Djing - Clear The Floor - Question

[Guest dundeedavie]

I dont know any promoters (or djs/collectors) . How does it work. Is the promoter like a boss ? . Does he decide the music policy ? Are some djs promoters ? How does it work

I'm a promoter and one of the resident dj's... We as a club have decided the music policy( we are an R&B club but play a lot of 60's northern), we have also decided the format(OVO, non negotiable) and to answer the question yes we are the Boss and anyone who has ever dj'd for me will tell you that.

The easy way however to be the boss is to book people who know what they are doing, so on the night all I have to do is monitor the dj change over times ie getting them to depart the decks when they are supposed to, make sure they can work the mixer etc if I have to be heavy handed then i will but I very very rarely do

[Speedlimit]

here we go this all boils down to the sad state the scene is in in the early days of our scene every record was a new record and everyone danced then the unthinkable happened , the casino closed for good !!!!!!! shock horror the scene died and anything played anywhere else was not soul ? yeah right the people who whinge about new records being play need to get a grip on reality it's what the scene is about, yea new records may not fill a floor on first play anymore but that doesn't mean people aint listening and enjoying them. stick with them or the scene will truley die, the people that complain are the same one's with bags covered in patches of places the never went to . nuff said

:ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy:

[Frankie M]

So, this is the 'offending' playlist, albeit not in the order you actually played them, as you stated on the other thread.

I find it hard to believe that these would kill a dancefloor.

Follow Your Heart - Bunny Sigler - Parkway

I Need You - Shane Martin - Epic

This Man - Wally Cox - Scepter (Argentina)

You've Been A Long Time Coming - Mitchell Braithwaite - ABC Probe (DJ)

Somebody, Somewhere Needs You - Ike and Tina Turner - Warner Brothers (DJ)

He Broke Your Game Wide Open - Frank Dell - Valise Records

Fool To Fool - Shep - TNT (DJ)

I Watched You Slowly Slip Away - Lou Courtney - Phillips (3rd Take)

Way Over There - Edwin Star - Tamla Motown

I Can't Seem To Get You Out of My Mind - Four Tops - Tamla Motown

Running Back And Forth - Edwin Star - Tamla Motown

People That's Why - Idle Few - Blue Book

I Only Get This Feeling - Chuck Jackson - ABC

In The Long Run - Curtis Blandon - Wand (DJ)

Let's Spend Some Time Together - Larry Houston - HFMP

Somebody I Know - Wales Wallace - BRC

I'll Be Around - Doug Parkinson - Southern Star

Like Her - Gentlemen and Their Lady - Roulette (DJ)

Captain of My Ship - Seventh Wonder - WG

I Surrender - Eddie Holman - ABC

Sensitive Mind General Assembly - Desiree (DJ)

My Heart Needs A Break - Linda Jones - Loma.

[Frankie M]

I Clear floors on a regular basis ,thats why i am still a warm up man /trainee aged 57,seriously though people will dance when they want to and to whatever sound they want to dance too ,i believe

there is no science at all to this ,but still great to "break" new sounds as there would never have been a scene today like it is

[Bazza]

Very often when most folk are walking off the floor .im the one walking on to floor ,I would pisssed if the Dj cut a record half way through

If you don't clear the floor now and then ,you're playing it to safe

Bazza

[Guest chorleybloke]

I caught up with John Vincent on a recent trip to UK (Feb this year) and he was telling me how he cleared the floor at Wigan with Lou Pride "Morning". Can there be a better example of how important it is to have faith in your set selections?

Cheers

Pete

[Guest]

Here I am agreeing with Len again.Was going to 'Do's' and requesting records. Asked for Frankie Valli 'youre ready now' and it started a a manhunt by the DJ's to see if anybody had it anywhere, one was flown in and it packed the floor.Went to other venue's and asked for others, 'Reaching' the Marvellettes, then 'two can have a party' marvin & Tammi and I get told, I'm not playing 'sh*t like that mate. and my sister in law loves 'wade in the water' and she gets told the same. So I thought sod it I'm going to have a go-even though venue's are folding all around. I got 3 smashing blokes with me who remember how it was before some Dj's forgot their roots. We start on the 1st of December and I hope to god some people come, otherwise thats my kids inheritance gone.

Mellytee please don't put yourself down as a 'handbagger' I could be called a BiHandbagger as I like Northern and Motown.If we enjoy ourselves and it doesn't hurt anybody else, then we shouldn't be persecuted for it.

[Len]

Here I am agreeing with Len again.Was going to 'Do's' and requesting records. Asked for Frankie Valli 'youre ready now' and it started a a manhunt by the DJ's to see if anybody had it anywhere, one was flown in and it packed the floor.Went to other venue's and asked for others, 'Reaching' the Marvellettes, then 'two can have a party' marvin & Tammi and I get told, I'm not playing 'sh*t like that mate. and my sister in law loves 'wade in the water' and she gets told the same. So I thought sod it I'm going to have a go-even though venue's are folding all around. I got 3 smashing blokes with me who remember how it was before some Dj's forgot their roots. We start on the 1st of December and I hope to god some people come, otherwise thats my kids inheritance gone.

Mellytee please don't put yourself down as a 'handbagger' I could be called a BiHandbagger as I like Northern and Motown.If we enjoy ourselves and it doesn't hurt anybody else, then we shouldn't be persecuted for it.

I don't think anyone is persecuting anyone who comes out to enjoy themselves no matter how much or how little they know. It's the D.J's that get persecuted by the arrogant ones that don't actually listen - They are a different breed to normal people that just come out for a good time and they are so blo*dy vocal it can spread like propaganda.

