Tonite - Northern Soul Bbc Living For The Weekend

[Mark R]

I sometimes think, if the Mecca had done allnighters, after the Torch shut, Wigan would never have started

and the whole scene would have been better off, Wigan was a double edged sword for the scene.

I was too young for either, but from what I've learned over the years I do have to wonder what might have happened if a club like the Mecca had held sway over the Casino.

Cheers,

Mark R

[Ian Dewhirst]

Again Paul, I'd have to disagree with some of that. Northern was never the youth cult of the 70s in those terms.

 

It was always far more underground than that, minuscule in comparison to Skinhead at the start and end of the decade, football violence throughout the decade, patchouli-swilling hippies, greatcoat wearing Prog fans, Peter Skellern fans, Glam Rockers, proto-punks, punks, post-punks, neo-punks etc. etc.

 

It's always been practically invisible according to yardsticks like sheer numbers, media visibility, chart exposure, a coherent external literature.

 

I wouldn't say that Gareth. There were several major national hits in the early 70s - The Tams (No.1), R. Dean Taylor (No.3), The Trammps (No.5), Wigan's Chosen Few (No.9), Rodger Collins (No.22), Dean Parrish (No.38) so plenty of chart exposure and there were numerous local Northern nights everywhere by '75.

 

Ian D 

[Garethx]

Pete, Kegsy, Ian. I accept all those points.

 

My comments were a reaction to the idea put forward here and elsewhere that the 80s scene was largely irrelevant to the point of not being worthy of a mention. It didn't feel like that at the time.

 

There's no doubt that in the mid 70s the scene went overground spectacularly but briefly. 

 

I wouldn't want to turn this into a pissing contest between the respective decades because that's impossible to do. The criteria for those judgements are almost entirely subjective. To me there is a continuous story. Peaks and troughs of popularity, dynamism, innovation. 

 

The narrative proposed by Friday's documentary was one where there was a total hiatus of interest for thirty odd years after the closure of Wigan–which was simply not the case.

[Kegsy]

I was too young for either, but from what I've learned over the years I do have to wonder what might have happened if a club like the Mecca had held sway over the Casino.

Cheers,

Mark R

 

 

The Mecca was almost completely divorced from the northern scene by 75/76 as its

music policy had gone totally away from northern soul, it was almost exclusively 70's/jazz funk by then.

In the same way, Wigan was playing all sorts of crap by about 75, especially Russ, which also drove

people away. In my opinion Russ gets far too much credit on the northern scene, he didn't have much

idea to be honest.

 

However.

What everybody always seems to forget is that there were plenty of other nighters

running at the same time as Wigan.

Leeds Central

Cleethorpes Pier/Winter Gardens

Coalville Tiffs

Notts Palais

Samanthas Sheffield

To name but a few, these never get a mention either.

 

These were where the true aficionados went, stayed true to the roots, and helped carry the scene

into the 80's.

[Amsterdam Russ]

Well, I finally watched it last night and have to say that I think it was very well done. Congrats to all those involved.

 

Very clearly, the purpose of the show was to educate and entertain, and provide the general public with an overview of the early days and heydays of the scene. And in this it succeeded. 

 

The participants had much to add that was relevant to the context in which they were speaking - even Tony Blackburn, whose contributions highlighted the commercialisation of a movement that went from relative obscurity to full public spotlight.

 

Having said that, of little worth (for me) was Lisa Stansfield. However, at the end of the day she's someone with whom an unconnected audience can identify, so I can see why she was included. Marc Almond highlighted how Northern Soul extended its influence culturally to the degree that it could provide musical fodder for the masses (and even make Top of the Pops, much to Ian Levine's chagrin based on his anti-TOTP comments throughout the programme).

 

I think that what people on the scene forget is that there is no collective consciousness among TV producers - nor the general public - so they're not seeing this in the context of other documentaries that have come before. Indeed, some of those documentaries will have aired before the people making this programme were even born. Only people here will be comparing this documentary to previous ones. It's success therefore, should be measured on whether it educated and entertained as a stand-alone, one-off show. 

 

In my view it succeeded very well.

 

That said, I do agree with the consensus of opinion that some exploration of the "post-Wigan" years (i.e., the 80s to the present day) should have been done. The programme did state that the scene continued, but the degree to which it did wasn't made clear at all. If any viewers gave this aspect a moment's thought at all, they probably would have concluded that it contracted in size and went back underground.

 

An additional oversight for me was any meaningful contribution from the young people who - apparently - have given the scene the kiss of life. If that's the case then the lack of such input makes the programme more of a historical "look back" than a review of where the scene came from, where it is now headed, and all the bits in between.

 

Again though, I thought it was a success.

Edited July 28, 2014 by Russell Gilbert

[Alan Bonthrone1]

It was o.k

[KevH]

The Mecca was almost completely divorced from the northern scene by 75/76 as its

music policy had gone totally away from northern soul, it was almost exclusively 70's/jazz funk by then.

In the same way, Wigan was playing all sorts of crap by about 75, especially Russ, which also drove

people away. In my opinion Russ gets far too much credit on the northern scene, he didn't have much

idea to be honest.

 

However.

What everybody always seems to forget is that there were plenty of other nighters

running at the same time as Wigan.

Leeds Central

Cleethorpes Pier/Winter Gardens

Coalville Tiffs

Notts Palais

Samanthas Sheffield

To name but a few, these never get a mention either.

 

These were where the true aficionados went, stayed true to the roots, and helped carry the scene

into the 80's.

 

Wasn't the Mecca split a bit later than that.? Notts Palais had a jazz funk room ,Bali Hai late 70's.

[Davenpete]

Think it was surprisingly good - reasonable music selection for the uniniciated (though Sugar Pie... was a bit of a bum steer, they'd have been much better concentrating on Just A Little Misunderstanding which we got a smattering of just before it), all the right people (though some other punters would have been nice and given a wider perspective perhaps - whilst the DJs gave authority, it made it sound to much like some kind of commercial disco movement, specially with the excessive amount of time given to TB). Ian was very good, concise, informative and contrite - good lad.

 

No mention of collecting though and nothing about the 'reset' to proper soul of the very end of Wigan and the 80s/90s and at least the 100 Club and Stafford should've had a mention and of course our wonderful Mr Croasdell.

 

Dx

Edited July 28, 2014 by DaveNPete

[Pete S]

 

 

The narrative proposed by Friday's documentary was one where there was a total hiatus of interest for thirty odd years after the closure of Wigan–which was simply not the case.

 

Yes and that was completely wrong and would have only taken 30 seconds to explain - but we heard from Kev earlier who told them all this, and they cut his comments out, so as Mik says, the people back at the BBC with scissors in hand really do have little or no interest in telling the whole story because they simply don't care.

[Kegsy]

Wasn't the Mecca split a bit later than that.?

 

The sounds were already 50% new releases by early/mid 75.

 

Here are some playlists.

 

https://colincurtisconnection.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/blackpool-mecca-revisited.html

[Steve S 60]

Have you spotted a continuity error, mistake or other faux-pas that a red-faced programme-maker would rather you hadn't? Don't let them get away with it - let us know! Fill in the simple form below to send us your message.

 

https://ssl.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mysv/contact

[Pete S]

The sounds were already 50% new releases by early/mid 75.

 

Here are some playlists.

 

https://colincurtisconnection.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/blackpool-mecca-revisited.html

 

The sounds were already 50% new releases by early/mid 75.

