Would You Let The Camera's In?

[Guest Frank Elson]

I have very few regrets in life, I'm a que sera kind of bloke mostly, but I do bitterly regret the record companies and television companies getting involved in the Northern Scene.

I felt, very shortly afterwards, that it was wrecking the scene and I think it did make it far more commercial than it had ever been beforehand. Remember we used to talk about "tourists" at the Casino?

Today... well having been away for so long, it seems to me that the scene has regrouped and is now as strong, if not stronger, than ever.

But all done WITHOUT the media.

[Guest]

I once let the cameras film up my arse

They never asked me again and I dont recall ever seeing it on the news !!!!!!!

[Guest Scarborosoul]

Does no-one remember the political message in this England. WTF did the labour Party and socialism have to do with NORTHERN SOUL as it was certainly known in 74 (webby) . I went on the Fri as it was an oldies nighter and when all the camera lights were on etc I thought fuck it and went and spent the night asleep in the car.

Im sure that the div comments will be taken badly by the members of this forum that were on This England. I know a couple personally and Billy and Ezzie cannot in anyway be considered Divs.

Keep the media away.... They always have there own agenda and in most cases do not understand the scene past or present. The scene will survive whilst we have young dj and dancers coming into the scene. Next time you go to a nighter just take notice of how many young uns there actually is on the floor. Ive been here 38yrs and heard the suthsayers predict this when the Casino closed. It has been predicted many times since and been wrong everytime.

Rick

[Zed1]

Here we go again - "Wigan was a shite disco after 77" and This England was responsible for the death of NS, the bubonic plague, Adolf Hitler, the 3-day week and the end of free school milk - and of course anybody who joined the scene after This England was shown only ever goes to NS events to dress up in period costume and dance around their handbags to Frank Wilson all night!!....

As we enter 2010, on any given Fri/Sat night I can have the choice of countless venues to attend playing EVERY genre of the music, I can also listen to this music at all-nighters/dayers,and weekenders. I can also listen to my Soul 'In the Sun', on a Ship, and even on a Train. add to this I now have access to this fantastic music at the click of a mouse or the push of a CD button - Music that at one time was only available to a VERY select few......

If all the above has come about JUST because of one TV show 30+ years ago then thank God for 'This England'.....

Right, I'm off to sew some NS badges on my blag Prada handbag and buy some new white socks.

Eat the Cake, people!.

Edited November 15, 2009 by Teapot

[Guest aintgotit]

i wouldnt let people film me at work and even camera phones are banned ,so why oh why would i consent to being filmed in my free time. the chances of one impactin negatively on the other are pretty high i reckon so its neither worth the risk of altering relationships with colleagues who are otherwise blissfully ognorant of how and who i spend MY time with, i hate havin me picture taken when im out so the answer from me is, if you want consent from me you,ll be disappointed ..i ve seen andy holroyds vids which are done with good faith for other fans to buy, but i look a twat on them ,so christ knows what anybody else might make of them.keep the cameras and film for pets do the funniest things and for observing the habits of more gainly mammals.

[Guest]

I have very few regrets in life, I'm a que sera kind of bloke mostly, but I do bitterly regret the record companies and television companies getting involved in the Northern Scene.

I felt, very shortly afterwards, that it was wrecking the scene and I think it did make it far more commercial than it had ever been beforehand. Remember we used to talk about "tourists" at the Casino?

Today... well having been away for so long, it seems to me that the scene has regrouped and is now as strong, if not stronger, than ever.

But all done WITHOUT the media.

On the contrary Frank. In fact if you go back and say start off mid 90s, the amount of media coverage the Northern Soul scene has recieved in the last two decades, has been absolutely staggering. There have been more TV Documentaries, countless Radio shows, local and national, even Prime Time New Year's Eve spots on Radio 2, live broadcasts on same station from All-Nighter's and endless use of classic Northern Soul choons on high profile media adverts for a myriad of products....Also a never ending stream of publications, books, magazines, videos, memoirs etc, etc (How many books had been written on the scene prior to 'This England'?)...Even 'Kentucky Fried Chicken' released their very own Northern compilation following their high budget series of adverts featuring Northern classics. The amount of Rock groups and celebrities who have proclaimed an affection for NS is another massive factor and there have been lots of pop videos based on stylistic aspects of the scene.