All the best,

Len

Edited October 18, 2012 by LEN

[TOAD]

why should djs play requests thats one reason the scene has gone stale !

[Speedlimit]

have to agree there wiyh you len , those who moan are a different breed to those whom actually do listen and come to enjoy themselves

[Chalky]

Here I am agreeing with Len again.Was going to 'Do's' and requesting records. Asked for Frankie Valli 'youre ready now' and it started a a manhunt by the DJ's to see if anybody had it anywhere, one was flown in and it packed the floor.Went to other venue's and asked for others, 'Reaching' the Marvellettes, then 'two can have a party' marvin & Tammi and I get told, I'm not playing 'sh*t like that mate. and my sister in law loves 'wade in the water' and she gets told the same. So I thought sod it I'm going to have a go-even though venue's are folding all around. I got 3 smashing blokes with me who remember how it was before some Dj's forgot their roots. We start on the 1st of December and I hope to god some people come, otherwise thats my kids inheritance gone.

Mellytee please don't put yourself down as a 'handbagger' I could be called a BiHandbagger as I like Northern and Motown.If we enjoy ourselves and it doesn't hurt anybody else, then we shouldn't be persecuted for it.

I don't think any DJ forgets their roots or the roots of the scene, it's called moving on, progression, how it was back in the beginning of the scene, always seeking something new. The records you mention have been hammered for decades and I am not knocking them but it does get tiresome hearing the same records over and over.

You say you've only recently returned since the 70's? During all that time away did you go to night clubs etc and listen to the same TOP 40 for all those years?

I now find myself going out less and less. The scene has become so stale I simply can't be bothered right now.

[Guest]

Haven't experienced the decks by a paid audience yet but I have been told you can get a hundred compliments about what you played but you remember the one complaint you got.I've also been to dances when they announce only 2 more records to go and several people still keep going onto the stage making requests. Some people are interesting aren't they. I hope putting an event on isn't as painful as some people are telling me...... well I'll find out in just over a month.

Ive got Ron Grainer's Joe 90 theme and i've been told don't you dare play that, perhaps I had better practice at what points I can fade it out if I ever feel brave enough to play it.

[Tezza]

Haven't experienced the decks by a paid audience yet but I have been told you can get a hundred compliments about what you played but you remember the one complaint you got.I've also been to dances when they announce only 2 more records to go and several people still keep going onto the stage making requests. Some people are interesting aren't they. I hope putting an event on isn't as painful as some people are telling me...... well I'll find out in just over a month.

Ive got Ron Grainer's Joe 90 theme and i've been told don't you dare play that, perhaps I had better practice at what points I can fade it out if I ever feel brave enough to play it.

Keep the fade up full if you play it !!

[Guest]

Hey Tezza I've also got 'sliced Tomatoes' by the sounds of Lancashire, It sounds like the equipment is going through its death throes and makes my ears bleed, you can borrow it if you like.

[Dekka]

I don't think any DJ forgets their roots or the roots of the scene, it's called moving on, progression, how it was back in the beginning of the scene, always seeking something new. The records you mention have been hammered for decades and I am not knocking them but it does get tiresome hearing the same records over and over.

You say you've only recently returned since the 70's? During all that time away did you go to night clubs etc and listen to the same TOP 40 for all those years?

I now find myself going out less and less. The scene has become so stale I simply can't be bothered right now.

Bloody Hell, I can't believe i'm agreeing with Chalky.

My Mojo has well n truly fooked off, thankfully I have the scooter scene

[Russ Vickers]

Thanks Len for answer . Yes it was a serious question . Kev i have been to Horse and Groom and even though it dosnt have a dancefloor i really enjoyed it . Great music, busy , freindly people , relaxed sunday chilled out atmosphere... Russ you seem to be implying that if someone dosnt have money/OVO collection that they immoral and and not capable of playing/knowing underplayed tunes , what has that got to do with format ? . I also dont understand your versions of history re comment "secret" "special" . I dont know where you come from but here (mill towns ,north of england) there was never any big mystery or secret . Northern soul was/is played allover the place , yes even "local discos" . You woudnt deny

the people that would you , over some silly format rule that was only imposed by a minority fairly recently anyway?

See post 150. Money has got nothing to do with it, original 'format' & good taste has, you aint got the tackle, dont attempt the job, my 'version' of history is the correct/true one, wannabes tend to make thier own versions up to explain why they aint got the records or play bootlegs or reissues. I've spent most of my life travelling what now must be hundreds of hours to dance Allnight in the North of England & all over the UK & the more recently the continent, my nearest Allnighter is 2 hours away, how many in the Northern mill towns would travel further than the end of the road these days ?. Some silly format rule, as you so naively say, was not imposed by a minority recently, its a code that the vast majority have lived by for well over 30 years, I think you'll find that the wannabe returnees starting making thier own rules up, not visa versa....your entitled to your opinions & I respect that whole heartedly, but DO NOT incorrectly rewrite history.

[Len]

Hey Tezza I've also got 'sliced Tomatoes' by the sounds of Lancashire, It sounds like the equipment is going through its death throes and makes my ears bleed, you can borrow it if you like.

Now there's a tune....I thought I had the only copy! Thoroughly enjoyed playing that round my record room to Gospol Bob, Gary Holyman etc trying to convince them it 'had legs'!

All the best,

Len

[Len]

I now find myself going out less and less. The scene has become so stale I simply can't be bothered right now.

