It ‘s 3:30 AM on a Saturday at London’s 100 club. Ady Croasdell, who’s run the event for 46 years now (longest running northern / rare soul club in the world) has just played 8 60s soul records in a row that weren’t released at the time to a packed dance floor. And when you think these songs recorded in the 60s were not only non hits, they weren’t even released at the time because of various reasons around record companies and funding., promoting etc, its quite a remarkable feat. Over the years his relentless searching for new unheard soul songs has turned up gem after gem.
Many of the artists are either dead or faded into total obscurity, and don’t even know that their songs are now classics and being danced to 100s of people. Absolutely fascinating really how powerful these songs are. This one the Paramount Four. Sorry ain’t the word. Big thanks to all the amazing DJs Butch, Joel Maslin, Tomás McGrath Tim Ashibende who also played such fabulous sets. Andy Newman for getting the sound just right.
46 years still going strong.
And thanks to David Ryan for keeping me company and awake on the journey home. And Liz Ryan for lending me her car (long story)
Robert Messer