Again, a non-stop avalanche of articles in mainstream glossy Magazines, miles of high-brow cultural coverage in Newspapers and their weekend magazines and constant plugging on soaps like 'Coronation Street'! The quality of the coverage swoops from sensible and genuine (Ady Croadsell's contributions to the Rado 2 series some time ago) to the downright hideously embarrassing! (Paul O'Grady's cartoon sketch feature!)

In short, 'Northern Soul' has been absolutely hammered with high profile MAINSTREAM media coverage for a very long time and there is also a great irony at play here. Whilst so many of us slated 'This England' at the time, - primarily for a sense of intrusion on 'our' scene - now many of those who contribute to the scenes bloated media status - and sometimes benefit financially too - emanate from within it. I am not criticizing anybody here, just making a point. But it would be a touch naive to imagine that the worldwide interest in the scene has all merely sprung from an underground whispering network based 40 ft below Oxford St and at other strategic locations in the midlands and the North.

No, the scene has become a worldwide phenomenon Frank and the media profile has contributed considerably to that aspect.

Of course, away from TV, Radio and the printed media, the advent of the Internet has also been enormously influential. The spread of information and advertising for the scene has snowballed to a degree we could not have even have imagined when we were checking out 'checking it out' back in the early to mid 70s! I used to steal my School's copy of B/S from the library and read Dave and you religously, to try and grasp what was going on...In between publication, unless you attended an All Nighter or a Soul Night, there was no other way of obtaining any news or info on new developments! Now, you could spend a lifetime tracking 'Northern Soul' on the web and there are daily additions to the never ending flood.

The truly amazing thing is that the scene HAS survived all this exposure. To me it is actually far more interesting today than it was in the 70s. I find the idea of grown up's in their 50s, still passionately devoted to dancing all night to lost Soul gems from America, a really remarkable development. Northern Soul is keeping people young in this country and ultimately it is a tribute to the quality of the music that inspired us all as teenagers in the first place.

Hope you are on the mend. All the best.

Edited November 15, 2009 by chorleysoul

[Guest Frank Elson]

On the contrary Frank. In fact if you go back and say start off mid 90s, the amount of media coverage the Northern Soul scene has recieved in the last two decades, has been absolutely staggering. There have been more TV Documentaries, countless Radio shows, local and national, even Prime Time New Year's Eve spots on Radio 2, live broadcasts on same station from All-Nighter's and endless use of classic Northern Soul choons on high profile media adverts for a myriad of products....Also a never ending stream of publications, books, magazines, videos, memoirs etc, etc (How many books had been written on the scene prior to 'This England'?)...Even 'Kentucky Fried Chicken' released their very own Northern compilation following their high budget series of adverts featuring Northern classics. The amount of Rock groups and celebrities who have proclaimed an affection for NS is another massive factor and there have been lots of pop videos based on stylistic aspects of the scene.

Again, a non-stop avalanche of articles in mainstream glossy Magazines, miles of high-brow cultural coverage in Newspapers and their weekend magazines and constant plugging on soaps like 'Coronation Street'! The quality of the coverage swoops from sensible and genuine (Ady Croadsell's contributions to the Rado 2 series some time ago) to the downright hideously embarrassing! (Paul O'Grady's cartoon sketch feature!)

In short, 'Northern Soul' has been absolutely hammered with high profile MAINSTREAM media coverage for a very long time and there is also a great irony at play here. Whilst so many of us slated 'This England' at the time, - primarily for a sense of intrusion on 'our' scene - now many of those who contribute to the scenes bloated media status - and sometimes benefit financially too - emanate from within it. I am not criticizing anybody here, just making a point. But it would be a touch naive to imagine that the worldwide interest in the scene has all merely sprung from an underground whispering network based 40 ft below Oxford St and at other strategic locations in the midlands and the North.

