Deptford Northern Soul Club Vinyl & CDs

Review: Deptford Northern Soul Club go in on this new single compiler. On the A-side comes a rare and true cut from singer-songwriter Velma Perkins, a paean for optimism in the form of 'Yes, My Goodness, Yes', which despite its affirmations only appeared as a rare and expensive B-side on her first ever 7". On the B-side comes Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum & Durr, whose 'You Can't Blame Me' originally appeared as a single for their then-incarnation as The Revelations.

Review: Those Northern Soul fanatics from Deptford are back at it with another crucial 7" formed from their life of dedicated digging. Instead of keeping their finds close to their chest they're reviving them and putting them out there for a new generation to savour. On this record we get the magic 1966 stomper 'My Dear Heart' by Shawn Robinson, a tune teasing between light and shade with deadly precision. On the flip we have Bessie Banks' dramatic heartbreak pounder 'I Can't Make It (Without You Baby)' - one that'll have you reaching for the talc quicker than you can say Wigan Casino.

Review: A time honoured-gem from the 1960s, a live version of The Salem Travelers' 'Tell It Like It Is' can be found on YouTube, where the Chicago septet can be seen stomping, clapping, and twanging along to said earworming tune, while wearing their distinctive mock-clerical gospel garb: black jackets and orange dog-collared shirts. Now comes a reissue of the official recorded version via Deptford Northern Soul Club. Much like the live verison, Rob Dixon helms up the vocals with stellar weight, singing of brighter days and boundless spiritual optimism. The B, 'Give Me Liberty OR Give Me Death', further hammers home the greatness of this pair of cuts with its interweaving vocals and weighty rhythms.

Review: Josephine Taylor's 1969 single 'I've Made Up My Mind' is a hugely expensive record if you can find it. It came on a short lived but much hyped Chicago label and was backed with 'Is It Worth A Chance' which is want is pressed up here. It is laced with big brass sounds and has a driving bassline but the vocals from Josephine will always be the centre-piece. Here it is cut with Krystal Generation's 1970 'Satisfied' which was the A-side of the well known 'Is It Meant To Be' and is another pearler of a soul cut with Northern overtones and real musical richness.

Review: Deptford Northern Soul Club serve up two stone cold classics from the dance floor here, both of which have been remastered for this 45. We start with Harold Hutton's 'Lucky Boy' which came on a Chess sub-label in 1965 and is north a few quid if you can find an OG. It was the B-side of his debut single and is a joyous cut with big horn-stabs and plenty of Motown energy. On the back is a Dells cut from a year later that came on Cadet, another Chess sub-label. It brims with close harmonies, insistent rhythms and some lush strings with a great baritone vocal finishing it all off in romantic fashion.

Review: If you have ever tried to track down an original copy of this cult Northern Soul classic you will know it will cost you anywhere between L200 and L400 for the b-side, and around L80 for the a-side. They come from 1973 and 1967 respectively and are real classics of the genre now carefully, and cost-effectively, reissued by Deptford Northern Soul Club Records. The opening side is the sound of Jackie in fantastic form. 'Because Of You' is a truly pained tale of love that captures the intensity of such experiences perfectly.

Review: Two much over soul vocalist from the North Soul era step up on one mighty 7" here with Tyrone Davis' essential version of Clarence Carter's 'Slip Away' on the first side. It has never been available as a single before and with the brass build and funky groove, it's irresistible. Flip it over and drop that needle for a different but equal good sound, this time as Gene Chandler builds a high energy and intense vibe as he covers James Brown's huge 'There Was A Time'. Sharp, driving and high impact, it's the second sizzler on this fine 7".