How Has The Northernsoul Scene Changed Since Getting Older?

[ImberBoy]

Apart from the obvious aches and pains due to the ravages of time, How has the Northernsoul Scene changed since getting older?

[ImberBoy]

For me personally I have travelled on a journey remembering the carrier bag of cassettes I treasured as a young man in 1979 playing them to death with not much of an idea what I was listening to.

The decline of The Casino and the new wave of Soulies and a magic underground Nighter Scene was brilliant to say the least.

CD's and sleeve notes both informed me and increased my knowledge but it also made me feel as if a great secret was being told and that kinda made me a snob?

[Len]

The f*ckin' internet! - Ruined it as far as I'm concerned! Anyone can buy a record off 'e' bay. Like all of society - Anything is accessible now at the touch of a button as long as you can afford it! - No soul in that!

All the best,

Len.

P.s - There are positives ref the internet of course (Ahem) Soul-source has been brilliant for info and keeping us all in touch.

Edited April 28, 2012 by LEN

[Len]

I think the dancing has got a little slower as well....Also I'm pretty sure there's a lot less hair about! lol

All the best,

Len

[Len]

P.s - Nothing wrong with being a 'snob' mate - You're just trying to keep standards up really, that's all.

Len.

[Guest allnightandy]

I think the dancing has got a little slower as well....Also I'm pretty sure there's a lot less hair about! lol

All the best,

Len

And the bowling shirts have gotten tighter !

[Guest Ganders]

As a young soulie I find it all just fab! Soul nights I have frequentened are brilliant x

[Mark S]

More political more divided more genre,s , still fun though and forty years in still learning and hearing new stuff

[dthedrug]

HI ALL.....Over the 40+ years of going to soul all-nighters, there have been quite a few changes, some of which I tend to moan about on soulsource, and other that are inevitable,

The early days from 68 to 72 were great for some of us, who wanted just to get away from the norms and routine Saturday night going out to a Dancehall, even though I had a lot of good nights, doing just that,

For me the early scene was taboo to most, and thinking about it, most did not even no it existed, as because of it's main core requirements, that most underground scenes have,(if not all) the people who attended them, were all trusted with the old crimanal codes, rule 1, dont GRASS, 2, only tell those who can be trusted, and so on,

As the All-night Scene, was based around the MOD SCENE & that was based on the WEST INDIAN (Jamaican House Clubs) the purposs remained of it's funcyion & purpose, the main one was a place to go, and use illiciit drugs, at the end of the 60s you could associate what drugs went with certain types of music, like the Jazz clubs in SOHO that I ventured into, like Ronnie Scotts, the drug of choice was Heroin, as the buzz off opiates fits in with how most of the music was played, so typicaly JAZZ is lacking in dramatic break changes and is more sophisticated and almost flat, just like the drug, the Underground music of progresive rock, was based around drugs that alterd the perseption such as LSD, Psychodelia was for all tence and purpose, the death of the Mod scene that was in the main a R&B Scene mixing the music changes from the USA & JA, and was a stimulant based scene, the end of the 60s saw the a regection of most overground music scenes, and depending on the demagraphics most people who were 18 years or younger used many of the MOD traights but were more obsesive in every thing thay did, so REGGAE was in, and in the places where there was no black community so to speak, the obsession off going a lot deeper into the old MOD music, was to be the starting piont,

So the core ingredeants of the scene was BLACK music & DRUG taking, youths that would poke you in the eye just incase you were thinking or by being in ther vision, All infomation about the scene was by word of mouth, and there is not much evedance today that the youth sub culture of the 68/69 period even existed at all, considering how it is looked back on today, and what goes exist was never captured by the media, only the negative side off this time has been carried foreward, by any actavist who wants, to paint a picture of a right wing sociaty, when it was the complets oppersit, with the media tag SKINHEADS,

My piont being this if you say to some one the word VEITNAM, It's still veiwed by the vast majority as what the US media prtrayed in every film, nothing about the 35 years of peace that exists in this democratic country?

So The first massive change was how it started out, the porpose of the scene, and it's almost masonic structure to protect it?

