Echoes - The Northern Soul Fans Weekly Fix

[Mick Howard]

I've collected some 'stuff' over the years not least a few extracts from Echoes which I think, more than Blues & Soul, was a must for all Northern fans from the mid 70's onwards.

I still have copies of a couple of letters that I sent in that I am far too embarrassed to include here but some of the articles are worth reading again.

Here's a start from Stuart Cosgrove who is now a football pundit on Scottish BBC...

 

Anyone else got any interesting articles like this?

Mick

[lds]

He's always had a way with words has Mr Cosgrove,

Lx

On 12/08/2010 at 16:19, Mick Howard said:

Here's a start from Stuart Cosgrove who is now a football pundit on Scottish BBC...

 

Anyone else got any interesting articles like this?

Mick

He

[Mick Howard]

On 12/08/2010 at 17:15, webbydublin said:

Wasn't it called Black Echoes at one time and the page to read was The Rambler and Stomping Ground....who was that fella??

Webby

Indeed it was called Black Echoes. It changed early 80's I think. The Rambler I think was called Ramblings and I remember Stomping Ground too but I don't remember the authors.

Do you remember (Pat) Brady Beat?

Mick

[Mike]

memory says the first one had a centre page feature on cleethorpes yep ?

it be good to see that again

[Mark R]

Corrected

 

Cheers,

Mark R

 

[Guest jerrio]

Wasn't it called Black Echoes at one time and the page to read was The Rambler and Stomping Ground....who was that fella??

Hiya Webby, The man your on about was the editer, Paul Phillips also Gofors column.

Wrighty.

[Mick Howard]

Does anynoe remember Black Music Magazine summer of '74 doing about a ten page editorial on Northern Soul and Wigan Casino/ And when they did their 'Record Reviews' they catagorised them into ...Funk,Northern,Sweet,Philly etc....crackiing read...Think a fella called Tony Cummings had a lot to do with it....

Oh and John Abbey was editor of B&S and went on to marry Tamiko Jones......Lucky man!

74 before my time I'm afraid but Tony Cummings is well known for his er not quite so flattering musings about the Northern scene. He has, however, since changed his mind so I've read in Neil Rushtons book.

Mick

[Mick Howard]

Last one for now.... another regular feature

 

 

Mick

[Dave Thorley]

Hiya Webby, The man your on about was the editer, Paul Phillips also Gofors column.

Wrighty.

Paul was editor and I think part owner. He also, had a 70's hit with the oh so bad Car 67-Driver 67, which he joint wrote the lyrics too. Paul now helps out with ad sales for Manifesto.

Dave

[Guest jerrio]

Paul was editor and I think part owner. He also, had a 70's hit with the oh so bad Car 67-Driver 67, which he joint wrote the lyrics too. Paul now helps out with ad sales for Manifesto.

Dave

When we used to run nights at the Dukes Club and J.U.C. Paul was allways very helpfull when I rang

him,and give us plenty of exposure in his columns.Glad to hear hes still about and active in Manifesto.I went to work inSaudi in 85.and my wife at the time would send my copy of Echoes over to me.A week behind but allways looked foward to it.

Wrighty.

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

When we used to run nights at the Dukes Club and J.U.C. Paul was allways very helpfull when I rang

him,and give us plenty of exposure in his columns.Glad to hear hes still about and active in Manifesto.I went to work inSaudi in 85.and my wife at the time would send my copy of Echoes over to me.A week behind but allways looked foward to it.

Wrighty.

Mr.Philips is still very active on Solar Radio,i spoke with him last week,--Paul ,and he still remembered you as the guy who used to pester him every week when he went under the Alias ----"The Rambler"

Best

Tony

[Greety]

One of the best pieces of writing I've ever had the pleasure to read was in Black Music. A lot of people will remember this. Their first feature on Northern Soul. Tony Cummings visited Whitchurch, The Mecca and I think Newcastle Tiffs.

