Various Artists
‘On The Real Side’
Castle/Sanctuary Music CMRCD291
In this day and age when nothing in life comes with a guarantee it is always refreshing to know that Sanctuary Records are almost guaranteed to deliver some tasty CD’s via their monthly re-issue of classic old soul CD’s etc. Whilst their soul output during the first few months of this year has been somewhat quiet in comparison with last year, the much awaited issue of ‘On The Real Side’ issued on CD in the UK on the 31st March has been met with much praise and excitement amongst modern/northern soul fans who can at long last obtain these rare songs on CD for the very first time.

The northern soul scene born in the late sixties and early seventies tended to concentrate in the main on those uptempo R‘n’B tunes from America the likes of which Motown/Stax/Atlantic played a major part on the scene with many of the records issued on these labels now commanding big money amongst collectors. Influential DJ’s and clubs were plentiful in the north of England the most notable being Manchester’s Twisted Wheel club who apart from playing a great mix of these tunes during their all-nighter sessions, were also a breeding ground for many artists from America who made regular trips to these shores to perform at the Wheel and other venues across the UK. Artists such as Edwin Starr, Inez & Charlie Foxx, Oscar Tony Jnr, & Ben E King etc. were regular visitors to the Wheel.

At the beginning of the seventies one DJ in particular named Ian Levine from Blackpool attempted the unthinkable during his weekly sessions at Blackpool Mecca’s ‘Highland Room’ a huge venue near to the towns football stadium which drew thousands of soul fans from across the UK to the popular Saturday night sessions of northern soul. In 1973 Levine started to play a record that had been issued on the US Red Coach record label by the Carstairs entitled ‘It Really Hurts Me Girl’ a cross between a late sixties soul tune mixed with a early seventies arrangement and dare I say it ‘a disco beat’. A slightly different version is included here.

Ironically the song actually went down a storm with a section of the regulars at the venue, but other staunch sixties loyalists hated Levine for introducing what was seen by many a ‘disco’ into the realms of northern soul. Many of the regulars left the venue looking for somewhere else to frequent to continue enjoying sixties and while many a new home in 1973 in Wigan Casino they were soon to discover that this venue also began to play a selection of ‘modern’ records that have gone on to become classics of their era. The northern soul scene was certainly split into sixties and seventies and would remain so for many a year to come.

Whilst many soul fans continually kicked back at these releases the fact remains that a lot of ‘new’ records from that era were damn good songs, still soulful, yet had lost much of the harder edge that the previous decade had produced. The seventies provided a much smoother sound, more orchestrated, and introduced a more discofied beat which was the real turn-off for many. One thing was certain and that was these records were still very soulful. This CD presents twenty two of the finest modern tunes of the last few years and is a great introduction to the modern sound of northern soul and is to be the first of a number of volumes during this year.

Kicking off with a superb Philly track ‘Yesterday My Love’ from Odds & Ends this uptempo dancer just oozes class from start to finish and could have been an ‘A’ side in its own right. Produced by the legendary Thom Bell and Bobby Martin the vocal delivery is second to none and I am amazed that the group didn’t go onto bigger and better things. Issued on the attractive ‘Today’ label the ‘A’ side was a great cover version of Deon Jackson’s 1965 classic ‘Love Makes The World Go Round’. Staying with Philly productions the Continental 4 are next up with a great dancer in ‘What You Gave Up’ with an instantly recognisable vocal delivery not too dissimilar to that of the Delfonics. The group had issued a great LP in 1972 and had also found some fame with their cover of the Elgins Motown classic ‘Heaven Must Have Sent You’

Debbie Taylor is no stranger to soul fans and her Today recording ‘No Deposits, No Returns’ is a welcomed addition to this CD, as is the legendary Moments whose joyous cover of the O’Jays classic ‘I Dig Your Act’ is extremely similar to the O'Jays original and the popular 'Love Factory' from Eloise Laws was obviously going to be in the starting line-up although I don't like the opening bars of this song it really does settle into one of those classic sounding Invictus/Hot Wax classics. Eloise is a voice and a half. The big track for me is the superb Timothy Wilson song 'Wedding Ring' which has been a major floor filler for me for a long time and has an irresistible chorus line and if we are being honest this is out and out disco at its very best.

The title track by Larry Saunders first found fame in the UK back in 1975 via its inclusion on a UK All Platinum LP along with songs from the Moments/Sylvia/Eleanore Mills to name a few but this really was the jewel in the crown on that LP with its catchy dance beat and brilliant soulful vocal performance from larry making this song a 'must have' on the modern scene. Need a song to put some spring in your step? then look no further than Chocolate Syrup's 'You've Got A Lot To Give' a catchy dancer that has plenty of brass and gorgeous backing harmonies that is so evident in those classy soul records of the early seventies. Linda Jones is a name familiar to most on the soul scene and her well known outing with the Moments 'So Glad I Found You' shows why this record has remained a popular for so long - a great voice - sadly missed.

Not a great deal do I know about Retta Young other than her 1975 disco hit on All Platinum 'Sending Out An SOS' (which was also featured on the above named UK LP) finds another of her songs included on this set. 'My Man Is On His Way' a racy uptempo affair which I have to say is somewhat more soulful than the aforementioned and is just great to dance to. Other gems on this CD include songs from Crown Heights Affair, Rosey Jones, CookieWoodson, and the ultra rare tune 'Something New About You' by Silent Majority.

If this is the standard for the first volume, one can only wait in anticipation for the next in the series. With so much modern soul to choose from they could easily a dozen volumes.

Essential purchase
10/10