That Driving Beat

One last show before James jets off to England for a few weeks, and it's packed with soul, rhythm & blues, garage rock, psych, and quite a bit of classic British Beat, Mod, pop, and other bits and bobs.

Don't forget: if you're in range of London, England, join me with The Face Radio's Jaf Jervis and Brendan Farrell at Out on the Floor soul night on October 10th at the Mildmay Club!

The show will return in November!

-Originally broadcast October 4, 2026-

Willie Mitchell / That Driving Beat

Small Faces / Lazy Sunday

The Sensational Epics / I've Been Hurt

Oscar Weathers / The Spoiler

Andre Odom / Turn On Your Love Light

Detroit Emeralds / I'll Keep On Coming Back

The Diplomats / There's Still a Tomorrow

Christine Cooper / S.O.S. (Heart In Distress)

The Bishops / Hollywood Scene

Lenny Miles / In Between Tears

Gail Wynters / You've Got The Power

Blinky & Edwin Starr / Oh How Happy

The Metros / Let's Groove

Earl Grant / Hide Nor Hair

The Who / Happy Jack

The Original Emotions / You're A Better Man Then I

Mitch Ryder / I'd Rather Go to Jail

Pamela Webb and the George / Hold On, I'm Comin'

Small Faces / I've Got Mine

Tommy Adderley with Max Merritt and the Meteors / I Just Don't Understand

Manfred Mann / My Name Is Jack

The Spectrum / Portobello Road

The Joys Of Life / Descent

Eric Burdon & The Animals / When I Was Young

The World Column / Midnight Thoughts

Rosco Gordon / You Got My Bait

The C and C Boys / It's All Over Now

Roscoe Shelton / My Best Friend

Betty Everett / Getting Mighty Crowded

Walter Jackson / One Heart Lonely

Nancy Wilson / The End of Our Love

Shirley Ellis / The Nitty Gritty

Fred Parris & The Restless Hearts / Walk a Little Faster

Pat Lewis / Warning

Al Haskins & The Mastertones / You Got Me

Barbara Acklin / Love Makes a Woman

Johnny Adams / Don't Wait Too Long

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James has a box full of vintage vinyl singles designed to get you moving today. You'll hear tunes with That Driving Beat from Barrett Strong, Jean DuShon, The Spencer Davis Group, Erma Franklin, Bobby Bland, Gene Chandler, and The Chicago Loop, plus some faux-British-Invasion from a member of Buffalo Springfield, some crunchy Ohio garage rock, and various takes on the nature of love!

Don't forget: if you're in range of London, England, join me with The Face Radio's Jaf Jervis and Brendan Farrell at Out on the Floor soul night on October 10th at the Mildmay Club!

-Originally broadcast September 27, 2026-

Willie Mitchell / That Driving Beat

Gene Chandler / Nothing Can Stop Me

The Mighty Hannibal / Jerkin' the Dog

Barrett Strong / You Knows What to Do

Paul Peek / Rockin' Pneumonia and Boogie Woogie Flu

Frankie Ford / Love Don't Love Nobody

The Knight Brothers / Love (Can't You Hear Me)

Lou Johnson / If I Never Get to Love You

Jean DuShon / Feeling Good

Frank Gari / Love That's Where It Is

Mel Torme / Comin' Home Baby

The Spencer Davis Group / Keep on Running

Sir Walter Raleigh / I Don't Want to Cry

The Lemonade Charade / The Straight Life

Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity / This Wheel's On Fire

Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson / Lover's Holiday

Joe Jeffrey / Hey Hey Woman

Erma Franklin / Baby, What You Want Me to Do

Bobby Bland / A Piece of Gold

The Drifters / Far From the Maddening Crowd

Sam Hawkins / Let Me Dream

The Casualeers / You Betta Be Sure

The Masqueraders / The Grass Was Green

The Righteous Brothers / Been So Nice

Gene Chandler / It's Time to Settle Down

The RPMs / Memphis Beat

The Mark V / Hey Conductor

Lemon Pipers / Quiet Please

The Five Americans / Don't Blame Me

The U.S. Male / I Don't Want To Know

Tom Jones / Chills & Fever

Paul Revere and the Raiders Featuring Mark Lindsey / Kicks

The Chicago Loop / Richard Corey

Andre Franklin with the Preston Epps Trio / Say Yeah!