…and you’re not the only person that feels that way Chalky. The reason you and others feel like this is because every town now has a soul event and in the main they are all the same. No imaginative thinking whatsoever, just ‘cut ‘n’ paste’ D.J line ups from another event or simply using whoever happens to be the ‘flavour of the month’

Basically going over the same ground time and time again….Unfortunately people are excepting this, just like the awful Sat night telly they ram down our throats, then insulting our intelligence even more by reporting on these sh*te programmes as if they were news at Breakfast telly - Yes, ‘Dumbed Down’ is so right!

……But on a positive note……no, sorry I can’t think of anything…… he he

All the best,

Len

P.s - Still make the most of when ya do go out though or you are the one that loses out

Edited October 18, 2012 by LEN

[Guest gordon russell]

this obsession with only wanting to hear new tunes is quite frankly stupid.....surely we go out to have fun ....not stand there all night just waiting for a new tune......our lot go out for a right royal shindig with upbeat music and a great bunch of folk to have the crac with....not stand there with me hands in my pockets saying everytime a tune is played "serling used to play that"...go out and have fun.....or stay in and watch x f**ktor

[Spacehopper]

i always have fun but do need to hear some new stuff too....even if i know i'll enjoy the social dont get so excited about venues/djs who i know will play much the same as they did last time....it doesnt have to be one way or the other,there is some middle ground....some oldies some underplayed some WHAT THE F+++ IS THAT?!!...another for the wants list...all mixed together with a little thought

[Guest]

I appreciate I am not an expert on the northern scene and I do hang on every word that people who have been on the scene for years say. I got tired very quickly of the same diet from certain venue's and the 'we know best attitude'.they played the same stuff over an over again and obviously didn't hear what other people played cos they came on and played the same stuff again.I keep a database of my records and intend to rotate them so you don't get the same stuff everytime, interspersed with popular belters of course. I also have a silent movie rig up as well for some other enjoyment, like they used to do at the Nottingham Palais.

Might fall flat in the attempt but I have had a few people say I've had enough of the scene then wow that sounds different I'll give it a try.Hope we don't disappoint. Perhaps some DJ's get complacent and pick records for a set with little thought because they have done it so long.I suspect if a DJ pulls a record then its probably because he's picked the wrong one or wrong side out. I hear one person does it regularly but it provides some humour apparently.

[Guest sharmo 1]

Unlike myslef and a handful of others, I find these days that most folk won't dance to a record until its "in their heads" so to speak, regardless of whether they like it or not. Usually takes about 4 spins to get some traction. Good case in point is Reatha Reese "Only Lies" which I thought was the best tune I'd heard for many years, so I bought one and played it for the first time at my monthly gig and it wiped the floor. 6 months later there were about 15 - 20 up, nowadays however they're spilling onto the carpet. Abort a record halfway through? - never!

Cheers......Pete

Is Reatha Reese happening now then ? thank God great 45 played this at Hugglescote and no more doggin' again to emptie floor also spun when you gonna tell he aboutme baby at the same time again to a yawning expance of wood.regards Dazed.

[Guest Krissii]

See post 150. Money has got nothing to do with it, original 'format' & good taste has, you aint got the tackle, dont attempt the job, my 'version' of history is the correct/true one, wannabes tend to make thier own versions up to explain why they aint got the records or play bootlegs or reissues. I've spent most of my life travelling what now must be hundreds of hours to dance Allnight in the North of England & all over the UK & the more recently the continent, my nearest Allnighter is 2 hours away, how many in the Northern mill towns would travel further than the end of the road these days ?. Some silly format rule, as you so naively say, was not imposed by a minority recently, its a code that the vast majority have lived by for well over 30 years, I think you'll find that the wannabe returnees starting making thier own rules up, not visa versa....your entitled to your opinions & I respect that whole heartedly, but DO NOT incorrectly rewrite history.

Please dont tell me what to do .

Not everyone wants to collect ovo records or any records let alone dj , despite your paranoia over the issue .

Quite a lot of people from the towns in the North travel , loads infact .

If ovo is "a code the vast majority have lived by for well over 30 years" how come no one away from this site (the majority) has ever heard of it ?

Northern soul has been played continuously in youth clubs , school discos , pubs , workplaces , cafes , discos ect all over the towns in the peninne area for getting on nearly 50 years now and it still is . Its hard to walk anywhere in the town i live in at the moment and NOT hear it being played in half at least half a dozen pubs , would you like me to name them ? , i could even take you there for a drink ?

But those pubs are full of people YOU would probably dissaprove of .

The people who went to the wheel , the torch , the casino , the mecca , stafford , the ones who bought " boots" because that was all they could afford or because they just didnt know the difference and got ripped off , the ones who screwed chemists wether they wanted to or wether they were forced to , who risked thier necks jumping trains and getting mugged in rough towns and venues , stole cars , lost jobs , The ones who went to prison and whos family and friends died of drug overdoses , the ones who danced allnight long and put their heart and soul into it . The ones who without THEM their woudnt even be a scene for anyone , including OVO . The dancer , The paying customer .

They are the people who built the scene , they are the people who now go to local places because it cheers them up , or they are skint or maybe its because they just cant be arsed anymore , so what ? . Get off their backs . They have paid there dues many times over , they can do what the hell they like , there are no "rules" .

And if they choose not to go to ovo events i dont blame them , because if they are full of people like YOU they would be seen as , what was your word ? "a wannabee" .

As for your statement "my version of history is the correct/true one "

[Guest sharmo 1]

Please dont tell me what to do .

Not everyone wants to collect ovo records or any records let alone dj , despite your paranoia over the issue .

Quite a lot of people from the towns in the North travel , loads infact .

