Ready Steady Go!

Ladyboys & Evil Regent plus RSG! DJs

2009-11-26T13:19:00.000-08:00

Friday 27th November 2009

Brudenell Social Club Leeds
The Ladyboys
Evil Regent
with DJs
Paul Ritchie (Ready Steady Go)
Phil Cunnigham (Strictly Vinyl)

Leeds' finest back in action, get down early, these gigs are always rammed!

www.myspace.com/lsladyboys

Shakermaker Playlist

2009-10-03T01:54:00.000-07:00

Listen to the Shakermaker advert for October 17

Gene Chandler - Nothing Can Stop Me
Melba Moore - The Magic Touch
Chris Clark - Do I Love You
Syl Johnson - Come On Sock It To Me
Julian Covay - A Little Bit Hurt
Shocking Blue - Send Me A Postcard
Les Fleur De Lys - Circles
Spirit - I Got A Line On You
The Action - Hey Sha Lo Ney
Jacques Dutronc - On Nous Cache Tout
Castaways - Liar Liar
Lulu - Love Loves To Love Love
James Brown - Think
Toots & The Maytals - 54 46 That's My Number
Madness - The Prince
Prince Buster - Madness
The Velvelettes - Needle In A Haystack
Judy Street - What
Dobie Gray - Out On The Floor
100% Vinyl!

Bar Deco, Batley
October 17th 2009

Shakermaker Saturday October 17th 2009

2009-09-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

The next Shakermaker 'do' takes place on Saturday October 17th 2009 at Bar Deco, Batley, West Yorkshire featuring DJs Jackie Robson (Step On), Paul Ritchie (Ready Steady Go) and Phil Cunningham (Strictly Vinyl).

Tickets are just £3 advance or £4 on the door and the fun kicks off at 9.30pm. For ticket info call or text Jay on 0775 1983217.

More info and pics from previous nights can be found at www.facebook.com/shakermaker.info

Playlist includes the greatest and the rarest of Mod, Northern Soul, Indie, Britpop, Ska, Motown and 60s Beat. Ya dig?

New Shakermaker date...Sat 22nd August

2009-08-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

If you are in the West Yorkshire area on Saturday 22d August why not check out 'Shakermaker' at Bar Deco, Bradford Road, Batley?

Ready Steady Go DJs Phil and Paul along with Paul Auty will be spinning a melting pot of mod, ska, indie, northern, motown, britpop and sixties beat classics from 9.30pm until 2.30am.

For further info contact Jay Tel: 0775 198 3217.

Check out the pictures from the Shakermaker launch night back in June at : http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=2009285&id=1517822090

SHAKERMAKER LAUNCH PARTY @ CASALOCO, LEEDS 5th JUNE 2009

2009-06-01T01:10:00.000-07:00

RSG! are proud to be associated with a brand new club night in Leeds kicking off Friday 5th June. Featuring a fantastic line-up of 6 DJ's covering the greatest and rarest anthems in Indie - Mod - 60's beat - Northern soul - Britpop - Ska - 2 tone, 2 Live Bands & very competitive drinks prices, all spread over 3 floors of one of Leeds' finest nightspots, Casa Loco (previously Atrium), Grand Arcade, Leeds, LS1 6PG.

DJ's
Paul Ritchie & Phil Cunningham (ready-steady-go.org.uk / strictly vinyl)
Mark 'Liquidator' Young (beatauthority.co.uk)
Tidsey (beatauthority.co.uk)
Jackie Robson (Step On)
Paul Auty (Shakermaker)

Bands
The Finnlys (www.thefinnlys.co.uk)
The Persuasion (www.myspace.com/thepersuasionsonicsoul)

Be a face and dress to impress the in crowd, for what promises to be the start of one of Leeds' greatest club nights...

Tickets £5 O.T.D or advance via website (www.shakermaker.info)

2009-03-20T12:25:00.000-07:00

Forget about the real thing - it ain't gonna happen!

Instead, for a nostalgic night of classic Roses tunes, check out Leeds' very own Stone Roses tribute band The Stoned Roses making their much anticipated live debut at the Brudenell Social Club, Leeds on Thursday April 9th.

Ready Steady Go DJs Phil and Paul will be spinning the best baggy tunes all on 100% luscious vinyl including happy mondays, charlatans, paris angels, northside, flowered up, bridewell taxis, james, inspiral carpets, primal scream and many more...

Double, double good!

more info @ www.myspace.com/thestonedrosesuk

Is it really 20 years?

RSG! classic albums #3 - Would You Believe

2009-03-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

BILLY NICHOLLS
Would You Believe (Immediate)

Hazy, lazy, dreamy psych pop from swinging London via California or the UK's answer to Pet Sounds?

