Memories Of Hinckley Leasure Centre

[Guest martinsbox]

Going through my old records and came upon an old 12" ordered after one hell of a great night . . . here is Frank Elson's review, not of Hinckley, but the same great show.

THE RIC TIC REVUE. Revued by Frank Elson.

WHAT makes me so unhappy is that it was such a wonderful day. Surely the largest - and most enthusiastic - crowd at a Northern Soul venue since the Casino closed, and even then Wigan was a pale imitation of it's former self.

Sunday, 23rd January, belonged to Ric Tic Records, and Golden World, and a dozen or more small town labels that presented the world with sounds like "Breaking Down The Walls Of Heartache", "Call On Me" and "At The Discotheque". It belonged to people with bellies getting larger as hair gets thinner - it belonged to another era, a time that is past and will never appear again.

You just had to look around you to see that I'm speaking the truth. Old, wonderful faces, wedding rings by the hundred, people who had to get back early because of the baby-sitter. There were more people there who no longer go regularly to Northern Soul clubs than who do. It was a marvellous, wonderful, exhilarating day out, it was Northern Soul at its very, very best.

And what about the show? I don't know a nicer person than J.J. Barnes - he's a pal, he's a musical giant.

Pat Lewis is a Queen looking for a crown and she could have had one that day if we could have found one lying around. Al Kent makes one be-moan the fact that the word "cool" has been devalued out of sight over the last 20 years, with so much talent running around his head he should be a bundle of nervous energy (which he isn't). Lou Ragland is a genius. He's a superstar and the world doesn't know it yet. And Edwin Starr is Edwin Starr, energy wrapped up in a much-too-tight white outfit. A sway and a swagger, a turn of the head, one hand raised slightly above his head.

They worked. Oh, how they worked! In England for less than a week, cossetted with a bunch of British youngsters from Nottingham who could hardly have been born when some of the songs they were backing on were first recorded - but who played with a feeling and spirit that became something special - the work went on and on . . .

"I'll play this if you'll play that." "Say, what if I go on stage and sing this first, go into that and then you come on with this . . ." They put it together for us . . . not for some supper club ciruit in the States. Not a simple he goes on and she follows, and let's just sing the songs we're famous for and then get off. An ACT for goodness sake. A homage paid to the fans who have supported them through tiny clubs in Sheffield and Warrington.

Then the people who haven't played before Northern crowds before . . . "Pat, you were a shot in the arm for the Northern Scene today," . . . ."You were a shot in the arm for me!"

Pat Lewis has been with a Cole Porter Show for three months, then with another show in Detroit after that. She had a week to go and she walked out telling them, "I'm going to England." I don't hink she regrets it. A tight, very tight, white dress, mascara running down her eye, microphone jammed in her arm-pit to leave both hands free to clap with "Warning", "Can't Shake You Loose" a powerful but sexy voice - no wonder it's sexy, look where it's been!

Al Kent, hunched over the piano, thoughts of his trip to New York next week, hunting for a publisher for his book, banished for twenty minutes. The book took him three years to write, a labour of love and sweat about a corrupt Baptist minister. A plain jacket that wouldn't look wrong on Ray Charles 25 years ago. A quiet, elegant and extremely talented man.

Jay, why don't you get your hair cut? No wonder that voice is so strong, look at the man's shoulders. A gentle turning of the head, a stroll across the stage and then back again, "How Long" - he'll always wonder how that record didn't hit - then "Sweet Sherry" and a kind of hysteria at the foot of the stage.

"I'm paying the rent and I've got a few dollars in my pocket. I've got a track I'd like to find a release for in England, it's going out on my label in the States, but it's got that Northern Beat."

Memories eh!!

Martin

[Guest ShaneH]

martin, i am gonna let this thread run for a couple of days to generate some interest then i will move it to the correct section - 'all our yesterdays'

hope this is ok mate

Shane

[Platters 81]

me .,.Nick Marshall, and Andy Brown went to see Curtis Mayfield(or was it Chuck Jackson?) at Hinckley ..wasnt the stage in the basket ball Hall?.....we helped Tim A in with his records then hid in the Baths so Chris Kings minions couldnt find us to pay in we emerged an hour later bleached by the chlorine happy days.....

[Guest]

I snogged P Lewis.

