Your Very First Exposure To Northern Soul And Decided This Is For Me

[Guest smudgesmith]

Whats "Northern Soul " ????

Edited August 22, 2011 by smudgesmith

[caseoftyme]

1969/70 Paynes Cafe Royal Llandudno North Wales,was still at school being only 15!,used to lie togfet in as age limit was 16 ,

tunes played then before Dave Godin's phrase were WAR Edwin Starr,THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW,James Carr,Johnny Johnson's Bandwaggon and so on....

Lambrettas parked outside and plenty of spins,backdrops and puchups,happy days!,few members on here went there too.

Parkas, wranglers, Ben shermans AND the music.........Williams & Watson always did it for me (either of them).........watching the really good dancers....... Big hef and terry Yates were the ones I would try to copy!!!!!!

[Robbk]

When did you receive your first true real exposure to northern soul and decided this is for me and what was the 1st record if you can remember.

Rob

I was listening to Black American music from the age I first had consciousness. My father listened to Jazz and Blues from the '30s and '40s. I first started collecting R&B and Blues records in 1953 in Chicago. I bought records from 1953-1972 (when I moved to The Netherlands). I started loving Soul Music whenever you define it as starting. Some people have a favourite "Top 100". I have a "Top 1,000".

I liked "stompers", but also mid-tempos (popcorn) and beat ballads when the Northern Soulies looked down their noses at that stuff. I liked all the good Soul music when it was first released.

By the way, I found "Naughty Boy" by Jackie Day, in a record store in Los Angeles in 1965 (the year it was out), in a 2 for $1.00 bin. In 1984, I swapped it to a British friend of mine who broke it at Stafford.

[Ady Croasdell]

Kelmarsh disused railway station Northants May 1969. I'd enjoyed a poorly attended soul disco (Otis, Temps etc) early in the evening then 100 skinhead blokes and girls arrived and the music changed to records I'd never heard before but were still great soul. The skins were friendly (I was a long haired skinhead, a unique tribe at that time) and I danced away merrily on my own (the rest of my mates had gone home early). Ironically I was used to dancing on my own from underground/hippy dances where me and my mate would go bonkers idiot dancing; that and I was terrified of gurls! After that I didn't look back.

[Guest soulboy1965]

Only 46 - so I came into the scene late, via Quadrophenia and the whole mod-revival, with Tamla then Northern Soul. The first NS record I heard was Dean Parrish - I'm On My Way, played at the end of a regular disco (Jacksons, George Benson, Kool & The Gang & Shalamar), type place. Actually The Samson & Hercules in Norwich, soon to become a Ritzy

From there it was endless trips to Alleycat Records in town, picking up The International GTO's & Candi Staton's Upper Hand - just cos I liked the labels lol

Then back home for the obligatory stomping practise, in front of the mirror and onto The Norwood Rooms & The British Legion, where Tony (The Vicar) Clayton used to guest, along with Tony Dellar (I think).

Obviously being so close to Yarmouth meant I could take advantage of Tiffany's & Crystal's all-nighters, where dancing required even more skill, so you didn't step on a sleeping mod, curled up in a sleeping bag

[Mal C]

at the end of term in music lessons at our school you could bring in records to play, any every one of my mates shared a single Kent LP: Soul class of 66...which i think was pivotal for me, think the Crampon sisters did it...

At our schools Youth club disco we only got chubby Checker - at the Discotheque, Tony Clark - Landslide, Muriel day 9 times, but come Sat I would be at the Outrigger in Birmingham, music courtesy of Tony Reynolds.. my golly that opened my eyes.... i'm a yong-un so that all happened from 83/4 I guess..

Mal.C.

[Wicked]

Parkas, wranglers, Ben shermans AND the music.........Williams & Watson always did it for me (either of them).........watching the really good dancers....... Big hef and terry Yates were the ones I would try to copy!!!!!!

Don,t forget John Ivor and Dave Price

[Jim G]

Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre 1971, "Looky Looky " To Win Your Heart" "Breakaway - The Valentines.

[Guest soash]

Wakefield in 1966. The Place Club up Radcliffe Yard, just off the Bull Ring.

I was at Art College, so I did em some free posters in exchange for getting to do some DJ spots, which was nice...

Also started going to the Mojo in Sheffield - when it closed, Pete Stringfellow went mobile for a bit, and I got to DJ with him in Wakefield.

A nice crowd in Wakefield in them days - we took a young black kid under our wing - Frankie Ajiko - he later changed his name to Frankie Johnson and DJed at the Mecca/Tiffanys - some of you younger folks will remember him, I'm sure.

Another Wakey face was Rylo - Keith Rylatt, who co-wrote Central 1179 about the Wheel in Manchester.

Spent many a night down the Wheel. Happy days! :thumbsup:

[Guest gordon russell]

was introduced to the music in a round a bout way by glen bellamy........l was going to the NAGS HEAD at wollaston (disco ) when glen turned up with "he who picks a rose " "hand jive" and a couple more that he got the dj to play and bingo "where do you go to hear these" said l "the torch in stoke" said he......rest is history although l knew of local nighters and had been to bletsoe

[Guest Polyvelts]

The first I heard of Northern Soul was at the age of 11 at the Holbeach Junior School disco in 1973. The teacher anounced "someone had come to show us how to dance especially the boys" - Andy Rix ( yes the Andy Rix) who had left for the Spalding gramma School 2 years earlier showed us how to dance to "Footsie", "We Go Together" and "Like Adam & Eve" quality !!