How long would you half expect the British answer to the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds album could be criminally left in the can to gather dust? A few years perhaps, due to a bad business deal, or a recent death of the original artist?

How about thirty years? Back in the late sixties the relatively unknown Billy Nicholls recorded an album for Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate record label only for it to be shelved for some unknown reason. A few copies managed to sneak out into the public domain and over the years the album has earned mythical status amongst pop/psych fans that passed the recording into legendary status billing it as "The British answer to Pet Sounds".

In 1999 a vinyl edition of the album was finally given an official release by Tenth Planet but in typical fashion the album was limited to 1000 copies thus ensuring that the vinyl version is destined to retain it's mythical status for a good few years to come yet. It has since been re-issued on CD by Sanctuary.

So what makes this album so important especially when the artist behind the album cannot remember anything at all about it as he told Dawn Eden in the May 1997 issue of Mojo?
Well there are a number of reasons. Firstly there are the many Small Faces/Who connections associated with Billy Nicholls that will prompt many people to investigate this album with eager anticipation. Secondly, the fact that such a rare item could be ranked alongside the Beach Boys 'Pet Sounds' and remain undiscovered for so long. After hearing this album all you could possibly ask is, why?

Billy Nicholls couldn't have entered the music business much more brash and brazen than as a sixteen year old kid in 1966 who approached George Harrison, of all people, to help him record his songs. Harrison arranged for him to record a demo, but the Beatles publisher Dick James lost the tapes. By way of an apology James arranged some free studio time for Nicholls to record another demo.

Enter Andrew Loog Oldham, the Rolling Stones manager, who had just set up his 'Immediate' record label and was keen to build up his roster of acts. He heard Nicholls demo and was suitably impressed enough to hire Nicholls as a staff songwriter.

It was at 'Immediate' that the young Nicholls become friendly with the Small Faces. Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane contributed to the majestic 'Would You Believe' track. You can hear Marriott's vocal on this track despite Loog Oldham's attempts to drown them out with heavy orchestration.

'Would You Believe' was released as a single in January 1968 but failed to chart despite favourable reviews. Oldham though was keen to pursue his ambitions of matching the music coming out of America most notably the Beach Boys and he proceeded to produce an album with Nicholls that would match the 'teenage symphonies to God' vibe that Brian Wilson was creating.

The big budget production and heavy use of orchestration points to the influence of Brian Wilson but many of the songs on the album have more in common with the pop psych of the swinging London scene. The Small Faces psych opus 'Ogden's Nut Gone Flake', the Kinks quintessential 'Village Green Preservation Society' and the Beatles ambiguous 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'. All three are closely linked with the sounds that emanate from this album.

Pencilled in for an April 1968 release the album never reached the shops. A cash flow crisis for the fledgling 'Immediate' label is the most obvious reason for Andrew Loog Oldham getting cold feet but why the album has remained untouched for so many years you begin to wonder if other forces were at work also.

Nicholls went on to provide uncredited backing vocals to the Small Faces 'Ogdens' album before hooking up with Pete Townshend to work on various solo and band projects. He has also released a further three solo albums and has enjoyed many years working as musical director for the Who. He has also written hit singles for Leo Sayer and Roger Daltrey, but don't let that put you off!

Billy Nicholls is still very much active in the music business. For more info on Billy Nicholls check out his website http://www.billynicholls.com/. To purchase the album click here.

RSG classic albums #2 - Roots

2009-02-27T05:26:00.000-08:00

Curtis Mayfield

Roots (Curtom 1971)

Curtis Mayfield. Spiritualist, Preacher man, Soul Saviour, Funkateer: Curtis Mayfield's 'Roots' captures all of these labels so consistently across seven engrossing tracks. From the dirty, funky grooves of 'Get Down' and 'Underground' to the inspirational message songs like, 'Keep On Keeping On' and 'We Got To Have Peace'.

From his early work with the Impressions to his solo work and beyond, his back catalogue is not short on highlights. He wrote and produced hundreds of tracks for other artists and influenced thousands more. His work covered all bases from northern soul, blaxploitation soundtracks, funk and soulful ballads to gospel and social politics. Classic Curtis Mayfield tracks are blessed with a sweet, soothing falsetto voice and sublime orchestrated production courtesy of arranger Johnny Pate.

'Roots' was recorded in Curtis' home town of Chicago at RCA studios along with his current road band and assistance from regular arrangers Riley Hampton and Johnny Pate. The funky club bound groove of 'Get Down' opens the album in fine style. 'Keep On Keeping On' is an inspirational anthem with a strong message about the importance of education and the effects it can have on changing future generations. It's also got a great feel good vibe and speaks of self determination, about not giving up and battling on against the odds. The song title is a phrase oft repeated by Soul fans along with 'Keep the faith' as a sign of solidarity and strength or to describe their unwavering passion for Soul music.

