Yoni's Living Room Soul Chart

Mr. Success - Bobby Harris (Shout)

Hot from the Soul of the Net's inbox comes this totally irresistible ballad, with a Sam Cooke influenced vocal, perfectly carried out by Bobby Harris. Thanks to Martin Goggin again for this one, defintely destined to be the #1 record on my personal hit parade for Xmas '98.

Monkey see, monkey do - Sam the Sham and the Pharaos (MGM LP)

From time to time I've got to get out of that deep soul habbit, and play something that will move (almost) every bone in my body. Don't forget all you old geezers, there's more to soul music than the mighty ballad - and this track, which some (ignorant) people will doubt being soul music, for me captures all the happiness and excitement of a soul party. I had looked for this for ages, and found it recently - it's on an MGM soundtrack, "When the girls meet the boys", (amidst Connie Francis, Herman's Hermits and Louis Armstrong tracks) which was kindly sold to me by Mr. John J Grecco. Sam the Sham had soul, there's no doubt about that.

My heart cries oh - Fred Hughes (Vee Jay)

I've got to admit, for a long time I knew Vic Taylor's reggae version of this, called just Heartaches, on Jamaica's Treasure Isle label without being aware that this was a cover of a soul song. There are two types of reggae covers of soul songs - the acknowledging type, where the real writers are credited and the real title appears, and the unacknowledging type, where the title is changed and no credit is given - well, Vic Taylor's was of this second type. Now that I found the original, I find it difficult to make up my mind which one's the better version; they are both wonderful.

Sweet soul sister - Nate Turner & the Mirettes (UNI LP)

This is from a soundtrack LP - "The Lost Man". But don't rush out and find a videotape of the film - I did, and it's quite a mediocre crime movie, starring Sidney Poitier, and the music is barely audible in it... but this is an intense mid tempo burner, produced by none other than Quincy Jones, in early 1968 - when intense soul was still in vogue.

Believe in me - Floyd Henley (Kas-Mo)

I don't know anything else by this artist, but this beautiful floating ballad appaered on Bell's Cellar of Soul vol. 3, released in the UK in 1969, stemming from a US 45 on Kas-Mo, which is not that difficult to find. I particularly like the arrangement on this one - brilliant interplay between the guitar and bass (though I'm afraid much of it will be lost in Real Audio format...) and stirngs that are thick but not intrusive.

Try me again - Ted Taylor (Atco)

While looking for sounds for the Ted Taylor page on the Soul of the Net, I found this 45, the first one from Taylor's not too fruitful stay with Atlantic from 1965 to 1967. An unadulterated 6/8 deep soul ballad, perfect for Ted's clear tenor - and another addition to the relatively rare Atlantic/Atco 45's featured below.

In between the heartaches - Donnie Elbert (Atco)

A couple of weeks ago I was looking for some not very well known recordings on Atlantic and Atco, in order to suggest them as possible inclusions on a soon to be released Atlantic CD box set on Rhino. This one is the first record I picked for this project. Donnie was a prolific artist, who even recorded reggae at one point. On tracks such as the Little piece of leather his voice seemed a little thin, however on this track you hear that the guy can sing! This record from 1968 is pure midtempo-deep magic. It should have been a big hit, but somehow did not sell well. The B side "Too far gone", is just as good, and I hope to feature it too here later on.

Ad for love - Lee Jackson (Atlantic)

For the second record on my relatively rare Atlantic list, I picked this one from 1965. Lee Jackson comes out as a hell of a singer, albeit his recordings that I know of were very few. This is a 6/8 ballad, sounds a little "early soul", but as I said the vocal delivery is what makes it a soul gem.

Don't wanna be a playboy - Archie Bell & the Drells - Atlantic LP (Atlantic)

Another one from my own little Atlantic project - this is an album track from the "Tighten Up" LP. An uptown-styled ballad by the Texas guys. Mellow instrumental arrangement and a fine vocal backing topped by a soaring lead vocal which is clearly not Archie Bell's. Must be one of the Drells, and I'd like to know who.

You are too much for the human heart - Hermon Hitson (Atco)

This record has become somewhat of a cult classic in UK deep soul circles, and rereleased there in the 80's on Special Agent (UK). A scorching ballad, with Hermon Hitson's vocals tearing apart the agonized lyrics.