The aforementioned piece of writing was where Eddie Foster falls asleep in his car and his spirit crosses the Atlantic to where people are dancing to "I never knew" at Newcastle Tiffs.

Spine tingling stuff, even now.

[Gilly]

On 12/08/2010 at 16:19, Mick Howard said:

I've collected some 'stuff' over the years not least a few extracts from Echoes which I think, more than Blues & Soul, was a must for all Northern fans from the mid 70's onwards.

I still have copies of a couple of letters that I sent in that I am far too embarrassed to include here but some of the articles are worth reading again.

Here's a start from Stuart Cosgrove who is now a football pundit on Scottish BBC...

 

Anyone else got any interesting articles like this?

Mick

Proberly got almost all of them,if not it would be 8/10ths of em from the very 1st one.I also keep loads of junk conected with our scene

[Guest garv]

One of the best pieces of writing I've ever had the pleasure to read was in Black Music. A lot of people will remember this. Their first feature on Northern Soul. Tony Cummings visited Whitchurch, The Mecca and I think Newcastle Tiffs.

The aforementioned piece of writing was where Eddie Foster falls asleep in his car and his spirit crosses the Atlantic to where people are dancing to "I never knew" at Newcastle Tiffs.

Spine tingling stuff, even now.

for me it was one of the most creative pieces of journalism about the Northern scene, i must have read & re-read it 100`s of times over the years & as you correctly point out , spine tingling.

I remember Dave McCadden in the cartoon strip in Echoes with the men in white coats taking him away.

[Wilxy]

One of the best pieces of writing I've ever had the pleasure to read was in Black Music. A lot of people will remember this. Their first feature on Northern Soul. Tony Cummings visited Whitchurch, The Mecca and I think Newcastle Tiffs.

The aforementioned piece of writing was where Eddie Foster falls asleep in his car and his spirit crosses the Atlantic to where people are dancing to "I never knew" at Newcastle Tiffs.

Spine tingling stuff, even now.

I remember that , and as you say was very inspirational to the likes of myself, when the written word was king....Great piece.....Great days....

[Ric-tic]

Would l be right in thinking that Black Music was every month....B&S was fortnightly....And Echoes was weekly...

correct with a few exeptions blues and soul went weekly for a period in the mid 70s but was short lived and reverted back to fortnightly, echoes went monthly in later years and echoes was always a bumper double issue at chrismas tho it wasnt really that 'bumper', even bessie banks '- - now ' was a question in the crossword the same as it was every other week of the year

[Missing Link]

Does anynoe remember Black Music Magazine summer of '74 doing about a ten page editorial on Northern Soul and Wigan Casino/ And when they did their 'Record Reviews' they catagorised them into ...Funk,Northern,Sweet,Philly etc....crackiing read...Think a fella called Tony Cummings had a lot to do with it....

Tony Cummings actually wrote three articles in 'Black Music' magazine and was also supposed to have been writing a book called 'The Strange World of Northern Soul' which was due to be published in 1976 but never was.

The first article was entitled 'The Strange World of Northern Soul' and came out in the June 1974 issue. As Dave Greet said, it started with Eddie Foster and his fictional 'dream' about Wigan. Tony visited Tiffany's Newcastle, Whitchurch Civic Hall, Blackpool Mecca and Queen's Hall, Leeds. He makes some observations about some of the DJs of the time which make quite interesting reading:

RICHARD SEARLING: Plays the Wigan Casino on Saturdays and seems to play mainly discs supplied by bootlegger Simon Soussan.

SOUL SAM: alias Mr. Martin Barnfather. The joker in the pack, playing streams of unknown pop records which just happen to have the right beat.

RUSS WINSTANLEY: The most likeable of the Wigan Casino crew, though his recent circular to fellow deejays proclaiming: "We, as the creators of the Northern Soul Scene" seems to indicate a peculiarly distorted view of black musicians.

The second article in the January 1975 issue was entitled 'Northern Soul Revisited' was mainly about the 'split' in the scene between Blackpool Mecca and WIgan Casino.