'Underground' returns to a funky mode and talks about pollution and the destruction of the planet at the hands of powerful multinationals. In these times of global warming it's a tale that remains eerily prophetic. As a social commentator, Mayfield's finger was always on the pulse and the anti-war sentiments of 'We Got To Have Peace' are as bold and relevant as ever today. Despite the heavy tones of the subject matter, Mayfield's true skills can be found in the music which always remained freshly sophisticated and uplifting.

'Beautiful Brother Of Mine' talks about black pride. It is one of the many tracks Curtis wrote to specifically to reach out and inspire America's disenchanted black youth. The album closes with two love songs. 'Now You're Gone' is reminiscent of his early Impressions sides but better still is the majestic 'Love To Keep You In My Mind'.

Listen and weep to the perfect melodic twists and turns of the album's closer, 'Love To Keep You In My Mind', a perfect example of Curtis at his understated best. The production is breathtakingly simple and poignant. Swirling strings and a steady complimentary brass arrangement are harmoniously stitched together by the voice of an angel.

Released in 1971 at a time of social change and political unrest the album perfectly captures the spirit of the times with message songs that still resonant today. Mayfield's social commentary is as relevant now as it was back when it was recorded. Soul music was changing too by the dawn of the seventies. The Motown sound would be shaken up by Marvin Gaye's 'What’s Goin On' released the same year. James Brown funk was getting dirtier and Mayfield too, was soon to become a purveyor of the new funk sound that would be the soundtrack of the American urban underground.

Love songs or message songs, the songs of Curtis Mayfield penetrate deep into the conscience without any noticeable force. Grace and dignity over shouting and screaming was Mayfield's preferred trait. The message still hits home hard.

Curtis didn't approve of the album title or the awkward looking portrait on the cover but I feel time has proved that 'Roots' is a worthy word as it captures the depth and importance of Curtis' work. The slightly dated cheesy cover also adds a light paradox to the deeper contents it hides from the unsuspecting listener.

'Roots' can be found on a twofer CD on 'Sequel Records' backed with the equally superb 'Sweet Exorcist' from 1974 or on it’s own in all physical formats. Buy this album today! The clip below, shows Curtis singing 'We Got To Have Peace' is taken from the Old Grey Whistle Test TV show.

My Favourite 45 by Pete Collison, The Fantastics!

2009-02-26T14:51:00.000-08:00

THE FANTASTICS! are the latest UK nu-funk sensations featuring Greg Boraman (Hammond Organ & Electric Piano), Pete Collison (Guitar), Raydn Hunter (Bass), James Rule (Drums) along with Mark Norton (Sax & Flute) and Matt Wilding (percussion). They have enlisted soul singer Noel Mckoy to sing on a couple of tracks on their new album including a stomping funky update on the Small Faces, ‘I Can’t Dance With You’.

You may remember the band from their previous incarnation as the Rev Cleatus & The Soul Saviours and you may have heard them on Craig Charles Funk and Soul radio show recently. Their debut album ‘Mighty Righteous’ is released on March 9th on Freestyle Records.

Guitarist Pete Collison took time out to contribute to our ever growing ‘My Favourite 45’ collection and came up with this funky take of the Carole King penned classic, ‘I Feel The Earth Move’.

Ivan 'Boogaloo Joe' Jones
I Feel the Earth Move (Prestige)

“Why is this my favourite 45? Well, for starters there's a few things that made me know I'd like it before I'd even put it on my turntable; that classic Prestige pointy arrow logo being one, and the knowledge of Bernard Purdie sitting behind one of the great Prestige "bands" being another. Then of course there was the fact that Boogaloo Joe would be letting rip with some sort of finger slashing blues somewhere”.

“The first time I played this 45 I was in that fortunate position of never having heard the tune before, which made it even better. By the time Joe had finished that solo I was (and still am) knocked out cold, and I'm still banned by my girlfriend from listening to it whilst driving! There's a load of influences in there , but it's Joe's own rapid fire take on the blues that gets me every time I hear him - gets me everytime!! Then there’s that Hammond solo, and Bernard Purdie of course - a band is only ever as good as its drummer..."

"But more important than any solo or technical abilities is the feel and vibe of a band, and it feels like everyone is having the time of their life on this tune. In fact there's not much that can top it for me - except for the full length version on Joe's "What It Is" LP - now that's an album and a half!”

Thanks to Pete for a great contribution! You can purchase a physical format of the new album here. Check out the 'Soul Child' single featuring Noel McKoy on lead vocals below. For more news and info on the Fantastics check out their website thefantastics.co.uk

RSG classic albums #1 - Touch 'Em with Love

2009-02-24T12:05:00.000-08:00

Bobbie Gentry
Touch 'Em With Love Capitol 1969

The first in an occasional series introducing some of our all time favourite albums. We kick off with this sleeping giant from the gorgeous Bobbie Gentry...

