Your First All-Nighter..where & When

[Mark Bicknell]

Peterborough Wirrina some time during the steamy, hot summer of 76.

After the football (the old first division) it was a 'wander' bus ticket purchased from Norwich bus station for around £1.60 that got us on a double-decker at around 6.30 for a long trip to Kings Lynn where we had to wait for the connection to Peterborough eventually arriving at around 10.30.

Some people I remember from that first time - Alan & Eppy who had already travelled by bus from Bungay in Suffolk, Sam, Mobbsy, Kev Laws, Keith Dunhill, Smiler and Paul Cameron who because he was so smashed, smoked so much he got a massive yellow stain on his hand!

Don't remember the first record I heard 'cos I was very 'green' when it came to recognising tunes but through the night I recall hearing Stevie Wonder Uptight and Dean Parrish I'm On My Way (that one probably at the end) and one tune that I hadn't heard before but which I think was the one that got me 'hooked' and that was Freddie Chavez They'll Never Know Why....

Mick

You old git lol, then you met me on a train and life was never the same again, one thing for sure that comes out of this scene is life long friendships which in our case is over thirty years now I feel like an old git lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

[Mick Howard]

You old git lol, then you met me on a train and life was never the same again, one thing for sure that comes out of this scene is life long friendships which in our case is over thirty years now I feel like an old git lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Yes me old mucker. We met on the train out of London, you were going to Reading and me to Oxford so it must've been around 83 or 84 so not quite 30 years just yet but it does make you feel old(er).....

Ring me this week some time.

Mick

[Garswood]

Wigan, june '81 , first record i think was larry housten-lets spend some time together,

[Guest CarlosFandango]

Top of the World Stafford early 80's .... D.J .. Mr Thorley .. Larry Davies 'Ive been hurt' .... What an introduction into the scene WOW !! Sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it.

[Patto]

After a few soul nights and dayers my first actual nighters were circa 1982 at Stafford,and Roth Clifton Hall.First records in escape me now but remember fantastic accross the board variety 60s and 70s sounds nearly all new to me at the time

[Scooterboy]

It was the Parr Hall in Warrington for me in 1985.

I'd just started a course at Liverpool University and up to that point my only experiences of Northern Soul had been limited to scooter rallies / scooter club 'do's' and from the early Kent albums. As Warrington is only a short (and relatively inexpensive - student funds were tight) train ride / bus ride from Liverpool it was an ideal venue for me and a couple of University pals (25 years later I'm still in very regular contact with my original 'nighter buddy Neil Brown).

I went through the whole night without knowing a single record! Not a one.

Chris

[Jules]

casino oct 75, think first record was uptight

[Guest Dave Turner]

A houseparty in Chapletown , Leeds in the summer of 1965 : the guy behind the sound system played a mixture of soul , r & b , ska , blue beat , and blues records . The next AN for me was The Wheel .

Malc Burton

Malc, was that where you first met Peter Sutcliffe

[snooky]

I was 13 went to Wigan for my first all-nighter in 1973ish74.....my brother Chris drove us from Gloucestershire in his Morris 1000 took 6 hours!!!!!!!!

[Hornet]

....And 6 hours back!! Mind you the coming back never seems as long!! 13? Bloody Hell! Fairplay to you,mate!

all these youngsters dancing in their vests at wigan, must have been on par with the avian advert

[Garswood]

It was the Parr Hall in Warrington for me in 1985.

I'd just started a course at Liverpool University and up to that point my only experiences of Northern Soul had been limited to scooter rallies / scooter club 'do's' and from the early Kent albums. As Warrington is only a short (and relatively inexpensive - student funds were tight) train ride / bus ride from Liverpool it was an ideal venue for me and a couple of University pals (25 years later I'm still in very regular contact with my original 'nighter buddy Neil Brown).

I went through the whole night without knowing a single record! Not a one.

Chris

great times at the parr hall, too short lived and a great venue, it was my brothers first nighter when we saw edwin starr there.

