Inexpensive Records For Big Djs?

[Wiggyflat]

Two great sides and a proper Northern record...cheap as chips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMvaqaqFMIM

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8wbsb4bv0I

[KevH]

At non northern events it happens  all the time. Plenty of Djs don't have any rare records.

 

At northern / rare events, yes the odd ones fit in nicely. Admirations on One-Der-Ful, and The Performers on Mirwood are two I've slipped into sets in the last year. I know Chalky plays a lot of underplayed cheaper 60's stuff. But you couldn't play "Be Thankful" or stuff like "maxine Nightingale" at a northern night and walk away with your credibility in tact....they are handbaggers records!!!!

 

I remember someone dropping the needle on Liberty - "girl you better wake up" at Lifeline.  Must be at least £10 in today's money.

[KevH]

Didn't Butch revitalise Mighty Marvelows - "Talking bout you baby".? The amazing thing about this tune is that it didn't go up in price.

[Chalky]

Didn't Butch revitalise Mighty Marvelows - "Talking bout you baby".? The amazing thing about this tune is that it didn't go up in price.

Dunno but I gave it some spins a couple of years ago.

[Shsdave]

It's a great pop record and the best record Ashford & Simpson ever wrote. In fact Nick auditioned for Motown with a demo of it having originally written it with Maxine Brown & Chuck Jackson in mind. 

 

Maybe it's just me but I am struggling to square it with an all nighter. But anniversary explains it. Dick Sniff is a good egg. Cheers.

 

Totally agree Steve, if I'd have travelled any distance to a top allniter I'd have been a bit P'd off at hearing something like that. I wasn't at the anniversary that Mick played it at, my point being that it's a good poppy/soul record available to all for a few quid that I'd never heard played out until the 100 club & then it became more popular at least in the south than Sticky Vicky in Benidorm. You couldn't go out without hearing it played (well it wasn't ever at Solid Hit but you know what I mean  ) Just another example of the sheep like mentality of djs. Mind you it gave some the opportunity of playing an original record at their club   

[Little-stevie]

Totally agree Steve, if I'd have travelled any distance to a top allniter I'd have been a bit P'd off at hearing something like that. I wasn't at the anniversary that Mick played it at, my point being that it's a good poppy/soul record available to all for a few quid that I'd never heard played out until the 100 club & then it became more popular at least in the south than Sticky Vicky in Benidorm. You couldn't go out without hearing it played (well it wasn't ever at Solid Hit but you know what I mean  ) Just another example of the sheep like mentality of djs. Mind you it gave some the opportunity of playing an original record at their club   

So it became a big hit in shandy land ....  Thats one for the history books...

[Guest penny]

Is success judged by the cost of the record on the deck or the number of feet on the dance floor? It's the old adage about knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing.

You're making it sound weirder than it is. It's all about the music, and therefore the dancefloor, but any good dj wants to play stuff that as few other people as possible can play, or stuff that is at least exciting to the audience by virtue of it's unfamiliarity or cult status, and this is an important mechanism for getting obscure music unearthed. This shouldnt be at the expense of quality though and if it is, then the dj simply isnt very good.

I do think that the race for rarities has left a fair few quality common records virtually unknown, which is a bit ridiculous.

Realising that despite an extensive knowledge of obscure music, i am ignorant of much of the work of some brilliant but well known artists, i justify it with the fact that the common records and releases of successful artists will be available for years to come, the obscure stuff really is, and has always been, in real danger of being lost forever

Edited October 24, 2013 by penny

[Ernie Andrews]

When I had a few rarities (records over ahundred quid) and played a set of mainly 70s I would maybe drop something like this into it! £3-5https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsQ1twBaA_0&feature=player_detailpage

Edited October 24, 2013 by Ernie Andrews

[Soulman58]

Sometimes they can hit you in the face and remind you of what a snob you can be, musically speaking. NYE last year in Edinburgh, dancefloor heaving to stuff played by Yogi like Tear Stained Face, sounds I'll never ever own, and then he hits you with Show & Tell by Al Wilson. It sounded glorious, so much so much I logged onto Ebay there and then (sad git) and bought one, a UK demo for a fiver. One of those priceless moments in one's Soul career...

