In the Blue Corner, we have Loose Ends. In the Red Corner, we have Soul 2 Soul - who's your champion?
At the time. Both bands had amazing successes within the USA with their brand of Soul and RnB music.
The USA and International Soul and RNB music fans were shocked to learn about the input that these groups had achieved within the mid-1980s to early 1990s.
The shock came from the fact that they actually came from the UK!
The USA or the International music fan should haven’t been that shocked about this British sound. This happened a decade before within the Soul, Pop, and Rnb musical genders.
Music acts such as the Bee Gees, The Average White Band; and the songwriter that was Rod Templeton during the 1970s and early 1980 set the tone for the UK acts performing, singing, and writing soul and RnB material.
However, I fear the shock factor in regards to the world's reaction to this sound coming from the Uk within this new decade that was the 1980s – was that the sound which was coming from the UK was from the black communities within the Uk.
Other artists/s from the Uk black community were also making small waves within the International music charts that come to mind during this time.
For instance, artists such as Light of the World, Lynx, Central Line, Imagination, and Sade come to mind here.
Black artists or groups from the UK were listening, taking their "queues" from USA Rnb and Soul musicians and Jamaican Reggae artists; honing their musicianship and musical sounds from those groups and acts from those countries.
These nations have always been the true heavyweights of Pop, Soul, Hip hop, Reggae, and Rnb music that we know today whether we like it or not (The USA and Jamaica).
The world got a taste of England’s intentions when the groups mentioned above during the decade of the 1970s put their hats into the arena - and shocked everyone.
(Others might disagree with that statement, stating the 1960s was instead). The 1980s saw an explosion of black music acts within the Uk.
The Uk has one advantage that it can produce from its jacket sleeves.
It had on its side the use and inclusion of the Pirate Radio network within the music industry.
It allowed the Uk music-loving public to keep in touch with the latest pop and dance music acts from the musical giants that are Jamaica and the USA.
This love affair between the Uk music-loving public and Pirate radio began in the 1960s.
In this decade we saw Pirate Radio stations taking to the North Sea and locating there to provide us with import USA pop and dance music acts with the occasional Jamaican music acts as well.
This illegality of the Uk Pirate Radio movement attracted a huge audience; it also attracted the notice of the UK government to this movement at the same time.
After years of trying to curb the activities of the Uk Pirate Radio movement.
The Uk government passed a law in 1967 called The Marine Broadcasting Act prohibiting the use of these Sea-based Pirate radios to operate within the UK.
This led to the BBC Organisation itself having to realize and recognize the love that the Uk music-loving public had for the UK Pirate movement.
A LOOK BACK AT THE MARINE BROADCASTING ACT THAT BECAME LAW IN 1967.
However, the Uk Pirate movement was not just over yet.
This new crop of Pirates radio stations that appeared over the next decade (the 1970s) started appearing on land within the Uk.
To be fair they seemed to be appearing in all the big cities of England. Cities such as London, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, and Manchester all had their share of Uk Pirate radio stations.
However, London had the biggest amount of pirate radio stations in the UK (And it still has).
This has helped the UK nation to continue to hear upfront musical genres such as Rnb, Reggae, Funk, and Disco hits of the day to be heard; which they had no chance of hearing on the National Radio stations of the Uk of the day.
By the time the 1980s had arrived, the city of London had an estimated 400 Pirate Radio stations playing upfront Rnb music, House music, Soul music, hip hop music, and Rare groove tracks of the day to the London public.
Other cities within the Uk also saw a huge increase of these Pirate radio stations within their own areas as well as delivering the same service.
The UK Pirate Radio movement is still alive and kicking here in 2016 within the Uk. Even with the advent of the Internet. Please click on the video below done by the BBC program called News Night about the movement.
The Radio authorities of the Uk were not happy about this situation nor were the emergency services as they believed these stations were interfering with these emergency services frequencies.
