Jazz Funk and Soul
in the Home Counties
1978 - 1983

Under (Slow) Construction - Please Contribute your Thoughts

'Rock equalled passive acceptance. Soul, consumed in a club setting
fun, freedom, self-expression. ....Early punk fleetingly overlapped
with the soul set. Shops like John Krivine's Acme Attractions and
Malcolm McLaren's Sex attracted both'
Ian Birch, Style?, Time Out, 30 January 1981.

TRIBAL DANCING



WHOEVER decreed disco defunct forgot to tell 15,000 tribal-conscious

dancers who turned out on May 26 for the Knebworth Soul Weekender,

a much more agreeable use of Hertfordshire than Heavy Metal, and were

recorded for THE FACE by the camera of Jill Furmanovsky. We get the

distinct impression that these people are having fun.

The Face, ?/1980.


Furmanovsky's photo's have T-Shirts with North Herts State Penitentiary, Rainham 
Refugee, Edwards Pelvic Patrol, Sax Maniacs and Soul Funk Strollers.










Introduction


Did I dream the "Soul Boy" (Note 1) scene of the late seventies and early eighties ?
After all its existance seems to be conspicuous by its absence in commentaries
and histories of "Youth Cults" in Print (for example Streetstyle, Ted Polhemus, Thames
and Hudson, 1994) and worse still out on the Web.






Influences


The scissors of Trevor Sorbie, David Bowie on the cover of the Young Americans L.P.,
Brian Ferry, late 1950's/early 1960's Continental style and Northern Soul.






Music


Contemporary U.S.Jazz/Soul Fusion, Funk and Soul. Best Period Late 70's; Soul Music in
the early 80's became more Commercial.









Top D.J.'s


Chris Brown, Greg Edwards, Sean French, Froggy, Chris Hill and Robbie Vincent.





Chris Hill with Light of the World 






Clubs


Atlantis (Margate), Flicks (Dartford), Frenchies (Camberley), 
the Goldmine (Canvey Island), the Lacey Lady (Ilford), Rio (Didcot),
the Royalty (Southgate) and Tiffany's (Purley).










Clothes


The Scene developed it's own 'Fashion' which was essentially
Unisex, away fron the gaze of Style Magazine's (which did not
'mushroom' until 1980 [The Face, i-D etc.]. Around 1975/6 
(further research required here!) there was a brief Glen Miller
and Swing Revival to be followed by the early 'Punk'styles of mohair
jumpers, pegs or drainpipes and winklepickers or plastic "jelly"
sandals (usually in bright colours).


The look at it's height, in late Summer 1979 was -


Wedge Haircut

Silk Scarf or Bandana worn around Neck

Striped T-Shirt (usually brightly coloured)

Web Belts with Metal Clasp.

Baggy Jeans, Turned Up

Very Stylish Light Tan Leather Sandals


From around 1980 a stagnation set in and remained until around
1982/3 when the 'Casual' Style attracted many of those who previously
had retained the 'Soul Boy' look.










Links -



Blues & Soul Magazine.....Still going strong 



The Soul & Funk Webring.....List of Webring sites 



Carl Brown's Jazz Funk Page.....and

Carl's Soul Page.....Extensive, 
tracing the roots of todays Garage and Deep House Sounds 



Jahsonic's Jazz Funk Page



Rupe's Jazz Funk Site..... including information on the Japanese
group Casiopea



Crusaders featuring Randy Crawford - Street Life.....The Lyrics



Level 42 The Official Site.....A peripheral part of the scene at the time,
Level 42 is well  represented on the Web



Light of the World Web Site











Special Thanks to -


Nigel for Chris Hill/Light of the World photo. Brian Longman for information (including the
sticker images used on this page) and for sharing his thoughts.









 webmaster@mawtus.demon.co.uk













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