I was hooked from then on- the music never leaves your soul

This is the best post I have ever read on this site !!!!!

[Julie Moore]

Must have been mid-seventies for me My elder brothers were already going to the casino I used to baby-sit for our Dave & Bev he had a record box locked ......i used to pick the lock with a hairgrip first tune i picked out was Lee Royce Tears .....that was it for me not the mad collectors they are but still got soul running through these old viens

P.S don`t tell him will you

[Guest randomplease]

1971 jerry williams. if you ask me.played at school. first trip to mecca at 15, first trip to wigan at 16, stopped going to both at 18. lmao!

[connie 52]

SUNNING HILL YOUTH CLUB BOLTON 1974 there was a gang of us dolly /don faulkner/john mills/ronnie hibbert/flanny/gazzo/dave t/johnny burke[were is he now] baz pritchard /bridgey and loads more. Used to get the number 40 bus to wigan weds/fri/sat sunday was leigh casino or bolton pallis bring back those days

NEIL

[Dave Moore]

Must have been mid-seventies for me My elder brothers were already going to the casino I used to baby-sit for our Dave & Bev he had a record box locked ......i used to pick the lock with a hairgrip first tune i picked out was Lee Royce Tears .....that was it for me not the mad collectors they are but still got soul running through these old viens

P.S don`t tell him will you

Gotcha!! :D

Regards,

Dave

[Naughty Boy]

Some interesting posts.... just shows ya though many accidental routes in ........... right place at the right time ........... or should it be wrong place wrong time

[Davetay]

Must have been mid-seventies for me My elder brothers were already going to the casino I used to baby-sit for our Dave & Bev he had a record box locked ......i used to pick the lock with a hairgrip first tune i picked out was Lee Royce Tears .....that was it for me not the mad collectors they are but still got soul running through these old viens

P.S don`t tell him will you

Julie, I sold your Dave "Tears" with a load more Decca stuff.

[Dave Moore]

Julie, I sold your Dave "Tears" with a load more Decca stuff.

All nice shiny pink demos too.

Joey Heatherton

Lada Edmund Jr

Lee Roye

Earl Grant

Connie Questell

A few others too but I can't remember 'em all. Happy Days!

Regards,

Dave

[Davetay]

All nice shiny pink demos too.

Joey Heatherton

Lada Edmund Jr

Lee Roye

Earl Grant

Connie Questell

A few others too but I can't remember 'em all. Happy Days!

Regards,

Dave

Others I can remember....

D. WHITE

J. CASWELL

B. SIGLER

SWEET THREE

One or two more can't think what.

[Steve L]

I'm surprised no one from our area has been on here and mentioned the Westfield Folkhouse Youth Club. A place that introduced numerous generations of Mansfield people to the music.

Summer holidays 1974 (aged 13) went down to the disco there, not really knowing what to expect and up to that time being into the usual Slade, T Rex & Sweet. I'm not sure if it was the first night that it hit me but it didn't take long.

The older lads dancing to this amazing music really gripped me, up till then I'd only seen girls dancing at school discos and other youth clubs.

Soon I was hearing talk of Wigan, The Torch and other exciting sounding places, and I was down at Syd Booths spending my pocket money on the latest pressings.

One record that really stand out is Johnny Sayles - I Cant get Enough, 37 years on and the music has never been far away, in for the duration

[Sjclement]

'Charlie' Parker ? & Geraldine Mcilroy from Ellesmere Port at the Raven 1972 Soul Sam was on my mate Kevin Horsewood was with me Soul Sam played Frank Beverley and the Poets Two Hearts Kev wrote both titles down on a beermat.

[Guest Gogs]

A friend used to come round my house and bring his records, loved all the Motown stuff but the record that did it for me was lynn randell "stranger in my arms" soon after that i was dancing in the local youth club to these records. (where have all the years gone?).

[Guest Marky Tee]

As a wee laddie of 15 going to the Octopus in Wolverhampton saturday dinner time and seeing Gethro and Kim dancing to Paul Anka' s cant help loving you,................... caught hook line and sinker. Its in the blood now and always was since then (1975.)

[Otis Smith]

Early motown, via a neighbour, who's brother is into rare northern, John Parker, now in York. Northern at Burscough Football Club, care of Soulspinners 4,(Bob Relf, PP Arnold, Ray Whitely, Arthur Conley etc), early 70's. Further northern soul education, at Wigan Casino, November 1975, Yvonne Baker, formation dancing, packed dancefloor, all in rows. Then, monday,wednesday,friday,saturday at Wigan Casino, followed by backpool mecca, ritz all dayers on the sunday.

[Guest Swish]

Back in 1972 one of my mates sisters was going out with one of the soulspinners 4 from ormskirk.

we were just spotty schoolkids who had a penchant for reggae at the time, so we already had a black music background.

He left a box of records at her house and we had a listen, as you do, to these great unknown records.

JJ Barnes-Sweet Sherry, Otis Smith-Let Her go, Joy Lovejoy-In Orbit etc.