If ovo is "a code the vast majority have lived by for well over 30 years" how come no one away from this site (the majority) has ever heard of it ?

Northern soul has been played continuously in youth clubs , school discos , pubs , workplaces , cafes , discos ect all over the towns in the peninne area for getting on nearly 50 years now and it still is . Its hard to walk anywhere in the town i live in at the moment and NOT hear it being played in half at least half a dozen pubs , would you like me to name them ? , i could even take you there for a drink ?

But those pubs are full of people YOU would probably dissaprove of .

The people who went to the wheel , the torch , the casino , the mecca , stafford , the ones who bought " boots" because that was all they could afford or because they just didnt know the difference and got ripped off , the ones who screwed chemists wether they wanted to or wether they were forced to , who risked thier necks jumping trains and getting mugged in rough towns and venues , stole cars , lost jobs , The ones who went to prison and whos family and friends died of drug overdoses , the ones who danced allnight long and put their heart and soul into it . The ones who without THEM their woudnt even be a scene for anyone , including OVO . The dancer , The paying customer .

They are the people who built the scene , they are the people who now go to local places because it cheers them up , or they are skint or maybe its because they just cant be arsed anymore , so what ? . Get off their backs . They have paid there dues many times over , they can do what the hell they like , there are no "rules" .

And if they choose not to go to ovo events i dont blame them , because if they are full of people like YOU they would be seen as , what was your word ? "a wannabee" .

As for your statement "my version of history is the correct/true one "

Hi Krissi b you have some very valid points and in truth and it's true that a lot of people have died of over doses and gone to prison and all the other dark abyssis of mankind who have never had anything to do with the northern soul scene .It's very true that people should be able to do what they like but to say that nobody on this site has ever heared of ovo is a little perplexing .You're absolutly correct when you say people who built the scene should be able to go and get themseves cheered up and why not ? we're all entitled to a little steam blowing but let's not loose site of the maveric collecting stalwits who without the ov finds would not have carried the flame ever onward it's also very intresting that you also site people who went the TTOTW Stafford.For me Stafford was the stepping stone that guided collectors and dj's alike between northern souls original and second wave , this was a great period of both vinyl discovery and what could be deemed as being the great northern soul imperitive and this included the dancers and paying punters and in the eye of this great northern soul storm lay original vinyl.This was a tremendous time for the ragtag remnants of a previous musical era and whilst the majority were raising family's and getting on with other thing's the last dieing embers of the northern soul fireball remained fanned and living through the enthusiasm of ov collectors.I'm not suggesting for a milli second that people who just go to northern night's regardless of format are any less passionet about their love of soul music i truely believe they aren't but we now seem to have reached a fork in the road which may lead again to a new middle age of northern soul , intrestingly enough there seems to be much pull and pushing regarding the skegness weekender situation.With two camps emerging and curiously enough a couple of weeks ago it was suggested to me that a new scene could be emerging possibly to be known as the east midlands soul scene.A scene encompassing retro cloathing and don't give a f*ck what it's played on attitude and filling various clubs ect with oldies possibly even on laptops with no vinyl played .....Hey let's hear it for liberalism people.Well a good night's a good night whether your down the pub , having a spliff at your mates or doing brass rubbings at local religious land marks let's just all stop talking and become members of the nothern soul communist party of great britian , but what is right and what is wrong ? .I did a few lines earlier on this thread and stand by every dot , lick and cross and to be true a man can lie to the world but not himself and anyone playing laptops or bootleg's filling the floor or not quite frnakly is both lieing and fooling himself .Old zen koan read's "If one desires the cub of a tiger one must first enter the tigers cave" without malise or agression and straight from the heart Simon.

[Guest Krissii]

i dont remember "stafford" , sharmo i was too barbed up and at the mecca too when got barred , think i was with some people from rochdale or it mite av been oldham cant remember but i know some people from halifax was there and dewsbury , then i got hepatis b at hinckley and nearly died , in st helens i o'd. its all a blur tbh . . . . . Dont care about format , just like the music , i grew up with it , its my earliest good memory , thats all i know

[Guest Krissii]

wigan was good , i cry when i think of it sometimes , i remember that clearly

[Steve Myers]

On Saturday night I played Chuck Bernard 'everything is alright now', I thought it might be a bit slow but then thought what the hell, only when I saw a couple dancing arm in arm in front of me did I realise that the rhythm is Basically a waltz !!!

You can't take a record produced by misters Bridges, knight and Eaton off half way through, that would be beyond impertinence !

In fact I played it again three records later.

Lovely soul record, ooh have i got it wrong is this the soul scene or the dance scene......lol

[Steve Myers]

I Clear floors on a regular basis ,thats why i am still a warm up man /trainee aged 57,seriously though people will dance when they want to and to whatever sound they want to dance too ,i believe

there is no science at all to this ,but still great to "break" new sounds as there would never have been a scene today like it is

That sounds just like me...... also aged 57 thank god there are still people like us looking for something different to listen to and share with the "floor" instead of just playing the same old crowd pleasers all the time....

[Guest Krissii]

the only thing good is the music and the dancing , the rest is a waste of time

[Russ Vickers]

Post deleted. Sorry, but deleted my reply to Krissi B as Its pointless to even try to communicate, if this is what we have come to Im seriously considering calling it a day...totally deluded, I wont say anything more as like I say pointless, I have only written this really because SS is used as a point of reference by many younger folk or people who are interested in the history of the NS in general & you cant leave comments like the last few posts from Krissi up without letting these people know that on the whole, love of the music apart, its fantasy.

