Soul Britannia

Soul Britannia started on BBC4 last Friday. The first episode was excellent and with any luck it will be repeated a few times this week. The series looks at the impact of American and Caribbean sounds on British music and the development of soul and reggae in the UK.

The first episode featured footage of Jimmy James and the Vagabonds (who’s version of Ain’t Love Good, Ain’t Love Proud is a big favourite of mine),
Geno Washington and Dusty. But I expect the quality to drop heavily as the series goes on as we are almost guaranteed footage of Simply Red, M People and Jamiroquai but we should enjoy the good stuff whilst it lasts.

A link to the BBC's Soul Britannia site can be found here

Major Movers

Here’s a few tracks that the Major plans to play, for your listening pleasure, at the Kelsey on Good Friday.

The Velvelettes - Really Sayin Something
Smokie Robinson - Shop Around
Billy Butler - The Right Track
R Dean Taylor - There's A Ghost In My House
Four Tops -I Cant Help Myself
Alice Clarke - You Hit Me
Wynder K Frog - Green Door
Brenton Wood - Gimme Little Sign
The Temptations - I'm Losing You
The Tams - Hey Girl Don't Bother Me
Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is
The Supremes - Stoned Love
The Checkmates - Kissing Her And Crying For You
Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Tommy Hunt - Loving On The Losing Side
Isley Bros - Behind A Painted Smile
Otis Redding - Hard To Handle
The Temptations - I Can't Get Next To You
Edwin Starr - Time
Martha & The Vandellas - You've Been In Love Too Long
Rufus Tomas - Do The Funky Penguin Pt 1
Martha Reeves - Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone
Otis Redding - I Cant Turn You Loose
Tammi Terrell - Come On And See Me
Supremes - The Stranger
Jackie Wilson - Soul Galore

Roger's Current Favourites

Here's a few tracks that are getting spins at home at the moment.

Baby Washington - Think About The Good Times (Veep)

A great, great song. Storming chorus, funky beats and enough soul energy to fill any floor. This is a real favourite at the moment and sure to feature strong in all of my sets throughout 2007.

The Miller Sisters - I'm Telling It Like It Is (GMC)

Soul perfection. Massive sing-a-long chorus, great backing vocals and everything I look for in dancefloor soul, really.

Mitty Collier - I Can't Lose (Peachtree)

Huge. Huge vocals, huge song, you know it makes sense.

"Little Esther" Phillips - While It Lasted (Lennox)

Did I say the last one was big? This is bigger. There's nothing little about Ms Phillips vocals. A great mid-paced backing and a voice to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. I always get loads of positive feedback when I spin this. A great song.

Ella Fitzgerald - Get Ready (Reprise)

A great version of the Temptations classic.

Ike & Tina Turner - Can't Chance A Break Up (Sue)

I was searching for a decent copy at a decent price for a while and it was worth the wait. A beautiful song, with a beautiful vocal from Tina. One of my favourites.

Jackie Day - Before It's Too Late (Modern)

Another track that I had been on the lookout for at the right price for a while. This was one of the first northern songs I got into. The beat is irresistible.

Chris Clark - Love Gone Bad (VIP)

Another huge track. I've only ever played this out once but hearing it at high volume made the night for me. This has quite an unusual production, it's almost garagey in places but all the better for it.

We've finally got off our arses

I will be DJing with the Major (Andy) at the Kelsey in Tunbridge Wells on Good Friday (6th April 2007). I will post more details as I have them. I've been busy hoovering up some fine soul sevens over the last year and a bit and am really looking forward to getting a chance to play them out, I might even write about some of them on here but then I've promised that before and not done it.

Ed and I have also been talking about getting a regular night up and running again but the problem, as ever in Tunbridge Wells, is finding a decent venue, if anyone has any ideas I'd be delighted to hear from you.

We have also been talking about doing a one off in London. No firm details as yet, Ed and I are planning a days reconnaissance to see if we can find a venue, again all tip offs gratefully received.

Finally, to celebrate our return to action, I will be giving this site a spring clean and adding some new features.

Have a soulful New Year and keep the faith.

Billy Preston

Billy Preston sadly died aged 59 earlier this week. He was of course famous for his work with the Beatles and Stones but it is solo material and session work with Sly Stone and Aretha that is closest to my heart.



If you don't have a copy of Billy's Bag do yourself a favour and get one double quick, Hammond craziness at it's best and dancefloor dynamite too boot. Most Exciting Organ Ever released in 65 and Wildest Organ in Town! from 66 are both cracking albums and well worth checking out. There's an excellent compilation of Billy's sixties material also called Billy's Bag that I can thoroughly recommend.

The BBC has an obituary on their site

Just a quick update on all things Blush Organisation

We have taken a few months off from spinning soulful sounds to regroup, refresh and relax. We have no confirmed date for the next Hip Huggin’ but hope that it will be sometime in early Spring. I’ve been busy buying up rarities on eBay and I plan to write a few pieces for here on some of the more interesting ones in the next few weeks.

Cheers,
Roger

25% Extra Hip Huggin' Free

Thanks to our new licensing laws we will be open until midnight on Saturday. That’s 25% extra soul and still free entry.

Hip Huggin' - Sat 3rd December

We're back at the basment bar of the Sussex Arms on Satyrday 3rd December to fire up the dancefloor with our rare 6Ts soul.

Expect to hear The Fascinations, The Volumes, Tina Britt, Barbara Randolph, Chuck Wood, Major Lance, Little Milton, The Shirelles, Jackie Ross, Jackie Wilson, Little Esther Phillips, Betty La Vette, Linda Jones, Dean Parrish, Nella Dodds, Ike & Tina, Ella Fitzgerald, Al King, Little Carl Carlton and many more.

Full details are as follows:

Hip Huggin’

@ The Basement Bar, The Sussex Arms, Sussex Mews, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent (01892 549579)

Saturday 3rd December

DJs: The Blush Organisation
Adm. Free
7pm 'till 11pm

A map of how to find us can be found here

Hip Huggin' Launch Night Photos

Some photos from the Hip Huggin’ launch night on Saturday 1st October. Thanks to all of you who came along. Our next night is on 3rd December.

Hip Huggin’ Launch Party - Saturday 1st October

We now have the full details of our new night at the Basement Bar of the Sussex Arms. The first night will be on Saturday 1st October and our guest DJ will be The Major, who will be better known to some of you as Andy (owner of the coolest scooter in Tunbridge Wells).

The new night is called Hip Huggin’ and will be more northern based than Uptight was. Expect to hear The Fascinations, The Volumes, Tina Britt, Barbara Randolph, Chuck Wood, Major Lance, Little Milton, The Shirelles, Jackie Ross, Jackie Wilson, “Little Esther” Phillips, Betty La Vette, Linda Jones, Dean Parrish, Nella Dodds, Ike & Tina, Ella Fitzgerald, Al King, Little Carl Carlton and many more.



Full details are as follows:

Hip Huggin’

@ The Basement Bar, The Sussex Arms, Sussex Mews, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent (01892 549579)

Saturday 1st October

DJs: The Blush Organisation & special guest The Major
Adm. Free
7pm 'till 11pm

A map of how to find us can be found here