Al Wlson is as good today as it was when I picked it up as a new release.   Top sound always floats around in my top 20 somewhere.

[Len]

Al Wlson is as good today as it was when I picked it up as a new release.   Top sound always floats around in my top 20 somewhere.

 

Me and Nina's Wedding record that - A 'tune and a half'  

 

All the best,

 

Len  

 

P.s - Followed by 'Jackie Wilson - Because of You' - Floor 'suddenly' rammed with folk 'itching to dance'.....for some 'strange' reason  

[Guest penny]

if i like a record i will dance.band of gold,it takes two,build me up buttercup,landslide,catch that teardrop,whats the problem oh a by the way one of my fav records is you,re ready now .....but i still like and own rarer stuff

How the fuck has catch that teardrop ended up in a list with build me up buttercup!? :-/

[Guest gordon russell]

Dunno but I gave it some spins a couple of years ago.

you ain,t butch lol

[Guest gordon russell]

How the f*ck has catch that teardrop ended up in a list with build me up buttercup!? :-/

because they're about as good as one ano    ther

[Len]

because they're about as good as one ano    ther

 

.....and I thought I was alone on that one  

 

Len  

 

P.s - Welcome back Terry - We missed ya  

Edited October 24, 2013 by LEN

[Guest penny]

because they're about as good as one ano    ther

because they're about as good as one ano    ther

Thats why they're on that list together? So those 2 records, along with band of gold and the other one are the only 4 that are exactly that good?

Pure science

[Quinvy]

Really? C'mon, Mick has been packing dancefloors for more years than most and is a cornerstone to the London scene...and an influence to many.

I applaud a DJ throwing in a cheapie...for whatever reason...it usually puts smiles on faces, feet on a dancefloor and reminds folk that it is not just about the big money tunes. In fact, every DJ should chuck in a cheapie to spice things up and potentially shine the spotlight on a worthy forgotten/overlooked tune.

I have no problem with playing cheap records, but playing ain't no mountain high enough at what is supposed to be a top allnighter? Is taking the piss as far as I'm concerned. And you have just highlighted what I was saying. Just because someone has been around the scene since God was a lad doesn't mean they are great Dj's. People on this scene take constructive criticism as a personal attack, when it's not the case. That's the reason the scene is so stale and amateurish. The same people have been running the scene for too long, but if you try and create something that doesn't include these stalwarts, the politics and back stabbing will start.

Most of the so called top allnighters have crap sound systems for a start. Many of the so called top Dj's don't have the first idea about the equipment they are using. They invariably mess about with the gains and the promoter doesn't have a clue.

Stop looking back at what the scene used to be, and stop putting up with badly run events.

[macca]

I have no problem with playing cheap records, but playing ain't no mountain high enough at what is supposed to be a top allnighter? Is taking the piss as far as I'm concerned. And you have just highlighted what I was saying. Just because someone has been around the scene since God was a lad doesn't mean they are great Dj's. People on this scene take constructive criticism as a personal attack, when it's not the case. That's the reason the scene is so stale and amateurish. The same people have been running the scene for too long, but if you try and create something that doesn't include these stalwarts, the politics and back stabbing will start.

Most of the so called top allnighters have crap sound systems for a start. Many of the so called top Dj's don't have the first idea about the equipment they are using. They invariably mess about with the gains and the promoter doesn't have a clue.

Stop looking back at what the scene used to be, and stop putting up with badly run events.

If Soul Sam didn't twiddle about with the knobs I'd want my money back...

[Sean Hampsey]

If Soul Sam didn't twiddle about with the knobs I'd want my money back...

 

Spent a big part of my DJ career following him... and resetting em (...along with the Pitch control).

 

Gotta love the man.

