Going Out Just Can Be Arsed With It Anymore To Many Do's On

[Guest Carl Dixon]

The best sound system I can recall was in a disco in Hull called Scamps in the early 70's. Nothing has beaten it since. You could hear the high frequencies, great bass reproduction and yes, at times, crackle and hiss, but that is inherent on the master tapes and the record etc. The DJ would also equalise the record too with his pfl button on the mixer, so it would sound as near as damn it to the previous spin. If you think about the thousands of studios, engineers, recording processes involved with the production of recorded songs, the least a DJ can do it try and compliment the recording by doing his/her best to ensure when played its fidelity is paramount. I know we are all different and I guess age sometimes has a little to do with it, but some people actually wind the HF down so you cannot hear the hi hats or tambourines for example, which are critical with this type of music. Maybe we have been spoilt at home with MP3's and good hi fi's lol!! Yes, I agree about the expensive records sounding good too. When setting up a gig, there needs to be a punter down the far end and one at the front helping balance the stereo and audio levels at the beginning of the gig. Then put a mark on the max volume and do not increase it. Test with three different records to average etc...After all, my ears are more valuable than any sound that goes in them ha ha!! How many gigs or internet streams have you only heard one side of the stereo coming out for example! Criminal!

Edited September 21, 2013 by Carl Dixon

[Keeper]

This 'scene' has been 'dead' for donkey's years and dies again periodically in some people's eyes; depends what you want out of it I guess and its fair to say that those who appear to want what I do are in a minority and have been for quite some time. Hey ho, if people sat on their arses and did nothing when Wigan closed its doors half the people on here wouldn't ever have got involved at all, myself included.

 

The days of loads of quality new discoveries being played to buzzin rooms loaded with right up-for-it obsessives have gone for good, as have the days of a handful of major nighters scattered around the country acting as a focal point for what you might (or might not) call the 'hardcore' i.e. those looking for something beyong retro kitsch. That's sad for sure, in my eyes anyway, and I'd absolutely love it to be different but various things - age, economics, access to records / knowledge, egos i.e. everyone's a dj, saturation, watering things down, grabbing what you can, its all about me and all the other stuff that's been mentioned already - dictate that that's the way it is and, in my view, the way its gonna stay. (If you think it through and look at the things which underpinned and drove it, along with the passage and ravages of time lol,  that was always gonna struggle in the world we live in now wasn't it?)

 

Personally, I'd kill for another early - mid eighties but it ain't gonna happen again, ever. In the absence of that I'll settle for the odd night out with like minded people who want largely the same things i do out of it. Those people and places are fewer and farther between for sure but I'd like to think that as long as there's people left who genuinely care about it they'll find each other and make something worthwhile happen, they always have.

Phil dont post anything else for a while ...I'm filling up .....looking forward to hearing lots more "new" (TO ME ANYWAY ) stuff ...as i do nearly everytime i go out (and no i'm not 11 )

[Kev Cane]

This 'scene' has been 'dead' for donkey's years and dies again periodically in some people's eyes; depends what you want out of it I guess and its fair to say that those who appear to want what I do are in a minority and have been for quite some time. Hey ho, if people sat on their arses and did nothing when Wigan closed its doors half the people on here wouldn't ever have got involved at all, myself included.

 

The days of loads of quality new discoveries being played to buzzin rooms loaded with right up-for-it obsessives have gone for good, as have the days of a handful of major nighters scattered around the country acting as a focal point for what you might (or might not) call the 'hardcore' i.e. those looking for something beyong retro kitsch. That's sad for sure, in my eyes anyway, and I'd absolutely love it to be different but various things - age, economics, access to records / knowledge, egos i.e. everyone's a dj, saturation, watering things down, grabbing what you can, its all about me and all the other stuff that's been mentioned already - dictate that that's the way it is and, in my view, the way its gonna stay. (If you think it through and look at the things which underpinned and drove it, along with the passage and ravages of time lol,  that was always gonna struggle in the world we live in now wasn't it?)

