My brother Kevin was one of THE most important influences on my musical life. It’s his birthday today, he would have been 67. He died in 2021, the day after my 60th birthday. I miss him and never stop marvelling at the role he played in younger, formative years. Right on, Kev You beautiful soul.
So while autumn engulfs the entire neighbourhood and everything in the street snd beyond becomes a riot of colour, preparing for winter’s onslaught, just enough time for a moment of joy.
Over the past few days that ringing in my ears that I can’t shake off, is The Duck by Jackie Lee. It was one of those uptempo shakers that defined my pre-punk teenage years. As the younger sibling to a soul hungry elder brother, the golden moments of the blossoming northern soul movement were mine. After a fashion, they were actually his and he was very possessive. The Duck was a time when our bedroom was illuminated by glorious sound. Gleaned from the back of Blues And Soul, I bore witness to this fascinating record collection being built up, week after week. My brother did a succession of really shitty jobs just to afford this exquisite luxury, and they just kept coming.
Jackie Lee was really Earl Palmer, who in 1963, along with his then singing partner, Bob Relf as Bob And Earl, created one of the most durable and popular soul records ever released in this country in Harlem Shuffle. It hit the American charts in 1963, years before it registered any significant sales in the UK. Here it was reissued every six months or so on a different label till it eventually hit the Top Ten in the spring of 1969, just as the northern thing was about to take off.
Palmer’s pseudonym was invented as a side project, to keep the ever encroaching wolf from the door. The duck was released in the autumn 1965 on mirwood, one of those labels that came to define that Northern Soul sound and with much collectible material in its catalogue. It charted in the USA and instantly became an underground dancefloor smash over here. Produced by the great Fred Smith, it is almost northern soul by numbers, which is a bit unfair but the best way to describe it to anyone unfamiliar with its irresistible force.
It took off in the northern clubs and became one of those records for which collectors and fans would make that special journey from the frozen north to Dave Godin ‘s Soul City record shop in London’s fashionable Soho, and gorge themselves on the hidden treasure seemingly unavailable elsewhere. From there it became one of the most popular records in the history of the genre, with copies of original pressings exchanging hands for serious money and being bootlegged many times over for those mortals unable to afford an original.
Nigh on 60 years later the riches of American soul are all available at a more sobering price, if you can live with the embarrassment of not owning the original, and sadly northern soul is really like that. The entire Mirwood catalogue has been reissued several times over the years, best of all by Ace/Kent records who are faithful with their mastering and pressings.
Lee recorded several successful sides for the label over the next few years, including another outing for The Duck in 66, with the breakneck paced Shotgun And The Duck, one of the records that changed the Northern scene forever and was a staple of the live set of legendary British psychedelicists, Tomorrow, who turned in a startling performance during their set at tge fabled 14 Hour Technicolor Dream in April 67.
And, while we’re here, it has to be said, the indescribably beautiful Oh, My Darling, which as i write is the sound that fills my morning. But I love The Duck, it quacks and makes you feel great. It reminds me of home and yet again those moments of discovery. I said this, so it must be true. enjoy. x
Kevin Connor 12th October 1957 – 29th November 2021.
I Love You, Brother.
💙
bernie@happening-things.com 