Later on i started to hear these tracks at the lunchtime disco at school ( Pete Lawson was in the year above me) in Ormskirk.

As i said, great records, but it was only when heard in the right surroundings they take on a whole new meaning. For me that was at Wigan Casino.

Walking in to the Beachcomer, through the puddles on the floor and the holdalls strewn everywhere, the sound was the very atmospheric "under my thumb",

not soul but eeirie.

Then up to the Empress ballroom where the music hit you right in the chest with the bass and, it seemed like an electric current was passing through you, making you more alive than you ever felt before, and ever would again, it seemed.

Billy Prophet-what can i do, Garnett Mimms-looking For you, linda Jones-My Heart Needs A break, Johnny Bragg-There talking About Me,

all had that immense and intense sound when in the right location, and from then on i was hooked. I sold all my jamaican 45's and albums to bankroll this new obsession.

Andy Love.

I like this letter. Pretty damned good, I'd say

[Guest Dirk Tiggler]

was introduced to the music in a round a bout way by glen bellamy........l was going to the NAGS HEAD at wollaston (disco ) when glen turned up with "he who picks a rose " "hand jive" and a couple more that he got the dj to play and bingo "where do you go to hear these" said l "the torch in stoke" said he......rest is history although l knew of local nighters and had been to bletsoe

I remember the Nag's Head discos. During '73, Oscar Micheal (Mike Hollis) was on the rounds, really slumming it by his standards! Anyway, my mate kept on to me to go and ask him to play Status Quo, pretty much in line with the music being played. In the 5 seconds it took to walk up to the stage, I decided I couldn't do it and asked for the Impressions instead. The next record on was 'you've been cheating' along with the announcement over the microphone "I didn't think there were any of us here tonight"! Ade

[Sharon Cooper]

THE PENDULUM IN MANCHESTER. I WAS TAKEN BY A GIRL I HAD JUST STARTED SEEING. I WAS INTO MOTOWN AND PHILLY SOUND . I WONDERED ABOUT ALL THESE TUNES ADVERTISED IN BLUES AND SOUL , NONE OF WHICH I KNEW. THIS WAS LATE 72 AND THOUGHT I KNEW A LOT ABOUT SOUL. AFTER GOING TO THE PENDULUM THAT WAS IT FOR ME. FIRST TUNE THAT RANG A BELL WAS LANDSLIDE ALSO DUKE BROWNER .THINGS WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. THAT WASTHE GOLDEN AGE OF NORTHERN SOUL .

I was groomed into it by my older brother Barry, who started bringing 'motown' records home after hearing them at the Dungeon all nighter in Nottingham, later the Beachcomber, then he started going to the Brit club. I first went tho the Soul Shack in Beeston Notts at about the age of 15. progreesed later to the Brit myself and that was it. First tune i bought was Jackie Wilson, Higher & Higher , from Barry. However our Dad had quite a few Blues tunes and was a fan of N.K Cole, Duke Ellington etc so maybe it was the old man.

[Guest Chiefy]

My first night was planned to accompany my first block up.Although there weren,t a scene as such in Luton playing what,s now called northern all the clubs, discos we went to played motown, stax atlantic soul and reggae and we were fortunate to have the Cali Dunstable on our doorstep and I,d seen a good selection of touring bands of the time i.e.Junior Walker, Jimmy Ruffin, J.J.Jackson,Ben E King,Bob and Earl, Freddie Mak and a lot of the other soul acts touring the country at the time.Me and me pal Duke used to speak to a lot of the faces a bit older than us who used to get blocked and go to Kelmarsh after and wanted a bit of this dancing all night and being high but no one wanted to take a couple of 15yr olds. Then one weekend a geezer called Steve Gittens R.I.P. from our estate who was the grand old age of 17 said if we sorted out some Dubes he,d get us a lift after the Cali.We scored off George R.I.P. (was known as Mad George then not Smelly) on the saturday afternoon and went up the cali after swallowing 4 black bombers each and by the time we got to the Cali and talked the biggest load of verbal rubbish on the bus to all the old dears going to bingo telling them what lovely geezers skinheads really were it was Freddie Mack who sounded fukin incredible seing as we,d seen him a couple of times previous.The night at the cali flew and Steve was good as his word and we ended up in the back of an escort type van with about 4 or 5 others and at about 1am got to this strange old pub which was shut by a railway bridge in the middle of nowhere with abot 50-60 skinhead blokes and girls standing round verballing with this mad beat thumping out from inside.I remember Gibby was on the door play fighting with a small skinhead called Gilly who looked even younger than us.We payed the entrance and entered another world. Skinheads jumping around and clapping in what seemed perfect time to all this wonderful driving soul which we,d mainly never heard.Then right in front of the deck there,s Mad George leaping around like he,s the owner of the place and he,s hugging us and getting everyone to shake our hands and it was absolute magic and soon we.re joining in this mental clapping and stomping and feeling like we were in the most incredible place ever existed.Never forget we were sitting on the side and this beat started and all the girls sitting down sort of gasped and filled the floor clapping and this hippy type instrumental started and we were hearing the Fife piper for the first time. F******g bliss and there we were. The night just flew and despite us getting a bit paranoid(skinheads from other towns in our limited experience generally scrapped with each other) the older geezers knew the score and looked after us and we ended up having an unforgettable night which will be never forgotten by me or Duke.We was still dancing when it shut 7ish and then back in the van to Watford Gap services and more verballing with tables full of soul brothers. THE JOURNEY HAD BEGAN!