As the nation was now hearing new sounds and new musical styles of music that they would never ever have got the chance of hearing on National Radio Stations within the Uk at the time.
The group in question is Loose Ends based within the area of South London.
Loose Ends themselves state that this was the case for them when they started out. And are grateful for the support that they received from the Pirate Radio stations at the time.
Their first single called ”In the Sky” benefitted hugely from being played on these same-styled pirate radio stations in the early 1980s.
Due to the single getting requests at dance record vinyl stores around London.
Soon Radio 1 started playing the single…and they were on their way.
Loose Ends - In the Sky - Please click on the video to hear the song
I remember listening to the single myself on BBC Radio One channel via listening to the presenter called Jeff Young (during the year 1992).
A week later I purchased the 12-inch single myself.
The group that is Loose Ends was formed in 1980 by Steve Nichol and Jane Eugene.
Very shortly afterward then came Carl McIntosh to the band.
Now, in my opinion, they are the greatest soul and Rnb that has ever come out of the Uk.
Many critics would state The Bee Gees. However, I have discredited this idea. As great as The Bee Gees were, they were not an out-and-out Soul and Rnb band.
They were a Pop band, they were a Disco band, they were a ballad band yes they did release Soul and Rnb numbers but not all the time.
However, what is said about them they were a great band. However, they were not an out-and-out Soul and Rnb band.
Loose Ends were an out-and-out, soul and Rnb band.
Loose Ends are often credited as being the best band to ever come from the Uk as a straight out and out Rnb and Soul band. I tend to agree with them.
The first 4 x albums received some help from the New York Producer called Nick Martinelli.
He had the same influence on the band as George Martin (Producer of the Beatles) did with the “Fab Four” - The Beatles.
Nick Martinelli was the unofficial member 4th member of Loose Ends.
Technically they have not called it a day. However, the group has not put out a studio album since 1990. In fact that they have released 5 x studio albums so far.
These are:
- A little spice - 1984
- So where are you – 1985
- Zagora – 1986
- The Real Cuckaboo – 1988
- Look how Long? – 1990
One of the great strengths of the music of Loose Ends was/is the quality of their album releases; and the music singles that are contained within them. Every single album in they bought out was of great quality.
The only studio in which they made which was a little below par with the others, was the album called – The Real Chuckaboo – 1988
My favorite studio albums are in this order from the group.
The Loose End sound had/has developed into a highly classy, Soul, Rnb, and Urban Contemporary production.
As I have mentioned above my favorite album from the group was – “Look How Long” (Made in 1990). And this was produced with two of the original members of the band that were Steve Nichol and Jane Eugene leaving the band in the year 1989.
Carl Mackintosh the other original member of Loose Ends decided to stay on and continue with the band.
By doing that he had to hire new musicians and other vocalists.
And I have to say every track on the album called “Look how long” (1990) is probably the best Uk soul and Rnb album to come from the Uk.
It’s that good.
Loose Ends - Love Controversy, Pt.-1 - Please click on the video to hear the song
However, many states that Loose End's greatest moment was with the single that was “Hanging on a String” from the album called “So where are you”…..
Their Single called “Loose Ends” was the 1st ever, from a Uk Soul and Rnb band to top the USA Rnb Charts. However, Loose Ends do have a competitor.
Loose Ends - Hanging on a String - Please click on the video to hear the song
It's not all plain sailing with regards to Loose Ends being noted as being the best-ever Uk band to make and produce Soul and Rnb music.
There was one main competitor towards Loose Ends; that band was Soul 2 Soul.
Soul 2 Soul was one of the most influential Dance/Rnb bands that were heralded from the late 1980s to the middle 1990s.
The sound that they managed to create, capture, and put out to the world was simple but special.
Its music of theirs was a fusion between Rnb music, Reggae music, Hip Hop music, and Soul music. The band was led by Jazzy B (Producer, Songwriter, and vocalist), Nellie Hooper, and Philip Dadee Harvey.
