MODrophenia

MODrophenia – Various Artists

Celebrate the sound, style and spirit of the Mod era with MODrophenia, a two-disc CD compilation bringing together an eclectic selection of classic British beat, mod favourites, Northern Soul, Motown, R&B and Jamaican ska and rocksteady. Featuring legendary performers alongside enduring dancefloor favourites, this collection captures the musical diversity that helped shape the Mod scene and its lasting influence on British popular culture.

The first disc draws heavily on the swinging sounds of the 1960s, with Small Faces classics “Sha La La La Lee”, “Itchycoo Park” and “Lazy Sunday” sitting alongside The Kinks' “Sunny Afternoon” and “Waterloo Sunset”. British beat and R&B are represented by The Animals' “We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place”, The Troggs' “With A Girl Like You” and The Nashville Teens' “Tobacco Road”. Soulful pop highlights include Martha Reeves & The Vandellas' “Dancing In The Street”, The Velvelettes' “Needle In A Haystack” and The Supremes' “You Can't Hurry Love”.

Reggae and ska bring a different flavour to the collection, with Desmond Dekker's “Israelites” and “007 (Shanty Town)”, The Pioneers' “Let Your Yeah Be Yeah” and Harry J. Allstars' “Liquidator”. The inclusion of Tony Tribe's version of “Red Red Wine” further underlines the connection between Jamaican music and the broader Mod appreciation of rhythm, style and dancefloor culture.

The second disc turns the spotlight towards classic American soul, funk and R&B. Aretha Franklin's “Think”, Wilson Pickett's “In The Midnight Hour”, Eddie Floyd's “Knock On Wood” and Fontella Bass's “Rescue Me” deliver the unmistakable energy of the soul dancefloor. Booker T. & The M.G.'s-style instrumental grooves are complemented by Ramsey Lewis's “Wade In The Water” and Jimmy Smith's “Got My Mojo Workin'”, while The Isley Brothers' “Shout” adds a timeless burst of party energy.

There is plenty more to discover, from The Miracles' “Going To A Go Go” and Dobie Gray's “The In Crowd” to Bob & Marcia's “Young, Gifted & Black”, Jimmy Cliff's “Wonderful World Beautiful People” and Dave & Ansil Collins' “Monkey Spanner”. The disc closes with British pop favourites including Amen Corner's “If Paradise Is Half As Nice”, Status Quo's “Pictures Of Matchstick Men” and Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders' “A Groovy Kind Of Love”.

With 44 tracks spanning beat, soul, R&B, ska, reggae and pop, MODrophenia offers a broad musical journey through the sounds associated with Mod culture. It's an appealing choice for fans of 1960s music, classic soul enthusiasts, Mod revival followers and anyone building a collection of essential vintage singles and dancefloor staples.

Tracklist

CD 1

1-1. Small Faces – Sha La La la Lee (2:56)
1-2. Booker T & The MG's – Green Onions (2:51)
1-3. James Brown – Papa's Got A Brand New Bag (2:06)
1-4. Dave & Ansill Collins – Double Barrel (2:30)
1-5. Desmond Dekker – Israelites (2:32)
1-6. The Equals – Baby Come Back (2:39)
1-7. The Paramounts – Poison Ivy (2:05)
1-8. The Kinks – Sunny Afternoon (3:32)
1-9. Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – Dancing In The Street (2:37)
1-10. The Velvelettes – Needle In A Haystack (2:24)
1-11. Diana Ross & The Supremes – You Can't Hurry Love (2:45)
1-12. Chris Farlowe – Out Of Time (3:35)
1-13. The Animals – We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place (3:12)
1-14. Harry J. Allstars – Liquidator (2:47)
1-15. The Pioneers – Let Your Yeah Be Yeah (2:56)
1-16. Desmond Dekker – You Can Get It If You Really Want (2:27)
1-17. Freda Payne – Band Of Gold (2:53)
1-18. Small Faces – Itchycoo Park (2:45)
1-19. The Troggs – With A Girl Like You (2:07)
1-20. The Nashville Teens – Tobacco Road (2:25)
1-21. The Love Affair – Everlasting Love (3:01)
1-22. Tony Tribe – Red Red Wine (2:55)

CD 2

2-1. The Miracles – Going To A Go Go (2:46)
2-2. The Isley Brothers – Shout (4:40)
2-3. Aretha Franklin – Think (2:16)
2-4. Wilson Pickett – In The Midnight Hour (2:26)
2-5. Eddie Floyd – Knock On Wood (3:02)
2-6. Fontella Bass – Rescue Me (2:51)
2-7. Jr. Walker & The Allstars – (I'm A) Roadrunner (2:45)
2-8. Ramsey Lewis – Wade In The Water (3:21)
2-9. Dobie Gray – The In Crowd (2:43)
2-10. Jimmy Smith – Got My Mojo Workin' (6:11)
2-11. Box Tops – The Letter (1:53)
2-12. Chairmen Of The Board – Give Me Just A Little More Time (2:36)
2-13. Bob & Marcia – Young Gifted & Black (3:05)
2-14. Jimmy Cliff – Wonderful World Beautiful People (3:10)
2-15. Desmond Dekker – 007 (Shanty Town) (2:29)
2-16. Dave & Ansill Collins – Monkey Spanner (2:28)
2-17. Small Faces – Lazy Sunday (3:03)
2-18. Amen Corner – If Paradise Is Half As Nice (2:48)
2-19. Tommy James & The Shondells – Mony Mony (2:51)
2-20. The Kinks – Waterloo Sunset (3:13)
2-21. Status Quo – Pictures Of Matchstick Men (3:07)
2-22. Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders – A Groovy Kind Of Love (1:58)