Deep contemplation today on whethter it really is worth trying to continue to fight to keep the integrity of this once wonderful scene, it gets challenging the continuing onslaught of complete bollox is never ending....over & out.

Russ

[Md Records]

Did I imagine it, or did we used to associate certain D.J.s with certain records, whether it was Searling, Sam, Hennigan, Keb, Rushbrooke, Brady etc etc, that they had persevered with and turned into "classics", not taken off and discarded because nobody danced to it in the first place. This seemed to be the standard for all "TOP" D.J.'s, and something all the budding D.J.'s aspired to do. Apart from the few exceptions - Butch, Andy and a few others, when people talk about todays "TOP" D.J.'s they often use the expression "........ has got a fantastic collection". Am I looking at the past with rose tinted glasses, or has the qualification for being a "TOP D.J." shifted to the financial worth of their collection.

Des Parker

[Tezza]

Post deleted. Sorry, but deleted my reply to Krissi B as Its pointless to even try to communicate, if this is what we have come to Im seriously considering calling it a day...totally deluded, I wont say anything more as like I say pointless, I have only written this really because SS is used as a point of reference by many younger folk or people who are interested in the history of the NS in general & you cant leave comments like the last few posts from Krissi up without letting these people know that on the whole, love of the music apart, its fantasy.

Deep contemplation today on whethter it really is worth trying to continue to fight to keep the integrity of this once wonderful scene, it gets challenging the continuing onslaught of complete bollox is never ending....over & out.

Russ

Russ - Don't let the B&*tards drag you down !! ( and before its jumped upon, I'm not calling anyone - just an expression !!)

It appears that people who don't understand your moral stance insist on denigrating anything and everything you have to say. Not gonna pick out anything you said earlier but if it wasn't for people like your good self the scene would fall into anarchy with any would be DJ claiming the throne.

Keep up the good work mate.

Tezza XXX

[Tezza]

Did I imagine it, or did we used to associate certain D.J.s with certain records, whether it was Searling, Sam, Hennigan, Keb, Rushbrooke, Brady etc etc, that they had persevered with and turned into "classics", not taken off and discarded because nobody danced to it in the first place. This seemed to be the standard for all "TOP" D.J.'s, and something all the budding D.J.'s aspired to do. Apart from the few exceptions - Butch, Andy and a few others, when people talk about todays "TOP" D.J.'s they often use the expression "........ has got a fantastic collection". Am I looking at the past with rose tinted glasses, or has the qualification for being a "TOP D.J." shifted to the financial worth of their collection.

Des Parker

Remember Sam when he first played 'Gwen Owens - Wanted & Needed' ( I think ) It always jumped at a certain point and all the Dancers knew and changed their Dance routine's to fit the jump. Sam was the only one playing it at the time - Kept with it and now - Everyone would wants it in their collection. We all have the Press but a proper copy - To Die For !! Well for me anyway.

[Dekka]

Post deleted. Sorry, but deleted my reply to Krissi B as Its pointless to even try to communicate, if this is what we have come to Im seriously considering calling it a day...totally deluded, I wont say anything more as like I say pointless, I have only written this really because SS is used as a point of reference by many younger folk or people who are interested in the history of the NS in general & you cant leave comments like the last few posts from Krissi up without letting these people know that on the whole, love of the music apart, its fantasy.

Deep contemplation today on whethter it really is worth trying to continue to fight to keep the integrity of this once wonderful scene, it gets challenging the continuing onslaught of complete bollox is never ending....over & out.

Russ

Hi Russ

Please don't take it to heart, take a step back and re-charge, the scene can't afford to lose good people like yourself.

I for one am suffering with a lack of enthusiasm at the moment, nightering was my life, but now re-charging and hopefully

through these forums and hearing others enthusiasm it may just rekindle my spark.

atb

dekka

[Russ Vickers]

To be honest I dont think I could ever give this life up, even if I wanted to, but it gets sooo frustrating when you constantly feel battered into submission from ill informed people. I am not the oracle, none of us are or could be, Im not suggesting I know everything, I dont & never will, but there are certain aspects of the scene that are being white washed over.

Am i wrong that through out the history of the NS Scene, the playing of original vinyl by DJ's has been the normal thing ?, there are cases were dubs, EMI Discs, carvers have been played, for the purpose of breaking rare or unissued records, but this is not the norm, where records are available, regardless or whether £5 or £1500 they should be played from the original format, if you havnt found one yet, or you cant afford or even after diggin for the said record still havnt got lucky, play something else you have & believe in instead.

Have I got this all wrong, if I have then I apologise profusely...I really am getting confused as to whether I have made this up, such is the weight of opinion against what I thought was just an accepted practice on the NS Scene & has been since its inception...

This really is a serious question, have I got this wrong...

On the subject of emptying dancefloors, no one deliberatly wants to do this, but occasionally it will happen if you are trying to break new records, its always happened....again, have I imagined all of this, Im not being faeciceous, Im deadly serious, can someone else pse confirm what I thought was the absolute norm...Im struggling to understand why I feel I may be living in my own world with what might be my own set of values & understandings of how I thought this all worked... I thought this was how things were & that everyone else felt the same, until maybe 10 years ago & more recently when comments on forums infer that is not the case ?????.

Frustrated, puzzled & a little bewildered.......

