Wednesday, October 1, 2025

VA - Belgian Popcorn vs Carolina Beach vs Lowrider vs Northern Soul vs Texas Soul (6 x CDs)

A POL SPECIAL

VA - Belgian Popcorn vs Carolina Beach vs Lowrider vs Northern Soul vs Texas Soul (6 x CDs)

I was fascinated by the different regional music scenes that all seemed to have overlap, especially at first glance. Most experts are hard pressed to really define if a specific song could be played at either scene. Motown, Stax and Philly seem to play a role and anything that was trying to have that sound. So I tried to come up with a list of each style. That's what the following five discs represent. I started with the generally agreed upon "definitions" of each style, based on what these regional clubs and DJ's played. 

Belgian Popcorn, Lowrider, Carolina Beach, Texas Soul and Northern Soul are distinct music scenes and genres, each rooted in specific cultural and regional contexts. While they share some similarities, particularly in their reliance on soul, R&B, and danceability, they differ in tempo, dance styles, historical development, and regional influences.

Popcorn and northern soul probably have the most similarities to them. Both have that danceable factor to them. Popcorn however, usually has a bit of novelty to the songs. They're simple and catchy tunes that you enjoy but aren't earth-shattering recordings. Northern soul on the other hand are more serious dancing tunes. Carolina Beach and northern soul has a lot similarities, but has a bit more rock and R&B. Lowrider and Texas Soul has some similarities in that both have some basis in Tex-Mex and often have Spanish or bilingual language songs, but lowrider is mostly oldies and has no country or blues. Lowrider is mostly sweet soul music

Popcorn is more obscure, Lowrider is more oldies and doo-wop. Northern Soul and Beach is faster soul and R&B. while Texas Soul is southern soul with a decided Tex-Mex feel mixed with old country and swinging blues.

Lowrider music originated in the 1970s in the United States, particularly in California, and is characterized by its slow tempo, heavy bass and lots of Chicano oldies and doo-wop. 

The following playlists are samples of each style mostly that would not get played on the others.

All play some Motown or Fauxtown, although usually not the same songs. Popcorn is more rare recordings, Northern is faster. Lowrider is Quieter Storm, Beach is more like Northern and Texas is more like Lowrider. Beach music is for doing the shag. Northern seems most like the jive. Popcorn is swing. Texas is between swing and two-step. Lowrider is mostly oldies and can encompass all the above but slower paced and is mostly for listening to in your car. So if you are confused, so was I.

The song "My Girl" by the Temptations could be played in all the styles. 

In summary -

Belgian Popcorn: A slow, mid-tempo music style from Belgium, featuring R&B, soul, and obscure recordings from the 1950s to 1960s, often played at a slower tempo to accommodate a "slow swing" dance style

Carolina Beach Music: A regional style from the Carolinas, characterized by a mix of R&B, doo-wop, and rock and roll, with a lively, danceable tempo

Lowrider: A music style from the United States, associated with car culture, featuring a deep, rhythmic bassline and a slow, sultry feel

Northern Soul: A British music scene that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, focusing on high-energy, rare American soul records, often played at a faster tempo

Brisket Beats (Texas Soul): A Texas based regional style that mixes Tex-Mex, country, blues, rock and soul with some cumbias and rancheras.

Enjoy! 

(Pol)