The third article was published in November 1975 and was called 'Northern Soul: After the Goldrush'. Again there are comments on Blackpool and Wigan but this time the emphasis is on 'tailor made' records, the Simon Soussan instrumentals played at the Casino and the records produced by Ian Levine played at the Mecca (although I recall hearing a number of the latter being played at the Casino. There's also a few paragraphs about Cleethorpes.

All the articles make interesting reading after 35 years.

[Missing Link]

What an excellent post.... Thanks.....Have you still got the BM mags??

Sure - that's how I could quote what was in them!! Sadly, my memories not good enough to recall that much from the 70s. I can scan them if you want though it might take a little while as there's 18 pages worth.

[Missing Link]

Surprisingly he didn't visit Wigan at all for the first article - it was the 'Revisited' second article which gave Russ a slating for the amount of 'pop' played. It's this article that mentions Russ 'banning' Snoopy Dean and Boby Franklin.

[Missing Link]

Yes and 'My Heart Symphony', 'Dirty Hearts' and loads of Soussan instrumentals.

My recollection is that the floor was always full when these were played though.

[Mike]

On 19/08/2010 at 17:04, greety said:

One of the best pieces of writing I've ever had the pleasure to read was in Black Music. A lot of people will remember this. Their first feature on Northern Soul. Tony Cummings visited Whitchurch, The Mecca and I think Newcastle Tiffs.

The aforementioned piece of writing was where Eddie Foster falls asleep in his car and his spirit crosses the Atlantic to where people are dancing to "I never knew" at Newcastle Tiffs.

Spine tingling stuff, even now.

 

 

Eddie Foster Dreams of Wigan - Black Music 1970s

 

The music is black american and obscure - ghetto sounds which never made it, the followers are mostly white and fanatical - working class kids in the industrial heart of Britain who dance like there's no tomorrow to records most of us will never hear. The Northern Soul Scene is a strange mixture of good and bad, of burning dedication and grubby exploitation. Despised by some, misunderstood by most, it is the ultimate Underground scene. Tony Cummings investigates...

 

 

[Guest]

What a great article that really was........l was 16 again....Black Music magazine dragged me from Funk to Northern in 74.....while other friends were going in the opposite direction....

Tellig porkies again Philip ?

You have never had friends ....... only sympathisers , collegues and associates

Malc

[Guest Awake 502]

On 12/08/2010 at 17:45, mike said:

memory says the first one had a centre page feature on cleethorpes yep ?

it be good to see that again

Do you mean this one ????

 

[Swifty]

Do you mean this one ????

What a night that was , thanks for the memories !

Cleethorpes was the Biz!

Cheers

Swifty

p.s. Still got my World Column freebie

[Guest]

Well we called each other mate... l was into The Ohio Players and Kool And The Gang when they were actually Cool...early 74 l do believe....Sympathisers?......You're one Cheeky B**tard...

I can say these things to you - assumes best Dick emery impersonation - " because I like you "

Malc

[Mrtag]

l might do if l didn't have to lie horizontal to have a look at it....Frank Elson in B&S always had his finger on the pulse in 'Checkin' It Out'...

Phil,Got this sorted just brought the dogs bed next to the PC lie on that!! No Problem!! typing is not easy from down here but viewing is great!! Atb John.

Edited August 21, 2010 by mrtag

[Guest]

Then l trip-over...