Pauline & Bobby / No Messin Around

Carol Vega / I Need You Around

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Today's show has a lot more garage rock and British Beat than usual, some forgotten favorites from James's early days spinning records, bad grammar, record-hunting tales, girl groups, northern soul, R&B, and other 1960s and 70s movers and shakers!

Don't forget: if you're in range of London, England, join me with The Face Radio's Jaf Jervis and Brendan Farrell at Out on the Floor soul night on October 10th at the Mildmay Club!

-Originally broadcast September 20, 2026-

Willie Mitchell / That Driving Beat

Bobby Harris / Ain't That Love

The Capitols / Ain't That Terrible

Freddie Scott / (You) Got What I Need

The Magnificent Men / Much Much More Of Your Love

Vernis Pratt / Good Good Man

Titus Turner / Last Of The Big Time Spenders

Jimmy Hughes / I Want Justice

Slim Harpo / Shake Your Hips

The Woolies / Who Do You Love

The Swingin' Medallions / She Drives Me Out of My Mind

The New Yorkers / Seeds of Spring

The Trolls / Every Day and Every Night

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich / Hold Tight!

Manfred Mann / Ha! Ha! Said the Clown

Tommy T's Federal Reserve / Take The Midnight Train

The Customs Five / Let's Go in '69

The Trashmen / Keep Your Hands off My Baby

Ike and Tina and the Ikettes / So Fine

The O'Jays / Looky Looky (Look at Me Girl)

Sebastian Williams and his Soul Men / The One You Can't Have

The Valentines / Breakaway

The Precisions / Why Girl

Bobby Bloom / Where Are We Going

The Wooden Nickels / Should I Give My Love Tonight

The Shirelles / 31 Flavors

Kelli and the Kittens / What Mama Don't Know

James Duncan / Mr. Goodtime

Harold Burrage / More Power To You

The Spencer Davis Group / I'm a Man

Tiger Boys / I'm a Tiger

The Oxfords / Time And Place

Question Mark & The Mysterians / Ain't It a Shame

The Epic Splendor / It Could Be Wonderful

The Fourmost / Baby I Need Your Loving

James Brown and the Famous Flames / Have Mercy Baby

The Contours / Don't Let Her Be Your Baby

Just Brothers / Sliced Tomatoes

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Here's two hours of top vinyl soul, R&B, and funk dance tunes from the 1960s and 70s. You won't hear these kinds of forgotten gems on most radio stations. Support noncommercial community radio!

-Originally broadcast September 13, 2026-

Willie Mitchell / That Driving Beat

Sandy Wynns / Love's Like Quicksand

Ray Charles / I Don't Need No Doctor

Edwin Starr / Back Street

Jimmy Holiday / I'm Gonna Move To The City

Clifford Curry / Break My Mind

Jackie Shane - Frank Motley & The Motley Crew / Money

And The Echoes / Million Dollar Bill

The Cookies / Will Power

Cookie and His Cupcakes / Got You on My Mind

Rochelle Johnson / Playing the Field

Jackie Wilson / You Brought About a Change In Me

The Intrigues / I'm Gonna Love You

Ben E. King and Dee Dee Sharp / We Got A Thing Going On

Harvey Scales & The 7 Sounds / Get Down

Jesse Gee / Don't Mess With My Money

Willie Walker / You're Running Too Fast

Johnnie & Joe / Won't You Come Back To Me

Jimmy Norman / I Don't Love You No More (I Don't Care About You)

Z.Z. Hill / No More Doggin'

Dee Brown / Bad Habit

Ann Sexton / You're Losing Me

Simtec & Wylie / Can't Break Away

The South Street Soul Guitars / Soul Fire

Johnny Williams / Shall We Gather by the Water

The Maskman & The Agents with the Billy Clark Orchestra / Yaw'll

Eddie Bo / Hook and Sling-Part 1

The Meters / Cissy Strut

James Brown and the Famous Flames / Licking Stick (Part 1)

Tina Britt / You're Absolutely Right

Jerry Butler / Just For You

Glenn Watts / Money Gives Dignity

Maxine Davis / I Really Got It Bad For My Baby

Anna King & Bobby Byrd / Baby, Baby, Baby

Inez and Charlie Foxx / Undecided

Johnny Jones And The King Casuals / Soul Poppin'

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James has packed his playbox tight with 45 rpm vintage vinyl movers and shakers. It's September, it's still HOT in Louisville, but we're not going to let it stop us from getting out on the floor with 1960s rare soul and R&B tunes by Joe Simon, The O'Jays, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Levon and the Hawks, Jerry O, The Shangri-Las, The Sensations, and many, many, more!