 

 

Sean

[Shaun W]

Quality soul is never cheap, but it can be inexpensive.

 

 

My favourite Dj's have always been able to throw in the occasional, and sometimes more than occasional, less expensive tune into their sets, it's very much part of what makes them quality DJ's.

 

However, it doesn't matter if you're buying records at £10 or £1000 the only thing that you can't buy is taste, and having great taste is the thing that separates a smallish group of Premier League DJ's from the rest.   

[Kevinkent]

Quality soul is never cheap, but it can be inexpensive.

 

 

My favourite Dj's have always been able to throw in the occasional, and sometimes more than occasional, less expensive tune into their sets, it's very much part of what makes them quality DJ's.

 

However, it doesn't matter if you're buying records at £10 or £1000 the only thing that you can't buy is taste, and having great taste is the thing that separates a smallish group of Premier League DJ's from the rest.   

 

  Having great taste is exclusive to only a small group of 'Premier League' DJ's ?

.....and that's what seperates them from the rest ?

 

 You're havin' a laugh.

 

  - Kev

[Shaun W]

  Having great taste is exclusive to only a small group of 'Premier League' DJ's ?

.....and that's what seperates them from the rest ?

 

 You're havin' a laugh.

 

  - Kev

Loads of Dj's who copy others, loads of Dj's who play the same tired sets, that doesn't show a grest deal of taste or originality for me.

 

Perhaps I was over the top on the ratio between those with and those without taste but there are certainly many more Dj's who seem to successfully demonstate a real lack of taste week in and week out. 

[Prophonics 2029]

Think it was Mick Smith who played Ain't no mountain high enough at 100 club Anniversary a few years back, a great cheap track that you just wouldn't expect to hear played amongst the rarer stuff. Problem was you couldn't go to a night in the south for years after without some dj giving it a spin. If it's such a great record why didn't they ever play it out previously, ? Why the fcuk does a name DJ have to play something before others "dare" to play it ?   

Its when you check up on Mick you see its not a USA issue but UK demo or even a rarera issue, Mick ain't the normal record guy.

[Kevinkent]

Loads of Dj's who copy others, loads of Dj's who play the same tired sets, that doesn't show a grest deal of taste or originality for me.

 

Perhaps I was over the top on the ratio between those with and those without taste but there are certainly many more Dj's who seem to successfully demonstate a real lack of taste week in and week out. 

 

  Now I can agree.

 

It was the 'Premier League' exclusivity that got me.  I've seen big name dj's turn up to play nothing but big bucks tunes and frankly that has shown a lack of imagination IMO.

What excites me is the lesser known guys who do use imagination and mix in a good proportion of forgotten and underplayed stuff into their sets - not dismissing  anything 'cos it only cost a fiver. 

 

 - Kev

[Ljblanken]

Where do you spin in California?  I used to DJ in LA in the late 90's early 2000's.  I live in Ojai now, 20 mins inland from Ventura.

Been collecting top shelf soul for the past 4-5 years.  Can't get enough of it.  These English guys and gals sure know their soul

I'll say that.  Headed to Austin tomorrow for the ARC.  Can't wait.

hey, i live up in Monterey. I had an old girlfriend whose mother lived in Ojai. I almost got bitten by a black widow there. Very beautiful (the place, not the spider)

[Guest gaz thomas]

i, of course, just spin for fun here in california - so i play just whatever strikes my fancy. something i got for $2 dollars or $200. no one cares because no one in my crowd knows soul any more rare than "baby love" by the supremes.

 

at the "big" events in england, however, do the DJs ever spin cheap/common records mixed in their set? (like i mean super cheap/common - like "right back where we started from" by maxine nightingale, or "be thankful for what you've got" by william devaugh) or is everything rare and pricey? what are the most cheapie/common things "top shelf" DJs play? do you ever get hassled for it?

 

just curious!

