Eccentric Northern Soul

A short blog to highlight the sensational compilation album Eccentric Northern Soul, released on Chicago label Numero Group in 2023.  I recently stumbled across this compilation of 17 handpicked gems and it has been getting regular play in my house and car.

Tracks like Tears Don't Care by Out Of Sights and the playful He's A Flirt by The Sequins exemplify the raw emotion and infectious rhythms that define Northern Soul. 

Among the songs I had previously heard are Morris Chestnut's passionate Too Darn Soulful, Eula Cooper's sublime Standing By Love and the super catchy Lighten Up Baby by Ty Karim. Listen to the drum rolls in this cracker!

I'm on a bit of an Eula Cooper trip right now. Standing By Love is incredible. Cooper's voice is effortless, the strings swish, swoon and soar and the chorus is one that you'll want to play again immediately. 

I love a good compilation album and with so many northern soul rarities and hidden gems out there, this kind of album is a great way to explore and discover.  

Eccentric Northern Soul - bandcamp page

Teenage Fanclub Fanclub Podcast - The long way round

 

Welcome to episode 3 + 4 of the Everything Flows Glasgow Podcast and the first in what will be a regular feature - the Teenage Fanclub Fanclub in conversation.

My love of Teenage Fanclub has led to me meeting some brilliant people; online through the old Forum on the website, then at gigs and then through the new Fanclub Fanclub Facebook Group.

During lockdown I arranged a few zoom calls with members of the group and it was great to chat music over some beers, while also finding out what was happening in different parts of the country and around the world. I thoroughly enjoyed the calls and wondered if other people would too - could we record them for a podcast?

So I hope to record a monthly Teenage Fanclub Fanclub podcast where we discuss certain times, albums, singles, b-sides and shows. Or we just completely wing it!

For these episodes I was joined by Barry McLuskie and Alan Clarke. Alan came up with the idea of everyone selecting a song by each of Raymond, Gerry and Norman. Then expanding on that idea by deciding we couldn't select singles or songs featured on the Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-Six Seconds - A Shortcut to Teenage Fanclub compilation.

We'd take the long way round - pun intended!

Thanks to Alan and Barry for brightening my Friday night with beers and chat over zoom to record this podcast. I hope it brightens your day if you choose to listen.

Here is a list of songs that we chose. You can search for Everything Flows Glasgow podcast on Spotify or click here for Episode 3 and Episode 4. It's available on all kinds of other platforms as well, including my podcast website via Anchor FM.

Barry has put the songs (minus Broken) into a playlist HERE. We've also included songs by our friend Donald who couldn't make it last night. 

The Long Way Round to Teenage Fanclub

Only With You (Alan)

Fear Of Flying (A)

Dark Clouds (A)

Tears Are Cool (Murray)

Near You (M)

Broken (M) (I'm More Inclined on the playlist)

Feel (Barry)

Thin Air (B)

Alcoholiday (B)

Can't Feel My Soul (Donald)

Cul de Sac (D)

Darkest Part Of The Night (D)

DJ Andy Smith

Welcome to a short blog to highlight the DJ Andy Smith and his impeccable taste in music. I recently discovered his mini northern soul mix on YouTube where Andy dives into his record collection, pulls something out and mixes it with ease. Check it out below, visually and sonically brilliant!

I have a number of Andy's compilations. His 1998 mix album The Document set a very high bar and led to follow up mixes that have become exceptionally highly sought after on vinyl.

One of my favourite compilations in my collection is Andy Smith's Northern Soul double vinyl from 2005. I discovered so many fantastic songs that I hadn't heard before, including the exceptional My Little Girl (instrumental) by Bob and Earl Band. Well worth checking down on discogs.

In the meantime, back to my recent discovery of Andy Smith showing taste and skills on YouTube, mixing northern soul 45's in 6-minutes. Enjoy!