Also, today's show tests out a few more potential spins for the playbox when James DJs at The Face Radio's Out on the Floor night in London on October 10th, 2026.  

-Originally broadcast September 6, 2026-

Willie Mitchell / That Driving Beat

Martha & The Vandellas / Heat Wave

Joe Simon / Long Hot Summer

The Olympics / Secret Agents

The O'Jays / The Choice

The Exciters / I Want You to Be My Boy

The Ribbons / Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya

Sugar Pie DeSanto / Soulful Dress

Vernon Harrell / If This Ain't Love (Ain't No Cows In Texas)

Dumpy "Piano" Rice / Movin'

Marvin Gaye / Need Your Lovin' (Want You Back)

Levon and the Hawks / He Don't Love You (And He'll Break Your Heart)

Don Gardner / My Baby Likes to Boogaloo

The Fabulettes / The Bigger They Are (The Harder They Fall)

Tommy Raye / You Don't Love Me

Lou Johnson / Unsatisfied

JerryO / Karate Boo-Ga-Loo

Rodge Martin / Lovin' Machine

Little Jr. Parker / I'm Gonna Stop

Mark Murphy / Why Don't You Do Right?

The Shangri-Las / Sophisticated Boom Boom

George Baker Selection / Little Green Bag

Connie Francis / It's Gonna Take Me Some Time

Clyde McPhatter / I Ain't Givin' Up Nothin' (If I Can't Get Somethin' From You)

Anna King / The Big Change

Damita Jo / Sweet Pussycat

The Toys / This Night

The Sensations / Gotta Find Myself Another Girl

Lee Rogers / Love for a Love

Edward Hamilton and the Arabians / I Love You So

Kim Tolliver / I Gotta Find A Way

Otis Redding / Don't Mess with Cupid

Billy Hambric / New York City Baby

Jackie Wilson / Sing (And Tell the Blues so Long)

The Five Fabulous Demons / You'd Better Come Home

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James celebrates the life of Dolly Parton on this episode, playing her rare mid-1960s girl group pop R&B tunes on the Monument label out of Nashville before she became the legendary country musician we've known for many decades. There's another future Nashville country star lurking in this episode amongst all the vintage soul, R&B, funk, and other tunes with That Driving Beat.

-Originally broadcast August 30, 2026-

Willie Mitchell / That Driving Beat

Salt and Pepper / Rock Me In The Cradle

The Bandwagon / Baby Make Your Own Sweet Music

Dolly Parton / Don't Drop Out

Baby Washington / A Handful of Memories

Brenda and The Tabulations / Hey Boy

Patti La Belle and the Bluebelles / Family Man

Bobby McClure / Don't Get Your Signals Crossed

Jimmy Richards / Don't Forget Those Who Knew You When

Elmore Morris / It Seemed Like Heaven to Me

The Everly Brothers / Somebody Help Me

Dolly Parton / Old Enough To Know Better

The Ad Libs / The Boy from New York City

Inez Foxx / Mockingbird

Don Bryant / Coming On Strong

Ronnie Milsap / Total Disaster

Dolly Parton / Busy Signal

James Carr / Stronger Than Love

The Poppies / He's Got Real Love

Edwin Starr / Way Over There

The Younghearts / A Little Togetherness

Troy Keyes / Love Explosion

The Intruders / I'm Girl Scoutin'

Freddie Houston / Soft Walkin'

The Extensions / I Want to Know

The Top Notes / Say Yes

Al Johnson / Carnival Time

Christine Kittrell / It's Nobody's Fault

Jr. Walker and the All Stars / Brainwasher

Fantastic Four / Win or Lose (I'm Going to Love You)

Flavor / Shop Around

Johnny Jones And The King Casuals / Purple Haze

Joe Simon / The Girl's Alright With Me

Dolly Parton / Control Yourself

Jean Wells / Can't You Feel It

The Masqueraders / I Don't Want Nobody To Lead Me On

Bob Wilson / Suzy's Serenade

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James throws some midtempo, gentle soul sliders and steppers into the mix this week, along with some hard-hitting funk, northern soul, R&B, and more, all on 45 rpm vinyl from the 1960s and 1970s.

