The ‘In Crowd’ (The Ultimate Mod Collection 1958-67)
4 CD Box set Released on the 26th April 2001
Universal Music: Catalogue number 5200492
 

In all the thirty five years that I have been a soul DJ and collector, never have I come across a release that encompasses so much brilliant music on one set as the ‘In Crowd’ (Mod Collection 58-67).

Released in the UK on the 26th April 2001 as a lavish four CD set which will retail around £39.99. Here you have the opportunity in one purchase to obtain one hundred tracks that helped shaped the sounds of the sixties. If you have seen the mod film ‘Quadrophenia’ starring Sting, and Toyah Wilcox, then you will have an idea of what is included here.

The great thing about this release is that it includes loads of Motown, Blues, Ska, and beat music, which found fame in the specialist clubs of that era such as the Twisted Wheel in Manchester, and the famous 100 Club in London but to name a couple, with many of these American artists visiting the UK at the time and making a name for themselves to an eager audience whose weekend jaunts to these clubs was an essential part of then day modern life.

In an era when mods and rockers fought their territorial battles on the beaches and streets of Brighton and Clacton the music played an important role in shaping the attitudes of teenagers at that time. One only had to look at the highly decorative SX200 Lambretta scooters (lined up on the promenade in their hundreds) covered in chrome mirrors and lined with fur, complementing the stickers of union jack’s and Soul & Motown emblems, to see where their musical loyalties lay.

By reading through the complete track listing on this set you will appreciate that every track is a gem. There simply isn’t a bad song at all and to acquire all them individually would cost hundreds of pounds. The sound quality is superb and the accompanying 64 page booklet makes essential reading.

So what about the music itself, well, where do you want to start. Tamla Motown is well represented here with massive dance floor favourites including ‘All For You’ by Motown backing band Earl Van Dyke, which first was issued in 1965. Also from the same label finds the brilliant uptempo ‘Lonely Lonely Girl Am I’ by the Velvelettes, and the highly collectable instrumental ‘Tune Up’ by the late Junior Walker. Other Motown releases can be found by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Supremes, The Elgins, Contours, Edwin Starr, Tammi Terrell & Shorty Long, plus more.
 

The Atlantic label soul classics get a good look in too, with brilliant performances from Wilson Pickett (Don’t Fight It) Don Covay (See-Saw) Booker T & the MG’s (Green Onions) and the very hard to find Rex Garvin (Sock It To ‘Em JB)  and the Capitols (or the Three Caps) with ‘Cool Jerk’

There cannot be a soul collector anywhere whose collection doesn’t include some favourites from the legendary Chess label. Not wanting to be left out they are featured here with that superb piano and finger snapping ‘Wade In The Water’ by Ramsey Lewis, as well as ‘The Entertainer’ by the late Tony Clarke, and two releases by heavyweight soul man Billy Stewart with ‘Sitting In The Park’ and ‘I Do Love You’. Who could ever the forget the bass and piano line that introduces the excellent ‘Rescue Me’ by Fontella Bass which is a song that I still play every month on our classic Gold night in North Wales.

There is no shortage of those straight forward northern soul dance-floor classics either, taken from various labels and you can choose from many including the superb Phillips recording of ‘Boogaloo Party’ from the Flamingos, the frantic Willie Mitchell track ‘That Driving Beat’ and  the title track of this box set ‘The In Crowd’ performed by Dobie Gray AND Ramsey Lewis.

The mod scene of the sixties also took under their wing the music of the pop groups including The Who whose rare 1965 Brunswick recording of ‘Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere’ can be found here alongside their earlier release under the guise of the ‘High Numbers’ (I’m The Face). Not to be left out the Small Faces have a number of their tunes included in the listing such as ‘What You Gonna Do About It’ and ‘Almost Grown’.

The amount of research and effort that Universal Music have put into this set is evident with the inclusion of two rare 45’s in the form of ‘Image’ from organist Alan Haven, and Willie Tee’s never to be forgotten Atlantic track ‘Walking Up A One Way Street’

The easiest way to absorb the complete 100 tracks and sample a song from each disc is to 

If you only buy one box set this year - make it ‘The In Crowd’. You will NOT be disappointed.

Personal rating 10/10
Released 26th April 2001.