 

Personally, I'd kill for another early - mid eighties but it ain't gonna happen again, ever. In the absence of that I'll settle for the odd night out with like minded people who want largely the same things i do out of it. Those people and places are fewer and farther between for sure but I'd like to think that as long as there's people left who genuinely care about it they'll find each other and make something worthwhile happen, they always have.

Post of the thread by a country mile Phil, in a nutshell

 

Kev

[Mak]

Are those two records the sum total of the Northern Soul scene 75-85 then?

Sorry Macca forgot shite like

 

Footsee

Guys from Uncle

Frankie Valli

Reparata and the delrons

etc etc etc etc etc

 

You know what I mean  surely

[macca]

Without going down that old road, the Wigan only played Pop crap road, I'll just say that for every dag (pellets of shite that cling to a sheeps arse) there was a sublime record. I know what you mean though, mate.

[Little-stevie]

So many events and so much choice, just get it while you can.. Long time dead.... While lot of you gloom merchants post on here, thousands of folk are out there with mates and still loving the soul... Less keyboard and more dancefloor...

Edited September 22, 2013 by little-stevie

[Steve G]

To give you a bit of historical perspective on the mid 80's....there was an upfront and vibrant scene (Stafford, 100 Club etc.) but I can also tell you there was a massive "oldies only" scene too. The scene was divided then as well, as anyone playing 60's newies or modern at the time will tell you. 

 

I was a resident at both The Fleet and The Wirrina in Peterborough for example and can remember now the repeated requests for "Right track" and "Night owl"....and the disappointed faces when I wouldn't play them.

 

The only differences with today are there are fewer punters to go round, more DJ's / venues, and more people content to just have a social night out as long as there is a background of some "familiar" music. A lot of the passion has gone

.

Edited September 22, 2013 by Steve G

[Paulb]

The scene is dead y'all. All that's left is an ageing nostalgia scene or young ish djs that collect multi genre soul music and play it in bars and clubs to people that enjoy it but aren't fanatical.

The days of any kind of mass underground music scene are over. Just take comfort in the fact you were all part of something magical that has never and will never be seen again.

[Guest BAKUNIN]

When I have heard more fresh danceable tunes on the CD in the car on my way to a do than I have heard at the venue to which I have travelled then from a music point of view I  know I am in trouble.

Edited September 22, 2013 by BAKUNIN

[Paulb]

I feel lucky to have caught the arse end of it all ten yrs ago. Some great nighters such as Middleton and CIS as well as sheridans, goldbourne, etc. And also some really great, cool people.

The coolness has well and truly gone now. And that plays a big part in attracting and then keeping a younger crowd.

[Guest penny]

So many events and so much choice, just get it while you can.. Long time dead.... While lot of you gloom merchants post on here, thousands of folk are out there with mates and still loving the soul... Less keyboard and more dancefloor...

I think the point people are making though, is that they were going out but have stopped cos there are 100s of dos with 30-50 people in each instead of a few great dos with 100s in and these various smaller dos just aren't professional or exciting enough to be worth making much of an effort to attend. far from a variety of dos all thriving, there's a variety of do's all limping on, or so small and unambitious, it's more or less just like going to a pub anyway, a multitude of little social events, more cliquey and each one overly fine tuned musically.

The mod scene is the best, most grotesque example of this lack of unity - every do theres ever been people moan about anything they dont like musically and stop going. I remember outraging some 'mods' with one set at an r&b night for playing the 'wrong sort of r&b'! How british is that? Worst case, you're in a club, with people, with a bar, with good music....only the british could moan in such a situation. But off they trot, no doubt, to start a new do, playing the right sort of r&b...

Infinite Variety is no benefit here, you can have that variety in one good night. What the music deserves is exciting, buzzing clubs with full dancefloors. It's a social event not a facebook page, reflecting just an individual or group of friends.

Europeans must think were mad in this country - we have a great night going, the night starts playing some slight variation on the style so people go and start their own night, eliminating that style...the conclusion is one person at every do, playing their favourite ten records - it's called home.

I imagine we come accross as spoilt and complacent.