 

 

I think mark bicknells point regarding reggie alexander is spot on

all records are cheap untill they are well known and then demanded by djs and collectors.

i collect vinyl all the time, the cheaper a record the better i think

of course i am going to pay money for a record when i can afford it, that is the mad collector in me.

a record that is already well known and desired you are obviously going to pay a premium

but when you are looking to add to your collection regularly, you also have to rely on and enjoy your own taste

thats the really fun bit, expecially when at some point a cheap unknown becomes appreciated

there are still loads of semi known 45s in the usa in my oppinion

along with forgotton 45s to hear that were played at some point, somewhere.

and then splashing out on a established rarity

there is still a lifetime of collecting in me.

I am not a DJ and I dont socialise on the scene much

Im just a lover of music

Incidentally, I have bought a couple of original 45s this week that were 10 quid and I didnt know them last week

I dont bother thesedays, but in the 80s and early 90s I felt the music was spun a lot of the time with integrity and taste

musically for me it was fantastic

and as mentioned the price was not usually the factor

yes established rarities were played along side new things, some 45s turned out to be rare some turned up in quantity

I just hoover up what i like, whatever it is, an old favorite or a new (to me)

i love 60s soul, rnb, latin, 60s jamaica, bit of funk and mod jazz

if i connect with a tune, i collect it, the price of the item is not important

 

Gaz

 

Edited October 25, 2013 by gaz thomas

[Ljblanken]

 I have bought a couple of original 45s this week that were 10 quid and I didnt know them last week

I just hoover up what i like...

 

 

i am right there with you!

 

i am so ignorant of soul music compared to most of the people on this forum, it is crazy. i just cruise ebay/youtube and find songs i like and bid 10 dollars here, 20 dollars there, but they are almost all new to me (was born in the 70s and never was on a soul scene, so just plowing through it all now - learning and loving every minute of it). 

 

in a way, it is perfect for me to DJ here in california, because the people at the venue know less than i do. i just play anything (mostly 60s soul, a bit of 70s crossover/funk) and if they like it they dance or at least bob their heads and ask me what it is. it's all very low key.  

 

...that's why i am always posting threads with questions about the dynamics of the british scene, because everyone over there seems to be so laser-focused and knowledgeable about soul, it must be a way different vibe.

[Guest gaz thomas]

i am right there with you!

 

i am so ignorant of soul music compared to most of the people on this forum, it is crazy. i just cruise ebay/youtube and find songs i like and bid 10 dollars here, 20 dollars there, but they are almost all new to me (was born in the 70s and never was on a soul scene, so just plowing through it all now - learning and loving every minute of it). 

 

in a way, it is perfect for me to DJ here in california, because the people at the venue know less than i do. i just play anything (mostly 60s soul, a bit of 70s crossover/funk) and if they like it they dance or at least bob their heads and ask me what it is. it's all very low key.  

 

...that's why i am always posting threads with questions about the dynamics of the british scene, because everyone over there seems to be so laser-focused and knowledgeable about soul, it must be a way different vibe.

 

 

thats the way

just collect what you like and enjoy digging up tunes

 

musical Archaeology

In my oppinion the best music has already been created in the 60s and most of it overlooked by the world at large

 

So I have a duty of care to look for it then,find it and appreciate it.

 

For me I will go to where my taste leads me,

I dont collect it for any other reason than the reason of great Music

 

peace go with you brother

[Ljblanken]

 

For me I will go to where my taste leads me,

I dont collect it for any other reason than the reason of great Music

 

 

yes! that is why i started the other thread on disco. i thought i hated disco....until i learned otherwise by stumbling on some tunes.

 

now i just put on my miner's tin hat, turn on the head-lamp.... and away i go!

[Guest gaz thomas]

yes! that is why i started the other thread on disco. i thought i hated disco....until i learned otherwise by stumbling on some tunes.

 

now i just put on my miner's tin hat, turn on the head-lamp.... and away i go!

 

i have a mate who collects early disco, the stuff i have heard him play is really soulful

 

you go with your own thing

thats the way it should be

 

Its about how music makes YOU feel

 

Dont worry bout no one else !