 

Here are some playlists.

 

https://colincurtisconnection.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/blackpool-mecca-revisited.html

 

That would have been awesome reading if it was actually readable, shame

[Soulstu]

It was o.k

What a review Alan!…   364 posts summed up in three words. Love it.

[Jaco]

That would have been awesome reading if it was actually readable, shame

 

Looks a great list and bet it took some time to put together.

 

Agree that it's almost impossible to digest in its form.

[Mike Lofthouse]

That would have been awesome reading if it was actually readable, shame

Pete it was actually put together on here (Soul Source)  originally - and just cut and pasted by Colin Curtis........

Part One

Feb-Aug.1974 (sample playlist only, see above notes)

CARSTAIRS - "It Really Hurts Me Girl" (RED COACH) p.Feb.1974 (1973 release - promo only)

DETROIT EXECUTIVES - "Cool Off" (PAMELINE) p.April 1974

EULA COOPER - "Let Our Love Grow Higher" (SUPER SOUND) p.April 1974 recent release(1974?)* 

MONTCLAIRS - "Hung Up On Your Love" (PAULA) p.July 1974 (1973 release)

TOWANDA BARNES - "You Don't Mean It" (A&M) p.July 1974

DON VARNER - "Tearstained Face" (QUINVY) p.July 1974

GUYS FROM UNCLE - "The Spy" (SWAN) p.July 1974

ROCK CANDY - "Alone With No Love" (DONTEE) p.July 174

GEORGE BLACKWELL - "Can't Lose My Head" (SMOKE) p.July 1974

JOHNNY HOWARD - "The Chase Is On" (BASHIE) p.July 74 (revived from 1973)

T.D. VALENTINE - "Love Trap" (EPIC) p.July/Aug.1974

SHAINE MARTIN - "I Need You" (EPIC) p.Aug.1974

MADELINE WILSON - "Dial 'L' For Lonely" (SAMAR) Date?

OTIS BLACKWELL - "It's All Over Me" (EPIC) Date?

Sept.-Dec.1974

LIFE - "Tell Me Why" (REPRISE) p.Sept.1974

MIKE & IKE - "Sax On The Tracks" (ARCTIC) p.Sept.1974

ANN SEXTON - "You've Been Gone Too Long" (SEVENTY-SEVEN) p.Oct.1974

ELOISE LAWS - "Love Factory" (MUSIC MERCHANT) p.Oct.1974

BOBY FRANKLIN - "The Ladies Choice" (FEE) Oct.1974

SNOOPY DEAN - "Shake n' Bump" (BLUE CANDLE) p.Nov.1974 New release*

YVONNE BAKER - "You Didn't Say A Word" (PARKWAY) p.Nov.1974

CAPRIS - "How To Make A Sad Man Glad" (SOUND) p.Nov.1974

TEMPREES - "At Last" (WE PRODUCE) p.Nov.1974

G.DAVIS & R.TYLER - "Hold On, Help Is On The Way" (PARLO) p.Nov.1974 

FANTASTIC JOHNNY C. - "Don't Depend On Me" (PHIL LA of SOUL) Nov.1974 New release*

MAJOR HARRIS - "Call Me Tomorrow" (OKEH) re-activated oldie*

UNIVERSAL MIND - "Something Fishy Going On" (RED COACH) p.Nov.1974 New release*

MANDRILL - "Never Die" (POLYDOR) p.Nov.1974 1973 release*

KEANYA COLLINS - (Barnabus Collins) Love Bandit" (KEANYA) p.Nov.1974

SISTER SLEDGE - "Love Don't Go Through No Changes On Me" (ATCO) p.Nov.1974 New release*

MIGHTY JOE DRAKE - "Try Try Try" (KAPP) p.Nov.1974

COALITIONS - "I Don't Mind Doin' It" (PHIL LA of SOUL) p.Nov.1974 New release*

JOHNNY ROSS & SOUL EXPLOSIONS - “I Can’t Help Myself” (CHIRRUP) p.Nov.1974

KING SPORTY - "Music Maker" (TASHAMBA) p.Nov.1974 New release*

GYPSIES - "It's A Woman's World" (OLDE TOWN) p.Nov.1974

JOHNNY BRAGG - "They're Talking About Me" (ELBEJAY) p.Nov.1974

MARC COPAGE - "Who Can I Turn To (Questions And Answers)" (AVCO) Nov.1974 New release*

CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR - "Streakin" (RCA) p.Nov.1974 New release*

PAT POWDRILL - "Together Forever" (DOWNEY) p.Nov.1974

NATURAL FOUR - "The Devil Made Me Do It" (CADET) p.Nov.1974 New release*

BILLY PROPHET - "What Can I Do" (SUE) p.Nov.1974

PERCEPTION STRINGS ORCH. - "Bet You If You Ask Around" (PERCEPTION) p.Nov.1974 New release*

Jan-C.March 1975

LITTLE RICHIE - "Just Another Heartache" (SOUND STAGE 7) p.Jan.1975

GIL SCOTT HERON & BRIAN JACKSON - "The Bottle" (STRATA-EAST LP) p.Jan.1975 Recent release*

HAROLD MELVIN & BLUENOTES - “Get Out” (LANDA) p.Jan 1975

MARVIN HOLMES & JUSTICE - “You Better Keep Her” (BROWN DOOR) p.Jan.1975 New release* 

PATTI AUSTIN - "Didn't Say A Word" (COLUMBIA) p.Jan.1975 - 1972 release

KEANYA COLLINS - “I’ll Get Over It” (BLUE ROCK) p.Jan.1975

SHONA STRINGFIELD - "I Need A Rest" (RIALTO) p.Jan.1975

BETTY WRIGHT - "Where Is The Love"/"Love Don't Grow On A Love Tree" (ALSTON LP) p.Jan.1975

BILL BRANDON & LORRAINE JOHNSON - "Let Me Be Your Full Time Groover" (MOONSONG) p.Jan.1975?

EMBERS - "Watch Out Girl" (MGM) p.Jan.1975 

MALIBUS - "Gee Baby I Love You" (SURE SHOT) p.Jan.1975

PAUL HUMPHREY - "Cochise" (ABC LP) p.Jan. 1975

RONNIE WALKER - "You've Got To Try Harder" (EVENT) p.Jan.1975 New release*

JACKIE PAYNE - "No Puppy Love" (JETSTREAM) p.Jan.1975

LARRY SAUNDERS - "On The Real Side" (TURBO) p.Jan.1975

VIOLA WILLS - "I've Got News For You" (SUPREME) p.Jan.1975

R.B. FREEMAN - "I'm Shaft (You Ain't Shaft)" (AVCO) p.Jan.1975 New release*

BRENDA LEE JONES - "You're The Love Of My Life" (RUST) p.Jan.1975

DANNY HUNT - "What's Happening To Our Love Affair" (DYNAMITE) p.Jan.1975 Released C.Aug 1974*

CLYDE BROWN - "You Call Me Back" (ATLANTIC) p.Jan.1975 Released July 1974*

LEONARD 'LIL MAN' KAIGLER - "Girl (You Got Me Believin' In You" (SUNBURST) New release*