No, the scene has become a worldwide phenomenon Frank and the media profile has contributed considerably to that aspect.

Of course, away from TV, Radio and the printed media, the advent of the Internet has also been enormously influential. The spread of information and advertising for the scene has snowballed to a degree we could not have even have imagined when we were checking out 'checking it out' back in the early to mid 70s! I used to steal my School's copy of B/S from the library and read Dave and you religously, to try and grasp what was going on...In between publication, unless you attended an All Nighter or a Soul Night, there was no other way of obtaining any news or info on new developments! Now, you could spend a lifetime tracking 'Northern Soul' on the web and there are daily additions to the never ending flood.

The truly amazing thing is that the scene HAS survived all this exposure. To me it is actually far more interesting today than it was in the 70s. I find the idea of grown up's in their 50s, still passionately devoted to dancing all night to lost Soul gems from America, a really remarkable development. Northern Soul is keeping people young in this country and ultimately it is a tribute to the quality of the music that inspired us all as teenagers in the first place.

Hope you are on the mend. All the best.

Well, there you go. Apart from the Corrie mentions and the play I've missed all of that you've mentioned.

So maybe I have no need to feel so guilty now then.

[Davenpete]

On the contrary Frank. In fact if you go back and say start off mid 90s, the amount of media coverage the Northern Soul scene has recieved in the last two decades, has been absolutely staggering. There have been more TV Documentaries, countless Radio shows, local and national, even Prime Time New Year's Eve spots on Radio 2, live broadcasts on same station from All-Nighter's and endless use of classic Northern Soul choons on high profile media adverts for a myriad of products....Also a never ending stream of publications, books, magazines, videos, memoirs etc, etc (How many books had been written on the scene prior to 'This England'?)...Even 'Kentucky Fried Chicken' released their very own Northern compilation following their high budget series of adverts featuring Northern classics. The amount of Rock groups and celebrities who have proclaimed an affection for NS is another massive factor and there have been lots of pop videos based on stylistic aspects of the scene.

Again, a non-stop avalanche of articles in mainstream glossy Magazines, miles of high-brow cultural coverage in Newspapers and their weekend magazines and constant plugging on soaps like 'Coronation Street'! The quality of the coverage swoops from sensible and genuine (Ady Croadsell's contributions to the Rado 2 series some time ago) to the downright hideously embarrassing! (Paul O'Grady's cartoon sketch feature!)

In short, 'Northern Soul' has been absolutely hammered with high profile MAINSTREAM media coverage for a very long time and there is also a great irony at play here. Whilst so many of us slated 'This England' at the time, - primarily for a sense of intrusion on 'our' scene - now many of those who contribute to the scenes bloated media status - and sometimes benefit financially too - emanate from within it. I am not criticizing anybody here, just making a point. But it would be a touch naive to imagine that the worldwide interest in the scene has all merely sprung from an underground whispering network based 40 ft below Oxford St and at other strategic locations in the midlands and the North.

No, the scene has become a worldwide phenomenon Frank and the media profile has contributed considerably to that aspect.

Of course, away from TV, Radio and the printed media, the advent of the Internet has also been enormously influential. The spread of information and advertising for the scene has snowballed to a degree we could not have even have imagined when we were checking out 'checking it out' back in the early to mid 70s! I used to steal my School's copy of B/S from the library and read Dave and you religously, to try and grasp what was going on...In between publication, unless you attended an All Nighter or a Soul Night, there was no other way of obtaining any news or info on new developments! Now, you could spend a lifetime tracking 'Northern Soul' on the web and there are daily additions to the never ending flood.

The truly amazing thing is that the scene HAS survived all this exposure. To me it is actually far more interesting today than it was in the 70s. I find the idea of grown up's in their 50s, still passionately devoted to dancing all night to lost Soul gems from America, a really remarkable development. Northern Soul is keeping people young in this country and ultimately it is a tribute to the quality of the music that inspired us all as teenagers in the first place.

