NORTHERN
SOUL TOP 500 (1-50)
1. Frank Wilson – Do
I Love You (Indeed I Do) (Soul)
An amazing song and an amazing story too. Originally recorded
in 1965 by producer Frank Wilson, "Do
I Love You (Indeed I Do)" was shelved when it was decided
that Frank should concentrate on his studio work. The song was subsequently
recorded by Chris Clark, Motown's blue-eyed answer to Dusty Springfield,
and all copies of Wilson's version destroyed. Or so it was thought.
Years later, a copy was unearthed by a Motown historian...and, well,
the rest is history. Only two copies of this holy single are known
to be existence. One was sold in 1999 for a cool £15,000.
2. Dobie Gray– Out On the Floor (Charger)
Loved as much for its lyrics as its magical beat and groove,
"Out On The Floor" tells the story of countless nights on
the dancefloor. "When I'm out on the floor, it makes me feel
like a king/Everybody here, don't you know what I mean?" We do,
Dobie, oh we do. The song was sampled in the mid Nineties by the indie
band Spearmint, for "Sweeping
The Nation", their tribute to every great band that never
found success.
3. Yvonne Baker – You Didn’t Say a Word (Parkway)
The former singer with the American girl group the Sensations
sings this heartbreaking, cinematic classic with a real sense of foreboding
- you know it's all going to go wrong for her because you can hear
it in her voice. "You turned and you walked on by/You didn't
say a word..."
4. Al Wilson – The Snake (Soul City)
It's no surprise to learn that Al Wilson spent his teenage
years in Mississipppi singing in a choir and leading a spiritual quartet.
"The Snake", possibly the best known northern soul song
of them all, is infused with gospel morality, the central narrative
following
a sibulant snake as it betrays a "tender woman" in a sly
fable about temptation.
5. Jimmy Radcliffe – Long After Tonight is All Over (Musicor)
One of the hallowed "Three Before Eight" (the three
songs that traditionally closed the nights at the Wigan Casino), "Long
After Tonight Is All Over" was written by Bacharach and David
and turned into a hit by New York born Jimmy Radcliffe, who went onto
write songs for Garnet Mimms, Carolyn Franklin, the Five Pennies (ie
the Chiffons), and, er, the Banana Splits.
6. James Fountain – Seven Day Lover (Peachtree)
7. Epitome of Sound – You Don’t Love Me (Sandbag)
8. Garnet Mimms – Looking for You (United Artists)
9. Frankie Beverly & the Butlers – If That’s
What You Wanted (Sassy/Gamble)
10. Chuck Wood – Seven Days Too Long (Roulette)
11. Billy Butler – The Right Track (Okeh)
12. Salvadors – Stick by Me Baby (Wise World)
13. Tomangoes – I Really Love You (Washpan)
14. Tobi Legend – Time Will Pass You By (Amy)
