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Never Had It So Good


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You don't get it. We have our Northern Soul scene. We don't want it 'unified' with other types of soul. It's fine as it is. If you want an all-encompassing soul scene, that's fine, bring Northern into it, but don't try and water down the Northern scene with alien types of music because it's not wanted, it's fine as it is, and only possibly 5% of all people will be into it. There's a time and place for all music, enjoy it there but why try to bring it to people who have no interest in it - you might as well be trying to get people to listen to bhangra.

This is weirdly defensive.

Who's trying to unify northern soul with other types of soul? Do you mean on soul source or at nights?

if people are doing this on here, then that's their right; it's a soul music site and people can like any combination of soul and northern soul that they want to...

and if they're doing it in clubs, well they can do what they want can't they?

And after all, there's quite a lot going on for those who like their undiluted northern anthems isnt there?

Unless I'm missing something, you're winning aren't you, what you moaning about?

if there are people, and I'm one of them, who like to hear a northern classic and a funky newie at the same night, why do you care?

Northern soul only has meaning to those who are into it. I dont know if a record is northern soul or another type of soul, and I dont care.]

Edited by pow wow mik
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It's very probable that those 'sweet memories' of the Casino and Cleethorpes have tainted our vision of what is actually soulful. The Carstairs tore the scene apart but you'd be hard pressed to find a generic Northern Soul compilation today without it on.

 

I don't remember The Carstairs as "tearing the scene apart". It was BIG everywhere! I know it's often cited as the "first" contemporary sound played on the scene but that is a bit of self promotion by you know who. I personally think that The Temprees was more of a sign-post of the so called oldies/newies rift.

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Northern soul only has meaning to those who are into it. I dont know if a record is northern soul or another type of soul, and I dont care.]

 

Then how can you comment on what is or what isn't?

This argument is crazy.

For the last time.  Topic title 'never had it so good'.  Sounds better or as good as at any other time in the last 50 years.

I disagree with that.  That's all!

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Russ, you need to go out more often and release that pent-up energy. Now, if we drop the term Northern Soul, what are we gonna put on the flyers that litter the tables of the underground clubs?

 

Hello mate - I think we should revert to Rare Soul TBH.  The nostalgia type events are welcome to the term NS, it would help distinguish between events. 

 

Although I work in Iraq, I imagine that I still attend more All Nighters & Soul events than many.  When I'm home I generally will get to at least one Nighter & one other, a Nighter, a Soul Night or an Alldayer, my closest All Nighter is a 2 hour drive, altho we hammer up North mostly still, I can do my house on the South Coast to Manchester in about 3 hours on a good run these days

:-).

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Then how can you comment on what is or what isn't?

This argument is crazy.

For the last time. Topic title 'never had it so good'. Sounds better or as good as at any other time in the last 50 years.

I disagree with that. That's all!

It's something that's impossible to disagree with though, that's what I'm saying.

from Matt's subjective point of view, it's never been better music-wise, I suppose cos he likes the style or mixture of stuff played now. I'd agree with that too.. You may not share that view, but you cant say he's wrong.

so he's never had it so good, that's a fact.

if you do disagree, and think that the 70s discoveries were the best, then you've still got them, nights to hear them, plus anything discovered since, so as a matter of fact...

You've never had it so good either.

I should have been a lawyer, just didnt fancy sucking satan off]

Edited by pow wow mik
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OK I concede, I still don't think I was able to accurately say what I meant though, I appreciate that it is possible to like all kinds of soul music but still think there's a time and place for each of them and they don't necessarily have to interweave.

If others do, and I'm in the minority, so be it.

I still believe that what the scene really needs though is one dominant, regular allnighter, for instance if Stoke* was on every 2 weeks, things would start to knit back together again instead of it all being so fractured.