ESSEX IV - “My Reaction To You” (WINDMILL) p.Jan.1975

LORRAINE CHANDLER - “I Can’t Change” (RCA-VICTOR) p.Jan.1975 - revival*

REGGIE GARNER - Hot Line” (CAPITOL) p.Jan.1975

PRETENDERS - “I Wanna Be” (CARNIVAL) p.Jan.1975

VAN McCOY - “Boogie Down” (AVCO) p.Jan.1975 New release*

TYRONE DAVIS - “What Goes Up (Must Come Down)” (DAKAR) p.Jan.1975 New release*

DON THOMAS - Come On Train” (NUVJ) p.Jan.1975 New release*

BILL HARRIS - “Uptown Saturday Night” (WARNER BROS) p.Jan.1975 New release*

GARLAND GREEN - “Sending My Best Wishes” (SPRING) p.Jan.1975 New release*

GWEN OWENS - “You Better Watch Out” (CASABLANCA) p.Jan.1975 New release*

GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION - “Feel The Need” (WARNER BROS) New release*

JAMES FOUNTAIN - “Seven Day Lover” (PEACHTREE) p.Jan.1975 - 1972 release

PHILLY DEVOTIONS - “I Just Can’t Say Goodbye” (DON DE) New release*

MARGO THUNDER - “The Soul Of A Woman” (HAVEN) New Release*

SOULVATION ARMY BAND - “Dancing On A Daydream” (SOULVATION ARMY) New release* (Aug/Sept 1974)

C.March - July 1975

FRANKIE 'LOVEMAN' CROCKER - "Ton Of Dynamite" (TURBO) 

PRINCE JOHNNY ROBINSON - "This Man Is Rated X" (ANDEE) New release*

GEORGE CLINTON BAND - "Please Don't Run From Me" (ABC LP) New Release*

KING ERRISON - "Zola" (CANYON)

THIRD TIME AROUND - "Soon Everything Will Be Alright" (DENINE) New Release*

JACKIE LAVANT & FASHIONS - "I Don't Mind Doin' It" (PHIL LA of SOUL) New release* 

(vocal to Coalitions)

DIANE JENKINS - "Tow-A-Way Zone" (CREATIVE SOURCE) New release*

DIANE JENKINS - "I Need You" (CREATIVE SOURCE) New release*

query - was the prior "Sweet Wine, Music And My Imagination" by Diane Jenkins ever played at the Highland Room as a new release?

DESTINY - "So Much Love (inst)" (RCA) New release*

EXCITERS - "Reaching For The Best" (Pre-release)

JIMMY THOMPSON - "Jimmy's Place" (JIMMY THOMPSON MUSIC) - New/Recent release?

MODERN REDCAPS - "Never Too Young (To Fall In Love)" (SWAN)

ROBBIE LAWSON - "Burning Sensation" (KYSER)

VOICES OF EAST HARLEM - "Cashing In" (JUST SUNSHINE) - 1973 release

TRADEWINDS - "Strange" (TRIUMPH)

VALENTINO - "I Was Born This Way" (GAIEE) New release*

RON BUTLER & RAMBLERS - "Peace And Love (inst)" (PLAYBOY) New release*

POINTER SISTERS - "Send Him Back" (ATLANTIC) 

TROY KEYES - "If I Had My Way" (VMP) - confirmation needed

AL GARDNER - "Sweet Baby" (SEPIA)

ANN BYERS - "That Man Is Rated-X" (VIRTUE) New release*

LOU EDWARDS & TODAY'S PEOPLE - "Talking 'Bout Poor Folks" (COLUMBIA) - revived from 1973

OLLIE JACKSON - "The Day The World Sttod Still" (MAGNUM)

REFLECTIONS - "Three Steps From True Love" (CAPITOL) New release*

CROW - "Your Autumn Of Tomorrow" (INNER EAR)

GEORGE 'BAD' BENSON - "Supership" (CTI) New release*

SHIRLEY EIKHARD - "Rescue Me" (CAPITOL)

TAMIKO JONES - "I'm Spellbound" (GOLDEN WORLD)

ROBERT THOMAS - "Salvation" (CHARAY)

RITA LEE - "Salvation" (CHARAY) - female version of above

EDIE ROBIN - "There Must Be A Love Somewhere" (LE-CAM) New release?*

MIKKI FARROW - "Set My Heart At Ease" (KARATE)

ANDERSON BROTHERS - "I Can See Him Loving You" (GSF)

BOBBY HUTTON - "Lend A Hand" (ABC LP) - 1973 release

ERNEST MOSLEY - "Stubborn Heart" (LA CINDY)

JOSHIE JO ARMSTEAD - "I Got The Vibes" (GOSPEL TRUTH) - Recent release

CAROL WILLIAMS - "Rattlesnake" (SALSOUL) New release* - the first on the label methinks!

JIMMY MACK - "My World Is On Fire" (PALMER)

MELVIN CARTER - "Midnight Brew" (TRIP) - Revival from 1973. 

Formerly played as "Let's Shing-A-Ling At The Go-Go" by the 'Johnny Jackson Experience'

BROTHERS, SISTERS & COUSINS - "Smoke Stream" (NASCO) New/Recent release*

CHUCK RAINEY COALITION - "Got It Together" (SKYE/COBBLESTONE LP)

ROSEY JONES - "Have Love Will Travel" (TODAY) - 1973 release

CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR - "Dreaming A Dream (inst)" (DE-LITE) New release*

DANNY REED - "What Makes Her A Woman" (INTERNATIONAL MUSIC BAG) New release*

HIGH VOLTAGE - "Country Road" (COLUMBIA)

EARTH, WIND & FIRE - "Happy Feelin" (COLUMBIA/CBS LP) New release*

BROTHERS - "Are You Ready For This" (RCA) New release*

R.P.M. GENERATION - "Rona's Theme" (ROMAR)

BITS 'N' PIECES - "Keep On Running Away" (NASCO) New/Recent release*

M.V.P.s - "Turning My Heartbeat Up" (BUDDAH) - 1970 release

DENIECE CHANDLER - "Mama, I Wish I'd Stayed At Home" (LOCK)

DEBBIE FLEMING - "Long Gone" (ATTIC)

LILY FIELDS - "Love Has So Many Meanings" (SUNBURST) New release* - confirmation needed

HANK JACOBS - "Elijah Rockin' With Soul" (CALL ME)

CHUCK JONES - "Boo On You" (WAND) New release*

MAGIC DISCO MACHINE - "Control Tower" (MOTOWN) New release*

JUDY HARRIS - "You Touched Me" (SUN)

VAN McCOY - "Fire" (H&L LP) New release*

VAL PALMER - "Back In My Arms Again" (TWIN STACKS)

JENNY & JEWELS - "Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart" (HIT)

DAVE MITCHELL & SCREAMERS - "The Trip" (MET) 

CHUCK JACKSON - "Love Lights" (ALL PLATINUM) New release* - confirmation needed

Additional new US releases included the following - some (or all!) may have been played at some time?

LIVIN' INN - "It's Hard To Stop" (EPIC)

IMAGINATIONS - "Searchin" (20th CENTURY) Feb.1975

SATYR - "Free And Easy" (RCA) May/June 1975

EBB TIDE - "Give Me Your Best Shot Baby" (SOUND GEMS) May/June 1975

JIMMY JACKSON - "Footsteps In The Shadows" (BUDDAH)

INVITATIONS - "Look On The Good Side" (SILVER BLUE) New release in Nov.1974

LTD EXCHANGE - "Waterbed" (WAND)

ANTHONY WHITE - "Hey Baby" (PIR)

Also, were the following Ian Levine faves ( mentioned in Black Music) ever played? In the last hour perhaps?