Russ

[Len]

By coincidence I was chatting to Stevie P last night (‘Len’s Den’ resident D.J) He is an ‘under the radar’ man — 62 years old and has been collecting for over 40 years. His love, over all those years was the 90’s - Albrighton soul nights etc. He said to me, “I know what you’re up against Len and I’ll support you 110% but unfortunately, I don’t think we can win”

Now, he didn’t mean it’s a ‘war’ purse, he meant that he feared the ‘Masses’ events will, in the end completely take over and stifle the clubs that have the original ethos…

…..and if the likes of Russ, Chalky and many more that I know of who are thinking the same, stop ‘coming out to play’ that is exactly what will happen…..

Keep Soulin’!

All the best,

Len

Edited October 19, 2012 by LEN

[Len]

Have I got this all wrong, if I have then I apologise profusely...I really am getting confused as to whether I have made this up, such is the weight of opinion against what I thought was just an accepted practice on the NS Scene & has been since its inception...

Frustrated, puzzled & a little bewildered.......

Russ

Russ, you are doing exactly what I did — For those exact same reasons I have doubted myself for a very long time. But I tell you what ‘matey’ — I’m back with a vengeance! - ‘This Soul Scene needs you!’ (Try to imagine that iconic war poster)

All the best,

Len

Edited October 19, 2012 by LEN

[spot]

Bloody Hell Jimmy you must be bored sh*tless on long term sick to torture yourself with this question, you know my views, I say f**k em, play what you believe in & just cos most of the "New Generation" only know the Wigan top 50 because they'd heard it at local youthy or on TOTP & never ventured past the end of their street or local Working Mens Club then it's their lose & if all else fails stick Prince Phillip Mitchell - I'm so happy & watch the Lemmings head for the cliff or the Sheep to the shearing shed.

Take care, be safe & remember,"Ba ba ba ba ba ba",

Spot.

[Len]

Right this will confuse some…….

I was at ‘an event’ the other week and they had this guest D.J on who is a real great Character, he is a proper D.J from the 70’s who's done disco’s, weddings, you name it and he loves his soul music.

Anyway, he was doing his stuff and someone asks me “Are some of them pressings he’s playing?”….“Yup, every single last one!” I replied with a huge grin on my face, as I said this ‘The Tomangoes’ came blasting out of the speakers and at this point this chap also laughed his head off as he actually owns a real Tomangoes. Now we weren’t laughing at the D.J at all, we were laughing because in that particular situation we both didn’t give a sh*t! - It was priceless!

Of course I won’t be booking this particular Charactor to D.J in ‘Len’s Den’ but I assure you, he will be in there dancing away and really enjoying the soul music.

I have more respect for this individual and others like him, than I do (who I see) as the ‘pretenders’ — those that ‘all of a sudden’ have developed a collection and are ‘playing the part’ of the ‘collector / D.J’ These are the types that verbally attack the people 'Krissi B' is talking about and go on and on about ‘O.V.O’ so much, so (to me) makes them look stupid.

All the best,

Len

Edited October 19, 2012 by LEN

[Kev Cane]

Right this will confuse some…….

I was at ‘an event’ the other week and they had this guest D.J on who is a real great Character, he is a proper D.J from the 70’s who's done disco’s, weddings, you name it and he loves his soul music.

Anyway, he was doing his stuff and someone asks me “Are some of them pressings he’s playing?”….“Yup, every single last one!” I replied with a huge grin on my face, as I said this ‘The Tomangoes’ came blasting out of the speakers and at this point this chap also laughed his head off as he actually owns a real Tomangoes. Now we weren’t laughing at the D.J at all, we were laughing because in that particular situation we both didn’t give a sh*t! - It was priceless!

Of course I won’t be booking this particular Charactor to D.J in ‘Len’s Den’ but I assure you, he will be in there dancing away and really enjoying the soul music.

I have more respect for this individual and others like him, than I do (who I see) as the ‘pretenders’ — those that ‘all of a sudden’ have developed a collection and are ‘playing the part’ of the ‘collector / D.J’ These are the types that verbally attack the people 'Krissi B' is talking about and go on and on about ‘O.V.O’ so much, so (to me) makes them look stupid.

All the best,

Len

You talking about the "5 minute wonders" Len, who come along every now and then waving a cheque book at anything remotely considered a trophy record, paying top dollar, and then selling up as soon as they realise you can't buy respect on this scene, with you mate if thats your point

Kev

[Len]

You talking about the "5 minute wonders" Len, who come along every now and then waving a cheque book at anything remotely considered a trophy record, paying top dollar, and then selling up as soon as they realise you can't buy respect on this scene, with you mate if thats your point

Kev

Correct!

[Daved]

Am i wrong that through out the history of the NS Scene, the playing of original vinyl by DJ's has been the normal thing ?, there are cases were dubs, EMI Discs, carvers have been played, for the purpose of breaking rare or unissued records, but this is not the norm, where records are available, regardless or whether £5 or £1500 they should be played from the original format, if you havnt found one yet, or you cant afford or even after diggin for the said record still havnt got lucky, play something else you have & believe in instead.

Have I got this all wrong, if I have then I apologise profusely...I really am getting confused as to whether I have made this up, such is the weight of opinion against what I thought was just an accepted practice on the NS Scene & has been since its inception...

This really is a serious question, have I got this wrong...

Russ

You haven’t got that aspect wrong Russ, but times have moved on. It is now 2012, technology and other ways of life have moved on considerably, the music is now over 40 odd years old and the format is almost dead (it’s incredible it’s lasted that long!). I agree with some of the things you say, but the way you’re expressing your view is alienating yourself and other like-minded people from most regular folk who already perceive it to be an “up its own arse” scene. Phrases like ethics and giving back to the scene make me cringe because it’s not life and death and it’s certainly not some worthy cause.