'Touch 'Em With Love' was Bobbie's fifth album release on Capitol records. Most people will remember the divine Bobbie Gentry for her work with Glen Campbell, her most famous composition 'Ode to Billie Joe' and finally her striking good looks that haven't dated one bit (check out that picture, wow!). But it's her fairly obscure 1969 would be classic that best captures her raw and underappreciated talent.

Bobbie Gentry's songs go much further than capturing the essence of cool country music. She incorporates the blues, soul and gospel all wrapped up with a sultry, husky, smoky vocal style all of her own. A voice that can be both warm and soothing yet somehow at the same time, feel cold, distant and troubled.

Take the good ol' foot tapper that is 'Greyhound Goin' Somewhere' a country tinged cruisin' gem in a similar vein to 'Everybody's Talkin' but with a breathless vocal to make your toes curl. The upbeat gospel tinged 'Touch 'Em With Love' is packed with an uplifting positivity and a killer female choir that will make you repent for even thinking about doubting such a natural beauty. The equally wistful 'Seasons Come Seasons Go' conjures up dreamy images of warm cosy, lazy Sunday mornings of days gone by.

The three fantastic interpretations of classic songs included here also defy belief. Hal David and Burt Bacharach's swoon some ballad 'I'll Never Fall In Love Again' features Bobbie at her angelic best. 'Where's The Playground, Johnny' is the sweeping, orchestrated epic you'd expect from a Jimmy Webb penned song. Most impressive of all though is the sexy take on 'Son Of A Preacher Man' a song that has been done by the best of 'em, Aretha, Dusty and co. Gentry's version is an equally tasty soulful groove. Elsewhere the big production creates a mighty wall of sound combined with Bobbie Gentry's yearning voice for an overwhelming and absorbing experience that begs repeated listening. Only problem with the album is, it's too damn short!

File along with the mighty fine 'Dusty In Memphis' for two examples of the finest female white soul ever recorded.

Touch 'Em With Love was re-issued back in the 90s by Rev-Ola but is long out of print. It is now available as a 2 on 1 CD coupled with the album 'Ode To Bille Joe' on Raven. You can purchase it here. Check out this fantastic footage courtesy of You Tube showing Bobbie belting out 'Touch 'Em With Love' on the Morecambe and Wise show.

My Favourite 45 by Lewis Wharton, Little Barrie

2009-02-22T00:38:00.000-08:00

Little Barrie have been knocking about for awhile now churning out their own unique brand of funky, bluesy rock for the modern age. You may have seen singer Barrie – with his cool 70s Keef Richard’s hair do – rockin’ and a rollin’ with the current Primal Scream live set up. The funked up threesome are currently working on their third album with a new single due later this year. Their early Stark Reality 7” singles are to be given a limited re-issue soon, so if you missed ‘em first time round, keep an eye out on mail order sites like Juno Records, to make sure you catch ‘em.

Bass player Lewis Wharton, kindly took time out to contribute to our ever popular ‘My Favourite 45’ series, where we ask our favourite movers and shakers to pluck a 45rpm single from their record collection and wax lyrical about it for a minute or so. If you would like to comment or contribute to this series we would love to hear from ya!

The Cramps - Surfin Bird / The Way I Walk (Vengeance)

"To be honest I can take or leave the A-side (Surfing Bird), I prefer the Trashmen's original version but it's all about the B-side (The Way I Walk), and the artwork. This is The Cramps first single, they put this out themselves on their own 'Vengeance' label, the sleeve is just thin matt paper that has been screen printed on both sides but the effect is really cool. Probably the coolest record cover I've ever seen. I think they only pressed 6,000 copies, a lot of which went to radio stations in the US so I'm lucky to have found one over here, and the best thing that I was able to swap it for a load of records I didn't want anymore so it feels like I got it for nothing".

"'The Way I Walk' isn't really a dancefloor filler but it's one of the coolest sounding records you'll ever hear!"

For more info on Little Barrie check out littlebarrie.com. Meanwhile, check out the video of early track ‘Free Salute’ below.

New issue of Shindig lands on planet earth!

2009-02-22T00:19:00.001-08:00

The brand new issue of Shindig! is another belter! Cover feature this time round is the Pretty Things plus there are fab features on Funkadelic, garage rock legends Count Five, obscure girl group The She Trinity as well as Kris Needs' on Tim Rose, the guy who wrote the legendary garage classic, 'Hey Joe'. Packed with cool pictures, essential reviews from the world of psych, garage, soul and beyond, this glossy mag is setting new standards for music junkies who like to dig deeper.