CHRISTINE ADAMS - "Loneliness Is Always Around" (CYCLONE)

WE THE PEOPLE - "(Only) One Of A Kind" (MAP CITY)

1975 July-December playlists to follow.... 

Edited by mel brat, 19 February 2009 - 08:28 PM.

• Like

[Pete S]

 

Pete it was actually put together on here (Soul Source)  originally - and just cut and pasted by Colin Curtis........

Part One

Feb-Aug.1974 (sample playlist only, see above notes)

CARSTAIRS - "It Really Hurts Me Girl" (RED COACH) p.Feb.1974 (1973 release - promo only)

DETROIT EXECUTIVES - "Cool Off" (PAMELINE) p.April 1974

EULA COOPER - "Let Our Love Grow Higher" (SUPER SOUND) p.April 1974 recent release(1974?)* 

MONTCLAIRS - "Hung Up On Your Love" (PAULA) p.July 1974 (1973 release)

TOWANDA BARNES - "You Don't Mean It" (A&M) p.July 1974

DON VARNER - "Tearstained Face" (QUINVY) p.July 1974

GUYS FROM UNCLE - "The Spy" (SWAN) p.July 1974

ROCK CANDY - "Alone With No Love" (DONTEE) p.July 174

GEORGE BLACKWELL - "Can't Lose My Head" (SMOKE) p.July 1974

JOHNNY HOWARD - "The Chase Is On" (BASHIE) p.July 74 (revived from 1973)

T.D. VALENTINE - "Love Trap" (EPIC) p.July/Aug.1974

SHAINE MARTIN - "I Need You" (EPIC) p.Aug.1974

MADELINE WILSON - "Dial 'L' For Lonely" (SAMAR) Date?

OTIS BLACKWELL - "It's All Over Me" (EPIC) Date?

Sept.-Dec.1974

LIFE - "Tell Me Why" (REPRISE) p.Sept.1974

MIKE & IKE - "Sax On The Tracks" (ARCTIC) p.Sept.1974

ANN SEXTON - "You've Been Gone Too Long" (SEVENTY-SEVEN) p.Oct.1974

ELOISE LAWS - "Love Factory" (MUSIC MERCHANT) p.Oct.1974

BOBY FRANKLIN - "The Ladies Choice" (FEE) Oct.1974

SNOOPY DEAN - "Shake n' Bump" (BLUE CANDLE) p.Nov.1974 New release*

YVONNE BAKER - "You Didn't Say A Word" (PARKWAY) p.Nov.1974

CAPRIS - "How To Make A Sad Man Glad" (SOUND) p.Nov.1974

TEMPREES - "At Last" (WE PRODUCE) p.Nov.1974

G.DAVIS & R.TYLER - "Hold On, Help Is On The Way" (PARLO) p.Nov.1974 

FANTASTIC JOHNNY C. - "Don't Depend On Me" (PHIL LA of SOUL) Nov.1974 New release*

MAJOR HARRIS - "Call Me Tomorrow" (OKEH) re-activated oldie*

UNIVERSAL MIND - "Something Fishy Going On" (RED COACH) p.Nov.1974 New release*

MANDRILL - "Never Die" (POLYDOR) p.Nov.1974 1973 release*

KEANYA COLLINS - (Barnabus Collins) Love Bandit" (KEANYA) p.Nov.1974

SISTER SLEDGE - "Love Don't Go Through No Changes On Me" (ATCO) p.Nov.1974 New release*

MIGHTY JOE DRAKE - "Try Try Try" (KAPP) p.Nov.1974

COALITIONS - "I Don't Mind Doin' It" (PHIL LA of SOUL) p.Nov.1974 New release*

JOHNNY ROSS & SOUL EXPLOSIONS - “I Can’t Help Myself” (CHIRRUP) p.Nov.1974

KING SPORTY - "Music Maker" (TASHAMBA) p.Nov.1974 New release*

GYPSIES - "It's A Woman's World" (OLDE TOWN) p.Nov.1974

JOHNNY BRAGG - "They're Talking About Me" (ELBEJAY) p.Nov.1974

MARC COPAGE - "Who Can I Turn To (Questions And Answers)" (AVCO) Nov.1974 New release*

CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR - "Streakin" (RCA) p.Nov.1974 New release*

PAT POWDRILL - "Together Forever" (DOWNEY) p.Nov.1974

NATURAL FOUR - "The Devil Made Me Do It" (CADET) p.Nov.1974 New release*

BILLY PROPHET - "What Can I Do" (SUE) p.Nov.1974

PERCEPTION STRINGS ORCH. - "Bet You If You Ask Around" (PERCEPTION) p.Nov.1974 New release*

Jan-C.March 1975

LITTLE RICHIE - "Just Another Heartache" (SOUND STAGE 7) p.Jan.1975

GIL SCOTT HERON & BRIAN JACKSON - "The Bottle" (STRATA-EAST LP) p.Jan.1975 Recent release*

HAROLD MELVIN & BLUENOTES - “Get Out” (LANDA) p.Jan 1975

MARVIN HOLMES & JUSTICE - “You Better Keep Her” (BROWN DOOR) p.Jan.1975 New release* 

PATTI AUSTIN - "Didn't Say A Word" (COLUMBIA) p.Jan.1975 - 1972 release

KEANYA COLLINS - “I’ll Get Over It” (BLUE ROCK) p.Jan.1975

SHONA STRINGFIELD - "I Need A Rest" (RIALTO) p.Jan.1975

BETTY WRIGHT - "Where Is The Love"/"Love Don't Grow On A Love Tree" (ALSTON LP) p.Jan.1975

BILL BRANDON & LORRAINE JOHNSON - "Let Me Be Your Full Time Groover" (MOONSONG) p.Jan.1975?

EMBERS - "Watch Out Girl" (MGM) p.Jan.1975 

MALIBUS - "Gee Baby I Love You" (SURE SHOT) p.Jan.1975

PAUL HUMPHREY - "Cochise" (ABC LP) p.Jan. 1975

RONNIE WALKER - "You've Got To Try Harder" (EVENT) p.Jan.1975 New release*

JACKIE PAYNE - "No Puppy Love" (JETSTREAM) p.Jan.1975

LARRY SAUNDERS - "On The Real Side" (TURBO) p.Jan.1975

VIOLA WILLS - "I've Got News For You" (SUPREME) p.Jan.1975

R.B. FREEMAN - "I'm Shaft (You Ain't Shaft)" (AVCO) p.Jan.1975 New release*

BRENDA LEE JONES - "You're The Love Of My Life" (RUST) p.Jan.1975

DANNY HUNT - "What's Happening To Our Love Affair" (DYNAMITE) p.Jan.1975 Released C.Aug 1974*

CLYDE BROWN - "You Call Me Back" (ATLANTIC) p.Jan.1975 Released July 1974*

LEONARD 'LIL MAN' KAIGLER - "Girl (You Got Me Believin' In You" (SUNBURST) New release*