But not before - only after - I gently strike you on the shoulder , pushing you back

Malc

[dthedrug]

But not before - only after - I gently strike you on the shoulder , pushing you back

Malc

Hi All...I HAVE ASKED BEFORE! BUT HAS ANYONE GOT A COPY OF BLACK ECHOES, WITH A CRIS SAVORY (RIP) WRITE UP ON YOURS TRULY FOLLOWING A CHAT IN THE BAR AT THE CASINO, AT THE TIME I WAS LIVING IN LETCHWORTH HERTS, I CANT REMEMBER THE YEAR BUT IT MUST BE NOT TO LONG AFTER THE PAPER STARTED ?? IF ANY ONE CAN PHOTO COPY THE BIT, I WILL SEND A FREE RECORD. DAVE KILWORTH (ME)

[macca]

I think the Cleethorpes piece was, as previously mentioned, at least a double page spread with pics. I think it was this one that broke the story of James Fountain going for 250 sovs. Anybody know the date it was published? I think it may have been early 76 as I'm sure I was still at school. B&S and Black Echoes were a part of growing up, like the cassettes we recorded at venues and listened to in the '5th year common room' at school, to the bemusement of teaching staff and fellow pupils. Yet another thing that set us apart.

[shelly]

Sorry, but I have to disagree with the above comments, T Cummings et al were trying to sell magazines, 1974 was a competitive era in the music press.

What they succeded in doing was opening up a closed scene to the masses, prior to then it was faces, there was little or no publicity, but when you travelled, be it footy or what, you saw and regonised the people, it was special, top boys and girls.

The journalistic efforts of T Cummings and F Elson where an ego trip that caused a/ opening of the scene to all and b/ other media interest, not at all positive.

In fact Black Music magazine had a real go re the "social issues" , I had a letter published in said magazine c 1974 defending the scene against the tirade

of abuse that was being generated, actually won letter of the month, the key was my quort for Edwin Stars Back Street "People stick together one for all, all for one, where they don't care how much money you got so long as your having fun"surely that what soul is.

If that meant robbing chemists.taking copious amounts of gear, ripping off people for their records and gear- and vice versa(unfortunately twice) then so be it, so lets get real and stop this rose spectricle crap.

The only two journalists who understood where Dave Godin and John Abbey, neither of whom resorted to exploitation, but could have milked it unmercifully shoud they have wished long before Cummings and Elson.

Shellt

Derby

[dthedrug]

Sorry, but I have to disagree with the above comments, T Cummings et al were trying to sell magazines, 1974 was a competitive era in the music press.

What they succeded in doing was opening up a closed scene to the masses, prior to then it was faces, there was little or no publicity, but when you travelled, be it footy or what, you saw and regonised the people, it was special, top boys and girls.

The journalistic efforts of T Cummings and F Elson where an ego trip that caused a/ opening of the scene to all and b/ other media interest, not at all positive.

In fact Black Music magazine had a real go re the "social issues" , I had a letter published in said magazine c 1974 defending the scene against the tirade

of abuse that was being generated, actually won letter of the month, the key was my quort for Edwin Stars Back Street "People stick together one for all, all for one, where they don't care how much money you got so long as your having fun"surely that what soul is.

If that meant robbing chemists.taking copious amounts of gear, ripping off people for their records and gear- and vice versa(unfortunately twice) then so be it, so lets get real and stop this rose spectricle crap.

The only two journalists who understood where Dave Godin and John Abbey, neither of whom resorted to exploitation, but could have milked it unmercifully shoud they have wished long before Cummings and Elson.

Shellt

Derby

HI ALL I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETTER, YOU ARE 100% CORRECT, I WORKED IN THE MUSIC BUISNESS FOR A WHILE, AND THE PEOPLE WHO I RAN INTO WERE PROPER C*NZ POSERS WITH OPEN DENIM SHIRTS WITH A PACKET OF WINSTON IN THE POCKET CARRYING BRIEF CASES A DRIVEING RANGE ROVERS, THEY NEEDED MONEY AS THE COUNTRY HAD A 3 DAY WEEK?(A GREAT TIME FOR US CHEMIST ROBBERS) THE STUPID GOINGS ON WITH THE CUMMINGS & GODIN WAS PITIFUL, YOU NOW KNOW WHERE IAN LAVINE GOT HIS MANNERISMS FROM, WELL DONE! I BET YOU WENT TO CLOES AND NO HECTOR FROM SELECTOR BOB BOOTH ET ALL:ph34r: DAVE KIL

[shelly]

Thanks for the support, I had had a few ales with Tim Finch and Dave Bonsall in the afternoon and that's what got the mind ticking.