You will not want to put this one down! Get hip and get a subscription today! shindig-magazine.com

Whilst we are on a Count Five tip let's indulge ourselves with some rare classic footage of the band performing the snotty, garage anthem, 'Psychotic Reaction' courtesy of good ol' You Tube!

My Favourite 45 (or 12"!) by Rowly, The Delays

2009-02-14T03:00:00.000-08:00

Brought together by a shared love of The Stone Roses, The Verve and The Beatles, Southampton boys, The Delays have released three albums to date. Debuting in 2004 with ‘Faded Seaside Glamour’, ‘You See Colours’ followed in 2006 and their latest ‘Everythings The Rush’ arrived in 2008. Their 2004 Rough Trade single ‘Long Time Coming’ is a regular choice spin at RSG! indie do’s.

RSG recently caught up with drummer Rowly (pictured first left) and asked him to pick one of his favourite platters from his record collection and he came up with this psychedelic monster from the Verve.

Verve - She's a Superstar (Hut)

"Verve (pre 'the') were the first band I ever got really passionate about" claims Rowly, "I was just that bit too young to have heard the Roses when they came out (Black Lace were more my cup of tea at the time!) so by the time my tastes had moved away from Hawaiian shirted pineapple pushers the latest thing was the shoegaze scene”.

“I loved (and still love) a lot of those bands and I think there was some fucking great records made then but when I saw a Verve feature on 'Rapido' (arts show hosted by the Eurotrash guy) I fell for them above all others instantly. They had a sonically beautiful sound, a star frontman with an amazing voice and they could properly groove, a combo I didn’t know was possible!”

"I played the debut single 'All In The Mind' to death so the morning 'She's A Superstar' came out I ran to the record shop first thing, then ran home (faster), all the while staring at the cover which was like a waterfall on another planet (cool.)”

“There’s no way of describing music this good, other than to say to this day I don’t think a record has caused a firework show in my head like when I put the headphones on, cranked the volume and played this for the first time. Certainly not until another Northern band with a similar swagger and self belief released 'Live Forever' a couple of years later, but that’s my favourite 12"”.

Thanks Rowly for taking time out to talk to us. Keep coming back to RSG! for more great 'My Favourite 45' selections from our special guests. If you would like to take part or add your comments on the tracks featured to date, why not drop me a line? soulboy_69@yahoo.com

For more news on the Delays check out

thedelays.co.uk and check out the video to one of our favourite Delays tracks 'Long Time Coming' below.

New RSG! DJ dates coming up

2009-01-23T23:16:00.000-08:00

The Ready Steady Go DJ crew will be stepping out again for a couple of gigs...

First up, DJs Soulboy_69 and Strictly Vinyl Phil will be spinning the wheels of steel at Josephs Well, Leeds on Friday February 6th supporting the Daybreakers and then on Friday April 3rd we'll be at the Brudenell, Leeds with our friends, the Ladyboys and Aftermath. Come on down if you are in the Leeds area!

For more information on these gigs and futue Northern nights go to www.myspace.com/n3mnorthernmusic

Cool links...

www.myspace.com/daybreakersband

www.myspace.com/theaftermathband

www.myspace.com/lsladyboys

Meanwhile, check out The Aftermath latest video 'One Is Fun' here....

My Favourite 45 by Andrew Needle, The Ruling Class

2009-01-23T22:54:00.000-08:00

The first time I stumbled across The Ruling Class was late 2008, when they supported the Charlatans at Leeds Academy. I was impressed by their music and more importantly, their haircuts. Yes folks, hairdos matter in pop music! Rhythm guitarist Andrew Needle (pictured right) dropped by recently to tell us about one his favourite 45s and came up with this surprising novelty tune. The Ruling Class have recently followed up their sold out debut single, ‘Flowers’ with a new EP + 7" single called, ‘Tour De Force’. Check out their myspace page to hear more.

Two Little Boys by Rolf Harris, 1969

Some songs or albums you just want to know everything about them, and about the people that made them, but with this one I’d rather not know for fear of it losing the magic. I never knew anything about it because I was so young when I started listening to it I suppose. You’re not really bothered about stuff like that when you’re not old enough to read.

I know that this song wasn’t originally written by Rolf Harris but this is the version that I know. My mum used to sing it to me and my brother when I was 4. I think she got sick of us asking her to sing it every night and you couldn’t buy it in the shops anymore, so she rang up the local radio station and asked if anyone had a copy. Some nice lady drove round and just gave it to us.

