Searching for Northern Soul in the South

Memphis might not have been the gold mine every Mod record collector dreams of, but that didn't stop me from enjoying every second I spent in this city so rich in musical history. To get a sense of Memphis' contribution to the world of blues, R&B, Soul and Rock, I highly recommend spending a few hours in the Memphis Rock N Soul Museum. 

Significant pieces of Rock and Soul history will make any Mod wish he had them in his collection. A great feature of the museum is that you have a chance to listen to every piece of music that is featured in the displays on a portable MP3 player that is provided.

Aside from the other obvious tourist attractions like Stax, Sun Studios and Graceland, you have charming neighborhoods that wait around every corner. And like with almost every city I visit, it's always towards the end of the trip that I discover those hidden jewels. I hate leaving a city before I felt its soul and seen its underbelly.

Elvis worked at the Orpheum Theatre as a teenager

Sunset on the Mississippi from the rooftop terrace of the Madison Hotel

Madison Hotel lobby

Nice touch. Found in our room at the fine Madison Hotel

Entertainment on Beale Street. When was the last time you saw a Big Band live?

Food, beer and tattoos all in one convenient place

Memphis is also known for a tragedy that has left a mark on US history. A short 15-minute walk from our hotel is the Lorraine Motel, site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King on April 4, 1968. 

The Lorraine Motel is now the location of the National Civil Rights Museum. Make sure you set aside a few hours for a visit. It's a must. These places always leave me with more questions then answers. One thing is certain, I always end up being moved.

Finally, I had time to check out one last record shop. Audiomania is located at 1698 Madison Avenue, it's a short walking distance from the better-known Shangri-La Records. Not a flashy place by all means but it's still worth checking out. 

I would not bet on the chance of finding mint copies of ultra rare records but I did come up with a nice selection of 60s Garage and Soul 45s. You'll have to go through a few boxes of dusty singles, half of them sleeveless, to find something decent but your patience shall be rewarded eventually. They won't be in the best condition but I found that they were usually priced accordingly.

- Bulldog - The Fireballs - Top Rank International

- Let's Party - Rhinoceros - Elektra Records

- Attack - the Toys - DynoVoice Records

- We Need An Understanding - Ike & Tina Turner - London Records

- Secret Agent Man - Johnny Rivers - IR Imperial

- I'm so lonely - Jackie Wilson - Brunswick Records

- I Don't Want To Know - The Mugwumps - Warner Bros Records

- Funky Street - Arthur Conley - Atco Records

- The Horse - Cliff Nobbles & Co. - Phil-L.A. of Soul Records

- Backfield In Motion - Mel & Tim - Bamboo Records

- Holy Ghost - The Barkays - Stax

- Hot Smoke & Sasafrass - The Bubble Puppy - International Artists Record

Is Memphis the Northern Soul and Garage record capital?

There are two types of record shops in this world. On one end of the spectrum, you'll find the neat, well-organized stores with clearly defined sections and price tags on every record sleeve. Shangri-La Records and Goner Records in Memphis fall under that category.

Then there's the pack rat. Unmarked boxes of 45s dangerously staked on top of each other as far as the eye can see. A classification system? Usually non-existent. "Do you have any soul or 60s garage 45s?" is often met by "It should be somewhere in that area. Start with that corner."

It's where dust is as prevalent as a cheap copy of Donny and Mary. It's the kind of place that most probably breaks half a dozen fire code regulations and where cats often outnumber the customers.

River Records in Memphis is one such place. Located at 822 South Highland Street, it's a 45-minute bus ride from downtown. If you are a treasure hunter at heart, like I am, this should be right up your alley. Owned by a 73 year old man that has been in the business for 40 years, it's a crate digger's paradise. Jerry claims that he has 300 000 records in his collection. Does he really? I can guarantee that he doesn't have an Excel spreadsheet to prove it.

 

Usually, with a place like this, if you have a lot of time to spare, a little luck and a very understanding girlfriend, you can strike gold with a pocket full of change. This is not the case here. When you do find something worthwhile, you bring your stack up to the counter to have it appraised. Out comes the thick collectors price guide. Now, I have nothing against owners who choose to operate that way. But when you spend 3 hours rummaging through piles of sleeveless 7" to find a few rough copies of interesting northern soul tracks, you don't expect to pay full price for them. Especially when you can buy a nicer copy on eBay for the same price. It's simply not worth it.

You probably can sense that I had high expectations for this place but ultimately left disappointed. Better luck next time I guess. I did not leave empty handed. These are the few records that made the cut.

I bought a copy of the single Amen, Brother by The Winstons to find out, once home, that it had a small crack in it. So much for that one!


- Loosen Up - The Short Kuts - Pepper Records

Great Northern Soul track from this talented local Memphis group.

- I Live For The Sun - The Sunrays - Tower Records


Not Mod at all but a nice little surf number from this group from California. They were once the opening act for the Beach Boys.

- The Toys Sing "A Lover's Concerto" and "Attack" - LP - DynoVoice Records

An all-girl soul trio from Queens, New York.

So is Memphis the Northern Soul and Garage record capital? It guess it depends where you look...

The Lansky Bros. Mod connection

Lansky Bros. has been a Memphis based, family run clothing shop since 1946. Located in the lavish Memphis Peabody Hotel, they are a one-stop shop for exclusive, unique menswear. It only takes  one glance to convince you that Lansky offers a wide range of quality and stylish threads.

The Memphis Peabody Hotel loby

Their claim to fame is that they were the Clothier to the King, the one and only Elvis Presley. Now what does a Rocker's idol have to do with Mods? Let's consider this. Mods have been known to borrow a thing or two from the Rockers. Take the Harrington for instance; Elvis has been largely responsible for making the jacket popular. And there's no doubt that the Harrington is a well-established Mod essential. It's also a well-known fact that Elvis' own idols, the black jazz and  blues musicians of his native Memphis largely influenced his early style.

