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How Bad Was Wigan, Really


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So, we see it time and time again.

 

Wigan was crap.

 

They played a lot of Pop Crap ( Didn't they all??)

 

So, how how about a defintive list of the GREAT stuff played at the old Place ??

 

ok then go into refosoul and find my casino tapes from saturday nights :)

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Maybe the better question was,how good was Wigan?,which needs to be addressed from several angles,ie early Wigan,mid,and latter when the club began to turn itself around.Wigan records,not necessarily first played there but once they were they became Wigan records,because that club could not be beaten for atmosphere,great live acts on a regular basis,the anthems played for the first time that are now the cornerstone of the scene for many.So yeah,pretty good I'd say but not the be all and end all,like many I've had some superb times since,still looking for new sounds and regularly get gobsmacked by some of these 45's.Always said I would'nt get drawn in to these debates but there you go..lets all appreciate this thing of ours while we can.

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For the first 18 months I went there, Wigan was the greatest place on earth, it was my life really, the best venue ever, the best music ever, the best people ever.  If you weren't there, you don't know, so give it a rest with all this pop stuff business.  The music was just phenomenal.

well said that man :thumbsup:

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Looking back the place was rancid , but we did'nt give a flying fcuk at the time  . Personally I stopped going when all the shitty pop music appeared on the scene (75ish imho) . Would I go back now if I could , you can better your life on it . We were very lucky to be part of it. 

 

Tony

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Guest Voodoo

Statement : Wigan Casino was Crap

Who says this? Who has said this ?Anyone who has ever said this didn't get it !! or didn't go....They definitely didn't feel it .

Statement : They Played pop crap...

How elitist can you get !! Yes they played commercial soul...some folk liked that(whats wrong with that ?). And me included slated those who liked it because we felt it was pop crap....i was wrong.....Soul is for everyone and anyone.

Anyway you only had to go into 'M's' to get away from it.

There was many aspects to the casino that made it great.....Crap NOOOOO Way.

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As I went EVERY week from 73-78 the derision was not from me I was reiterating comments laid here and elsewhere that it was not all that... and yes, I would agree made by folk who, I believe, never went.

 

I was hoping to see some of the GREAT tunes that were played, that we've forgotten about.

 

Where's Mr. Freeman when you need him   :) 

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As I went EVERY week from 73-78 the derision was not from me I was reiterating comments laid here and elsewhere that it was not all that... and yes, I would agree made by folk who, I believe, never went.

 

I was hoping to see some of the GREAT tunes that were played, that we've forgotten about.

 

Where's Mr. Freeman when you need him   :) 

 

I know what you meant in your original question.

Trouble is, there was a topic recently and I posted a really long list of titles but no way am I typing that lot out again LOL

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Taken from my all time top 100 podcasts

 


