Chris Plant

[Agentsmith]

remember him at the locarno, probably did civic & wulfrun's for pep maybe, three horseshoes on sutton road, even carted him & steve porter to whitchurch all-dayer in a van with sounds & system. on boxing day or new years day ( cant remember which?) 79/80. id be inclined to agree that he was responsible for playing a lot of quality tunes as opposed to breaking any...he certainly bought fast enough...a good many of us wish we had that type of money back in the day.

[Chalky]

I've e-mailed Chris, hopefully it is still current so I'll see what Chris has to say. Thanks for your help gents

[Louise]

i have his old copy along with quite a few others

Chris sold the remainder of his collection to Soul Bowl on the long journey between Walsall and Kings Lynn, Chris was accosted outside the sleepy hamlet of Wylde Green by a notorious local highwayman by the the name of "Ye Olde Ted Massey "who relieved Chris of his Larry Clinton plus one other! Come on Ted fess up ?

Dave

[Ted Massey]

Chris sold the remainder of his collection to Soul Bowl on the long journey between Walsall and Kings Lynn, Chris was accosted outside the sleepy hamlet of Wylde Green by a notorious local highwayman by the the name of "Ye Olde Ted Massey "who relieved Chris of his Larry Clinton plus one other! Come on Ted fess up ?

Dave

Mr Welding since you try to blacken my good name in the best Max voice let me tell you a story i went to his flat a few days before he went to Soul Bowl and bought 4 records including People choice and nabay, Chris had another 50 or so records in a pile including some shrine stuff when i asked if these were for sale he said they were already reserved for some one and he wouldnt tell me who, that is where the rest of the rare stuff went i wonder whether any one will have the balls to admit they got them on threat of a Glasgow kiss Im am not guilty me lord

[Ted Massey]

Oh and I already had Larry of Clarkie for 150

[harpo1]

Spoke to Chalky on Saturday night, and i suppose along with Mick i am the most able to talk about Chris.

I first became aware of him when along with Steve Porter, Eddie Hubbard, Clive Jones and Neil's Wallsall posse they took over the Laffayete, for the Heart of England Soul Club, playing some great stuff.

As i became with Mick the Wolverhampton areas most active collectors, with an ear for new stuff, as well as becoming a weekly niter goer it was obvious Chris and i would get together, we both new Mick previously.

Chris was as Bob said from the nice side of the tracks, and lots of my crowd couldnt grasp that, posh mini, leather trousers, no socks, not a good luck in Bilston and sourrounding areas.

From this we came upon a soulution to me not driving, with Chris offering me and my g/f lifts weekly, it was good for me as i knew Dawn anyway.

We embarked upon a great journey, going places hearing great stuff and aquiring tunes, Chris and Mick were far happier to aquire the big tunes , i was lucky to become the person who Pep decided to impart some of his knowledge to, so between us we got some great stuff, Ian was just bombarding me with amazing tunes, that i would reaap the benefit of in later times.

Chris had the big records, and started to get spots at venues, and the records helped to elevate his status, being the West Mids areas only real owner of Richard, Gary, and Pats top plays, where as Mick was always on Sams vradar, and they really did have great stuff, but Chris was vmore high profile. With Mick and i in at the very start of the modern soul thing we were able to cover most options.

I always travelled with Chris to Wigan Sheffield, Clifton Hall the Fleet etc and became his sounding post i supose.

In the end you have got to say there were only two DJ'S given guest showcase spots at the Casino in those last amazing years, despite any other claims, Chris and Dave Thorley, thats gotta tell you summat!!

After the doors finnnaaaalllly closed, what to do, the night in Leeds supposed to take over just didnt capture the imagination, and other nighters were just oldies wanna be's'

What Kept Chris in the eye was me deciding to book the Cavendish for my birthday, with Chris and i playing, what followed was a uinbelievabklr reaction snowballing into the Cvendish soul nights, with Mick bought in along with Neil for his past experience it was great, for almost 2 years we had the only rare night in the country , with every top DJ guesting, and Chris in regard to records having what i saw as his peak, Musically it really was top drawer, with all the faces there, as well as a sudden interest from locals even Max and Pep and Helen camer back after stepping back for business reasons.

Ill enclose lyers, playlists etc...Just during the last months Neil and Mick decided to persue another line related to records and decided to drop out, Chris approached Dave Thorley to join us, before this happened something beyond our control lost us the venue, Dave then looked for another, TOTW was where he chose.

As a local Chris was an obvious person to involve, his role was soon to become the 2nd room with Steve Smith Nick Marshall Dave Allciock`etc...and if im honest that was where i spent the most time at Stafford , being along with the likes of Gilly, Lawton, Chacket, Gary and the other usual suspects lucy enough to be there every time.

Due i think mainly to personal issues Chris just packed it in, end of story, he sold up even to the point of not leting me and a few others get back rare things we let him have, and it was many many years until i saw him again.

