Welcome Back!

I can’t quite believe it’s been this long, but as I write this it’s been two years and a touch just over 80,000 hits since the conception of The Hook & Sling blog / podcast!!

As I’ve mentioned here before, I originally started this as a promotional tool for our monthly Funk and Soul nights, which incidently are well over 10 years in the running in one form or another! After realising that just posting our flyers up wasn’t going to cut the mustard, I set about recording a couple of mixes and composed my first article. The pleasure that came from reading your comments and realising that there were other like minded individuals out there pushed me on into investing more of my time and efforts into the blog, and as they say, the rest is (a short two year long) history!

Along the way I’ve had the pleasure of making many good friends through here. The level of support we’ve received has been truly astounding and something I never imagined would come from participating in something like this!

Whilst trying to decide how to a mark the occasion I thought I’d revisit the ongoing Guest Mix series as a way of giving a little nod back to those amongst you who have my respect and have inspired me.

So first up to the plate is the legendary Vincent The Soul Chef of Fufu Stew fame. Vincent’s offerings here have always hit the spot and today’s is definitely no exception!

So before I go I want to thank each and everyone of you (especially Vincent for his contribution) who have visited this tiny corner of the Internet!

Stay safe enjoy the mighty Soul Chef. I’ll be back here shortly as we stride on into our third year (chalk it up!) with some more of the good stuff for you all.”

Mr Double Down

“Hello, kiddies…

…and a happy second anniversary to the mighty Hook and Sling team! Ever since I first discovered this corner of the blogosphere, I knew that this was something special. Two years later, and the hosts show no signs of slowing down. Keep up the tremendous job, gents.

Now, on to the business of delivering another plate full of 45 rpm goodness. This time around, I went for a sweeter soul sound. I have to admit, the Northern Soul phenomenon has always perplexed me. Why do they call it such?.. that’s been a burning question lodged somewhere in the back of my mind for years. Is it a particular sound that these records make? Is it the geography? Just what is it that qualifies a record to be branded as Northern Soul? Well, Mr. Double Down helped to make it just a little clearer for me a few weeks ago.

With that newfound knowledge firmly in my grasp, I proceeded to the record boxes and plucked a few chestnuts for your dining and dancing pleasure. Some of these records I’ve had for years, but I never played them until I put together this mix. Big props to the UK contingent for keeping this sound alive and well when it seemed that it was all but dead here in the States.

I’m gonna go on a whim here and ask you, DD… did I pass?

Track List

01 Do Do Do Bah Ah - Bert Keyes (Clock) A lovely way to open…

02 I Get The Sweetest Feeling - Jackie Wilson (Brunswick) When I first heard this one on a guest mix done by my hero, I was reminded that I had a copy in my box for years but I never played it. Now I can’t stop playing it! Thanks as always Larry.

03 I Can Feel The Ice Melting - The Parliaments (Revilot) Here’s the flip side of (I Wanna) Testify. The vibraphone stings are a tell tale sign that this is a textbook example of the Detroit sound, but wasn’t George Clinton born in North Carolina???

04 Hide Nor Hair - Earl Grant (Decca) This is one that you have to call a stormer, a stomper, a cracker… whatever you call it, I call it a fantastic side. According to John Manship, I got this one at roughly a 64 dollar savings! I must give thanks to the gentleman that runs the corner store (Now and Then Records here in beautiful downtown Arbutus) for having this one buried away in a dusty box, and selling it to me for a buck…

05 The Manhattan Stomp - The Manhattans (Carnival)

06 Cleo’s Back - Jr. Walker & The All Stars (Soul) I couldn’t ignore Hitsville USA, not for a minute. This one here is a favourite of mine that made its way to my Talking Loud And Saying Nothing trilogy. One of those is featured right here…

07 A Song Called Soul - Gene Chandler (Constellation) Self explanatory, complete with that “Do Do Do Bah Ah” hook which I suspect is another tell tale sign of a Northern Soul record…

08 Y’awll - Maskman And The Agents (Dynamo) I always love hearing this group’s comedy-laced sides, but this here is another fine example taken from the Northern Soul textbook.

09 Dinky Doo - Eddie Bo (Ric) I bought this one clearly on the strength of the name, but I was surprised when I didn’t hear the signature New Orleans funk. I was even more surprised how well this track fit in the mix, so here you go.

10 Back Street (Instrumental)(Ric Tic) Apparently it was common practice to put instros on the B sides of selected Ric Tic records… with that in mind, sing along with Edwin Starr!

11 I Never Had A Love Like Yours - Act 1 (Spring) Here’s one that lay dormant in the crates for years… shame, shame, chef!

12 Breaking Down the Walls Of Heartache - The Bandwagon (Epic) I was happy to find this original some five years back, since the first version I heard was performed by Dexys Midnight Runners during their “Mod” phase.

13 I Still Love You - The Superlatives (Up-Tite) I’m not too sure about this one. I do know that it has to be the same Superlatives that released that monster 45 for Westbound. I would suspect that this is a slightly later release.

14 Monkey Spanner - Dave And Ansell Collins (Big Tree) A bit more “Mod” for this next one. The first time I played it, I immediately thought to myself… “ONE STEP BEYONNNNNNNND!” See if you can figure out why.

15 Snatchin’ Back - Calvin Arnold (Virtue) Here’s the flip side of “Funky Way” that we all know and love so well, but this slab of Philly Soul has some definite Motown influence.

16 Talkin’ ‘Bout My Friends - A.C. Reed (Nike) Here’s the vocal version of “Boogaloo Tramp”…

17 Showtime (Instrumental)(Ric Tic) Sing along with the Detroit Emeralds!

18 Hallways Of My Mind - The Dells (Cadet) Here’s one of the late Charles Stepney’s finest productions ever!

19 Bo Time - The Mar Keys (Stax) This one sounds quite similar to the Jr. Walker track. I wonder who should really get the credit.

20 Time Can Change A Love - Cindy Scott (Veep)

21 Kansas City Woman - Bennie Gordon & The Soul Brothers (Enrica)

22 Standing In The Shadows Of Love - Four Tops (Motown) If I had to put one Motown 45 in a time capsule, it would be this one, no question. Those Funk Brothers really put the hurt on this standard.

23 Somebody Done Took My Baby And Gone - Joey Gilmore (Phil LA Of Soul) I bought this one about two years ago on the strength of the label, but I was surprised to find that the A side was featured on a Miami Funk comp… While this side does have some recognisable Miami elements, it still fits the bill nicely.

24 Waitin’ For The Rain - The Fantastic Johnny C (Phil LA Of Soul)

25 I Had A Good Thing And I Blew It - Al Thomas (Virtue) Here’s one of two pretty rare Philly sides from the Virtue studios that I picked up from the Guru back in the spring.

26 Do The Train - Willis Wooten Ork (Virtue) This one doesn’t come cheap, but Funkadelphia Records has a great comp available called “The Philly Sound Get Down” that features this track along with over 20 other rarities and alternate takes. You really should pick up a copy at your favourite download store…

27 Doin’ The Choo Choo - Archie Bell & The Drells (Atlantic) Let’s stay on the train just a bit longer.

28 Old Man Soul Parts 1&2 - The Implements (Loma) E-I-E-I-O…

Please download and enjoy this special 45 rpm exercise, a 93MB zip file HERE

As always, it’s been my pleasure. I lift my glass to you, Double Down and Hoppin John, for many more years of Hookin’ and Slingin’! Thanks for letting me come along for the ride. Have fun(k), and as always, please be safe.”

Vincent The Soul Chef