From my own point if view, if there were only 10 do's on a year, I'd go to all 10, however far away, cos I'd know they'd be packed and have a good atmosphere. If they didnt suit my tastes exactly then I'd make that compromise like I used to at lifeline etc. Its not all about me after all.

As it is, i'd be reluctant to go to any dos, because I'd anticipate empty rooms and dancefloors and there's something about masterpieces of soul music blasting out to an empty dancefloor that makes me kind of hate humanity! Because most dos are amateurish and crap, I wont go to more than 10 this year anyway, so what has this supposed variety and diversity done for us?

[Guest penny]

I feel lucky to have caught the arse end of it all ten yrs ago. Some great nighters such as Middleton and CIS as well as sheridans, goldbourne, etc. And also some really great, cool people.

The coolness has well and truly gone now. And that plays a big part in attracting and then keeping a younger crowd.

Ha ha, same here paul, some great times. You know it's fucked when the 00s seem like a golden era!

Mik

[Guest Byrney]

To give you a bit of historical perspective on the mid 80's....there was an upfront and vibrant scene (Stafford, 100 Club etc.) but I can also tell you there was a massive "oldies only" scene too. The scene was divided then as well, as anyone playing 60's newies or modern at the time will tell you. 

 

I was a resident at both The Fleet and The Wirrina in Peterborough for example and can remember now the repeated requests for "Right track" and "Night owl"....and the disappointed faces when I wouldn't play them.

 

The only differences with today are there are fewer punters to go round, more DJ's / venues, and more people content to just have a social night out as long as there is a background of some "familiar" music. A lot of the passion has gone

.

Only thing I'd add to this Steve is that even the oldies scene in the 80s had a wider acceptance of sounds compared to today's nostalgia scene. There was a split but today it is so much wider. I went to a handful of oldies nighters and heared things like Vince Apollo and Pat Lewis no one to love. Also did a few spots myself at primarily oldies doos and got away with all sorts, modern, 60 s newies, mid tempo etc. try that now eh ;)

[Steve L]

Thats it then its all over, I'll try and remember that next time I'm dancing to butch's spot at lifeline

[Pete S]

Just as an aside, yes it's a lot to do with the quality of the music and dj's but also don't forget none of us are getting any younger, circumstances change, from having kids to the price of petrol making travel restrictive.  So maybe a lot of people who normally would be out there on the front line just can't do it anymore, even though they might want to.

[Jim Ohara]

why?..its average at best..pretty crap otherwise..

Couldn't agree more,

[hullsoul]

Thank f#ck that's all over then,I enjoyed it for most of my adult life,pity it died just like that without anyone telling me.So what's next...........oh that's right sit on the settee & wait for the grim reaper to come & get me

Come on boys & girls lighten up?Get some mates to have plenty of banter with,put a bit of time & effort in & apply yourselves instead of thinking your perfect night is going to just drop in your lap within walking distance.There's some half descent night's out there not playing the same ol same ol,they aren't all perfect but they never were back in the day like some would have you believe.So yes there's too many nights with loads of wannabe soulies about.......just find the do's that aren't those & go for it.It was never easy in the past why should it be easy now,for those who can't/don't want to try a bit harder the doors that way,nice knowing you but I'll be out most weekends with my mates laughing my tits off while hearing some great music(& yes there'll be some shit played along the way but that's all part of the ride).....anyone fancy a bit of that

Cheers

Martyn

[Little-stevie]

When I have heard more fresh danceable tunes on the CD in the car on my way to a do than I have heard at the venue to which I have travelled then from a music point of view I  know I am in trouble.

... Can you not go to a place where you can hear the tunes on your cd?? Does that place exist??

[Guest BAKUNIN]

... Can you not go to a place where you can hear the tunes on your cd?? Does that place exist??

Lifeline and one or two others maybe mate but as a regular weekly outing not really.

Once a month now for me but "horses for courses" and all that

[macca]

To give you a bit of historical perspective on the mid 80's....there was an upfront and vibrant scene (Stafford, 100 Club etc.) but I can also tell you there was a massive "oldies only" scene too. The scene was divided then as well, as anyone playing 60's newies or modern at the time will tell you. 