So thats my story of events , i liked him, he introduced me to lots of Detrit records he got through Graham Hawkins and some guy called Holyman, that were amazing.

If i can answer any questions ill do my best, but that really was that for our Mr Plant . yes ok maybe he was not a breaker of new stuff but he had a few nice bits as we say, and great music speaks louder than any words or actions, so why does the scene persit with those intent of buying their way in, its knowlede and passion that matters, you can see it when peoople are playing, maybe Chris best tools were knowledge and contacts, rather than obvious passion, but i though he did ok

Hope this has helped to give the thread some useful info

Harpo

Edited February 25, 2013 by harpo1

[Chalky]

Many thanks for that Harpo, excellent. Just what I wanted.

[Hornet]

did he drive a mini cooper ! very slowly !!

[harpo1]

It was a mini cooper s apparently very fast, was to me anyway i cant even ride a push bike.

But Chris had that sort of personality had to have the best, he hated me geting a Proffesionals, it was so bad that when Pep said heres something else worth having, Let nobody love you Virginia Blakley, as i was not that familiar with it i told him he could have it to stop me feeling bad about getting my no.1 want, he drove me mad 'cause his Brice Coefield had a 1/2 inch dink out of the centre to swop mine, til i gave in finally got the Johnny Vanelli, dont think he ever played it and wouln't let me have it back, was so angry 'cause Swoz said you like detroit records and gave me Art Posey and the Bejays on Prime foc, he day get them.

But wqrst of all the night he bought his Admirations "You left me" off Pat at Clifton Hall, my mate rung me posh bastard he said when he went on the services i lifted the label told me the group but forgot the label. that week my mate always rung me when he gogt the list off the bowl, as he read it out he said Aspirations You lest me played by Gary Rushbrook £7, I SAID I THINK ILL TAKE A PUNT ON THAT ORDER IT...how you got this he said, ask Rover he read it to me i just chanced my arm...he hee naughty but a little revenge is sweet

One final tale the famous transaction with Arthur Fenn at Todmorden all dayer, £300 for 3 records Greater Experience, Ramona Collins and Eric Mercury on Sac, arthur threw in a lou edwards grey issue as a sweetner...f me i thought. It worked well cause he got the Pages and Cheryl Berdell plus Lonley Lover for me but i turned down Daybreay(but theres another story Paul Hargrove will no doubt tell. Well i was stunned at the very first Cavendish when he sold one of 'em to a mate of Kimbo's, there were two i wouldn't have had in the house, what did he sell Eric Mercury, the proper record in my opinion, left me somewhat non plussed, and yet more so every time the record, its as good as ever and we never hear the other two

Edited February 25, 2013 by harpo1

[harpo1]

Final story for today, everything else comes with great affection and memories but i will make one observation that i saw as a bit of a problem for Chris.

He had great oldies, was shown the ropes by classy guys, and bought great records, but he just could not put records together.

Chris new it more than anyone i suppose, his lack of confidence led me to go on stage with him if he asked, it soon became apparent that he believed he needed some one to give him advice, shall i put this on next? well id say i think i would play that one, , i was just pleased to help out, and at the time, and still today have no idea where i got the ability to put records together, and even more to talk on a mike, when without one i could not face talking to anyone, but there you go,.

I loved helping out, nd it led to some interesting things the most remembered being on stage as Chris finished at the Fleet , to see Kev Draper play Richards top sound uncovered, Cecil Washington, not a good career move for Kev for a while but a still talked about event, how daft looking back, but it was part of that scene for years .

Another Fleet classic was arriving at the anniversary, Ken Cox's woven badges had every dj's name on but Chris, bit of a tantrum there, as for the Blacpool Mecca car park debacle, i think its best left only for those who saw it to remember, yes mr plant could be of a tit at times, but lets remember his records eh"

[Sean Hampsey]

I remember Chris following me on at Bradford Allnighter, one night. Don't know and can't remember if he did it regularly or if it was a one off. He kicked off with Detroit Soul "All Of My Life" followed by Don Gardner "We're Gonna Make It Big" off the LP (we all thought it was album only back then). I remember thinking they weren't natural tracks to link together, but he kept the floor busy and I had to applaud his good taste and 'perception' for the Gardner track as I'd been playing it up there and elsewhere for months without much success :0) lol

[harpo1]

Sean i would never deny Chris's ability, or the records he had, and as a friend if i helped him through a period of uncertainty then great, certaily by 1980 he was well past that and all his popularity was hisown doing, he had records that needed playing at nighters or quality events, and he achieved that.