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Track list

CD1

01 Peggy Lee - Sweetheart 2:25

02 Phil Colbert - Who's Got The Action 2:32

03 Gerry and The Pacemakers - Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying 2:34

04 Brook Benton - Kiddio 2:39

05 Mcguire Sisters - Banana Split 2:20

06 Jeff Lane - Carmelita 2:24

07 Mary Wells - You Beat Me To The Punch 2:43

08 Simone Dina - Now I Lay Me Down To Weep 2:00

09 Four Aces - Love Is A Many Splendored Thing 3:02

10 Major Lance - Crying In The Rain 2:22

11 Sammy Davis Jr. - That Old Black Magic 2:53

12 Hank Levine & Orchestra - Image (Part 1) 2:24

13 Walter Jackson - This World Of Mine 2:15

14 Jay Abbott - La Tanya 2:25

15 Temptations - The Way You Do The Things You Do 2:39

16 Alvin Cash and the Crawlers - Twine Time 2:22

17 Dick Baker - Heartless Lover 1:58

18 Martha Reeves And The Vandellas - Dancing In The Street 2:36

19 Supremes - Come See About Me 2:40

20 Little Willie John - Fever 2:40

21 Jackie Weaver - The Tingle 1:57

22 Millie - My Boy Lollipop 2:03

23 Gene Chandler - A Song Called Soul 2:37

24 Barney Kessel - TV Commercials 2:15

25 Mel Tormé - Comin' Home Baby 2:37


CD2

01 O'Kaysions - Girl Watcher 2:41

02 Al Green - Let's Stay Together 4:46

03 Stylistics - My Heart 3:59

04 Temptations - My Girl 2:44

05 O'jay's - Used To Be My Girl 3:18

06 Cornelius Brother & Sister Rose - Too Late To Turn Back Now 3:17

07 The Embers - I Love Beach Music 3:06

08 Dion - The Wanderer 2:44

09 O.C. Smith - Brenda 3:49

10 Tams - What Kind Of Fool 2:02

11 Drifters - Under The Boardwalk 2:39

12 Grand Funk Railroad - Bad Time 2:52

13 Mary Wells - My Guy 2:52

14 Bruce Channel - Hey Baby 2:22

15 Fantastic Shakers - Myrtle Beach Days 3:04

16 Chairmen Of The Board & General Johnson - Carolina Girls 3:20

17 Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs - Sugar Shack 2:04

18 The Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup 3:02

19 Band Of Oz - Shaggin' 3:23

20 The Showmen - It Will Stand 2:29


CD3

01 Billy Stewart - Sitting In The Park 3:18

02 Smokey Robinson - Cruisin' 4:28

03 El Chicano - Sabor A Mi 3:16

04 Selena - La Carcacha 3:38

05 Ruben And The Jets - Dedicated To The One I Love 5:45

06 Santo & Johnny - Sleepwalk 2:20

07 Los Lobos - Cumbia Raza (English Version) 2:52

08 L.E.D. - Ridin' Low 4:14

09 Dicky Doo & The Don'ts - Click-Clack 2:16

10 Rene & Rene - Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero 2:50

11 Tower Of Power - You're Still A Young Man 3:37

12 Dr. Loco's Rockin' Jalapeño Band - Chile Pie 3:32

13 The Penguins - Earth Angel 2:57

14 Marvin & Johnny - Cherry Pie 2:49

15 Blue Magic - Sideshow 4:07

16 The Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her 5:00

17 War - Low Rider 3:11

18 Ritchie Valens - La Bamba 2:07


CD4

01 James & Bobby Purify - I'm Your Puppet 3:14

02 Jackson 5 - I'll Be There 3:55

03 The Carltons - I'm A Man 3:19

04 Dusty Springfield - I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten 3:09

05 The Dells - I Need You 4:56

06 The Shangri-Las - Right Now And Not Later 2:37

07 Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive 3:14

08 The Delfonics - You'll Get Enough 2:22

09 Lou Christie - I'm Gonna Make You Mine 2:41

10 Helene Smith - Thrills And Chills 2:40

11 The Spencer Davis Group - I'm a Man 2:56

12 Yvonne Baker - You Didn't Say a Word 2:36

13 Frank Wilson - Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) 2:33

14 Shirley Ellis - Soul Time 2:39

15 Lou Pride - I'm Com'un Home in the Morn'un 3:23

16 Bobby Lewis - Tossin' And Turnin' 2:21

17 Dobie Gray - Out on the Floor 2:53

18 Little Anthony and the Imperials - Better Use Your Head 2:52

19 The Vel-Vets - I Got to Find Me Somebody 2:19

20 The Contours - Do You Love Me 3:23


CD5

01 Freddy Fender - Before the Next Teardrops Falls 2:36

02 Sam Price And His Texas Bluesicians - Rib Joint 2:38

03 George Jones - He Stopped Loving Her Today 3:17

04 O'Jays - Back Stabbers 3:08

05 Roger - I Want To Be Your Man 4:04

06 Ned Miller - From A Jack To A King 2:09

07 War - Why Can't We Be Friends? 3:47

08 Lightnin' Slim - I Ain't Got No Money 2:11

09 Selena - Como La Flor 3:05

10 Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line 2:41

11 Flaco Jimenez - Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio 2:48

12 Vicente Fernandez - Que Bonito Amor 3:08

13 Grupo Fantasma - Cumbia De Los Pajaritos 2:41

14 Four Tops - Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got) 3:06

15 Isley Brothers - This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You) 2:54

16 Ritchie Valens - La Bamba 2:07

17 Asleep At The Wheel - Boogie Back To Texas 3:18

18 Blake Shelton - Austin 3:50

19 Cornell Hurd Band - Texas Me 2:49

20 Buddy Holly & The Crickets - That'll Be The Day 2:17

21 Sir Douglas Quintet - She's About A Mover 2:25

