think – Aretha Franklin
Cold Heat – Lil’ Lavair and the Fabulous Jades
Don't Mess With My Man - Irma Thomas
Gonna Fix You Good – Little Anthony and the Imperials
Ain’t Love Good, Ain’t Love Proud – Jimmy James and the Vagabonds
I Can Feel It – Carl Carlton
Can’t Satisfy – The Impressions

Ed's Top Ten - June 2004

Stand By Me - Little Eva
Auction On Love - James Bounty
Save Me - Nina Simone
Helpless - Kim Weston
Gotta Give Her Love - Volumes
Can I Get A Witness - Barbara Randolph
That's When The Tears Start - Blossoms
Sometimey - Little Milton
I Love You Baby - Ambers
Come See About Me - Nella Dodds

Websites that we like and people that we buy records from.

The Funky Sixteen Corners

This site is the daddy and currently has some great features on Eddie Bo and Warren Lee. Check out the label scans, I want this mans record collection.

http://funky16corners.tripod.com/

Soul Generation

My favourite recent find. Great features (thanks to this site I am spending far too much money on Ebay tracking down Tittyshakers), label scans, playlists and a fantastic set of soul food recipes, you know you love that Gumbo Ya Ya.

http://www.soulgeneration.co.uk/home.htm

Time Square Records

Great value, good quality and a huge range – what more do you want? A pleasure to deal with.

http://www.timessquarerecords.com/

Crazy Beat Records

The site has just had a refurb and is better than ever. It’s worth making the trip to Upminster to get the full Crazy Beat experience and to empty your bank account. I am in awe of Gary’s knowledge.

http://www.crazybeat.co.uk/

Turntable Lab

New York hip hop store with a great line in reissues. The clothes, books and posters aren’t bad either.

http://www.turntablelab.com/

Piccadilly Records

Manchester’s finest. If you want new stuff then you could do a lot worse than look here. Next day delivery if you order before 12.30!

http://www.piccadillyrecords.co.uk/

Tunes

Good stock of compilations and reissues.

http://www.tunes.co.uk/

The Soul Source

Good club and gig listings. Soul forum, flyer scans, photos and all the news and views from the northern soul scene.

http://www.soul-source.net/

Funk 45 Forum

Does exactly what it says on the tin.

http://www.fryersrecords.co.uk/beta/

Funk 45

FUNK45.com contains over 2000 audio clips of rare funk and soul 45 rpm singles recorded in the late 60s and early 70s.

http://www.funk45.com/

About the Blush Organisation

The Blush Organisation are a group of DJs who promote a soul night in Tunbridge Wells called Uptight. In the past we have run nights in Canterbury and London and have DJd at other people’s nights in Oxford, Glasgow, London and numerous other places. We have been playing together for over ten years.

We have been talking about setting up a website for ages but have been too lazy to get around to it. In the near future we will abandon this blog and move to a proper website with sound and things but until then this serves a purpose.

We aim to keep the content moving on this site and shall be adding new material a few times a week. We shall add photos and reviews of each night and what tunes kept the feet on the beat. If you have any comments about this site, ideas of how it could be improved or you'd like to contribute then please feel free to email us.

If you would like to get in touch with us you can email me at roger@blushorganisation.co.uk alternative you could come along to one of our nights and we can chat over a beer.