It’s supposed to be fun! It may have felt like something cool and underground quite some time ago but it hasn’t been like that for a long time. It’s full of fat, middle-aged to old blokes who can’t dance very well. Nothing to stop them still having a good time. It’s become a parody of itself and all these indignant put downs of anyone who doesn’t share the same view, doesn’t help.

Edited October 19, 2012 by daved

[Barry]

Perhaps people want to hear exactly what they want to hear (Oldies maybe) as they haven't got much time left in general, so every dancefloor step counts.

[Rich B]

I always used to wonder how I was supposed to know what they know - I only know what I know - I'm not that mind reader fellow!

[Guest gordon russell]

Right this will confuse some…….

I was at ‘an event’ the other week and they had this guest D.J on who is a real great Character, he is a proper D.J from the 70’s who's done disco’s, weddings, you name it and he loves his soul music.

Anyway, he was doing his stuff and someone asks me “Are some of them pressings he’s playing?”….“Yup, every single last one!” I replied with a huge grin on my face, as I said this ‘The Tomangoes’ came blasting out of the speakers and at this point this chap also laughed his head off as he actually owns a real Tomangoes. Now we weren’t laughing at the D.J at all, we were laughing because in that particular situation we both didn’t give a sh*t! - It was priceless!

Of course I won’t be booking this particular Charactor to D.J in ‘Len’s Den’ but I assure you, he will be in there dancing away and really enjoying the soul music.

I have more respect for this individual and others like him, than I do (who I see) as the ‘pretenders’ — those that ‘all of a sudden’ have developed a collection and are ‘playing the part’ of the ‘collector / D.J’ These are the types that verbally attack the people 'Krissi B' is talking about and go on and on about ‘O.V.O’ so much, so (to me) makes them look stupid.

All the best,

Len

book him.....still do a better set than you lol :lol:

[Speedlimit]

russ ,len chalky

. you haven't got it wrong the masses have lost their way , when they left the scene after the demise of the casino. while the likes of us kept finding new sounds they missed out and when they returned they expected it to be just the same, because of that break they didnt get to hear all those wonderful sounds that turned up in the 80's & 90's, some of them are just discovering some of the great sounds played at stafford all be it 30 years to late. we can live in hope that one day the scene will retrurn to its original ethos. there nothing wrong with oldies it's the fact that a lot of the d.j's playing them have forgotten they have 4o years worth to choose from thousands of records not the same 500 please :thumbup: :thumbup:

[Jaco]

To be honest I dont think I could ever give this life up, even if I wanted to, but it gets sooo frustrating when you constantly feel battered into submission from ill informed people. I am not the oracle, none of us are or could be, Im not suggesting I know everything, I dont & never will, but there are certain aspects of the scene that are being white washed over.

Am i wrong that through out the history of the NS Scene, the playing of original vinyl by DJ's has been the normal thing ?, there are cases were dubs, EMI Discs, carvers have been played, for the purpose of breaking rare or unissued records, but this is not the norm, where records are available, regardless or whether £5 or £1500 they should be played from the original format, if you havnt found one yet, or you cant afford or even after diggin for the said record still havnt got lucky, play something else you have & believe in instead.

Have I got this all wrong, if I have then I apologise profusely...I really am getting confused as to whether I have made this up, such is the weight of opinion against what I thought was just an accepted practice on the NS Scene & has been since its inception...

This really is a serious question, have I got this wrong...

On the subject of emptying dancefloors, no one deliberatly wants to do this, but occasionally it will happen if you are trying to break new records, its always happened....again, have I imagined all of this, Im not being faeciceous, Im deadly serious, can someone else pse confirm what I thought was the absolute norm...Im struggling to understand why I feel I may be living in my own world with what might be my own set of values & understandings of how I thought this all worked... I thought this was how things were & that everyone else felt the same, until maybe 10 years ago & more recently when comments on forums infer that is not the case ?????.

Frustrated, puzzled & a little bewildered.......

Russ

You stick to your principals, Russ.

I think the reason why most people are ambivalent to the ethos you support is because the values that may have existed in an earlier period within their life, have been diluted by the progress that 21st century life provides.

Once you have unlimited access to music for example in a convenient and painfree medium, it ceases to have substantive value on any level.

For some, access in this manner trumps any feeling of achievement in searching out new sounds in the manner that was accepted as the norm when travelling to a venue to hear the sounds sourced by a jock who spent the time and effort in doing so, was the only way.

Edited October 19, 2012 by Jaco

[Ian Dewhirst]

You haven’t got that aspect wrong Russ, but times have moved on. It is now 2012, technology and other ways of life have moved on considerably, the music is now over 40 odd years old and the format is almost dead (it’s incredible it’s lasted that long!). I agree with some of the things you say, but the way you’re expressing your view is alienating yourself and other like-minded people from most regular folk who already perceive it to be an “up its own arse” scene. Phrases like ethics and giving back to the scene make me cringe because it’s not life and death and it’s certainly not some worthy cause.

It’s supposed to be fun! It may have felt like something cool and underground quite some time ago but it hasn’t been like that for a long time. It’s full of fat, middle-aged to old blokes who can’t dance very well. Nothing to stop them still having a good time. It’s become a parody of itself and all these indignant put downs of anyone who doesn’t share the same view, doesn’t help.

Good post Dave.