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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25 comments:

  1. Hey, I'm still in September! We are definitely in different timezones! LOL!

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  2. Have a nice October Butterboy and thanks as always!

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    1. Thanks, Little Bill.
      This is a Pol Special. Please thank Pol. It is his creation.
      Cheers.

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    2. Really I missed it, thank you Pol!

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  3. Apart from 'Northern Soul' I've never heard of any of these genres - maybe I need to get out more! - thanks BB

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    1. Please thank Pol. I am only the host for this set.
      Cheers.

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    2. Aaaah O.K. - maybe I need to go to Specsavers as well - thanks Pol

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    3. I had to put mine on to reply! They are fun

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  4. Great, thank you Butterboy.
    In the early '70s I was regularly in "The Popcorn", a dancing in Vrasene- Belgium. It all started there, with some dancings in Antwerp, Ostend,... who followed this kind of music. It was a strong competition in-between DJ's, to find the latest music in the USA and England. Some shops did their own direct-import. Great time!

    More of this kind of music, Top!

    CU Christiaan

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    Replies
    1. Please thank Pol. I am only the host for this set.
      Cheers.

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    2. I never got to go there, but I love Belgium! I'm usually in Leuven when I go. And when I discovered this "genre" I always wanted to go. Such cool music

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  5. Thanks Pol!
    A very special collection, which gives another dimension to any musical horizon!

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    1. Thank John,
      Pol deserves all the accolade for this.
      I am sure he will appreciate you recognising his great work.
      Cheers.

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    2. It did for me as well, John. I was so curious about these a little similar and yet completely different music styles, So I researched and came up with this

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  6. Thanks Pol! As usual, your selections look interesting. Not everything ends up being to my taste but I always find some treasures mixed in so color me intrigued!

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    1. That's the best part of this site. I always find some treasures. Some send me down a rabbit hole and others make it clear, it's just not my taste. But I like all the discoveries

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  7. Thanks Pol and BB. I had been wondering about what made up the Popcorn and Northern Soul genre. Now I have a little bit of a description and some example. Very much appreciated.

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    1. That's how it started with me, too. No one could give a good comparison and contrast(ison). LOL. I made up a new word!

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  8. This is inventive as hell. One of the most creative things you've ever done. And you are the king of creative comps!

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    1. Thanks! I am just trying to catch up to K and BB. It'll never happen, but the chase is fun

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  9. I praised Butter but forgot to praise Pol. My bad.

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  10. It's a bit of a cliche but I hate labels. To me there are two types of music, music I have heard and music I haven't heard yet. That is what I spend my time looking for. I know lots of these artists and will enjoy hearing all the new tunes. Well, new to me. Thanks Pol/Paul it looks like you put a lot of research and hard work into this. I am sure to find treasures herein.
    Hi BB

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    1. I know what you mean about labels and I am sort of like that myself, but as a DJ who talks to clients who hire me, I have to figure out what they mean when they say what they like. For the longest time, to me, Beach Music was Surf music. I lived in California and everyone meant the same thing when they said it. Then I did some gigs in the Carolinas and when they wanted beach music they did not mean the Beach Boys or Jan and Dean or Pipeline! I'm glad I talked to them longer to figure it out. My pleasure to get this to you and I hope you find some new treasures!

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