99 RITA & THE TIARAS - GONE WITH THE WIND IS MY LOVE (DORE)


98 STEMMONS EXPRESS - WOMAN LOVE THIEF (KARMA)


97 LESLIE UGGAMS - DON'T YOU EVEN CARE (ATLANTIC)


95 REPARATA & THE DELRONS - PANIC (MALA)


94 SAXIE RUSSELL - PSYCHEDELIC SOUL (THOMAS)


92 TOBI LEGEND - TIME WILL PASS YOU BY (MALA)


91 RUFUS LUMLEY - STRONGER THAN ME (RCA)

89 POOKIE HUDSON - THIS GETS TO ME (JAMIE)


88 THE HIGH KEYS - LIVING A LIE (VERVE)


87 THE EMBERS - WATCH OUT GIRL (MGM)


86 CHECKERBOARD SQUARES - DOUBLE COOKIN' (VILLA)


84 COURT DAVIS - TRY TO THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING (EAST COAST)


83 LILLIE BRYANT - MEET ME HALFWAY (TAY-STER)


81 EDDIE DAY & THE FOUR BARS - GUESS WHO LOVES YOU (SHRINE) 


 
80 BOBBY HUTTON - LEND A HAND (ABC)


79 GLORIA JONES - TAINTED LOVE (CHAMPION)


77 NANCY WILSON - THE END OF OUR LOVE (CAPITOL)


76 BILLY PROPHET - WHAT CAN I DO (SUE)


75 RONNIE MCNEIR - SITTING IN MY CLASS (DE-TO)


74 GARNET MIMMS - LOOKING FOR YOU (UNITED ARTISTS)


73 ELOISE LAWS - LOVE FACTORY (MUSIC MERCHANT)


72 E. RODNEY JONES - R & B TIME (TUFF)


69 GEORGE BLACKWELL - CAN'T LOSE MY HEAD (SMOKE)


66 TONY CLARKE - LANDSLIDE (CHESS)


65 THE MONITORS - CRYING IN THE NIGHT (MOTOWN)


64 JERRY WILLIAMS - IF YOU ASK ME (CALLA)

60 LOU RAGLAND - I TRAVEL ALONE (AMY)


59 RONNIE & ROBYN - SIDRA'S THEME (SIDRA)


58 EDDIE PARKER - I'M GONE (AWAKE)


57 THE BELLES - DON'T PRETEND (MIRWOOD)

55 MORRIS CHESTNUT - TOO DARN SOULFUL (AMY)

53 DELREYS INCORPORATED - DESTINATION UNKNOWN (TAMPETE)


52 GENE CHANDLER - I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF (CONSTELLATION)



49 THE REFLECTIONS - LIKE ADAM AND EVE (ABC)


48 ADAM'S APPLES - DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON THIS WORLD (BRUNSWICK)


47 THE WORLD COLUMN - SO IS THE SUN (TOWER)


46 REGGIE GARNER - HOT LINE (CAPITOL)


44 DENA BARNES - IF YOU EVER WALK OUT OF MY LIFE (INFERNO)


43 JIMMIE RAYE - PHILLY DOG AROUND THE WORLD (KKC)


42 MEL BRITT - SHE'LL COME RUNNING BACK (FIP)

39 LITTLE RITCHIE - JUST ANOTHER HEARTACHE (SOUND STAGE 7)


37 PAUL ANKA - I CAN'T HELP LOVING YOU (RCA)


36 YVONNE BAKER - YOU DIDN'T SAY A WORD (PARKWAY)


32 SAM WILLIAMS - LOVE SLIPPED THRU MY FINGERS (TOWER)


31 DEAN COURTNEY - I'LL ALWAYS NEED YOU (RCA)


30 THE DEL LARKS - JOB OPENING (QUEEN CITY)


29 THE GROUP FEAT. CECIL WASHINGTON - I DON'T LIKE TO LOSE (PROPHONICS)


28 HERBERT HUNTER - I WAS BORN TO LOVE YOU (SPAR)


27 BERNIE WILLIAMS - EVER AGAIN (BELL)



24 WILLIE MITCHELL - THE CHAMPION (HI)


23 STANLEY MITCHELL - GET IT BABY (DYNAMO)



21 DETROIT EXECUTIVES - COOL OFF (PAMELINE) 
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19 POINTER SISTERS - SEND HIM BACK (ATLANTIC)


16 THE FLIRTATIONS - STRONGER THAN HER LOVE (FESTIVAL)


15 AL KENT - THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN ACTING LATELY (RIC TIC)


14 CHAPTER FIVE - YOU CAN'T MEAN IT (CBS)


13 LOU PRIDE - I'M COMUN' HOME IN THE MORNUN' (SUEMI)


12 LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS - BETTER USE YOUR HEAD (UNITED ARTISTS)


11 BETTY BOO - SAY IT ISN'T SO (GRAPEVINE)

9 FRANKIE (LOVE MAN) CROCKER - TON OF DYNAMITE (TURBO)


8 THE SKULL SNAPS - I'M YOUR PIMP (GSF)

4 THE COASTERS - CRAZY BABY (ATCO)


3 THE EPITOME OF SOUND - YOU DON'T LOVE ME (SANDBAG)


2 DONI BURDICK - BARI TRACK (SOUND IMPRESSION)


1 THE YUM YUMS - GONNA BE A BIG THING (ABC) 
 
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not forgetting, to name but a few