[Guest gordon russell]

My first night was planned to accompany my first block up.Although there weren,t a scene as such in Luton playing what,s now called northern all the clubs, discos we went to played motown, stax atlantic soul and reggae and we were fortunate to have the Cali Dunstable on our doorstep and I,d seen a good selection of touring bands of the time i.e.Junior Walker, Jimmy Ruffin, J.J.Jackson,Ben E King,Bob and Earl, Freddie Mak and a lot of the other soul acts touring the country at the time.Me and me pal Duke used to speak to a lot of the faces a bit older than us who used to get blocked and go to Kelmarsh after and wanted a bit of this dancing all night and being high but no one wanted to take a couple of 15yr olds. Then one weekend a geezer called Steve Gittens R.I.P. from our estate who was the grand old age of 17 said if we sorted out some Dubes he,d get us a lift after the Cali.We scored off George R.I.P. (was known as Mad George then not Smelly) on the saturday afternoon and went up the cali after swallowing 4 black bombers each and by the time we got to the Cali and talked the biggest load of verbal rubbish on the bus to all the old dears going to bingo telling them what lovely geezers skinheads really were it was Freddie Mack who sounded fukin incredible seing as we,d seen him a couple of times previous.The night at the cali flew and Steve was good as his word and we ended up in the back of an escort type van with about 4 or 5 others and at about 1am got to this strange old pub which was shut by a railway bridge in the middle of nowhere with abot 50-60 skinhead blokes and girls standing round verballing with this mad beat thumping out from inside.I remember Gibby was on the door play fighting with a small skinhead called Gilly who looked even younger than us.We payed the entrance and entered another world. Skinheads jumping around and clapping in what seemed perfect time to all this wonderful driving soul which we,d mainly never heard.Then right in front of the deck there,s Mad George leaping around like he,s the owner of the place and he,s hugging us and getting everyone to shake our hands and it was absolute magic and soon we.re joining in this mental clapping and stomping and feeling like we were in the most incredible place ever existed.Never forget we were sitting on the side and this beat started and all the girls sitting down sort of gasped and filled the floor clapping and this hippy type instrumental started and we were hearing the Fife piper for the first time. F******g bliss and there we were. The night just flew and despite us getting a bit paranoid(skinheads from other towns in our limited experience generally scrapped with each other) the older geezers knew the score and looked after us and we ended up having an unforgettable night which will be never forgotten by me or Duke.We was still dancing when it shut 7ish and then back in the van to Watford Gap services and more verballing with tables full of soul brothers. THE JOURNEY HAD BEGAN!

would has at a guess the small skinhead called GILLY was dave gilmore from Wellingborough.....before they built the Arndale in Wellingborough there was a row of shops down one side of the top of midland road opposite burtons and the post office.The second shop down was a chemist.....one night l was walking down midland road with said GILLY when he stopped right outside the chemist...he said to me "wait here"....he then walked over to the front bloody door kicked it open and ran inside (days before alarms lol) I heard a right load of crashing and banging from inside (we have to at this point bare in mind the police station was only just down the road,you could bloody well see it lol) he then came running out with the whole f**king D.D.A cabinet and we both scarpered through the town.We then had to split up as he had to get this cabinet stashed somewhere (god knows where?).He weighed me in a couple of days later with a nice supply of assortted dubes. TOP BLOKE.....but l was shitting myself for a knock on the door for a few days l can tell ya

Edited November 20, 2011 by gordon russell

[Guest garysoul82]

at the end of term in music lessons at our school you could bring in records to play, any every one of my mates shared a single Kent LP: Soul class of 66...which i think was pivotal for me, think the Crampon sisters did it...

At our schools Youth club disco we only got chubby Checker - at the Discotheque, Tony Clark - Landslide, Muriel day 9 times, but come Sat I would be at the Outrigger in Birmingham, music courtesy of Tony Reynolds.. my golly that opened my eyes.... i'm a yong-un so that all happened from 83/4 I guess..

Mal.C.

Mal,

totally agree,used to go to the outrigger myself.Tony reynolds always played top quality sounds and the atmosphere was

always buzzin

[Guest BAKUNIN]

Early 70s Blackpool v Chelsea FA Cup tie.

Went up with Chelsea crew.

Stayed over for the Mecca ..first time.

Saw bloke doing this great dancing to "Walking the Duck" by the Triumphs.

Rest is history!

[Rbman]

First week of August 1974....Senators basement disco in Great Yarmouth...."Don't Rock The Boat "by the Huges Corp was filling the floor at the time and i was missing my older sister'sTamla records(she had left home for uni)...when a record called Purple Haze by Johnny Jones and the KC came out of the speakers and the floor cleared and another group of dancers appeared and i was fcuking hooked......