We will never know how far he could of gone, leaving as he did, is far beter than to become a dinosaur unable to respond to new challenges, we still see them all around, wallowing in mediocrity , Chris was good, no doubt

[Agentsmith]

its almost like a flash in the pan paul, he hung around for such a short time in reality, whilst we're still treading the boards.....maybe he didnt want to be remembered as a grey haired veteran of the scene still trying to wear the same clothes, drive the same car like it was yesterday?....he did have some incredibly good tunes and, not by way of having to procure them from ian...as we all did...suppose that set him apart in a way...in that you could say "he's playing his own tunes,...didnt get them from the shop, wish i had that kinda money". i never went to totw, as ive said before...infact, wasnt really a part of the scene for 5 or 6 years there, distinctly remember the cavendish, yourself, jp, mick derry and one of your birthday bashes in that big room upstairs along a corridoor...dave thorley played that if memory serves. ( about 98 yours and pep's birthdays ) chris use to be pally and do a lot of things with steve porter though, who just so happened to have his own equipment....come to think of it, steve had a great collection himself though probably mostly british...remember his tony middleton of polydor!, he was also a mentor & steadying ship for chris. mentioning dawn there, honestly forgot his other half but immediately a picture sprung to mind....he'd certainly got the tunes, car ...and the girl......posh??,...god, almost french..ello monsieur! ( especially with the tash )

Edited February 25, 2013 by AGENTSMITH

[Guest MrC]

That mini was falling apart! The front passenger seat wasn't fastened in properly, and worked like an ejector seat, tipping you on to the pavement everytime you opened the door if you weren't careful!

I used to spend may a wednesday night in that very seat, on the trip up to the Antelope in Stoke, or the 'Soulful A' as it was known, spending the evenings with Nogger and Tim Ashebendi and co, that was around 1979 I suppose, and the journeys home were always eventful, nearly ended up under a truck more than once, Chris falling asleep at the wheel!

[Guest aintgotit]

i,ve never heard of the man, or any of his sets, but that was a cracking read.Thanks to everyone for their candour in contributing Loved it.

[Chalky]

I've had contact with Chris via e-mail.  He pretty much didn't have much to add that wasn't already said by Harpo playlist like, he actually said his memory not up to much ask Harpo  I've got enough to do what I want to do anyway and it was good to see someone get some recognition.  Thanks to everyone.

[Wrongcrowd]

I used to swap tapes with Chris during the early 80's, and still have them somewehere. They were definitely stand out tapes with plenty of quality, much as has already been mentioned, and I remember them including Eddie Daye & Four Bars, Andrea Henry, Bobby Wisdom, Jesse Davis, Billy Floyd, Betty Wilson... I'll see if I can dig them out at the weekend, and post the listings. Back then I'd see Chris DJing most weekends between Stafford, Queen Vic, Wolverhampton, Leicester Oddfellows....always a quality set.

[Chalky]

Would be nice to see those tape listing s Cliff, especially if from around 82/83/84 

[kimbo]

Seems like we could be talkin about the same copy Andy , I know when the Eric Mercury was found it was 1978/79 , Steve(kitty)wells , Rug and Wilkie had all sold there records to fund a trip to the States , with the help of John Manship who supplied them with some addresses to visit . It was Kitty who found the Eric Mercury in a thrift shop in Philadelphia.in a right dodgy area they were glad to get out of.

They were all mates of mine and lived in Northants , there was a good chance that it was Kitty who was at the Fleet and came on stage when you played it as we went there during that period , but what remains a mystery is i can clearly remember him telling me he had traded it with Chris plant for a Del Larks , Kitty had probably owned it a couple of years by then so theres a chance Dave raistrick had found another copy or was it Dave he did the trade with.

 

 

Hi all, I was with Kitty Wells at the Cavendish on the nite Chris said he had a copy of Eric Mercury and Kitty whizzed up on stage and I think he paid £100 for it. They were great Nites always remember when Harpo dj'd there we all thought he was the mutts nuts.

Edited March 12, 2013 by kimbo

[Mark R]

I've just been in my local and a "Planty" got mentioned.......lives nearby and is/was apparently a Northern Soul DJ.

Get's me wondering......what's his full name? says I.

Chris Plant was the answer.

So, could it be THE Chris Plant?

Apparently this guy originates from Stoke.

Does that fit?  Could this be one and the same guy?  Seems more than a coincidence to me.

I asked the guys I was talking to to introduce me to him anyway.  If it's him, I would imagine that night at my local could be a long one!! 

 

Cheers,

Mark R

Edited August 20, 2023 by Mark R

[Chalky]

12 hours ago, Mark R said:

I've just been in my local and a "Planty" got mentioned.......lives nearby and is/was apparently a Northern Soul DJ.

Get's me wondering......what's his full name? says I.

Chris Plant was the answer.

So, could it be THE Chris Plant?

Apparently this guy originates from Stoke.

Does that fit?  Could this be one and the same guy?  Seems more than a coincidence to me.

I asked the guys I was talking to to introduce me to him anyway.  If it's him, I would imagine that night at my local could be a long one!! 

 

Cheers,

Mark R

If memory serves he is from West Midlands, Walsall and still lives around there according to Facebook on which he is a friend.