Well, we all know that there's plenty of soul records hidden away in Japan....or the "land of the rising record price" as someone once called it...but is there an actual scene for Northern/Rare Soul out there? Well, I've had the pleasure of DJing out there a few times now and there seems to be two sides to their scene - collector's nights where dancing isn't the priority, but listening to the tunes and giving information over the mic is, and then there's the full on dance yourself stupid scene! It seems that the dance nights in Tokyo have also included Deep Funk (Keb's massive influence over there!), Jazz Dance and Rare Groove, as well as Northern/Rare Soul, in order to pull the punters in. Never the less, there are several die hard soul fan collectors who will always attend these! Down South in Kobe and Osaka there is a truly wonderful full-on Northern Soul scene run by a bunch of guys who have all lived in the UK for a while, so know what it's all about, and their nights are 100% Northern/Rare Soul...and yes they have great discs and yes they are great dancers (Keb clones!). Below are pics and playlists from a couple of nights in Tokyo at "Searching" in 2001 and "BlueHeat" in 2002, and above/below is the link button to a page devoted to the Kobe and Osaka soul nights in 2002/2003...again with pics, flyers and playlists...and scans of their club badges! Here's Ikeda san's "Soul Whirlpool" page link -  www.soul45.org

Souling it up In Japan

Well, we all know that there's plenty of soul records hidden away in Japan....or the "land of the rising record price" as someone once called it...but is there an actual scene for Northern/Rare Soul out there? Well, I've had the pleasure of DJing out there a few times now and there seems to be two sides to their scene - collector's nights where dancing isn't the priority, but listening to the tunes and giving information over the mic is, and then there's the full on dance yourself stupid scene! It seems that the dance nights in Tokyo have also included Deep Funk (Keb's massive influence over there!), Jazz Dance and Rare Groove, as well as Northern/Rare Soul, in order to pull the punters in. Never the less, there are several die hard soul fan collectors who will always attend these! Down South in Kobe and Osaka there is a truly wonderful full-on Northern Soul scene run by a bunch of guys who have all lived in the UK for a while, so know what it's all about, and their nights are 100% Northern/Rare Soul...and yes they have great discs and yes they are great dancers (Keb clones!). Below are pics and playlists from a couple of nights in Tokyo at "Searching" in 2001 and "BlueHeat" in 2002, and above/below is the link button to a page devoted to the Kobe and Osaka soul nights in 2002/2003...again with pics, flyers and playlists...and scans of their club badges! Here's Ikeda san's "Soul Whirlpool" page link -  www.soul45.org

"Rare Soul Convention #6" at Blue Heat in Tokyo 4th April 2002. This was the first time I've ever seen a chair behind the decks, but that was condusive with the night as it was laid back and just for collectors! Between each track the DJ would talk a bit about the records/artists/label! I took this opportunity to play a favourite slowie from Gerri Hall, and also played the Toni Talbert out for the very first time ever....sounded good!

Tokyo collector's night at the "Juke Joint" in 2001. A lot of credit must go out to Naoko (stood next to me above), as she has regularly put on both Keb and Butch over the last couple of years, but now resides in the UK! TOP RIGHT: Avid collectors and all round good guys, Ikeda san and Kuzuhara san.

At "Blue Heat"...sat down on the job...with Suzuki san...taking a bow with Katayama san and Sasaki san.

I played: DREAM TEAM - THERE HE IS - GREGORY RAY & THE BLUE SATINS - SHE DOESN'T LOVE ME - A.R.V. GREATER EXPERIENCE - DON'T FORGET TO REMEMBER - COLONY 13 PRECIOUS THREE - I NEED A MAN - REFOREE BARBARA MERCER - A DREAM - SIDRA UNISSUED TYRONE ASHLEY - I WANT MY BABY BACK - PHIL LA OF SOUL ALT.TAKE PRECISIONS - YOU'RE MINE - DREW UNISSUED MARY WHEELER & THE KNIGHTS - I FEEL IN MY HEART - ATOM BOBBY REED - THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR LOVE - BELL MONIQUE - IF YOU LOVE ME (SHOW ME) - MAURCI GERRI HALL - I LOST THE KEY - HOT LINE SIDNEY BARNES - SAFETY ZONE - JOBETE ACETATE LIMITATIONS - I'M LONELY, I'M TROUBLED - BACONE HELEN TROY - BRING THAT MAN MY WAY - C/UP SOUL INC.  - MY PROPOSAL - COCONUT GROOVE DREAM TEAM - I'M NOT SATISFIED - GREGORY JOEY DELORENZO - WAKE UP TO THE SUNSHINE GIRL - MI-VAL SEPTEMBER JONES - I'M WITH YOU - PIED PIPER UNISSUED HAYES COTTON - BLACK WINGS HAVE MY ANGEL - RESIST LES CHANSONETTES - DON'T LET HIM HURT YOU - SHRINE THE JOKERS - SOUL SOUND - SKO-FILED MARVA JOSIE - LATER FOR YOU BABY - TIME CANDI STATON - NOW YOU'VE GOT THE UPPER HAND - UNITY TONI TALBERT - YOU BETTER WATCH YOURSELF - VIRTUE ACETATE

Avid collectors and all round good guys, Ikeda and Daijiro.

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Anorak's Corner!