[Guest]

My first night was planned to accompany my first block up.Although there weren,t a scene as such in Luton playing what,s now called northern all the clubs, discos we went to played motown, stax atlantic soul and reggae and we were fortunate to have the Cali Dunstable on our doorstep and I,d seen a good selection of touring bands of the time i.e.Junior Walker, Jimmy Ruffin, J.J.Jackson,Ben E King,Bob and Earl, Freddie Mak and a lot of the other soul acts touring the country at the time.Me and me pal Duke used to speak to a lot of the faces a bit older than us who used to get blocked and go to Kelmarsh after and wanted a bit of this dancing all night and being high but no one wanted to take a couple of 15yr olds. Then one weekend a geezer called Steve Gittens R.I.P. from our estate who was the grand old age of 17 said if we sorted out some Dubes he,d get us a lift after the Cali.We scored off George R.I.P. (was known as Mad George then not Smelly) on the saturday afternoon and went up the cali after swallowing 4 black bombers each and by the time we got to the Cali and talked the biggest load of verbal rubbish on the bus to all the old dears going to bingo telling them what lovely geezers skinheads really were it was Freddie Mack who sounded fukin incredible seing as we,d seen him a couple of times previous.The night at the cali flew and Steve was good as his word and we ended up in the back of an escort type van with about 4 or 5 others and at about 1am got to this strange old pub which was shut by a railway bridge in the middle of nowhere with abot 50-60 skinhead blokes and girls standing round verballing with this mad beat thumping out from inside.I remember Gibby was on the door play fighting with a small skinhead called Gilly who looked even younger than us.We payed the entrance and entered another world. Skinheads jumping around and clapping in what seemed perfect time to all this wonderful driving soul which we,d mainly never heard.Then right in front of the deck there,s Mad George leaping around like he,s the owner of the place and he,s hugging us and getting everyone to shake our hands and it was absolute magic and soon we.re joining in this mental clapping and stomping and feeling like we were in the most incredible place ever existed.Never forget we were sitting on the side and this beat started and all the girls sitting down sort of gasped and filled the floor clapping and this hippy type instrumental started and we were hearing the Fife piper for the first time. F******g bliss and there we were. The night just flew and despite us getting a bit paranoid(skinheads from other towns in our limited experience generally scrapped with each other) the older geezers knew the score and looked after us and we ended up having an unforgettable night which will be never forgotten by me or Duke.We was still dancing when it shut 7ish and then back in the van to Watford Gap services and more verballing with tables full of soul brothers. THE JOURNEY HAD BEGAN!

Hi H

Top story M8,

First off, sorry to hear about Steve Gittings, First I've heard hes passed on top bloke, yeah I think we all had some good cracks with him at one time or another .

Top story, sounds like Kelmarsh you went to, Fife Piper(I've still got it on BTR?), You've been cheating, Let the good times roll, Band of Gold, Nothing can stop me, Going to a happening(Tommy Neal), Whole lot of shakin'......did'nt play stuffl ike that in Luton.

(Yeah, George was larger than life, people he did'nt even know were his long lost M*8's when he was out of his tree :thumbup: )

As you say been a bloody good journey AND we've survived the journey, especially, as you said in another post, we were eating the contents of a chemist evey weekend

Edited December 1, 2011 by DanDare

[Naughty Boy]

As you say been a bloody good journey AND we've survived the journey, especially, as you said in another post, we were eating the contents of a chemist evey weekend

Hey quite a few been on that journey and survived it , a good few have not

[Guest]

I've been thinking about my original reply to this and in fact the records I quoted are not strictly true .

To set the scene, theres me, Barry Williams, a guy called Jim Mitchell (he ended up as drummer for a band called Orange Bicycle) sure Mick Burgess was there, were attempting to crash under Margate Peir when these mods, we're talking May Bank Holiday 1967 here, from Northampton joined us as we had a small fire going.

I did'nt do gear at the time, turned 17 over the weekend referred to here, but the had what they reffered to a some black . They built a reefer, I'm talking the lingo of the time, we all had a puff or two to be sociable, when its out they have this little portable record player, the sound that blew me away was Tramp - Otis Redding and Carla Thomas on blue Stax. We're bopping under the pier to this tune, but the 2 guys from Northampton were in a different league to us as dancers, OK you cant dance on sand but they MOVED just standing on the spot !!!!. I've never seen them again, if they're on here they may remember the incident, but I have a treasured copy of Tramp on old blue Stax, dont play it much and when I do hear it it always takes me back in time, amazing how some tracks make a film run through your mind.

Edited December 1, 2011 by DanDare

[Guest Chiefy]

Yeah Peggy (seems wierd that but can,t place your real name )Gilly was indeed Dave Gilmore from Wellingborough. He got banged up for about a year 70ish and when he reappeared at Harborough he seemed to have doubled in size.As you say sound bloke. Sad news about Steve indeed Paul.He lived just up the road to me and died from a heart attack couple of years back. A lot of R.I.P,s in these threads. Must have been something bad in that chewing gum .Remember Jim Mitchell being a top hard man around the town then he went the complete hippy route and Mick Burgess was a main man for blues then he moved Northants way and I don,t recall seeing him much after.Kelmarsh was something else to a new kid on the scene and I only caught it in it,s last year.All the sounds you mention were top players at the time. It seemed a lot more stompy back then to what followed and when I think Kelmarsh + Wilby I always think Alvin Cash, Willie Mitchell and George going mental to Rufus Thomas Funky Chicken. Flamingos Boogaloo Party + Jerryo,s Karate boogaloo are another pair in the same vein spring to mind and how good did Cool jerk and the Right track sound back then.Do you remember before it became known as northern, boogaloo was the title it went under round here? Another old name here for you Paul, Joe Wilby of the old Guy Hamilton sound done a fairwell gig in Caddington couple of weeks back and among the attendees were Toff Murdoch, Vic Young, Cat amongst a host of ex mods all even older than you.

