Manchester Soul Jukebox
Harlem Shuffle
by Bob and Earl
007
The label here is a USA re-release 1969 Written by Bob Relf and Earl Nelson Originally released in the UK on the SUE label probably owned by most of the U.K Soul Mods on the Sue LP That unmistakable fanfare introduction, then: “You move, it to the left, then you go for yourself You move it to the right, yeah, if it takes all night… A magnificent dance track with the lyrics describing various dances: You SSSSslide into the Limbo, yeah, How low can you go… Do The Pony, ride, yeah, Shake Shake Shake Shake a Tail Feather…baby..” An essential sound from the original period when soul music was born, a great example of a soul dance record: describing dancing. Soon followed by ‘Bob’ doing the ‘Duck’ and Soul music was all about themes such as dances, giving out storylines, advice, losing a lover, slow and fast tracks and mostly with a story to tell. Re-Release UK 1969 as it became increasingly popular and began to get wider appeal. However it was in 1965 that it really took off with the ‘Wheelers’ and became a magnificent Soul standard and must play track for every DJ that worked at the club. Gene Page did the orchestration on the recording of the “Harlem Shuffle” and he was responsible for lots of Soul music arrangements: Barry White being the most notable and his first hit was with Righteous Brothers' on "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. And then he did similar for "The ‘In’ Crowd," by Dobie Gray and Solomon Burk’s - "Got to Get You off My Mind,", so it’s clear that this guy is well up there with the best of Soul music’s arrangers and orchestrators.
Return to Manchestersoul.co.uk
