Competition Aint Nothing at Bar Italia Scooter Club All-dayer

Until Sunday, Herbal was always one of those buildings you’d pass on the Kingsland Road without ever clocking; the industrial look and feel lending itself more towards Illuminati headquarters than a soul contingent.

However, turning the street corner at 11:55 Sunday morning left me in no doubt I was at the right place. Patch was looking more Patrick Swayze than traffic warden, shuffling road cones in an arabesque fashion as one side of the street was cordoned off (legitimately, I may add!) for 14 hours of free scooter parking.

Having experienced my fair share of promoting all-dayers, I expected to walk into at least a bit of chaos … no DJs, sound system playing up etc … but Al, Patch and Paul had been there since day break working their magic so everything was bang on schedule with the doors opening at midday.

If you’ve never checked it out before, the smooth concrete floors, steel girders and ‘corrugated’ MDF interior make Herbal one of the freshest venue's around. And thus, this was a perfect choice for Bar Italia Scooter Club’s first all-dayer.

The infusion of the day was a fine blend of scooters and all things soulful. Music was given a kick-start in the upstairs room by Kev Moore and downstairs by Mr Mischief.

Trickster and Estu, in fine style, were first up on the floor …much to the bewildered looks from the bar staff who didn’t have a clue what “all the white stuff” was covering the floor. Like all good Sundays, the pace was slow to start off with, but by late afternoon (according to Andy’s deluxe clicker) the number through the door passed the 100 mark. Eddie did the BISC proud in the promotions department, wearing down good shoe leather luring in people out for a sunday stroll in Shoreditch.

Although a precedent for 6Ts northern was set, the promoters worked hard to make this dayer unique – scattering a generous handful of ska, reggae, funk and modern into the proceedings.

The customers were definitely kept satisfied - with a great mix of DJs from across the board including Colin G, Frankie, Jean-Paul Séculare, Keb Darge, Kev Moore, Mr Mischief, Paul St John, Stephane Yver, Tef, Tim Finch, Tony Smith and Trafford.

Besides the BISC themselves, scooter clubs lending their support included Chelmsford, Mr.Men, Maidenhead, Solos and the CC Riders. From a scooterist’s point of view, there are two great advantages to this venue. Firstly, the secure scooter parking directly across the road and, if the bouncers keeping a watchful eye over the bikes didn’t reassure you enough, secondly the fact you could sit comfortably and get a perfect view of your scooter all day long, through the window that makes up one entire wall of the upstair’s room. Thankfully no one found that necessary, mind!

The day brought together an eclectic mix of people, not only scooterists, and as a mod that spends most of her time on the northern soul scene it was refreshing to see so many young people there (or that could have just been a trick of the atmospheric lighting!).

With an attendance of over 250 people come 1am, both floors were packed and the atmosphere was sparkling. With one hour left, a difficult decision had to be made – which room to spend it in. In the ‘loft’, Mr Séculare handed the decks over to Keb one last time, closing the night with a nice smelting of funk and northern. For those demanding grittier soul, Tony Smith was on board to bring the night to a hand-clapping close downstairs.

My only complaint is that the 14 hours went far too quickly but hey, the girl can’t have everything.

View the Bar Italia Scooter Club All-dayer PHOTO ALBUM

Some of the DJs have kindly provided a their playlists below. The records are listed in no apparent order and as each DJ played at least a couple of one hour sets each, I’ve only listed a small selection from each playlist.

DJ Playlists:

Jean – Paul

Maureen – Roy Richards, Baba Brooks & His Recording Band (Gay Feet)

Man Alone – The Deacons (Doctor Bird)

Gun Fever – Baba Brooks (Treasure Isle)

One Note Samba – Blossom Dearie (Fontana)

Run To You – Miss Lavell (Duke)

Running Back And Forth – Edwin Starr (Gordy)

West Indies Ska – Lester Lanin (Philips)

I'm Coming Through – Sounds Incorporated (Columbia)

The Queen – Big Ella (Rush)

Think It Over – B. B. King (Bluesway)

(I Wonder Why) Nobody Loves Me – Billy Eckstine (Motown)

Put It On – The Wailers (Island)

Come Back Baby – Deon Jackson (Atlantic)

King Of Kings – Ezz Reco (Columbia)

Since You’ve Been Gone – Roosevelt Grier (Rik)

I'm Gonna Use What I Got To Get What I Need – The Explosive (President)

Madness – Prince Buster (Blue Beat)

Dumplins – Byron Lee (Blue Beat)

Quicksand – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas (Tamla Motown)

Check Yourself – Gene Chandler (Vee Jay)

One Man Went To Mow – Sugar and Dandy (Carnival)

I'm The Man – The Dynamics (Big Top)

Am I The Same Girl – Dusty Springfield (Philips)

Carcare – Nara (Philips)

One Night Affair – The O'Jays (Neptune)

Paul St John

Darrow Fletcher – The pain gets a little deeper

Brenda Holloway – Starting the hurt all over again

Lovelites – My conscience

The Exceptional Three – Unlucky girl

Johnny Bartell – If this isn’t love

Soul – Teasers – On a hot summer day in the big city

Jean DuShon – As I watch you walk away

Frankie Valli – You ready now

Jackie Wilson – A lovely way to die

Linda Lewis – You turned my bitter into sweet

Mr Mischief

Somebody I Know – Wales Wallace (BRC)

Sister James – Nino Tempo (A&M)

Who Wouldn't Love A Man Like That (Mable John – Tamla)

Keep On Keeping On – Ruby Johnson (Volt)