-Originally broadcast August 23, 2026-

Willie Mitchell / That Driving Beat

The Hesitations / Soul Kind of Love

Arthur Conley / Funky Street

Jackie Shane / Comin' Down

Jimmy McCracklin and his Orchestra / Get Back

Jimmy Reed / Two Ways to Skin (A Cat)

Alex Bradford / Am I Wrong?

Virgil Griffin / Climbing

The Velvelettes / He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'

Nella Dodds / (To Get) Your Love Back

The Drifters / I've Got Sand in My Shoes

Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces / Searching For My Love

Gary Brown / Would You Laugh At Me

The Marriotts / Tell It Like it Is

Bobby Scott / It's Real

Baby Washington / It'll Never Be Over for Me

The Supremes / You Bring Back Memories

Lee LaMont / I'll Take Love

Maxine Brown / One Step at a Time

The Peps / Thinkin' About You

June Conquest / All I Need

John Roberts / Pledging My Love

Jerry Butler / Only the Strong Survive

Joe Simon / When

Johnnie Taylor / I Believe in You (You Believe in Me)

Wilson Pickett / Don't Knock My Love - Pt. I

Rayford Tucker / If You Need More Time (Time Will Tell)

Mary Wells / You Beat Me to the Punch

Dee Dee Warwick / I Gotta Get a Hold of Myself

The Poets / So Young (And So Innocent)

The Monitors / Since I Lost You Girl

Chuck Jackson / Hand It Over

Fred Hughes / Oo Wee Baby, I Love You

Nancy Wilson / My Sweet Thing

The King-Pins / Dance, Romeo, Dance

Ike & Tina Turner / Two Is a Couple

Bobby Powell / What Are You Trying To Do to Me

The Merced Blue Notes / Rufus, Jr.

Hal Frazier / After Closing Time

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James is back with another 2 hours of rare, upbeat 1960s and 1970s dance music! This is soul, R&B, and funk you don't hear just anywhere if you're not seeking it out, all played on original vinyl singles! Support non-commercial community radio in your hometown and beyond! No algorithms, no AI, just real music selected by real people!

-Originally broadcast August 16, 2026-

Willie Mitchell / That Driving Beat

The Festivals / Music

The Contours / Determination

The Ohio Players / A Thing Called Love

Clarence Reid / Let Those Soul Sounds Play

Dee Dee Warwick / Don't You Ever Give Up On Me

Harry Starr / Another Time, Another Place

The Wildweeds / No Good to Cry

Alvin Cash & The Crawlers / The Barracuda

The Miracles / Ain't It Baby

Joyce Kennedy / Misunderstood

Johnny Jungletree / Old New Orleans

Pearl Woods / Don't Tell It All

Johnny O'Brien & The Stereomonics / Wabash Blues

The Drew-Vels / I've Known

Irma Thomas / I Did My Part

Little Bobby Moore / The Ginger Snap (Do The)

Bobby Jenkins and his Quartet / Troubles

Jimmy Holiday / I've Been Done Wrong

The Deacons / Sock it to Me Part 1

Bobby Darin / We Didn't Ask to Be Brought Here

Okaysions / Watch Out Girl

Barbara And The Uniques / There It Goes Again

Honey Cone / When Will It End

Sisters Love / The Bigger You Love (The Harder You Fall)

Della Reese / If It Feels Good, Do It

Na Allen / Thanks for Nothing

Big Maybelle / Eleanor Rigby

Earl Van Dyke & The Soul Brothers / I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)

Willie Hightower / Walk A Mile in My Shoes

Willie Hightower / Nobody But You

The Platters / Fear of Losing You

Jackie Day / Before it's Too Late

Brenda & The Tabulations / The Wash

The V.I.P.'s / Flashback

Jackie Wilson / Baby, That's All

The Salty Peppers / La La Time - Part 1

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That Driving Beat is coming to London! James is excited to announce that he'll be a guest DJ at The Face Radio's October edition of Out On The Floor, hosted by Jaf Jervis (Blues & Grooves) and Brendan Farrell (ModnSoul) at the Mildmay Club in London! He auditions a few Northern Soul heavies for his travel playbox in this episode in a full 2 hours of other rare soul, funk, and R&B dancers.