[Garswood]

It was the Parr Hall in Warrington for me in 1985.

I'd just started a course at Liverpool University and up to that point my only experiences of Northern Soul had been limited to scooter rallies / scooter club 'do's' and from the early Kent albums. As Warrington is only a short (and relatively inexpensive - student funds were tight) train ride / bus ride from Liverpool it was an ideal venue for me and a couple of University pals (25 years later I'm still in very regular contact with my original 'nighter buddy Neil Brown).

I went through the whole night without knowing a single record! Not a one.

Chris

great times at the parr hall, too short lived and a great venue, it was my brothers first nighter when we saw edwin starr there.

[De-to]

mind a bit hazy but i remember going with a mate to leeds queens hall all- nighter,after reading an ad in b&s major lance was on but cannot remember who else was on live??,it had a concrete dancefloor,???

plus we used to go to the pendelum club in manchester which i think was very near the train station then on to samanthas all-nighter in sheffield which had a skating rink on the 1st floor,???again its all a bit hazy now,happy days though,also not sure what year the leeds thingy was though,

[De-to]

mind a bit hazy but i remember going with a mate to leeds queens hall all- nighter,after reading an ad in b&s major lance was on but cannot remember who else was on live??,it had a concrete dancefloor,???

plus we used to go to the pendelum club in manchester which i think was very near the train station then on to samanthas all-nighter in sheffield which had a skating rink on the 1st floor,???again its all a bit hazy now,happy days though,also not sure what year the leeds thingy was though,

we also used to go to wigan sometimes on the bedford mobs coach i think mr warot organised it ???,again not sure of the year,confused.com,

[Guest aintgotit]

wigan casino mods revival aug 1979. cant remember first record i heard . mel and tims backfield in motion was played as was gimme some lovin by the spencer davis group, lou pride im comin home, stanley mitchell get it baby, gwen owens just say your wanted, major lance you dont want me no more. remember i fell on me arse three times on that dancefloor in leather soled shoes, the night was a complete blur really, and i could hardly walk to the minibus me legs were like lead in the morning.whatever i thought it might be like in there it was ten, fifty , a hundred times better than that.

[Guest isis]

Wigan, it was the last Saturday in Nov '75, can't remember what was playing....but I did get my shoes robbed and had to go home in my socks!!

[Hornet]

Well that serves you right cos l got my bus-fare robbed at The Silver Blades ice rink in 71!

in the corridor up to the rink, made the m,s coorior a breeze to walk along

[Guest]

my firsst allnighter was the Dungeon in Nottingham in 196? ish can't remember but I was still at school.........haven't the slightest idea what they played, bit before your Northern Soul........when records were just records

The first record I heard at a Dungeon all dayer was 'Reach Out' Four Tops ...you could get in if you weren't 18 in the afternoon as they didn't serve drinks. They didn't seem to mind at night maybe they couldn't see so well !!

Sue

just thought ..........there was a sign as you walked down the stairs about trains and I thought, young as I was, that the trains were above us!!! if anyone knows Stamford St in Nottingham they would be amazed

My first allnighter also at the Dungeon in Nottingham, 1966 and the record they were playing was Going To A GoGo, The Miracles, could hardly see anything going down those stairs because it was so dark so no, can't remember the signs about the trains.

Barry

Edited January 24, 2010 by Guest

[Guest proudlove]

in the corridor up to the rink, made the m,s coorior a breeze to walk along

When?

[Margo]

my first alnighter was the cats wolverhampton [the death of the cats] july 74 my 16th birthday.

[Guest Scarborosoul]

Wigan Casino 1973 - Mel Williams Can it be me

I think Mel has a lot to answer for on this scene!!!

Rick

[Guest cheryl]

No webby I was 6 when I heard first record! But I was 13 for darlo niter I got past carlo cos I snuck in up the back staircase from near the sunbeds and saunas were, got caught 3 times but kept going back up them stairs!

