Our Kid Posted June 6, 2017 Posted June 6, 2017 Hi All, Trying to settle a debate. Does anybody know what date/year the above finally shut? Thanks in advance. Paul
Guest Posted June 6, 2017 Posted June 6, 2017 (edited) I'd say about late 1971/ early1972.. .ish I was going there up to 1971. Seem to recall Spring Gardens replacing it, but not as good. That was about 1972 Edited June 6, 2017 by Guest
Kenb Posted June 6, 2017 Posted June 6, 2017 i remember 'Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys'- The Equals...shaking the place to pieces about 1971. TOTT- right next door to Spin Inn where i got my B&S mag's from.
Guest Posted June 6, 2017 Posted June 6, 2017 Just done some digging. I'm pretty sure that I started going to Rowntrees, Spring Gardrens after TOTT closed down. I remember going to Rowntrees on New Years eve , 31 December 1971. I know this because we had to be up very early in order to catch a train to London ( West Ham 3 - Manchester United 0), played 1st January 1972. I would not have gone to Rowntrees if TOTT was still going. So I reckon it closed mid/late 1971.
Our Kid Posted June 7, 2017 Author Posted June 7, 2017 Thanks for all your efforts. Now satisfied closed 1971. Paul
Chris Turnbull Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 Top of the Town sounds interesting - tell us about it. Presumably on Spring Gardens? Was it a soul club?
Guest Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 (edited) No..TOTT was on Cross Street, 5 minutes from Town Hall/Albert Square. It was not a 100% soul club, but the majority of the records were. Garry Laine, the main DJ, played new releases, old classic soul, and clearly there was in put from the Twisted Wheel playlist. He played 6 by 6 on a white pressing/bootleg before EMI / Tamla Motown issued it. Other Wheel sounds were played, a mixture really, you never quite knew what to expect. But a great atmosphere for like minded young teenagers/early 20s. Also, Garry ran a record shop at the entrance to the club. Again, mainly soul, lots of Wheel sounds, Motown, stax, Atlantic and all new soul issues. Obviously, lots of these records were played in the club. Happy days indeed. Mind you, Double Diamond seemed to be beer of choice...😕 Edited June 7, 2017 by Guest
Kenb Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 I'm pretty sure TOTT, Takis and Rowntree's were all owned/run by the same family
Guest Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 (edited) I think so. I never went to Takis or Bluenote for that matter. After TOTT closed, a lot of Soulies went to the Pendulum (Crown square initially). Rowntrees was more pop / disco. Remember being annoyed at the playlist but my mates, who didn't attend TOTT, went there so tagged along. Funny ...I do remember the DJ at Rowntrees playing Holland/Dozier "Baby don't leave me now", and probably followed by T Rex or Wizard. Edited June 7, 2017 by Guest
Guest Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 Bringing back a lot of memories... I was 15 in 1970...when I first went to TOTT. No doubt a lot of older guys went there, and then at about midnight , moved on to the Wheel. As I got a bit older and clued up, I was doing the same...Edwin Starr, Jimmy Ruffin, late 70, early 71. So TOTT had Wheel influences. The record shop , Spin Inn, was one of the go to shops for the 'new' novelty idea of buying USA imports that seemed to flood into the UK. (Was there a new "import policy" that allowed this? Ralphs's records, Barry's on Black friars....Saturday mornings were spent trawling these wonderful shops, full of exoctic 45s on American labels. No " Northern Soul" of course...the term wasn't used widely in those days.
Chris Turnbull Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 Great stuff, really interesting reading. Used to live in Mcr so like to hear about the old days there Just been checking Equals 'Black skin blue eyed boys' on Youtube and one of the comments says 'Mister Smiths, Brazil St, Summer 1970, enough said' - any memories of that club?
Guest Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 Chris, No I never went there...too young maybe. Wasn't Mr. Smith's famous for strippers/topless barmaids?
Guest db121 Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 Mr Smiths started a disco called The Drockiweeney I think in 1970 in addition to their main cabaret club
Guest Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 Don't recall Drockiweeny. Didn't Takis become Rafters? I used to go to their Thursday night sessions (think it was Thursday, about 1972). That was a definite move into rare " Northern "/Torch sounds. Major Lance appeared there. Also Caroline's on Deansgate in this period.
John Green Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 (edited) Hi Larry, I do remember Drokiweeny - seem to think it had a round revolving DJ box - unless that was through too much beer! Lots of soul was played there as I used to go up to the DJ to ask titles, labels etc. John. Edited June 7, 2017 by john green
Guest Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 Hi John Don't recall it at all...a shame if they played our music.
Kenb Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 I do think Takis became Rafters. And guess what...I think Colin Curtis did a DJ stint for a while?
Guest db121 Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 (edited) Takes became Fagins a cabaret place at first I think, Rafters was later in the punk era until it changed to Jazz funk about 78 Top Of Town shut maybe 72 and became Tramps Edited June 7, 2017 by db121
Guest Posted June 7, 2017 Posted June 7, 2017 Fagins ..rings a bell. Was Mike Shaft a dj there? About 72. Remember things like Johnny Moore , Sam and Kitty, Shirley Ellis..the Major of course. Rafters later...sounds right.
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