*just an example,.

the problem with this ,is that the promoters of the big events (nighters w/ends/soulweeks abroad) and a lot of the so-called top dj,s are in rival camps and even someone like Henry Kissenger couldn't get them to agree ,. so what you would end up with as happened in the past ,would be tribal warfare with the addition of the world wide web on a global basis ,. :yes: and two or three big events all on the same night , slugging it out :hatsoff2:

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the problem with this ,is that the promoters of the big events (nighters w/ends/soulweeks abroad) and a lot of the so-called top dj,s are in rival camps and even someone like Henry Kissenger couldn't get them to agree ,. so what you would end up with as happened in the past ,would be tribal warfare with the addition of the world wide web on a global basis ,. :yes: and two or three big events all on the same night , slugging it out :hatsoff2:

 

Yeah I didn't think of that - it would be all down to the promoters.

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In the 8ts there was a meeting of the, I think, three top promoters at the time, whwere they managed to thrash it out & come to a compromise.  Thing is could the amount of die hard All Nighter goers sustain one central venue, I'm not sure there is enough any more.

 

Best Russ

 

Not at the moment, but if there was one, then maybe people might go?

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In the 8ts there was a meeting of the, I think, three top promoters at the time, whwere they managed to thrash it out & come to a compromise. Thing is could the amount of die hard All Nighter goers sustain one central venue, I'm not sure there is enough any more.

Best Russ

Russ- Here's the news......the scene is very healthy. If you want a 'big do' there's plenty of Stoke, Blackpool's around. Mid sized hits- Lots. Smaller, underplayed, rarer etc- Lots.

No reason to question anything about Northern Soul. It's all good.

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Personally still catching up on the 1000s of records found and played, danced to by others in the 60's and '70's...still seems never ending to me, always will I think with my goldfish memory and then there's all the LP only things, recent releases of prev unreleased stuff still coming through + quality new soul artists and bands out there. Happy days and nights for sure.

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Russ- Here's the news......the scene is very healthy. If you want a 'big do' there's plenty of Stoke, Blackpool's around. Mid sized hits- Lots. Smaller, underplayed, rarer etc- Lots.

No reason to question anything about Northern Soul. It's all good.

 

Kev, here's my news....I agree to a point, I think the scene is very healthy right now, certainly the events I attend, loads of new sounds coming through, younger enthusiastic dancers, DJ's & promoters, I am in agreement with the thread starter whole heartedly.  What I disagree with, is the people who constantly bleat on that there have been no decent new discoveries since the 7ts, or when ever, which is so completely & ridiculously untrue its almost laughable.

 

I'm sure NS is all good for you Kev, because if it wasnt you wouldnt be promoting, its your livelihood, why would you question it....what I am saying, is that I find the term NS a bit embarrassing & cringy these days & I would rather not have the asscotiation TBH.    

 

KOKO

 

Russ

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Hey Pete

 

I'm up for anything, s'long as it has the X Factor....I'm just making the point that we're not all stuck in a nostalgia time warp, for many people things have moved on, it doesnt matter whether people agree or dislike it, it just is....I respect all opinions, its when people start telling you that your wrong, based purely on the fact they wont listen or go any where that doesnt play the kinda oldies they like.....

 

I like old skool type newies too, there just aint enough coming through to sustain my appetite, so I listen to whatever is played with open ears, some I like, some I dont, but on the whole I find the whole thing much more inspiring than a night of 'those' kinda oldies.

 

Best Russ

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Hey Pete

 

I'm up for anything, s'long as it has the X Factor....I'm just making the point that we're not all stuck in a nostalgia time warp, for many people things have moved on, it doesnt matter whether people agree or dislike it, it just is....I respect all opinions, its when people start telling you that your wrong, based purely on the fact they wont listen or go any where that doesnt play the kinda oldies they like.....

 

I like old skool type newies too, there just aint enough coming through to sustain my appetite, so I listen to whatever is played with open ears, some I like, some I dont, but on the whole I find the whole thing much more inspiring than a night of 'those' kinda oldies.

 

Best Russ

 

Yeah I would too if I had the motivation Russ.  You would never have found anyone more anti-oldies than me in the Wigan days, I hated M's, I hated Evisons oldies spot, and the Friday night oldies ruined many a decent saturday.  It was a) the introduction of more 70's records and b) love, that eventually stopped me going!

