Reaching For The Very Best - The Official Trailer

"Reaching For The Very Best" - released on Monday November 24th 2008. This three disc CD set contains my seventy all time greatest Northern Soul records. In 1975 Brenda Reid bellowed the album title some 3,000 miles from home. Little did she know the song would not only stand the test of time, but would serve as the yardstick for any similar production outfit to match. Amy Winehouse, Duffy and others during the last 30 years have not surpassed the Exciters anthem in the Northern Soul vocal stakes post 1975. Quite simply Reid blows them away. "Reaching for the Very Best" is a collection of 70 tracks recorded between 1975-2008. A legacy of four decades of quality assembled by myself and Kev Roberts. The assortment corners several phases of dance floor fever. The mid-70s saw us revive careers for bit part players within the US R&B scene. Tyrone Ashley, Doris Jones, LJ Johnson, Carol Woods gave admirable performances. Their respective singles in this period sold reasonably well. Hit singles by Evelyn Thomas-Weakspot and LJ Johnson-Your Magic Put A Spell On Me and subsequent TV appearances, somewhat shocked the Northern Soul scene, as tailor mades were somewhat frowned upon. The tracks themselves were certainly influenced by late Motown and early Disco melodies and on a re-listen, they do stand up as totally original. In fact Johnson's one hit wonder inspired Brainstorm's monster Lovin Is Really My Game. James Wells, Miquel Brown and Barbara Pennington fuelled some form of decent cash flow allowing freedom of ambition in recording many former Motown legends, notably the Motor City project. A mammoth task that maybe only an Ian Levine could kick start and execute. Then we attracted hitmakers Eddie Holman, Chuck Jackson, Johnny Bristol, The Supremes, Archie Bell with maybe only Stevie, Diana and Lionel politely declining our overtures. Seven new re-works are cd bound for the first time. Various new DJ/Remixers have whipped up irresistable delicacies from David Ruffin, Fantastic Four, Mary Wells, Edwin Starr,The Contours, GC Cameron and Patti Jerome. Selecting 70 tracks as a definitive selection of our involvement in Northern Soul did not take too long. There are a few post Millenium outings from Sandi Sheldon, a recording artist in the 60s, for whom one of her waxings was championed strongly by me in my DJ days at Blackpool Mecca. The Four Vandals originated as a controversial Northern Soul act fronted by X-Factors Steve Brookstein, Venecia Wilson is Steve's ex girlfriend while Vanessa Haynes is one of my recent discoveries. Honourable mentions go to CP Spencer, Bettye Lavette, the late Edwin Starr's brother Angelo and Eddie Kendricks soundalike Gerod Harris. In terms of turntable hits, there is probably none larger than Sidney Barnes-Standing On Solid Ground. Overlooked by the Northern Soul Scene upon initial release, the vesuvius type nature of the track has completely engrossed the scene on a weekly basis for the last 5 years. Discover your own favourite and enjoy! Available from Amazon or Goldsoul at www.goldsoul.co.uk

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Northern-Soul
• Disco
• Anthem
• Blackpool-Mecca
• Motorcity
• Centre-City
• Male-Singers
• Girl-Singers
• Classic
• Seventies
• Trailer

[SuperBluemoon1]

Well done again Mr Levine, brilliant! could you help me out please? i mislaid my music cd to the strange world of n/s, i need a copy of it so i can play Roq e harell, can you help? thanks, Stuart.

[IanLevine]

That CD is very rare now. But Rocq-E Harrell is also on this here very same CD set that you've placed this comment on, so just order it from Amazon uk. It should be less than ten quid as well.

[BarbraAlejandro]

Ian- I Am Enjoying This As I Type...Fabulous!! The Only Problem Is There Is NOT A "Vol.1" In The Title!!! With ALL The Great Songs You Have Produced Over The Years Many Favorites Are Left Behind. Don't Get Me Wrong All 70 Tracks Included Here Are Fantastic....But Lets Face It They're Just The Tip Of The Iceberg In Your Incredible Catalog!!!! Ian- You Are Simply The BEST, GREATEST & MOST WONDERFUL Thing That Ever Happened To MUSIC!!!! Take Care-David

[IanLevine]

I actually already discussed with Kev Roberts about doing a second set of another seventy if this one does alright. Set two would be called "Running In Another Direction". So lets hope it sells a few - which isn't so easy these days.

[TomKay]

Looks like a great album. I still can't twork out how Ian made the Venicia Wilson track though, it sounds completely different to his other material (which I love), but that one sounds like it's straight out of a Detroit studio in the 60s... how did he do it?

[IanLevine]

If you think that sounds straight out of 1960s Detroit, just WAIT till you hear "Under Lock And Key" by Peter Lamarr (he was one of The Drifters) - our best and most authentic EVER.

[yam400e]

doesnt come better than this all legends

[BarbraAlejandro]

Ian- Sooooo Glad That Vol 2 Will Be Coming Out....Can't Wait To Hear All The Fantastic Tracks!!! Hugs Always-David

[BarbraAlejandro]

Ian- I'll Keep My Fingers Crossed That This Set Sells Well And For A Vol. 2!!! Please Take Care And Keep Up The Fantastic Work For Those Of Us Who Truly APPRECIATE IT!!!!!! Hugs-David

[anotherblonde]

Will there be an i-pod download version available?

[lainet]

Sounds great. I also love the attention to detail with the CDs made to look like 7"s. :)

[BarbraAlejandro]

Ian-I Just Ordered My Copy And Can't Wait!!! Thanks For All The GREAT MUSIC!!!!!!!!!! Take Care-David