Yes , knew Hector well , used to go to the Brit together on the train from Derby on a Friday along with the Gillanders brothers.

Can't place Bob Booth though?

I suppose you also meant both Clouds and Cleos

Anyway reality as to whay really went off at almost every alnighter needs to sink in to a few.

We weren't fucking hippies for gods sake, peace and love, but to read some people you'd think we were,everyone was socialable because of the gear, but as always, money and position was there, hence the stories that anyone who was really into the "subculture" knows only too damn well. luckily I came from Derby!

As an aside and reading some of your earlier posts, you're not from the Winchester area are you?

Shelly

quote name='dthedrug' timestamp='1283047617' post='1401931']

HI ALL I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETTER, YOU ARE 100% CORRECT, I WORKED IN THE MUSIC BUISNESS FOR A WHILE, AND THE PEOPLE WHO I RAN INTO WERE PROPER C*NZ POSERS WITH OPEN DENIM SHIRTS WITH A PACKET OF WINSTON IN THE POCKET CARRYING BRIEF CASES A DRIVEING RANGE ROVERS, THEY NEEDED MONEY AS THE COUNTRY HAD A 3 DAY WEEK?(A GREAT TIME FOR US CHEMIST ROBBERS) THE STUPID GOINGS ON WITH THE CUMMINGS & GODIN WAS PITIFUL, YOU NOW KNOW WHERE IAN LAVINE GOT HIS MANNERISMS FROM, WELL DONE! I BET YOU WENT TO CLOES AND NO HECTOR FROM SELECTOR BOB BOOTH ET ALL:ph34r: DAVE KIL

[Chalky]

I can't find my '87 Echoes ads, well not all of them.

I'm looking for October 3rd 1987 and an advert for the 100 Club, would be in one of the preceding weeks as well. Also looking for a flyer!

[Chalky]

I can't find my '87 Echoes ads, well not all of them.

I'm looking for October 3rd 1987 and an advert for the 100 Club, would be in one of the preceding weeks as well. Also looking for a flyer!

just giving this a bump as still looking for either a flyer or an advert from Echoes for the 100 Club October 3rd 1987. Hope someone can oblige.

[Guest]

What are you on about....Dave Godin never milked it,then tell me why did he start his own label (Right On) were The Crow and The Jelly Beans were released.....For charity?

Dave started the Right On label to further , and bring the music he believed in , to the attention of a wider audience .

The Crow and The Jelly Beans happened to be recordings that had become popular , and he gained the rights to issue them .

It is unlikely that the releases made any money : more to the point , It is highly likely that the whole Roght On venture will have lost money .

Malc

Edited September 10, 2010 by Malc Burton

[Guest]

Well Malc(We might have our first lovers tiff here ) Iremember him writing in the B&S just how well The Crow had sold and l think the word thousands was used...

Lovers' Tiff ? I will give you a clip round the earhole when I see you on October 23rd

The Crow DID sell well Phil , but whatever number were shifted across the counter , it will not have outweighed the outlay .

Anyway , any money that was / may have been made , will have been put back into subsequent - and less successful - releases on the label .

Malc

Edited September 10, 2010 by Malc Burton

[Mick Howard]

I've just managed to scan some more Echoes extracts but before posting them can someone tell me how to ensure they appear the right way up 'cos they are sideways again.

Cheers.

Mick

[macca]

I don't think it's a case of rose tinted spectacles at all. People are just fondly remembering how much of an impact these articles had on their youth. What's so wrong with that? Most of us remember the sordid stuff only too well, the barb scourge and the overdoses that came with it, the deaths of friends along the way, the unscrupulous individuals knowingly knocking out strychnine laced blues, the record thieves, the coat thieves (are you on here you bastard!?), the dodgy roll you in bogs types, the criminal kind in general, morally and ethically challenged promoters ignoring fire regulations in order to pack a hundred morein, the locking of fire escapes, the whole week spent recovering from the excess till the nxt onslaught, academic failure at 16 and the doors closed as a result etc, etc. Regrets, I have a few, but then again, too few to mention, bla, bla, bla...

