Which of these Northern Soul compilations is the best?

[Rouleur]

By 'best' I mean as a starting point for exploring the genre. These are the track listings:

1.

Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) - Frank Wilson
Live It Up - Dusty Springfield
I Surrender - Eddie Holman
There's A Ghost In My House - R. Dean Taylor
Tainted Love - Gloria Jones
Nothing But A Heartache - The Flirtations
Stormy - Diana Ross & The Supremes
It's All Up To You - The Dells
It Really Hurts Me Girl - The Carstairs
The Night - Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons
No One Could Love You More - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Can't Satisfy - The Impressions
Suspicion - The Originals
Why, Why, Why -- Mill Evans
Love Runs Out - Willie Hutch
Love's Gone Bad - Chris Clark
Landslide - Tony Clarke
I Got The Fever - Prophets
Let's Wade In The Water - Marlena Shaw
Soul Self Satisfaction - Earl Jackson

2.
Sam Dees - Lonely For You, Baby
The Valentines - Breakaway
Didi Noel - Let The Music Play
Jerry Fuller - Double Life
The Rivingtons - I Love You Always
Dobie Gray - Out On The Floor
Jamo Thomas - I Spy (For The FBI)
Jackie Lee - The Duck
The Fascinations - Girls Are Out To Get You
Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Being Without You
Willie Harper - But I Couldn't
Alvin Cash & The Registers - Alvin's Boo-Ga-Loo
Gene Chandler - Nothing Can Stop Me
The Sharpees - Do The 45
Fred Hughes - I Keep Tryin'
Sam Fletcher - I'd Think It Over Twice (If I Were You)
Linda Jones - You Hit Me Like TNT
Little Richie - Just Another Heartache
The Accents - Who You Gonna Love?

Don Thomas - Come On Train
Gwen Davis - My Man Don't Think I Know
Sidney Barnes - I Hurt On The Other Side
The Inspirations - Your Wish Is My Command
The Falcons - I'm A Fool, I Must Love You
Wade Flemons - That Other Place
The Van McCoy Strings - Sweet And Easy
Betty Everett & Jerry Butler - Getting Mighty Crowded
Dobie Gray - I'm In With The 'In' Crowd
Liz Lands - One Man's Poison
The Ad Libs - Nothing's Worse Than Being Alone
Lucky Laws - Who Is She?
Ted Ford - You're Gonna Need Me
Sidney Barnes - You'll Always Be In Style
Roscoe Shelton - Running For My Life
Jackie Beavers - Hold On
The Soul Ambassadors - I've Got The Feeling
Joe & Mack - Don't You Worry
Beverly Shaffer - Even The Score
The Admirations - Don't Leave Me

3.
Laura Greene - Moonlight Music And You
Billy Butler - Right Track
Larry Williams & Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Too Late
Beverly Ann - You've Got Your Mind On Other Things
Derek And Ray - Interplay
Dana Valery - You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies
Major Lance - You Don't Want Me No More
Bernie Williams - Ever Again
Don Ray - Born A Loser
Lee David - Temptation Is Call My Name
Little Richard - A Little Bit Of Something (Beats A Whole Lot Of Nothing)
The Vibrations - 'Cause Your Mine
Billy Joe Royal - Heart's Desire
Shirley Ellis - Soul Time
The Artistics - This Heart Of Mine
Lorraine Chandler - I Can't Hold On
Lee Dorsey - Ride Your Pony
Seven Souls - I Still Love You
James & Bobby Purify - Let Love Come Between Us
Erma Franklin - Abracadabra

Tobi Legend - Time Will Pass You By
Sandi Sheldon - You're Gonna Make Me Love You
Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon - Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache
Roy Hamilton - Crackin' Up Over You
Robert Knight - Love On A Mountain Top
The Incredibles - There's Nothing Else To Say
The Glories - I Worship You Baby
Percy Wiggins - It Didn't Take Much (For Me To Fall In Love)
Patti Austin - Are We Ready For Love
Larry Williams & Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - A Quitter Never Wins
Paul Anka - I Can't Help Lovin' You
The Metros - Since I Found My Baby
Michael And Raymond - Man Without A Woman
Susan Barrett - What's It Gonna Be
The Brothers - Are You Ready For This
Jeff Perry - Love Don't Come No Stronger
Phyllis Hyman - You Know How To Love Me
Ronnie Dyson - Lady In Red
Ujima - I'm Not Ready
The M.V.P.'S - Turnin' My Heartbeat Up


I guess I'd be better off with one of the double albums bit I don't want to buy one with loads of filler.

[alfa phil]

Number 3 ,as it has my all time fav northern track by Toby Legend,
get them all they will all get under your skin.

[Patch1875]

Don't know much about northern soul but the first seem to be the more famous song of the genre.

There's a ghost in my house is a brilliant song.

[HOGEPH]

They're missing The Snake by Al Wilson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULx9k2QkL94

[Patch1875]

I listen to 'a complete intoduction to northern soul' think its a 4 disc box set

[Heliocentric]

HOGEPH said:

They're missing The Snake by Al Wilson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULx9k2QkL94

+1


I actually listened to this today.

[jam66]

I would recommend 'The In Crowd-The Story Of Northern Soul'. It's not cheap but can be picked up second hand at a reasonable price on Amazon. Not only is it full of great tracks that trace the beginnings back to the Twisted Wheel the booklet that's included will give you loads of background info. I'm recommending that as a fan of over 40 yrs. Whatever you decide I hope you find something you like, I'm smiling as I write this, be careful it doesn't get under your skin I can't put it down.

[Rouleur]

Thanks for the replies, and welcome to the forum jam66.

[vixen1700]

jam66 said:

I would recommend 'The In Crowd-The Story Of Northern Soul'. It's not cheap but can be picked up second hand at a reasonable price on Amazon. Not only is it full of great tracks that trace the beginnings back to the Twisted Wheel the booklet that's included will give you loads of background info. I'm recommending that as a fan of over 40 yrs. Whatever you decide I hope you find something you like, I'm smiling as I write this, be careful it doesn't get under your skin I can't put it down.

Yep, I'd go along with that, as it has this on it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGh4ZW1FUKM

[PurpleTurtle]

HOGEPH said:

They're missing The Snake by Al Wilson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULx9k2QkL94

Great tune, regularly played at my local Northern Soul night in Reading. Also had Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) as first dance at our wedding last year ... tune!

[sunroof]

There's a good chance that anything that's suggested will get smacked down by somebody, but if you can stretch to spending £20, I reckon you could do worse then look for 'The Northern Soul Story' on Amazon. 4 individual CDs covering quite a range and whether or not there are 'fillers' on there is a matter of opinion.

There's a bunch of other compilations you could look at, but frankly if you buy a one that's got at least 3 of 'Ghost in my house', 'Breaking down the walls of heartache', 'Do I love you (indeed I do)' and 'Seven days too long', you'll either be hooked or giving up.

[paul makin]

bit biased as i was born and bred in Wigan (and, yes, i was that schoolboy sneaking out to the all-nighters after the parents were in bed) but you could have a look for : The Wigan Casino Story Vol.3 : The Final Chapter

nice mix of floaters and stompers and one or two oddities for good measure. and "Paris Blues" is on it which means it can't fail imho

paul

[alfa phil]

Bobby Paris, I walked away,

[Rouleur]

Thanks again for the advice. I've gone with the first one to get me started and I'll probably get the lot eventually!

I thought you chaps might enjoy this little video of a pretty girl dancing to Freddie Butler - Give Me Lots Of Loving

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-hcSl2fwX0

[Rouleur]

Thanks for that. Some of the comments are pretty sad...