Saturday 5 February 2011

Goodbye Motown & More - hello Soul Medicine!!!!!!!!!!

Those of you that read my blog will know that in Friday morning's blog, I said that I may be losing a night of work per month.

When I went to tonight's Motown & More I was hoping for a better night as a fair few people said they were coming. It turns out some of them didn't and it left the night short of people - and we've had too many of those lately. It got to the stage tonight when people were leaving at 10ish and I thought that either I'd turned into a crap DJ or it was time to say F**k it! and keep going, but to do what I'm good at and make the night work.

I may have substituted playing some rarer tunes from some that are more common, but I was determined I wasn't going to lose another night's work. And I'm pleased to report, it worked.

Since I've been in Cambridge, I've been to lots of events and watched other DJs work to packed floors and I knew that I'm as good as some of them, but I've not been getting the floors as full as I should. Maybe that's because people didn't know me round here. Well I've been here for almost a year now. It's time that I made sure people do know I'm here, and that I'm a good DJ too!

Don't get me wrong. I don't think I'm the best DJ here - I don't want to be. I don't much care for politics, and I don't have a massive ego that makes me think I'm better than everyone else. However, I know I'm good at what I do, and I'm sick of wondering what I'm doing wrong. And therein lies the problem. I'm gonna go back to doing what I do well.

Lately, I've had some good nights, but too many bad ones for my liking. Well you know what? I've had enough of wondering what I'm doing wrong.

I know I'm a damn good DJ and if I have to substitute some rare tunes to do it, I'll have to. But it's about time I showed Cambridge what I can do. I've been thinking that Motown and More needed revamping. I took over an ailing Motown night, and I've been trying to pick it back up - firstly by adding a bit of Northern and Modern to the mix.  It's never really been my night though.

It will be from next month.

I love soul as a genre and have wanted to play across the board - and as from the next time that's what's going to happen. If we have people there that want more Northern, then that's what I'll do. If they want some 70s soul, then that's where we'll go. This doesn't mean I'm gonna start playing kak though. There are enough places that do that already.

I'm determined to make Soul Medicine the best first Friday of the month in Cambridge. We may not get hundreds there, but we'll get enough - and they'll have a great night out.

So what happened tonight? I really don't know - but I decided to do what I know how to do well - and that's make sure that the people that are in the room have a great time.

So here's the playlist. While it may not be what people have been used to seeing from me at Motown and More - tonight when I finished I had everyone in the room wanting me to carry on because they were having a good time.

1 Gene Chandler - Does She Have A Friend For Me
2 Carleen Anderson - Buttercup
3 Michael Wycoff - Looking Up To You
4 Nathan Watson - Reach Out (Sed Soul Mix)
5 Beres Hammond - Do This World A Favour
6 Edei - Loved (Sed Soul Extended Mix)
7 Kenny Thomas - Thinkin' About Your Love (Neil T Scam Mix)
8 Barbara McNair - It Happens Everytime
9 Jimmy Ruffin - I've Passed This Way Before
10 David Ruffin - I Can't Stop The Rain
11 Rufus - Hollywood
12 OC Smith - La La Peace Song
13 Bill Withers - Don't It Make It Better
14 Marvin Gaye - Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby
15 Jnr Walker & The All Stars - How Sweet It Is
16 Marv Johnson - I'll Pick A Rose For My Rose
17 Mary Wells - My Guy
18 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Third Finger Left Hand
19 Jimmy Ruffin - It's Wonderful To Be Loved By You
20 George Lemons - Fascinating Girl
21 Jackie Wilson - Whispers (Getting Louder)
22 Pookie Hudson - This Gets To Me
23 Willie Hutch - Soul Strut
24 Originals - Don't Stop Now
25 Isley Brothers - Harvest For The World
26 Imperials - Who's Gonna Love Me
27 Linda Carr & The Love Squad - Highwire
28 Temptations - My Baby
29 Stevie Wonder - Signed Sealed Delivered I'm Yours
30 Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston - It Takes Two
31 Freda Payne - Band Of Gold
32  Chairman Of The Board - Give Me Just A Little More Time
33 Millie Jackson - My Man A Sweet Man
34 Tammi Lynn - I'm Gonna Run Away From You
35 Supremes - There's No Stopping Us Now
36 Barbara Randolph - I Got A Feeling
37 Detroit Spinners - I'll Always Love You
38 Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
39 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Tears Of A Clown
40 Arthur Conley - Sweet Soul Music
41 Otis Redding - Love Man
42 Aretha Franklin - Respect
43 Jackie Wilson - Higher & Higher
44 Hues Corporation - Rock The Boat
45 Trammps - Hold Back The Night
46 Tams - Hey Girl Don't Bother Me
47 Martha Reeves & the Vandellas - Dancing In The Street
48 Isley Brothers - Tell Me It's Just A Rumour
49 Kim Weston - I'm Still Loving You
50 Kurt Harris - Emperor Of My Baby's Heart
51 Billy Arnell & The Sparkles - Tough Girl
52 Tavares - Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel
53 Heatwave - Boogie Nights
54 Rose Royce - Is It Love You're After
55 O'Jays - I Love Music
56 Lou Rawls - See You When I Get There
57 Gloria Scott - Too Much Lovemaking
58 Bobby Womack - So Many Sides Of You
59 Dean Parrish - I'm On My Way
60 Darrell Banks - Open The Door To Your Heart
61 Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself
62 Stevie Wonder - Uptight (Everything's Alright)
63 Supremes - The Happening
64 George Benson - Give Me The Night
65 Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Onion Song
66 Temptations - Get Ready
67 Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love
68 Isley Brothers - This Old Heart Of Mine
69 Smokey Robinson & the Miracles - Going To A Go Go
70 Donna Summer - Bad Girls
71 Billy Ocean - Red Light Spells Danger
72 Booker Newberry III - Love Town
73 Galaxy - What Do I Do
74 Supremes - Automatically Sunshine
75 Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup
76 Gonzalez - Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet
77 Anita Ward - Ring My Bell
78 McFadden & Whitehead - Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
79 Shalamar - Take That To The Bank
80 Edwin Starr - Contact
81 A Taste Of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie
82 Sylvester - You Make Me Feel Mighty Real
83 Evelyn 'Champagne' King - Shame
84 Kool & The Gang - Ladies Night

There are some requests thrown in there as well. I'll leave you to guess which ones they are, but for one of the few times lately, I can go to bed knowing I turned it around and made it a great time.

The first Soul Medicine is on 4th March. I know there is another night going on that night with Chris Brown and Andy Stearn going on in Milton - their night will be great. But mine is going to be as well. This city is big enough that we can all have great events. I've decided it's time for me to have some too...

5 comments:

  1. Good on you James,good fortune in your new venture ,take heart, we know you are a good DJ,get some flyers out and about right now ,that is an order!LOL

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  2. I was in a fighting mood when I wrote this last night. I'm angry with myself that I've become over-awed by the soul scene here. If I can't get people from the scene to come to the events, I'll find them elsewhere.

    There are plenty of people in this town who don't follow the scene. It's my mission to find some and give them such a good time, they want to see more.

    Thanks for your support Doug.

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  3. Great playlist and good luck with the revamp. If I didnt live two hours and £34 worth of petrol away I would be there every time.

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  4. James play to your strengths and the floor you will succeed you are a good DJ and respected by your peers

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  5. Hey Murph, loved the the playlist,my legs haven't been redundent in times past, Simply,Onward's and Upward's go get em.

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