 

I was a resident at both The Fleet and The Wirrina in Peterborough for example and can remember now the repeated requests for "Right track" and "Night owl"....and the disappointed faces when I wouldn't play them.

 

The only differences with today are there are fewer punters to go round, more DJ's / venues, and more people content to just have a social night out as long as there is a background of some "familiar" music. A lot of the passion has gone

.

Impatient buggers even then. They only had to wait an hour for Keith W and they'd get the Javells as well. Spoilt for choice.

[Guest penny]

Thats it then its all over, I'll try and remember that next time I'm dancing to butch's spot at lifeline

Fair enough, but I think the point is that, with all the noise in this country about so many people supposedly loving soul music, there should be 1000 people dancing to butch's spot at lifeline. R&B is a narrower field but similarly, there should be 150+ people at every No Way Out.

Why aren't there? Probably cos its easier and cheaper to stay in and play on My Face or go local and hear some chancer spin their boots.

[macca]

Go out and enjoy what you have, we're a long time gone. Can you really substitute the living room for a room full of folk being "taken higher" by the DJ in question? I'm 53, in a relationship, in employment, still able to travel to a venue with a partner with no scene history who loves it all, and I count myself lucky for that. Our ventures are usually weekenders which we plan for months in advance. We all know each other, so there's a kind of unmanufactured togetherness factor which is very, very special. The music is top drawer and most varied. I consider myself a progressive sort, open to new sounds, but still get off on hearing the Del-Larks at 5am from Keith Money or Jimmy Burns from SteveG, Frankie Beverly from Soul Sam and whatever exclusive real deal job Butch might throw at you. It's still out there, you just have to be selective. Like someone else mentioned before, me and my partner factor in other things into the weekend, like meeting up for a 'fraternal lunch' with the crowd, afternoon drinks and bar hopping and "time to yourselves siestas" (mega important) before the evening really kicks off. Some people might scorn this, feeling that it's a million miles from the original ethos of the scene, i.e. spend all day travelling to some grothole, run the gauntlet of the drunks in the town centre, drop your gear and then dance, plough through record boxes or 'verbal' on the same spot all night to any similar-minded nutter. I no longer want that, and even if I did, it's no longer there. My eye is now on Movin' On in Barcelona early December, 'cos I can't make the Prince Phillip Mitchell Soul4Real weekender next month in Bilbao, which pains me mucho. Wake up and live etc...

[hullsoul]

Fair enough, but I think the point is that, with all the noise in this country about so many people supposedly loving soul music, there should be 1000 people dancing to butch's spot at lifeline. R&B is a narrower field but similarly, there should be 150+ people at every No Way Out.

Why aren't there? Probably cos its easier and cheaper to stay in and play on My Face or go local and hear some chancer spin their boots.

Penny

No one said it is easy,it wasn't easy back in the day so why should it be now?Been into our music takes commitment & if people haven't got that commitment any more fine go to your local night,pay lips service to the scene & it's history,be a member of Northern Soul Lite.I don't have a problem with that because I'll somewhere else with 50/60 like minded people & I'm fine with that as I'd rather be with those people than in big hall with 500 who don't get it.All I know is the ethics of the scene I was brought up on are still out there,it just means it's going back to were it started in small clubs away from the mainstream.BRILLIANT.

Cheers

Martyn

[Quinvy]

Some spot on posts on this thread. And to Steve L I would say this. Butch is the best there is, and I used to follow him all over the country, but even he hasn't got any new quality 60's. When you hear him play every other weekend, it's the same stuff. Even his fantastic one off acetates can start to loose their shine.

I can also appreciate that a great many people go out for different reasons than I did, but as I don't drink, and have never been involved with drugs, the music was my reason d'être. If you use the scene as a social life, then that's great. I was always looking for the scene that was eloquently described in Phil T's earlier post. Unfortunately I missed the Stafford era.

Anyway, great thread. Good to know I'm not the only grumpy old man out there.

