Hi and welcome back to our annual East Coast soul-fest. Plenty of records to talk about as usual, and this time I have segmented them into musical styles...

60's
I really do quite like Homer Bank's debut 45 on Genie "Sweetie Pie", for it's simple and effective style. Very basic and it shows how little you really need to make a good record. Another good one I got just the other day is Cornelius Dwyer and "Stepping too fast" - more like a fast beat ballad, but pretty good. Even better and one that is turning heads right now for me is Bernard Drake's "I've been true" - with such a lovely vocal, percussion and a few horns - less is more? You bet!.....Much faster and certainly catchy is Derek Martin's "Show me that you'll miss me", one that may be familiar with those of you who frequent northern nights - one which simply bounces along. Now that I am DJing out more I've also started hammering (not literally) Multiple Choice's "I wouldn't be crying", a nice clip-clop group sound with a Detroittype feel to it (though it's not from there).

Crossover Teeth Grinders
Sam has reviewed L J Reynolds excellent Monique side "Stop look over your past", I'd certainly agree that it's his best side, and in the same vein I'd also give an honoury mention to Happy "All I need is love" on Bell (the B side came out on Verve but not this side label freaks). ….An excellent female obscurity I got from Soul Bowl on Buddah of all labels next - Janice Joyce "I can't stand it no more" (this one has the additional benefit of a good northern side on the flip). From Vee Pee (Allen) and that lot, previous write ups on their work don't mention this lost girly in distress sound for some reason….Next an oldie - and one that takes us back to the days when Rod Dear Glove's slippers used to pace up and down the corridors of the Raynescourt - Carl Sims and "Pity a fool" - sounding better now than I ever remembered it back in the day!

70's
Allison(the singer, not Alison Nightingale in case you were confused) did two 45's on ANSAP, the best of which was "Who'se #1 Who'se #2". A big beef voiced singer on a lolloping 70s midtempo groover allright. …..You can forget Donny Hathaway's "Love love love"; it really sounds quite mediocre when played next to Chuck Prophett's version, which has a really good production and is more punchy…..Next one that most self respecting DJ's have been hammering in recent months and Message Untold with "I can feel the change in love" which is made by it's up-tempo southern feel and catchy rhythm - got this from Andy Dyson. Talking of uptempo a Philly influenced sleeper that I got from young Butch last year was James Gaylyn's"You came first at last". This one's been around lying dormant in occasional sales boxes for years, but has never really taken off, which is a bit of a travesty as it's very good and very catchy……For those of you who like uptempo southern soul then I can do no better than recommend Tiny Watkins "Run run run" (again from Mr Dyson) - out of Neal Hemphill's Birmingham stables, and put out by Sam Dees LA branch of the Goodie Train label. It sunk without trace.

Bongo Bongo
Yeah, the type of sound that started with the Hamilton Movement "She's gone" all those years ago…….some of you love this type of sound, some of you don't, but pop-pickers I'll start this section with the International IV "Equal Love" - a song that really has everything, funky bits, smooth bits, a colophony of horn movements, and it's really infectious too.

Years ago I got Billy Byrd's "Silly kind of love" but I always thought the tile was a bit, well…silly, so I have shied away from playing it. Then Uncle Barnfather tells me to flip it over for "Lost in the crowd" - this is more like it! - great bass line, girls chanting the word "Lost" out of time, and a good dancer to boot……Honey & The Bees "I didn't know" is an acetate which I got from Mr Manship for £50 right here in Yarmouth a few years back. It now sounds like a good investment as with it's "Tighten up" jangly rhythm being just right for today's full time groovers……Silky Vincent has done several good records - four I think - and his "Missing you" is my favourite of them all. Perhaps too funky for some on the East Coast in April, but his strident vocals and the production make it a winner at my gaff.

80's / 90's
First up Steve Long and "Your lips tell me go" - not the greatest vocalist you'll hear this weekend, but such a great song, you'll find it hard not to like this sing along affair. I agonized over playing it at first but it set the dancefloors of Spainalight when I played it, so it's definitely got some legs! ……I used to play Infinity's "Queen of my universe" on and off yonks ago, and it cleared the floor every time it came out of it's sleeve, and I got some funny looks from punters - I mistakenly thought because it was a £10 record (!) - I think I am going to get behind this one, one more time……..Star Quake "Don't you know I love you" via Soul Bowl has also got what it takes to make it, as does the slightly jazzy "Come Inside" by Arvin Tolliver's Pleasure Seekers. Finally from this genre a lot of buzz around RIP "I'm trying" a most unusual sound, with synths and a falsetto vocalist, and yet it is pretty catchy too - I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it sounds good over a system…..Finally a nice laid back feel from Galaxy and "Superstar" -not the UKpop group (as if!), but an infectious toe tapper from down Atlanta way that'll have you clicking your heals in the aisles.

Cheapo Cheapo
For the "Can't pay" and"Won't pay" brigades, the latter of whom sometimes populate the record bar and take sharp intakes of breath whenever they see a fiver changing hands (we know who you are - ha!), two oldies, and they're both forgotten Yarmouthsounds from years ago, that I am grateful for our Spanish friends for reminding me about. Firstly the Whispers "Needle in a haystack" good group soul of course from the top boys, and secondly the Escorts "By the time I get to Phoenix". If you haven't got 15 minutes to spare listening to the Isaac Hayes endless version, then this crossover attempt will surely appeal.

Of course by the time you read this there'll be a few more tricks and treats up my sleeve this weekend - so enjoy the music and enjoy Soul Essence this weekend!