[Guest nubes]

That was a good night,"The Way You've Been Acting Lately"- Al Kent, was one of my Sister's faves at the time and she was absolutely thrilled to hear it live at Hinckley, Delx

[Guest gibber]

I wanna take you home - Edwin Starr - Avatar X2

I first heard this as sung live at the

Ric Tic Revue at Hinckley's now

famous Leasure Centre All-Nighter

( January 21 / 22 1983 )

Edwin's performance, live, with the other stars that night still evoke memories . . . and this 12 45rpm provides the perfect backdrop, to a perfect night had by all who went there and danced and sung along to their performances, still remembered to this day!!

Martin

I wanna take you home - Edwin Starr - Avatar X2

I first heard this as sung live at the

Ric Tic Revue at Hinckley's now

famous Leasure Centre All-Nighter

( January 21 / 22 1983 )

Edwin's performance, live, with the other stars that night still evoke memories . . . and this 12 45rpm provides the perfect backdrop, to a perfect night had by all who went there and danced and sung along to their performances, still remembered to this day!!

Martin

Edited October 26, 2006 by gibber

[Guest martinsbox]

martin, i am gonna let this thread run for a couple of days to generate some interest then i will move it to the correct section - 'all our yesterdays'

hope this is ok mate

Shane

Oooops!

p.s. bit more than yesterday perhaps? :secret:

[Guest martinsbox]

Great nights

If you look at https://martins_box.tripod.com/id21.htm you'll see a few pic's from that Major Lance Nighter . . . also Curtis Mayfield aswell.

Martin

Great nights

Great nights

Great nights

Great nights

[Guest gibber]

Sorry Martin , sort later .

Photos WEEKEND SOUL CLUB flyers, Major Lance, Edwin Starr, Martha Reeves plus tickets .

Great memories ,

[Cheltsoulnights]

Yep great memories

it coincided with me and the then wifes birthdays

incidentaly she's not into northern

So i take her out for a surprise evening out

you guessed it Hinckley

Well she sat there for hours, Then Chris King comes past with this Little black guy in a suit and introduces him.

She's not amused, So i intervene and ask what going on, He explains he was just introducing AL GREEN

Still treasure the moment

[Guest in town Mikey]

Oooops!

p.s. bit more than yesterday perhaps? :secret:

All about the soul

Could be all about the memories.

C'mon Shane. I was there that night. Hinckley is one of those allnighters that drops under the radar. OK it didnt break the sounds that Wigan or Stafford did (Just sticking with my era old boys!!). But I cant think of a better Friday night I have had in my life than the Ric Tic revue.

At least if I lost my virginity. Saw Bristol City beat Leeds with a Keith Fear goal. Or bought the winning lottery rollover ticket (Yet to happen of course). if any of those happened on a Friday night I dont remember it. But I remember clear as day Hinckley.

This is SOUL mate. This is why we love it. Hear the Soul Brothers Inc at a mates house and its great. Listen to it at however many decibels, supping with your mates, and with a dancefloor covered in Talc, and it is SOUL. All about soul? All about nights like the Ric Tic Revue Shane.

Leave it where it is.

Now who is the guy who posts with the link to Patrinel Statten. Gotta find that before i fall into a drunben heap. And wake up with the comp buzzing in me ear, at 4am with work tonmorrow.

[Guest ShaneH]

All about the soul

Could be all about the memories.

C'mon Shane. I was there that night. Hinckley is one of those allnighters that drops under the radar. OK it didnt break the sounds that Wigan or Stafford did (Just sticking with my era old boys!!). But I cant think of a better Friday night I have had in my life than the Ric Tic revue.

At least if I lost my virginity. Saw Bristol City beat Leeds with a Keith Fear goal. Or bought the winning lottery rollover ticket (Yet to happen of course). if any of those happened on a Friday night I dont remember it. But I remember clear as day Hinckley.

This is SOUL mate. This is why we love it. Hear the Soul Brothers Inc at a mates house and its great. Listen to it at however many decibels, supping with your mates, and with a dancefloor covered in Talc, and it is SOUL. All about soul? All about nights like the Ric Tic Revue Shane.

Leave it where it is.