With the closeing of the Torch in March 73, the underground elietist drug fueled all nighters had gone, within 24 months the whole country was WIGAN NORTHERN SOUL nuts, advertised and spoke about, attended by those who thought it was hip or the youngsters who fely the urge to do what the big lads had done, this was to change the scene, forever, at first it was a bad for people like myself, and the police soon busted me? but for most people on this site it was the long personal journy of what has become there lives, and as such they can offer a differant perspective on the scene, of course I could add loads to this, but again, my grammer and spelling mistakes must make it hard to read for the majority of the time, so again I am sorry for this issue, DAVE

[kevinsoulman]

HI ALL.....Over the 40+ years of going to soul all-nighters, there have been quite a few changes, some of which I tend to moan about on soulsource, and other that are inevitable,

The early days from 68 to 72 were great for some of us, who wanted just to get away from the norms and routine Saturday night going out to a Dancehall, even though I had a lot of good nights, doing just that,

For me the early scene was taboo to most, and thinking about it, most did not even no it existed, as because of it's main core requirements, that most underground scenes have,(if not all) the people who attended them, were all trusted with the old crimanal codes, rule 1, dont GRASS, 2, only tell those who can be trusted, and so on,

As the All-night Scene, was based around the MOD SCENE & that was based on the WEST INDIAN (Jamaican House Clubs) the purposs remained of it's funcyion & purpose, the main one was a place to go, and use illiciit drugs, at the end of the 60s you could associate what drugs went with certain types of music, like the Jazz clubs in SOHO that I ventured into, like Ronnie Scotts, the drug of choice was Heroin, as the buzz off opiates fits in with how most of the music was played, so typicaly JAZZ is lacking in dramatic break changes and is more sophisticated and almost flat, just like the drug, the Underground music of progresive rock, was based around drugs that alterd the perseption such as LSD, Psychodelia was for all tence and purpose, the death of the Mod scene that was in the main a R&B Scene mixing the music changes from the USA & JA, and was a stimulant based scene, the end of the 60s saw the a regection of most overground music scenes, and depending on the demagraphics most people who were 18 years or younger used many of the MOD traights but were more obsesive in every thing thay did, so REGGAE was in, and in the places where there was no black community so to speak, the obsession off going a lot deeper into the old MOD music, was to be the starting piont,

So the core ingredeants of the scene was BLACK music & DRUG taking, youths that would poke you in the eye just incase you were thinking or by being in ther vision, All infomation about the scene was by word of mouth, and there is not much evedance today that the youth sub culture of the 68/69 period even existed at all, considering how it is looked back on today, and what goes exist was never captured by the media, only the negative side off this time has been carried foreward, by any actavist who wants, to paint a picture of a right wing sociaty, when it was the complets oppersit, with the media tag SKINHEADS,

My piont being this if you say to some one the word VEITNAM, It's still veiwed by the vast majority as what the US media prtrayed in every film, nothing about the 35 years of peace that exists in this democratic country?

So The first massive change was how it started out, the porpose of the scene, and it's almost masonic structure to protect it?

With the closeing of the Torch in March 73, the underground elietist drug fueled all nighters had gone, within 24 months the whole country was WIGAN NORTHERN SOUL nuts, advertised and spoke about, attended by those who thought it was hip or the youngsters who fely the urge to do what the big lads had done, this was to change the scene, forever, at first it was a bad for people like myself, and the police soon busted me? but for most people on this site it was the long personal journy of what has become there lives, and as such they can offer a differant perspective on the scene, of course I could add loads to this, but again, my grammer and spelling mistakes must make it hard to read for the majority of the time, so again I am sorry for this issue, DAVE

BUGGER THE GRAMMAR & SPELLING DAVE GET HOOKED UP WITH SOMEONE AND WRITE A BOOK MAN

I CAN RECALL VERY LITTLE FROM WIGAN AND NEVER TOUCHED ANYTHING I LLEGAL

BUT I LOVE YOUR POSTS /STORIES

KEV

[Godzilla]

One thing I've noticed is the attempt by one solitary member of Soul Source to rename the scene "The Northernsoul scene".

To be honest, I actually admire his perseverance in the face of complete disinterest from the rest of the known universe

[dthedrug]

Hi ALL my motto is call a spade a spade., even though, I can remember what it was like, when traveling 'UP T NORTH' on my Todd, many times doing a ALL Dayer afterwards? back in 1973/4, when the word was a descriptive word, and neatly parcelled the whole 48 hours up for me, the word does not cause me worries, if anybody gets embarrassed, by the term well. it reminds me of a BANK HOLIDAY in 1969. WHEN ABOUT 70 OF US HAD NO PLACE TO KIP.