-Originally broadcast August 9, 2026-

Willie Mitchell / That Driving Beat

Jackie Ross / I've Got The Skill

Garnet Mimms / Prove It to Me

Ovella and the Overtures / That's All You Gotta Do

The Ascots / Miss Heartbreaker

The Showmen / In Paradise

The Kelly Brothers / I'd Rather Have You

Jerry Williams / If You Ask Me (Because I Love You)

Darrell Banks / Open The Door To Your Heart

Lou Rawls / When Love Goes Wrong

Little Milton / So Blue (Without You)

Betty Lavett / Shut Your Mouth

Vicki Anderson / The Feeling is Real

The Astors / Candy

Shirley Ellis / I See It, I Like It, I Want It

Roddie Joy / If There's Anything Else You Want (Let Me Know)

Bettye Swann / Lonely Love

McKinley Mitchell / No Love Like My Love

Edwin Starr / Time

Clarence Carter / Snatching It Back

Jimmy Delphs / Mrs. Percy Please Have Mercy

Joe Simon / Power of Love

Louise Freeman / I Can Do It (If I See It)

Roy Hytower / It Must Be Love

Candi Staton / As Long as He Takes Care of Home

The Esquires / Get On Up

Irene and the Scotts / I'm Stuck On My Baby

Delores Hall / Good Lovin' Man

Jerry Butler / Give It Up

Deon Jackson / You Said You Loved Me

Shades of Blue / Happiness

The Continental 4 / The Way I love You

The Contours / Can You Jerk Like Me

Chuck Carbo and His Band / Wake Up Crying

The Kampells / New Lock on My Door

The Henchmen / The James Brown

Carrie Grant and the Grandeurs / Mish-Mash

Paul Smith / Ain't That Something

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The show is packed with soul, R&B, and funk vinyl dancers from the 1960s including tunes by Z.Z. Hill, Gene Candler, Andre Williams, The O'Jays, Buddy Guy, Mitty Collier, Tammi Terrell, and more!

-Originally broadcast August 2, 2026-

Willie Mitchell / That Driving Beat

Z.Z. Hill / Set Your Sights Higher

Lou Courtney / I've Got Just The Thing

Jimmy Delphs / Don't Sign The Paper Baby (I Want You Back)

Martha & The Vandellas / Heat Wave

Gene Chandler / Good Times

The Volcanos / Help Wanted

Gene & Jerry / Sho Is Grooving

Shack / Too Many Lovers

Andre Williams / Humpin' Bumpin' and Thumpin'

Jackie Paine / Go Go Train

The O'Jays / I Dig Your Act

Teardrops / Tears Come Tumbling

The Society Girls / S.P.C.L.G. (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Little Girls)

Mickey Denton / Ain't Love Grand

Buddy Guy / I Dig Your Wig

Percy Mayfield / Walking On a Tightrope

Johnny (Guitar) Watson / Broke and Lonely

Varetta Dillard / Good Gravy Baby

Mitty Collier / Do It With Confidence

Chuck Wood / Seven Days Too Long

Tammi Terrell / This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)

Willie Mitchell / 20-75

Fontella Bass & Bobby McClure / Don't Mess Up a Good Thing

Ricky Allen / It's a Mess I Tell You

Laddins / Dream Baby

Edwin Starr / Agent Double-0-Soul

Johnny White / Whole Hog or None

Russell Evans & The Nite Hawks / Send Me Some Cornbread

Lula Reed / Puddentane

Jimmy Hughes / I'm a Man of Action

Barbara Lynn / Take Your Love and Run

Bunny & Cindy / Sure Didn't Take Long (For the News to Get Around)

Jeanette Williams / All of a Sudden

The Toys / Sealed With A Kiss

Lee Rogers / You're the Cream of the Crop

Curtis Knight / Ain't Gonna Be No Next Time

Little Johnny Taylor / You Win, I Lose

Little Milton / Who's Cheating Who?

Juggy / Soul At Sunrise

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