[Guest penny]

Penny

No one said it is easy,it wasn't easy back in the day so why should it be now?Been into our music takes commitment & if people haven't got that commitment any more fine go to your local night,pay lips service to the scene & it's history,be a member of Northern Soul Lite.I don't have a problem with that because I'll somewhere else with 50/60 like minded people & I'm fine with that as I'd rather be with those people than in big hall with 500 who don't get it.All I know is the ethics of the scene I was brought up on are still out there,it just means it's going back to were it started in small clubs away from the mainstream.BRILLIANT.

Cheers

Martyn

I'm certainly not dreaming of huge halls with 500 in as being the soul nirvana, just making the point that you'd think they would be the case at lifeline, for example,, such is the supposed love of soul in this country.

However, I hate those dos with 50/60 people in, they are exactly what I'm talking about, they arent where anything started, because any newcomer who goes sees a half empty room with a cliquey group in it, their mates djing, probably with shit sound, and are immiediately put off. they're just glorified get-togethers. If there had only been those, I'd have never met half the people who I have, some of who, like stevie on here, I love. Because theres no way I'd drive 100 miles for such a do.

If 5 of these were consolidated into one night, with say, 200, attendees, then watch how better it would be. Even if were getting older and uglier, people attract people, and some curious newcomers walking into a busy 200 capacity venue will experience the music in a far more apt setting than in the back room of a pub, even if the majority are baldy old blokes :-)

However, my experience of scene types is that they like things small and incestuous.

I'm mik, by the way. Must get my own log in sorry.

[SHEFFSOUL]

Sorry Macca forgot shite like

 

Footsee

Guys from Uncle

Frankie Valli

Reparata and the delrons

etc etc etc etc etc

 

You know what I mean  surely

 

 

...just goes to show..peoples opinions are as diverse as the 'scene'...footsee was massive and i still play my original emi disc of the first and best version (aka the sound of soul)..guys from uncle was also massive albeit briefly..frankie valli 'the night' is one of the greatest allniter sounds ever..'Panic' a casino monster and still sounds great..Tony Blackburn..joe 90 theme..and others were much worse..just listen to one of pete S wigan tapes from 74/75...you'll hear how popular some of those records were..

Edited September 22, 2013 by SHEFFSOUL

[paup-ine]

FOR GODS SAKE, SLAP YOURSELVES IN THE FACE.  SOME OF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR BORN.

 

LIVING WITHIN 10 MINS OF AN EVENT, TOO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM BLA BLA BLA.

 

I LIVE AT THE END OF THE LINE, WORK, FAMILY COMMITTMENTS.  RELY ON INTERNET TO CATCH UP

 

OVER THE YEARS. LOOK FORWARD TO ONE OR TWO EVENTS A YEAR.  

 

GO WITH THE FLOW!

 

RANT OVER!!!

 

P 

[SHEFFSOUL]

..and by contrast to the original post..last night i ventured out to a bar in Atlanta nr me where Agent45 was spinning a mix of northern soul,R&B,funky stuff, modern and old school reggae...i heard many very good sounds that were new to me..had a great night time..im sure the punters didnt know the rarity or importance of those discs ..and it didnt matter..they just did their thing..so i'm glad i made the effort..and its more than a 10 minute walk from Sheffield!!!!

[hullsoul]

I'm certainly not dreaming of huge halls with 500 in as being the soul nirvana, just making the point that you'd think they would be the case at lifeline, for example,, such is the supposed love of soul in this country.

However, I hate those dos with 50/60 people in, they are exactly what I'm talking about, they arent where anything started, because any newcomer who goes sees a half empty room with a cliquey group in it, their mates djing, probably with shit sound, and are immiediately put off. they're just glorified get-togethers. If there had only been those, I'd have never met half the people who I have, some of who, like stevie on here, I love. Because theres no way I'd drive 100 miles for such a do.