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Guest Ivor Jones

Hello mate - I think we should revert to Rare Soul TBH.  The nostalgia type events are welcome to the term NS, it would help distinguish between events. 

 

Although I work in Iraq, I imagine that I still attend more All Nighters & Soul events than many.  When I'm home I generally will get to at least one Nighter & one other, a Nighter, a Soul Night or an Alldayer, my closest All Nighter is a 2 hour drive, altho we hammer up North mostly still, I can do my house on the South Coast to Manchester in about 3 hours on a good run these days

:-).

Thing is Russ, if the term "Northern Soul" is dropped then whats gonna happen to the mountains of Mugs,Badges,T-Shirts,Clocks,any other awful shite that you see with the name emblazoned all over it at functions throughout the land……The dealers would be stuck with it. Ha ha :hatsoff2:

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Yeah I would too if I had the motivation Russ.  You would never have found anyone more anti-oldies than me in the Wigan days, I hated M's, I hated Evisons oldies spot, and the Friday night oldies ruined many a decent saturday.  It was a) the introduction of more 70's records and b) love, that eventually stopped me going!

Friday night oldies was the first nail really, with hind sight, didnt mind the seventies & modern so much, as long as there was a balance & as for love, I'm blessed with a very understanding family, although over the years I have pushed their patience to the limit....I think my only saving grace was that my wife was on the scene for many years & I did say when we married 'If you think I will ever grow out of this......'

 

As for the motivation Pete....well I just cant get that soulful monkey off my back & its not enough to get the hit at home, I need to share the experience with other like minded people.....

 

Best Russ

Edited by Russ Vickers
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Perfectly timed to prove Matt's point : james pogson's set at lifeline last night - mostly quite different to the traditional northern sound yet packed with soul and hard to sit still to, just an amazing set. as good as any set in any style in my opinion, quality soul music.

if your ears and feet aren't accepting slight changes in mood, rhythm or rempo, I think youre missing out - it would make me go to a northern do to hear it.

and of course, that's just one set amongst a night of great classic era soul of all styles. The variety is the beauty of it.

We really have never had it so good!

Good to hear James did himself proud at lifeline ,just sorry I missed it :(
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Perfectly timed to prove Matt's point : james pogson's set at lifeline last night - mostly quite different to the traditional northern sound yet packed with soul and hard to sit still to, just an amazing set. as good as any set in any style in my opinion, quality soul music.

if your ears and feet aren't accepting slight changes in mood, rhythm or rempo, I think youre missing out - it would make me go to a northern do to hear it.

and of course, that's just one set amongst a night of great classic era soul of all styles. The variety is the beauty of it.

We really have never had it so good!

 

I normally agree with everything you write Mik, but aren't you a bit too involved with this promotion to make an unbiased assessment? 

He seems a very likeable young chap, I met him briefly at Burnley the other week. He played some decent selections when I was there but didn't use the mic, is this the fashion these days?

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I normally agree with everything you write Mik, but aren't you a bit too involved with this promotion to make an unbiased assessment? 

He seems a very likeable young chap, I met him briefly at Burnley the other week. He played some decent selections when I was there but didn't use the mic, is this the fashion these days?

 

But Phil, there are two residents who don't use the Mic' at Burnley so it's hardly the fashion!

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I normally agree with everything you write Mik, but aren't you a bit too involved with this promotion to make an unbiased assessment?

He seems a very likeable young chap, I met him briefly at Burnley the other week. He played some decent selections when I was there but didn't use the mic, is this the fashion these days?

Yes, possibly ...but i'm not known to be subjective or overly positive! Only reason I mentioned it was because it really is relevent to this thread, and as it refers to a dj, style of music, and room that isn't my main bag, so I'm talking strictly as a punter and dancer.

I've never earned a bean out of any of this , or kissed an ass to get a dj spot and the health of the scene and quality of the music is all I care about.

... it's possible that as i dont go out much at the moment, maybe I'm overly enthusiastic when I do..or maybe someone spiked my drink ;-)...but the fact is: I know great music when I hear it.