[Steve G]

all records are cheap untill they are well known and then demanded by djs and collectors.

 

Gaz

 

 

Hi Gaz, that's not strictly true. there's a collectors angle here too. A lot of us have played sizeable sums for good unknowns, either on spec or because they are unknown and hence by definition rare....But I do agree everyone is on a journey and everyone is at a different stage of that journey. One man's great £10 find is another's moment of boredom. We are all in different places. 

 

Also there is a massive difference between "rare" and "in demand". Rare is the most over used word I've ever heard (apart from "across the board").....basically used to describe any record more than £20. Plenty of these so called "rare" records are not rare at all and plenty of genuine good quality rare records aren't even on most people's radars.

Edited October 25, 2013 by Steve G

[Steve L]

 

Most of the so called top allnighters have crap sound systems for a start. Many of the so called top Dj's don't have the first idea about the equipment they are using. They invariably mess about with the gains and the promoter doesn't have a clue.

 

 

That is so true Phil, we really do put up with some crap where this is concerned which is ridiculous in this day and age.

Sorry off topic 

[Guest gordon russell]

This isn't an off topic flag wave of cheap good sounds, but an on topic prove a point clip.

 

20 quid, never played out. Records that would be that good for that much, you must be able to count on the johnny fingers of one hand?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVk2eahL7Pw

this should never be played out..........how dreary is this.............as far as big names go once they,ve played their big hitters most run out of ideas

[Guest gordon russell]

Awesome

 

thats better.................anyone should see the difference between that and the majestics track........thats why we drive 200miles north when london is only 45 south........because the noth is like syl johnson all night long  cheap or expensive   whilst the south is like the majestics  until about 3  when folk go home on that bus sooty has lol.....sorry but true

Edited October 25, 2013 by gordon russell

[Simsy]

this should never be played out..........how dreary is this.............as far as big names go once they,ve played their big hitters most run out of ideas

 

You're entitled to your opinion of course Gordon and interesting that you should hold such a view of this record. To my ear it's a quality super soulful atmospheric builder and the next time I play out, I'm definitely going to give it a spin in your honour.

 

Wouldn't do for us all to be the same, different strokes and all that.

 

So roll me a 20/30 quidder better then that then .? 

Edited October 25, 2013 by Simsy

[AlanB]

...Mick Smith who played Ain't no mountain high enough at 100 club Anniversary a few years back, a great cheap track that you just wouldn't expect to hear played amongst the rarer stuff.

 

And it's an utterly brilliant Motown record which if it hadn't been a hit, would have been a perfect Northern record. 

 

...and (surprisingly) It wasn't even a hit in the UK.

[Guest gordon russell]

You're entitled to your opinion of course Gordon and interesting that you should hold such a view of this record. To my ear it's a quality super soulful atmospheric builder and the next time I play out, I'm definitely going to give it a spin in your honour.

 

Wouldn't do for us all to be the same, different strokes and all that.

 

So roll me a 20/30 quidder better then that then .? 

lanny hunt.....susie q

[Simsy]

lanny hunt.....susie q

 

Inexpensive records is the theme of the thread.

 

Twenty pounds, not two hundred and twenty.

 

Good record though..

[Guest gordon russell]

Inexpensive records is the theme of the thread.

 

Twenty pounds, not two hundred and twenty.

 

Good record though..

oscar tony junior.......turn on your lovelight

[Simsy]

oscar tony junior.......turn on your lovelight

 

Repetitive shouter.

[good angel]

oscar tony junior.......turn on your lovelight

Playing that the other night.

[Guest gordon russell]

Repetitive shouter.

dancing soul.......not sleeping soul.....theres ya difference  

[KevH]

That is so true Phil, we really do put up with some crap where this is concerned which is ridiculous in this day and age.

Sorry off topic 

 

Been at a few venues were i've tried to help with the sound probs.Usually its banged up on volume and gains.Amp cant cope.Too small.