 

benny sigler - who you gonna turn to

john drevars - the closer she gets

cautions no other way

paula durante - if he were mine

legends - deep inside

harley hatcher - soul hustler

ad libs - new york in the dark

rex garvin - you dont need no help

sam williams - love slipped thru my fingers

jc messina - time wont let me

prince and princess - stick together

pat powdrill - do it

7th avenue aviators

ray agee - im losing again

frank foster - harlem rumble

gwen owens - lies

richard anthony - no good

eddie daye - guess who loves you

little johnny hamilton - oh how i love you

bell boys on jamar

charles brandy - i cant get enough of you baby

 

and so on, all great tunes and proper dancers, ah the memories :)

Edited by grant
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It was spectacularly crap, both the building fabric & some of the music but that's the reason we loved the place so much, like any great thing it had fabulous high's & tremendous low's but they were our high's & low's and the outside world never did or would understand it. I remember the first time we went from the Mecca to Wigan on the way home in 73 & thinking what a dump but I couldn't stop smiling like a giddy kid & shaking as I  crept onto the edge of that now infamous dance floor for my first Wigan experience, I'm tingling now just remembering it. :hypo::sweatingbullets:

Spot. :shades:

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Taken from my all time top 100 podcasts

 

99 RITA & THE TIARAS - GONE WITH THE WIND IS MY LOVE (DORE)

98 STEMMONS EXPRESS - WOMAN LOVE THIEF (KARMA)

97 LESLIE UGGAMS - DON'T YOU EVEN CARE (ATLANTIC)

95 REPARATA & THE DELRONS - PANIC (MALA)

94 SAXIE RUSSELL - PSYCHEDELIC SOUL (THOMAS)

92 TOBI LEGEND - TIME WILL PASS YOU BY (MALA)

91 RUFUS LUMLEY - STRONGER THAN ME (RCA)

89 POOKIE HUDSON - THIS GETS TO ME (JAMIE)

88 THE HIGH KEYS - LIVING A LIE (VERVE)

87 THE EMBERS - WATCH OUT GIRL (MGM)

86 CHECKERBOARD SQUARES - DOUBLE COOKIN' (VILLA)

84 COURT DAVIS - TRY TO THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING (EAST COAST)

83 LILLIE BRYANT - MEET ME HALFWAY (TAY-STER)

81 EDDIE DAY & THE FOUR BARS - GUESS WHO LOVES YOU (SHRINE) 

 
80 BOBBY HUTTON - LEND A HAND (ABC)

79 GLORIA JONES - TAINTED LOVE (CHAMPION)

77 NANCY WILSON - THE END OF OUR LOVE (CAPITOL)

76 BILLY PROPHET - WHAT CAN I DO (SUE)

75 RONNIE MCNEIR - SITTING IN MY CLASS (DE-TO)

74 GARNET MIMMS - LOOKING FOR YOU (UNITED ARTISTS)

73 ELOISE LAWS - LOVE FACTORY (MUSIC MERCHANT)

72 E. RODNEY JONES - R & B TIME (TUFF)

69 GEORGE BLACKWELL - CAN'T LOSE MY HEAD (SMOKE)

66 TONY CLARKE - LANDSLIDE (CHESS)

65 THE MONITORS - CRYING IN THE NIGHT (MOTOWN)

64 JERRY WILLIAMS - IF YOU ASK ME (CALLA)

60 LOU RAGLAND - I TRAVEL ALONE (AMY)

59 RONNIE & ROBYN - SIDRA'S THEME (SIDRA)

58 EDDIE PARKER - I'M GONE (AWAKE)

57 THE BELLES - DON'T PRETEND (MIRWOOD)

55 MORRIS CHESTNUT - TOO DARN SOULFUL (AMY)