Hope you are on the mend. All the best.

A goodly chunk of the above can be attributed to young Mr Roberts (it's actually Liz on Corrie who's the old soulie - Kev got chatting to her at an airport and it kicked off the story line).

...However with so many people having been on the scene over the years it's inevitable that it will surface, just think of the number of pop stars who have popped up here and there over the years at nighters never mind anyone else.

Dave

[Guest]

A goodly chunk of the above can be attributed to young Mr Roberts (it's actually Liz on Corrie who's the old soulie - Kev got chatting to her at an airport and it kicked off the story line).

...However with so many people having been on the scene over the years it's inevitable that it will surface, just think of the number of pop stars who have popped up here and there over the years at nighters never mind anyone else.

Dave

I know Mr Roberts has got a seriously commercial head but to be fair, the enormous amount of exposure regarding the general subject of 'Northern Soul' cannot be attributed solely or even mostly to him!. He and others have ridden the wave, rather than create it. When I worked in Film, Directors and Producers always reacted with interest whenever the words were mentioned and the very phrase seems to have a remarkable energy of it's own. I used to work very closely with the brother of Corrie's Series Editor - he was an award wining British Director - and I can assurre you they were talking about Northern Soul as a means for drama, years before that storyline emerged! I think people like Stuart Cosgrove and others like him, have been more influential, in the cultural sense, in making sure NS retained an air of significance. And like you say, the constant references of people like Weller have ensured that 'hepcats' gravitate towards the scene over the years.

It's as if shitloads of people somehow associate everything cool and hip with the phrase 'Northern Soul', even when they know nothing about it!

Fook knows why lol

Edited November 15, 2009 by chorleysoul

[Guest irishpip]

So my answer is no. However its a shame someone on the scene aint gone round venues and made one from most folks perspective of the scene

Rob

Andy Holroyd

[Guest nhsoulie]

if anyone gets involved in the media and commercialise my scene best believe ill put a jihad on there arse

[Guest]

if anyone gets involved in the media and commercialise my scene best believe ill put a jihad on there arse

Which scene is that then?

[The Tempest]

Not read all of this thread , BUT as a purist who scorns anykind of publicity for this scene :

I have been through the " Kiss Me Quick Hat " phase of this scene , where if somebodys cats crapped outside a nighter , somebody buys it !!!! and having seen and witnessed the young dancers at the Togerthness Weekender , I'm all for it ,

More coverage will ultimately keep this scene going , who else liked the music but did'nt know a scene existed before the Wigan doc .......

The regulars at the Wheel would of said the same of Stafford !!!!

Let's have more youth , it was a sea of grey hair at the weekend !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited November 17, 2009 by 123-motown

[Pauldonnelly]

Lets be honest here--------if people had turned up at early clubs with camera crews they would have been going home without their expensive kit,their clothes,shoes,watches and wallets,and probably their cars.

What goes on now is a sanitized,popularised version of what really went on.

I for one wouldn't go within a hundred miles of any where that was being filmed.

Wigan turned into a disco---------- an embarrasing caricature of the nighter scene that I loved ,bastardised for the media and profit-------the only reason to let cameras in was a cynical marketing ploy---------more exposure=more punters through the door.

That was the night that for a lot of people the niter scene died.

Because of that documentary the"Northern scene" will always be baggies,badges and bar towels-----and maybe for some people it was----------------but for a lot of people it wasn't.

So as you may have guessed the answer is a resounding no from me.

Steve.

great post Steve, would Chris Burton have allowed cameras in at Hose St say June 1972?? I reckon he would have

Btw your sorted with tickets for 23/10/10?

Edited November 18, 2009 by PaulDonnelly

[Guest proudlove]

great post Steve, would Chris Burton have allowed cameras in at Hose St say June 1972?? I reckon he would have

Btw your sorted with tickets for 23/10/10?

