The Snake - Al Wilson

Another club favourite from back in the Northern Soul era was “The Snake,” by Al Wilson.

Originally written and first recorded in 1963 by civil-rights activist Oscar Brown, it became a hit for US singer Al Wilson 5 years later. It relates a story very similar to Aesop’s fable “The Farmer and the Viper.”

The song tells the tale of a kind-hearted woman who rescues a freezing snake and nurses it back to health. When she was later bitten by the snake, she protests, only to be told: “You knew darn well I was a snake before you took me in.”

The song is a parable about betrayal — a warning about trusting someone who shows clear signs of being harmful.

Its success on the Northern Soul scene led to its appearance on over 30 pop and Northern Soul compilation albums and to its use in a Lambrini TV advertisement in the UK. Donald Trump also featured the song at a political rally in Pennysylvania.

Al Wilson, who was also remembered for his later million-seller hit “Show and Tell,” was born in Meridian, Mississippi in 1939. He passed away from Kkidney failure in 2008.

Landslide - Tony Clarke

Another stunning Northern Soul dancefloor filler was “Landslide,” by Tony Clarke.

Tony Clarke's tragic story is about a life brimming with a musical potential that ended far too soon.

Raised in Detroit by his mother after his 1940 New York birth, Tony, whose birth name may have been Ralph Thomas Williams, sang as Tall Tonio and married Joyce at sixteen. He was also a talented songwriter, co-writing hits for Etta James, among others.

Signing with the renowned Chess label, he had several hits and performed at significant Detroit venues.

The late 1960s saw his marriage become shaky, and he subsequently broke into his wife's home before dawn on August 28, 1971. He allegedly attacked her with a tire jack, and she responded by fatally shooting him. The shooting was determined to be an act of self-defense.

His popularity experienced a revival on the UK Northern Soul scene after his passing, with his songs “The Entertainer” and “Landslide” frequently played in clubs.

His records are difficult to find nowadays and can fetch more than $1000.

Out On The Floor - Dobie Gray

Today’s trip down musical memory lane takes us to 1966 and Dobie Gray’s “Out On The Floor.”

A classic dancefloor anthem, considered definitive of Northern Soul, this song was initially released in the US in May 1966. But it wasn't released in the UK until 1975, peaking at number 42 in the UK charts.

Probably best remembered for his 1973 smash hit "Drift Away," Dobie Gray, born Lawrence Darrow Brown* in 1940, was a singer and songwriter whose music spanned several genres, including soul, country, pop, and even musical theatre (he was a cast member of the Hollywood version of Hair in the late 1960s).

*Other sources claim he was born Leonard Victor Ainsworth, which is a name he used on some early recordings.

He recorded under the names of Leonard Ainsworth, Larry Curtis and Larry Dennis until Sonny Bono (of Sonny and Cher fame) directed him towards Stripe Records, who suggested he use the name Dobie Gray.

Dobie passed away in December 2011 from complications resulting from cancer surgery. He left his estate to charity.

More Today Than Yesterday -Spiral Starecase

In the second part of my Northern Soul classics collection, I’m featuring the American band Spiral Starecase and their US hit, “More Today Than Yesterday.”

Hailing from Sacramento, California, the band was renowned for its use of horns and the voice of lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Pat Upton. Originally called the Fydallions, the band's lasting legacy is their single hit song, which continues to be played on the radio globally.

Released in 1969, “More Today Than Yesterday” was a bright, horn-driven song that reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 12. It was also released as a single in the UK, but never reached the charts. However, it became popular in northern clubs.

After releasing a few more singles for Columbia Records, Spiral Starecase disbanded because of financial disputes and a lawsuit, approximately 18 months after "More Today Than Yesterday," which remained their most successful track.

Don’t Pity Me - Joanie Sommers

Released in 1965, "Don’t Pity Me," by American artist Joanie Sommers, was a Northern Soul hit in the UK. Copies of the original pressing can change hands for anything up to £500, such is the track's popularity.

While her more popular song "Johnny Get Angry" is more recognisable, her clear and emotive singing, characteristic of 1960s orchestral pop, is what truly stands out.

Joanie Sommers, a native of Buffalo, New York, was born Joan Drost in February 1941.

She is an American singer and actress who, in the early 1960s, was billed as “the Voice of the Sixties.”

She had a stunning jazz voice and was also referred to as “The Pepsi Girl,” as a parallel career of commercial vocal work saw her singing many advertising jingles (especially for Pepsi Cola).

Her family's move to Los Angeles at 14 led her to become the vocalist for the Venice High School band in the Mar Vista area.

Married to theatrical agent Jerry Steiner from 1961 until his sudden death in 1971, they had three children.

Joanie effectively left the music industry in the early 1970s, most likely to focus on raising her young family. She returned, however, making selected appearances during the 80s.

Currently in her mid-80s, Joanie makes her home in California.

70 mph Speed Limit at 60!

 

Introduction of the 70mph Speed Limit on British Roads

60 years ago, on 22 December 1965, the UK government introduced a temporary maximum speed limit of 70 mph (112 km/h) on previously unrestricted roads, including motorways. Initially introduced for a trial period, it was intended to reduce accidents.

Before the mid-1960s, many UK roads, especially motorways, had no national maximum speed limit. Drivers could legally go as fast as conditions allowed, and this was the legal situation on motorways for several years after the M1 opened in 1959.

However,after a series of serious motorway crashes in 1965, particularly in foggy conditions, the UK government decided to act to improve road safety.

The trial limit was initially planned for four months, but as data was collected and analysed, it was extended several times through 1966 as the authorities evaluated its effects.

Following research showing a reduction in casualties during the experimental period, the then Minister of Transport made the 70 mph limit permanent in 1967.

In 1977/1978, the broader National Speed Limit system was formalised, keeping 70 mph on motorways and dual carriageways and setting 60 mph on single carriageways — arrangements that largely persist today.

The principal reason for introducing the 70 mph limit in 1965 was road safety. Motorway crashes, especially under poor visibility, were increasing, and studies at the time suggested that capping top speeds would reduce the number and severity of collisions.

1975 OPEC Siege (the Vienna Hostage Crisis)

Carlos the Jackal

50 years ago, on December 21, 1975, six militants (self-titled as the “Arm of the Arab Revolution” group), led by the Venezuelan militant known as Carlos the Jackal (Ilich Ramírez Sánchez), attacked the OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) headquarters in Vienna, Austria. 

In a politically motivated operation, with demands tied to Middle Eastern politics, particularly the Palestinian cause, they took more than 60 hostages, including oil ministers from major producing countries. 

OPEC HQ, Vienna.

After long negotiations, the militants obtained a plane and flew with selected hostages to several destinations, including Algiers and Tripoli. Ultimately, most hostages were released, though three people died—two security guards and a Libyan delegate. 

The incident increased Carlos’s notoriety and highlighted vulnerabilities in international organisations.

The 1975 OPEC siege showed how energy politics and terrorism intersected during the 1970s, intensifiying global concerns about the security of political and economic institutions. It also influenced later anti-terrorism and diplomatic security policies.