Until we meet again - Oscar Toney Jr. (Bell)

This track which is n the new Westside OTJ compilation, is one I've cherished for years. They say it's somewhat country, but I don't agree - the arrangement is pure soul and simply unbelievable, and Toney's vocals are as full of emotion as I've ever heard on a soul record. I hope some of this comes through on the real audio clip.

You're on top - Johnny Daye (Parkway)

Just as I thought I'd exhausted all of "blue-eyed" soul master Johnny Daye's not too prolific recording career, I found this record, and not in a record store or on a list but at my own brother's house. How strange. So I added it immediately to the JD discography, and here it is - Johnny's latest entry to my living room charts.

If I should lose you - Sam Moore (Atlantic)

This record, believe it or not, is going to be featured in a soon to be released Hollywood film. When I heard this piece of news I looked for the record, and found out that, although more bluesy than what I usually go for, this is a very good track, and undoubtedly an attempt to re-capture the Hayes/Porter atmosphere, as late as 1971, when Sam Moore had no longer anything to do with Stax.

Nobody knows - Freddie Waters & Eddie Frierson (Ref-O-Ree)

Unashamedly based on the spiritual standard "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen", this recording nevertheless successfully transforms it two ways - from spiritual to secular and from "trouble" to "good times". This track appears on the Kent compilation "Music City Soul".

Cry baby - The Mad Lads (Volt LP)

We all know Garnet Mimms's classic original recording of this song, but I was surprised to hear this excellent version on Karl Tsigdinos's River of Soul program in Dublin, Ireland while on a visit there - and I had it all the time in my collection (it's on the The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Lads LP).

The boy next door - Tami Lynn (Atlantic UK)

Flip Tami Lynn's northern classic "I'm gonna run away from you" - which, by the way, I never could really get into - and you'll find this brilliant piece of 60's uptempo magic.

Singing a new song - Freddie Waters (Ref-O-Ree)

Again Mr. Waters, again from Kent's Music City CD - a couple of years later than "Nobody knows" - I've never heard this soulful midtempo track played as northern soul, but something tells me it would not be too badly received on today's northern dancefloors. Listen to the beautiful bitter-sweet lyrics, too.

The next in line - Hoagy Lands (Laurie)

This is a classic Northern Soul track, which I just love. It's got everything - great soulful singing, a strong beat that almost falls apart at times (on the "I would't want it any other way..." part), but just barely makes it back in time, and killer masochistic lyrics: "who's gonna be / the next in line / to be fooled and left far behind / I wouldn't want it / any other way, baby because / the next in line / just got to be me..."

Shoes - Bobby Bland (Duke)

I've heard an expression of doubt lately about whether this track can be danced to or not ... well sure it can, all you need to know is when to stop and when to start. BTW there's another "Shoes" recorded by Brook Benton, same theme but not same song: it's not me that keeps coming back to that woman, it's my shoes: "shoes go another way, can't you see she's breaking my heart..."

Suspicion - The Originals (Soul, Motown Unreleased)

Another unreleased Motown NS classic made available for general consumption via Chris King's This Is Northern Soul CD series - this is on volume 2

One Mint Julep - The Vibrations (Okeh)

A frenetic version of an old R&B standard, I'm sure this was popular in England in the late 60's, though perhaps too fast for today's northern soul scene - but not for me (ouch, my back). Got this on a Marginal (Belgium) Vibrations CD - hmmm, interesting sleeve notes (if you know Marginal, you know what I mean - you just get a blank page on the other side of the cover picture...)

If I can't have you - Mardi Gras (Map City)

Surpise, surprise. What a beautiful, sad, innocent, subtly soulful ballad tucked away on the other side of a pop hit from 1969, "Girl I've got news for you".

(Don't abuse) your faithful love - Jo Ann Garrett & the Rock (Scorpio)

Ms. Garrett is known to the northern soul fraternity through a couple of recordings form the 60's, but this is a deep one from the early 70's. The arrangement sounds a bit like 70's Stax, while Jo Ann's delicate singing completes this very pleasant record.

