Awesome Richard Searling Spot At Wigan

[Tony Smith]

Richard played Tommy Ridgely as part of my top 3 on his show today.  I mentioned that I never realised it was one of his Wigan spins and he said it was news to him as well.  So I sent him the set list and he said it is all spot on apart from in his words "All look correct except I never played Wilbur Walton or Tommy R".    

I had a tape with Richard playing Wilbur Walton Jnr on it, he played as "Time for a couple of requests..." next track up was George Kirby. 

[macca]

So Phyllis Hyman was played at the Casino at least a year after its US release then? 

[Petebangor]

So Phyllis Hyman was played at the Casino at least a year after its US release then? 

 

 

I wouldn't have thought so Macca,  I remember Phillis Hyman getting played as a new release, but it's really difficult , trying to put an exact date on it.  Phyllis Hyman was amongst the first wave of new releases played at Wigan. I would have said very late 79 or early 80. 

[Petebangor]

Patrice Rushen - 'Haven't you heard' was another of one the first new release plays, that was a 79 release too.

[macca]

PR was a top ten US R&B chart hit, wasn't it? The Casino was moving away from the rare soul ethos with stuff like this, I guess. 

[Petebangor]

PR was a top ten US R&B chart hit, wasn't it? The Casino was moving away from the rare soul ethos with stuff like this, I guess. 

 

Richard mixed it up really well, he'd be playing brand new US releases, right next to dog rare stuff like Eddie Daye, The Combinations and Little Anne. For me, this was the pinnacle musically.  Some real rare stuff, which is still super rare today, some of the new release stuff, have gone on to be Northern classics, whilst some were dropped after a few weeks. I remember Coffee - Casanova getting played, that didn't go down well in some quarters, a Sam play, if I remember correctly.  

[TOAD]

Phyllis a true cross over record ala Locarno when we all including the Bali hi jazz funkers were on the same floor..

[TOAD]

Wilber was pat Brady..

[Theothertosspot]

On 18/11/2014 at 17:32, Chalky said:

Never realised Tommy Ridgely was Wigan spin for Searling.  Always thought it was John Vincent and few years later.

Jonathon was first to play this around 78.

In Kev Roberts book it was a “b” lister at the time. George Sharpe, I think resurrected it at Stafford.

 

[Chalky]

11 hours ago, Theothertosspot said:

Jonathon was first to play this around 78.

In Kev Roberts book it was a “b” lister at the time. George Sharpe, I think resurrected it at Stafford.

 

John Vincent had it at Morecambe. That was sold back to John Anderson I believe.  Not sure about resurrected, did it ever make it as a staple play before Butch played it? Briefly played and quickly forgotten by all accounts?  Not right for the time.