ESSEX IV - “My Reaction To You” (WINDMILL) p.Jan.1975

LORRAINE CHANDLER - “I Can’t Change” (RCA-VICTOR) p.Jan.1975 - revival*

REGGIE GARNER - Hot Line” (CAPITOL) p.Jan.1975

PRETENDERS - “I Wanna Be” (CARNIVAL) p.Jan.1975

VAN McCOY - “Boogie Down” (AVCO) p.Jan.1975 New release*

TYRONE DAVIS - “What Goes Up (Must Come Down)” (DAKAR) p.Jan.1975 New release*

DON THOMAS - Come On Train” (NUVJ) p.Jan.1975 New release*

BILL HARRIS - “Uptown Saturday Night” (WARNER BROS) p.Jan.1975 New release*

GARLAND GREEN - “Sending My Best Wishes” (SPRING) p.Jan.1975 New release*

GWEN OWENS - “You Better Watch Out” (CASABLANCA) p.Jan.1975 New release*

GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION - “Feel The Need” (WARNER BROS) New release*

JAMES FOUNTAIN - “Seven Day Lover” (PEACHTREE) p.Jan.1975 - 1972 release

PHILLY DEVOTIONS - “I Just Can’t Say Goodbye” (DON DE) New release*

MARGO THUNDER - “The Soul Of A Woman” (HAVEN) New Release*

SOULVATION ARMY BAND - “Dancing On A Daydream” (SOULVATION ARMY) New release* (Aug/Sept 1974)

C.March - July 1975

FRANKIE 'LOVEMAN' CROCKER - "Ton Of Dynamite" (TURBO) 

PRINCE JOHNNY ROBINSON - "This Man Is Rated X" (ANDEE) New release*

GEORGE CLINTON BAND - "Please Don't Run From Me" (ABC LP) New Release*

KING ERRISON - "Zola" (CANYON)

THIRD TIME AROUND - "Soon Everything Will Be Alright" (DENINE) New Release*

JACKIE LAVANT & FASHIONS - "I Don't Mind Doin' It" (PHIL LA of SOUL) New release* 

(vocal to Coalitions)

DIANE JENKINS - "Tow-A-Way Zone" (CREATIVE SOURCE) New release*

DIANE JENKINS - "I Need You" (CREATIVE SOURCE) New release*

query - was the prior "Sweet Wine, Music And My Imagination" by Diane Jenkins ever played at the Highland Room as a new release?

DESTINY - "So Much Love (inst)" (RCA) New release*

EXCITERS - "Reaching For The Best" (Pre-release)

JIMMY THOMPSON - "Jimmy's Place" (JIMMY THOMPSON MUSIC) - New/Recent release?

MODERN REDCAPS - "Never Too Young (To Fall In Love)" (SWAN)

ROBBIE LAWSON - "Burning Sensation" (KYSER)

VOICES OF EAST HARLEM - "Cashing In" (JUST SUNSHINE) - 1973 release

TRADEWINDS - "Strange" (TRIUMPH)

VALENTINO - "I Was Born This Way" (GAIEE) New release*

RON BUTLER & RAMBLERS - "Peace And Love (inst)" (PLAYBOY) New release*

POINTER SISTERS - "Send Him Back" (ATLANTIC) 

TROY KEYES - "If I Had My Way" (VMP) - confirmation needed

AL GARDNER - "Sweet Baby" (SEPIA)

ANN BYERS - "That Man Is Rated-X" (VIRTUE) New release*

LOU EDWARDS & TODAY'S PEOPLE - "Talking 'Bout Poor Folks" (COLUMBIA) - revived from 1973

OLLIE JACKSON - "The Day The World Sttod Still" (MAGNUM)

REFLECTIONS - "Three Steps From True Love" (CAPITOL) New release*

CROW - "Your Autumn Of Tomorrow" (INNER EAR)

GEORGE 'BAD' BENSON - "Supership" (CTI) New release*

SHIRLEY EIKHARD - "Rescue Me" (CAPITOL)

TAMIKO JONES - "I'm Spellbound" (GOLDEN WORLD)

ROBERT THOMAS - "Salvation" (CHARAY)

RITA LEE - "Salvation" (CHARAY) - female version of above

EDIE ROBIN - "There Must Be A Love Somewhere" (LE-CAM) New release?*

MIKKI FARROW - "Set My Heart At Ease" (KARATE)

ANDERSON BROTHERS - "I Can See Him Loving You" (GSF)

BOBBY HUTTON - "Lend A Hand" (ABC LP) - 1973 release

ERNEST MOSLEY - "Stubborn Heart" (LA CINDY)

JOSHIE JO ARMSTEAD - "I Got The Vibes" (GOSPEL TRUTH) - Recent release

CAROL WILLIAMS - "Rattlesnake" (SALSOUL) New release* - the first on the label methinks!

JIMMY MACK - "My World Is On Fire" (PALMER)

MELVIN CARTER - "Midnight Brew" (TRIP) - Revival from 1973. 

Formerly played as "Let's Shing-A-Ling At The Go-Go" by the 'Johnny Jackson Experience'

BROTHERS, SISTERS & COUSINS - "Smoke Stream" (NASCO) New/Recent release*

CHUCK RAINEY COALITION - "Got It Together" (SKYE/COBBLESTONE LP)

ROSEY JONES - "Have Love Will Travel" (TODAY) - 1973 release

CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR - "Dreaming A Dream (inst)" (DE-LITE) New release*

DANNY REED - "What Makes Her A Woman" (INTERNATIONAL MUSIC BAG) New release*

HIGH VOLTAGE - "Country Road" (COLUMBIA)

EARTH, WIND & FIRE - "Happy Feelin" (COLUMBIA/CBS LP) New release*

BROTHERS - "Are You Ready For This" (RCA) New release*

R.P.M. GENERATION - "Rona's Theme" (ROMAR)

BITS 'N' PIECES - "Keep On Running Away" (NASCO) New/Recent release*

M.V.P.s - "Turning My Heartbeat Up" (BUDDAH) - 1970 release

DENIECE CHANDLER - "Mama, I Wish I'd Stayed At Home" (LOCK)

DEBBIE FLEMING - "Long Gone" (ATTIC)

LILY FIELDS - "Love Has So Many Meanings" (SUNBURST) New release* - confirmation needed

HANK JACOBS - "Elijah Rockin' With Soul" (CALL ME)

CHUCK JONES - "Boo On You" (WAND) New release*

MAGIC DISCO MACHINE - "Control Tower" (MOTOWN) New release*

JUDY HARRIS - "You Touched Me" (SUN)

VAN McCOY - "Fire" (H&L LP) New release*

VAL PALMER - "Back In My Arms Again" (TWIN STACKS)

JENNY & JEWELS - "Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart" (HIT)

DAVE MITCHELL & SCREAMERS - "The Trip" (MET) 

CHUCK JACKSON - "Love Lights" (ALL PLATINUM) New release* - confirmation needed

Additional new US releases included the following - some (or all!) may have been played at some time?

LIVIN' INN - "It's Hard To Stop" (EPIC)

IMAGINATIONS - "Searchin" (20th CENTURY) Feb.1975

SATYR - "Free And Easy" (RCA) May/June 1975

EBB TIDE - "Give Me Your Best Shot Baby" (SOUND GEMS) May/June 1975

JIMMY JACKSON - "Footsteps In The Shadows" (BUDDAH)

INVITATIONS - "Look On The Good Side" (SILVER BLUE) New release in Nov.1974

LTD EXCHANGE - "Waterbed" (WAND)

ANTHONY WHITE - "Hey Baby" (PIR)

Also, were the following Ian Levine faves ( mentioned in Black Music) ever played? In the last hour perhaps?

