Favourite Soul Appearances/ Shows Ever

[Tfk]

Got to go along with Jnr Walker and Martha Reeves Station Rd Wigan..... but never forgetting Ronnie McNeir Berwick soul weekender [Awesome singer and ace showman!!! a true professional ].... and that same day Keni Burke also made an appearance???? live at our caravan door at about 4 in the morning....but thats another tale?

ktf

tfk

Edited January 2, 2012 by tfk

[Guest Church]

I see no mention of the 8 till 8 all-nighter at The Queens Hall in Leeds (a one of) back in 1973/4(ish) - Wigan was dead that night.

Acts included Major Lance, JJ Barnes, Mel and Tim, Exciters, Impressions and GLSB all on the same night. Loads of talc used that night as it was a concrete dance floor (it being a converted tram station).

Brilliant night though - amazed how many soulies put there hands in the air when Major Lance asked if anybody present was also at the Torch when he was there.

[Soul Stu]

MAZE__MANCHESTER APOLLO

JNR WALKER__CATS WHISKERS MEANWOOD LEEDS

GLORIA JONES__WIGAN

GOOD TIMES :D

Jnr Walker was fantastic at the Cats I took Alan Rhodes

[Chris L]

Jerry Butler and Chuck Jackson at the Apollo, New York 2003.....just awesome!

Chris

Boy!! 2 artists I have always wanted to see !!

[Chris L]

Tough to choose between Garland Green and Alexander Patton in LA in 2004 as for a group performance the Del-larks and the Spellbinders were both magnificent in New Jersey in 2006 (I nearly danced)

[Soul-slider]

The first Yarmouth weekender 1989 (I think?) Chuck Jackson & H.B Barnum....both superb!

[Guest Droylsdonian]

Double bill - Temps & Jr. Walker @ Odeon, Oxford Rd, M/cr - '72 I think.

Closely followed by Betty Wright @ Casino - '75ish.

I'd like to have been able to say that I had a private performance from Tommy Hunt when I bumped into him

in a Little Chef on the East Lancs in the late '70s, but he claimed to have a cold!

[pat and cat]

Chairman of the Board at The Cats Whiskers Burnley 74 or 75, awesome!

[Steve Foran]

Maze 3 times at Manchester Apollo. Superb.

Teddy at Manchester Apollo, I am a hetrosexual male and he turned me on.

Saw Stevie Wonder at MEN Arena Manchester in 2010. Excellent.

[Mal C]

For me it's Edwin Star at the Q Club in Birmingham in the mid 9ts, Mary Love at the Kent anniversary do at the forum in Kentish town, was 08 I think, and Al Wilson at Cleethorpes in the 9ts, again cant remember the year. All standout performances, Mary Love did a really long version of 'Baby I'll come' which I know allot of folk rate very highly, Edwin Starr; well really we all know he always delivered, but standing in front of the brass he amassed at the Q Club, he did 'Time' and it literally blew me away, absolutely awesome, J.J Barnes got heckled that night as well... and Al Wilson, I thought he was something else as well, say what you want about 'The Snake', but to hear that live by the man, quality song, great singer...

Only thing I ever regret doing at a live gig is kinda heckling big frank Murphy, remember him at Cleethorpes? just came on sang and said nout, I could not help my self, it went quiet and I shouted, 'Come on Frank, Give it to us' I regret doing that but as I say it just came out... poor buggar he looked utterly startled...

Mal.C.

[Citizen P]

I see no mention of the 8 till 8 all-nighter at The Queens Hall in Leeds (a one of) back in 1973/4(ish) - Wigan was dead that night.

Acts included Major Lance, JJ Barnes, Mel and Tim, Exciters, Impressions and GLSB all on the same night. Loads of talc used that night as it was a concrete dance floor (it being a converted tram station).

Brilliant night though - amazed how many soulies put there hands in the air when Major Lance asked if anybody present was also at the Torch when he was there.

I know the tackle was good back then, but.. Brilliant??? You're having a laff!!