[Daved]

Bretby 1996. Although I had been into northern soul since 1983 - I had basically stopped being that interested after 1986. As I walked in I heard Marie Knight "That's No Way To Treat A Girl". It sounded awesome out loud and I thought to myself "I'm back!". Great night it was too - Chris King's 40th birthday bash with appearances from Tommy Hunt, Ivy Hunter and Edwin Starr.

[Davetay]

Carlo's still around isn't he?? Remember his mum & dad well from Wales St...(off North Road!) They were great!!

Carlo was with Harry at the Morecambe weekender last year.

In fact we were sat with them.

P.S. I never went to the Darlo-nighter, but I think it's the same Carlo.

[Guest tenko]

Top Rank Hanley a one off all-nighter to close the place in April 74. I was 16 and my two friends were 15 we were all still at school and couldnt wait to get there on Monday

and tell everybody how fantastic it was, cant remember the song at all

[macca]

Stanground Youth Club Peterborough November 2nd 1974. Smudge, Gary Spencer, Paul Donnelly, Jonah and John Manship on the decks. Can't remember the first record , but do remember Cochise being played several times throughout the night.

[Davetay]

Carlo was with Harry at the Morecambe weekender last year.

In fact we were sat with them.

P.S. I never went to the Darlo-nighter, but I think it's the same Carlo.

BTW Torch for me Dec 72. No idea what record was playing.

Lou's 1st was Burnley Bank Hall Miners in the 80s.

[Guest cheryl]

Its the same carlo, was he with big harry or harry zit?

[Davetay]

Its the same carlo, was he with big harry or harry zit?

Harry from Joe's Bar.

[Jill Bayles]

Which one is Paul Harrison then?

Harry Zit

[Guest suehey]

I must have met you Barry. Did you live in Nottingham? Until I came across your post I was reading 1985, 197 something ......thinking I must be very very old. Nice to know there are others out there

Sue

My first allnighter also at the Dungeon in Nottingham, 1966 and the record they were playing was Going To A GoGo, The Miracles, could hardly see anything going down those stairs because it was so dark so no, can't remember the signs about the trains.

Barry

[Colsoul]

EARLY 73 AYCLIFFE YOUTH CENTRE LYNN RANDELL STRANGER IN MY ARMS, PLAYED BY THE SOUL TWINS I THINK ,COL

[Guest]

I must have met you Barry. Did you live in Nottingham? Until I came across your post I was reading 1985, 197 something ......thinking I must be very very old. Nice to know there are others out there

Sue

Hi Sue

Yes I was thinking the same but no we are not old, I did live in Nottingham for years, now in Grantham, but still attend some of the Nottingham soul nights, even run one (Pilsley) well not quite in Nottingham.

The other all - nighter club in Nottingham in the 6t's was the Beachcomber, that one had three floors if my memory serves me right.

Barry

[Guest chris]

Same for me Col...early 73 Aycliffe Youth Centre

Cant remember first record tho...

[Guest Mart B]

Coalville Tiffs in early 78, did the full 12 hours 8-8 on the Friday. Driving home on the M1 the car broke down and had to get towed back to Mansfield by the nice man from the RAC.

Got in bed and was woken after about 3 hours by a knock on the door, it was my mates Mart & Bri - "come on we're going to Wigan"

Set off from Mansfield at 6pm Sat and got back at 2 on Sunday afternoon after an epic bus/train journey absolutely Knackered (no chemical assistance - us being green as the grass ) Still managed to get up for work on the Monday at the pit.

On the bus to Manchester teamed up with Garry Churm, Rob Wigley and Dean Penford - all still doing it 32 years later.

First record I heard? Not a clue

I remember that weekend well mate,no chemical assistance... are you sure we was with bry

The first allnighter mate if you can recall was at the Westfield folkhouse circa 1976 THE local youth club where we learnt our Northern Soul apprenticeship,Guys & girls coming back from sams & the casino bringing back unheard northern tunes. changing the initial subject,Can you remember Chris Barks we use stand under his bedroom window.....