53 DELREYS INCORPORATED - DESTINATION UNKNOWN (TAMPETE)

52 GENE CHANDLER - I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF (CONSTELLATION)

49 THE REFLECTIONS - LIKE ADAM AND EVE (ABC)

48 ADAM'S APPLES - DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON THIS WORLD (BRUNSWICK)

47 THE WORLD COLUMN - SO IS THE SUN (TOWER)

46 REGGIE GARNER - HOT LINE (CAPITOL)

44 DENA BARNES - IF YOU EVER WALK OUT OF MY LIFE (INFERNO)

43 JIMMIE RAYE - PHILLY DOG AROUND THE WORLD (KKC)

42 MEL BRITT - SHE'LL COME RUNNING BACK (FIP)

39 LITTLE RITCHIE - JUST ANOTHER HEARTACHE (SOUND STAGE 7)

37 PAUL ANKA - I CAN'T HELP LOVING YOU (RCA)

36 YVONNE BAKER - YOU DIDN'T SAY A WORD (PARKWAY)

32 SAM WILLIAMS - LOVE SLIPPED THRU MY FINGERS (TOWER)

31 DEAN COURTNEY - I'LL ALWAYS NEED YOU (RCA)

30 THE DEL LARKS - JOB OPENING (QUEEN CITY)

29 THE GROUP FEAT. CECIL WASHINGTON - I DON'T LIKE TO LOSE (PROPHONICS)

28 HERBERT HUNTER - I WAS BORN TO LOVE YOU (SPAR)

27 BERNIE WILLIAMS - EVER AGAIN (BELL)

24 WILLIE MITCHELL - THE CHAMPION (HI)

23 STANLEY MITCHELL - GET IT BABY (DYNAMO)

21 DETROIT EXECUTIVES - COOL OFF (PAMELINE) 

  •  
 

 

19 POINTER SISTERS - SEND HIM BACK (ATLANTIC)

16 THE FLIRTATIONS - STRONGER THAN HER LOVE (FESTIVAL)

15 AL KENT - THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN ACTING LATELY (RIC TIC)

14 CHAPTER FIVE - YOU CAN'T MEAN IT (CBS)

13 LOU PRIDE - I'M COMUN' HOME IN THE MORNUN' (SUEMI)

12 LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS - BETTER USE YOUR HEAD (UNITED ARTISTS)

11 BETTY BOO - SAY IT ISN'T SO (GRAPEVINE)

9 FRANKIE (LOVE MAN) CROCKER - TON OF DYNAMITE (TURBO)

8 THE SKULL SNAPS - I'M YOUR PIMP (GSF)

4 THE COASTERS - CRAZY BABY (ATCO)

3 THE EPITOME OF SOUND - YOU DON'T LOVE ME (SANDBAG)

2 DONI BURDICK - BARI TRACK (SOUND IMPRESSION)

1 THE YUM YUMS - GONNA BE A BIG THING (ABC) 

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seriously though if you took out what had gone before wigan and blackpool mecca discoveries you wouldnt be left with much would you?

[above list]

I think it's more about how the above records sounded, and also the impact they had on you in that venue, packed to the rafters with hardly any space to dance front, back or middle, or hardly any space on the surrounding carpet to even be a voyeur. Like all of us, I heard lots of records at other venues before venturing to Wigan, but hearing stuff like Wombat or Don Thomas for the first time at Wigan was phenomenal. Seemed to give the records another edge. Could it be like hearing Richard Temple at Blackpool one week then hearing it at again at The Torch on your first visit there?

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The Casino was Top Draw for me nothing to touch it, 73/76. Bad bits don't remember any worth slagging the place for!!!.

Oh yes hated wallowing around in piss in the bog's use to go in on tip toes to stop the leather soles getting to wet.