Come A Little Closer – Romance Wallace (Coral)

While It Lasted – Little Ester (Lenox)

River Of Tears – Barbara Banks (Veep)

Haunted – Azie Mortimer (Number One)

If This Is Love – The Precisions (Drew)

You Busted My Mind – Judy Clay (Septer)

Tony Smith

Forris Woods – Stoned On Love (Abbott)

Darrow Fletcher – What Have I Got Now (Jacklyn)

California Rock Choir – Whoever You Are (Cyclone)

Ray Agee – I'm Losing Again (Soultown)

Tamala Lewis – You Wont Say Nothing (Marton)

Little Stanley – Out Of Sight Lovin' (Vance)

Darrell Banks – I've Got That Feeling (Atco)

Charlie Rich – Don't Tear Me Down (Hi)

Andrea Henry – I Need You Like A Baby (MGM)

Bob & Fred – I'll Be On My Way (Big Mack)

Err.. and Keb was too happy on life to remember anything.

More playlists to follow.

FURTHER PLAYLISTS FROM THE ALL-DAYER:-

Tim Finch

Drums of Fu Man Chu - Rolando Al (Studio One)

Dr. Ring Ding - Rolando Al (Studio One)

Special Event - Baba Brooks (Treasure Isle)

Country Town - Baba Brooks (Duchess)

Ska Jerk - Wailers (Studio One)

Dancing Mood - Delroy Wilson (All Stars)

Love Kiss Blue - Johnny Moore (Matador)

It's You I Love - Techniques (Treasure Isle)

Race Track - Soul Vendors(Studio One)

Queen of the Minstrel - Eternals(Studio One)

Stephane Yver

FIRST SET

The Squires Don't Accuse Me GEE

The Ascots Anytime MIR-A-DON

Gil Blanding Rules READY

Village Sound These Windows ONYX

The Adventurers Easy Baby COMPASS

The Ringleaders Baby, What Has Happened To Our Love M-PAC

The Ideals The Mighty Lover BOO-GA-LOO

David And Ruben (I Love Her So Much) It Hurts Me WARNER BROS

The Magnificents My Heart Is Calling DEE GEE

Sunlover's You'll never Make The Grade MUTT & JEFF

The Four Sonics Easier Said Than Done SPORT

Jimmy Gilford Nobody Loves Me Like My Baby THELMA

Little Carl Carlton Bad For Each Other BACKBEAT

The Epitome Of Sound You Don't Love Me SANDBAG

Doni Burdick I Have Faith In You SIR

Dusty Wilson Can't Do Without You BRONSE

Wade Flemons Jeanette RAMSEL

Lavern Baker Wrapped, Tied And Tangled BRUNSWICK

Susan Coleman The Age Of The Wolf REMMIX

The Tempos (Countdown) Here I Come CANTERBURY

The New Wanderers This Man In Love READY

Frank Beverly & The Butlers If That's What You Wanted SASSY

Linda Queen I Feel The Pain ROD

Rufus Wonder & The Additions Under The Moon LENDO

Johnny Robinson Gone But Not Forgotten OKEH

The Trends Thanks For A Little Lovin'ABC

The Invincibles Wonders Of Love CIRAY

The Pentagons Gonna Wait For You SUTTER

SECOND SET

Eddie Foster Closer Together OCAMPO

Jo Ann Garrett A Whole New Plan CHESS

The O'Jays I'll Never Forget You IMPERIAL

Sam Fletcher I'd Think It Over TOLLIE

The Blue Jays (It Depends On The) Point Of View JAY

The Velvet's Lovin-On Borrowed Time NUMBER ONE

The People's Choice Savin' My Lovin' For You PALMER

Herb Ward Strange Change ARGO

The Masqueraders How LA BEAT

Clifford Curry Ain't No Danger ELF

Ivorys Please Stay DESPENZA

Christine Cooper Heartaches Away My Boy PARKWAY

Marion Stewart I Must Be Losing You R

The Sheppards Stubborn Heart MIRWOOD

Dena Barnes If You Ever Walk Out Of My Life INFERNO

Patti Young Head And Shoulders (Above The Rest) ERNSTRAT

Poets I've Got Two Hearts SYMBOL

The Cavaliers Hold To My Baby RCA VICTOR

Ritchie Adams I Can't Escape From You Congress

Ollie Jackson The Day My Heart Stood Still MAGNUM

Ann Heywood Crook His Little Finger HONDO

Ruby Feminine Ingenuity GOLD TOKEN

Ray Marchand Your Ship Of Fools DORE

The Chandlers Your Love Makes Me Lonely COLSOUL

Jimmy "soul" Clark (I'll Be Your Champion) I'll Be Your Winner SOULHAWK

And a finally playlist which came through today:-

Trafford

1. latin strut-joe bataan

2. we got more soul-dyke and the blazers

3. another star-stevie wonder

4. red light spells danger-billy ocean

5. groovin with Mr bloe-Mr bloe

6. low rider-war

7. brazilian love affair-george duke

8. hercules-aaron neville

9. you can get it if you realy want-jimmy clif

10. that lady-isley brothers

*in no special order just the ones in Trafford's box he remember people liked..,.

Notes

1.The Bar Italia Scooter Club meet every Sunday, 6pm at Bar Italia, Frith Street, Soho, London W1 with full club meetings the last Sunday in the month. All Geared Scoots welcome

2.The next BISC all-dayer will be held on 23rd November 2003. For details on all future events, and to subscribe to the BISC e-mailing list, contact Paul at...