Memoirs of a rural Mod from the sixties

 

I’ve often heard Eddie Piller use, on his monthly Modcast, the expression: “Mod is a broad church”. I totally agree. And thank god for it! I certainly don’t ascribe to the narrow-minded view of what Mod is. For example, I’ve often heard (or read) that if you’re not British, you can’t be a Mod. What a bunch of non-sense (to remain polite).

The reason why I bring up that point is that, too often in the sixties, if you weren’t from London, you weren’t the real deal. Unlike today, you didn’t have Google, YouTube or Facebook to make connections with Mods from all over. So if you were outside of London’s influence, it was hard to keep current on the latest fashions and be part of the in-crowd.

That didn’t stop a young Jeremy Norman, from a small village in Norfolk from joining the ranks of the original Mods. A year ago, thanks to this little blog, I came into contact with Jeremy. I asked him if he wanted to relate is unique story of being, as he coined it, a rural Mod in the early sixties. I’m very grateful that he accepted. He exemplifies what truly is clean living under difficult circumstances.

Here is Jeremy’s story, in his own words.

Jeremy in 1967

My home village in Norfolk had a population of 120. The nearest large town was called North Walsham, which was ten miles away. The nearest city, Norwich, was 20 miles away. The village had no bus route and the nearest railway station was 10 miles away.

Before moving on to grammar school, my outlook had been mainly on plastic models and the like, usual small boy stuff. Going to secondary school changed some of that. This would have been in 1961.

Jeremy's grammar school

By 1962, I had started to have an interest in some popular music but was really still tempered by my dad's interest in jazz and blues. This somehow steered me towards some of the more bluesy music. There were no British radio stations that played that kind of music. This was before the advent of local radio. The only chance was to listen to a station called Radio Luxemburg that came within radio receiving range after dark. The reception came and went according to the ionosphere.

At school I made contact with others who liked the same kind of music so we could borrow each other's singles and LPs that we played on a Dansette.

Also, after another year, I remember that there was a change in attitude towards clothing. As we were at a grammar school, we had to wear a uniform, but it began to be ''cool'' to be ultra smart. There was a move away from ''greased'' hair to a natural washed state. Haircuts, had to be short for school rules, but shortness could be combined with smartness. As the years progressed, centre partings or a college boy cut became the norm. You could get ideas from seeing Perry Como, Tab Hunter and Pat Boone, if I remember correctly.

Clothing outside of school became a problem for some of us who had parents who did not allow us to buy our own clothing. At this time I had little income and pocket money was around 15 pence per week. I well remember saving hard for a pair of Levis. They were going for around £5 at that time. My dad refused to let me buy them. He thought it was too much money for jeans, so no street cred there!

I can remember at that time that those at school who had relations in London or had arrived in Norfolk from London, were very individual in their clothing. School blazers were tailored; grey school shirts were sometimes chosen with different collars, button-down or tabbed. Looking back, I can now see this was the influence of Modernism, although we had no real idea.

As school age progressed, the opportunity for part-time and seasonal work brought cash with which I had a say in spending! My parents refused to let me have a scooter at 16, but made me save for a car at 17, which proved to be a bonus.

Clothing was Tattershall check trousers and maybe a cord jacket. Shirts were button-down or the adorable tab collar and slim knitted ties. Friends with scooters had parkas (in those days priced around £4 in surplus stores).  We wore a variety of shoes: desert boots, square toed with centre seams, Hush Puppies maybe. I still remember a friend wearing a pair of white Levis! I had never heard of them before.

Clothing had progressed to Levis for normal wear. We would sit in the sea at low tide to shrink them and we would rub beach sand on them in order to have a faded look. My first suit, when I started working was a blue, wool and mohair three piece. Oh man I was so proud of that! It was made to measure at a tailor’s in Norwich called Chadds. They still have my original invoice! The suit cost me £30 when I was earning £7 per week. Shoes, if I remember correctly, were from a maker called Eaton. They were so soft. When taken off, they shrank and when put on, the leather stretched like a glove.

Jeremy in 1968 in a Burton's Directors 3-piece suit that he paid £25.

