The Scene

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

I wonderd how long you all been on the scene (be honest) as i am sure many would have been on the scene possibly from way back like 1964 and so on. be intresting to see this and all memories people would know of back then

[Cunnie]

I wonderd how long you all been on the scene (be honest) as i am sure many would have been on the scene possibly from way back like 1964 and so on. be intresting to see this and all memories people would know of back then

About 30 years i guess ( god is it that bloody long )

How about answering your own question Paul & letting us know how long you've been around?

[Guest melandthensome]

I started hitting the all-nighters on the scene in 1973 aged 13

but went with guys/chicks aged a good 8/10years older than me and were all ex-wheel punters/torch/Mecca/junction/etc veterans.

All god damn maniacs as well

didnt suffer fools gladly and knew there music.......I loved it in those days nobody took any shit from anyone not from around here anyway and I wish we could turn back the han ds of time just once in a while.

I started collecting aged 10/11yrs of age thanks to my brother who was also err a rather dubious character in those days.....

For me the scene will never ever better those early years for me.......

mel

[Guest]

Seven years for me as I'm only 25! Plenty more ahead(maybe, if the smokes & booze don't get me first!)

-Mike

[45cellar]

I wonderd how long you all been on the scene (be honest) as i am sure many would have been on the scene possibly from way back like 1964 and so on. be intresting to see this and all memories people would know of back then

Hi

Counting my youth club days where I used to play Soul Music, around 38 years on the scene.

I'm 52 next month.

My older sister bought The Beatles etc, whereas my mother bought Mary Wells, The Supremes, The Ronettes etc, as they were released 1962/1963 onward. So I grew up listening to my mother playing all these wonderful (Chart) Soul tracks - My Guy and the like. They became the start of my collection around 1968 and I still have them to this day.

Certainly set me off on the path to an empty wallet I started working in 1970 - I spent most of my wages on records at the time when I discovered the then unknown stuff, like The O'Jays, Darrell Banks etc. I bought a load of Rare British stuff from someone who was selling most of his records to buy a Mini, I've still got the records I bought off him, I doubt he's still got his Mini.

A very good friend of mine from the Youth Club days appeared at my door in the early 1970's clutching a pile of records. Van McCoy Sweet & Easy, Jo Armstead, then Sandi Sheldon, Morris Chestnut, Lenis Guess, Shawn Robinson he played them and I was completely hooked. He had discovered the delights of the Torch and Wigan. He even let me tape them on my old reel to reel tape. - Happy Days.

That was when I first saw the Stock Copy of "Too Darn Soulful" on Blue AMY. Never seen one since apart from a scan. He had some rare stuff did Mick. Sold me one or two as well.

He even put me on to Groove City records, I can still remember the first day I phoned them from the phone box at work, and started to get lists. I turned my attention from British and pressings to Imports.

I started to play them at our local Northern Soul Venue. Regular Visits to Samanthas and Cleethorpes followed - Mick started me off collecting Imports in a big way Sadly he's no longer with us. I was always amazed how many records went through his hands, while only ever having say 50 at any one time - he just kept buying and selling rare stuff. I once bought a Jock Mitchell Stock Copy from him swapped it back for some other stuff he had a few months later.

When I met my wife I we got married I obviously had to slow down the spending on records, however I can honestly say that I still like virtually every record I bought. Once Soul Music grabs you it's with you for life.

Edited October 27, 2006 by 45cellar

[Mark Bicknell]

Summer 1976 for me so i'm into my 30th year, best to look forward rather than looking back...lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

[arnie j]

24 years for me, started at 14 through my bro and his mates, did the whole stafford,hinckley,leicester,morecombe etc,great days, especially stafford when sometimes there was only about 50 soulies in, best tunes ever at stafford too

[Guest]

should change the question,not when was the first nighter you went to,or how long you`ve been collecting records,on the scene means that,me from 73 onwards,with six months off for bad behavour!!,and another 6months off,for whatever.