Made you look taller less chance of being robbed OR may be that was knuckle duster I had on, lol.

 A bit clandestine apparently. Records turned over at a hell of a rate. Happy Days.

 

 

Atb Irish

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Guest gordon russell

whilst some have listed plenty of soul records played there......it is also known for the most amount of pop records...like it or not......we can all love our time at this place....but,the fullness of time has shown that tons of pop tunes were played......What it also had was that uniqueness/underground feeling where many a lifelong freindship was forged

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Guest Matt Male

It was also about belonging to a "scene" back then. Wigan was where you met other people that shared your taste in fashion and music.....

 

 

Like Facebook?

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whilst some have listed plenty of soul records played there......it is also known for the most amount of pop records...like it or not......we can all love our time at this place....but,the fullness of time has shown that tons of pop tunes were played......What it also had was that uniqueness/underground feeling where many a lifelong freindship was forged

 

 

 

...tons of pop tunes...???

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Carlena - Just brothers

I'm Gone - Eddie Parker

You really Made It Good To Me - TY Karim

The Jokes On You - Kenny Gamble

Not My Girl - Johhny Hampton

Just Like You Did Me - Yvonne Vernee

Lots and lots more goodies!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Guest Brian Fradgley

Wigan was an essential part of the evolution of Northern Soul with some GREAT  DJ'S and deserves it's place in the "Northern Soul Hall of Fame" but coming from the generation of the time, and living where I do, I would still rateThe Torch at Tunstall, Catacombs Wolverhampton, and Blackpool Mecca as influential - and I went to all of them.

The venue just before my exposure to "NORTHERN sOUL" which unfortunately I never went to was the Twisted Wheel but this must have been THE launchpad.

In the West Midlands The Crypt in Dudley, the Chateau Impney in Droitwich on a sunday afternoon,, and the cellar in the Kingfisher Country Club in Wall Heath with "farmer" Carl Dene were all influential.

Memorable also were VaVas at Bolton, Tiffanys, Halesowen, Old Hill Plaza, TheOctopus in Wolverhampton, Raven at Whitchurch,, and Tiffanys Newcastle..

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Eddie Daye and the 4 Bars

Mr Soul

Little Ann

Paris

Combinations

Imaginations

Frankie Beverly

Moses Dillard

Betty Boo

Court Davis

Nomads

Eddie Holman (Not Wanted/Hurt)

John and the Weirdest

Yvonne Vernee

Don Gardner

Cecil Washington

Exportations

King Tutt

Pages

Daybreak

Charles Johnson

Cheryl Berdell

Arthur Adams

Phylis Hyman

Bobby Womack (So Many Sides)

Eddie Jacobs Exchange

Construction

Players 1V

Howard Guyton

Alex Taylor

Skip Mahoney

Keni Burke

Tommy Tate

William Powell

That was Wigan …....

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I only went once, 74 or 75, but I do remember that I thought the music was amazing though I didn't know what anything was.

I never went again for a number of reasons; had a poor experience as the niter I went to had someone on live and my ticket turned out to be a forgery ( got in through a fire escape/exit doors); also took forever to get there on the train; worked all day Saturday and didn't do substances so the all night thing was too much.

The music must have got to me but I never really got into NS until the 90s.

Cheers

Paul

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Guest JerryL

So, we see it time and time again.

 

Wigan was crap.

 

They played a lot of Pop Crap ( Didn't they all??)

 

So, how how about a defintive list of the GREAT stuff played at the old Place ??

 

Edited by JerryL
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 There were some records that only sounded right  at the casino, i remember  john madara,  play the game of love c/u ( eddie regan  playin hide and seek ) was the top sound for richard for a couple of weeks, sounded absolutely electrifying,but then, once it was released , and playing at home , not quite the same,  what about earl wright thumb a ride, perfect for the place, i dont care where they were played first and who discovered them ( actually its not true , i am interested in that stuff,) but what went on at wigan was an  altogether more primal experience, the" you had to be there" cliche  holds true,i was a regular from 74 till it closed, the mecca may have discovered some of the records first, but would you fancy spending your night out in a room full of ian levines ?, come on ,wigan was magic,   hope youre well tony, catch up with you in the spring somewhere .