I don't remember any badges with roundels on them. We had lapel buttons at the time with things like ''Up is a nice place to be'' or ''Save water bath with a friend''. But it was only for casual dress. Parkas would be adorned with Union Jack flag badges. I remember that those I looked on as icons were mainly ''cool'' and less was more where they were concerned. Scooters would have their size on it, in sticky letters, like LI 150.

It was around that time, while I was still in school, that the Mods and Rockers battles took place at some of our seaside towns like Brighton and Southend. Our local seaside town, that was large enough, was Great Yarmouth. We really did not get too involved as Mods came for further a field for the gatherings and anyway, who wanted to ruin clothes bought with hard earned money by fighting?

Still having to use parents to get a lift to a local town or city meant that visits to gigs were almost non-existent. Although I can remember turning down an invite to see a band in Norwich called the Beatles as I did not think they would catch on.

Being old enough to drive a car was good for me. My circle of friends had no scooters anyway so there was more cred in a car at 17. Transport meant gigs at last. We had a local dance hall in a town called Cromer, where I saw The Action, PP Arnold, Long John Baldry and The Who in later times. We also had bands that we followed around when they played locally, especially Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds and Chris Farlowe.

Interesting note: I saw Chris Farlowe for the first time in years about three years ago. I met him during the interval and he was able to tell me where I saw him, the name of the club and the year. He could almost give me the date. He is remarkable and I still watch him whenever I can. I never got to see the Small Faces live but saw the Kinks at a local music festival.

I guess that although we were in a rural area, we kept our own local ''circle''. We still had friends who were able to visit London regularly and we would be able to find out what clothing trends were happening. As our wages increased, we started to spend it on girls. Clothing was still smart, as we had to impress!

I must thank Jeremy for taking the time to memorialize his story. It’s accounts like his that expend our knowledge and enrich the history of our Mod culture.

It just goes to show that Mods can be from different backgrounds and different generations but we all have two things in common. We don’t want to ruin our nice clothes in a fight and we all feel the need to impress the girls…

Collecting Rare Soul Records

The world's most expensive record.

When you collect soul records, you can often encounter some crazy, out of this world prices. What some people would pay for an original, first pressing of a 7” single is hard to believe and even harder to justify to your wife. When I casually explain to some of my uninitiated friends that some Northern Soul records go for the equivalent of a mortgage payment, they all think that I’m pulling their leg. Rarity + condition + desirability = big bucks!

The question remains. Does paying a record an insane amount guarantee that you’ll end up with a great tune? In my opinion, the answer is no. Conventional wisdom dictates that when you have a good tune, you have a commercial hit. But sometimes, great tracks slip through the cracks and don’t have the popular acclaim it deserves. This is the case of small, independent labels that had poor distribution and PR. Mods have been known, over the years, to seek out those unknown gems.

What is great about music like Soul and RnB is that it’s impossible to know everything and you’re always discovering something new. I love scouring flea markets in the hopes of finding a rare record. The thing I can’t wrap my mind around is how come some of these records can fetch a few thousand dollars. I can make a case for a song that will light a dance floor on fire or pull at your heartstrings. What about those songs that are just average or at best, mediocre?

Let me try to illustrate my point. Not too long ago, I came across this record from The Jokers on eBay. I didn’t know anything about it and was curious to hear how it sounded. “Alright, that’s an OK song. Nothing that blows my mind”, I thought to myself.

Out of pure curiosity, I decided to follow the auction. Would you be surprised if I told you that it ended at 1500$! I investigated a little bit further and found that it’s the actual going rate. I know that when I started to seriously collect 45s, I thought you had to be a lunatic to pay more than 40$ for a record. I have since loosened my purse strings a bit. But 1500$? Really?

I say I collect records but in reality, I don’t. I buy vinyls to play them. The number one reason why I spin these little round disks is to make people dance. It’s that simple. If I had a record that expensive, I probably wouldn’t DJ with it. I would be too afraid that I would accidentally break it, loose it or have it stolen. The worst-case scenario would be to have beer poured on it. Now you’ve ruined two precious things!

Aside from owning something really rare, what justifies paying those kinds of prices? It’s not like a piece of art that you can display for everyone to enjoy. Now let’s compare it with one of my all-time favorite soul tracks. Give Me One More Chance by Wilmer and the Dukes was a minor hit in the Buffalo, upstate New York area in 1968. I paid 5$ for it a couple of years ago and it gets a crowd going every time. Grant you; it’s not that rare. But between you and me, I think it’s far superior then The Jokers song. Even if it wasn’t as good, is The Jokers worth paying 300% more?