[Bigsoulman]

should change the question,not when was the first nighter you went to,or how long you`ve been collecting records,on the scene means that,me from 73 onwards,with six months off for bad behavour!!,and another 6months off,for whatever.

You should get another 6 months for listening to your last played clip Kenny

ATB,

Lenny

[Sharon Cooper]

I wonderd how long you all been on the scene (be honest) as i am sure many would have been on the scene possibly from way back like 1964 and so on. be intresting to see this and all memories people would know of back then

started my soul life in 1969-1970 , by going to local clubs in Beeston Nottm and then onto the Brit Club on the banks of the trent. visited VaVas, The Torch etc whenever we could afford it, we often hitch hicked, (me and my mate trev) , Went to Leeds , but can't remember the name of the club, was downstairs as I recall, was a regular at Selecta Disc where i bought my first pressing and was told they were originals,, some things never change, got into it when my older brother Barry started bringing these records home and playing them on his new Dansette record player. He went to the allnighters at the Dungeon in Nott'm. First record was Jackie Wilson Higher & Higher from Barry for 10p.

Edited October 27, 2006 by bridget

[Guest]

You should get another 6 months for listening to your last played clip Kenny

ATB,

Lenny

Cheer`s Lenny, i love it,and i dont give a hoot what you all think ,but better listen to something diffrent later tho`,and guaranteed it wont be played anywere ever djs aint got the bottle

[Guest mark shepherd]

about 3 years tops,

i remember how it all began, i was listening to a sort of hip hop group called urban species and remember saying to myself what a good voice the backing singer had,

so read the cd credits, found out who he was, search around for a while to find a cd by him, bought it, loved it.

his voice sounded really soulful, so i asked a few people who are into soul had they ever heard of this guy.

and was sent away with a thick ear. that terry callier has a lot to answer for

[Guest]

about 3 years tops,

i remember how it all began, i was listening to a sort of hip hop group called urban species and remember saying to myself what a good voice the backing singer had,

so read the cd credits, found out who he was, search around for a while to find a cd by him, bought it, loved it.

his voice sounded really soulful, so i asked a few people who are into soul had they ever heard of this guy.

and was sent away with a thick ear. that terry callier has a lot to answer for

Should get some Spencer`s,you can be Marks in Spencer`s

[Baz Atkinson]

29 YEARS AND IF I HAD ALL THE MONEY BACK ID SPEND ON RECORDS TRIPS TO NIGHTERS AND USA,AND OTHER THINGS ,I RECKON I WOULD BE ABLE TO BUY AT LEAST ONE STRIKER FOR THAT SHIT FOOTBALL TEAM I FOLLOW.

WORTH EVERY PENNY BUT FOR THE LAUGHS.SEE YOU ALL AT LIFELINE TOMMORROW NIGHT.

BAZ A

[Alan Pollard]

Hi,

38 years since I bought my first record which was Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell "Two can have a party", completely hooked since that day, that record was bought with my dinner money and I still spend every spare penny on vinyl.

Regards

Alan

[Paul R]

I started hitting the all-nighters on the scene in 1973 aged 13

but went with guys/chicks aged a good 8/10years older than me and were all ex-wheel punters/torch/Mecca/junction/etc veterans.

All god damn maniacs as well

didnt suffer fools gladly and knew there music.......I loved it in those days nobody took any shit from anyone not from around here anyway and I wish we could turn back the han ds of time just once in a while.

I started collecting aged 10/11yrs of age thanks to my brother who was also err a rather dubious character in those days.....

For me the scene will never ever better those early years for me.......

mel

Remember going to Vavas for the first time in 73. Don't think your brother was there that night, but got the bus from Ormskirk with Tommy Allinson, Mandy Edis, Steve Marchant, Porky, I also think Daffer was there & a few others. It was awsome. Went in there thinking "bastard Pillheads closed the Torch", came out thinking "gotta get some gear next time". My next time was Wigan. To me it was great days.

