Dj's I Would Love To See Back Behind The Decks

[binsy]

Ian Clarke, without a doubt my biggest influence in taste and style and a top bloke to boot, could read the floor so well.

 

ATB

Jim.

Totally with you on that one Jim, I was a regular at Stafford and as a young bloke influenced by Keb And Guy and had some great times but if you asked me who my favourite Dj  was  it would definitely be Ian.

 

As you say he read the floor really well, could play cheap,rare,northern,crossover the whole shooting match.

 

Sorely missed and i got a wonderful Lovations single from him last week.

[Len]

I've always thought D.Jing was an art form that comes to some people naturally, and others not at all. Some say "It's all about the music" - It's not.

 

Experience makes them even better of course.

 

All the best,

 

Len  

Edited May 15, 2013 by LEN

[Shsdave]

 

I'll have Des Parker, and Johnny Beggs too, lets bring Rob Mariot back too, I know he's sold up now though.

Des is resident at Solid Hit in London & various other nights, not as prolific as he used to be bookings wise maybe but he's still there entertaining with brilliant stuff including unreleased bits & pieces.....Johnny too is still doing the business as far as I'm aware.

[Sooty]

 

 

 

It seems to me mate from reading all the threads over recent weeks....which we used to get monthly via Manifesto back in the day.....then it appears ripe for 'summink' like we experienced Mark!x When becoming active in '93...this thread as laid out was being discussed every week-end! I had to listen to it allll the way up the M6 and alll the way back down....whilst driving the minibus smiling!hehe!x

The comments in the vid were made 10 years later....and here we are in this thread....10 years later! Nowt's changed as to 'concerns' out ther...!x Good to hear from you Mark...X

 

 

 

After listening and reading all....I love both camps. As Chris/Richard said...it needs both camps. Irish Greg...Butch....Dean Anderson.....i'll tell u this if they hadn't have shared their music en masse as they did/have....then I wouldn't have enjoyed meself as I have! I luv'd sharing the decks with them all everytime and hearing their stuff. Then the Roger Banks...Chris Kings...Brian Rae...and yes Derek Allen's....RIP....all added their 'thing' to the occasion....as well as tunes!!

I only had 1 policy at the A/Nighters I had the say in.....only dancing DJ's could DJ!!! Revolutionary i know!!! We had over 30 Dancing DJ's come through The Maltings/St Ives all/nighters in the 90's that never got the chance anywhere else! Sean Chapman I think came via that route when he returned after years being away!x....and it worked from the stage and among the Soulies on the floor too!! As Shifty sez...they were awesome nights...because it was all done for the same reason....to enjoy...no bo**ox!!!x I had a list of over 40 DJ's and Soul Club promoters wanting a craic at its peak!! 800+ were piling in....for a 'party'...with proper music and no yaya pass the Moet mallarkey!!x

 

Personally...as a punter...I don't care who is playing or what everyone else is doing....if a tune gets me...i'm dancing....alone if necessary !! It's never been an issue for me as to what to play or how/when to play it. It's 'natural' for me to just get up there...dunno why...!....I was born like it! But...Len's approach to think about it...in measure...is  a good thing for all to do. When flicking thru your tunes...force your ar*e to wobble when looking at whether to take that tune that you like...but aren't sure if everyone else will....and spin it....among the guranteeds!! Have faith in YOUR belief and ability...and passion for the music YOU have invested your money and effort into. That's the key for any DJ. The music is good enuff....I reckon....believe you are...and share it with confidence! I've done that all me life as a DJ....and I look up as i forget they is out there sometimes cos i;m singing or summink.......and the floors full......! Guaranteed!x £1 tune or £1,000....it was 'right' for the moment....and every tune has that moment...make it yours too!x

 

LUV

SOOTY

X

 

....I asked all the DJ's and others some other questions that have been pondered/discussed in here. It will make good chat for when it is released...am on it!!!x

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Edited May 15, 2013 by SOOTY

[NEV]

Sooty ,looking at your video clip ,unless I'm mistaken ,all the clips are from big room " northern soul " events / nighters ?

In which case I would woleheartedly agree ,the dj should be able to command the room with his mic as well as his records .

But in nearly all the places I go to ( rare soul nights /nighters ) ,most people couldn't give two hoots about a dj's ramblings and prefer to hear someone play great records and more so ,be able to put a great set together .

I'm more familiar with the term " so and so played a fookin awesome set last night " and never .." So and so didnt half use the mic we'll last night "

For me ,yes a dj should have that enthusiasm ,but the crux is putting a great set together ,using imagination ,but also know his crowd !