Straight down to heaven - Joe Simon (Sound Stage 7 LP)

The song is straight country, but there's not a steel guitar in sight, and Joe's soothing voice turns into a deep soul gem. The intro resembles that of Ella Washington's SS7 gem "He called me baby".

Why did I let you go - Chester Randel's Soul Children (Anla)

Must be one of the most amateurly recorded soul records I've ever heard, but I've decided to include it anyway for its sheer unadulterated soulfulness. Mid tempo harmonies that are on the verge of being flat, but I can't stop tapping my foot to this!

If I could just see you - Johnny Adams (SSS Int'l)

Just weeks after the release of his 1998 Rounder CD, Man of My Word, the sad news came of Johnny Adams's death. May he rest in peace, or maybe party with all the other soul legends up in the sky... here is our own little tribute to a big soul singer - a wonderful, dead slow ballad from 1969. His soul lives on.

Many thanks to Len Romano for introducing me to this track.

Thinking of you - Tony Toni Tone (Mercury)

Off their 1996 album House of Music, this track is as close to REAL SOUL MUSIC as any current mainstream soul record has ever come for the last 20 years. Strong shades of Al Green on the vocals, both the singing and the arrangement are exquisite - admittedly the drumming is programmed, but beautiful licks form two real interweaving guitars and good backup singing make the track a joy to listen to every time.

Deceived - Ruby (Gold Token)

This is on For Millionaires Only Vol. 2 (Goldmine)

Homework - Al & Bunky (Exodus)

What a lovely record! Al is Al Perkins, Bunky is the late Bunky Sheppard.

Homework - Otis Rush (Duke)

Same song as the above - brilliant as well, but in a totally different groove! Courtesy of Mike Lofthouse.

Love on a lease plan - Johnnie Taylor? (Groovesville unreleased)

This is off the Groovesville Review Vol. 2 (Goldmine) - but is it really Johnnie Taylor? You tell me.

Baby you're messing up my mind- The Voices (Victoria)

Brilliant female group soul, I love the insistent beat and the soulful horn section on this one. Courtesy of John Walker.

Keep calling me - Bobby Peyton (Hilton)

Very slow, but very danceable I think. Another Northern soul gem, courtesy of John Walker again.

Where you lead me - Arthur Conley (Jotis 45, Atco LP)

Southern northern soul - my favourite brand. On the other side of this is "I'm a lonely stranger", mesmerizing ballad, the audio is on the Arthur Conley Discography .

Slipping Around - Art Freeman (Fame)

More northern soul from southern USA. This song was also recorded by Jimmy Hughes and Clarence Carter, but this is the official "northern" version.

Baby help me - Percy Sledge (Atlantic)

Yet more southern northern soul.

Things get better - Eddie Floyd (Stax)

Last one in the southern US meets northern UK section.

I know about love - Clarence Williams (Tina)

Does anyone know this? I find it danceable and soulful, and I like the harsh r&bish quality. The ending may ruin it for the northern soul crowd, as the rhythm changes a bit, in a gospel type ad-lib. The other side of it is a good ballad too.

Ring around the rosie - Raymond Parker (Nola)

Another obscure dance track, from New Orleans. The B side of this is again a very nice ballad, see below...

Has it happened to you yet - The Falcons (Lupine)

This is not the same song as that Edwin Starr unreleased track that uses the Sweet Sherry backing track. I got it from a CD on Relic (US) that features Falcons track with and without Wilson Pickett on vocals - this one is post-Pickett and pre Big Wheel.

I keep coming back for more - The Soul Cop (Norfolk)

Strong early 70's ballad. Courtesy of Henry Kimura in Japan.

It was jealousy - Otis Clay (Hi)

Classic Hi, Willie Mitchell production. This is my gavourite Otis Clay track from his Hi days. It was also done - also brilliantly - by Ann Peebles. Made my personal charts again when I got it on a tape from Henry Kimura.

Love love love - Ann Sexton (77)

70's deep soul at its best. Courtesy of Peter Hoogers.

Operator - Toby King (Deesu)

A real "grower" musically, just two chords but listen to the subtleties on the production - and I always go for a good telephone lyric. This one and the former track by Ann Sexton were on my soul mysteries page until Mr. Peter Hoogers of Holland identified them for me - while I'm waiting for my copy to arrive from Anglo-American I've encoded this one off the tape Mr. Hoogers kindly made for me.