Some people might throw that argument in my face when they learn of the prices I paid for original 60s scooter accessories for my Vespa or my Lambretta. Good point. But at least I can drive down the street on my scooter, showing off the shinny accessories!

Paying 1500$ for a record! Now I know why they are called The Jokers.

Parka Avenue is 2 years old!

Just like last year’s post, these next few paragraphs are meant to thank all the great people who have contributed and inspired me in making this labor of love a reality. Let the love fest commence!

First, let me start by saluting a few of my favorite “rival” blogs. To the new kid on the block, Mod Male, keep up the great work. You are a true inspiration. I’m always amazed at how similar our views are on a lot of things. Anorak Things, I’m continually impressed by your vast knowledge of music. Keep it up! The Vermodernist is the underdog of all Mod friendly blogs. Writing about all things vintage from a small town in Vermont, USA is quite a feat. I salute you Jen and Eric.

The Mod Generation might not be a blog but it is certainly one the most comprehensive websites about our beloved scene. Stephen Hughes is continually improving upon it and the people that visit the forums are class acts. A special shout out to the Twitter Mod Collective (#twittermodcollective), you contribute to keeping the scene alive.

I have a special thought for all my fellow DJs from home and abroad. One of last year’s highlights was, without a doubt, MODchicago’s Our Way of Thinking weekender. I had the pleasure of rubbing elbows with some of the best wax spinners this side of the Atlantic: Dave Monroe,  Brian E Harris,  Amanda Otto, Dan Melendez, Moe Madness and PsychedAlex.  It was a great opportunity to meet some of the great DJs from Europe, Dante Fontana and Laurent Réus. This wouldn’t be possible without our beloved ringleader Sir Eric Colin. Hope to see you again in 2012 my friend. And Suzy Q, we have to share the bill some day!

My trip to Boston also permitted me to rub elbows with some of the best soul DJs around. Ty Jesso is certainly at the top of that list in my book. And thanks to PJ Gray and Sean Quinn, the Soulelujah night will remain a shinning beacon. I have to thank the Boston contingent consisting of Dandy Dan, Catherine, Eric P, Elker and Allison for making me feel part of the club.

Our small but loyal scene is also why I keep this blog going. To my DJ friends Papa Bill, Lee Modern, Toby, Eric B., Oliver Twist, Daniel Fiocco, Michel Alario, Mimi la Twisteuse, Sébastien Desrosiers, Aaron Maiden, Alex DJMagnificient Edwards, Scott Birksted and Flipped Out Phil, I hope we get to lay down some more groovy tracks together in the near future. 

DJ Papa Bill

Sebastien Desrosiers from the great French radio show Mondo PQ and the blog of the same name

Daniel Fiocco aka Napoleon 67 and I spinning at the Bubble Beat New Years Eve party

Aaron Maiden from CKUT's Roots Rock Rebel radio show

 
To all those in need of a good dose of 60s music on a Thursday night, the Korova is the place to be. You’ll find my mate Trevor aka Tinsoldierman manning the decks on a regular basis at the Pills, Thrills and Bellyaches.

Heartfelt and sincere gratitude goes to Gilles, Martin and Julie from the Atomic Café for letting me host the new monthly Modtreal night. 

I always wanted to start a night where you would only play the most obscure 60s tracks at a speed of 45rpm and people came for that reason. The Atomic Café is giving me this opportunity and I hope I won’t disappoint.

2011 has been a busy year for our local Mod bands, Kid Sentiment and the Chelsea Beat both came out with great albums. The Kid Sentiment Power Pop gem is available for download on iTunes. 

Le Chelsea Beat went the extra mile and put their LP out on vinyl. You want the perfect mix of Mod, Psych, Beat and Freakbeat with a French touch all mixed into one? You'll find it here. 

To Scootart, our one and only vintage scooter shop in town, I had the pleasure of visiting you a few times this year and you really have made my life easier. Plus, you have introduced me to my mate Dominic.