[Guest Church]

Westfields Youth Centre in Cheltenham - friday night dances with Mickey Venn and Dave Coterill djing (Kaleidascope Discos) circa 69-70 - such sounds as Bobby Hebb, Fuller Bros, Al Kent, Major Lance, Showstoppers and even Repratta and the Delrons left me in a panic...

[Guest]

Must have been something bad in that chewing gum

PMSL

Remember Jim Mitchell being a top hard man around the town.

Gentleman...TILL someone pissed him off, hje was a VERY good M8 till he moved up to London, lost touch with him, I believe he married into money and lives with his lady on theSouth coast somewhere.

Alvin Cash, Willie Mitchell and George going mental to Rufus Thomas Funky Chicken. Flamingos Boogaloo Party + Jerryo,s Karate boogaloo are another pair in the same vein spring to mind and how good did Cool jerk and the Right track sound back then

Remember how HUGE they were?, wonder what people would pay for them now? (BUT not Rufus Thomas shite record !!!!)

Wheres Joe (Warby?) gone to then, right fishermans do that was Murdoch fishes for Hitchin, bloody good angler, Joe usually angles with Greg Williams, or did, bumped into them both on the bank a couple of times....Does Vic still play the harp?, not seen him for a long time.

Dont know about the cat bit, but yeah, they were main faces in the VERY early Mod scene in Luton around '63 - 64, I was still at school.

Edited December 4, 2011 by DanDare

[Guest lambrettanik]

for me it started in 76 when i was 11yrs old,sat in my class in high school the class hard case grabbed my army surplus rucksack and wrote in biro "soul rules" on it,i had LFC written all over it(as i had recently moved up from huyton to upholland near wigan),after the usual pushing and name callin,i asked "whats soul"???.then my education really started,as the lad had older brothers who were all into it and they went "T CASINO IN WIGGIN",y curiositie got the better of me and i was on a mission to find out about this mystery "soul" that was better entertainment than football.i went to "higher end"labour club in billinge to an under 18s disco were i watched in awe as the local soul boys danced to shake a tail feather,needle in a haystack,painted smile,tears of a clown etc.from then on i was a closet soulboy cos if you werent hard you would get a kicking for dancing "like A girl" from the local greasers,so it stayed hidden until 3 of us deciced to go to this "casino place" in the autumn of 81 firstly to a week nite disco then an oldies.one of the first "proper northern" tunes i recall was hide nor hair_oh that feelin of the hairs on your neck prickle and the adrenaline rush of actually tryin out those steps i had been practising in front of my 2 mates,and just as the addiction was really was taking over IT SHUT!! i only went three times,after that maximes(tiffs) was my real training on the soul scene.my mates drop off the scene i never did,bumped into one of them a while back and he couldnt believe i still went to allnighters(he went through all the usaual music fashion)-he couldnt dance anyway!

[Soul Stu]

Great idea for a thread.

My first taste of soul was in '68 (the term Northern wasn't around yet, although I seem to remember the term "Uptown" being used) was at "The Revolution" club in Sutton -in -Ashfield Notts Capacity around 200). The music just hit me from the start and soon after started collecting records. I used to go with mates from (very recent) school days but realised they were more interested in downing pints and I was more into getting down! The club used to have live bands on and can rember seeing Inez & Charlie Foxx there. I was also working with a few people who went to the Mojo, Dungeon, Junction, Wheel etc. but those guys were so cool .....you would never dare to ask for a lift. A few years later one of my best mates was one of these guys and we had a few laughs about it. Records that first hit me where "Lets Go Baby", "Girls are out to get you", "Billy's bag" "Love makes a woman" all very common nowadays but totally unavailable at that time something I realised when trying to buy "Mr Bang bang man" at our local record shop, the asistant put me straight which led to sending for record lists, one of the first I received was from Brian "45" Phillips, sure enough "Bang Bang" was on it....£5 U.K. orig, trouble was my weekly wage was 4 10/-

Looking back getting on the scene just seemed a natural thing to do and have always felt that it was a path I was destined to follow.

Happy days that led to many happy years.

Ulyssees.

Great posting

The scene in Manchester was just magic, the atmosphere in the Wheel and the Top Twenty was electric, no silly clothes just smart suits.

[Pauldonnelly]

THE PETERBOROUGH EFFECT

As most olde soulies who are addicted to Northern Soul I was first introduced to our wonderful music via the local Youth Club, in my case Westwood.

During the late 60's I looked forward to the Friday/Saturday night Discoth¨ques, cropped hair, Prince of Wales check Harrington's, Levi Stay press and Cherry Red Loafers all part of growing up on one of Peterborough's toughest estates.

It was Desmond Decker, Dave & Ansill Collins, Symarip to most though I seemed attracted to the older lads preferred musical tastes of Homer Banks, Doris Troy, JJ Jackson, Archie Bell, The Impressions their acrobatic dancing and their talk of clubs "upt north" excited me...I was hooked and I suppose I have been ever since.