Now who is the guy who posts with the link to Patrinel Statten. Gotta find that before i fall into a drunben heap. And wake up with the comp buzzing in me ear, at 4am with work tonmorrow.

why do people always assume that i disagree with a thread when i move it to the right section?

why do you think the forum is split into sections?

if that is the general opinion we might as well put sales, event info and soundfiles all in here.

it is not as if the thread disappears is it? if anything it will gain more exposure as you are able to open the thread within more than one forum

Shane

[Guest in town Mikey]

why do people always assume that i disagree with a thread when i move it to the right section?

why do you think the forum is split into sections?

if that is the general opinion we might as well put sales, event info and soundfiles all in here.

it is not as if the thread disappears is it? if anything it will gain more exposure as you are able to open the thread within more than one forum

Shane

Its not that I think you disagree with the thread Shane. Its just Northern Soul isnt always about soul when we talk records is it? Or Elvis or Charles Sheffield would never be played. Northern Soul is deeper than that. And talking about (for me) a seminal night in the Northern Soul scene, isnt just about all our yesterdays, its all about SOUL.

If my drunken ramblings are out of order I apologise. but right now I feel like Seigfried Sassoon just as the soldiers are about to go over the top. And I have my pen ready to put into words what I'm feeling. Unlike Siegfried, I am a numbers person so cant convey feelings in words like he can, but surely if something like this isnt soul, then I have been pishing in the wind for too long.

[Guest]

And i snogged Pat Lewis.

[Guest martinsbox]

I wanna take you home - Edwin Starr - Avatar X2

Perhaps I should have left the introduction out and just put Edwin's tune up in 'Show us yer box', it may have been easier. Just wanted to add something else to it that's all . . . if you know what I mean. What is a tune without a story?

Martin

[Guest in town Mikey]

And i snogged Pat Lewis.

Thats all well and good.

But do you know who has Patrinell Statten as the last song they listened to on here?

I just listened to the Frank popp tune I thought it would be a fella, wrong. It samples the tune - no more lonely nights, doesnt it.

Anyway I NEEEEEDDDDD Patrinel Statten before I collapse.

Found it. Mike Vague I salute you.

Edited October 26, 2006 by in town Mikey

[Guest ShaneH]

moving this over to the 'yesterdays' forum

Shane

[Guest Matt Male]

First time i discovered how to stay awake and dance all night at Hinckley... ... what ever happened to Dexy's Midnight Runners?

We always used to meet up with people from Leicester and Northhampton in The Vinery before going in, and got moved on once for imbibing substances other than the lager.

Preferred the niters in the smaller hall to the left as you go in, but later there were some in the massive basketball hall, I think i remember them bringing out the foldaway seating for the Ric Tic Review. Everyone had to use the changing room toilets unless you went upstairs. After Wigan closed it was the first 'real' niter i went to regularly that felt it belonged to the new generation Then came Stafford, the Oddfellows and Morcambe, and the 100 club. What a line up. Imagine if all of these five niters were running these days.

I expect we'd still be complaining about oldies...

[Mikevague]

Thats all well and good.

But do you know who has Patrinell Statten as the last song they listened to on here?

I just listened to the Frank popp tune I thought it would be a fella, wrong. It samples the tune - no more lonely nights, doesnt it.

Anyway I NEEEEEDDDDD Patrinel Statten before I collapse.

Found it. Mike Vague I salute you.

I salute you back...

Yum

YUm

YUM

[Catriona]

Going through my old records and came upon an old 12" ordered after one hell of a great night . . . here is Frank Elson's review, not of Hinckley, but the same great show.

You just had to look around you to see that I'm speaking the truth. Old, wonderful faces, wedding rings by the hundred, people who had to get back early because of the baby-sitter. There were more people there who no longer go regularly to Northern Soul clubs than who do. It was a marvellous, wonderful, exhilarating day out, it was Northern Soul at its very, very best.

Interesting that he felt the following night was full of older people as my main memory of Ric Tic review was how young everyone was( it was my 17 th birthday and I really overdid it so I m probably not a reliable source on that!) I seem to remember lots of people sleeping behind the seating as well which was a bit odd. And being followed about by Phil Flavell.............which was just plain scary!

I whinged and bitched about Hinkley when it was running....mostly down to travelling there and it being cancelled on a couple of occasions, but I saw some amazing live acts there, and The Ric Tic review really was an a fantastic night.

I moaned about played out oldies back then and I m still hearing the same sodding records when I m out now, I need a new social life!