Modernists - A Decade Of Rhythm & Soul Dedication Various Artists (Modernists)

£11.70

Genre:
Mod/Club
Label:
Kent
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDKEND 431

For the last four years I have presented a podcast called The Modcast. We’ve interviewed internationally famous writers, sportsmen, actors and musicians about their relationship with mod, the most enduring of youth cults. They all have different experiences which dragged them in – be it Britpop, the late 70s mod revival or an appreciation of sharp-dressed jazzers. At the heart of it is a love of the original 1960s mods, whose main focus was smart clothes and music, an alluring blend, with each equally important.

For those who have dedicated their lives to mod, it long ago became important for it to be more than just a re-enactment of what had gone before. Fortunately there was lots of room for new developments, especially in music. 1960s mods had the idea right; American soul and R&B records released on UK labels such as Atlantic, London American, Sue or Tamla Motown were at the forefront of the game. But brilliant records were being made all over the USA, and British labels could only release a handful of them. As some of the best were little-known even in the USA, it isn’t surprising many were overlooked. To add to the problem, the UK industry strongly discouraged imports.

Since then, many Northern Soul enthusiast have made trips to the USA to exhume obscure soul records that would surely have filled the dancefloors of the Twisted Wheel or the Scene club, if only copies had been around at the time. We at Ace have done our bit too, searching out and releasing some stunning rarities as well as previously unreleased masters from tape vaults. Ady Croasdell and I have also spent two decades putting together the “Mod Jazz” series, where we spirited up a mythical Soho basement and filled it with organ grooves, jazz instrumentals and steamy Latin rhythms.

“Modernists” is the soul version of “Mod Jazz”, comprising records we feel could have been massive in mod clubs in the 1960s and could fill dancefloors today. I hope you will be impressed by the high quality throughout, from Jeb Stuart’s boogaloo opener to Paul & Rick’s perfect ender. Timmy Wilson’s ‘Long Ways To Go’ would surely have been an R&B club smash had his record label not gone bust, while Mel Williams’ ‘Jet Set’ fulfils all the musical and lyrical requisites of a mod classic. It’s difficult to choose highlights, but as I’ve been championing it in clubs for a couple of years, I’m going to mention Little Eva’s ‘Dynamite’, an answer to James Brown’s ‘Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag’, which is amazing.

Dean Rudland

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Track listing

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Side 1

  • 01 Preview Soul Jerk It, Baby - Jeb Stuart

  • 02 Preview Dog (Ain't A Man's Best Friend) - Lewis Clark

  • 03 Preview Harlem Shuffle - Robert Moore

  • 04 Preview Good Humor Man - Clifford Curry

  • 05 Preview Cat Dance - The In Crowd

  • 06 Preview Jet Set - Mel Williams

  • 07 Preview Hold Your Dog - Oliver Morgan

  • 08 Preview Dynamite - Little Eva

  • 09 Preview Stone Fox - The Pac-Keys

  • 10 Preview I Got Loaded - Little Bob

  • 11 Preview Shirley - John Fred & The Playboys

  • 12 Preview (You Should Have Been A) Doctor - Bessie Banks

  • 13 Preview Boston Monkey - The Hustlers

  • 14 Preview Turn Around And Go - Lee Bernard

  • 15 Preview Got A Good Thing Going On - The Clarence Daniels Orchestra, vocal Obie Jessie

  • 16 Preview Long Ways To Go - Timmy Wilson

  • 17 Preview Shaggy Dog - Danny & The Velaires

  • 18 Preview Bugaloo Pete - Lester Young & The California Playboys

  • 19 Preview Crow Baby Crow - Leroy Harris

  • 20 Preview Monkey Man - Gene Burks

  • 21 Preview Tingling - Eddy Giles

  • 22 Preview She's Got Soul - Bill Locke

  • 23 Preview Charles' Shing A Ling - Charles Hodges

  • 24 Preview After Hours - Paul & Rick

Delivery & Returns

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We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

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