Been discussed on here before, and Mr. Dewhirst gave the best description I have ever heard

" The Dunkirk of the amphet generation"

Oh, and I certainly don't remember The Impressions being on

ATB

Tony

[Amsterdam Russ]

For me it has to be The Neville Brothers - Shepherd's Bush Empire, 1995.

A band of outstandingly brilliant musicians and fronted by the one and only Aaron Neville - superb!

[Winnie :-)]

For me it's Edwin Star at the Q Club in Birmingham in the mid 9ts, Mary Love at the Kent anniversary do at the forum in Kentish town, was 08 I think, and Al Wilson at Cleethorpes in the 9ts, again cant remember the year. All standout performances, Mary Love did a really long version of 'Baby I'll come' which I know allot of folk rate very highly, Edwin Starr; well really we all know he always delivered, but standing in front of the brass he amassed at the Q Club, he did 'Time' and it literally blew me away, absolutely awesome, J.J Barnes got heckled that night as well... and Al Wilson, I thought he was something else as well, say what you want about 'The Snake', but to hear that live by the man, quality song, great singer...

Only thing I ever regret doing at a live gig is kinda heckling big frank Murphy, remember him at Cleethorpes? just came on sang and said nout, I could not help my self, it went quiet and I shouted, 'Come on Frank, Give it to us' I regret doing that but as I say it just came out... poor buggar he looked utterly startled...

Mal.C.

He was the resident, they also had Steve Mancha and the contours on and a girl who's name I can't remember for some reason. Dave Rimmer would know, I thought the nighters were near the end of the nineties by the way

[Guest]

MARVIN GAYE - Southampton Gaumont

AL GREEN - Southampton Gaumont

TEDDY P - Southampton Gaumont

FOUR TOPS - Southampton Gaumont

All in mid-70s...

CURTIS MAYFIELD - Southampton Top Rank.....Totally alone, solo show with his guitar...

in mid-80s....

Seen quite a few acts at Northern Soul venues but they were not as good as these performances....

Edited March 19, 2012 by rich chorley

[Mark S]

EWF bingley hall , RIC TIC review Ritz Alldayer , Tops & Temps Free trade hall ,Gill Scot Heron at an anti aparthied rally in the early 80s .

[Geoffp]

Best Martha Reeves Wigan 1970 something [ one way out ]

Worst Lou Ragland Morecambe pier 1990 something. [ let me out ]

[Guest southpaw]

The Falcons Northampton Sonny Monroe was Fantastic.

Edited March 19, 2012 by southpaw

[Soulfinger]

Gill Scot Heron at an anti aparthied rally in the early 80s .

If it was the one in Hyde Park - I agree. Gil was on top form that day.

Eddie Floyd - The International Manchester

Bobby Womack - The International Manchester

Curtis Mayfield - The Hacienda

Gil Scott Heron - The International 2

Bobby Womack - The International 2

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Southport

All early eighties

Four Tops - The Odeon Manchester 1972

Marvin Gaye - Liverpool Empire 1976

Al Green - The Apollo a couple of years ago.

BeBe and CeCe Winans - Somewhere in Oldham 1990 ish

[Guest allnightandy]

Edwin Starr @ Wigan and the following day at The Ritz back in 75or 76

[p0stscript]

Edwin Starr @ Wigan and the following day at The Ritz back in 75or 76

best unexpected treat was seeing Edwin Starr sing at an Amway meeting some friends took us to at Birmingham around 1992

[Guest dicklincoln72]

Has to be Al Green on his first tour at the Aquarius Club Lincoln December 1971, also anyone old enough to remember seeing Herbie Goins and the Night Timers back in the 60's would have had a great night.

[Tfk]

Got to go along with Jnr Walker and Martha Reeves Station Rd Wigan..... but never forgetting Ronnie McNeir Berwick soul weekender [Awesome singer and ace showman!!! a true professional ].... and that same day Keni Burke also made an appearance???? live at our caravan door at about 4 in the morning....but thats another tale?

ktf

tfk

here we go- Sam Dees....various UK venues..1990s

And striaght to the top of favourite Soul appearance ever:-

Lee Fields and The Expressions Glasgow 02ABC -6th April 2012

Edited April 7, 2012 by tfk

[Guest allnightandy]

Anybody remember Ian Levine turning up at Wigan one night in about 1976 with

L J Johnston (your magic put a spell on me )

Barbara Pennington (Running in another direction)

Evelyn Thomas (Weakspot)

For a miming contest ?