During the late 60's early 70's Clubs such as Peterborough's CLOUD NINE were a platform for many youngsters to venture to the TWISTED WHEEL MANCHESTER - THE LANTERN MK'T HARBORO - THE CENTRAL LEEDS or as in my case BLETSOE BEDFORD, Cloud Nine without doubt made a major contribution toward what is now one of the most respected areas for Rare Soul collectors and fans alike.

During the 70's numerous venues in and around the City opened their doors to this new sound that was sweeping the country, no longer was it confined to the North those from the south who had been traveling were bringing this wonderful music south in our case East and it all kicked off big time.

I have some fond memories of venues in the City such as THE SOUL 'OLE (Stanground), THE SOUL CELLAR, THE CAROUSEL CLUB, THE SPINNING WHEEL and THE CELLAR BAR STAMFORD.

To comment on all the above clubs would be unfair as each one made a significant contributions to the Northern Soul Scene in Peterborough however THE CAROUSEL CLUB @ THE WIRRINA was the catalyst for scores of Peterborough youngsters to be introduced to the Northern Sound

CAROUSEL CLUB-WIRRINA - PETERBOROUGH

I first attended this venue in 1971, a Tuesday night and the venue was Soul Dance across the board, Pete Edwards and Ian Freeman worked together to keep the Northern Soul fraternity happy. The evening became so popular that 500 plus people attended and to be honest if you got there after 8pm you didn't get in, so much was the success of "The Tuesday nights" that The Wirrina opened the doors Sunday night for a purely Northern Soul evening.

The Wirrina was synonymous with Northern Soul so it seemed perfectly in order to ask Andy Giles the Manager if we could have an all-nighter, to cut a very long story short permission was granted and we planned our first Phoenix Soul Club all nighter for March 7^th 1975...I remember Andy Giles asking us how many we were expecting "no more than 300" was my reply the surprise of seeing over 200 waiting to get in ONE HOUR before we had opened the doors, I WAS PETRIFIED, over a 1000 came in through the doors that night and our regular 1^st Friday every month all nighters attracted massive crowds.

Resident D'j's included Gary (Spena) Spencer, Steve (Jonah) Jones, Andy (Smudge) and likkle ole me, Paul Donnelly, we were later joined by Tony Dellar and John Vincent, the word was filtering through to the North of England about this venue and Jocks such as Searling, Curtis, Levine, Evison etc all made visits to the club as well as many Live acts such as Billy Butler, Major Lance and not forgetting the Exciters which packed nearly 2000 into two rooms.

It was a truly wonderful experience and it would be fair to say that the Wirrina/Phoenix All Nighters never received the attention that it's illustrious counterparts in the North were receiving indeed a number of tunes perceived as "Bigun's from Wigan" were in actual fact discovered and played by 3 spotty faced kids from Stanground Peterborough sometimes weeks before they were ever played at The Casino.

Our close proximity to Anderson at Soul Bowl ensured a steady stream of 'newies' which we took great delight in playing when Searling and the other big names came to town, there's not a drug in the world that can give you a buzz like Richard Searling walking over to the decks to cast his beady eye over something that he has never heard before, "yes!!!!"

The Phoenix Nighter came to abrupt end in 1976 when councilors were concerned about several issues, announced on the day of the monthly all nighter that "tonight is your last one guys" a week earlier we had signed a contract with Betty Wrights UK agents, she was flying over to the UK for two shows one at Wigan on the Saturday and one in Peterborough on the Friday, Betty Wrights agent insisted on full payment under the terms and conditions of the contract and despite a battle with the local authorities we agreed a payment of £1000 to Betty Wright.

That last all-nighter was an eventful evening as Dave Mindham one of the co promoters insisted that no one should be told that it was the last one as pre ticket sales for Betty Wright had been received and he was not in a position to refund that night, however the other guys thought different and at 3am I was given the microphone to advise that this was the last ever Phoenix All-Nighter, it was a very emotional 5 mins and when I had finished the crowd stamped and clapped in what I perceived as appreciation of our honesty after all we were just simple folk who played the bloody records. I had so many people come up to me over the next two hours shaking hands etc it was quite humbling, and then at 6.30 I was asked if I would do the last hour......no problem guys, as we drew nearer 8.00am I thought what the f**k do I play last record when Mandy Sellars from Boston came on stage and just gave me a hug and whispered "play Bobby Hutton last record" I did and every time I hear that record now it brings a lump to my throat.

The City Council advised us that Northern Soul all-nighters would never be granted a license within the City, ho ho ho ho on to the glorious Fleet which although within the City boundaries was South of the River and under some forgotten bye law within Huntingdonshire someone :~) approached the Fleet Committee, they agreed but strangely we didn't do anything but some guys did some 3 years later and from what they tell me it was as the Pheonix a well respected nighter.

Today the City has its fair share of activity such as the Right Track Soul Club pulling them in from far a field, it gives me an enormous amount of self satisfaction that a silly idea I had to run an all-nighter in Peterborough 30 years ago has been built on and despite what others across the UK tell you, we in Peterborough have done our bit, and for that everyone of us should feel proud to be 'Boro'

Keep on Keeping on.