Thanks Paul,I think CB WOULD have let the cameras in,he would have seen (with proper editing) the advertising potential,whether the"punters" would have agreed is a different matter.

PM,D you re tickets

Steve

[Guest nhsoulie]

iam a 22YR old working class man and got onto this scene because i liked soul not because of sumut id read or seen by the middle class oxford educated media who no nothing about soul and never fukin will. if i was a bit more litarate id write a fukin article about how bad it is. but if anyone wants to disscus why in words ill be at wigan sat and if so will happily take it outside

[Guest nhsoulie]

and on a serius note i hate the modern world this scene is my only escape from it so please ar kids dont ruin it

[Zed1]

iam a 22YR old working class man and got onto this scene because i liked soul not because of sumut id read or seen by the middle class oxford educated media who no nothing about soul and never fukin will. if i was a bit more litarate id write a fukin article about how bad it is. but if anyone wants to disscus why in words ill be at wigan sat and if so will happily take it outside

30-40 years ago many of us were also just working class kids who loved the music - interestingly some of these same working class kids are now the promoters and DJ's at many of the events you attend.

No amount of TV exposure or "Oxford educated media" types have managed to kill the scene thus far - indeed it's proberbly stronger today that at any point in it's history, however what WILL eventually kill the scene is the lack of new blood such as yourself. 'underground' may be good, but not to far underground as it becomes buried along with the rest of us, so the Torch (no pun intended) will sooner or later be passed to people like yourself.

Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to promote this fantastic music to people of a similar age which may include using any/all of the available forms of media to get like minded people together.....

This message will self destruct, blah, blah.....

Edited November 18, 2009 by Teapot

[Guest]

30-40 years ago many of us were also just working class kids who loved the music - interestingly some of these same working class kids are now the promoters and DJ's at many of the events you attend.

No amount of TV exposure or "Oxford educated media" types have managed to kill the scene thus far - indeed it's proberbly stronger today that at any point in it's history, however what WILL eventually kill the scene is the lack of new blood such as yourself. 'underground' may be good, but not to far underground as it becomes buried along with the rest of us, so the Torch (no pun intended) will sooner or later be passed to people like yourself.

Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to promote this fantastic music to people of a similar age which may include using any/all of the available forms of media to get like minded people together.....

This message will self destruct, blah, blah.....

Well put mate, it does seem strange though to me, that anybody does not realise 'Northern Soul' has been hip media copy for fooking years and no, even all the massive hyping and hysteria has failed to kill the scene.

[Sjclement]

i remember it being used at youth clubs in spen valley and bradford in 1975 , definatley

Does any body think that punk/punkrock did a lot to deflect the medias attention from NS I mean whats news about a load of dancers staying up all night in reasonably coservative clothes and hairstyles compared to the photo oppurtunity of a purple haired mohican with ripped trousers and 6 inch nails through his cheeks?

Don't see a PUNK website do you!

[Guest]

Does any body think that punk/punkrock did a lot to deflect the medias attention from NS I mean whats news about a load of dancers staying up all night in reasonably coservative clothes and hairstyles compared to the photo oppurtunity of a purple haired mohican with ripped trousers and 6 inch nails through his cheeks?

Don't see a PUNK website do you!

Yes you are right, the frantic media explosion surrounding Punk did indeed take the attention away from NS, but it had already faded anyway what with the emerging US Disco scene and the up and coming Jazz Funk scene in the UK. Roots Reggae also had it's moment under the media spotlight as well around this time.

On the other hand, in 1976-77 Punks did not walk around London in purple mohicans with 6 inch nails through their cheeks! Jumble sale suits, clothes stencilled by hand, slighty spiked hair and various retro adaptions were the favoured attire then, all that postcard Mohican stuff came much later, by the time Punk had aquired it's own 'cliched 'baggage'.

Mohican haircuts and 21 hole Dr Martens are Punk's equivalant of NS's Beer towels and patches brigade. Worn for a short period comparitively but somehow reproduced everytime there is media coverage of the scene's.