Caroline and Dominic, proud owner of a newly restored 1972 Vespa Rally 180 from Scootart

 
And finally to all of you readers, I truly value your support. As a small show of  my appreciation, I decided to organize a little raffle. Up for grabs is a small MP3 player filled with some of my favorite Northern Soul, RnB, Beat, Garage, Yé-Yé, and Psych tracks from the past year. You’ll find the entire Top 10 Northern Soul and Garage tunes from my two previous posts.

To enter is as easy as yelling We Are The Mods . All you have to do is share with us your favorite 60s song in the comment section below. You’ll get an extra chance of winning if you Like the Parka Avenue page or share this post on Facebook. I will gather all of your names and toss them in the ol’ pork pie hat. The contest ends in exactly a month. Good luck!

Building a Mod retreat

 

What do you do when you love to collect mid-century modern furniture but you don’t have spare space to put it? It’s simple. You build a mezzanine!

Since the first time I laid eyes on the building plans when I bought my loft on paper five years ago, I knew that one day I was going to add a mezzanine. With 14' high ceilings, it’s a shame not to take advantage of the vertical space.

More easily said then done, you need a vision, a healthy bank account and a trusty contractor. Luckily, the last two came in the form of an amazing family. My wife’s parents and my own parents teamed up to offer us a generous wedding present. 

First, define the space and frame it.

This will be the future reading and listening corner situated above the loft's entrance.

The futur bedroom

I can’t thank my father enough for spending the better part of 3 weeks turning my vision into reality. He not only provided skilled labor and a detailed plan, worthy of a seasoned architect, but also transmitted his passion for work well done and attention to detail.  If only I was this talented! It was equally pleasant to have my father-in-law join us on the weekends to lend a helping hand. 

My father on the left and my father-in-law hard at work

 

Built almost entirely of cedar, I thought it would match perfectly the existing 100-year-old columns. To add that modern look, some glass blocks made up part of the guardrail. 

Glass blocks were used only for part of the wall. One reason why is that they are bloody expensive. Plus, they are hard to displace if you need to move large pieces of furniture upstairs. So a section of the guardrail was built using industrial steal tubing and wooden posts. This gives the part of the mezzanine with less direct sunlight more light. 

One section of the rail’s tubing is slightly smaller in diameter then the next so that one can slide into the other. One of the posts can also be easily removed which leaves a large opening.

An engineered wood floor was chosen for it’s practical and economical advantages.

Elegant cedar planks were used for the ceiling of the first level to mimic the factory's original mill-floor ceiling.

What I think is the most impressive part about the design my father came up with for building the upper level is that nothing is permanent. Although the structure is very sturdy and solid, it’s the equivalent of a giant painting hanging from the wall. Every piece of wood is screwed in so if a future buyer doesn’t appreciate the extra room, it could all be taken down easily.

I would never paint wearing a Fred Perry but doing it in a Lacoste is acceptable.

Mezzanines are most often used as bedrooms and we won’t break with tradition this time. With the ceiling less than 5’ over your head, your options are limited. One area will be used as a reading and listening corner. A Space Age, Mod decor is in the works. Only 60s vintage furniture and accessories will be part of the landscape. This is when the fun begins for me! Picture Eames, Saarinen, and Panton for a mental image. Small halogen spotlights were also added under that section to add much needed light to the loft’s entrance. 

The bed's new home.

All that planning freed up space in the former bedroom to organize a proper office. I’m working on an antique industrial look that is the new trend in lofts and seem to be all the rage in Europe. Expect a future post on the design of the new office.

A huge thank you to my whole family for all their support. In the coming weeks, get ready for the more interesting part: the decorating. Now, that’s MY domain!

Top Ten Garage Parka Avenue favorites

Coming up with only 10 Garage records as my favorite purchases for 2011 was quite a challenge. Just like in the previous post, I acquired those precious little vinyl discs from a variety of sources: the Internet, friends, shops, record conventions, my travels, etc. I have to say that I’m not big on compilations. The Pebbles, Nuggets and Back From The Grave compilations might be a great way to discover those forgotten gems but I rather simply stumble upon them by accident. This is the case for most of the 10 tracks that follow.