To whom it may concern - Johnny Wyatt (President UK)

Just discovered this, it's the flip to the famous northern gem This thing called love - but is this the title? I don't see any connection between the title and the lyrics, does somebody have a thought on this? I'm told (by John Ridley) that the US release on Bronco has the same flip.

A fool's tears - Claude Shermack (Goldband)

I think this comes from Louisiana. I love the way this guy belts out the vocals.The Organ-laden backing is good too.

She's coming home - Raymond Parker (Nola)

Staying in the Louisiana area, this one is a classic New Orleans styled ballad. I especially love the horn arrangment.

I'm living good - Roosevelt Grier (MGM)

Moving a couple of years foreward in time. This is a dead-slow version of the Ovations' record, later also done by Arthur Conley (the audio is on his discography). It's a good song, whatever pace it's taken at, and RG is a great vocalist as you all should know, so the outcome is quite brilliant.

Fly me to the moon - Sam & Bill (Joda)

If you don't believe this standard can get the soul treatment, check out Sam & Bill's version, complete with classical style backing vocal from an uncredited lady. I know Bobby Womack did it too, but for me this is the difinitive soul version. Thanks to Pekka Halonen for first putting me on to this one.

I'm so glad I've found you - The Diplomats (Dynamo)

This is from Kent's Magic Touch CD. A magnificent uptown group ballad with a lot of downtown soul. The John Ridley page has another brilliant ballad by the Diplomats from the early 70's, presumably it's the same group as the one on this late 60's record.

I've got my baby - The Hytones (Abet)

Another deeply soulful group sound, the lead singer's a killer, who is he? This is from a Japanese compilation of Abet/Excello stuff, Courtesy of John Walker.

Someday you'll want my love - Betty Willis (Rendezvous)

Back... back into time. Achingly soulful early soul ballad. Achingly rare, too. Thanks again to John Walker.

Please don't desert me baby - Gloria Walker and the Chevelles (Flaming Arrow)

She had a hit with Walking with my new love. This is in the same vain - a late 60's rap ballad, but I find this deeply moving and better than "walking" . Courtesy of Pekka Halonen.

All I could do was cry (part 2) - Joe Tex (Checker)

Slow ballad rapping again, and no one did it better than Joe Tex. This is before his Dial hits, it's the flip not of part 1 but of "Baby you're right" (a fine ballad within itself, also done by James Brown), and without that tinge of cornyness that's in some of his Dial ballads.

Don't let me cross over - Ralph Lamar (Honor Brigade)

Talking about Joe Tex, this man sounds just like him on this very soulful country-soul ballad, especially on those soulful little chuckles - ha ha!. Courtesy of John Ridley.

Three stages of love - Wee Willie and the Winners (Shotgun)

Beautiful late 60's rap-ballad. Courtesy of Pekka Halonen.

When I'm gone - Joe Simon (Vee Jay)

Irresistible early ballad from Joe, about the same time as "My adorable one".

Been so long - Sonny Warner (Checker)

I've had this beautiful deep version of the Pastel's 50's hit for a long time, and I've always loved it. Lately I've included it as a long forgotten track on a tape I've made for someone, and the next week I received this very track on two different tapes, one from Martin Goggin, one from John Ridley, which caused a big comeback for this track in my living room.

Leave you in the arms of your other man - Roscoe Robinson (Atlantic)

A bluesy gem a-la Otis Clay from the man who brought you the Northern classic "That's enough" and the big deeep ballad "A thousand rivers". Courtesy of Martin Goggin.

Two time loser - Tarheel Slim & Little Ann (Atco)

While on the subject of bluesy stuff, here's a dark, eery soul-blues track, courtesy of Jyrki Ilva.

Still wanna be black - Jimmy Lewis (Unreleased Hotlanta)

This is the title track of the recent Kent CD compilation of Jimmy Lewis early 70's recordings on Hotlanta, released and unreleased. I think it's an amazing track, revealed for the first time on that CD. Jimmy's still going strong in the 90's, producing and recording.

I've got to find a way - Moses Dillard with the Tex Town Display (Curtom)

Staying in the early 70's, this is a heart wrenching ballad with a beat (crossover?) from veteran guitarist and sometimes vocalist Dillard (who was also half of Moses & Joshua). I got this off a double CD set of Curtom recordings on Charly.