[Mark S]

Yes you are right, the frantic media explosion surrounding Punk did indeed take the attention away from NS, but it had already faded anyway what with the emerging US Disco scene and the up and coming Jazz Funk scene in the UK. Roots Reggae also had it's moment under the media spotlight as well around this time.

On the other hand, in 1976-77 Punks did not walk around London in purple mohicans with 6 inch nails through their cheeks! Jumble sale suits, clothes stencilled by hand, slighty spiked hair and various retro adaptions were the favoured attire then, all that postcard Mohican stuff came much later, by the time Punk had aquired it's own 'cliched 'baggage'.

Mohican haircuts and 21 hole Dr Martens are Punk's equivalant of NS's Beer towels and patches brigade. Worn for a short period comparitively but somehow reproduced everytime there is media coverage of the scene's.

Rather like the rare sea shanty scene chunky knit sweaters , beards, so,westers ,pipes and wellies

[Guest]

Rather like the rare sea shanty scene chunky knit sweaters , beards, so,westers ,pipes and wellies

Yeah.

[Guest steve64]

Better get used to it,along with ctv in a lot of clubs and new camara tech stuff we probberly wont know till we see 'em on u-tube or some docu' thingy.

But no

Ken, it would have to be wide screen for you mate

[Zed1]

Rather like the rare Soul scene, chunky knit sweaters , beards, so,westers ,pipes and wellies

Typo edited....

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

if someone on here would go to a venue and film some footage and they add it to a dvd to make and maybe sell to some of you like providing copyright is ok. Would anyone be willing on that

i would be happy to see some film crews but it has to be someone within Northern soul at least and maybe if we all could we could pitch up at least 1 idea to do a show for something like BBC 4 or channel 4 on the history of Northern soul for people to see so anyone who dosen't know can stop asking us and watch a nice video.

[Guest nhsoulie]

30-40 years ago many of us were also just working class kids who loved the music - interestingly some of these same working class kids are now the promoters and DJ's at many of the events you attend.

No amount of TV exposure or "Oxford educated media" types have managed to kill the scene thus far - indeed it's proberbly stronger today that at any point in it's history, however what WILL eventually kill the scene is the lack of new blood such as yourself. 'underground' may be good, but not to far underground as it becomes buried along with the rest of us, so the Torch (no pun intended) will sooner or later be passed to people like yourself.

Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to promote this fantastic music to people of a similar age which may include using any/all of the available forms of media to get like minded people together.....

This message will self destruct, blah, blah.....

good man yourself put my mind to rest

[Jordirip]

Well put mate, it does seem strange though to me, that anybody does not realise 'Northern Soul' has been hip media copy for fooking years and no, even all the massive hyping and hysteria has failed to kill the scene.

It also failed to turn it into a mainstream circus filled with the kind of 'towny' types that we have always dreaded. At the end of the day, any media intrusion has always just been a bit of curiosity on the media's part and has never lasted longer than a Kentucky drumstick. I do think there needs to be a killer documentary made about the scene and it's history and I think most people would secretly like to see one made despite the protestations of certain people. If we're going to try and get younger people converted into the scene, the visual marketing of it is important. I remember not too long ago Steve Cato was involved in a short film that someone can probably post a link to, which perfectly captured the essense of 'cool' that is important in attracting young blood to the scene. Filming fat blokes attempting back drops at the British Legion hall isn't going to look too good or attract people onto the scene, but some stylish film making that captures that rare atmosphere and mania could certainly help and if it doesn't make us look like twats then where's the harm?

