In the late 1950s and early 1960s, songs emerged in the States that must be seen as precursors to soul. Set in the mid-tempo area and seasoned with ingredients from pop, R&B, country, gospel and doo-wop, the tracks forever revolved around lost loves and broken hearts; moreover, completely independent of the skin color and gender of the respective performers. They were booming on the radio, but especially at school dances and block parties.

Amazingly, a little over a decade later in Belgium, a club scene sprang up around those very songs. She called herself Popcorn, after a play by James Brown. Similar to the British Northern Soul scene, the Popcorn DJs wanted to conjure up songs that were as rare, fresh and unknown as possible.

And that's exactly what Jay Strongman knows. Its compilation focuses on 20 relatively R&B-heavy songs by Varetta Dillard, Jesse James, Kitty White, Johnny Wells, Anna King, Ray Rush and Simone Dina, among others. They caused lasting enthusiasm in the popcorn scene in the early 1970s and can therefore be considered secret hits.

TRACKS:

A1 Hillard Street– River Love A2 Varetta Dillard– That's Why I Cry A3 Damita Jo– I'll Be There A4 Jesse James – Dreams Never Hurt Nobody A5 Patsie Slater– A Tear

B1 Kitty White With Hugo Peretti And His Orchestra – I'm Gonna Be A Fool Next Monday B2 The Gainors– Tell Him B3 The Sierras – I Should Have Loved You B4 Frank Minion With Howard Biggs & His Orchestra – How Much Land (Does A Man Need) B5 Dolly Lyon– In The Palm Of Your Hand

C1 Brook Benton– Kiddio C2 Tony Allen & The Champs– Night Owl C3 Cindy Devereaux– Sing On Baby C4 The Radiants Feat. Gene McAlister– Heartbreak Society C5 Anna King– The Big Change

D1 Ray Rush– So What D2 Johnny Wells – Lonely Moon D3 Timi Yuro– What's A Matter Baby D4 Simone Dina– Now I Lay Me Down To Weep D5 Lew Conetta– You Got Me Crazy