Listen/Download – Shalamar – Simon’s Theme MP3

Greetings all.

Here’s a crazy one to close out the week, but first a message from our sponsor.

The end of the week is nigh, and so you should be on the lookout for this week’s episode of the Funky16Corners Radio Show – dropping a day early this week –  in which I (as always) endeavor to bring you the finest in funk, soul, jazz and rare groove, all on original vinyl. You can subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device via the TuneIn app, check iut out on Mixcloud, or grab yourself an MP3 right here at the blog.

Now, the record you see before you, a 12” single by Shalamar, might lead you to believe that you’re about to hear some late 70s/early 80s disco ish, featuring the voice of Jodi Watley (who doesn’t appear on this record). Not at all an unreasonable expectation, but as usual, I am here to confound you (and your expectations).

Fans of the history of Northern Soul will probably be familiar with the name Simon Soussan. His reputation (not all that healthy, as you’ll see if you go a-Googling) was as a producer, and popularizer/exploiter (good and bad) of Northern Soul and disco sounds.

There are countless stories about Soussan and his comings/goings/working on the music scene, including the propagation of one of the few known copies of Frank Wilson’s ‘Do I Love You’ via the world of bootlegs/carvers.

That said, the record you see before you today was the very first release by the group Shalamar, created by Soussan and Dick Griffey.

The topside of this 12” was a Stars on 45-type medley of 1960s Motown classics presented with a disco beat called ‘Uptown Festival’ (which was a US R&B Top 10 hit in 1977, making it into the Pop Top 30).

The side I bring you today, ‘Simon’s Theme’ struck me the first time I heard it (thank you Soul Chef) as a very modern take on the Northern Soul sound (though not too modern to spin for a Northern dance floor).

‘Simon’s Theme’ features the famous four-on-the-floor beat, vibes and strings and a melody full of hooks, that had it been produced in the 60s, would fit right in on any Northern Soul playlist, and (as they used to say) therein lies the rub.

You see, the song had been recorded in the 1960s, by an Allentown, PA group called Father’s Angels, under the title ‘Bok to Bach’. The song was originally issued in the UK as a b-side (to a song called ‘Don’t Knock It’), where it languished for a few years before being discovered by the Northern Soul scene, where it would go on to be a huge hit (and re-pressed a number of times).

So, when Simon Soussan went into the studio in 1977, he rather conveniently (for him) “borrowed” (cough, cough…) the entire melody of the song, retitled it ‘Simon’s Theme’ and tacked it onto the b-side of a disco single.

How’s about that for balls?

Soussan went on to be a successful producer of disco records, but he seems to have left quite a bad taste in the mouths of the Northern Soul scene, especially among record collectors/dealers, after which he appears to have disappeared into the ether.

Either way. It’s a crazy story, and a pretty cool record.

I hope you dig it, and I’ll see you all on Monday.

Keep the faith

Larry

 

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.