If 5 of these were consolidated into one night, with say, 200, attendees, then watch how better it would be. Even if were getting older and uglier, people attract people, and some curious newcomers walking into a busy 200 capacity venue will experience the music in a far more apt setting than in the back room of a pub, even if the majority are baldy old blokes :-)

However, my experience of scene types is that they like things small and incestuous.

I'm mik, by the way. Must get my own log in sorry.

Penny........I think Penny suits you ........hello mik

If they did have a love for the music as they say they would do the hard yards but as you point out Lifeline isn't rammed all the time so they are paying lips service as I pointed out.

So all the coffee clubs,cellar clubs where the seeds of our scene were sown where all massive?

I was at Empty Bottles last week with 60/70 in & it was a brilliant night with a full range of ages & music along with some first timers which included some young student types who were made to feel very welcome & were having a ball.I agree that 50/60 in a big room can lack atmosphere that's why I stated small rooms,not half empty rooms.

What if those 5 night's you want to consolidate are in different areas & have different music policies? Or are you advocating all the different genres of our scene should be played under one roof...........good luck with that one.

I'd love to see 2/3/400 at more up-front night but it's not going to happen unless at a nighter,so cut your cloth accordingly & get the right sized room for the amount of people who are going to attend........smaller.

I drive  100+ miles most weekends to seek out such night's as my experience of any room of the size you are talking about (200+)that aren't nighters are usually oldies "do's" to make sure the hire is paid.

As far as your sweeping statement of mates djing I think you'll find there's rather a lot of you dj at my do I'll dj at yours on the club/oldies scene.

The up-front nights are a less attended part of the scene so the ones who frequent them will get to know each other that's just due to numbers.Why this makes them cliquey & you meet your friends in bigger rooms less so I can't explain. 

The difference we are on about is a real world & fantasy world,the real world is small rooms for small numbers the fantasy is we'd love them to be in 200+ rooms?

Cheers

Martyn

[hullsoul]

The best sound system I can recall was in a disco in Hull called Scamps in the early 70's.

Carl

Parliament-P Funk,Kool & The Gang-Jungle Boogie,Crystal Glass - Crystal World etc...........Happy days.

Surprised I remember it as I was only 5

Cheers

Martyn

[Sceneman]

You're all missing the point..........there's no more new, quality sixties tunes to be discovered. And we are all too old. Everything has a life span. All you are doing is giving the kiss of life to something that is already deceased. Just like the Teds did.

so whats happens when they die ?thats some big collections hitting the market with few new buyers !

teds collections plummeted in prices when they died .

[Len]

This 'scene' has been 'dead' for donkey's years and dies again periodically in some people's eyes; depends what you want out of it I guess and its fair to say that those who appear to want what I do are in a minority and have been for quite some time. Hey ho, if people sat on their arses and did nothing when Wigan closed its doors half the people on here wouldn't ever have got involved at all, myself included.

 

The days of loads of quality new discoveries being played to buzzin rooms loaded with right up-for-it obsessives have gone for good, as have the days of a handful of major nighters scattered around the country acting as a focal point for what you might (or might not) call the 'hardcore' i.e. those looking for something beyong retro kitsch. That's sad for sure, in my eyes anyway, and I'd absolutely love it to be different but various things - age, economics, access to records / knowledge, egos i.e. everyone's a dj, saturation, watering things down, grabbing what you can, its all about me and all the other stuff that's been mentioned already - dictate that that's the way it is and, in my view, the way its gonna stay. (If you think it through and look at the things which underpinned and drove it, along with the passage and ravages of time lol,  that was always gonna struggle in the world we live in now wasn't it?)

 

Personally, I'd kill for another early - mid eighties but it ain't gonna happen again, ever. In the absence of that I'll settle for the odd night out with like minded people who want largely the same things i do out of it. Those people and places are fewer and farther between for sure but I'd like to think that as long as there's people left who genuinely care about it they'll find each other and make something worthwhile happen, they always have.

 

Well put (not even angry) and saves me writing anything. I'm enjoying things where / when I can, hopefully (to quote penny) in a dignified manner, simply ignoring anything I don't like.

