Go Now - The Original Version

Bessie Banks - Go Now (Link 1)

Bessie Banks - Go Now (Link 2)

When I was growing up I was always under the impressions that The Moody Blues version of Go Now was the definitive article, the original and best version. Then one day I came across a collection of soul music entitled Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures and my eyes were opened as I heard this, the real original version of the song.

Dave Godin is basically a legend in soul music, having a great influence on the continuing interest people have in obscure soul and responsible for saving many many great records that would otherwise have been lost to obscurity for ever. In fact, my research since hearing this has revealed that when the Moody Blues released their cover of the song, Godin wrote a piece in the British press rightly informing people that this was actually a cover version of an earlier song. For a full biography of the man go here, you can also read more about Bessie Banks here.

Well, onto the song itself. A lot rawer in sound compared to the Moody Blues version, it also touches the heart in a way their version never did for me. Bessie's phrasing, while unusual, captures the faltering feel of the lyrics perfectly and the backing singers anguished sound makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Just noticed that The Mirror Eye did a post about Godin a while ago and off the same compilation but you can never have too much of a good thing.

Also, unsurprisingly, the ever excellent The Number One Songs In Heaven has posted twice on Godin with a piece on Deep Soul Treasures Vol 4 and an obituary after he sadly died last year.

You can buy the compilation HERE

This is also an appropriate track as I'm away the beginning of next week doing romantic things but I should be back with more new music Wednesday. To cover the fact that you only get a 100 downloads now and I'm away for four days I've put up two links to the song, basically if one's used up switch to the other one.