P.s

Maybe Butch falls into the category of " not so good on the mic ,but great set on the night " because let's face it ..it doesn't sound right saying " C/ U " 20 odd times in a row Lol

[Sooty]

Your bang on Nev!x A/N or big functions need big players and big records. Like Russ...when I say 'big' records...I mean wots in the groove wise! I've followed Butch and the best of em with £1ers....and rammed it. So it is in the groove whatever methinks!x  I would put it in the DJ/Music order though for such large events. As someone who run a succesful Monthly Soul night for 5 years...more intimate...then the music did come before the party as such! That's why I finished the nights off to ensure everyone went home happy...at the end!!x I still do....whatever happens at the wedding/function party etc...I make sure they all go home happy...at the end! That's what folk remember mostly!

 

BUT...I remember those empty dance floors here and there...'93...94....when certain 'bold' DJ's or ones who had an obscure collection...cleared the floor!!! I LOVED most of their stuff...and quite often there was me and a handfull dancing....whilst the masses went to the bar or moaned on the dance floor edge!!!hehe!x Now..the records???? Emperor of My Baby's heart....She'll be Gone...Hyperions.......all ahead of their time i recall!! Even Carla Thomas took 2/3 spins by meself before it got going at Soul Nights...broke it as such at A/Nighters first....emptied Wiinsford floor first time out....GOBSMACKED I was!!!hehe! So...we can't please all of the people and all that....but we can look to be aware of what it is folk are there for! An enjoyable night...some memory's...and something new....all in moderation! That kind of approach would go down at large or small gatherings i reckon...and din;t do me any harm whilst treking!x

 

LUV
SOOTY
X

[Len]

Sooty ,looking at your video clip ,unless I'm mistaken ,all the clips are from big room " northern soul " events / nighters ?

In which case I would woleheartedly agree ,the dj should be able to command the room with his mic as well as his records .

But in nearly all the places I go to ( rare soul nights /nighters ) ,most people couldn't give two hoots about a dj's ramblings and prefer to hear someone play great records and more so ,be able to put a great set together .

I'm more familiar with the term " so and so played a fookin awesome set last night " and never .." So and so didnt half use the mic we'll last night "

For me ,yes a dj should have that enthusiasm ,but the crux is putting a great set together ,using imagination ,but also know his crowd !

P.s

Maybe Butch falls into the category of " not so good on the mic ,but great set on the night " because let's face it ..it doesn't sound right saying " C/ U " 20 odd times in a row Lol

 

Yes agreed. I personally don't mean (as you say) 'D.J's ramblings', that's not what I meant, I mean the 'vibe' of a D.J, and that comes out in how they put a set together - their personality is just that.

 

All the best,

 

Len  

Edited May 16, 2013 by LEN

[Sooty]

'Confidence' is the word I think we are looking for. A confident DJ will do the job. I've seen the likes never touch the mic....and had it away. Then there's the likes of me and the Chris Kings etc....who aren't phased by the situation but....don;t think I or any of them don;t pay attention to what they are playing. Among my casualness...I put in some now established unknowns or forgottens since the 70's and indeed surprises!! Chris and others may do that through experience and intent.....mine was done innocently....without the knowledge...and purely done on what was in that groove...and how it made me feel. I shared that...it worked......unplanned....but wouldn't recommend it! You'd have to live in a box listening to 100 tunes over and over for 15 years to start!!!hehe!x

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LUV
SOOTY
X

[Raremusicdirect]

I'm all for new DJ talent & support the ethic entirely....but most of the people from the relatively recent past mentioned so far could set a room alight with their personality alone, before they had even put a record on the decks, the anticipation was palpable....not something I see much these days Im afraid.

There are many DJ's out there with great records, but I'm afraid a lot dont have the personality or skill to set a venue on fire....I would also add that promoters on the whole (not all) dont help, a venue should have a clear music policy & the residents & guests should be selected to drive that policy forward....punters then feel part of something special, its all a bit wishy washy these days...the ability to find, play & make records massive is the realm of the few these days, the only criteria for a record being played & going 'big' was quality, nothing to do with price or rareity, altho many records that were loitering in boxes quite cheaply (& still are) later due to demand, turned out to be quite Rare.

Best Russ

 

Hi Russ,

 

Isn't

"most of the people from the relatively recent past mentioned so far could set a room alight with their personality alone"

a part of the times you were in. I   mean, records hard to locate, djs working had to locate (and pay) for them, only being able to hear at the venue etc all builds to the djs prescence being a "buzz".........all thats gone, long gone.  The internet and modern life has replaced most of those factors..........(and its a generalisation because many of the new and progressive djs work very very hard to find new things)

 

I have heard a couple of "big name" djs from the past (one from vinyl, one from cd) who behave like we are back in those times, but it doesnt often work......we have a different ball game now..........and from what I can see it only works in certain oldies venues............ I really think the knowledge of "punters" is far greater now and the balance between dj and punter has changed (I will create a thread for it) ...........

 

I agree with most of the second paragraph ; but there are venues out there worth travelling for (imo) but on the whole just two many venues, which because of the "only ever great" revue system we have,  can last quiet well into the future......  :-)

 

I would just rather look forward I guess.........

Edited May 18, 2013 by RareMusicDirect