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 There were some records that only sounded right  at the casino, i remember  john madara,  play the game of love c/u ( eddie regan  playin hide and seek ) was the top sound for richard for a couple of weeks, sounded absolutely electrifying,but then, once it was released , and playing at home , not quite the same,  what about earl wright thumb a ride, perfect for the place, i dont care where they were played first and who discovered them ( actually its not true , i am interested in that stuff,) but what went on at wigan was an  altogether more primal experience, the" you had to be there" cliche  holds true,i was a regular from 74 till it closed, the mecca may have discovered some of the records first, but would you fancy spending your night out in a room full of ian levines ?, come on ,wigan was magic,   hope youre well tony, catch up with you in the spring somewhere .

What does this mean? It's a genuine question.

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for me i didnt like the guy , never felt he was one of the lads , and the atmosphere at the mecca could not touch the casino, similarly i found the mecca crowd a bit up themselves ,a shower of tommy hunts .

 

 

And you called me Mad.. :D

 

Be good to see ya bud, got the new 'un in Rochdale if ya fancy it.

 

MTFM

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Guest giant

For the first 18 months I went there, Wigan was the greatest place on earth, it was my life really, the best venue ever, the best music ever, the best people ever.  If you weren't there, you don't know, so give it a rest with all this pop stuff business.  The music was just phenomenal.

 

spot on Pete it did the business and like you say the music was phenomenal.

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 There were some records that only sounded right  at the casino, i remember  john madara,  play the game of love c/u ( eddie regan  playin hide and seek ) was the top sound for richard for a couple of weeks, sounded absolutely electrifying,but then, once it was released , and playing at home , not quite the same,  what about earl wright thumb a ride, perfect for the place, i dont care where they were played first and who discovered them ( actually its not true , i am interested in that stuff,) but what went on at wigan was an  altogether more primal experience, the" you had to be there" cliche  holds true,i was a regular from 74 till it closed, the mecca may have discovered some of the records first, but would you fancy spending your night out in a room full of ian levines ?, come on ,wigan was magic,   hope youre well tony, catch up with you in the spring somewhere .

 

Room full of Ian Levine's??? Was all going swimmingly until that remark. :lol: .Wigan had a buzz about it,but so did the Mecca.Different, but the same.Did both venues enough to have an opinion.

 

All the best "tommy hunt".

Edited by KevH
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some (Lots of stunning records) you didnt hear anywhere else

 

mixed with crap pop stuff

 

all depended which djs you liked

 

RICHARD /ALAN RHODES / PAT BRADY / ETC ---- TOP IN MY VEIW THEN

 

couple i wont say due to legal reasons - played utter shite

 

THEN THERE WAS THE LEGEND THAT WAS MARTYN ELLIS

 

few others were great oldies djs and linked the Torch what had shut - to Wigan

so you got a brief overlap of some records

 

THE PLACE THOUGH JUST TOOK YOUR BREATH AWAY

JUST ELECTRIC THE MOMENT YOU GOT THROUGH THE DOOR -------- STOP PUSHING AT THE BACK

Edited by keithw
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as said above wigan was great for the first 18 months but then it all went downhill, a lot of the people that were joining the scene at that time were likely to have been there because a mate might have said 'hey i go to this great club want to come on saturday' rather be drawn to it like a magnet like previous kids were, so when russ dropped footsie they thought thats what it was standards dropped and things got silly. personally i wish we were looking back at a wigan without russ, i know it was his baby but i sure wish it had been someone elses and we wouldnt be reading this topic today...

post-410-0-84535100-1362997229_thumb.jpg

Edited by ric-tic
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