I actually made a concious decision to to take some time out of the Northern scene and explore some other areas way back in 1975 following 5 years of hard-core duty because I was beginning to find it becoming slightly parochial for my own tastes. I never stopped loving the music but I was becoming bored with some of the attitudes and the fact that rarity was beginning to overshadow quality in my opinion. I also had a sneaking feeling that I would never experience the same level of intensity that I was lucky enough to experience between 1970-75. And I was right. The key musical period in many peoples lives is when then they're teenagers with a lust for life, endless energy and an almost pathological desire to learn. So I truly believe that I was lucky enough to move on to other areas before I became disillusioned with the scene and that seemed to work for me personally. What it meant, was that I could always dip my toe back in anytime, appreciate the great records but not get too bogged down with the politics or prevailing wisdom of particular eras. So in a way it's given me an overview plus the benefit of 35 years of experience dipping in and out at my leisure.

I love Russ's enthusiam and his undiminished devotion for the scene, but as you say, 40 years is a long time and it would be crazy to think that the same ethics and outlook from the early 70's would manage to survive 3 or 4 generations down the line. Since I broadened my horizons some 37 years ago a lot has changed. These days EVERYONE is a DJ, EVERYONE has a half decent collection which they wear like a badge of honour and EVERYONE has an opinion which is cast in stone whichever side of the fence they sit on.

But you make a good point about it should be fun! When I came on the scene the only barrier to instant brilliance was the Twisted Wheel guys and their intolerance of new divs entering the scene but, hey, they were only a few years older than me so there weren't really any other massive obstacles to a soul-loving youngster coming on the scene providing you could get through the first few months of elitism and intolerance. But these days, phew! Why would any kids want to come onto a scene dominated by 50 year old guys with entrenched attitudes, looking at records and dancing badly?

The way of the future if this scene is going to survive will not be an 'either newies/or oldies' attitude but rather a smart combination of the two schools of thought which can unite the scene rather than divide it. Choose DJ's who have good taste in oldies, newies, raries, lesser-played, under played and who know how to rock a crowd and who won't alienate a wider audience.

You know, make it fun and get the buzz back!

Ian D

Edited October 19, 2012 by Ian Dewhirst

[Peter99]

Good post Dave.

I actually made a concious decision to to take some time out of the Northern scene and explore some other areas way back in 1975 following 5 years of hard-core duty because I was beginning to find it becoming slightly parochial for my own tastes. I never stopped loving the music but I was becoming bored with some of the attitudes and the fact that rarity was beginning to overshadow quality in my opinion. I also had a sneaking feeling that I would never experience the same level of intensity that I was lucky enough to experience between 1970-75. And I was right. The key musical period in many peoples lives is when then they're teenagers with a lust for life, endless energy and an almost pathological desire to learn. So I truly believe that I was lucky enough to move on to other areas before I became disillusioned with the scene and that seemed to work for me personally. What it meant, was that I could always dip my toe back in anytime, appreciate the great records but not get too bogged down with the politics or prevailing wisdom of particular eras. So in a way it's given me an overview plus the benefit of 35 years of experience dipping in and out at my leisure.

I love Russ's enthusiam and his undiminished devotion for the scene, but as you say, 40 years is a long time and it would be crazy to think that the same ethics and outlook from the early 70's would manage to survive 3 or 4 generations down the line. Since I broadened my horizons some 37 years ago a lot has changed. These days EVERYONE is a DJ, EVERYONE has a half decent collection which they wear like a badge of honour and EVERYONE has an opinion which is cast in stone whichever side of the fence they sit on.

But you make a good point about it should be fun! When I came on the scene the only barrier to instant brilliance was the Twisted Wheel guys and their intolerance of new divs entering the scene but, hey, they were only a few years older than me so there weren't really any other massive obstacles to a soul-loving youngster coming on the scene providing you could get through the first few months of elitism and intolerance. But these days, phew! Why would any kids want to come onto a scene dominated by 50 year old guys with entrenched attitudes, looking at records and dancing badly?

The way of the future if this scene is going to survive will not be an 'either newies/or oldies' attitude but rather a smart combination of the two schools of thought which can unite the scene rather than divide it. Choose DJ's who have good taste in oldies, newies, raries, lesser-played, under played and who know how to rock a crowd and who won't alienate a wider audience.

You know, make it fun and get the buzz back!

Ian D

That's an interesting and sensible post Ian. Enjoyed reading that.

Fcuk me - what is the scene/world coming too!

LOL

Edited October 19, 2012 by Peter99

[Ian Dewhirst]

I think the reason why most people are ambivalent to the ethos you support is because the values that may have existed in an earlier period within their life, have been diluted by the progress that 21st century life provides.

Once you have unlimited access to music for example in a convenient and painfree medium, it ceases to have substantive value on any level.

For some, access in this manner trumps any feeling of achievement in searching out new sounds in the manner that was accepted as the norm when travelling to a venue to hear the sounds sourced by a jock who spent the time and effort in doing so, was the only way.

I see your point Jaco and no one likes finding an unknown physical record more than me, but your statement "once you have unlimited access to music for example in a convenient and painfree medium, it ceases to have substantive value on any level" is just wrong mate. Someone still has to find, discover and then champion a tune to spread it to the audience. So in my opinion it's more about taste rather than whether it's on a physical format or not. These days almost 50% of the tunes I love have never even been on a physical format - Melba Moore and Spencer Wiggins would never have had a shot under your rules!

Purely sticking to a physical format merely limits your choices to whether someone could afford to have a record pressed up or not. Some of the best stuff I've heard in the last 10-20 years has never even made it to a pressing plant. However, it still takes the right person with the right taste to break it. For me the format is unimportant really. A great piece of music is still a great piece of music whether it's pressed on plastic, a 2" multi-track or a WAV file. Why limit the choice?

Ian D