I suppose you could say it’s a song of nostalgia for me, but I don’t think it is just that as I can only vaguely remember listening to but it but I remember being quite affected by it then. I think maybe when you are a child your mind is open in a way it is not when you are older. You are less aware of the boundaries and so you immerse yourself in a different world more freely and I think this is what happens to me still when I listen to this. I’m not normally into songs with a story but this one is haunting in a way that I can’t readily explain. Its strange how at first it comes across as this really saccharine, almost nursery rhyme, song but yet it transcends into something quite powerful and ethereal. There’s something ghostly about it.

I tried to play it on the guitar not so long ago and I just welled up, my voice went all funny. I was singing it with a load of tears flying off my face. Even now when I think of the lyrics I get a bit emotional. I’m a bit like Rolf when that dog died on Animal Hospital. It’s a bit embarrassing.

Apparently this is Margaret Thatcher’s favourite song as well which is quite worrying. She doesn’t seem like someone who would fully empathise with the sentiment. I can’t imagine her being a very sharing child. I can see her kicking the little boy off the horse so that she had more room to herself, and then possibly trampling over him because he didn’t agree with some of her policies, but there you go.

If you haven't heard this song I suggest you go listen to it. Maybe i had heard it now I wouldn't be so fond of it. I may just see it as some terrible kids’ song. But the lyrics conjure up a really powerful image every time I hear it. It’s the best thing Rolf has ever done (apart from those pictures he used to do, where you can't guess what it is until the end).

Andrew Needle, The Ruling Class

Song facts:

The song was originally recorded by British Music Hall star Harry Lauder in 1903. It tells the story of 2 brothers who share horses as boys and later share them in battle during war. The exact war was not specified, although it could be the Boer War.

Rolf Harris hit the number one spot in 1969 in the week Ready Steady Go! Editor Soulboy_69 was born!

The Ruling Class don’t sound like Rolf Harris, trust me!

For more info on the band www.myspace.com/therulingclassuk

New issue of Shindig! mag out now

2008-11-04T05:28:00.000-08:00

The latest issue of Shindig! magazine is out now featuring a massive look at the 60s Texas Scene including the 13th Floor Elevators and other less well known but equally brilliant obscurities such as Zakary Thaks. Checkout exclusive archive footage of the Nuggets favourite courtesy of You Tube below. The third and final installment of the mammoth West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band story comes to a thrilling climax and hundereds of reviews will keep you abreast of all the latest soul, garage, beat and psych re-issues.

If you can't find Shindig! in the shops, why not take out a subscription? More details here.

Motown celebrates 50th birthday

2008-10-08T04:38:00.000-07:00

Starting in December 2008 and running through 2009, Universal Music will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Motown Records.

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Motown Records, Universal Music is releasing the album Motown 50 on 1st December. With the British nation’s endless love for Motown, Universal Music are inviting the public to vote for their favourite Motown tracks and the album will be compiled purely from the top 50 tracks chosen by them.

Universal Motown are embracing social networking to create this unique compilation album by partnering with Poll The People - www.pollthepeople.com/motown50 the global online polling community - to launch the GREATEST MOTOWN SONGS poll. It will run for 4 weeks from Monday 15th September to determine the ultimate Motown Top 50. People can select their Top 5 Motown songs from the database and their votes are entered into the poll. They will also be connected to other members of the community who match some or all of their Top 5 choices so they can meet like minded people and discover new gems from the legendary Motown catalogue.

RSG has submitted our top 5 – why not vote for yours?

Rather than go for the obvious, we've dug a bit deeper into the Motown vaults and gone for five classic dancers that can still pack dancefloors today.

1. Kim Weston (pictured above) - Helpless
2. The Originals - Suspicion
3. Frances Nero - Keep on loving me
4. Eddie Holland - Leaving Here
5. Chris Clark - Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)

Whilst we are on a Motown theme, check out this rare footage, courtesy of YouTube, of the Isley Brothers performing on the TV show 'Ready Steady Go' back in the sixties.

RSG DJ support for The Farm

2008-10-06T06:08:00.000-07:00

Ready Steady Go DJs Phil and Paul are back in action this December supporting Liverpool legends, The Farm as part of a three day event that includes three top scouse acts headlining across three Leeds venues.

The mini festival kicks off on Friday 12th December at the Spinning Wheel pub in Leeds with headliners the Drella's featuring ex-Space frontman Tommy Scott. Baggy heroes, The Farm headline at Leeds University on Friday 19th December and Shack headline at Rio's on Saturday 20th December alongside RSG faves, The Ladyboys. Andy Pye provides the DJ support on the 12th and 20th whilst, RSG! will be spinning the wheels of steel on the 19th.

A £36 ticket is available to cover all gigs or you can purchase tickets for each night seperately. Tickets are available from all the usual outlets. For more information check out www.myspace.com/n3mnorthernmusic.

Listen to the new Oasis album

2008-10-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

The brand new Oasis album 'Dig Out Your Soul' is been previewed by Myspace. You can preview the album in full @ www.myspace.com/oasis

You can purchase the new album here.

