Im Gone / Crying Clown

Regarded as the epitome of Northern Soul by many aficionados, ‘I’m Gone’ by Detroit’s Eddie Parker captures the adrenaline and anger of a busted relationship. He tells of his determination to start again elsewhere. The pulsating rhythm matches that anger, and producer Jack Ashford, one of Motown’s key Funk Brothers, utilizes his percussive know-how to produce such a vital track.

The flip side, ‘Crying Clown’, is musically and thematically miles away. Heartbreak and sorrow take the forefront over a beautiful ballad backing. These are two of the greatest soul recordings from the 1960s.