Paul

[KevH]

first allnighter 74 at Wigan, but into the scene courtesy of influence from Tats Taylor while both at school.Remember him telling me at school to go to our local record shop (Daynes + Whites) , to get a copy of Jerry Butler " moody woman" that was in the bargain bin. I'd got no money so i "borrowed" the money from schoolmates, went after school to get a copy, must have been around '73.of course ive had a break as well ,but all in all 32 years.

[Guest dundeedavie]

went to first all-nighter in 1986 in st k's aberdeen

[Nocker]

For me its getting on for 35 years. First heard things like The top oof the stais, at Denton Youth Clud, went on fro m there. By he wat=y just got back from dentomn British Legion, What a F***ing night. This has got t be the top place at the moment.

Oh yeh, the beer was cheep and i must have partaken of too much judging by the spelling on the last post. Anyway what a good night.

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

for me to answer i had or didn't listen to much soul music in the 80's as a kid my first listen would be Jackie wilson - reet pettie (loved the song back then as much as i do now) i was more into Shakin Stevens and other stuff back then and some commercial motown

But since the late 90's i decided to get more into music and more and more Northern. i am into all soul music but Northern comes first and i would say around 2000 i got into going to the all nighters locally with dad and i couldn't stop going now.

Many more years to come and the collecting side if people want to know is sadly i am not the big collector or Northern ( i collect straight forward soul/disco/funk etc and have the odd Northern i buy partly because if i get my dad to buy all Northern soul records and motown stuff which he collects i don't have to pay and when he kicks the bucket i will surely get his records then). Plus we are almost share every record so i play his northern records and cd's and he would play my soul/disco/funk records etc.

There are though excpetions of that the odd few songs of Northen will always be mine because i not only like it i absoloutly adore it that i would hammer it any all nighter song being Jackie Wilson - Open the Door to Your Heart (one of the 10 greatest songs ever released in music history i think) should get a 2nd copy on vinyl in case one gets worn out to much

[Guest SteveJohnston]

I wonderd how long you all been on the scene (be honest) as i am sure many would have been on the scene possibly from way back like 1964 and so on. be intresting to see this and all memories people would know of back then

Paul my cousin Peter Johnston first got me into soul I would be at my uncles farm on a Sunday morning when Peter got home from an all-nighter somewhere he would go to bed and I'd play the records he had brought back home, I can remember playing sounds like the Gems I loved trying to dance to there up tempo tack and like now still failing badly that must have been 72/73 I didn't go to a proper soul night till 75 that was at Blackpool it was then onto Wigan and a mist spent youth that was second to none!

Steve J

[Bjorn Nilsson]

I've been into soul since 1996 but went to my first soul night in 1999 when I first moved to a city that actually played soul.

I lived in a small town of about 800 people in the north of Sweden for the first 20 years of my life. I'm 28 today.

First trip to a soul night in the U.K. was in 2001.

[Winnie :-)]

I wonderd how long you all been on the scene (be honest) as i am sure many would have been on the scene possibly from way back like 1964 and so on. be intresting to see this and all memories people would know of back then

==========

First nighter central hall Kettering in 74, had done some local soul nights from late 73, Rushden, Bedford, Wollaston. Had a fairly lengthy break to raise the kids, got back into it in 97 I think it was.

Winnie:-)

[Guest]

==========

First nighter central hall Kettering in 74, had done some local soul nights from late 73, Rushden, Bedford, Wollaston. Had a fairly lengthy break to raise the kids, got back into it in 97 I think it was.

Winnie:-)

Got pissed in the West end on a stag night one night ...I walk down some stairs on oxford street and went home with a record in the morning.......... ............it was Soulful...................I could never find that club again!

[Guest melandthensome]

Hey Paul

never got to the Va Va's

you m,entioned a few names there mate

Mandy Edis..........Daffer..........

I remember daffer getting knifed outside the guinness football club and Tony Hughes beung hit in the face with a massive spanner etc all at the Cockbeck ale house when it kicked off big time with some Kirkby boys.

It was an all-dayer on at the guinness and I was thinking where everyone was when in walks tony with a face like a pumpkin then the others came in after battling with the kirkby boys and it wasnt a nice atmosphere when anybody came in the club that wasnt known.