Jordi

[Zed1]

It also failed to turn it into a mainstream circus filled with the kind of 'towny' types that we have always dreaded. At the end of the day, any media intrusion has always just been a bit of curiosity on the media's part and has never lasted longer than a Kentucky drumstick. I do think there needs to be a killer documentary made about the scene and it's history and I think most people would secretly like to see one made despite the protestations of certain people. If we're going to try and get younger people converted into the scene, the visual marketing of it is important. I remember not too long ago Steve Cato was involved in a short film that someone can probably post a link to, which perfectly captured the essense of 'cool' that is important in attracting young blood to the scene. Filming fat blokes attempting back drops at the British Legion hall isn't going to look too good or attract people onto the scene, but some stylish film making that captures that rare atmosphere and mania could certainly help and if it doesn't make us look like twats then where's the harm?

Jordi

More stuff along the lines of

can't be a bad thing.....

[Zed1]

good man yourself put my mind to rest

In many ways I envy you - you've got the chance to listen to circa 40 years of great music through fresh ears, ie unlike most of us you won't have all the ingrained prejudices that we all have about certain tracks, you can form your own opinion without some founder member of Saga telling you it's Old, new, overplayed, underplayed or 'shite', just because THEY think it is ....

I can still remember being at Wigan the first time Sir Dickie played Cecil Washingtons 'I don't like to lose' and thinking 'what a fooking awesome track', these days however many tracks have me thinking 'On No, not again!'.......

Enjoy the music, the dancing and the people, but whatever you do don't take any notice whatsoever of what the misserable old tw@ts on here, or the scene in general say when they start telling you whats good and whats not.... they're YOUR ears - you decide!.

Edited November 21, 2009 by Teapot

[Guest proudlove]

In many ways I envy you - you've got the chance to listen to circa 40 years of great music through fresh ears, ie unlike most of us you won't have all the ingrained prejudices that we all have about certain tracks, you can form your own opinion without some founder member of Saga telling you it's Old, new, overplayed, underplayed or 'shite', just because THEY think it is ....

I can still remember being at Wigan the first time Sir Dickie played Cecil Washingtons 'I don't like to lose' and thinking 'what a fooking awesome track', these days however many tracks have me thinking 'On No, not again!'.......

Enjoy the music, the dancing and the people, but whatever you do don't take any notice whatsoever of what the misserable old tw@ts on here, or the scene in general say when they start telling you whats good and whats not.... they're YOUR ears - you decide!.

Cracking post mate.

[Guest john P]

The trouble with all this memories / how it was vibe is exactly the point, we should have had more documentation for future generations and visual history for everyone to appreciate. Technology, ie the CD and internet revolution are probably one of the reasons the scene is as strong as it is today........

[Guest]

It also failed to turn it into a mainstream circus filled with the kind of 'towny' types that we have always dreaded. At the end of the day, any media intrusion has always just been a bit of curiosity on the media's part and has never lasted longer than a Kentucky drumstick. I do think there needs to be a killer documentary made about the scene and it's history and I think most people would secretly like to see one made despite the protestations of certain people. If we're going to try and get younger people converted into the scene, the visual marketing of it is important. I remember not too long ago Steve Cato was involved in a short film that someone can probably post a link to, which perfectly captured the essense of 'cool' that is important in attracting young blood to the scene. Filming fat blokes attempting back drops at the British Legion hall isn't going to look too good or attract people onto the scene, but some stylish film making that captures that rare atmosphere and mania could certainly help and if it doesn't make us look like twats then where's the harm?

Jordi

I actually agree with you Jordi on this, I think a truly great doc could still be made, but as an Ex-Film maker myself and knowing this scene, I also know exactly what a hiding to nothing anybody who attempts the job is going to be facing. Northern Soul is rather like the 'Poisoned Chalice' of Documentary film making and I would not envy anybody the task...!!

POINT OF ORDER:

Bit of ageism creeping in there regarding 'fat blokes at the British Legion'. Of course I know what you mean but to be absolutely honest, the best dancers on this scene, in my view generally tend to be in the over 45 age bracket and I dont just mean acrobatics, I mean for rythym and genuine 'feel'. Also, you are already opening up one of the great paradoxes which would face any Doc maker who attempts the story...

You are saying don't show older dancers...But a true story cannot simply be designed as a 'style advert' to try and attract new blood.