 

Phil, I'll look forward to seeing you at 'The Den', for a very 'odd night out'  

 

All the best,

 

Len  

 

P.s - To the thread starter - Correct me if I'm wrong here (not that it matters at all) You are relatively new to the scene, so if you are feeling disillusioned already, I suggest having a break for a few weeks, then you will come 'bouncing back' for sure (especially if you only have recent years to judge on)

 

P.p.s - I mean - 'to quote Mik' .......I like 'Penny' though  

Edited September 22, 2013 by LEN

[Steve L]

Mighty Lovers (Butch C/U)

Dont need to say anything else

If you've never heard this I feel sorry for you 

get a grip

[Len]

When I have heard more fresh danceable tunes on the CD in the car on my way to a do than I have heard at the venue to which I have travelled then from a music point of view I  know I am in trouble.

 

I used to say the same thing about tapes!.....I'm still here though  .....Kind of anyway  

 

Len  

[Citizen P]

You know that it is all fracked when a  guy posts his playlist on here and gets lambasted for having the audacity to point out that he was playing originals...

[TheBigO]

To give you a bit of historical perspective on the mid 80's....there was an upfront and vibrant scene (Stafford, 100 Club etc.) but I can also tell you there was a massive "oldies only" scene too. The scene was divided then as well, as anyone playing 60's newies or modern at the time will tell you. 

 

I was a resident at both The Fleet and The Wirrina in Peterborough for example and can remember now the repeated requests for "Right track" and "Night owl"....and the disappointed faces when I wouldn't play them.

 

The only differences with today are there are fewer punters to go round, more DJ's / venues, and more people content to just have a social night out as long as there is a background of some "familiar" music. A lot of the passion has gone

.

Well put Steve as usual you silver fox you x I hear a lot about Stafford etc but very little about what it was really like being part of the Sixties Newies movement of the time, or the Modern Scene. Stafford was hated by a large percentage of the scene wanting Oldies only, Guy and Keb banned from venues, the usual civil war and arguments on the way forward etc etc. If you read posts about Stafford now it gives the impression it was all great and rosey and there was no bitter in-fighting. I can tell you from experience it was hard to be in the 6Ts Mafia!

As for todays scene the problem is we are older, have commitments, life gets in the way and the price of petrol etc makes it very prohibitive to travel from Thursday to Sunday in search of soul. Steve is right, a lot of the passion has gone from the majority, it's hardly an underground scene anymore when you can type the words NORTHERN SOUL into google and get several million hits! 

Edited September 23, 2013 by TheBigO

[Davenpete]

Pick your events carefully by the tunes you are aiming to hear - we only really surface for things like Lifeline.

Dx

[Winnie :-)]

Got back on the scene 15/16 years ago, and have pretty much been out at least once a week since, with the odd exception. I could count on the fingers of one hand how many BAD nights I've had, and when I have had a bad one, that's been down to me. Every time I go out, I choose where I want to go, nobody makes me go anywhere, if I want to hear rarer stuff, more modern, oldies, I decide which venue will suit me the most. Yes there are too many venues, but if you're making the choice and if you have a bad night, well, who chose to go there in the first place?

 

Generally speaking we are a retro scene, from the clothes to the music, we don't (usually) accommodate change well, no CDs, no youngsters, a distinct lack of quality in new sounds being pushed or reactivated, which stands to reason because there just cannot be the same quantity of great sounds waiting to be discovered as there were in the seventies. So we've diversified, different genres have their day, that to the individual going out, don't fit the criteria. Result, go back to what you know, the tried and trusted!

 

It's been said on here a million times, choose where you go out because you want to go there, don't go somewhere where you know what's going to be played and then complain, because it wasn't what you wanted. 

[Geeselad]

Carl

Parliament-P Funk,Kool & The Gang-Jungle Boogie,Crystal Glass - Crystal World etc...........Happy days.

Surprised I remember it as I was only 5

Cheers

Martyn

Baseline and a half on that Crystal glass!

Edited September 23, 2013 by geeselad

[Guest]

why?..its average at best..pretty crap otherwise..