This heart is haunted - Lee Jones (Amy)

Lee Jones was the Masqueraders main man, and this record sounds just like a Masqueraders record, which can't be bad, can it? Courtesy of John Ridley.

Bye bye love - Shades of Joy (Fontana)

Strange 60's jazzy soul version of the Everly brothers' hit.

Stay baby stay - Johnny Daye (Stax)

OK, this is not exactly on my current top 40 list, but rather, it's one of all-time my top 10 records. I'm including it here because lately I've had an e-mail argument with someone over the question of whether a white person can really sing soul music. I sent him this track, and I believe he was convinced. If you want it, it's available on the Stax box vol. 2 (Yellow Stax). However the 45 also contains a brilliant uptempo flip, "I love love", so I recommend trying to find the 45, I don't think it's very rare.

Marry me - Johnny Daye (Jomada)

Talking about Johnny Daye, I picked up another record by him, an earlier one from 1965 on Johnny Nash's label, which also features some brilliant soul singing; in fact this was an R&B chart record, his only one (for the time being that is - if Johnny's around somewhere and interested I would sure love to contact him with one of the current southern soul labels ).

Down the road of love - Jimmy "Bo" Horne (Alston)

Early 70's, before his dance craze records, a nice version of a song recorded earlier by Betty Wright. This is the flip of "Clean up man", which I should put on the answer record article on the Trivia page once I get some audio into it.

It's my turn now - Billy McGreggor (Mellotone)

Got this on a tape from John Walker, sounds like another early 70's sound, and an extremely soulful one at that.

I know it's true (It's all over) - Clarence Williams (Tina)

As promissed, this is the ballad side of "I know about love", featued above. Two great tracks, one very danceable and one fine deepie - why haven't I heard of this record before?.

His kiss - Betty Harris (Jubilee)

I've had this for a few years now, but I taped for someone lately and found out (again) how good it was. This is the follow-up to "Cry to me", and was a minor chart hit in 1964.

Frisco here I come - Lou Johnson (Volt)

One more from the 70's. Don't be put off by the fuzz guitar intro, listen a couple of time and it'll hook you.

They don't know - Mona Lisa (Dade)

Back to the 60's for one of the fastest records I've ever heard. And like Little Milton said, Mona Lisa was a man.Uptempo southern soul all the way.

I can't lose - Mitty Colloer (Peachtree)

Big voiced Mitty with a good uptempo track on William Bell's first label (as owner).

Get down - Harvey Scales & the Seven Sounds (Magic Touch)

60's funk. I think that was his biggest hit. Harvey is still active nowadays recording and producing.

99-44-100 Pure Love - Al Reed (Axe)

More 60's funk, slow and heavy.

Just another morning - Charles Brimmer (Chelsea)

Excellent 70's mid tempo magic from this New Orleans singer.

So deep in love - Eddie Giles (Silver Fox)

Deep crossover? Everybody (everybody?) knows Losin' boy, but this later track is just as good if not better. Courtesy of Peter Hoogers.

Recipe - L. V. Johnson (Unreleased Groovesville)

From the Groovesville Review vol. 2. No doubt Don Davis was behind this production. God knows why this wasn't released at the time (late 60's).

Baby come and get it - The Charmels (Volt)

One of the many fine B sides left out on the Stax singles sets - the first volume in this case. Let's have the B side box sets now!

Oowee baby I love you - Fred Hughes (Vee Jay)

Pretty well known, and an R&B chart hit, but I only got it recently so I'm playing it a lot now.

Never too much love - The Impressions (ABC)

Back to the early 60's. This was recoded in 1963, and is the not very well known, but quite beautiful flip of Talking about my baby.

The doctor - Mary Wells (Stateside UK, Jubilee US)

I've had her magnificent Jubilee LP Servin Up Some Soul for many years, but its playing state was quite rough. Then I bought the CD reissue, on which the audio quality was quite poor for some reason. So now I got me this cheap UK issue of this, one of her best Jubilee tracks, which plays quite well. Other brilliant tracks on this album include the deep Woman in love and the uptempo Soul Train.

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