So we were at Gt Yarmouth and all headed for the all night cafe on the Bridge, when we all noticed the railway sidings, and about 6 cattle trucks each truck had about 20+ of us in , that was 20+SKINHEADS, Trying to KIP, when some let rip of the loudest and longest fart of the night, so what! well 1 individual Raymond Coulter from LETCHWORTH, got all embarrassed and was trying to make the person who owned the fart to apologize, again so what I hear you mutter.

The moral of this tale is simple as in a flash he was christened old mummy boy Coulter, and 2 minutes later after receiving a swift kicking he was thrown straight out of the cattle truck.

Personally I always will use the term NORTHERN SOUL. as there is no other word that I care to use. and those people that have used the scene to play their DISCO SOUL on should remember what that music did for those who attended the original scene at the events CHRISS HILL put on at Canvey Island, that man never got embarrassed by words? remember RENTA SANTA I am just sticking up for that 1 individual, that you did not name DAVID ANDREW KILWORTH

[Guest Chiefy]

What,s changed on the northern soul scene?

60,s-70,s you were living it.

Now you,r re-living it!

[Jumpinjoan]

Also I'm pretty sure there's a lot less hair about! lol

And real teeth

The one thing I've noticed (don't go lynching me as this is an observation not a criticism) is the addition of circle skirts. I was too young to go to Wigan etc (honest) and have never known people wear them to the extent they do now. Saying that, it's not the norm at the venues I attend and not a problem as such apart from when a floor is busy and I want to dance. When there is hardly any space and a load of ladies start 'twirling' I find that a little rude (not to mention dangerous lol).

Apart from that it's all good

[Len]

As a young soulie I find it all just fab! Soul nights I have frequentened are brilliant x

Sorry youth, you're far too positive - try frowning a bit more, you'll soon get negative like the rest of us.....and you can shut up Joan (Mrs Happy!) lol

.....Not sure how old you are 'Young Soulie' - But I thoroughly enjoyed using the word 'Youth', I think it's a first!

All the best mate

Len.

Edited April 30, 2012 by LEN

[Winnie :-)]

Biggest changes,

Bitching: In the old days, if you went somewhere and didn't love it, you probably wouldn't go back, and you might tell your immediate circle of friends. Nowadays, don't like somewhere, plonk it on the internet so that everyone can read a myopic view based mainly on your own experience.

Advertising: Connected to the first one, sites all over the place telling you what's on and where. Don't necessarily see this as a bad thing as it allows choice, but moving onto my final choice for change, it promotes......

The number of soul nights/nighters: Absolutely loads of them, some just aren't very good and cause those that are to suffer. If you've got something to offer, yep put one on, if you haven't, have a think about it, consider your reasons, if it's mainly so you can have a drink/dance/chat and get a taxi home, the main impact your having is negative. Whilst you're enjoying your year, eighteen months of promoting, before it all goes belly up, you may be taking away significant numbers from a venue actually making a difference, causing said venue to also fold.

[Guest MrC]

Main changes I've noticed is the majority of people have cars now, not so many people catch the train everywhere (although I do know one or two), and nobody ever seems to hitch to an all nighter!

Oh... and the drugs aren't proper pharmaceutical grade things anymore.....

Edited April 30, 2012 by MrC

[Winnie :-)]

Main changes I've noticed is the majority of people have cars now, not so many people catch the train everywhere (although I do know one or two), and nobody ever seems to hitch to an all nighter!

Oh... and the drugs aren't proper pharmaceutical grade things anymore.....

Oooh you've gone all Richard Ashcroft

[Guest MrC]

Unfortunately, those Richard Ashcroft moments are becoming far too frequent Win!

[Len]

Biggest changes,

Bitching: In the old days, if you went somewhere and didn't love it, you probably wouldn't go back, and you might tell your immediate circle of friends. Nowadays, don't like somewhere, plonk it on the internet so that everyone can read a myopic view based mainly on your own experience.

Yes, that's definitely a big difference and is sometimes a negative change, as you say Win, a review 'based on your own experience' It's like that web site that has ruined some B and B business's, can't remember what it's called but one person's bad experience can put loads of people off and it may have just been down to a clash of personalities with the proprietor.