[Guest mickeyfish58]

does sweet sensation count? saw em at bolton navada in late 70s................................................

[Guest mickeyfish58]

Anybody remember Ian Levine turning up at Wigan one night in about 1976 with

L J Johnston (your magic put a spell on me )

Barbara Pennington (Running in another direction)

Evelyn Thomas (Weakspot)

For a miming contest ?

miming or MINING

[Guest allnightandy]

miming or MINING

Gold Mining !

[Gilly]

For me it has to be Major Lance at the 76 Club, Burton-upon-Trent, sometime in the early seventies. Such a tiny venue with a stage no higher than two foot. Then a week or so later they had J J Barnes. Happy days

I remember them,can you recall a black guy getting up on that 6" stage with JJ his name is Locksley Naulty from B O T

[Guest Nick Harrison]

Got to go along with Jnr Walker and Martha Reeves Station Rd Wigan..... but never forgetting Ronnie McNeir Berwick soul weekender [Awesome singer and ace showman!!! a true professional ].... and that same day Keni Burke also made an appearance???? live at our caravan door at about 4 in the morning....but thats another tale?

ktf

tfk

Indeed it was another tale Andy ?? Headed back down north to the Carleton Club in Warrington for more of Ronnie McNeir on the sunday evening. And talking of little room PA`s lets not loose the sight of Sam Dee's, Jesse James,Bobby Patterson ,Mary Love Comer,Willie Clayton, Latimore, Tashan, Lou Pride,Randy Brown, Leroy Hutson and the main room duet of Glen Jones and Genobia Jeter "RCA unrecorded magic".

Phylis Hymas, Jean Carn with Will Downing.................. turning it up. And not forgetting James King - need I go on ..................... great days indeed.

TFK all the best,

Respect

Nick H

[Davenpete]

Dells at Trentham Gardens. Awesome show.

Should have been SO much better - some dickhead had got to them prior to the show and told them NOT to do their up tempo stuff which is why they didn't perform a lot of the stuff that you'd expect at a northern event (which I understand they had intended to build into their show more than usual) - he was boasting about how he was ensuring us philistines got to hear 'proper' soul music back stage later on (and I don't care WHO you are - you were STILL a dickhead for persuading them not to perform the stuff the crowd wanted).

Best live performance BY FAR I ever saw was Ray Pollard on the Tuesday at the 100 Club first time he came over (much better than the Great Yarmouth weekender the following weekend) - SUCH a lovely unassuming guy, no showmanship, just pottered on stage, opened his mouth and out it came - staggering.

The Originals were fabulous and incredibly well rehearsed - Terry and Hank Dixon have such stunning voices (Terry sang us a lullabye she wrote for her son later on - she has the most exquisite crystal clear voice) - though Freddy Gorman was an arrogant git and his wife Doddi is a pig.

Dx

Edited April 9, 2012 by DaveNPete

[Steve G]

Should have been SO much better - some dickhead had got to them prior to the show and told them NOT to do their up tempo stuff which is why they didn't perform a lot of the stuff that you'd expect at a northern event (which I understand they had intended to build into their show more than usual) - he was boasting about how he was ensuring us philistines got to hear 'proper' soul music back stage later on (and I don't care WHO you are - you were STILL a dickhead for persuading them not to perform the stuff the crowd wanted).

Best live performance BY FAR I ever saw was Ray Pollard on the Thursday at the 100 Club first time he came over (much better than the Great Yarmouth weekender) - SUCH a lovely unassuming guy, no showmanship, just pottered on stage, opened his mouth and out it came - staggering.

The Originals were fabulous - Terry and Hank Dixon have such stunning voices (Terry sang us a lullabye she wrote for her son later on - she has the most exquisite crystal clear voice) - though Freddy Gorman was an arrogant git and his wife Doddi is a pig.

