The Carstairs

Biography

The Carstairs’ “IT CERTAINLY Hurts Me, Young lady” endures being among the most controversial and influential singles ever popularized within Britain’s Northern Soul club scene. A truly excellent record that distinctively catches the tectonic change between your deep spirit of the past due ’60s as well as the shimmering, propulsive Philly spirit of the first ’70s, it singlehandedly modified the path and sensibility from the North scene. For several such historic importance, it’s ironic that next to nothing is known regarding the Carstairs themselves — actually the lineup is really a mystery. “IT CERTAINLY Hurts Me, Young lady” itself was compiled by Cleveland Horne (most widely known like a longtime person in the Detroit spirit group the great Four) and Raymond A. Evans, about whom there is nothing known; Gene Redd created the solitary, which made an appearance on his Crimson Trainer label in 1973. “IT CERTAINLY Hurts Me, Young lady” sank with out a track in its indigenous U.S., but in some way Ian Levine — the now-legendary DJ in the landmark Blackpool Mecca golf club — got his practical a duplicate and began rotating it regularly. Using its slick, modern set up and pulsating, pre-disco tempo, the record was unlike anything ever spun in a North all-nighter, and crowds had been sharply divided — some embraced Levine’s advancement beyond the Motown soundalikes that dominated rival playlists, while staunch traditionalists had been so upset that lots of remaining Blackpool Mecca once and for all. Now unequivocally named an underground traditional, “IT CERTAINLY Hurts Me, Young lady” opened up the floodgates for additional post-’60s spirit music to enter the North pantheon, and it is a staple of North Soul compilations even today; gleam handful of additional known Carstairs recordings, including a psychedelic reading of Edwin Starr’s “He Who Picks a Rose,” “Stay by Me, Baby,” and “Happy Times.”

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