CHRISTINE ADAMS - "Loneliness Is Always Around" (CYCLONE)

WE THE PEOPLE - "(Only) One Of A Kind" (MAP CITY)

1975 July-December playlists to follow.... 

Edited by mel brat, 19 February 2009 - 08:28 PM.

• Like

•  

 

 

Thanks Mike.

Happy days.

It was all classed as Northern then.

[KevH]

Great lists,time flies and all that.Was it really 74/75 for those tunes.?  .

Diane Jenkins - Sweet wine etc,cant remember that bieng played - but my memeory is in doubt after reading those lists.

[Peter99]

It's probably been said already but............................

 

The programme was alright wasn't it. I know time is limited but the show did what most others do - gave the impression to people who don't know better that the scene hadn't/hasn't really moved on since Wigan closed.

 

Peter

[Mike Lofthouse]

Thanks Mike.

Happy days.

It was all classed as Northern then.

I've always maintained that it was not quite the 'Rare' Soul scene back then that it later became - new releases galore were played at Wigan and Cleethorpes as well as the Mecca, the time span was so narrow and the turnover of records massive.  Yes there were rare records (and some remain so to this day) but it was not the main factor,  so you might argue  that the post Wigan scene was a different scene altogether.

[Hooker1951]

let's get things in perspective with this TV programme NS clubs and the NS scene did not start with Wigan Caino or Stafford in the 1970's it began along time before that.There was a vibrant soul scene a good 10 years before that playing what you would term NS and good R n B all through from what I can personally remember I myself went to my first allniters which ran every sat at the room at the top in Wigan which ran parallel with the wheel from 1965 onwards besides other clubs in theNW.It seems to me that certain people including some well known DJ,s act as though they invented the scene which had been bubbling already for at least 8 years before their where Dj,s before them and hell of a lot after Let's just enjoy the music dance, listen and have a good time less egos, would be a good start.

god bless.

[Davenpete]

The early days were well covered with the Flamingo, King Mojo and Wheel featured in the documentary - the main issue is that it gave the impression that eveything just stopped in 1981.

Dx

Edited July 28, 2014 by DaveNPete

[Andrea Ko]

Hi all, watched it. I'm too young and it's not that long that I attend nighters so I cannot give a proper opinion on the documentary. But to me it sounds a bit like that they have found somekind of a format where to fit "this is northern soul" which makes things easer to understand for "normal" public. Things are far more complex and, fortunately, not as easily represented.... Andrea 

[Guest Chris61]

Now guys this thread has rumbled on and it's been a great insight into how people feel about things. But, Richards comments sum up how a lot of people felt, check out 52:15mins.  I wonder how many of you guys that carried on over the ensuing years( fair play to you all) got the same buzz you got from walking though the doors at Wigan a bit late and the music already playing. Just asking.

 

Chris..

[pow wow mik]

Thanks Mike.

Happy days.

It was all classed as Northern then.

even rb freeman 'I'm shaft'!?!?

[Pete S]

even rb freeman 'I'm shaft'!?!?

 

Yeah that was a big record, though they only usually played the instrumental version

[Ady Croasdell]

Now guys this thread has rumbled on and it's been a great insight into how people feel about things. But, Richards comments sum up how a lot of people felt, check out 52:15mins. I wonder how many of you guys that carried on over the ensuing years( fair play to you all) got the same buzz you got from walking though the doors at Wigan a bit late and the music already playing. Just asking.

Chris..

yes, plenty before and plenty since and some were/are even better

[ZootSuit]

Casino started before the Mecca????, I remember the B&S write up's Godin did for BOTH the Wheel and the Mecca, don't remember any mention of the Casino, ever, in Blues and Soul(stopped buying it appx 1974), only Torch, Mecca, Cats Va Vas etc, etc. Our crowd from Luton went to those venues way way before the Casino ?.

I remember the The Mecca running from from 1971 to 1979, and Wigan kicking off a bit later and running from 1973 to 1981, but then my memory is buggered so I'm probably wrong:).

And yeah, although it wasn't a bad programme overall, blokes I work with were on about my still going to Northern Do's, SIB, Wirrina, Bletsoe and Wilby reunions, more about do you still do gear, no way I DRIVE

Bout time they did a documentary from the dancers point of view, rather than all the promoters, DJ's etc ect

Edited July 28, 2014 by ZootSuit

[Tai-pan]

yes, plenty before and plenty since and some were/are even better

 

Yes, and.... by a very very long way.

[Guest Dave Ward]

I was too young for either, but from what I've learned over the years I do have to wonder what might have happened if a club like the Mecca had held sway over the Casino

If the Mecca could have got a licence for an all-nighter, imagine the Highland Room as a modern room, downstairs as a main room ( about the same size as Wigan ), 2 great dance floors, clean toilets. Game Over !

[Driveller]

Now guys this thread has rumbled on and it's been a great insight into how people feel about things. But, Richards comments sum up how a lot of people felt, check out 52:15mins.  I wonder how many of you guys that carried on over the ensuing years( fair play to you all) got the same buzz you got from walking though the doors at Wigan a bit late and the music already playing. Just asking.

 

Chris..

Hi Chris,

 

Can't say anything about walking through the doors at Wigan as I was too young, and I absolutely believe you that it must have been fantastic.  What I can say is that at my very first allnighter in December 1984, Ady Croasdell played Melba Moore's "Magic Touch" out for the first time ever, along with "Torture and a whole slew of unheard stuff from the Scepter Wand vaults.  There was massive anticipation about it and when those sounds went off it was like the very air had caught fire, such was the reaction on the floor.   It was an introduction to the scene that I'll never forget and that memory is one I'll never stop treasuring.  Yes, you had that excitement at Wigan (and wherever else) week after week, but I just want to make the point that it happened on the post-Wigan scene too.   

 

I think possibly one of the reasons some people turned away from the scene after Wigan's closure is that they had invested so much emotionally in the business of being there that they felt nothing would be worth going on to in its place.  I can understand that  - oddly enough I felt that way about (of all places) the Orpington Civic 60s Mod nights in the early '80s - an under-18s event I went to every week for about 3-4 years until it closed, which introduced me to vintage music including 'entry level' Northern Soul - I guess what the Northern scene would call a youth club event.  Thankfully, I survived its closure, got introduced to the 100 Club and the 'mainstream' NS scene and came to love a wide range of 'deeper' sounds which I wouldn't have encountered at the Civic.  In it's way, the Civic was possibly the most exciting and 'special' bit of my entire relationship with music, however 'small-time' it might seem now, and at the end of it, I clearly remember thinking "well that's it then, nothing more to look forward to (musically) now" - until my horizons opened and and I moved forward.  I'm obviously not saying it is comparable to Wigan in any way as an event, but my relationship with the place helps me understand why some people felt their own relationship with Wigan was too close to want to carry on with the Northern Scene once it shut, particularly with the evolution of sounds that took place shortly afterwards.  My big (and very pleasant) surprise was that for me the excitement did carry on, bigger and better than ever, and all on a scene that was supposed to be dead on its feet.  It's true I can't compare it with Wigan, but I can say it was VERY exciting!

 

Cheers,

 

Nick

[Frankie Crocker]

I was too young for either, but from what I've learned over the years I do have to wonder what might have happened if a club like the Mecca had held sway over the Casino.

Cheers,

Mark R

No chance. The Mecca was a warm-up for Wigan. Once Wigan started up, no tunes played by Levine and Curtiss topped the tunes heard at Wigan. Even the Ritz eclipsed Blackpool Mecca.