[Guest]

I don't think it's a case of rose tinted spectacles at all. People are just fondly remembering how much of an impact these articles had on their youth. What's so wrong with that? Most of us remember the sordid stuff only too well, the barb scourge and the overdoses that came with it, the deaths of friends along the way, the unscrupulous individuals knowingly knocking out strychnine laced blues, the record thieves, the coat thieves (are you on here you bastard!?), the dodgy roll you in bogs types, the criminal kind in general, morally and ethically challenged promoters ignoring fire regulations in order to pack a hundred morein, the locking of fire escapes, the whole week spent recovering from the excess till the nxt onslaught, academic failure at 16 and the doors closed as a result etc, etc. Regrets, I have a few, but then again, too few to mention, bla, bla, bla...

Quite rightly so : to take poetic license from Fiddler's Dram , it was not always a case of " Didn't we have a lovely time the day we went to Bangor,..... A beautiful day , we had lunch on the way , and all for under a pound you know " .

Malc

[Mick Howard]

I've just managed to scan some more Echoes extracts but before posting them can someone tell me how to ensure they appear the right way up 'cos they are sideways again.

Cheers.

Mick

O.K. so no ones come back to me on this so I'll just post this sideways. Another 'footsteps' & 'ramblings' from January 1985.Enjoy

Mick

[Chalky]

 

Here you go Mick, should be the right way round....open the scan in a photo editing program and there should be in image or tools an option to rotate the image. If not just post them up or e-mail me and I'll sort for you.

 

[Guest]

Here you go Mick, should be the right way round.....

According to the page , Tony Clayton was 48 in 1985 .

I know it is Sunday , but b***ocks , TC was in his mid 50s at the start of the 80s

Malc

[Neil Rushton]

I think the Cleethorpes piece was, as previously mentioned, at least a double page spread with pics. I think it was this one that broke the story of James Fountain going for 250 sovs. Anybody know the date it was published? I think it may have been early 76 as I'm sure I was still at school. B&S and Black Echoes were a part of growing up, like the cassettes we recorded at venues and listened to in the '5th year common room' at school, to the bemusement of teaching staff and fellow pupils. Yet another thing that set us apart.

I was the first staff (ie full time) writer for Echoes. The first issue was dated January 30 1976 (my 22nd birthday) and contained a big spread about the Northern scene by me.

The Cleethorpes piece followed , and again it was writen by me..

Peter Harvey was the editor and loved the idea of the Northern scene, and came up to Cleethorpes for the article, and had a great time. I used to play him tapes at the Echoes office in Newman Street in the West End (just a couple of streets away from Blues & Soul in Hanway Street) with all the big tracks on, and his favourite was "Lord What Happened" - Kenny Smith. We got the Cleethorpes piece in the next issue which meant going straight from Cleethorpes back home to the Midlands, and getting a newspaper photographer there to develop the photos taken at the All-Nighter so Pete could take them the next day to the printers in Bedford

Pete was a lovely man and died in tragic circumstances in the 80's..

Neil

[macca]

Great stuff. Young journos today don't know how easy they've got it with digital photography, smartphones and e-mail!

[Mick Howard]

I was the first staff (ie full time) writer for Echoes. The first issue was dated January 30 1976 (my 22nd birthday) and contained a big spread about the Northern scene by me.

The Cleethorpes piece followed , and again it was writen by me..

Peter Harvey was the editor and loved the idea of the Northern scene, and came up to Cleethorpes for the article, and had a great time. I used to play him tapes at the Echoes office in Newman Street in the West End (just a couple of streets away from Blues & Soul in Hanway Street) with all the big tracks on, and his favourite was "Lord What Happened" - Kenny Smith. We got the Cleethorpes piece in the next issue which meant going straight from Cleethorpes back home to the Midlands, and getting a newspaper photographer there to develop the photos taken at the All-Nighter so Pete could take them the next day to the printers in Bedford

Pete was a lovely man and died in tragic circumstances in the 80's..

