BBC Proms - Northern Soul Prom - Review

 On Saturday night, myself and Clare made our way to The Royal Albert Hall for the Northern Soul Prom.

At the @RoyalAlbertHall for @bbcproms Northern Soul night. Full of real music lovers who enjoy a boogie! No armchair critics here! pic.twitter.com/PYUzCZ3xjz

— Roger Tichborne/Rog T (@Barneteye) July 15, 2023

Northern Soul was a genre I was introduced to fairly late. Not least, as a Southerner and being into punk bands, it all seemed rather strange. Northerners, speeding to the eyeballs, gyrating wildly into the early hours, at venues with names such as "The Wigan Casino", to old B sides from the US seemed odd to me. Perhaps my first proper interest was when Soft Cell covered Gloria Jones Tainted Love and went to no 1. I sought out the Gloria Jones version. It sounded nothing like Marc Almond, but I thought it sounded great.

I'd occasionally check the genre out, with no great effort expended, until late 1984. When Venessa Sagoe quite the False Dots, I started looking around for new musicians and a new direction. I had a brief hook up with "Bob from Stoke". A sax player, who was also a Northern Soul nut. Bob persuaded me that a Northern Soul review band would be the way to go. He lent me a stack of records. I spent a week making notes, listening and trying to get the vibe. I wrote a song in what I thought the Genre was, called Maybe Once More. A week later I met up with Bob to discuss the way forward. I said I really got what he was saying, played him the new number, which left him completely non plussed. He then asked if I'd learned all of the songs. I hadn't realised that was the plan. When I said no, he called me a "f***** c***" told me I was an idiot and stormed off with his bag of records. I never saw Bob again. I was taken completely by surprise, but the brief musical collaboration gave me a love of the new genre and a cracking song.

When Clare suggested going, I didn't hesitate. I was fascinated to see a 2023 on thiis genre. I've always regretted not taking a train up to Wigan for the evening, but in truth the  scene was almost done by the time I'd have been in a position to go. Clare loves the Proms and always attends at least three or four. I pick and choose, but this was a must. We shared a bottle of wine in the Stella Artois Bar and took our seat. The songs included ‘You’re Gonna Make Me Love You’, ‘Open the Door to Your Heart’, ‘It Really Hurts Me Girl’, ‘Hold Back the Night’, ‘Time Will Pass You By’ and ‘Just Like the Weather’.  The BBC Concert Orchestra sounded amazing and the six vocalists were wonderful, with Darrell Smith being the pick of the bunch. Stuart Maconie came on before the end to intoduce the the '3 before 8': "Time Will Pass You By" by Tobi Legend, "Long After Tonight Is All Over" by Jimmy Radcliffe, and "I'm on My Way" by Dean Parrish.These were always the last three songs before the gig finished at 8pm at The Wigan Casino. 

Of course there was an encore. To no one's surprise this was "Tainted Love", a far more Gloria Jones version with Vlula Malinga on vocals. The night was a breathless celebration of the genre. If I hadn't seen Blur last week, it would have been my gig of the year. 

And one amusing aside. Halfway through the second set, there was an altercation, down to our right. Too far away to see exactly what went on, but I am sure one of the men was "Bob from Stoke", he had a very distinctive look. Of course it probably wasn't, Clare says "You always say you know everyone".

All in all it was a wonderful night, don't miss it when it was broadcast.

As an aside, I thought I'd just mention that Bob from Stoke did inspire me to write a few songs in that genre. It was a real shame that we crossed paths after Venessa Sagoe left the band, as I'm sure his influence would have made us an amazing band. In 2010, we hooked up with Connie Abbe, an amazing Sudanese singer. I dusted down a few of the songs and we did some amazing gigs. Sadly, Connie was so good that she departed for richer work before we could really get going, but here is one of the songs performed live at Camden of that ilk. I was inspired to have another listen and despite the basic recording, I think it sounds great. One day, we'll nab Connie and record this properly with brass added.