Various Artists: 'Jumpin' at the Go-Go' (Northern Soul) - RCA 74321 660382

A collection of RCA's biggest northern soul tracks most of which have appeared on previous compilations but nevertheless a magical collection of some of the finest tunes to grace any dance floor. Sleeve notes and compilation by the much respected radio DJ and Jazz FM presenter Richard Searling these tunes are always most sought after by collectors, and with tunes like HB Barnum's 'It hurts too much to cry' (the biggest beat tune of all-time) and in contrast Ketty Lester's 'Some things are better left Unsaid' a finger clicking track from the mid sixties that's been played to death in northern venues for the last few years.
 

The opening track by Roy Hamilton is possibly in everyone's top five sixties soul sides of all time and almost broke my bank in 1971 when I paid seven quid for it - a lot of money in those days. Other notable tracks include Herb Ward's 'Honest to Goodness', and Percy Wiggins' It didn't take much' and not forgetting Dean Courtney's' I'll always love you' (Check him out live in Blackburn on the 31st July)

This CD also includes RCA biggies from the likes of Sue Lynne/Don Ray/Willie Kendrick/The Metro's/Sharon Scott/
The Dynamics/Beverly Ann/The Exciters plus many more. Worth buying just to here the sound quality which is brilliant and also to save wear and tear on those valuable pieces of vinyl. The only drawback to this is that most northern fans will have most of these tunes on various compilations, but if you are getting into this form of music for the first time there can be no better CD to wet your appetite, and lets not forget that northern soul is the longest running underground music scene in living history with more and more soul nights popping up everywhere you look.

Rating 9/10
Expect to pay around £10 in the UK