 

 

Sorry didnt know you was the leading authority on soul music I personally like it and have not heard it out at a regular soul night. I do apologise for not being the guru and will stay in school.

[SHEFFSOUL]

Sorry didnt know you was the leading authority on soul music I personally like it and have not heard it out at a regular soul night. I do apologise for not being the guru and will stay in school.

 

IF YOU LIKE IT..FAIR ENOUGH..I MAKE NO APOLOGY FOR HAVING BEEN AROUND AT THE GOLDEN AGE OF NORTHERN SOUL AND INTOXICATED BY THE SUPERB QUALITY AND CLASS OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF SOUNDS..WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS THE BASIS FOR MY OPINION...

[macca]

Ah', the so-called Golden Age... I caught some of that, the back end of it, late summer of 74. Looking back there was some right shite in there too, records which were greeted with dismay by the older punters. Those who jacked it in when Va-Va's, Torch and Cats closed will have there own vision of things too, music wise. Likewise those who came onboard in the late 70s and stuck with it through the 80s will have their own take on musical brilliance. It's so relative when it comes down to it...

[Tezza]

I am right and everyone else is misguided. 

My Mum grew up with Sam Cooke and Ray Charles blasting out of the speaker ( singular ), my elder Sister was a Mod and had the British R&B Boom, Motowns Birth, Stax and Atlantic stuff. My Brother was a Psychedelic Rock fan and myself, a Soul Music lover ( interspersed with a bit of Bowie )

My Mum loved her stuff, my Sister hers and we try not to talk about my Brother.  We all had our Golden Age and we we'll argue till we die that it was better than all the rest.

We have to accept that different people have different tastes and let them run with it.

By the way - I am right and everyone else is misguided !!

[Len]

I am right and everyone else is misguided. 

 

 

You obviously have the same taste as me - Well done  

 

Len  

[macca]

Men of conviction!!

[MrsWoodsrules]

Was at Blackpool Saturday, it's now Monday, my calfs are now aching, I've got a mandatory 'yellow head' on my nose and my lips are sore on the inside   .

Always the signs of a great night.

Love it.

[Quinvy]

so whats happens when they die ?thats some big collections hitting the market with few new buyers !

teds collections plummeted in prices when they died .

 

Some incredible collections have already been sold, and many of the big rarities that are turning up on ebay are from the estates of deceased collectors. There seems to be quite a few American collectors of rare soul these days, and I have been told that the Japanese are back collecting again. The thing with investing in any commodities is it's risky. Doesn't matter whether it's antique furniture or antique vinyl, things go in and out of vogue but if you are in it for the long haul it doesn't matter a jot. if however you have your life savings in rare vinyl, you have to know when to get out of the market.    

Edited September 23, 2013 by Quinvy

[MrsWoodsrules]

Some incredible collections have already been sold, and many of the big rarities that are turning up on ebay are from the estates of deceased collectors. There seems to be quite a few American collectors of rare soul these days, and I have been told that the Japanese are back collecting again. The thing with investing in any commodities is it's risky. Doesn't matter whether it's antique furniture or antique vinyl, things go in and out of vogue but if you are in it for the long haul it doesn't matter a jot. if however you have your life savings in rare vinyl, you have to know when to get out of the market.    

 

You are dead right Quinvy, I was talking a to a 'top' DJ, I mean one who's name we all know, who was even saying exactly the same this summer, because of his age, won't go in with stupid money anymore, because may never get it back, and also seriously consider selling some, he has never sold before from his own collection.

[Guest]

IF YOU LIKE IT..FAIR ENOUGH..I MAKE NO APOLOGY FOR HAVING BEEN AROUND AT THE GOLDEN AGE OF NORTHERN SOUL AND INTOXICATED BY THE SUPERB QUALITY AND CLASS OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF SOUNDS..WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS THE BASIS FOR MY OPINION...

 

 

I'm pleased for ya

[SHEFFSOUL]

I'm pleased for ya

 

your sarcastic remarks..fully underscore your admission to be disillusioned with the scene..if so, find something else more suited to your style..