Neil

Neil

Great info. Thanks.

I missed your initial articles as it was 5 or 6 months before I went to my first all nighter and 'discovered' the scene.

Mick

P.S. Got your book - great....

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

According to the page , Tony Clayton was 48 in 1985 .

I know it is Sunday , but b***ocks , TC was in his mid 50s at the start of the 80s

Malc

Malc can i just point out that some --"T.C.,S are just approaching 53!!!!!

[Goldsoul]

A few corrections to various postings.

1. Paul Philips the guy who ran Echoes and still has shares in it today is NOT the same guy who presents for Solar. Neither is he hitmaker behind DRIVER 67......different PP.

2. I should be ashamed, but what the hell. I first played Daylight Saving Time in 1974 at the Casino not Russ. He had enough on his plate dealing with Simon Soussan! lol

The venue found itself adoring The Javells , then Gary Lewis fom Richard(played as a joke by him). The dismay

on my face at the lack of dance floor action to my then 'exclusives' such as Ernie Marbray, Vernon Greene, Calvin Grayson and The Fabulous Jades-I'll Be So Happy, led me

to believe, albeit temporarily, that to win the crowd over, it had to sound like Keith's 1967 side!

Tony Cummings works at a Christian Radio station. He joined us for the Casino 30th Anniversary in 2003 at the Kings Hall,Stoke.

Kev

Edited September 12, 2010 by The Golden 101

[Mick Howard]

Hopefully I've figured out how to get these extracts the right way up so here's the last of the ones I have....

Mick

[shelly]

A/ Not a coat nicker

B/Didn't sit in the bogs to rip people off- at the Torch that was Desi's territory and there was only room for one in that pit.

C/Too busy dancing and enjoying myself to get involved -intentionally.

D/Couldn't escape it, there are threads re the walk from Mr M's to the Main Room at Wigan, 100% crooks, depends where you come from,some places are more infamous and have a propensity for crime more than others.

E/From 69 till 76 never went to a nighter without gear and /or some way of getting it, don't think I ever met anyone straight,

F/Met Dave Godin at Wigan and a few other places, thought he was a sound guy , if a little different, but he lost a load with Right On.

Lastly, read Andrew Wilson's book - Northern Soul Music, Drugs and the sub cultural identity which echoes my views,

all of which are me looking fondly back to great times and adventures with reality which meant both good and bad deeds

Lastly, left school at 18 and went to University

Don't regret one minute except for selling Pirelli's and keeping Daps

[Vynilhound]

Thats interesting Neil, as I worked as a printer at Bedford County Press, at the time it was printed and I remember talking to you about the scene in the comp room as the paper was being put togeather, and it just shows how the memory goes with age as I would have sworn it was around 1975, but you must be right. That means I only had another year on the scene before getting married!! Enjoyed your book, all the best, Andy

I was the first staff (ie full time) writer for Echoes. The first issue was dated January 30 1976 (my 22nd birthday) and contained a big spread about the Northern scene by me.

The Cleethorpes piece followed , and again it was writen by me..

Peter Harvey was the editor and loved the idea of the Northern scene, and came up to Cleethorpes for the article, and had a great time. I used to play him tapes at the Echoes office in Newman Street in the West End (just a couple of streets away from Blues & Soul in Hanway Street) with all the big tracks on, and his favourite was "Lord What Happened" - Kenny Smith. We got the Cleethorpes piece in the next issue which meant going straight from Cleethorpes back home to the Midlands, and getting a newspaper photographer there to develop the photos taken at the All-Nighter so Pete could take them the next day to the printers in Bedford

Pete was a lovely man and died in tragic circumstances in the 80's..

Neil