Released last October 2008, a tremendously exciting project for Northern Soul fans everywhere. We did a deal with Wienerworld, a major music DVD company, and the same company who originally released our classic documentary "The Strange World Of Northern Soul", and we went on to do the definitive DVD box set. A five disc set of 200 performances called "Northern Soul's Greatest 200 Floorfillers". This uses some songs from "The Strange World Of Northern Soul" which are completely re-edited, so they look fresh and sparkling new. All the previous video effects done in the 1990s are gone forever, consigned to history. Plus loads and loads of never before seen videos, many of which have sat in the can untouched for many many years. Plus some newly recorded tributes to the classics. If you ever went to Blackpool Mecca or Wigan Casino, this is the must-have purchase of the year. In putting together this box set, we have nearly all the biggest all time blockbusters, "Out On The Floor", "Night Owl', "I'm On My Way", "Time Will Pass You By", "Blowing My Mind To Pieces", "Do I Love You", all sung by the original singers. We believe this will go down in history as the greatest Northern Soul DVD collection of all time. Here, Northern Soul legend Jimmy Thomas sings his all time classic "The Beautiful Night" dating back to the days of The Torch and Blackpool Mecca in popularity. I have known Jimmy Thomas for a staggering thirty seven years. I used to vist him when I first visited London, at his home in Chepstow Road, Notting Hill Gate, and even have my picture in Kev Roberts' book, taken with him in The Torch in Stoke On Trent in 1972, when I DJ'd there as a teenager. Jimmy was born in Osceola, Arkansas, USA. He called his first band "The Trays" and he formed this whilst still in school. Albert King, the late eminent blues guitarist/singer, a family friend, arrived in the early hours of one morning, shortly after Jimmy left school, and took him to St Louis to meet Ike Turner. Having enjoyed the meeting, Jimmy stayed in St Louis as one of the male vocalists in Ike's "Kings of Rhythm". Jimmy was there when the Ike and Tina Turner Revue was formed. He was the main male vocalist with his own spot in the show. He travelled and recorded extensively with them, touring Britain twice and the USA many times. It wasn't long before Ike recognised Jimmy's songwriting talent. "You can Go" was released on Sue Records the label owned by Juggy Murray of New York. "Just Trying to Please You" c/w "Where There's a Will (There's a Way)", as well as "He's Alright With Me" and " Your Kind (is no good)" (Jimmy's songs) were released on Mirwood Records. All of these releases did well. During the second UK tour with the Ike and Tina Turner Review, the late Denny Cordell, who produced many artists such as Joe Cocker, J J Cale, Procul Harum and others, and Tony Visconti, who produced T-Rex, David Bowie and others for Straight Ahead Productions, invited Jimmy to return to London to learn record production under their auspices. One of Jimmy's early productions and songs was a massive Northern Soul hit. "The Beautiful Night"/"Above a Whisper" single was the first of Jimmy's productions and "Where There's a Will (There's a Way)" also became a Northern Soul classic. "The Beautiful Night" was re-recorded for 20th Century Records. Jimmy produced an album of his own work, called "Abyss", on Contempo International, a London label owned by John Abbey. Since arriving in England, Jimmy has made several singles and has worked vocally with many, many artists - John Lennon, The Rolling Stones, Madness, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - and the list goes on. Jimmy has his own label, Osceola Records as an outlet for his work. I filmed him for The Strange World Of Northern Soul doing recuts of "The Beautiful Night", and the classic from Mirwood Records, "Where There's A Will There's A Way". We also cut new songs, "We Got Togetherness" and "Secret Doors To Secret Places" in the year 2000. And we cut "Dancing On The Edge Of A Dream" and "First Class Ticket" for recent Centre City albums last year.
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5 videos
This is my favorite northern track!
Jaynesoul 2 years ago
Great track, iv got it on 7" from the 70s, cant remember which label its on off top o my head tho!
BUXSTOKIE 2 years ago
Great sound, well worth listing to, 5*. Makes you want to get up & dance
IrelandWestFilms 2 years ago
I love this.
Classic Levine sound.
nolanmilligan 2 years ago