1) 1-2-5 – The Haunted – Quality

This is the score of the year. This sought-after Garage classic from my hometown of Montreal was found in near mint condition at a flea market for a mere 2$. The seller told me it came from a jukebox. From what I can see, it wasn’t very popular. The first pressing of the single has the band's name misprinted as The Hunted. Surprisingly, the correctly labelled record is now harder to find.

2) I Need You Baby - The Bohemians – Blue Jeans

The Bohemians were another local band that have been known to open for The Haunted. Only 500 copies were pressed of their only single with 100 copies going to friends and family. It might be in a bit of a rough shape but it’s very hard to find and well worth the dollar I paid for it. If you ever come across a record on the Canadian Blue Jean record label, just buy it.

3) Crazy Things – The Quid

The hunt for rare Canadian Garage 45s has definitely been good this year. Case in point, this group from Winnipeg, Manitoba. I sometimes forget how much good stuff has come out of this country.

4) Who Dat – The Jury - Port

I have to thank my Record Pimp Ben for this one. This is a rare example of an American pressing of another smashing band from Winnipeg. You want fuzz? You got fuzz!

5) Give Me Lovin’ – Great Scots – Epic

Why stop now with the Canadian 60s scene? I have to thank my friend Felix for selling me this prestine example of this 45 from a band from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

6) Just a Little Bit of Oh Yeah – Martin Martin – RCA Victor

Yet  another example of Canadian talent with this French Quebec artist. He was also known as Martin Hill, Billy and Billy Blue. There is also a very rare version of this song in French. If you are fluent in French, have a look at my friend Felix’s great blog post about this elusive man.

7) She’s Mine - The Children of Darkness – Royce

This made a bit of a dent in the wallet but I have no regrets because this is a real 2-sider. In fact, the B-side is my favorite. How can you not love a song titled Sugar Shack A Go-Go? It reminds me of home.

8) Hay Girl – Chyld –  Warner Bros.

To continue with the children theme, this is another killer 2-sider from this Ohio band. I was very glad to put my hands on this perfect promo copy.

9) Stop And Listen - The Shag – Capitol

This 1967 stomping, fuzz infused Garage goodness is said to be one of the first anti-drug rock songs to be recorded. All I know is that I'm ready for another dose of The Shag!

 10) Don’t Want To Cry – The Buckinghams

This is the Chicago based band's second single, released in 1966.  A lot harder to find then their first hit Kind of a Drag and definitely one of their best.  This baby came from my buddy record collector and DJ extraordinaire Ty Jesso. Thank you brother!

The pickin’ Gods were good to me last year. Let’s just hope 2012 is half as good as 2011 was.

Top Ten Northern Soul and RnB Parka Avenue favorites

 

2011 has been a busy year on the record-collecting front. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit some great cities to go crate diggin’. Chicago, Memphis, Boston and Miami have served me well.

My own city was also generous in offering some real nuggets thanks in part to some great record shops and flea markets but most notably because of my friend Ben Shulman who I affectionately call my “Record Pimp”. This kid is a record pickin’ god. He knows more about 60s music at 19 that I will know in a lifetime. I’m glad that he considers me his number one customer.

Swaps amongst fellow DJs, the ever-present eBay were also a great source for searching those missing gems from my expending 45 collection.

So here is my top ten list of my favorite Northern Soul and RnB singles I have acquired throughout the year. Some are rare while others are classics. A few I paid top dollars for but most were less then 20$. You'll notice that most of those songs have been club classics since the 60s, but there are a bunch that are not . They are definitely worth a closer look, having the potential to become part of the circuit. They all have 2 things in common. They all came out in the 60s and they can pack a dance floor!

The titles are listed  in no particular order.

1) Knick Knack Patty Wack – Lou Lawton – Wand

This is one example of a single I was ready to part my hard earned cash for and it was worth every penny. I already had Wrapped in a Dream from this Savannah, Georgia singer but this is the single to have.

 

2) I’m the Man – Chris Jones – Goodie Train

I found a mint example of this funk masterpiece at a local record shop. Chris Jones can go toe to toe against James Brown anytime with this tune. Why? Because he’s the man!

3) Clap Your Hands – Memphis Slim - Fontana

I dare you not to clap your hands on this one. Interesting fact, the backing band on this record is Les Lionceaux, a French group that recorded a lot of covers in the 60s.

