N.F. PORTER - KEEP ON KEEPING ON / IF I COULD ONLY BE SURE

Keep On Keeping On / If I Could Only Be Sure

Outta Sight OSV179

Mint

PORTER was born Nolan Frederick (NF) Porter in Los Angeles in 1949 and is best known for “Keep On Keeping On” his third and final single for Gabriel Mekler’s Lizard label. It was released in America in 1971 and found its way on to the UK Northern Soul scene via The Torch all-nighters in Stoke-on-Trent where it was first played as a new release, and later at the legendary Wigan Casino. It’s thanks to the UK Northern Soul DJs, who popularized the song, that Manchester band Joy Division discovered it and borrowed it’s guitar riff for their “Interzone” in 1978.

“If I Could Only Be Sure”, a staple on the All-Nighter scene, was released in 1972 and was taken from Porter’s eponymous ABC album. Unlike its predecessor, it was also released in Brazil, Canada, France, New Zealand and in the UK on Probe Records, 23rd Feb 1973, 45 years ago! It was a modest hit at the time peaking at #89 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was later covered by Paul Weller on his 2004 album Studio 150.

Keep On Keepin On

If I Could Only Be Sure

Audio Recorded via an iT TUSB05 USB Turntable direct to Audacity with no additional processing and exported as .320 MP3