Column

The Andy Davies Column (November)

I'm slightly jaded at the moment having just returned from the Bournemouth Soul Weekender. Bob Masters had decided to revive the old weekenders & this was the first of his new ventures. I must say I really thoroughly enjoyed it & think it has so much potential for the future. The same concept of a one roomed event applied again this time so all types of Soul & Jazz were heard under one roof!!

DJ's Bob Masters, Paul Clarke, Ginger Tony, Gary Dennis, Chris Brown, Stretch Taylor, Mark Webster, Chris Bangs, Kevin Beadle, Bob Jones plus some guests all played great stuff & I must say that by Saturday night the place was rammed with punters new to the gig plus many people who attended the original events & the tunes were great! I know Bob has plans to run the event again next year & my advice to you is to book as soon as the flyers are out as this event is only going to grow & grow!

TOGETHERNESS BLACKPOOL TOWER
SOUL WEEKENDER

The Togetherness Blackpool Tower Soul Weekender takes place over the weekend of November 12th-14th. Two rooms featuring Northern Soul & Modern Soul with DJ's Richard Searling Ginger Taylor, Soul Sam, Andy Davies, Colin Curtis, Terry Jones, Pete Haigh, Dean Johnson Jim Hargreaves and many many more!! cost is £35 for a weekend pass & the booking number is 0844 856 1111. Sadly no Southport Weekender this November but they will be back in force next May & I believe the accommodation is almost sold out already.

KING GEORGES HALL

The King Georges Hall 3 Room Soul Night in Blackburn happens again on Saturday November 27th. The last event back in September was sold out with over 1500 people attending! The Drizabone Soul Family played live & received a great reaction! I would say that the same will happen again this time so call the box office on 01254 582582 for tickets & please bear in mind that hotels sell out very quickly for these events too. DJ's on the night will be Mike Stephens, Andy Davies, Colin Curtis, Bigger, Mark Grice, Ian Gillibrand, Ginger Taylor plus more! The gig has 3 rooms running again featuring Modern Soul, Jazz Funk & a Northern Soul room.

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RELEASE NEWS

Westcoast Soul Stars - Show Me Love Feat. Eli Thompson & Janine Johnson.

Westcoast Soul Stars are making a few waves with their new release Show Me Love Featuring Eli Thompson & Janine Johnson. This I believe is only available on a promo CD single at the moment but is definitely one of the biggest Soul cuts around so it's worth picking up & I think Crazy Beat Records were the main suppliers of this 01708 228678. It's a great Mid-Up Tempo plodder that sounded great at the Bournemouth Weekender recently.

Helen Bruner & Terry Jones - Hollywood (Phil'erzy Productions)

Helen Bruner & Terry Jones' album Hollyhood has some great tracks on it & I love the first track Better with it's current R&B/Soul feel You Know Me is a quality Soul track Beautiful You Are" is a strong ballad & all in all it is a strong 11 track album

Tom Glide & The Luv All Stars - In The Name Of Love (Can U Feel It Records)

Another great album is Tom Glide & The Luv All Stars In The Name Of Love Reminiscent of Earth Wind & Fire & in places a slight Bar-Kays feel too! Get it Off opens the set & is an uptempo dancer that carries a disco beat underneath. I'm Not The same Man really captures that EW&F style & "Love Is Comin Up Feat Tio is probably my favourite track & I'm sure this will be the one that gets most plays at the clubs. Once again an 11 track album that's well worth purchasing.

JD73 - Pure Gold (ZR Records)

I really like the Neil Thompson & Mo Hausler mix of Incognito's 1975 that is now out as a vinyl 45 on the Bluey Note label! plus the JD73 CD album Pure Gold on Dave Lee's ZR Records. There are 14 tracks included here & the title track featuring Miss Modest is the first one that jumps out as an excellent soul track. Step by Step feat Fraser up's the tempo & is a very strong dance tune. The same can be said for Written In The Stars which features Nate James on vocals. A strong contender for track of the album is Think Twice featuring Ella May which i'm sure will be getting a lot of spins. The album is nice & varied and refreshing to listen to.

12" & 45's

Some Soulful House 12" worth looking out for at the moment are Elements of Life Into My Life which has Lisa Fischer & Cindy Mizelle on vocals, Soulmagic Get Your Thing Together Featuring Ann Nesby plus a new 12" on Solid Ground Recordings from Ray Jones featuring Heidi Vogel In The Dark