[Frankie Crocker]

That's completely wrong, it was everywhere especially in 1975, you couldn't walk down a street without seeing someone wearing a Soul Wolverhampton or Keep The Faith patch, all the divvy kids bought Get Out and Out On The Floor and it I'd say one in three kids was into it, even if it was only for a brief period.

Pete, you're absolutely right. It was mainstream 1974-76. School trousers were 24 inch parallels with turn-ups and side pockets. Soul patches were for sale in record shops. The pop charts were littered with Pye Disco Demand sounds. Youths were spinning in the streets, bus shelters and factory floors. Every youth club in the country played The Snake five times an evening. The exposure was somewhat embarrassing for the hard core who backed off travelling to Wigan as swarms of divvy tourists went out of curiosity.

[Frankie Crocker]

The Mecca was almost completely divorced from the northern scene by 75/76 as its

music policy had gone totally away from northern soul, it was almost exclusively 70's/jazz funk by then.

In the same way, Wigan was playing all sorts of crap by about 75, especially Russ, which also drove

people away. In my opinion Russ gets far too much credit on the northern scene, he didn't have much

idea to be honest.

 

However.

What everybody always seems to forget is that there were plenty of other nighters

running at the same time as Wigan.

Leeds Central

Cleethorpes Pier/Winter Gardens

Coalville Tiffs

Notts Palais

Samanthas Sheffield

To name but a few, these never get a mention either.

 

These were where the true aficionados went, stayed true to the roots, and helped carry the scene

into the 80's.

All worthy venues but none were pivotal like The Wheel, Torch and Wigan. Stafford and The 100 Club were pivotal and deserving of a mention for notable contributions in a historical context. Loads of other towns played supporting roles such as Warrington and Morecambe but these are only comparable to the profusion of regional events such as Stoke, Lowton and Allbrighton - significant but not pivotal.

[Kegsy]

All worthy venues but none were pivotal like The Wheel, Torch and Wigan. Stafford and The 100 Club were pivotal and deserving of a mention for notable contributions in a historical context. Loads of other towns played supporting roles such as Warrington and Morecambe but these are only comparable to the profusion of regional events such as Stoke, Lowton and Allbrighton - significant but not pivotal.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by pivotal, the only one I would call pivotal would be Wigan

because it completed altered the scene with the mass influx of people who didn't know the

first thing about SOUL music. Lets face it if your introduction to the music was Javells, Nosmo King or

Wigan's Chosen Few its hardly a good grounding.

 

Contrary to popular opinion the scene was/is, before and after Wigan, a scene where

people went to dance to SOUL music.

Contrary to popular opinion the scene was never just about 100mph up-tempo stompers, although when coupled

with a soulful vocal they can take some beating.

Many records played at Wigan diluted the soul content at the expense of the stomping beat.

 

Cleethorpes Pier managed to get the mix between 60s and 70s releases just about right 

so it provided a venue where the people who were into SOUL music could go, and not

just listen to the 100mph stuff. It combined the best of the Mecca and Wigan so at

the time it was pivotal IMHO. Many people at the time were royally pissed off with the Wigan/Mecca war 

and just ignored both by going to Cleethorpes, which had taken up the gauntlet of the true

underground SOUL scene.

There are times when I wish Dave Godin hadn't bothered to coin the phrase Northern Soul, because

for some people, it put more emphasis on the beat than the soulful content of the music.

Edited July 29, 2014 by Kegsy

[Guest in town Mikey]

Bits of the show I thought were excellent. (Interviews with Richard, Ian D, Ian Levine, Elaine etc). Other bits horrendous. (Interviews with so many people who just didnt deserve the air time on a show about Northern Soul. And the end where they basically wrote off 30 years)

 

The ending made me very angry. More angry than I probably should have been. It turned a bad show into a horrendous one.

 

Yet there was some really excellent bits. Not least seeing Cleggy looking so well. And Fran always spoke so well about how much it can mean to a person.

 

I was going to save it but have decided to delete it.

[manus]

 

 

Contrary to popular opinion the scene was/is, before and after Wigan, a scene where

people went to dance to SOUL music.

Contrary to popular opinion the scene was never just about 100mph up-tempo stompers, although when coupled

with a soulful vocal they can take some beating.

 

 

And Amen to that

[KevH]

No chance. The Mecca was a warm-up for Wigan. Once Wigan started up, no tunes played by Levine and Curtiss topped the tunes heard at Wigan. Even the Ritz eclipsed Blackpool Mecca.

 

Not the Mecca i went to.I used to do the Mecca/Wigan thing,and heard many tunes at Mecca that filtered down the the Casino.

Its just that now people prefer to call them Wigan tunes.

[Kegsy]

No chance. The Mecca was a warm-up for Wigan. Once Wigan started up, no tunes played by Levine and Curtiss topped the tunes heard at Wigan. Even the Ritz eclipsed Blackpool Mecca.

 

So who do you think was discovering most of the tunes played at Wigan in the early days say 73/75 ?.

FFS don't say Dustbin Stanley.

Edited July 29, 2014 by Kegsy

[Goldsoul]

Kegs- You mean records like......

World Without Sunshine- Sandra Philips

The Duck/Love Runs Out- Willie Hutch

Casualeers- Dance Dance Dance

Seven Souls- I Still Love You

Vernon Greene- Look at Me,

Yvonne Daniels- I Don't Want to Get Away from your love

Ernie Marbray- Ain't Nobody's Business

The Perigents- Love On A Rampage

Eddie Foster- I Never Knew(simultaneously with Ian at the Mecca)

[Kegsy]

Kegs- You mean records like......

World Without Sunshine- Sandra Philips

The Duck/Love Runs Out- Willie Hutch

Casualeers- Dance Dance Dance

Seven Souls- I Still Love You

Vernon Greene- Look at Me,

Yvonne Daniels- I Don't Want to Get Away from your love

Ernie Marbray- Ain't Nobody's Business

The Perigents- Love On A Rampage

Eddie Foster- I Never Knew(simultaneously with Ian at the Mecca)

 

 

Kev I'm quite aware of your contribution, and nobody is trying to diminish it or Richards either.

I'm just trying to dispel the myth that the scene was a series of independent clubs that

bore little relationship to each other at the time.

How many nights did you do the Mecca and then Wigan in those days (73/75)?, most of them I would hazard a guess at ,

in the same way 100's of us did.

Edited July 29, 2014 by Kegsy

[Dave Thorley]

You lot still going at this, well done !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Goldsoul]

Kegs- Brilliant times...Torch into the Mecca into Wigan and back to the Mecca.

All I can say is during that 73-75 period, Wigan was very innovative as it challenged Blackpool for the coveted top spot. Sadly the Station Rd venue got de-railed by a sudden thirst for a different sound ala Javells, Gary Lewis, Keith etc. However the whole scene was in a state of uncertainty ie Mecca(Cochise, Ladies Choice, Shake n Bump, King Sporty etc).

A mere case of youngsters testing themselves musically so to speak.

Glad you were there to experience it alongside me and other notable relics !

[Kegsy]

Glad you were there to experience it alongside me and other notable relics !

 

I think you still owe me a pint from the Mecca, and don't forget when I got

your copy of Landslide back after it had been nicked from your box at Wigan.