4) Rubberneckin’ - Elvis Presley – RCA Victor

This is the only song by Elvis that can be labeled as Northern Soul. Why it wasn’t more popular? I have no idea. It’s the perfect track to get a crowd going.

5) Landslide – Tony Clarke - Chess

This Northern Soul staple is readily available as a UK pressing. The original US single is getting harder to find. Thank you eBay for this one!

6) You Shot Me (Trough the Grease)  – Georgia Soul Twisters - Mainstream

I knew nothing about this group when I picked it up at my friendly neighborhood record shop. And I’m still clueless to this day! All I know is that it’s damn good! I can’t believe nobody snatched it up before me.

7) Find My Baby – The African Beavers – RCA Victor

With a name like The African Beavers you would expect a great Garage band, right? Not so! Little is known about the group and this up-tempo early gritty RnB track. The song is credited to Wayman Glasco better know as blues great Buster Brown.

 8) My Baby Likes To Boogaloo – Don Gardner – Tru-Glow-Town

This tune will grab you instantly with its powerful guitar lick. Everything is great about this song: the guitar, the horns, the organ, the crazy drums, Don Gardner’s wailing voice, EVERYTHING!

 9) That Thang - Buddy Lucas – Mohawk

I don’t have much info on mister Lucas but that doesn’t keep me from wanting to jump up and move every time I hear this! It has a great little Latin feel to it that is undeniably infectious.

10) Hit & Run – Rose Batiste – Revilot

As I was rounding up my top ten, I realized that I had no female singers. Let’s rectify this right now with this classic Northern Soul dancer by Detroit native Rose Batiste. It’s a shame that this talented singer didn’t make it big.

 

Next post: my top ten favorite Garage record purchases of 2011.

The Search for Northern Soul and Garage Records in Miami

It seems like I was a good husband during our 10-day honeymoon because on the day of our departure I got an hour off for good behavior. Thank you dear! So I spent this time wisely and it was in a record shop of all places.

Record shops aren’t around every corner in Miami so it’s a good thing they have Today & Yesterday Records. Situated at 9274 S.W. 40 ST, you’ll most likely need a car (or a scooter!) to get there. 

What makes this place a worthwhile stop isn’t necessarily it’s abundance of 45s in stock but more the very reasonable prices and the friendly and knowledgeable owner. The shop is immaculate and very well organized. It’s the perfect remedy for the man on his honeymoon that doesn’t have a minute to spare. Did I forget to thank my lovely wife?

A varied selection of LPs are up for grabs but I hit the 45 section right away. The 7” are housed in filing cabinets at the back of the store. A bunch of drawers are packed with your variety of commercial 60s and 70s tracks. Newer releases and reprints are also available. All neatly placed in alphabetical order, I skipped the well-known artists and concentrated my research on the miscellaneous sections. Every once in a while, you’ll come across something worth a second glance.

I always expect to find records of local artists, on hometown record labels during my travels but I’ve come to realize that every tourist like myself wants the same thing. In the end, you have as much a chance of finding these records in your own city. Case in point, I ended up buying a 45 from the Canadian Garage group Mashmakhan. Go figure…

Don’t go looking for that box of rare and expensive singles hidden behind the counter. There simply isn’t one. What you see is what you get. I did come across some interesting labels I hadn’t seen before but I was disappointed to learn, after a quick listen, that most of them were country songs.

I did come across a couple of captivating ska and rocksteady tracks like this classic one by The Slickers.

I also picked up this low down and dirty early R&B, bluesy number by Buster Brown.

I couldn't leave without some latin-funk from a group named Coke. You have to admit that when you pick up a record by a group with a name like Coke on a record label like Sound Triangle you would  expect some trippy psych, right? Not so my firends!

The find of the day came in the form of a Garage 45 from the K-Otics. Double Shot  is the catchy A-side. The surprise was when I listened to the B-side. What a revelation! Wow! It’s ten times better! I don’t always listen to the flip side and maybe I should. Let this be a lesson.  Hum...I wonder if The Kinks were an influence? What do you think?

All in all, it was worth the detour. And if you have extra time on your hand, make sure to visit the Cuban eatery next door for mouth watering authentic cuisine. This is what awaits you…

Iron Beer. New to me and worth seeking out.

So long Miami!