Dx

Where did you boys hear this about the Dells? First time I have ever heard of it. Who was it then backstage saying this?

In fact.....the reality is surely that The Dells had a set stage show that they always do as a set routine - all their big hits and classics. I thought I heard that someone asked that they include some of their northern material in their set which they did do a bit of. But it's down to the group and the promotor to agree what gets performed I would have thought, not this mysterious backstage 'dickhead" that you talk about. Anyway plenty of us went to hear things like "Standing Ovation" etc.

I don't know Freddie Gorman or his wife, so cannot comment on them....although they did a pretty good show at Richard Searling's 50th at the Ritz.

[Davenpete]

Don't know his name (he was a Londoner), anyway he was not 'one of ours' - as for hear about it - it's coz I was there back stage after their performance talking to the git and yes I DO know it was their standard set more or less, but by all accounts (as noted above) they had intended to tailor it to the crowd and were disuaded by this guy.

Freddie was awkward all weekend - and didn't even mix with the rest of the group, who are the nicest people you could meet.

Dx

Edited April 9, 2012 by DaveNPete

[Guest manusf3a]

Gino Washington at st Ives 1976 or 77(hazy recall) I dont think it was just me but the atmosphere was brilliant that night.

[Tfk]

Indeed it was another tale Andy ?? Headed back down north to the Carleton Club in Warrington for more of Ronnie McNeir on the sunday evening. And talking of little room PA`s lets not loose the sight of Sam Dee's, Jesse James,Bobby Patterson ,Mary Love Comer,Willie Clayton, Latimore, Tashan, Lou Pride,Randy Brown, Leroy Hutson and the main room duet of Glen Jones and Genobia Jeter "RCA unrecorded magic".

Phylis Hymas, Jean Carn with Will Downing.................. turning it up. And not forgetting James King - need I go on ..................... great days indeed.

TFK all the best,

Respect

Nick H

Hiya Nick hope alls good and your keeping well... seems a long time ago mate- but great great times for sure! hey back then we just took most weekends for granted ? but looking back now how lucky were we to see these amazing artists [yep Sam Dees and Mary Love at the weekender/Jesse James at The Hull alldayer].. its all flooding back Nick -had forgot all about James King biggie [ JK was former lead vocalist with The Futures back in the day ???? ], i can remember first hearing his Memorys on Richard Searlings radio show and chasing RS to the ends of the earth to try and obtain a copy of "Memorys"...sorry Andy just have the Diamond Acetate but will give you the first refusal if i sell it ???? but it is imminent for a release on Expansion records ....hey had to make do with a test press...but yes JK over to the UK to promote his latest release/how good was that....what venue was he on at????

You stiil out and about Nick ??

best

Andy

ktf and right on right on ...tfk

Edited April 21, 2012 by tfk

[Guest Nick Harrison]

Hiya Nick hope alls good and your keeping well... seems a long time ago mate- but great great times for sure! hey back then we just took most weekends for granted ? but looking back now how lucky were we to see these amazing artists [yep Sam Dees and Mary Love at the weekender/Jesse James at The Hull alldayer].. its all flooding back Nick -had forgot all about James King biggie [ JK was former lead vocalist with The Futures back in the day ???? ], i can remember first hearing his Memorys on Richard Searlings radio show and chasing RS to the ends of the earth to try and obtain a copy of "Memorys"...sorry Andy just have the Diamond Acetate but will give you the first refusal if i sell it ???? but it is imminent for a release on Expansion records ....hey had to make do with a test press...but yes JK over to the UK to promote his latest release/how good was that....what venue was he on at????

You stiil out and about Nick ??

best

Andy

ktf and right on right on ...tfk

Hey Up Andy,

Thanks for the reply Andy - indeed every weekend was taken for granted with the Godfrey's the Shirley's and the TKF's . Do you still own the James King test pressing, but like my out and about - let's keep a lid on it .

Keep in touch.

Nick H .