[Corbett80]

I have no problem with playing cheap records, but playing ain't no mountain high enough at what is supposed to be a top allnighter? Is taking the piss as far as I'm concerned. And you have just highlighted what I was saying. Just because someone has been around the scene since God was a lad doesn't mean they are great Dj's. People on this scene take constructive criticism as a personal attack, when it's not the case. That's the reason the scene is so stale and amateurish. The same people have been running the scene for too long, but if you try and create something that doesn't include these stalwarts, the politics and back stabbing will start.

Most of the so called top allnighters have crap sound systems for a start. Many of the so called top Dj's don't have the first idea about the equipment they are using. They invariably mess about with the gains and the promoter doesn't have a clue.

Stop looking back at what the scene used to be, and stop putting up with badly run events.

 

 

lanny hunt.....susie q

Awful record. You can keep that one oop north.

 

Having said that I think it's good that there is a demand for fast records by the more advanced aged members of the scene. You'd imagine it would be the other way round.

Edited October 25, 2013 by corbett80

[Simsy]

dancing soul.......not sleeping soul.....theres ya difference  

 

I see your taste as R&B Popcorn esq,

 

I like that. Not for everybody though. A more polished production is sometimes nice amidst all the shouting.

[Steve S 60]

You're making it sound weirder than it is. It's all about the music, and therefore the dancefloor, but any good dj wants to play stuff that as few other people as possible can play, or stuff that is at least exciting to the audience by virtue of it's unfamiliarity or cult status, and this is an important mechanism for getting obscure music unearthed. This shouldnt be at the expense of quality though and if it is, then the dj simply isnt very good.

I do think that the race for rarities has left a fair few quality common records virtually unknown, which is a bit ridiculous.

Realising that despite an extensive knowledge of obscure music, i am ignorant of much of the work of some brilliant but well known artists, i justify it with the fact that the common records and releases of successful artists will be available for years to come, the obscure stuff really is, and has always been, in real danger of being lost forever

 

Could you please elaborate so I may avoid any further transgression.  I would hate to think that I have made the strange world of Northern Soul sound weirder than it is.

[Guest gordon russell]

Awful record. You can keep that one oop north.

 

Having said that I think it's good that there is a demand for fast records by the more advanced aged members of the scene. You'd imagine it would be the other way round.

Exactly right there.....start at 9 finish at 6.....not start at 8 finish at 3 yawning all night to those lovely lilting,atmospheric tunes and having to get ya dj whos fast asleep out of his car to do his spot.....maybe it,s because us older folk know what it,s about......

 

 

Edited October 25, 2013 by gordon russell

[Corbett80]

Exactly right there.....start at 9 finish at 6.....not start at 8 finish at 3 yawning all night to those lovely lilting,atmospheric tunes and having to get ya dj whos fast asleep out of his car to do his spot.....maybe it,s because us older folk know what it,s about......

 

'Grandad...what was it like during the war??'   

[Guest gordon russell]

I see your taste as R&B Popcorn esq,

 

I like that. Not for everybody though. A more polished production is sometimes nice amidst all the shouting.

l like all types of soul.......when l go out l want it upbeat.....

[KevH]

Howard Tate - "Baby i love you".!! Snag one for about £15.

[Harrythedog]

Been on the scene for 38 yrs and i can honestly say very few DJs i have heard should be behind a deck. Most are part time collectors who suddenly class them selves as a DJ. Not many can put together a set or use the mike to good effect. Bub never had big ticket records but had a genuine feel for the music and put together a good flowing entertaining hours spot, his use of the mike was second to none. Saw James Trouble some years back giving it large and shouting and f ing over the mike -he was clueless because he just didnt get it,no matter that he had big ticket records, he had no genuine love of the music and couldnt put a spot together if he tried. Butch and Andy Dyson have a genuine feel for it and can entertain and suprise in equal measure, they understand how to dj which very few seem to grasp. PS. as a cheap proper northern record you cant go far wrong with Cash McCall- SOS. Mentioned that to Andy some time ago and was raving about it, because he GETS IT, as i say.