I've not been going to nighters for a while of course, so a lot if tunes will be fresh to me that wont be to allnighter regulars I suppose...but I can still comment on the quality and variety of music at a do, the sound quality, the flow of a dj set - these things can be objectively judged more or less.

also, my point is a wider one than just about James or lifeline; the point is, at a major uk soul do, I was dancing to oldie style gene toones one minute, frank hutson the next. I dont see a gulf between the two, and there isnt one. They're both great soulful dance music and I feel privileged to dance to both on the same night, something that just wouldn't have happened 10 years ago.

it doesnt feel watered down or polluted, it feels more sophisticated and deeper. To me anyway. Its how the european scene started, so must make some sense.

I do appreciate Pete's point, that many are northern soul fans but not necesarily soul fans, I just think that being so attached to a particular sub-style of such a rich range of music is a bit weird.

lifeline's nowt to do with me, it dont need me to hype it up and I wouldnt, you can take my opinion to be an honest one.

]

Edited by pow wow mik
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James Pogson, well I hadn't heard him before Saturday night.  Fair to say we were still a little unsure how he would fair at an all-nighter as it isn't his usual kinda gig but he was simply brilliant.  So what if he didn't use the mic all the time, he used it at the beginning and the end, the records spoke for him, he had the floor full, great set of across the board rare soul music. I didn't hear one complaint from any of 250 plus people who were there that he didn't use the mic between all the records.

 

Some DJ's need to learn to shut up IMO.

Edited by chalky
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James Pogson, well I hadn't heard him before Saturday night.  Fair to say we were still a little unsure how he would fair at an all-nighter as it isn't his usual kinda gig but he was simply brilliant.  So what if he didn't use the mic all the time, he used it at the beginning and the end, the records spoke for him, he had the floor full, great set of across the board rare soul music. I didn't hear one complaint from any of 250 plus people who were there that he didn't use the mic between all the records.

 

Some DJ's need to learn to shut up IMO.

 

Sort of agree but people do need to know what the records are

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Sort of agree but people do need to know what the records are

 

Even when you tell them people still don't hear for the other noise going on around them.  People don't always understand accents as well.  I bet most DJ's don't even know what they sound like out "there" on the floor?

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Always thought the over-use of the mic was 90% egotism on the part of the DJ - unless he was imparting worthwhile info (the artist and title of a little known record for instance), something surprising about it or an interesting link with a preceding spin, and as noted you can rarely hear what is being said... After all - are we about the music or just doing our version of the local disco?

 

Dx

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Each to his own ref using the mike - Not using it works for some people, but I also like to hear a bit of relevant chat. Like Pete said, even if it's just what the records are called.

 

Manifesto did an interesting article on Mick Lyons years ago, and he had the same view about not using the mike - he said you can not enhance this great music by using it. Which of course is true, but I think the correct amount of mike usage can enhance an atmosphere at times.

 

Sorry Matt - Bit off topic here :wink:

 

All the best,

 

Len :thumbsup:

 

P.s - I've always liked the 'Muffled, inaudible grunts' :wink:

Edited by LEN
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I apologise to Mik, I thought you were part of the Pow Wow promotion.

 

I wasn't denigrating the lack of mic use, I was merely asking if there was a swing towards that these days, as I don't go out regularly now.

 

Like I said many times before, stop taking everything as a personal attack Chalky. I was merely asking a question.

Edited by Quinvy
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I apologise to Mik, I thought you were part of the Pow Wow promotion.

 

I wasn't denigrating the lack of mic use, I was merely asking if there was a swing towards that these days, as I don't go out regularly now.

 

Like I said many times before, stop taking everything as a personal attack Chalky. I was merely asking a question.

 

 

I didn't take it as personal Phil, sorry if it appeared that way, I was merely saying that no one complained about the lack of mic use and therefore it doesn't really bother the majority of people who are at a venue, we had at least two hours with no mic as well.  I also stated it was possibly a generation thing, and yes there probably is a swing to mic less DJing with the younger generation, maybe it is a confidence thing?