[Tfk]

Hey Up Andy,

Thanks for the reply Andy - indeed every weekend was taken for granted with the Godfrey's the Shirley's and the TKF's . Do you still own the James King test pressing, but like my out and about - let's keep a lid on it .

Keep in touch.

Nick H .

Hi Nick.....no probs mate yep great weekends in great company[ have some photos about somewere ]....yep still have the JK T.P .... ...it defo caught my imagination back then..mmmm wonder what RS did with that acetate. still cant remember were James .King did his PA...

ktf tfk

Edited April 21, 2012 by tfk

[Guest Nick Harrison]

still cant remember were James .King did his PA...

Morning,

Mr Searling had James King's P A in the soul room at the Southport Weekender and later that nite he did a P A of "It's Not For The Memories" at the carleton all nighter in Morecambe, in the main hall as Richard was also dee jaying there. At the time the Carleton was promoted by Shaun Gibbons. Lots left the weekender that Saturday nite to support James at Morecambe and returned back to Southport at around 8.00 am sunday morning for the final day of weekend maddness. :rofl: .

Cheers,

Nick H

Edited April 22, 2012 by Nick Harrison

[jocko]

Don't know his name (he was a Londoner), anyway he was not 'one of ours' - as for hear about it - it's coz I was there back stage after their performance talking to the git and yes I DO know it was their standard set more or less, but by all accounts (as noted above) they had intended to tailor it to the crowd and were disuaded by this guy.

Freddie was awkward all weekend - and didn't even mix with the rest of the group, who are the nicest people you could meet.

Dx

And you don't think being arrogant enough to think you should be able tell the Dells to sing "Northern" is an equally dickhead like attitude.

Absolutely fu**king unbelievable and a good example of just how little some Northern based people get the bigger picture outside their world, one of the funniest on here, although as always funny because of the inability to see how stupid the statement is.

Let's see how the conversation goes,

Yes Marvin sing something Northern, no I don't mean NY or Detroit I mean Wigan......... Welll no its not really that easy to explain now you ask Marvin, oh f**k it just sing what my narrow minded British taste dictates, not any of the masterpieces you have been wowing Black American crowds with for the the last 40 years.Clear??

Unbelievable but a good example of why so many artists over years singing at Northern based events have been nowhere near as good as you expect.

[jocko]

In answer to actual question Probably Ashford & SImpson recent Birmingham weekender as always been my top act to see, probably past their best and certainly inhibited by surroundings but still magnificent.

Honorable mentions tp Bobby Womack Edinburgh 1984, Teddy Pendergrass early 80's Edinburgh, Maze Manchester 1984ish and Ruffin/Kendricks 90's not because they were anything like their best, they weren't, but good enough to imagine just how soul music would have sounded at its peak,

Kindred 3 times in last 7 years, as good as anything back in the day, and good proof that Soul music, not Northern, cannot be beat live.

Wish I could remember all the the Southport acts. so many great ones but memories are blurred by the times! Probably Dramatics were the best there?

[Tfk]

Hi Nick.....no probs mate yep great weekends in great company[ have some photos about somewere ]....yep still have the JK T.P .... ...it defo caught my imagination back then..mmmm wonder what RS did with that acetate. still cant remember were James .King did his PA...

ktf tfk

Evening Nick

Hope alls good bud,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, well i never>>>>>>.....this wee blitter on t bay at mo......

best

tfk

https://cgi.ebay.co.u...E:B:WNA:GB:1123

Edited May 3, 2012 by tfk

[Soulman58]

In no particular order, acts that have stirred my love for all things soulful at live events.

Four Tops/Detroit Spinners - Hammersmioth Odeon

Sam Dees/Johhny Bristol - Jazz Cafe

Bobby Womack - Hammersmith Odeon

Terry Callier - Jazz Cafe

Betty Wright - Wigan

Phyllis Hyman - Dominion Theatre

Mille Jackson - Hammersmith Odeon

Otis Clay - Town & Country Club

Gladys Knight - Hammersmith Odeon

[21 Again]

Lou Rawls in Edinburgh fantastic voice and entertainer another legend sadly missed. Bobby Womacks poet tour and Maze at the Playhouse were also outstanding.