Storywise, the most fascinating thing about Northern Soul is that it is an original underground youth scene that people have stuck with for life into their 50s and 60s.

In fact mate, the coolest people I know are in their 50s. I read a brilliant quote once, I think in an Observer interview with some Youth figurehead of the 70s and early 80s. He said 'we are the first generation in history, who are actually hipper than our kids' and he was right.

Northern Soul encapsulates that fact, in a particularly vivid and awe inspiring manner.

Edited November 22, 2009 by chorleysoul

[Guest wigantojapan]

In many ways I envy you - you've got the chance to listen to circa 40 years of great music through fresh ears, ie unlike most of us you won't have all the ingrained prejudices that we all have about certain tracks, you can form your own opinion without some founder member of Saga telling you it's Old, new, overplayed, underplayed or 'shite', just because THEY think it is ....

I can still remember being at Wigan the first time Sir Dickie played Cecil Washingtons 'I don't like to lose' and thinking 'what a fooking awesome track', these days however many tracks have me thinking 'On No, not again!'.......

Enjoy the music, the dancing and the people, but whatever you do don't take any notice whatsoever of what the misserable old tw@ts on here, or the scene in general say when they start telling you whats good and whats not.... they're YOUR ears - you decide!.

spot on

[Guest wigantojapan]

More stuff along the lines of

can't be a bad thing.....

brilliant piece of film work.the link is now worming its way across japan and america so hopefully more people will embrace the fantasic sounds of NORTHERN SOUL

[Guest wigantojapan]

i was at an all nighter in japan last month and the cameras where there

type in omnsarecords in you tube and you will go to the link

featuring Butch

The point is all the japanese got their dance moves from watching the clips off wigan so thats the positive of what that short film did

the atmosphere at that all nighter was electric all night and not a bit of gear in sight.

[Zed1]

but to be absolutely honest, the best dancers on this scene, in my view generally tend to be in the over 45 age bracket and I dont just mean acrobatics, I mean for rythym and genuine 'feel'.

I'd go along with that, those that served their apprenticeship in the 70's niters tend to make the better dancers IMHO - although the acrobatitics should now be left to the 'yoof', frankly. having said that though it still amazes me the number of people who can't even perform the most basic of 2-step dances, I watch some people and think they must be listening to their ipod as they're clearly not dancing to the same track as the rest of us!.

The above is also one of the reasons I've never been a fan of dance competitions down the years as invariably the winners are chosen on their gymnastic abilities and not on any substance or style to their basic dance.

Must say though there are few finer sights than a GOOD NS dancer in full flow...... sadly though, I was never one of them!.

Edited November 22, 2009 by Teapot

[Guest ScooterNik]

Good post some way up this page about the art school punks being the equivelent of the beer towel soulie, a comparison that can be stretched to any scene. You always get those that are doing it because they believe in it, and those who find a bandwagon that they think is cool, make a jump for it, and get clobbered by the trailer as it passes. (Over stretched metaphor anyone?)

Soulies in baggies, punks with mohicans, mods in union jack suits, bikers in tassled leathers, skinheads in boots up to their knees, teds in dayglo socks - they all miss the point due to - on the whole - media misrepresentation. Its gone on ever since the first teddy boys got into a fight that made the press.

With that in mind, no... I most definately wouldn't let TV or documentary crews anywhere near a nighter.

On the other hand though, I don't have a problem with a soulie who just wanted to catch the essence of a nighter with a video camera: The dancing, the smiles, and most importantly of all, the music. I don't see that it would be any different to those of us who take photos at nighters, or even the time honoured tradition of quietly leaving a tape recorder running through a DJs set. They both leave a historical document behind that serves to inform those who follow.

I would though stipulate that this is all it should be - a continual piece of film taking in maybe an hour of a good DJs set, the dancers, the occasional floor killer but featuring a mixed tempo/era collection of music. Anything else is dishonest, and if there is one thing that soul scene can surely pride itself on, it is its own integrity.