Regards

Paul Donnelly

Edited December 12, 2011 by PaulDonnelly

[Ik001]

Meeting a guy called John Bollen from my hometown (Earby), who brought a case of records which I recorded on the old reel-to-reel tape recorder. Records included were : There's Nothing Else To Say - Incredibles, Major Lance -The Beat, Everybody Loves A Good Time, Edwin Starr - My Weakness Is You. It was a bit of an eyeopener for me.

First records heard played out Jimmy Holiday - Baby Boy's In Love, Edwin Starr - Backstreet. Blackpool Mecca Highland Room (1970).

[Guest Unionjack]

As a very young lad all I remember hearing at home music wise was Motown and other soul type genres but at 13 I found my Uncles record collection. He cane from Sheffield and went to the Mojo/Wheel/Torch etc etc. At the time I had no idea what these would be worth but there was a couple handfulls of British demos and spent many hours telling me his escapades. As well as the soul of course those early nighters was Mod so I inherited a big bunch of old Ska and that got me completely hooked. He made me a present of them on my 13th birthday. Around the same time I went round my best mate at schools house and his dad had a box similar. Him being a chronic speed freak and alki gave me his box too. So there I was at 13 with a pretty nice collection. All the others at school were listening to stuff like Bowie/Roxy Music/Slade/Purple/Sabath but a few were into Skinhead type stuff but werent record collectors.

Like Mr D I went to all the same places apart from Bedford and didnt like some of the characters at Stamford so about 72 I suppose my uncle took 6 of us to the Torch in his old Triumph Vitesse. I had been taking blues since I was 13 so it was me who got all the gear for us. And by the time we walked into the doors I felt like the kids must have done walking into Willy Wonkas Choc Factory. To me being 15 it was a real eye opener. Standing there chewing a mouthful of gum in my Black blazer with my initial badge and hanky with tie stud, Prince of Wales with a french seam and black fred perry I thought I was Mr Cool. But there was alot of stuff played that I knew and had at home so I loved it My first experience of a nighter changed me. We went up to the Steam machine a couple of times but when The Casino opened that was it. I Imissed the 1st week cause I was on holiday in Torquay but got to the 2nd.

[Guest allnightandy]

Walking into Wigan Casino to the sound of Eddie Spencer If this is love ( i'd rather be lonely)

they did used to play stuff at some of the bars and clubs in Mcr but for a life changing experience it was Wigan

Edited December 15, 2011 by allnightandy

[Guest allnightandy]

Ah yes Martin Ellis, a very old and good friend of mine.

God rest his soul, i miss him a lot.

Actually it was a stall run by Tony Juste from Manchester.

I bet a lot of people will know me on here, when i say i used to help him out on his stall quite a lot after that.

got to play all the great Northern sounds all day,can't be bad.

Talking about it makes it seem like yesterday,can you believe that is 36 years ago.

God Bless Martin ! Great guy who always had time for you !

[Stevie T]

halifax tiffs,1973 monday night 15 years old , club ran by Paul rowan & Graham slater , the music dragged me up the stairs , bitten , bitten hard !

acording to school friends i changed overnight , only one at my school into it , school full of Greasers , so didnt sit too well with the leather clad fraternity , my last year spent fighting for my life and my passion , but always worth it . Never looked back . wonderful !!

[Guest Swish]

Hello everyone,

just reading the posts on where and when folk found their taste for northern and in general I was amused,I can appreciate the older guys and some of them being on the scene for yonks.In my own case its over 4 decades I started illegally back in the early 60 going to Mr Smiths in manchester before the other clubs were there and my initiation was into blues and deep soul with occasional dance feature heading the bill.

it stood me in good sted though as this set my facet of my heart for the soul of real class soul it ingrained itself into my personality to continue to this day yeah I went to the big name clubs pendulum wheel etc but at a very early age the seeds were set for me and my fire lit at that quirky club in the industrial heartland manchester and Mr Wonderful Smith's club. I was 15 years of age and dodging the feds to get in great days and the music is still my scene and will always be thankyou you Mr Smith's ever in you're debt. Pat Allen (Burnley & Pendle Soul Club)

You went to the big name clubs like, pendulum, Wheel etc. and dodged the feds???????????

Tell us a little bit about the feds and the pendulum then when you were 15. LOVE TO HERE IT.

[Guest Swish]

Ok you got me on spelling when I meant HEAR IT, but that aside, I would just love to hear about , you, the Wheel, Kathy Kirby, the Pendulum and the feds when you were 15.

Tell us about the Wheel first and the gear and the sounds.

Just take it from there.

Then tell us about the feds.

And so on.

[Souljer6]

Ok you got me on spelling when I meant HEAR IT, but that aside, I would just love to hear about , you, the Wheel, Kathy Kirby, the Pendulum and the feds when you were 15.

Tell us about the Wheel first and the gear and the sounds.

Just take it from there.

Then tell us about the feds.

And so on.

[Souljer6]

OK, I went so I'll step in here with the answers

THE WHEEL ------Famous Manchester club. Still going.

KATHY KIRBY-----Female UK soul singer

THE PENDULUM------Great instrumental------Forgot who it was by now

THE GEAR------ The mod clothes we used to wear--eg Levis Stay Pressed and tank tops

THE FEDS------Cool name for the police who were on the lookout for trouble

OK 5 out of 5. Thanks very much