The first Lansky store was on the famous Beale Street, home of all the blues and jazz clubs. Bernard Lansky had a direct hand in outfitting the neighboring musicians in the finest mohair or sharkskin suits and peg-leg pants. His famous black clientele demanded sharp, smart and different clothes. On the top of the client list were legends such as Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington and a young prodigy who called himself the Beale Street Blues Boy, later known as B.B. King. Later, soul legends Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, The Temptations and the O'Jays all walked through the door.

Famous Beale Street, Memphis

We all know how the 60s Mods regarded the American jazz and soul musicians as fashion icons and worked tirelessly to recreate their look. That look was created in part by Lansky. If you are not yet convinced, let me offer this fascinating piece of information. In 1967, the Stax/Volt Revue made their historical trip across the Atlantic and was greeted in London by a legion of adoring Mods. When you look at the surviving footage from the benchmark tour, the four members of Booker T. and the MGs and the Mar-Key horns section looked like a million bucks thanks to Mr. Lansky. They each got two sets of Continental suits, one in electric blue, the other in cat-eye green. Lansky also dressed the seven band members in turtlenecks and Chelsea boots. Now if this isn't pure Mod fashion, I don't know what is. I can only imagine the loyal Mod following studying every detail of their wardrobe and making mental images for future reference.

 

Coincidently, Lansky Bros. were themselves being inspired by fashions emanating from Carnaby Street, evident by those vintage ads. Bernard Lansky has always been proud by the fact that they were bringing the latest fashion to Memphis. They always saw themselves as being on the cutting edge of fashion.

Vintage ads taken from www.lanskybros.com

When I first came across the Lansky store in Memphis, a Harrington type jacket immediately caught my eye in the storefront window. A nice fitting light jacket was displayed in a choice of teal, red or black. What made the Speedway coat stand out was it's two white vertical lines. That was it. I wasn't leaving Memphis without one. Since I was already wearing a light blue Baracuta, the red jacket was calling my name. There was only one problem; the store was closed for renovations!

Fortunately, I made a quick detour on our last day before leaving and the doors were open. The son of Bernard Lansky greeted me. Just like you would expect, the service was unmatched. I felt like I was treated the same way the King was, with warmth and kindness.

The legendary blue suede shoe and mod favorite, the desert boot

 

Today's collection might be geared more towards the rockabilly type but they have a few smart shirts that are worth looking at. Make sure you have a look at their website. They ship worldwide.

http://www.lanskybros.com/

WARNING: Northern Soul and 60s Garage spotted at Goner Records in Memphis

Established in the hip college neighborhood of Cooper-Young, Goner Records has much to offer the traveling Mod. 

The trendy Cooper-Young neighborhood

With plenty of rows of 45s to flip through, it's a true audiophile's playground. With a certain predisposition towards the college crowd (some neo-punk was blaring through the speakers when I walked in), there's something for everyone. Again, Memphis based Stax was well represented.

Now, if you are looking for the "crate diggin'" experience this is not the place for you, quite the opposite. Everything is well organized, expertly labeled and appropriately priced. Don't expect to find the Holy Grail of all Mod records for a buck but you are guaranteed to leave with few fairly priced killer tracks. Again, don't forget to ask if you can have a peak at the secret stash behind the counter and see how it feels to hold a 200$ unmolested copy of an unknown 60s southern garage band.

What I enjoyed the most about the place is how a lot of the 45s are precisely labeled by musical inclination and accurately graded. This might be time consuming for the employees but what a joy for the consumer! I bought quite a few stunning records that I wouldn't of considered if it wasn't for the description on the paper sleeve.

Add to that Joe, a friendly staff member who let me browse past closing time without even saying a word. Wow! How often do you see that? Most importantly, I left with some smashing tracks and groovy tunes.

Have a listen.

The Sweet Bippies - Love, Anyway You Want It - AM Records

 

Sight And Sound - Alley, Alley - Fontana Records

The Sensational Epics - It's A Gass - Cameo Records

Willie And The Red Rubber Band - Chicky-Chicky Boom Boom - RCA Records

A true American classic: Gibson guitars

If I were a musician, I would probably have a Gibson strapped to my body. I can't speak to the musical prowess of the instrument but the timeless look is undeniable. With adepts from across the globe, they are a force to be reckoned with.

Still 100% American made, I had a chance to tour the Memphis factory. With only 50 guitars being produced daily and 3 weeks to be made from start to finish, you can expect your axe to be top quality. Most of the guitar making process I have witnessed is being executed by hand.

At one station, you could see naked wooden guitar body parts being strapped together by an intricate web of ropes and hung on racks in order to let the glue dry. It seemed a bit archaic but it would have made any bondage practitioner's pupils dilate.

The paint booth was quite impressive. I didn't realize until then that every Les Paul is hand painted by a skilled craftsman, hence making every guitar unique. My favorite station was probably the detailing section where "scrapers" go through every inch of the guitar using sharp blades. All the edges are carefully reshaped.

The final assembly station is also quite a sight. I have no idea how they insert all the electronics in the guitar through those small openings with such ease but I know I would loose my mind. I have a hard enough time trying to change a scooter cable on my Vespa; I don't see myself doing such precise work.

These men and women at Gibson are more than just factory workers; they are artists in their own right.

Special Ben Sherman limited edition Gibson guitars

* The photos of the guitars are not the property of Parka Avenue. If Gibson or Ben Sherman have an objection, please let me know.