I was fascinated by an e-mail I received from Nicole, in California, who told me about her mother, Patti Massaglia.

Patti Massaglia, and two other Italian girls, from the East-side of Detroit, sang together as The Young Sisters.

Music manager and record producer, Harry Balk, ‘discovered’ the girls during the summer of 1962, and together they recorded ‘Casanova Brown’ which was the first record released on Balk’s fledgling Twirl label, (JoAnn Courcy, Volumes, etc.)

‘Casanova Brown’ became a hit – and can still be found today for under a tenner.

The Young Sisters worked together from 1962-64, both as a femme trio, and as backing vocalists for Del Shannon, (who was also managed by Harry Balk at the time.)

In 1966, Patti Massaglia released a solo single under the name of Patti Young, and the ‘Head And Shoulders’ single has since become a legendary sound on our Scene.

The ‘Head And Shoulders’ song had also been released, during 1965, by Marlina Mars on the MGM label.

Patti Massaglia, now Patti Lumetta, is alive and well, and still living in Detroit.

Listen Here: HEAD AND SHOULDERS (ABOVE THE REST) – PATTI YOUNG

Listen Here: HEAD & SHOULDERS – MARLINA MARS

There seems to be quite a few CD ‘swappers’ out there with 1,000’s of unfamiliar, and familiar, tracks. If you are interested in swapping CD’s then just drop me an e.mail at n.soulchris@hotmail.com  and I will put you in contact with another ‘swapper’.

When you have finished browsing through this web site, visit YOU TUBE and type NS KTF into the search-engine. There you will find scores of superb soul sounds to enjoy.

There’s plenty of Northern Soul to be found at the DENTON LABOUR CLUB, (Ashton Road, M34 3J F) and it’s only 3 quid on the door. Upcoming Friday nights are June 5th, July 3rd, August 7th, September 4th, October 2nd, November 6th and December 4th. The soul begins at 8pm and goes on till late. These gigs are brought to you by M.P.D.C. Promotions (Most People Despise Cocopops) That old soul Dennis Black sent me a list of Denton favourites - I’ve picked out just ten sounds to list here, and you can go to the ‘LISTEN HERE’ tab to hear more.

Solomon Burke                 Cry To Me                                    Atlantic
Howard Guyton                I Watched You Slowly Slip Away  Verve
Deon Jackson                  Ooh Baby                                     Carla
Herman Lewis                  Who’s Kissing You Tonite            Mercury
Jr Walker                          Good Rockin’                                Harvey
Walter Jackson                 Everything Under The Sun          Okeh
Ben E King                       Too Bad                                       Atco
Barbara Lynn                    Take Your Love And Run            Atlantic
Detroit Soul                       All Of My Life                               Music Town
Mamie Galore                    It Ain’t Necessary                        St Lawrence

WANTED: High quality label scans of Loma 2048 and 2004, both ‘a’ and ‘b’ sides.

Ann Webster’s fave-5 from Birchley St Mary’s are…

Etta James – Seven Day Fool – Argo 5402 from 1961

Mickie Champion – What Good Am I – Musette 9151

Flaming Emeralds – Have Some Everybody – Fee 361 from Detroit, 1977

Charles Sheffield – It’s Your Voodoo – Excello 2200 from 1961

Archie Bell & Drells – Where Do You Go When The Party’s Over – Portrait 7256 from 1976

Visit www.birchley.biz

Quality original 45’s don’t always have to cost a fortune; and you can certainly find some bargains at www.45heaven.com for example…

Billy Harner – She’s Almost You – Open (£3)

J. J. Jackson – That Ain’t Right – Calla (£4)

Jackie Lee – Your PERSONALITY – Mirwood (£4)

Odds & Ends – Yesterday My Love – Today (£6)

Millie Jackson – Breakaway – Spring (£6)

SOUL NIGHTS AT
RAMSBOTTOM CRICKET CLUB

8pm – 1am       £4 on the door
01706 821 925