Those of you in need of a bit of Oasis nostalgia should check out our archive for our exclusive interview with Liam and Noel back in 1993 just before the Oasis story blew up. You can also view exclusive pictures taken at one of their classic early gigs at the Duchess of York pub in Leeds.

My Favourite 45 by Steve Ellis (Love Affair)

2008-09-26T02:18:00.000-07:00

Steve Ellis, legendary singer with the seventies blue eyed soul band The Love Affair, is back with a brand new album, ‘Best Of Days’ which includes a new version of the classic ‘Everlasting Love’ alongside a cover of Paul Weller’s, ‘Brand New Start’ and brand new compositions. Both, Roger Daltrey and Paul Weller also appear on the album.

The man behind such perennial Mod club spins such as, ‘Loot’s The Root’ and ‘So Sorry’ took time out from promoting his latest release to tell RSG! readers about one of his favourite 45s.

“There are numerous great 45`s of the sixties so many in fact it is impossible to actually make one of them favourite” say Steve, “So (I’ll go for) a random shot "Positively 4th Street" by Bob Dylan”.

“Ironic as my musical tastes lay deeply in Black Soul & Blues Music because to be honest they have just got soul, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, David Ruffin, SamCooke, Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Memphis Slim, Lightning Hopkins, Snooks Eaglin, Ray Charles, Paul Robeson et al, Tamla Motown, Stax, Oriole, Chess, Sue. Indefinable but they and hundreds more translated so much passion and feeling”.

“So for me to pick Bob Dylan is strange I suppose because Bob is no James Carr or Otis Redding or Etta James. Bob Dylan is to some a bumbling old man past his best, to some he is the messiah. Well folks sorry to disappoint but he is a human being and a great one at that. He has written so many classics it is ridiculous. Sure The Beatles and The Stones and to some degree Pete Townsend and The Who and not forgetting the sadly missed Marriott and Lane or Ray Davies and The Kinks all major players in the songwriting dept, in the sixties but Dylan keeps on writing them even to this day”.

“So back to the plot "Positively" is a great lyric in that it curses all the people who smile in your face and stab you in the back so to speak. The world is full of them but Dylan just brushes them aside stating "I know just where you’re at, you just want to be on the side that’s winning". Quality. I can’t say "The Hurricane " because it is 70`s but what a lyric......”

“I had a look through my CD’s before I typed this and the funny thing was I found I owned more Dylan than any other artist although the rest of the music is a very mixed bag indeed”.

“So from an old soldier/mod, Dylan takes 1st Prize”.

Steve Ellis ‘Best of Days’ is out now and can be purchased here.

For more info on Steve’s past, present and future, check out www.steveellis.co.uk

New ish of Shindig out now!!!

2008-06-27T04:01:00.000-07:00

The brand new issue of SHINDIG! magazine hits the shops in the UK this week. This fab magazine gets better every issue putting the likes of Q, Uncut and Mojo to shame.

Inside this issue are fantastic, in depth features on THE WEST COAST POP ART EXPERIMENTAL BAND plus DENNIS WILSON, LOVE, JACKIE LEE, THE PINK FAIRIES and lots, lots more including a Soul column by yours truely! Glossy, professionally produced and packed with cool pics and reviews. This magazine is essential reading for any music fan.

Visit www.shindig-magazine.com for more info and subscription rates. Shindig! is available in all good newsagents (WH Smiths, Borders & Barnes & Noble), book stores, comic stores and indie record shops!

My Favourite 45 by Daniel Wylie, Singer/Songwriter

2008-06-25T05:51:00.001-07:00

Daniel Wylie has released dozens of feel good, shimmering, summery pop classics over the years, both as former lead singer of the Cosmic Rough Riders and now as a solo star. His third solo album, ‘Car Guitar Star’ will be released in the UK on Neon Tetra on August 18th. For the prefect introduction to his work the recent 'best of' is recommended. The album compiles his solo work alongside his best work with the Cosmic Rough Riders. You can also read an old CRR interview with Daniel in our Archive section.

RSG! asked Daniel to pick out one his favourite tracks for our ever expanding 'My Favourite 45' feature and he opted for this obscure seasonal number from the seventies stage show, ‘Hair’.

Good Morning Sunshine by Oliver

“I first heard this song when I was 10 years old" says Daniel, "A few of my cousins and I were on our way to Glasgow Green carnival, counting our money to see how many rides we could afford to go on”.

“My cousin Anne had a little battery operated hand held radio with her and we were listening to Radio 1. It was a warm, sunny day and suddenly on came this amazing song with a melody sent from Heaven”.

“Originally from the musical, "Hair", there's a real melancholia mixed in with the happiness on this song, which in later years I found out is a difficult mood to capture in a song”.

