Thursday, December 13, 2007

Funky Friday - Birthday Treat

Every Friday is Funky Friday on Planet Mondo, but this week FF is different for the following reason..

It's my birthday this Sunday, so I hope you'll allow me the indulgence of loading up the A and B side my favourite Northern Soul single EVER by Luther Ingram

A - 'Exus Trek'
B - 'If It's All The Same To You'

I only stumbled across these tracks six months ago, but the moment I heard them it felt like I'd known them all my life and I've had to play them at least once a week ever since. The A side 'Exus Trek' is a glorious Northern Soul stomping instrumental, but flip it over and it's even better on the B side. A vocal version of 'Exus Trek' with heartfelt lead vocals and haunting backing vocals - and for me THE perfect Northern Soul song (I really can't understand why the vocal take was tucked away on the B side)

There are few other tracks constantly in flux and contending for second place on my Northern Soul playlist..

Bobby Fuller Four - 'Magic Touch'
The MVP's - 'Turnin' That Heartbeat up'
The Younghearts - 'A Little Togetherness'
'Love is Like an Itching in My Heart' - The Supremes

But Luther Ingram is always there in pole position.

I don't know much about Luther Ingram except that his greatest hit was '(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right' and he appeared at Wattstax, - but I do know that 'If It's All The Same To You' and 'Exus Trek' are the distilled essence of Northern Soul and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Luther Ingram - Exus Trek.mp3



Luther Ingram - If It's All The Same To You.mp3




Exus Trek - home made vid' found on you tube

14 comments:

Axe Victim said...

Nice on mate. That got me stompin'. Great little viddy too. Northern Soul eh? The spirit of the Wigan Casino lives on!

Axe Victim said...

Oh yeah, happy b-day for Sunday too!

Mondo said...

Thanks AV

Great video - but what's all the Arthurian imagery about? Don't forget to fill your boots and download both sides - as the single will set you back £250 - £400 if you can find it. (I didn't pay that, found the A and B on CD)

Jonathon Livingstone Beale III (twice removed) said...

Top tune - thanks mate! Both sides it is.
I'm well chuffed...have a good birthday!!!!
Stay the right side..

BLTP said...

Happy Birthday I hope you don't get too many combined christmas and birthday presents

Mondo said...

Matt - glad you liked the tune thought it might be your side of funky.

Thanks BLTP. Normally works out OK, dropping plenty of hints well in advance always helps. Love that chrissy' tune in your last post

marmiteboy said...

Old bastard. Have a good 'em mate.

HSB DaveB. said...

Love this one!! Gonna have to track down some of that early stuff. I don't have too much Luther Ingram either but my favourite is "I'll Be Your Shelter (In Time Of Storm)" which I included in my latest mix over at my blog. Here's the direct link to the mp3 of that song if you, or anyone else is interested.

http://www.box.net/shared/static/a8226gqqdb.mp3

I think I first heard it on Paul Weller's fantastic BBC Vinyl Classics series a few years back.

Thanks so much and sending out some B-Day wishes. All the best!

Peace and SOUL,
Dave...

Piley said...

have a good one on sunday PM, hopefully have a hook up over christmas chap.

Just got 'awopbop-aloobop alopbam-boom' by nik coen, on your recomendation. looks good

56 Special said...

Nice. I prefer the B side, which would have seemed the obvious choice as A side... Great vocals, and like you said, it's pretty much the definition of Northern Soul.

Happy Birthday for Sunday you old mod. Hope you're feeling better now. See you over xmas for a sherbert and to talk some shit about rock 'n' soul.

Mondo said...

MB - being six months more 'vintage' than me, you'll have to give me a few tips on Stannah stairlift and Werthers orginals etiquette.

HSBD
Don't know that Weller comp but will be raising a glass and shaking a leg to your new mix tonight. I'll be playing Exus or If it's all the same on the 28th Dec at

http://www.myspace.com/weirdfantasy

if you're Southend bound around then

P Defo up for a hook up and I've got to return your Alan Moore Graph' Nov's too

56S The B side is my fave take of the two it's an absolute 'banker'
See you at Weird Fantasy you the 28th

Anonymous said...

Belated birthday greetings to you! Hope it was good fun.

Mondo said...

It was a great day thanks to some fine and dandy bits and bobs from Mrs M. And I Treated myself to a birthday vindaloo.Luscious.

I Am Not The Beatles said...

Hello, hope you enjoyed our birthday vindaloo and Merry Christmas and all that.

Ian TB
x