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James Pogson, well I hadn't heard him before Saturday night.  Fair to say we were still a little unsure how he would fair at an all-nighter as it isn't his usual kinda gig but he was simply brilliant.  So what if he didn't use the mic all the time, he used it at the beginning and the end, the records spoke for him, he had the floor full, great set of across the board rare soul music. I didn't hear one complaint from any of 250 plus people who were there that he didn't use the mic between all the records.

 

Some DJ's need to learn to shut up IMO.

I agree ,he was superb .I think if the set is well crafted and flows  then the mic doesn't need to be used, also think it works well with more " modern " style tracks , and it is probably something that younger members of the scene, or those into Modern Soul have adopted . .

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I've no wish to compare today's scene with the scene of the 70's or compare Matt's list with your list.  Today's scene should be about the best of it all, mixing it up and taking the best of each era rather than going out and hearing the same records week in week out.  They say familiarity breeds contempt and it is true of this scene, not just the oldies scene but the so called upfront scene as well.  It is all becoming rather boring, it is like listening to the top 40 for 30 odd years in many cases.  

 

Mine isn't a "list", it was the first records I could think of off the top of my head, the first ones that came to mind.  They don't represent anything apart from they are records that I think are classics.

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Mine isn't a "list", it was the first records I could think of off the top of my head, the first ones that came to mind.  They don't represent anything apart from they are records that I think are classics.

 

Still a list but that wasn't my point.  My point was not to compare one against one from our youth or any other time for that matter but to take a record and judge it on its individual merits, whatever its era.

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Each to his own ref using the mike - Not using it works for some people, but I also like to hear a bit of relevant chat. Like Pete said, even if it's just what the records are called.

 

Manifesto did an interesting article on Mick Lyons years ago, and he had the same view about not using the mike - he said you can not enhance this great music by using it. Which of course is true, but I think the correct amount of mike usage can enhance an atmosphere at times.

 

Sorry Matt - Bit off topic here :wink:

 

All the best,

 

Len :thumbsup:

 

P.s - I've always liked the 'Muffled, inaudible grunts' :wink:

I enjoyed Mick Lyons set at Stateside a couple of weeks ago; he just let the music do the talkin - it was bloody good. :thumbup: Not much chat but loads of great tunes.

 

20 seconds of speech between each record over 12 records = the loss of one tune; an hour set is approximately 24 records so if the DJ remains silent the audience gets to hear 2 extra tunes instead of a series of garbled messages. :thumbsup:

 

My preference is for DJ's who use the microphone at the beginning and end of their sets only; but I accept others prefer the DJ to supply chapter and verse to every record played even when they already knew the details (artist, track, release date, Wigan monster etc).

:hatsoff2:

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 I also stated it was possibly a generation thing, and yes there probably is a swing to mic less DJing with the younger generation, maybe it is a confidence thing?

As well as the generational thing, I think a lot of it is due to what background that DJs come from - while I've never been part of the 'Northern Soul scene', I've been going to 'underground-ish' (i.e. music-driven rather than mainstream chart-type places) for 30-odd years, and always associated use of a mic between tracks as something that DJs in cheesy city-centre clubs did, happy birthday Tracy, taxi waiting outside, who wants to win a free cocktail, that sort of thing.

 

Going to clubs playing (roughly in chronological order) boogie, electro, hip hop, dancehall, 'rare groove', acid house, rave, techno, drum'n'bass, big beat, breakbeat, electro again, dubstep, you'd often hear MCs over the music, but hardly ever in between tracks - it would break the flow of the music.

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Yes that makes sense, but I believed (via people's stories 'of old') that people like John Vincent, Soul Sam etc were these real Characters that added their personality to a set - Dave Evison defo adds something I recon!

 

Same from the next generation - The one liners from Guy, and Keb etc.

 

I think that's just part of it, others do it a different way that's all. Yes, Mick Lyons sets were pumping from start to finish whenever I saw him D.J :wink:

 

Len :thumbsup:

Edited by LEN
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Oh dear me, I would hate to hear the remaining 9,999,999 if that's anything to go by...utter rubbish IMO...totally with Pete

 

Sir, if you are a member of the oldies brigade then yes, you will agree with Pete but i have had hundreds of PM's agreeing with me :)

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