“Some of the lyrics are plain dumb but isn't that true about a lot of the best pop music? Glibby glib glooby...”

“I still get the same feeling of euphoria when I listen to this song now as I did back then and am instantly transported back to that moment, walking along Old Rutherglen Road past the bowling green when this magical song came on the radio.”

“My children are also fans of the song since it's inclusion in an episode of The Simpsons”.

For more information on Daniel Wylie go to www.myspace.com/danielwylie

To purchase Car Guitar Star click here.

RSG/IKON competition

2008-06-25T03:30:00.000-07:00

There’s still time to enter our competition to win you a swish record/man type bag courtesy of the good folk at IKON footwear. The closing date is June 30th. Simply answer the following question below and email your answer to soulboy_69@yahoo.com

Q. Who was the female presenter on the sixties music TV show, Ready Steady Go?

The lucky winners will be drawn soon after and announced here. Watch this space and good luck!

My Favourite 45 by Adam, Rowed Out Records

2008-06-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

As technology gathers pace the punk DIY spirit of yesteryear seems such a long lost time ago. The buzz you got from vinyl, fanzines and word of mouth tip offs serve only to remind you of a nostalgic era long before t’internet, IPODs, CDs and MP3s came along.

Here at RSG! we feel it’s important to embrace new technology at the same time as keeping the old ethos alive. So, as much as we still love and desire vinyl, we treasure the fact that the internet is a unique facility for indulging our musical desires like never before.

In a world of fake celebrity and superfluous celebration for the non-talented it is both satisfying and inspiring to see small, independent labels like Rowed Out Records steadfastly keeping the spirit alive, releasing limited 7” singles from up and coming bands, whilst at the same time using technology to connect with like minded souls.

You can’t but help admire label boss Adam for his dedication to the cause. His mission is a pure labour of love, devoid of any selfish aspirations for fame and fortune. Of course, it would be nice to have a bit of dosh and gratitude along the way but that’s not the primary reason for wanting to stick your neck on the line and run your own label. It’s this grassroots level RSG! applauds. This label, like many other small, enterprising labels, represents the life blood of a music industry that never properly pays its dues to the people like Adam, whose obvious devotion to music and supporting others is beyond question.

Do yourself a favour and have a punt on one of Rowed Out records 7” singles and help keep the fire burning. In the meantime, we asked Adam to tell us about one his favourite 45s from his record collection and he has plumped a pure mod gem by the Eyes, ‘I’m Rowed Out’ –

“So good I named a record label after it!!” says Adam.

The Eyes - I'm rowed out (Mercury MF 881)

“There are many sounds from the 60s that will stay with me as they were the first records I got into as an 11/12 year old, 'Green Onions', 'Be My baby', 'Louie Louie' etc. and I still love the thrill of hearing something new from that period of music. Although 'I'm rowed out' is a blatant rip-off of The Who's 'I can't explain' is has stuck with me from the first time I heard it, which would have probably been in a London club in the late '80s ( I also remember top '90s mod band THE CLIQUE covered it). The intro is not as shrill as The Who's and the lyrics are a lot harder - it could have been written about a mod, the lyrics reflecting an attitude akin to a teenagers thoughts on living in the fast lane, sod the mediocrity”

“The opening lyric of "You got a grey suede coat and a soul like fire" sum up a mod's pilled-up attitude. It has parallels with The Kinks 'Dedicated follower of fashion' in creating a vision of some hip young thing lording it up around the London hot-spots”. “I named the second release on Rowed Out Records 'Soul Like Fire' as a tribute and the third release 'Join the tea set' is a lyric from another of their tracks - 'My degeneration'. Release #4 is entitled 'Do it for kicks' (from a line in 'Rowed out' - "You don't want money, you do it for kicks")”.“The Eyes are a VERY under-rated mod band, look at the back catalogue they left, they were ahead of their time, recording freakbeat monsters 'You're too much' and 'When the night falls' long before other bands took R&B and made it heavier”.“The record still gets plays in clubs now and is one of only a few British R&B tunes that can be heard between the US soul and R&B, proving it's longevity on the mod scene”.“A truly classic 45”.

For more information on Rowed Out records go to http://www.rowedout.co.uk/ or http://www.myspace.com/soullikefire

If you run your own label and would like to be featured in Ready Steady Go please drop us a line @ soulboy_69@yahoo.com

Cheap CDs, Vinyl for sale now on EBAY

2008-06-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

It's time for a clearout here at RSG! towers.

Check out our 'for sale' lists on ebay and pick up a bargain along the way including this lovely original copy of the Temptations lp, Psychedelic Shack on Gordy.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZpaul*rsg

Keep on lookin' as there are lots of soul, funk and indie goodies to come soon!