Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities / Various

UK collection. This latest episode of the high-quality end of the Northern Soul world is as varied as the scene has become, featuring manic funk, Detroit grooves, doo wop-inspired ballads, neo-Motown and pure soul stompers. Los Angeles features strongly throughout. As a taster of the pleasures to come over the next couple of years, the opening tracks by ex-Motowners Carolyn Crawford and Kim Weston, along with the Joe Buckner & Major IV number, are from Mickey Stevenson's late 60s Los Angeles operation; and the Lovers' acetate-only 'She's Supreme' and John Wesley & the Four Tees' stomping version of the Williams & Watson LP track 'Love Is Such A Funny Thing' were recorded under the aegis of the city's great arranger Arthur Wright. Researching the tape vaults during lockdown has proved fruitful. The first version of Claude Huey's 'Why Would You Blow It' by the unknown Isaiah Smith was discovered among the Galaxy tapes, as was the Brothers Of Soul's 'I Need Your Love' - any previously unheard track by this redoubtable outfit is big soul news. I had originally thought that Buck Ram's group Two Cats & A Mouse would be 50s-sounding, like most of his acts, but 'Love In My Heart' proved to be a classy cover of the Oracles' 1967 rarity on OM. Includes many more great memories.