Wigan Joker

[Patto]

Hi People

Please don't cringe but i have always been curious about the origin of this track.The Wigan Joker version by the Royal Vibes.Talking with a mate of mine the other day about our Youth Club Northern Soul history and this was mentioned as the prefered one to dance too.It was available in our local rcord shops on the BEE label.Think i once heard that the infamous Simon Sousan was behind it and tailor made it with session musicians.Does anyone have anymore info,did it get any Casino plays,and is it now considered as a Northern Soul room 101 candidate

Cheers Patto

[Pete S]

Hi People

Please don't cringe but i have always been curious about the origin of this track.The Wigan Joker version by the Royal Vibes.Talking with a mate of mine the other day about our Youth Club Northern Soul history and this was mentioned as the prefered one to dance too.It was available in our local rcord shops on the BEE label.Think i once heard that the infamous Simon Sousan was behind it and tailor made it with session musicians.Does anyone have anymore info,did it get any Casino plays,and is it now considered as a Northern Soul room 101 candidate

Cheers Patto

It's definitely a SS production but it uses the original backing track minus the laughing and has that xylophone playing the lead, they only used to play this at the anniversaries until early 78 then it got a couple of saturday night spins and lo and behold, it's out on a 45. I really like it actually, especially the intro.

[Patto]

Pete

Thanks for the reply,so it was pressed up around 78ish then on this Bee label by Sousan,what was it played off before that. Agree with you i like it too best version IMO and sounds quite good played out loud especially the intro,i have heard much worse instrumentals over the years.Very strange choice for the flip--Sabre Dance what was He thinking about there.Is it still an easy record to find?

[Pete S]

Pete

Thanks for the reply,so it was pressed up around 78ish then on this Bee label by Sousan,what was it played off before that. Agree with you i like it too best version IMO and sounds quite good played out loud especially the intro,i have heard much worse instrumentals over the years.Very strange choice for the flip--Sabre Dance what was He thinking about there.Is it still an easy record to find?

Russ used to play it off an acetate, he probably had the only one, given to him by SS.

Shouldn't have to pay more than a fiver for this really. I'm going to go dig it out and blast it out loud now. Then play Sabre Dance :-)

[45cellar]

You could follow that up with "Paint lt Black" by The Love Sitars....In fact l loved everything that Soussan did

CHOSEN FEW - FOOTSEE - LIVE AT WIGAN - (Sound Clip From Refosoul Archive)

Always loved the "Original" Pieced together Version, not sure who was responsible but thanks.

Many memories of my youth, captured in this pure nostalgia instrumental of it's time, though frowned at today.

Edited November 10, 2009 by 45cellar

[Mach]

Heres the Fellow,.... heard worse,... does sounds good at high volume,..like most stuff

[grant]

Heres the Fellow,.... heard worse,... does sounds good at high volume,..like most stuff

so where does the all night band one fit in with this? same tune?

[Pete S]

Brilliant....Absof**kinglutely Brilliant....Being 17 and smashed....Can't beat it!!

If it's still up here, try and find the Tainted Love clip from this tape, I'm sure I posted it, it's incredible. I'll see if I can find it.

[Pete S]

here we go, it's about a quarter way down the page here, also the first post of footsee as well

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/forums/topic/23469-footsie/page__p__230504__hl__tainted%20love__fromsearch__1entry230504

also listen to the Pointer Sister clip on the same page, only 10 seconds but you can hear an audible gasp from people when it begins, made every hair on my body stand on end just

Edited November 10, 2009 by Pete S

[Gene-r]

so where does the all night band one fit in with this? same tune?

It was the 'Royal Vibes' version with the xylophone intro (minus the Butch Baker laughter) that the All Night Band covered.

PS: Anyone know the origins of the "Sabre Dance" B-side? Not a bad version from what I can remember (27 years since I last had and heard it!).

Edited November 10, 2009 by Gene-R

[Patto]

Its amazing what you start talking about after a few hours downing pints in a local pub beer garden sat in 30 degrees heat 

So this afternoon im sat with an old mate of mine who was a casino attendee and he chooses to pick this record to bang on about AGAIN.He says that the Royal Vibes version of the Wigan Joker is not technically a bootleg as it didnt get released at the time so the Bee copy is the original.

I say that Simon Soussan ripped off the mylestones version by sampling it without permission in the studio so its a boot.However i take his point that The first release is the Bee copy as it was played at the casino on a acetate.

So sorry to resurect this thread but to settle the arguement is the Royal Vibes considered as legit

[Chalky]

No it isn’t 

[Guest Spain pete]

What beer was you drinking , my guess  OLD PECULIAR and a fine pint it is

18 minutes ago, Patto said:

Its amazing what you start talking about after a few hours downing pints in a local pub beer garden sat in 30 degrees heat 

So this afternoon im sat with an old mate of mine who was a casino attendee and he chooses to pick this record to bang on about AGAIN.He says that the Royal Vibes version of the Wigan Joker is not technically a bootleg as it didnt get released at the time so the Bee copy is the original.

I say that Simon Soussan ripped off the mylestones version by sampling it without permission in the studio so its a boot.However i take his point that The first release is the Bee copy as it was played at the casino on a acetate.

So sorry to resurect this thread but to settle the arguement is the Royal Vibes considered as legit

 

[Patto]

1 minute ago, Spain pete said:

What beer was you drinking , my guess  OLD PECULIAR and a fine pint it is

 

Not as strong or as Peculiar as the stuff the old casino guys were on when they danced to it including my mate who loves the track 

[Guest Spain pete]

Beer was beer then and so was the DNA of    our music,  praise the Lord  

22 minutes ago, Patto said:

Not as strong or as Peculiar as the stuff the old casino guys were on when they danced to it including my mate who loves the track 

 

[Patto]

2 minutes ago, Spain pete said:

Beer was beer then and so was the DNA of    our music,  praise the Lord  

 

Pete i just missed the Casino.My first Nighters were in the 80s at Clifton Hall and Stafford amoung a few others.I just love to listen to the stories of the Early Casino guys and my beer filled afternoon with my Casino pal was great fun.If i told him a story about Keele or Blackburn or Bretby he just trumped it and Bettered it with Casino stories.

My mate doesnt go anywhere these days but if he came to see me DJ i just know he would shout at Me PATTO get the Royal vibes on.Try telling him i only play OVO 

[Eddie Hubbard]

On 10/11/2009 at 20:44, Pete S said:

here we go, it's about a quarter way down the page here, also the first post of footsee as well

 

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/forums/topic/23469-footsie/page__p__230504__hl__tainted%20love__fromsearch__1entry230504

 

also listen to the Pointer Sister clip on the same page, only 10 seconds but you can hear an audible gasp from people when it begins, made every hair on my body stand on end just

Pete ,which of your mixcloud tapes is The Pointer Sisters on please ? Cheers ...

[Tomangoes]

Don't think I've heard heard these two Wigan hits out anywhere, even at Wigan on my few visits.

But I have heard this version as an oldie revival quite a few times..

Ed