Ref a review of a soul event, posting on the internet is the equivalent of - in the old days, having a bad night then immediately getting on the phone and calling 300 people to make sure they know! It's funny, I have a friend (Who I won't name) that, if he says a place is brilliant, I will make a point of not going and as soon as he says a place was sh*t, I'd do the complete opposite and make a point of going - Guaranteed the latter will be an absolutely brilliant night! lol

All the best,

Len.

Edited April 30, 2012 by LEN

[Spacehopper]

one good thing about the internet and todays scene is that so many good original tunes are now affordable for those who cant buy the 'monsters' from dealers..and new 'boots' are obviously boots and not lookalikes

one bad thing is too many people would rather continue to hear those same old tunes and ignore the piles of good lesser known tracks...people that years ago would have probably been shouting for new tunes...and not all of em better than todays discoveries either!

dean

[Guest micksoul]

Echoes was my gateway onto the scene pre internet , sending off for record lists and fanzines from the classifides at the back , it was always a great buzz to come home from work and find the latest midnight express or shades of soul on the doormat !

[Guest gordon russell]

And real teeth

The one thing I've noticed (don't go lynching me as this is an observation not a criticism) is the addition of circle skirts. I was too young to go to Wigan etc (honest) and have never known people wear them to the extent they do now. Saying that, it's not the norm at the venues I attend and not a problem as such apart from when a floor is busy and I want to dance. When there is hardly any space and a load of ladies start 'twirling' I find that a little rude (not to mention dangerous lol).

Apart from that it's all good

quite right joan........they were not worn in the 70's so why now?.......they would of looked great on a 17 years olds legs....but now errr.......it,s like watching ya nan lol.......new olympic sport don,t ya know syncronised dancing with teams from different countries wearing different coloured skirts........

[Geeselad]

Echoes was my gateway onto the scene pre internet , sending off for record lists and fanzines from the classifides at the back , it was always a great buzz to come home from work and find the latest midnight express or shades of soul on the doormat !

God I miss shades, nothing on the net thrills me as much as settling back with a brew and Dekka' s fanzine.

[Geeselad]

one good thing about the internet and todays scene is that so many good original tunes are now affordable for those who cant buy the 'monsters' from dealers..and new 'boots' are obviously boots and not lookalikes

one bad thing is too many people would rather continue to hear those same old tunes and ignore the piles of good lesser known tracks...people that years ago would have probably been shouting for new tunes...and not all of em better than todays discoveries either!

dean

Well said. and sadly the upfront scene is follwong the trend that the rare and oldies scenes started, everyone chasing the same tunes, anyone got a gey Imprint,LOL.

[macca]

quite right joan........they were not worn in the 70's so why now?.......they would of looked great on a 17 years olds legs....but now errr.......it,s like watching ya nan lol.......new olympic sport don,t ya know syncronised dancing with teams from different countries wearing different coloured skirts........

You'll have a load of indignant historical re-enactment buffs on yer back now.

[Pete S]

DJ's. Back in the 70's they were few and far between, about 10 people who were considered top dj's, they had all of the sounds first and people would travel to hear them. We worshipped at their feet, us mere mortals. Even now I can't believe I actually know Ian levine and Richard Searling.

Now every f*cker is a DJ...

[Guest Soultown andy]

DJ's. Back in the 70's they were few and far between, about 10 people who were considered top dj's, they had all of the sounds first and people would travel to hear them. We worshipped at their feet, us mere mortals. Even now I can't believe I actually know Ian levine and Richard Searling.

Now every f*cker is a DJ...

They think they are djs pete.Never trust a dj who can carry his whole collection in a box to venue.

[Dekka]

They think they are djs pete.Never trust a dj who can carry his whole collection in a box to venue.

I think that about sums it all up, hope your well Andy

atb

dekka

[Soulsmith]

More alcohol these days...

[Guest Soultown andy]

I think that about sums it all up, hope your well Andy

atb

dekka

Just an opinion but i know of lots of nites in the nw that have sprung up latley,were the djs involved have very limited collections.Im fine m8 hope to see you around

[Iancsloft]

Limited and mostly boots and re issues

[Guest dave nowell]

DJ's. Back in the 70's they were few and far between, about 10 people who were considered top dj's, they had all of the sounds first and people would travel to hear them. We worshipped at their feet, us mere mortals. Even now I can't believe I actually know Ian levine and Richard Searling.

Now every f*cker is a DJ...

and if they aren't a DJ they're a promoter!

or both..........................

[Ted Massey]

it isnt just the north west