"he lived in a upstars flat "if anyone wondered.....Not knowing but back then Steve & myself we was being introduced to massive tunes not yet heard at most venues..... someone on soulsource must remember him he was a BIG collector in the mid 7ts..not on the scene now,,,

Tune at the time My sugar baby,connie clark..

[Ian Parker]

GONE !

Edited October 15, 2019 by Ian Parker

[steve]

Wigan, it was the last Saturday in Nov '75, can't remember what was playing....but I did get my shoes robbed and had to go home in my socks!!

This may sound like a funny question but......

How the hell did you get your shoes nicked????

[Hornet]

remember pinching a mates teeth every time he fell asleep ,any body heard of rob from stoke,used to live top floor in a flat up the road from the kings hall

[Guest JIM BARRY]

Was thinking the very same thing myself!

YEAHBUT WHAT WAS PLAYING? WAS IT BOBBY BLAND,? ........SHOES!

[Guest stevejan]

The above question is no problem whatsoever...Wigan Casino-1974...Goodbye Nothin' To Say-The Javells featuring Nosmo King

Pleb's Halifax....'67/68....bloody hell that's SOME time ago...dont know what the first record was though.

[Pod]

Leeds Central 72-73?. I knew a lot of the sounds before I went, so nothing stands out, except I do recall a D.J. playing: Do-it to-it - back to back - about 5 times! (Think he was trying to get it to 'Break' - as they say). Pissed everyone off.

[sid jones]

hi

casino for me 1975

first record for me cant remember to smashed

sid

[snooky]

....And 6 hours back!! Mind you the coming back never seems as long!! 13? Bloody Hell! Fairplay to you,mate!

I looked mature for my age they smuggled me in in there allnighter bag!!!!!!!!!!!!

10 hours to get home bloody car broke down.

Started collecting records before then,had The Professionals when 17....Billy Woods by 19......should have kept them....think i gave them away to Greety

[Ian Williams]

Twas the 100 Club in Nov 88 I think.

Went the Friday night and realised it was the Saturday instead - doh

So back the next night from Bristol and we took a seat and watched everything unfold.

Despite hundreds of Kent LP's to my name ( ) and plenty of Soul Supply LP's too it took about 3 hours before I recognised ANYTHING!

Then on came "Shoes" - off the same Kent LP no doubt - ha ha and we were off!

That was the first one I knew. Then after taping those early nights via a Walkman I grew to love the cover ups via Butch's sets - and never looked back.

Havent been for a couple of years now but gonna make up for that this year!

[Zed1]

Wigan, circa late 76 early 77.......

Think it was James Coit - Black Power.

[Guest isis]

This may sound like a funny question but......

How the hell did you get your shoes nicked????

Kicked 'em off by where I was sitting for a 5 min breather (they were new and hurting) turned round to put 'em back on and they were gone!! They were what we called granny shoes, sort of a full back sandal and everyone was wearing them cos they had leather soles...navy blue, size 4, and yes I would still like them back

[Soulandy]

first allnighter was Wigan Casino November 1977, I'd just turned 18:thumbup: Not a clue what the first record was, I was to mesmerized by the place:yes:

[Guest kevnewry]

first allnighter was Wigan Casino November 1977, I'd just turned 18:thumbup: Not a clue what the first record was, I was to mesmerized by the place:yes:

ME TOO........ STOOD FOR 10MINS AFRAID TO DANCE..

[Guest subbo]

Jack Kane Centre(Edinburgh) in 84 aged 16. What a night.superb. I just knew from there on soul music was it for me.It was a bit ropey though with local neds trying to steal bags etc. You had to look out for your Lacoste,Fila and Pringles getting lifted.

[doublecookin]

Sammanthas`s Sheffield in 76 was the first for me, no idea what the first record was as it was well into the night before I recognised any, pretty sure Ian Dewhirst was the dj. I remember from that night tracks such as ton of dynamite, i`m your pimp, who`s makin love, do what you feel and dont it make you feel funky getting played, so by all accounts a cracking night and I`ve been hooked ever since