BBC - THE ONE SHOW - TELLING YOU ABOUT SOUL 2 SOUL STORY
However, many people around the world only see the band as complete with the vocalist that is Caron Wheeler.
I remember buying my first Soul 2 Soul single as a 12-inch single and was amazed at how funky it sounded at the time. The single was called “Fairplay”.
I then bought their second single release; which again came out on a 12-inch single. The single was called “Keep on Moving” and I was hooked.
That bassline, and then the sweetest vocals on top from Caron Wheeler made this single heavenly in my opinion. It was then I decided to make up my mind that I would not be buying any more singles from Soul 2 Soul.
I would wait for an album release from them. Then I would buy the album. I eventually did do that.
However, before the album was released another single which went to number one. It was called “Back 2 Life”.
What a single that was. Hearing these days gives me goose pimples about how good it was.
It was a Soul/Rnb single but it contained that irresistible Sound system, and Bristol/Jamaican bassline feel to it that made it a firm favorite around the world for the year 1989.
It is probably the best Soul and Rnb single that Uk artist/s have ever made. But that is bound to cause friction among Uk music lovers. As surprising as it seems. The Uk has made some truly classic-sounding Rnb and Soul singles over the years.
SOUL 2 SOUL - BACK 2 LIFE - Please click on the video to hear the song
But "Back 2 Life" takes some beating as the group that is Soul 2 Soul made headlines all over the world with that single. That was the single that made them international musical superstars for the year 1989.
Over within the USA, no one could believe that a Soul/Rnb band with a Reggae/Hip Hop tinged sound - such as Soul 2 Soul could have originated from the Uk. Many were left open-mouthed when they learned of this knowledge.
Many American music fans have told me the first time that they heard of the single was when they heard a small segment of the song via an episode of the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" - starring Will Smith.
It was after hearing the song via that show - that they checked their radio stations and eventually their record shops for the single to purchase it.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE YOUTUBE VIDEO TO SHOW
WILL SMITH IN THE SHOW CALLED THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR - DANCED TO SOUL 2 SOUL.
Talking and conversing with a number of American Soul and Rnb fans over the years, or other Soul and Rnb fans from around the world it seems clear that they consider Soul 2 Soul and maybe Sade as the best that they have heard musically - on a Soul and Rnb perspective to come from the Uk.
However, If you were to ask the same question to the people of the Uk, the majority of them would say that Loose Ends are the best that has ever come from the Uk with them being a straight-out Rnb/Soul band.
Soul 2 Soul released these studio albums:
- Club Classic Vol 1 – 1989
- Vol 2 – A new decade – 1990
- Just Right – 1992
- 2 Sides of Soul 2 Soul – 1992
- Vol 5 – Believe – 1995
- Time 4 change – 1997
The best ones out of the whole bunch would be
2. Vol 2 – A new decade – 1990
Those were the best albums from Soul 2 Soul that captured the heart and soul in what they will always be remembered for.
However, in my opinion, their other albums were not a patch on the first two albums that they released.
And it was with this deduction that I have decided to say my opinions in regards to rating Loose Ends as the standards on which a Uk has to be to reach to amaze the world.
SOUL 2 SOUL - Missing You - Please click on the video to hear the song
Yes, these days we have Adele who is flying the flag for the Uk. She has sold even more albums than both Soul 2 Soul and Loose Ends put together.
However, listen to any Loose Ends album (Apart from the album called The Real Chuckaboo), and you will hear quality productions that trump over music from other Uk giants.
Such as Sade, Soul 2 Soul, Lisa Stansfield, Amy Winehouse, and even Soul 2 Soul.
So getting back to the original question, Who is your favorite or the better of the two bands?
Please let me hear your thoughts.
Well, that's all folks for me now anyway.
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Dj Mistri and the Electric Soul Show © www.electricsoulshow.com