Edited July 29, 2014 by Kegsy

[Kjw]

I'm not sure what you mean by pivotal, the only one I would call pivotal would be Wigan

because it completed altered the scene with the mass influx of people who didn't know the

first thing about SOUL music. Lets face it if your introduction to the music was Javells, Nosmo King or

Wigan's Chosen Few its hardly a good grounding.

 

Contrary to popular opinion the scene was/is, before and after Wigan, a scene where

people went to dance to SOUL music.

Contrary to popular opinion the scene was never just about 100mph up-tempo stompers, although when coupled

with a soulful vocal they can take some beating.

Many records played at Wigan diluted the soul content at the expense of the stomping beat.

 

Cleethorpes Pier managed to get the mix between 60s and 70s releases just about right 

so it provided a venue where the people who were into SOUL music could go, and not

just listen to the 100mph stuff. It combined the best of the Mecca and Wigan so at

the time it was pivotal IMHO. Many people at the time were royally pissed off with the Wigan/Mecca war 

and just ignored both by going to Cleethorpes, which had taken up the gauntlet of the true

underground SOUL scene.

There are times when I wish Dave Godin hadn't bothered to coin the phrase Northern Soul, because

for some people, it put more emphasis on the beat than the soulful content of the music.

I'm sure I remember this right - my memories not as good as it was. Wigan were so concerned at the success and popularity of Cleethorpes they put on an all-nighter at the Winter Gardens the same night the Pier was on - it totally bombed

[Kegsy]

I'm sure I remember this right - my memories not as good as it was. Wigan were so concerned at the success and popularity of Cleethorpes they put on an all-nighter at the Winter Gardens the same night the Pier was on - it totally bombed

 

That's quite right.

[Simsy]

the scene died on its arse after 1981 

 

 

 

96 Active NS venues in the 1980's.

 

 

Here we go folks 96 - Count em!

100 Club

78 Club (Letchworth)

Aberdeen Music Hall

Abraham Moss

Alfreton Leisure Centre Allnighters

Arbroath Smokeys

Assembly Rooms (Derby)

Barnsley - Port Cullis

Barrow

Bensons (Bradford)

Blackburn

Bubbles (Leicester)

Burnley

Canklow WM Club

Carlton Inn Morecombe

Carousel Manchester

Chesterfield "Winding Wheel"

Civic Hall Brighouse

Clifton Hall

Cotton's-Stockport

Coventry

Cricketers Wigan

Darlington

Drill Hall (Lincoln)

Droylesden

Dunstable

Edinburgh Queens Hall

Empress Ballroom (Mexborough)

Fife

Fleetwood

Function at the Junction

Fusion (Chesterfield)

Glenrothes

Gloucester Jamaica Club

Hinckley

Jesters

Keele

Kelsey Kerridge

KGB (Sheffield)

Leeds Allnighter

Leicester

Leighton Buzzard

Leven

Londoner Tracky Club

Loughborough

Mansfield Leisure Centre

Mansfield Swan all-nighters

Market Harborough Leisure Centre

Matlock Bath Pavillion

Morecambe

Newbury Soul Club

Newcastle

Olde English Matlock

Papa Luigis Peterborough

Parr Hall (Warrington)

Peterborough

Queens Hall Bradford

Redbrook Hotel (Rotherham)

Ripley Soul Nights

Rock City (Notts)

Romeo & Juliets (Sheffield)

Rotherham Clifton Hall

Scarborough (Rudies)

Sheffield

Sherwood Rooms Nottingham

Shotts Allenton Miners Welfare

Sloski's

Soul Cellar - Harlow

Southport Weekenders

St Ives

Stafford

Stamford

Swan Hotel Mansfield

TAC Yarmouth Weekenders

Take 2 Sheffield

The '81 Soul Club

Thorne Canal Tavern

Three Cups - Chelmsford

Tiffanys (Wigan/Sheffield etc)

Torksey

Trotters Mansfield

Tudor Barn Warsop

Turn-Ups (Sheffield)

Twisted Wheel 87

Warehouse Sheffield

Warrington

Whitchurch

White Horse Putney

Wigan Casino

Windmill Assembly Rooms

Winter Gardens (Cleethorpes)

Wirrina

Worksop Leisure Centre

Worksop Town

Yate

YMCA - Chelmsford

 

[Jordirip]

 

 

96 Active NS venues in the 1980's.

 

 

Here we go folks 96 - Count em!

100 Club

78 Club (Letchworth)

Aberdeen Music Hall

Abraham Moss

Alfreton Leisure Centre Allnighters

Arbroath Smokeys

Assembly Rooms (Derby)

Barnsley - Port Cullis

Barrow

Bensons (Bradford)

Blackburn

Bubbles (Leicester)

Burnley

Canklow WM Club

Carlton Inn Morecombe

Carousel Manchester

Chesterfield "Winding Wheel"

Civic Hall Brighouse

Clifton Hall

Cotton's-Stockport

Coventry

Cricketers Wigan

Darlington

Drill Hall (Lincoln)

Droylesden

Dunstable

Edinburgh Queens Hall

Empress Ballroom (Mexborough)

Fife

Fleetwood

Function at the Junction

Fusion (Chesterfield)

Glenrothes

Gloucester Jamaica Club

Hinckley

Jesters

Keele

Kelsey Kerridge

KGB (Sheffield)

Leeds Allnighter

Leicester

Leighton Buzzard

Leven

Londoner Tracky Club

Loughborough

Mansfield Leisure Centre

Mansfield Swan all-nighters

Market Harborough Leisure Centre

Matlock Bath Pavillion

Morecambe

Newbury Soul Club

Newcastle

Olde English Matlock

Papa Luigis Peterborough

Parr Hall (Warrington)

Peterborough

Queens Hall Bradford

Redbrook Hotel (Rotherham)

Ripley Soul Nights

Rock City (Notts)

Romeo & Juliets (Sheffield)

Rotherham Clifton Hall

Scarborough (Rudies)

Sheffield

Sherwood Rooms Nottingham

Shotts Allenton Miners Welfare

Sloski's

Soul Cellar - Harlow

Southport Weekenders

St Ives

Stafford

Stamford

Swan Hotel Mansfield

TAC Yarmouth Weekenders

Take 2 Sheffield

The '81 Soul Club

Thorne Canal Tavern

Three Cups - Chelmsford

Tiffanys (Wigan/Sheffield etc)

Torksey

Trotters Mansfield

Tudor Barn Warsop

Turn-Ups (Sheffield)

Twisted Wheel 87

Warehouse Sheffield

Warrington

Whitchurch

White Horse Putney

Wigan Casino

Windmill Assembly Rooms

Winter Gardens (Cleethorpes)

Wirrina

Worksop Leisure Centre

Worksop Town

Yate

YMCA - Chelmsford

 

 

 

There was one in York that i used to go to all dayers, forgot the name now.

[Jordirip]

There was one in York that i used to go to all dayers, forgot the name now.

 

Just remembered, it was Jaspers.

[Goldsoul]

Interesting to note, in the 80's/90's a fair amount of the venues listed were not super busy though, neither were they in the 70's apart from the obvious.
Today is a different story......there are many that pull healthy numbers. Far outweighing what went before IMHO.

Edited July 29, 2014 by The Golden 101

[Simsy]

I think the fact that there were 90+ venues going in the 80's proves the scene wasn't dead.

 

When that list was written in 2005, people were using terms like 'death throes' which is just wrong.