Kenny Smith - Lord, What's Happening To Your People - General American Records: GAR 317 DJ (45s)

A 45 that opened up the gateways for more diversity for the Northern Soul dancer to feed upon. DJ Colin Curtis saw beyond the "Motown styled" confinements other DJ's were shackled by, playing the first Gospel record on the Northern Soul scene, against all odds, turning Kenny Smith into an anthem, that every wannabe jock was seeking to own. Underlining him as the most inventive charismatic DJ of his time, as he wowed his congregation in the Highland Room of the Blackpool Mecca.

The fortunate attendees that night in the Highland Room witnessed the dancefloor sway with statuesque Northern Soul adolescents, awaiting the mid-tempo dance arrangement to kick it. Still ghosts through my mind every time I hear this song.

What a visionary Colin Curtis was, the DJ every Cleethorpes DJ plagiarized by trying so desperately to acquire any of his current plays... I once made a 200 mile trip, to acquire one 45. A copy of Prince George - Wrong Crowd.. such was the power of my "wannabe" compulsion. As anybody at the time would have been brave enough to play the Coasters - Crazy Baby. Salvadors - Stick By Me Baby or any other dancefloor detonating gem..but to drop the arm on this slab of modern Gospel in the heat of more traditional Northern Soul atmosphere, you had to be super-confident and have impeccable taste.

Even today some oldies Jocks shy away from dropping this masterpiece into their sets..

Kenny Smith was controversial for only a few weeks only, then Colin had the Mecca multitudes salivating for the next off-the-wall winner he would play.

Imagine this, if there was never a "Colin Curtis" what direction would Northern Soul have gone in, there were flashes of New York Disco, moments of make you own Northern Soul but once the experienced USA producers stopped guiding UK producers the sound became duplicating and monotonous. The Northern Scene needed a refresh and I consider it was Colin Curtis who switch on the green light for "outside the box" thinking on what you could play, and be accepted.

Today Northern Soul is a rich tapestry of sound, a diversity of every imaginable Soul style possible, the NS crowd will always vote with their feet whether its "right or wrong"

"Lord, What's Happening To Your People" they voted Yes.. to Colin Curtis they voted "DJ Genius"

Condition Report
Two impeccable promo labels, vinyl reveals only the merest soft sleeve contact hairline when angled under strong light. A fine clean, tip-top condition copy.



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Kenny Smith - Lord, What's Happening To Your People - General American Records: GAR 317 DJ (45s)

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