VARIOUS ARTISTS
NORTHERN SOULS CLASSIEST 4

It’s the first time on CD for most of these elusive rarities - several of which only exist as 45s in single figure quantities. The incredible story of the rarest UK-pressed vinyl soul single is revealed at last. Current monsters include Rudy Love & Co’s tough ‘Suffering Wrath’, Jesse Davis’ instrumental take on Sherlie Matthews’ classic stomper ‘Hang On In There’, the Tiaras’ ‘Loves Made A Connection’ and flavour of the year Darrow Fletcher with his Detroit-produced monster ‘What Good Am I’. Super-rarities ‘Love Slave’ by the Antellects, Wendell Watts’ ‘Kiss A Good Thing Goodbye’, Jesse James’ ‘Are You Gonna Leave’, Jesse Davis’ ‘There’s No Room For Me’ and the Inconquerables’ ‘Wait For Me’ all fetch a thousand or thousands of pounds when they very occasionally come up for sale. Salt & Pepper’s late 60s funk masterpiece was only ever on sale in Bangkok, where the US GIs were stationed - there’s a fascinating story about this in the sleevenotes. The UK’s favourite Detroit soul singer Melvin Davis has licensed us his early Ke Ke recording, made with Dave Hamilton on a shoestring but with a great result. Miles Grayson’s artist Eleanor Rigby gives a terrific alternate take on Brenda George’s ‘I Can’t Stand It’. There are more funk flavours on a few tracks, reflecting the recent shift on the Northern scene: check out Bobbie Dee and Lord Luther. Northern staples from Troy Dodds, Brenton Wood, Jerry Ganey and the Hytones give the CD some recognisable quality among the relatively unknown titles that are going to be enjoyed for the first time by many collectors.