The Joy Of The Chance Find

One of the wonders of the soul scene and northern/rare soul in particular is that it doesn't matter how long you've been listening, collecting and going to dos every so often something comes along that you have never heard before,  that is probably older than you are, hits you right between the eyes and knocks you over with its utter brilliance.

This has happened to me a couple of times recently. One was a posting on somebody's blog which I clicked on and immediately the hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention and I got that lovely shiver down the back of my neck.

The second was far more serendipitous.

A few weeks ago while foraging through the 7" soul listings on Ebay, looking for that elusive copy of Sam Williams,  Love Slipped Through My Fingers or an Ella Washington promo that I don't have my attention was piqued by a listing by somebody I had never heard of before. It was the label that grabbed my attention; not because it was one of those labels that are highly coveted and you know mean quality four to the floor soul, no  it was a label I had never heard of,  Falew! There was something in the simplicity of the label that caught my eye just a  yellow label with brown lettering and a simple log.  The title of the track, Teardrop Avenue sort of rang some bells until I realised that I was thinking of Heartbreak Avenue by the Maisonettes. The artist Bette Boothe was not somebody I had heard of either but something about this particular piece of vinyl made me curious

So I decided to root about the internet, well go to YouTube  and see if  anybody had uploaded the track so I could hear what it sounded like. As sure as shit,  there it was not once but five separate uploads. So I clicked play not knowing what to expect.

I certainly didn't expect that intro of simple strummed guitar then the drums followed by that powerful vocal building, why am I even trying to describe this there is no way that my words can do this track justice,just listen to it.

I'm sure if somebody had taken a picture of me as I was listening to this you would see a photie of someone totally at peace with the world  and content, something that only the best music can do, well music and certain prescription medications. I played the track maybe ten times over before remembering that it was on eBay and I needed to bid on it. I  knew no matter the price, within reason,  that that record was going to be mine. Thankfully my resolve wasn't put to too much of a test.

I cannot explain what it is about this mid tempo song that has me so hooked that I haven't stopped playing it since it came into my possession. Some people when they listen to this and I urge you to click on the link at least once, what have you got to lose? will think, so what,  a pleasant enough but pedestrian piece of mid sixties girl group fodder. But that to me is the magic of music. One man's 2 mins 49 secs of bliss is another's "meh". Although,  I would argue to the death that that statement does not apply to anything on the x-factor in the end I realise that  I would be wrong and it's all down to personal taste. In a way I'm glad that not more people love this sort of thing over stuff from talent shows for if they did this single would have cost me a hell of a lot more.

Download and enjoy!

Bette Boothe - Teardrop Avenue