Did you hear about Daffer killing himself..........it5 did my head in as I had been to his flat 2 days earlier and he gave me a Mill Evans on Constellation and a Pat Lewis on Golden World.

He apparantly commited suicide.

Porky

I remember him paying 7 pounds in 1972 for 'Lets go somewhere' on VIP a big sound then and rare.He bought it at the Mecca.

I remember chasing him out the Lion ale house and up the street for mouthing it.

He sold all his collection

Glyn Hanforrd sold all his........I couldnt believe it although I got some nice things.

Remember

Pudding/Sweeny/Charlie pace/Nicola Crook/Bernadette Mac/that fit bird called 'pele' that Keith Bradley was seeing/a bird from aughton who I cant think off her name but was a err nice girl/there were loads on the scene from Ormskirk/Burscough/Southport/ etc

I have a tape from the Mecca 72 Has our kid talking to COEY remember him?

were you at the Mecca when Kenny Bradley stuck a knife in that piss heads neck.

CRAZY DAYS

I COULD TELL MORE BUT WOULD BE THROWN OFF THE FORUM LOL

[Jerry Hipkiss]

Christmas Eve 1965, my big sis took me and my mate to our local mod club, the Blue Moon in Cheltenham (she'd already taken us to the Marquee in London to a Radio London pop do)... first "out of the ordinary" single to make an impression on this schoolboy was Willie Mitchell "Everythings gonna be alright" with "That drivin' beat" on the flip...we were in awe of the top kiddies and hard boys, how things change, nowadays I can trade insults with the best of 'em ...fell in love with the soul stuff (and the blonde american girl DJ), and sort of stayed with it when my mates went for the rock stuff...started dj'ing around '69, doing youth clubs and night clubs, playing pop and soul, and the early imports as the scene grew to a level where I was too busy to get to the Torch until they lost the niter licence, however I did get there for an all-dayer, then found time for sweaty Saturday nights at the Cats, but didn't get to Wigan until early '75...then Yate started and it was downhill all the way! Roll on Soulfusion on the 18th!

[Guest melandthensome]

Hey Paul

never got to the Va Va's

you m,entioned a few names there mate

Mandy Edis..........Daffer..........

I remember daffer getting knifed outside the guinness football club and Tony Hughes beung hit in the face with a massive spanner etc all at the Cockbeck ale house when it kicked off big time with some Kirkby boys.

It was an all-dayer on at the guinness and I was thinking where everyone was when in walks tony with a face like a pumpkin then the others came in after battling with the kirkby boys and it wasnt a nice atmosphere when anybody came in the club that wasnt known.

Did you hear about Daffer killing himself..........it5 did my head in as I had been to his flat 2 days earlier and he gave me a Mill Evans on Constellation and a Pat Lewis on Golden World.

He apparantly commited suicide.

Porky

I remember him paying 7 pounds in 1972 for 'Lets go somewhere' on VIP a big sound then and rare.He bought it at the Mecca.

I remember chasing him out the Lion ale house and up the street for mouthing it.

He sold all his collection

Glyn Hanforrd sold all his........I couldnt believe it although I got some nice things.

Remember

Pudding/Sweeny/Charlie pace/Nicola Crook/Bernadette Mac/that fit bird called 'pele' that Keith Bradley was seeing/a bird from aughton who I cant think off her name but was a err nice girl/there were loads on the scene from Ormskirk/Burscough/Southport/ etc

I have a tape from the Mecca 72 Has our kid talking to COEY remember him?

were you at the Mecca when Kenny Bradley stuck a knife in that piss heads neck.

CRAZY DAYS

I COULD TELL MORE BUT WOULD BE THROWN OFF THE FORUM LOL

Forgot to mention that

SYEVE ADDYS Back in burscough.He goes the match with my brother and hes now living with SHARON HESKETH.........we all know shaz but I was big friends with her sister LYN who moved to bloody canada.....

Steve served 24 yrs in the marines but you will remember him when he was on the scene wont you.